Abstract
Nitrogen (N) transfer from N-fixing legumes via vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi to associated non-fixing plants has been demonstrated in greenhouse experiments. To date, this transfer has been shown only where mineral N is applied shortly before harvest, and hence is readily available. We have yet to demonstrate VAM-mediated N transfer where soil-N is limiting, a condition under which most traditional legume-nonlegume intercrops are grown.
In this study, 15N-enriched soil (with 0.28%N) was used to distinguish between the uptake of soil- and atmospherically-derived N in maize grown with beans in the presence or absence of VAM fungi. VAM infection did not result in transfer of fixed N or soil N from bean to maize, despite a VAM-stimulated increase in N fixation in bean. In fact, beans were more competitive for soil N when mycorrhizal. N content in beans increased by 75% with a concomitant 22% decrease in mg N per maize plant. The competitive effect may have resulted from a VAM-mediated shift in carbon allocation in beans (but not maize) from shoots to roots.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen E B and Allen M F 1984 Competition between plants of different successional stages: Mycorrhizae as regulators. Can. J. Bot. 62, 2625–2629.
Ames R N, Reid C P P, Porter L K and Cambardella C 1983 Hyphal uptake and transport of nitrogen from two 15N-labelled sources by Glomus mosseae, a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. New Phytol. 95, 381–396.
Barea J M, El-Atrach F and Azcon R 1989 Mycorrhiza and phosphate interactions as affecting plant development, N2-fixation, N-transfer and N-uptake from soil in legume-grass mixtures by using a 15N dilution technique. Soil Biol. Biochem. 21, 581–589.
Bremner J M 1965 Inorganic forms of nitrogen. In Methods of Soil Analysis. Ed. C ABlack. pp 1179–1273. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.
Brophy L S and Heichel G H 1989 Nitrogen release from roots of alfalfa and soybean grown in sand culture. Plant and Soil 116, 77–84.
Burity H A, Ta T C, Faris M A and Coulman B E 1989 Estimation of nitrogen fixation and transfer from alfalfa to associated grasses in mixed swards under field conditions. Plant and Soil 114, 249–255.
Eaglesham A R J, Ayanaba A, Ranga Rao V and Eskew D L 1981 Improving the nitrogen of maize by intercropping with cowpea. Soil Biol. Biochem. 13, 169–171.
Fitter A H 1977 Influence of mycorrhizal infection on competition for phosphorus and potassium by two grasses. New Phytol. 79, 119–125.
Francis C A 1986 Introduction: Distribution and importance of multiple cropping. In Multiple Cropping Systems. Ed. C AFrancis. pp 1–19. Macmillan, New York.
Francis C A 1989 Biological efficiencies in multiple-cropping systems. Adv. Agron. 42, 1–42.
Francis R, Finlay R D and Read D J 1986 Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza in natural vegetation systems. IV. Transfer of nutrients in inter- and intra-specific combinations of host plants. New Phytol. 102, 103–111.
Gerdemann J W 1965 Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae formed on maize and tuliptree by Endogone fasciculata. Mycologia. 57, 562–575.
Gryndler M, Lestina J, Moravec V, Prikryl Z and Lipavsky J 1989 Colonization of maize roots by VAM-fungi under conditions of long-term fertilization of varying intensity. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 29, 183–186.
Hall I R 1978 Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas on two varieties of maize and one of sweetcorn. N.Z.J. Agric. Res. 21, 517–519.
Harley J L and Smith S E 1983 Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Academic Press, New York. 483 pp.
Haynes R J 1980 Competitive aspects of the grass-legume association. Adv. Agron. 33, 227–261.
Haystead A, Malajczuk N and Grove T S 1988. Underground transfer of nitrogen between pasture plants infected with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol. 108, 417–423.
Howeler R H, Sieverding E and Saif S 1987 Practical aspects of mycorrhizal technology in some tropical crops and pastures. Plant and Soil 100, 249–283.
Jackson N E, Franklin R E and Miller R H 1972 Effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae on growth and phosphorus content of three agronomic crops. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 36, 64–67.
Johnson N C, Pfleger F L, Crookston R K, Simmons S R and Copeland P J 1991 Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas respond to corn and soybean cropping history. New Phytol. 117, 657–663.
Khan A G 1972 The effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal associations on growth of cereals. 1. Effects on maize growth. New Phytol. 71, 613–619.
Khan A G 1975 Growth effects of VA mycorrhiza on crops in the field. In Endomycorrhizas. Eds. F ESanders, BMosse and P BTinker. pp 419–435. Academic Press, New York.
Koide R T 1991 Tansley Review No. 29. Nutrient supply, nutrient demand and plant response to mycorrhizal infection. New Phytol. 117, 365–386.
Mosse B 1977 Plant growth responses to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. X. Responses of Stylosanthes and maize to inoculation in unsterilized soils. New Physol. 78, 277–288.
Mosse B and Hayman D S 1980 Mycorrhiza in agricultural plants. In Tropical Mycorrhiza Research. Ed. PMikola. pp 213–230. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Ofori F and Stern W R 1987 Cereal-legume intercropping systems. Adv. Agron. 41, 41–90.
Phillips J M and Hayman D S 1970 Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 55, 158–161.
Rabatin S C and Stinner B R 1989 The significance of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal-soil macroinvertebrate interactions in agroecosystems. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 27, 195–204.
Raven J A, Smith S E and Smith F A 1978 Ammonium assimilation and the role of mycorrhizas in climax communities in Scotland. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 43, 27–35.
Searle P G E, Comudom Y, Shedden D C and Nance R A 1981 Effect of maize + legume intercropping systems and fertilizer nitrogen on crop yields and residual nitrogen. Field Crops Res. 4, 133–145.
Sieverding E 1989 Ecology of VAM fungi in tropical agroecosystems. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 29, 369–390.
Simpson D and Daft M J 1990 Spore production and mycorrhizal development in various tropical crop hosts infected with Glomus clarum. Plant and Soil 121, 171–178.
Smith S E and Daft M J 1977 Interactions between growth, phosphate content and nitrogen fixation in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Medicago sativa. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 4, 403–413.
Stejskalová H 1989 The role of mycorrhizal infection in weed-crop interactions. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 29, 415–419.
Trenbath B R 1974 Biomass productivity of mixtures. Adv. Agron. 26, 177–210.
Trenbath B R 1976 Plant interactions in mixed crop communities. In Multiple Cropping. Ed. MStelly. pp 129–169. Am. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI.
vanKessel C, Singleton P W and Hoben H J 1985 Enhanced N-transfer from a soybean to maize by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. Plant Physiol. 79, 562–663.
Vandermeer J 1989 The Ecology of Intercropping. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 237 pp.
Vest G 1971. Nitrogen increases in a non-nodulating soybean genotype grown with nodulating genotypes. Agron. J. 63, 356–359.
Wacquant J P, Ouknider M and Jacquard P 1989. Evidence for a periodic excretion of nitrogen by roots of grass-legume associations. Plant and Soil 116, 57–68.
Willey R W 1979 Intercropping—its importance and research needs. Part I. Competition and yield advantages. Field Crop Abstr. 32, 1–10.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reeves, M. The role of VAM fungi in nitrogen dynamics in maize-bean intercrops. Plant Soil 144, 85–92 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018848
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018848