秸秆还田对中国农田土壤固碳效应影响的研究

采用Meta分析法定量研究了秸秆还田对中国农田土壤有机碳(SOC)含量的影响及影响因素。结果表明：秸秆还田比不还田可显著增加SOC含量，但随土壤深度加大，SOC的增加效果呈现下降趋势。同时，秸秆还田土壤的固碳速率随还田年限的增加而显著减小(P<0.01)，秸秆还田3～5、6～9a及≥10a土壤的固碳速率分别为0.58、0.19和0.09g/(kg·a)。此外，在施氮量100～400 kg/hm²、年均温度≥13℃、年均降水量≥800 mm和初始土壤C/N≥10条件下，0～20 cm土层的固碳作用表现较佳，而超过20 cm深度的土壤固碳作用受上述因素影响效果不显著。     

中国地区小麦产量及产量要素对秸秆还田响应的整合分析

为探究秸秆还田对中国小麦的增产效果,运用整合分析方法定量分析秸秆还田后小麦产量及产量要素的变化范围,并探讨不同秸秆还田条件的影响;通过文献检索与严格筛选,整理得到55篇田间试验数据资料,建立小麦产量及产量要素数据库,并应用整合分析方法,比较分析秸秆还田对小麦产量和产量要素的整体影响以及秸秆还田技术的适用条件。结果表明,总体上秸秆还田能够显著增加小麦产量和产量要素,但增长幅度不大。通过分析其影响因素发现,在黄河流域到长江流域之间的省份,选择潮土、塿土、水稻土等养分中等、复杂难以利用的土壤类型,实行秸秆还田技术的收益较好;不同耕作方式对秸秆还田的影响较大,免耕和翻耕技术好于旋耕技术;施氮水平>300 kg·hm^-2时,增产不显著,200～300 kg·hm^-2施氮水平为最佳;秸秆种类与还田量对小麦的增产效果影响较大,其中使用麦秸还田效果一般,稻秸全量或半量还田成效较好,玉米秸半量还田(6 000 kg·hm^-2)增产最大。综上,秸秆还田能够增加小麦产量和产量因素,秸秆还田的最佳条件为在秦岭-淮河一线南北地区实行免耕与翻耕交替耕作方式,采用玉米秸秆半量还田方法,施氮水平为200～300 kg·hm^-2。本研究结果为秸秆还田在我国小麦高产高效技术的应用提供了理论参考。     

秸秆直接还田与炭化还田下土壤有机碳稳定性和温室气体排放潜力的对比研究

选取北方旱地和南方水田两种不同农业利用方式的土壤为研究对象,分别在旱地和水田设置了无秸秆还田(NR)、秸秆直接还田(SR)和秸秆转化为生物质炭还田(BR)三种处理,在作物收获后,采集对应处理的土壤通过室内培养对比研究了秸秆直接还田和生物质炭还田下土壤有机碳的稳定性及温室气体排放潜力的变化。研究结果表明:秸秆直接还田与生物质炭还田均可显著增加土壤有机碳和全氮含量,但不同处理下的土壤有机碳稳定性存在显著差异。从有机碳的矿化量和矿化率来看,生物质炭还田处理与秸秆直接还田处理相比,分别降低旱地、水田土壤矿化量的36.0%、21.5%和矿化率的47.0%、34.7%;水田与旱地相比,表观上水田矿化显著高于旱地土壤,但从土壤有机碳矿化率来看,水田土壤各处理均显著低于旱地土壤相同处理的19.0%、26.2%和9.2%。不同处理显著影响土壤N2O的释放,无论旱地还是水田土壤,与秸秆直接还田相比,施用生物质炭均显著降低土壤N2O的释放;进一步分析土壤产生的综合温室效应(GWP)表明,生物质炭还田下的GWP比秸秆直接还田显著降低39.6%和28.5%。因此,秸秆转化为生物质炭后还田可作为一项重要的农田土壤固碳减排措施进行秸秆利用。     

