Occurrence and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in agroforestry systems of Rubavu and Bugesera Districts in Rwanda

Habiyaremye, Jean de Dieu; Muthuri, Catherine; Matiru, Viviene; Nyaga, John; Mukuralinda, Athanase; Ruganzu, Vicky; Yoneda, Motohito; Sinclair, Fergus

doi:10.5897/ajmr2014.7050

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…In addition, our study also found that AMF colonization was directly positively affected by slope position. The reasons may be with regard to spore density, soil moisture content, or other potential factors [24,83,88].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slope Position Rather Than Thinning Intensity Affects Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Community in Chinese Fir Plantations

Wang

Cleary

et al. 2020

Forests

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Background and Objectives: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in individual plant capability and whole ecosystem sustainability. Chinese fir, one of the most widely planted tree species in southern China, forms associations with AMF. However, it is still unclear what impacts thinning management applied to Chinese fir plantations has on the structure and diversity of soil AMF communities. This research attempts to bridge this knowledge gap. Materials and Methods: A thinning experiment was designed on different slope positions in Chinese fir plantations to examine the impacts of slope position and thinning intensity on colonization, diversity, and community composition of AMF. Results: Our research showed that the altitudinal slope position had significant effects on colonization, diversity, and community composition of AMF in Chinese fir plantations. In addition, the interaction between slope position and thinning intensity had significant effects on AMF diversity. Colonization by AMF on the lower slope position was significantly higher than on the upper slope position, while AMF diversity on the upper slope position was higher than on the middle and lower slope positions. Glomus was the most abundant genus in all slope positions, especially on the middle and lower slope positions. The relative abundance of Diversispora was significantly different among slope positions with absolute dominance on the upper slope position. Scutellospora was uniquely found on the upper slope position. Furthermore, soil Mg and Mn contents and soil temperature positively affected AMF community composition at the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level. Conclusions: These findings suggested that slope position should be considered in the management of Chinese fir plantations. Furthermore, both chemical fertilization and AMF augmentation should be undertaken on upper hill slope positions as part of sustainable management practices for Chinese fir plantations.Forests 2020, 11, 273 2 of 20 both timber production and ecosystem maintenance. In such production forests, growth has not been satisfactorily uniform, although the area of the plantations has increased substantially in recent decades [3,4]. This is because most plantations were initially planted at high density and have not been efficiently managed with thinning [1,5,6]. In addition, these plantations may exhibit other problems associated with monocultures [3,7], such as simple community structure, lack of biological stability, litter decomposition tardiness, and soil nutrient and land fertility losses [4,8,9], which seriously affect the long-term productivity and sustainable management of the plantations [8,10,11].Thinning, as an important silvicultural practice, affects forest characteristics directly and indirectly, such as overstory, understory, soil properties [1,12,13], and microbial communities [14,15]. Several studies have shown that the development of understory after thinning results in an increasing proportion of rapidly decomposable litter, which could...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slope Position Rather Than Thinning Intensity Affects Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Community in Chinese Fir Plantations

Wang

Cleary

et al. 2020

Forests

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“…Alnus is not a legume but xes 40-320 kg N ha − 1 yr − 1 N in association with Frankia species (Russo 2005). Habiyaremye et al (2015) found high densities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores in the rhizosphere of agroforestry tree species in Rubavu and Bugesera districts in Rwanda with higher spore densities for alnus and Acacia polyacantha compared to Grevillea robusta, Senna spectabilis, Markhamia lutea, and Eucalyptus spp.. The N-xation and high AMF concentration associated with alnus contributed to increased yield of associated annual crops as occurred with maize in a semi-arid area of Kenya (Muthuri et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pruning and green manure from Alnus acuminata improve soil health, and potato and wheat productivity in Rwanda

Cyamweshi,

Muthuri,

Kuyah

et al. 2023

Agroforest Syst

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Alnus acuminata Kunth. (alnus) has been widely promoted under climate change mitigation and adaptation programs in the East African highlands. However, information is lacking on the impact of its pruning management and green manure (GM) application on soil health and the productivity of associated crops. Using a large suit of soil quality indicators, crop growth and yield measurements, this study identi ed appropriate combinations of alnus pruning levels and GM application for sustainable intensi cation of potato (Solanum tuberosum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) production. This study compared six treatments, namely, (1) sole crops of potato or wheat (control), (2) sole crop + GM, (3) 75% pruning, (4) 75% pruning + GM, (5) 90% pruning and (6) 90% pruning + GM. The best treatments were the 75% pruning + GM and 90% pruning + GM, which signi cantly differed from the control in soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (P), exchangeable calcium (Ca) contents, the N:P and C:P stoichiometric ratios and the soil structural stability index (SSI). These treatments increased

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Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

et al. 2021

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Alnus acuminata Kunth. (alnus) is widely used in agroforestry systems across the globe and is believed to provide multiple ecosystem services; however, evidence is lacking in agroforestry literature to support the perceived benefits, particularly in Rwanda. To understand carbon sequestration potential and other benefits of alnus, a household survey, tree inventory and destructive sampling were conducted in north-western Rwanda. Over 75% of the respondents had alnus trees in their farms. The trees provide stakes for climbing beans, firewood and timber. They also improve soil fertility and control soil erosion. Farmers had between 130 and 161 alnus trees per hectare with an average height of 7.7 ± 0.59 m and diameter at breast height of 16.3 ± 1.39 cm. The largest biomass proportion was found in stems (70.5%) while branches and leaves stock about 16.5 and 13% of the total biomass, respectively. At farm level, aboveground biomass of alnus trees was estimated to be 27.2 ± 0.7 Mg ha−1 representing 13.6 Mg of carbon (C) per hectare. Biomass carbon increased with tree size, from 7.1 ± 0.2 Mg C ha−1 in 3 years old trees to 34.4 ± 2.2 Mg C ha−1 in 10 years old trees. The converse was observed with elevation; biomass carbon decreased with increasing elevation from 21.4 ± 1.29 Mg C ha−1 at low (2011–2110 m) to 9.6 ± 0.75 Mg C ha−1 in the high elevation (> 2510 m). In conclusion, alnus agroforestry significantly contributes to carbon sequestration, although the magnitude of these benefits varies with tree age and elevation. Planting alnus trees on farms can meet local needs for stakes for climbing beans, wood and soil fertility improvement, as well as the global need for regulation of climate change.

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Occurrence and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in agroforestry systems of Rubavu and Bugesera Districts in Rwanda

Cited by 6 publications

References 35 publications

Slope Position Rather Than Thinning Intensity Affects Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Community in Chinese Fir Plantations

Slope Position Rather Than Thinning Intensity Affects Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Community in Chinese Fir Plantations

Pruning and green manure from Alnus acuminata improve soil health, and potato and wheat productivity in Rwanda

Potential of Alnus acuminata based agroforestry for carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services in Rwanda

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