Intercropping Acacia mangium stimulates AMF colonization and soil phosphatase activity in Eucalyptus grandis

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are very important to plant nutrition, mostly in terms of acquisition of P and micronutrients. While Acacia mangium is closely associated with AMF throughout the whole cycle, Eucalyptus grandis presents this symbiosis primarily at the seedling stage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of AMF in these two tree species in both pure and mixed plantations during the first 20 months after planting. We evaluated the abundance, richness and diversity of AMF spores, the rate of AMF mycorrhizal root colonization, enzymatic activity and soil and litter C, N and P. There was an increase in AMF root colonization of E. grandis when intercropped with A. mangium as well as an increase in the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the presence of leguminous trees. AMF colonization and phosphatase activities were both involved in improvements in P cycling and P nutrition in soil. In addition, P cycling was favored in the intercropped plantation, which showed negative correlation with litter C/N and C/P ratios and positive correlation with soil acid phosphatase activity and soil N and P concentrations. Intercropping A. mangium and E. grandis maximized AMF root colonization of E. grandis and phosphatase activity in the soil, both of which accelerate P cycling and forest performance.

Organic matter quality of forest floor as a driver of C and P dynamics in acacia and eucalypt plantations established on a Ferralic Arenosols, Congo

“…When mixed with eucalypt, acacia does change the soil microbial and bacterial communities, which are strongly correlated to N, C and P contents, revealing a more effective nutrient cycling, greater stimulation of microbial activity in litter and soil (Bini et al 2012(Bini et al , 2013Pereira et al 2017). Furthermore, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi root colonization and the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase increased in eucalypt intercropped with A. mangium with further improvement in P cycling P nutrition (Bini et al 2018).…”

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Forest Ecosystems of Brazil: A Review

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Intercropping of wheat changed cucumber rhizosphere bacterial community composition and inhibited cucumber Fusarium wilt disease

“…in intercropped cucumber rhizospheres. Similarly, Bini et al (2018) found that intercropping Acacia mangium stimulated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization in Eucalyptus grandis. Therefore, it was possible that the decreased cucumber Fusarium wilt severity was associated with the increased abundance of plant-beneficial microbes when intercropped with wheat.…”