基于大比例尺数据库的福建省耕地土壤固碳速率和潜力研究

明确土壤固碳速率和潜力是制定耕地固碳减排措施的基础。以我国典型亚热带地区—福建省不同地理位置的闽侯、浦城、同安、武平和永定5个县为研究区,运用生物地球化学过程模型DNDC（DeNitrification and Decomposition）,模拟这5个县在目前区域尺度最详细的1:5万土壤数据库下1980─2009年和2010─2039年有机碳动态变化,并运用尺度上推的方法估算出全省耕地土壤固碳速率和潜力。结果表明,福建省耕地土壤1980─2009年的固碳总量为7.37 Tg,而2010─2039年的固碳潜力为7.04 Tg,两个时段的年均固碳速率分别为：190 kg·hm-2和176 kg·hm-2,说明目前的农田管理措施有利于研究区长期固碳。其中,水稻土和盐渍水稻土分别在土类和亚类级别中固碳速率最大,不同时段均大于175 kg·hm-2·a-1;而红壤在土类和亚类级别中固碳速率皆最小,不同时段均小于3 kg·hm-2·a-1。总体来看,1980─2009年和2010─2039年水稻土的固碳总量均占全省耕地固碳总量的92%以上,是今后制定固碳减排措施的重点。     

长江中下游地区耕地土壤有机碳密度变化率驱动因素

为探究长江中下游地区耕地土壤固碳增汇措施,该研究收集与整理长江中下游地区59处长期定位试验观测数据,量化不同类型耕地土壤有机碳密度变化率的差异特征,运用随机森林模型与线性规划探究土壤有机碳密度变化率的驱动因素与提升途径。结果表明:水田和旱地土壤有机碳密度变化率范围分别为-1 548.15～3 577.10 kg/(hm²·a)和-261.89～3 245.01 kg/(hm²·a),差异不显著(P=0.85)。有机肥氮量、土壤pH值、化肥氮量、秸秆氮量对水田土壤有机碳密度变化率的影响较大;有机肥氮量和化肥氮量对旱地影响较大。因此,建议长江中下游地区可通过有机无机肥科学配施,合理调控水田土壤pH值和秸秆还田量。该研究可为长江中下游地区耕地固碳增汇的技术推广提供参考。     

氮肥减施和秸秆还田对土壤固定态铵含量的影响

【目的】固定态铵作为土壤氮素的暂存库,其含量的变化能够影响土壤的保氮供氮功能,而深入探究氮肥减施对土壤固定态铵的影响及其对秸秆还田的响应,可为优化农田氮肥管理提供理论依据。【方法】依托位于中国东北黑土区玉米种植系统连续9年全量玉米秸秆覆盖归还的保护性耕作试验平台,通过设置玉米秸秆不还田(S0)、秸秆还田量33%(S33)和秸秆全量覆盖还田(S100)3个秸秆还田量处理,以及240 kg hm^-2(N240)、190 kg hm^-2(N190)、135kg hm^-2(N135)、0 kg hm^-2(N0)4个氮素施用水平,研究氮素减施3年后土壤固定态铵总量的变化以及不同秸秆还田量对固定态铵的影响。【结果】秸秆不还田时,土壤固定态铵总量随施氮量降低而逐渐下降,且在不施氮肥处理(N0)时显著低于施氮肥处理;在S33N190时土壤-作物系统出现氮素缺乏,并且随施氮量的下降土壤固定态铵降低量与氮素缺乏量之间具有显著的正相关关系。在所有氮肥水平,秸秆还田尤其是全量秸秆还田均有利于缓解固定态铵的释放,但在N135...     

