Inoculation of pines with mycorrhizal fungi in natural soils—II.: Effects of density and time of application of inoculum and phosphorus amendment on seedling yield

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Addition of superphosphate at 40 kgP/ha greatly increased yield in seedlings of Pinus radiata D. Don, and P. elliottii Little and Dorman on two soils lacking fungi capable of forming mycorrhizas with Pinus. P could be partially replaced by increasing inoculum density or avoiding delay in inoculation. Chlamydospores were less effective than basidiospores as inoculum, and there were highly significant differences in yield produced by different fungal species at high inoculum densities and in the presence of added P. These effects are discussed with respect to the intensity of mycorrhizal infection and postulated differences in sensitivity to microbial competition and antagonism.