Abstract
<p>Mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in agroecosystems with their ability to enhance nutrient and water uptake and aid in weeds and pest suppression. Mycorrhizal fungi have a symbiotic association with plants, one which is highly influenced by the interaction between soil and plant conditions. In this study, we analyzed the potential to increase the density and diversity of mycorrhizal fungi of using four different cover-crops: lablab (<em>Lablab purpureus</em>), sunn hemp (<em>Crotalaria juncea</em>), pearl millet (<em>Pennisetum glaucum</em>), and sudangrass (<em>Sorghum drummondii</em>). We examined changes in the density, diversity and structure of mycorrhizal fungi before and after planting the cover crops. Our results indicate that, while the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi was not influenced by the cover-crop type, different cover crops were associated with changes in the density and structure of mycorrhizal fungi. In addition, the cover-crop type also had an impact on the soil organic matter and nutrient status. Of the four we tested, sunn hempwas associated with higher rates of percent organic matter, abundance of mycorrhiza spores, and specific micronutrients, signaling multiple benefits as a warm season cover crop, especially in organic farms that aim to minimize chemical applications.</p>
Highlights
Soil microbial communities play a very important role in improving soil health and plant productivity through recycling of nutrients and increasing nutrient availability in agroecosystems
This study confirmed the potential of warm seasoncover crops in promoting native mycorrhizal fungi in subtropical organic farms
Our results indicate that over, cover crops can help improve the density and structure of mycorrhizal fungi
Summary
Soil microbial communities play a very important role in improving soil health and plant productivity through recycling of nutrients and increasing nutrient availability in agroecosystems. Mycorrhizal fungi are especially important in organic farming as they act as natural fertilizers enhancing nutrient uptakeand providing resistance against drought and soil pathogens. Various studies have demonstrated that mycorrhizal symbiosis is crucial in nutrient deficient soils (Marschner & Dell, 1994; Johnson et al, 2010; Soka & Ritchie, 2014), where for examplemycorrhizal fungi can contribute to up to 90% of plant P demand (Van Der Heijden et al, 2006). Agroecosystems with high diversity and abundance of mycorrhizal fungi often result in better crop performance and increased productivity (Khade & Rodrigues, 2009) and improved agroecosystem services such as soil aggregation, improved soil structure and carbon sequestration (Barrios, 2007; Van Der Heijden & Scheublin, 2007). Fallow periods are especially detrimental to mycorrhizal fungi as they depend on the host plants for their nutrition Cheeke et al (2012)
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