不同施肥制度对褐土及其微团聚体磷素肥力的影响

通过8年定位试验,研究了不同施肥制度下褐土及其微团聚体磷素肥力变化规律,从各级微团聚体全磷和有效磷储量角度探讨了不同施肥制度下土壤磷素肥力的变化实质。结果表明,不施肥处理主要是由于10～50μm粒级全磷储量和<10μm粒级有效磷储量减少而造成土壤磷素肥力下降;单施常量NPK化肥和增量NPK化肥处理主要通过提高<10μm粒级全磷和有效磷储量增加土壤磷素含量;有机肥(物)料配施常量NPK化肥处理则在提高小粒级微团聚体磷素贮备和供应能力的同时,增强了大粒级特别是10～50μm粒级全磷和有效磷储量,进而使土壤磷素肥力得到提高。采用有机肥(物)料配施常量NPK化肥是改善土壤磷素肥力的有效措施。     

不同施肥制度下褐土及其微团聚体内酸解性氮分布变化

通过8年定位试验,研究不同施肥制度下褐土及其徽团聚体内酸解性氦变化规律,从各级微团聚体全氮和酸解性氮储量角度探讨不同施肥制度下土壤氮素肥力的变化实质.结果表明,不施肥处理主要是由于10～50μm粒级全氯和酸解性氮储量降低而造成土壤氮素肥力下降;单施常量NPK化肥处理有同样趋势;增量NPK化肥处理主要通过提高<10μm粒级全氯和酸解性氯储量使土壤全氮和酸解性氮含量不下降;有机肥(物)料配施常量NPK化肥处理则主要通过增加大粒级特别是10～50μm粒级全氮和酸解性氮储量、降低<10μm粒级酸不溶性氮储量而使土壤氮素肥力水平得到提高,猪厩肥效果好于玉米秸和麦秸直接还田.采用有机肥(物)料配施常量NPK化肥是改善土壤氮素肥力的有效措施.     

燕山山麓平原高产粮区长期施肥对作物产量和土壤肥力的影响

通过连续 8年长期定位试验 ,研究了不同施肥方式对燕山山麓平原高产粮区褐土土壤肥力和作物产量的影响。结果表明 ,褐土养分贮备及转化潜力较低 ,采用有机肥 (物 )料配施化肥 ,可明显提高土壤有机质和全量养分、速效养分含量 ,促进有机无机复合状况和腐殖质结合形态、腐殖质组成及其性质的改善 ,增强土壤酶群体活性 ,改善土壤水分及物理性质和微团聚体组成 ,较单施常量化肥具有极显著的增产作用。但在配施同量化肥条件下 ,不同有机肥 (物 )料培肥增产效果无显著差异。     

燕山山麓平原高产粮区长期施肥对作物产量和土壤肥力的影响

通过连续 8年长期定位试验 ,研究了不同施肥方式对燕山山麓平原高产粮区褐土土壤肥力和作物产量的影响。结果表明 ,褐土养分贮备及转化潜力较低 ,采用有机肥 (物 )料配施化肥 ,可明显提高土壤有机质和全量养分、速效养分含量 ,促进有机无机复合状况和腐殖质结合形态、腐殖质组成及其性质的改善 ,增强土壤酶群体活性 ,改善土壤水分及物理性质和微团聚体组成 ,较单施常量化肥具有极显著的增产作用。但在配施同量化肥条件下 ,不同有机肥 (物 )料培肥增产效果无显著差异。     

