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Mycorrhizal effects on crop yield and soil ecosystem functions in a long‐term tillage and fertilization experiment

Journal Article · · New Phytologist
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19493· OSTI ID:2275012
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [1];  [5];  [1];  [6];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [7];  [7];  [1]
  1. State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro‐ecosystems, College of Ecology Lanzhou University Lanzhou 730000 China
  2. School of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff AZ 86001 USA
  3. Laboratory of Fungal Biology, Institute of Microbiology Czech Academy of Sciences Vídeňská 1083 14220 Prague Czech Republic
  4. School of Life Sciences Lanzhou University Lanzhou 730000 China
  5. College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology Lanzhou University Lanzhou 730020 China
  6. College of Life Sciences Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070 China
  7. Dryland Agriculture Institute Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences Lanzhou 730070 China
Summary

It is well understood that agricultural management influences arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but there is controversy about whether farmers should manage for AM symbiosis.

We assessed AM fungal communities colonizing wheat roots for three consecutive years in a long‐term (> 14 yr) tillage and fertilization experiment. Relationships among mycorrhizas, crop performance, and soil ecosystem functions were quantified.

Tillage, fertilizers and continuous monoculture all reduced AM fungal richness and shifted community composition toward dominance of a few ruderal taxa. Rhizophagus and Dominikia were depressed by tillage and/or fertilization, and their abundances as well as AM fungal richness correlated positively with soil aggregate stability and nutrient cycling functions across all or no‐tilled samples. In the field, wheat yield was unrelated to AM fungal abundance and correlated negatively with AM fungal richness. In a complementary glasshouse study, wheat biomass was enhanced by soil inoculum from unfertilized, no‐till plots while neutral to depressed growth was observed in wheat inoculated with soils from fertilized and conventionally tilled plots.

This study demonstrates contrasting impacts of low‐input and conventional agricultural practices on AM symbiosis and highlights the importance of considering both crop yield and soil ecosystem functions when managing mycorrhizas for more sustainable agroecosystems.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
2275012
Journal Information:
New Phytologist, Journal Name: New Phytologist Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 242; ISSN 0028-646X
Publisher:
Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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