Combined arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation and loess amendment improve rooting and revegetation post-mining

Abstract

Increasing the soil moisture content in the root zone and the utilization of deep soil water by plants in arid and semi-arid mining areas are very important steps in the restoration of degraded environments in mining areas. Here, the potential effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation and loess layer treatment on water and salt distribution in sand and water uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) were studied in indoor growth chamber tests combined with stable isotope methods. AMF inoculation and a loess layer both promoted the biomass and root characteristics of maize. There were good correlations between root density and soil water and salt distribution. The contribution of soil water at different depths to maize water uptake was studied using a graphical method and the MixSIAR model. AMF inoculation with a loess layer increased the percentage of water taken up by maize from depths 20–40 cm and >40 cm by 28.9% and 15.3% compared with uninoculated maize with no loess layer. AMF inoculation with a loess layer is a method suitable for revegetation of arid and semi-arid mining areas with the soil water deficit.