Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus enhances maize (Zea Mays L.) growth and organic carbon sequestration in wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) straw-amended soils

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straws and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and organic carbon (C) sequestration in a sterilized sandy loam soil. The experiment included three treatments: control, amendment with wheat straws (S), and amendment with wheat straws plus inoculation with AM fungus Glomus caledonium (S+M). Compared with the control, the amendment of wheat straws significantly (P<0.05) increased soil alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in maize seedling period (30 d) and plant phosphorus (P)-uptake and shoot biomass at harvest time (110 d), and also tended to increase soil organic C content as well as produced low but demiurgic crop yield at harvest time. In wheat straw-amended soils, G. caledonium inoculation significantly (P<0.05) decreased soil pH and significantly (P<0.05) increased plant P-uptake as well as soil ALP activity in seedling period, and tended to increase shoot biomass and grain yield in seedling and harvest periods, respectively. Furthermore, G. caledonium inoculation tended to increase soil organic C content at harvest time, which was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the control, suggesting potential application of AM fungi in facilitating crop production and C sequestration in straw-returned fields. Copyright © 2014 ALÖKI Kft., Budapest, Hungary.