玉米专用型腐殖酸长效尿素肥效研究

为延长普通尿素的肥效期, 在前期关于风化煤腐殖酸脲酶抑制剂研究的基础上, 采用盆栽培养和田间试验, 进行了玉米专用型腐殖酸长效尿素的肥效研究。结果表明：就玉米产量而言, 尿素与腐殖酸（HA4）的比例以32.5∶1~121.7∶1较为适宜;加工而成的腐殖酸长效尿素（UHAⅢ）对玉米不同生育期土壤脲酶活性的抑制作用在苗期最强, 达24.1%, 拔节期后逐渐减弱;UHAⅢ在玉米后期供氮能力明显高于普通尿素, 土壤中碱解氮含量较普通尿素增加31.58%~32.73%;与普通尿素相比, 施用UHAⅢ后玉米籽粒产量增加40%, 产投比增加40%, N利用率提高39.70%, 表明UHAⅢ比普通尿素肥效高, 适于作玉米专用型长效尿素。     

玉米专用型腐殖酸长效尿素肥效研究

为延长普通尿素的肥效期, 在前期关于风化煤腐殖酸脲酶抑制剂研究的基础上, 采用盆栽培养和田间试验, 进行了玉米专用型腐殖酸长效尿素的肥效研究.结果表明:就玉米产量而言, 尿素与腐殖酸(HA4)的比例以32.5∶1～121.7∶1较为适宜;加工而成的腐殖酸长效尿素(UHAⅢ)对玉米不同生育期土壤脲酶活性的抑制作用在苗期最强, 达24.1%, 拔节期后逐渐减弱;UHAⅢ在玉米后期供氮能力明显高于普通尿素, 土壤中碱解氮含量较普通尿素增加31.58%～32.73%;与普通尿素相比, 施用UHAⅢ后玉米籽粒产量增加40%, 产投比增加40%, N利用率提高39.70%, 表明UHAⅢ比普通尿素肥效高, 适于作玉米专用型长效尿素.     

施用腐殖酸对提高玉米氮肥利用率的研究

试验研究腐殖酸与尿素配合施用对玉米养分吸收、产量与N肥利用率的影响结果表明,腐殖酸能明显促进玉米植株对N、P、K养分的吸收,滞留在茎叶的N和K2O明显增加。在尿素中添加腐殖酸能明显提高玉米产量和N肥利用率。在尿素中添加10%的腐殖酸玉米产量和N肥利用率综合效果较好。     

控释尿素掺混比例对旱地玉米产量、无机氮含量及氮肥利用率的影响

【目的】控释尿素一次性轻简化施肥技术应用于陇东旱塬区春玉米生产增产效果显著。本研究从控释尿素与普通尿素掺混施用对玉米产量、土壤无机氮含量、酶活性及氮肥利用率的影响角度，研究其增产机理。【方法】2020—2021年连续两年在陇东旱塬的庆阳市镇原县梧桐村，以‘先玉335’为供试品种开展了玉米田间试验。在施N 225 kg/hm²的前提下，设置5个控释尿素与普通尿素的掺混比例：100%普通尿素(N0:10)、100%控释尿素(N10:0)、30%控释尿素+70%普通尿素(N3:7)、50%控释尿素+50%普通尿素(N5:5)、70%控释尿素+30%普通尿素(N7:3)，以不施氮处理(N0)为对照。调查了玉米产量，0—40 cm土层土壤无机氮含量、酶活性，计算了氮肥利用率和籽粒品质。【结果】控释尿素与普通尿素掺混显著增加了玉米穗粒数和百粒重，提高了玉米产量，以N7:3处理两年平均产量最高(16618 kg/hm²)，较N0:10、N10:0和N0处理分别增产20.1%、13.6%和55.6%；纯收益和产投比较N0:10处理分别增加了0.71万元/hm...     

新型氮肥肥料效应与氮素利用率对比研究

旱地和水田施用新型N肥试验结果表明,与普通尿素相比,施用腐殖酸尿素、木质素尿素和涂层尿素对水稻、小麦均具有明显增产效果,稻谷增产率为14%～16%,小麦籽实增产率为4%～17%,肥效为腐殖酸尿素≥木质素尿素＞涂层尿素。水稻对肥料N素利用率提高7%,差异达显著水平,小麦对肥料N素利用率提高2.7%～17%。     

控释氮肥比例对土壤氮含量和玉米氮素吸收利用的影响

通过大田试验,研究相同氮肥施用量的条件下,不同比例控释尿素与普通尿素混合施用对土壤氮含量、玉米植株氮素吸收利用及产量的影响。结果表明:施氮显著提高了0-20,20-40cm耕层土壤碱解氮和全氮含量。全施普通尿素时,一次施肥可提高前期土壤氮含量,而2次施肥则有利于提高后期土壤氮含量;与普通尿素施肥相比,掺混一定比例的控释尿素一次性底施可显著提高各生育时期耕层土壤含氮量。适宜比例的控释尿素与普通尿素掺混施用可在一定程度上增加玉米中后期的氮素积累量,提高氮肥表观利用率、氮肥农学效率和肥料贡献率以及玉米功能叶关键酶活性,在相同氮肥水平下,其一次性底施的效果甚至超过普通尿素2次施用。随控释尿素比例的增加,玉米产量呈先增后减趋势,以75%控释尿素+25%普通尿素处理产量最高,比普通尿素一次施增产12.09%(2014年)和21.58%(2015年),比普通尿素2次施肥增产8.27%(2014年)和14.19%(2015年)。因此,普通尿素掺混75%比例的控释尿素进行一次底施,不仅能够协调在整个玉米生育期土壤对氮素的供应,实现玉米的有效增产,而且还能够减少施肥次数和劳力投入。     