长期配施有机肥对旱地红壤微团聚体中有机碳含量的影响

以连续种植花生26年的旱地红壤为研究对象,选取了有机无机配施试验区的NPK(对照),NPK+花生秸秆(还田)、NPK+稻秆(稻秆)、NPK+鲜萝卜菜(绿肥)及NPK+猪厩肥(厩肥)等5个肥料处理土壤,采用吸管法逐级提取了大小粒级微团聚体土壤样品,分析了各粒级微团聚体的有机碳含量变化及其对土壤总有机碳的贡献率,探讨了微团聚体的粒级组成与土壤有机碳含量及分形维数的相关关系。结果表明:长期配施有机肥未能显著改变旱地红壤中大小粒级微团聚体比例的分布格局,即0.25~0.05 mm2~0.25 mm0.05~0.01 mm(0.005 mm)0.01~0.005 mm,其中优势粒径0.25~0.05 mm微团聚体所占比例为44.3%~50.0%。配施有机肥可以显著增加旱地红壤2~0.25 mm,0.25~0.05 mm及0.05~0.01 mm粒级团聚体有机碳含量,提高特征微团聚体比例,增大分形维数,且随着0.05 mm粒级微团聚体数量的增多,分形维数均显著增大。各粒级团聚体有机碳的平均含量大小依次为:(0.005 mm)0.25~0.05 mm(2~0.25 mm)0.05~0.01 mm0.01~0.005 mm,其中0.25~0.05mm与0.05~0.01 mm粒级微团聚体有机碳受施肥的影响差异显著。土壤有机碳总量与2~0.25 mm、0.25~0.05 mm及0.05~0.01 mm粒级微团聚体有机碳含量呈显著正相关关系,其中0.25~0.05 mm粒级微团聚体对土壤总有机碳的贡献率为55.4%,显著高于其它粒级微团聚体。     

长期施肥对黑土有机碳矿化和团聚体碳分布的影响

采用我国东北地区的连续施肥28 a的典型黑土,通过颗粒分组的方法,研究了长期不同施肥处理对土壤团聚体形成和有机碳在各级团聚体中的分布规律,以及各粒级团聚体对养分的贡献能力的影响。结果表明,施用有机肥促进了土壤中大颗粒团聚体(>0.25 mm)的形成,尤其以2~1 mm粒级增加的比例最大;而当化肥和有机肥配合施用后,主要促进土壤中<1 mm团聚体形成,尤其对0.5~0.25 mm粒级团聚体形成的促进作用最大。施肥(无论是有机肥还是化肥)能增加土壤有机碳含量,而且,化肥有机肥配合施用较单施化肥和单施有机肥的效果更好。随着团聚体粒级的降低,团聚体中有机碳的分配出现两个峰值,分别在2~1 mm和0.25~0.053 mm两个粒级中出现。单施化肥处理及化肥有机肥配施处理与无肥处理相比均增加了0.5~0.25 mm粒级团聚体对有机碳的贡献率;单施有机肥的处理与无肥处理相比增加了1~0.5 mm粒级团聚体对有机碳的贡献率。然而,对于东北的典型黑土,2~1 mm和0.25~0.053 mm两个粒级对土壤有机碳的保护作用最大,表明团聚体对有机碳的保护作用是碳分配和矿化分解作用的综合结果,通过调控施肥种类可以达到有效保护土壤质量和肥力的效果。     

长期施肥与覆膜对半干旱区马铃薯农田土壤团聚体分布及其有机碳含量的影响

以国家土壤质量安定观测实验站黄绵土区的农田长期定位试验为研究平台,研究长期施肥与覆膜对半干旱区马铃薯农田土壤团聚体分布及其有机碳含量的影响。结果表明：耕层土壤团聚体占比随着粒径的减小呈先降低后增加的变化趋势,团聚体有机碳含量随粒径减小呈增加趋势。施肥显著影响马铃薯农田土壤团聚体分布及有机碳含量。长期化肥与有机肥配施（NPK+OM）和单施有机肥（OM）较单施化肥（NPK）显著增加>0.25 mm团聚体含量（R0.25）和平均质量直径（MWD）,显著提高大团聚体（>1 mm）对有机碳的贡献率。长期施用有机肥（NPK+OM和OM）较单施化肥（NPK）显著增加0～20 cm土层土壤团聚体有机碳储量,增幅达63.5%～82.8%。长期覆膜导致>2 mm粒径的大团聚体数量和MWD显著下降,覆膜与单施化肥（NPK）对团聚体有机碳含量及其储量影响不明显。综上所述,在西北黄土丘陵半干旱区和黄绵土质地条件下,长期化肥与有机肥配施（NPK+OM）或单用有机肥（OM）可显著提高耕层土壤大团聚体含量（R0.25）及其稳定性,促进新碳向大团聚体富集,增加团聚体有机碳储量,有利于农田土壤固碳。地膜...     