保护性耕作下农田表土有机碳含量变化特征分析——基于中国农业生态系统长期试验资料

本文收集整理1979--2008年有关中国保护性耕作的长期试验文献,整合分析了长期保护性耕作下中国农田表土有机碳的变化特征。采用的48篇有效文献涉及18个省（区、市）的59个长期试验点,涵盖12种土类。总样本88个（其中早地51个,水田37个）。结果表明,保护性耕作处理下旱地和水田表土有机碳年变化分别介于一0．30～0．75g·kg^-1·a^-1和-0．20～2．71g·kg^-1·a^-1,平均增幅分别达0．21g·kg^-1·a^-1和0．51g·kg^-1·a^-1。可见长期保护性耕作下,农田表土有机碳含量总体呈上升趋势,水田下增长高于旱地。和少免耕相比,秸秆还田更有利于促进表土有机碳的积累。统计分析还表明,结合秸秆还田的综合保护性耕作措施可以使水田和早地的有效固碳期限分别持续27a和23a,水田在保持较高固碳速率的同时,延长了有效固碳年限。耕地表土有机碳含量在保护性耕作下特别是秸秆还田可以较大幅度地提高,实行保护性耕作可以具有农业稳产与土壤固碳的双重意义。     

秸秆还田年限及还田量对稻田净温室效应的影响

本文研究了不同秸秆还田年限（2 年和13 年）和还田量（0、1.6 、3.2和4.8 t/hm2）对稻田CH4和N2O排放、土壤固碳速率和净温室效应的影响。结果表明：稻田CH4排放量在第2年和第13年均随秸秆还田量的增加呈线性增加，但第13年单位秸秆还田量对CH4排放的平均促进效应比第2年降低3%；各处理N2O排放量在第2年无显著差异，第13年显著促进N2O排放55% ~ 171%，且随秸秆还田量的增加呈线性增加；土壤固碳速率在第2年随秸秆还田量的增加呈线性增加，但第13年下降80% ~ 84%，且各处理间无显著差异；净温室效应随秸秆还田量的增加呈线性增加，但从第2年到第13年经历了从汇到源的过程，这说明秸秆还田量对净温室效应的影响受还田年限调控，其增加的温室效应逐步完全抵消了土壤固碳的减排效益，加剧了全球气候变暖。因此，稻田在长期秸秆还田条件下是一个重要的碳源，亟待优化秸秆还田技术，进一步固碳减排，以实现农业可持续发展。     

衢州典型重金属污染农田镉、铅输入输出平衡分析

为定量评估区域农田土壤重金属输入输出平衡,以浙江省衢州市某典型镉(Cd)、铅(Pb)中、轻度复合污染农田为研究对象,对其主要输入源(大气沉降、灌溉、肥料和农药)的Cd、Pb输入通量以及输出通量(水稻秸秆与籽粒移出)开展了长期监测与定量平衡分析。结果表明,大气沉降通量无显著季节变化,由大气沉降导致的Cd、Pb年均输入量分别为3.18和54.46 g·hm^-2,输入量占比分别达到34.98%和34.95%;而灌溉水Cd、Pb年均输入量分别为5.76和100.62 g·hm^-2,占比分别达到63.37%和64.57%;由肥料带入的Cd、Pb年均输入量分别为0.15和0.74 g·hm^-2,占比仅为1.65%和0.47%;而农药带入的Cd、Pb输入量可忽略不计。在该地区双季稻种植模式下,通过水稻秸秆和籽粒的收获和转移,Cd、Pb年输出量分别为10.69和41.74 g·hm^-2。综上,调查区域农田土壤Cd的输入输出基本达到平衡,而土壤Pb仍为输入状态,建议对该地区灌溉水进行净化并开展长期监测,同时避免水稻秸秆直接还田。本研究强调了重金属污染区水稻秸秆移除的重要性,为农田土壤重金属污染风险管控提供了理论依据和数据支持。     

不同耕作措施下江苏省稻田土壤固碳潜力的模拟研究

以江苏省稻田为对象,整合DNDC和1:100万土壤数据库,以土壤图斑为基本模拟单元,定量估算少耕、免耕和综合措施（少耕 + 30% 秸秆还田）下江苏省稻田土壤的固碳潜力（0 ~ 30 cm）。模拟结果表明：相对于传统耕作,采用少耕、免耕和少耕 + 30% 秸秆还田均可明显地增加稻田SOC的积累,其在2009—2050年间的固碳潜力分别为24.5、47.7和43.8 Tg。免耕和少耕 + 30% 秸秆还田条件下稻田固碳速率大约是少耕的2倍。结合实际情况,少耕 + 30% 秸秆还田将是最可行的固碳措施之一。     

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.