| Abstract: | A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of charcoal on the development of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) on Leucaena leucocephala roots and the contribution of the symbiosis to the phosphorus (P) nutrition and growth of the legume. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization of plants raised in Mansand (crushed basalt) in the first experiment was reduced if the medium was amended with fine charcoal and not with coarse charcoal. Charcoal amendment had no effect on AM fungal colonization, AM symbiotic effectiveness measured as pinnule (subleaflet) P content, or on growth of L. leucocephala in soil in the first experiment and in Mansand and in soil in subsequent experiments. However, AM fungal colonization of L. leucocephala roots, P content of pinnules, and growth of the legume were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) by AM fungal inoculation in all experiments regardless of the growth medium used or charcoal amendment. |