长期不同施肥制度下土壤有机质质量动态变化规律

通过8年定位试验,研究了长期不同施肥制度下土壤有机质质量动态变化规律。结果表明,采用有机肥(物)料配施常量NPK化肥,土壤有机碳、易氧化有机碳、腐殖酸碳及其占总有机碳比率、HAC、FAC和HAC/FAC不断提高,Kos持续下降,其变化速率表现为递减;长期不施肥和单施常量NPK化肥则造成Kos持续上升,其余指标以递减速率下降。不同施肥制度下土壤有机质质量指标的动态变化可利用渐近函数模拟。在试验的不同阶段,土壤腐殖酸碳总量的亏损或盈余向HAC分配比例的变化态势各异,长期不施肥处理随时间的延长渐减,单施常量NPK化肥处理基本上分配至HAC;有机肥(物)料配施化肥则呈现出后期>前期>中期的趋势。     

不同种类有机肥施用对黑土团聚体有机碳及腐殖质组成的影响

以吉林省农业科学院黑土有机培肥定位试验基地为平台,研究了不同种类有机肥(堆腐肥、鸡粪、牛粪和猪粪)施用对土壤及不同粒级团聚体中有机碳和腐殖质组成的影响。结果表明:与不施肥(CK)和单施化肥(NPK)相比,有机肥配施化肥显著(P0.05)增加了土壤有机碳、胡敏酸碳(HAC)和胡敏素碳(HUC)含量;同时,有机肥配施化肥也增加了不同粒级团聚体中有机碳和腐殖质碳含量,其中施用堆腐肥显著增加了各粒级团聚体中有机碳、HAC和HUC含量。不同种类有机肥相比,施用堆腐肥处理的土壤有机碳、HAC和HUC含量均高于其他有机肥处理,并与牛粪处理之间差异显著;施用堆腐肥和牛粪后,0.25mm粒级团聚体有机碳含量高于其他有机肥处理,且2~0.25mm粒级团聚体有机碳含量显著高于鸡粪处理;从不同粒级团聚体中腐殖质组分的分布来看,施用堆腐肥后,2~0.25mm粒级团聚体中HAC和HUC含量显著高于猪粪处理,而0.25~0.053,0.053mm粒级团聚体中HAC含量显著低于鸡粪处理。上述结果说明,有机肥配施化肥提高了土壤团聚体中有机碳和腐殖质碳含量,但不同有机肥的效应不同。     

长期施肥对浙江稻田土壤团聚体及其有机碳分布的影响

以浙江省稻田长期定位试验站为依托,研究长期不同施肥措施对土壤团聚体及其有机碳分布的影响。研究结果表明,与不施肥对照(CK)相比,栏肥与化肥配施(NPKOM)、单施栏肥(OM)、秸秆与化肥配施(NPKRS)和单施秸秆(RS)处理均显著提高了2 mm和2~0.25 mm水稳定性大团聚体的含量和团聚体平均重量直径(p0.05),强化了团聚体对土壤有机碳的物理保护作用。此外,长期有机无机配施(NPKOM和NPKRS)处理显著提高了各个粒级团聚体中有机碳含量,并且显著增加水稳定性大团聚体有机碳的贡献率,而长期单施化肥和单施秸秆处理并未有效增加土壤总有机碳含量。不同施肥处理下,2~0.25 mm粒级团聚体有机碳占土壤总有机碳的34.2%~48.6%,是土壤有机碳的主要载体。利用傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)技术对2~0.25 mm和0.053 mm团聚体进行结构表征,发现长期单施有机肥或者有机无机配施下芳香族C较CK提高29.9%~45.2%,较NPK处理提高22.3%~36.6%,提高了土壤有机碳的芳构化。在有机碳积累方面,施用有机肥,尤其是栏肥与化肥配施,同时强化了团聚体对有机碳的物理保护以及促进了化学抗性有机碳组分的积累,是加强稻田土壤有机碳库积累的合理施肥模式。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.