Charcoal as a micro-habitat for VA mycorrhizal fungi, and its practical implication

Abstract

A stimulating effect of charcoal on indigenous VAM fungi was found recently in Japan. In order to evaluate this effect under field conditions, soybean was grown in a humus rich Ando soil with or without application of charcoal. The stimulating effect of charcoal on the infection of soybean by the indigenous VAM fungi was confirmed under these conditions. This effect was found only before the flowering stage and with low rates of P fertilizer.