木素氮肥增效剂研制与增产效应研究

以造纸黑液中回收的木素为主要原料对尿素改性,合成的木素长效尿素,具有缓释,长效的作用。脲酶活性降低,肥料水溶性减弱。土壤盆栽实验表明,木素尿素供氮水平较普通尿素高０．４－１．１倍,两年冬小麦,夏玉米大田实验分别增产２１．４％和１２．１％。     

硫包膜尿素对土壤性质和夏玉米生长的影响

研究了硫包膜尿素对土壤性质和玉米生长的影响。结果表明,在玉米生长期内,硫包膜尿素可以显著增加土壤有效硫含量。与普通尿素相比,硫包膜尿素能够显著增加土壤水溶性SO42-含量,但在玉米成熟期不会显著酸化土壤。施用硫包膜尿素比普通尿素能够显著增加玉米叶绿素含量、株高和产量,但是硫膜对促进玉米叶绿素和株高增长作用有限,持续供氮是玉米叶绿素和株高增长的主要原因。在高、低量施肥水平下,硫包膜尿素处理比普通尿素处理2008年分别增产10.19%和15.23%,2009年分别增产10.94%和41.34%。低量施氮时硫膜能显著增产,而高量施氮时氮素的控释作用是显著增产的主要原因。     

冬小麦–夏玉米轮作体系不同新型尿素的氮素利用率及去向

  【目的】  以华北平原冬小麦–夏玉米轮作体系为研究对象，探究新型尿素对作物氮素吸收及去向的影响。  【方法】  于2016年10月至2017年9月，在河北省辛集市河北农业大学马庄试验站进行小麦15N田间微区试验，微区面积为1 m2，设置施用普通尿素、普通尿素 + 硝化抑制剂 (Nr)、控失尿素、聚能网尿素和腐植酸尿素5个处理，各施肥处理氮素施用量均为N 225 kg/hm2，并以不施氮肥处理为对照。  【结果】  5个氮肥处理相比，控失尿素处理的冬小麦产量最高，为8123 kg/hm2；腐植酸尿素处理次之，为8083 kg/hm2；再次为聚能网尿素处理，为8049 kg/hm2。控失尿素、腐植酸尿素、聚能网尿素、普通尿素 + Nr、普通尿素的15N当季利用率分别为43.6%、41.1%、37.8%、34.2%、32.2%；控失尿素、腐植酸尿素的15N当季利用率显著高于普通尿素 + Nr和普通尿素处理，聚能网尿素的15N当季利用率显著高于普通尿素，普通尿素 + Nr处理则与普通尿素处理的15当季利用率无显著差异；控失尿素的15N当季利用效果最为突出，较普通尿素15N当季利用率提高了35.4%，腐植酸尿素、聚能网尿素较普通尿素15N当季利用率显著提高了27.6%、17.4%。后茬玉米能吸收利用前茬小麦残留在土壤中的氮素，但后茬玉米的土壤残留15N利用率仅为2.98%～3.62%，4种新型尿素处理间后茬玉米15N利用率无显著性差异。小麦收获后，4种新型尿素均显著提高了土壤上层 (0—40 cm) 硝态氮残留量，有利于后茬玉米对氮素的吸收，减少氮素淋溶的可能性。肥料氮总损失表现为控失尿素、聚能网尿素 < 腐植酸尿素、普通尿素 + Nr < 普通尿素。  【结论】  新型尿素显著促进作物对氮素的吸收利用，减少氮素损失，获得高产。4种新型尿素相比，控失尿素增产增效最为突出，土壤中氮残留少，损失率低，其当季利用率、残留率和损失率分别为43.6%、40.8%和15.6%；腐植酸尿素氮当季利用率仅次于控失尿素，而损失率较高达19.8%；聚能网尿素有利于氮素固持在土壤中，其残留率、损失率分别为46.1%、16.1%；普通尿素 + Nr处理的氮素当季利用率偏低而土壤残留率最高，分别为34.2%和47.4%。     

新型氮肥及施氮量对玉米产量和氮素吸收利用的影响

以玉米品种先玉335为供试材料,采用田间小区试验研究新型氮肥(控失尿素和腐植酸尿素)及不同施氮量对玉米产量和氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明,3种氮肥均显著提高玉米产量且玉米产量随着施氮量的增加而增加。其中以控失尿素增产效果最好,并在施氮量为250 kg/hm~2时获得最高产量,与不施氮相比增产达93.7%(P0.05),较普通尿素和腐植酸尿素分别高了33.5%(P0.05)和7.4%;地上部吸氮量较普通尿素高了41.5 kg/hm~2,氮肥利用率较普通尿素高出21.3%。其次是腐植酸尿素,施氮量为250 kg/hm~2时获得最高产量,较普通尿素高了26.1%(P0.05);地上部吸氮量比普通尿素提高31.9 kg/hm~2,氮肥利用率提高15.3%。控失尿素和腐植酸尿素较普通尿素,在提高玉米产量及秸秆产量、玉米氮素吸收和氮肥利用率等方面有较为显著的效果。在施氮量为250和300 kg/hm~2时,控失尿素处理的玉米产量要高于腐植酸尿素处理,控失尿素的增产效果要略优于腐植酸尿素。供试的3种氮肥中,以控失尿素的增产效果最好,在施肥量为250 kg/hm~2时获得最高产量。3种氮肥对土壤全氮含量影响较小,随着施氮量的增加土壤全氮含量无显著差异;不同氮肥种类间土壤全氮含量均值表现为控失尿素最高,其次是腐植酸尿素,普通尿素最低。综上,新型氮肥与普通尿素相比不仅可以显著提高玉米产量,还能够降低氮肥损失、减少污染、提高氮肥利用率,实现农业可持续发展。     

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.