Stimulation of the growth of alfalfa [Medicago sativa] and infection of roots with indigenous vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by the application of charcoal
1991
Nishio, M. (National Grassland Research Inst., Nishinasuno, Tochigi (Japan)) | Okano, S.
The stimulation of the growth of alfalfa and infection of roots with indigenous vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) fungi were observed when charcoal powder was applied to soil. The stimulatory effect of charcoal was eliminated by the killing of the indigenous VAM fungi by soil sterilization or by the deficiency of available phosphate (P) in soil. The P content of alfalfa was remarkably increased by charcoal application, when alfalfa was grown on soil which contained both indigenous VAM fungi and available P at more than certain levels. It was also noticed that the amount of nitrogen in the plant associated with nitrogen fixation increased in proportion to the increase of absorbed P. These results suggest that charcoal application increased the length of mycelia of VAM fungi which collected a larger amount of available P from soil and transferred it to alfalfa, and that nitrogen fixation was stimulated by the increased supply of P, hence promoting the growth of alfalfa on soil in which available P was a limiting factor
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