Abstract
Problem statement: It is generally considered that root turnover is a major contributor to organic matter and mineral nutrient cycles in organ ic managed agroecosystems. Approach: This study designed to investigate whether microbial activity could affect on root properties of Lucerne in an organically managed field under dry weather conditi ons. The trial was laid out as a factorial experiment in the fields of the University of Natur al Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna- Austria at Raasdorf in 2007. The experimental facto rs of Rhizobium ( Sinorhizobium meliloti) and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) including Glomus etunicatum , G. intraradices and G. claroideum and irrigation levels were tested. Results: Results showed that increasing water deficit affec ted root dry weigh, specific root mass and root length significa ntly at 1% level and co-inoculation of rhizobium an d mycorrhiza with irrigation increased all root param eters. Data's of variance analysis for mycorrhizal colonization showed that main effect of using mycor rhiza had significant effects on root parameters at 5 and 1% probability level at first and second harves t, respectively. Results of mean comparisons by Duncan's Multiple Range Test showed that mycorrhizal colonization was higher in the inoculated treatments by rhizobium, mycorrhiza and irrigated p lots in both harvests. Double interaction of mycorrhiza and irrigation was higher in both harves ts (37.05 and 65.73%, respectively). Conclusion: It can be suggested that the tripartite symbiosis of R hizobium, AM and Lucerne can improve the performance of Lucerne in organic farming and under dry conditions. Such traits could be incorporated into breeding programs to improve drought tolerance especially in organic fields.
Highlights
Most researches have focused on aboveground traits, relatively little attention has been paid to belowground processes such as root dynamics
The tripartite association is relatively less well understood with respect to the factors that regulate it, compared to the rhizobium-legume symbiosis[56]
Al-Karaki and Al-Raddad[2] reported root dry weight and total root length of wheat genotypes were reduced by drought stress but plant inoculated with G. mosseae had higher root dry weight than non-mycorrhizal plants
Summary
Most researches have focused on aboveground traits, relatively little attention has been paid to belowground processes such as root dynamics. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is an important fodder legume in organic farming systems, mainly under dry site conditions. This plant improves the yield and quality of following crops by fixing nitrogen from the air[14,42], reduces diseases and weeds, increase soil organic matter contents and improves water infiltration[16,38,44]. The amount of plant residues in the field has an important role to increase organic matter that improves soil fertility, microbial activity and water holding. Water uptake depends on root size (length or mass), activity and spatial distribution, most existing research on roots has focused on morphology and growth. Distributions to their function can be determined by quantifying root length, diameter and associated surface
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