Arbuscular mycorrhizae promote establishment of prairie species in a tallgrass prairie restoration

Abstract

The effect that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculum has on the development of an early successional tallgrass prairie restoration was investigated in field plots of a recently disturbed area in Minnesota, U.S.A. Mycorrhizal inoculum reproduced from a native prairie was placed below a mix of prairie seed. Two sets of control plots were established, those with seed only and those with seed and a sterilized soil. By the end of 15 months, plants in the inoculated plots had a significantly greater percentage of roots colonized by AM fungi. While inoculation had no effect on total percent cover of plants, percent cover of native planted grasses was significantly greater in the inoculated plots than in the two sets of controls. The increase in percent cover of native grasses may increase the rate of succession by allowing these grasses to outcompete the ruderal species also present at the site. Our findings suggest that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizae promotes the development of early successional tallgrass prairie communities.Key words: mycorrhizae, prairie, reclamation, plant community, inoculation, restoration.