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Earthworm (Aporrectodea trapezoides)–mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices) interaction and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by maize

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Abstract

The interactive impacts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomus intraradices) and earthworms (Aporrectodea trapezoides) on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and nutrient uptake were studied under near natural conditions with pots buried in the soil of a maize field. Treatments included maize plants inoculated vs. not inoculated with AMF, treated or not treated with earthworms, at low (25 mg kg−1) or high (175 mg kg−1) P fertilization rate. Wheat straw was added as feed for earthworms. Root colonization, mycorrhiza structure, plant biomass and N and P contents of shoots and roots, soil available P and NO −3 –N concentrations, and soil microbial biomass C and N were measured at harvest. Results indicated that mycorrhizal colonization increased markedly in maize inoculated with AMF especially at low P rate, which was further enhanced by the addition of earthworms. AMF and earthworms interactively increased maize shoot and root biomass as well as N and P uptake but decreased soil NO −3 –N and available P concentrations at harvest. Earthworm and AMF interaction also increased soil microbial biomass C, which probably improved root N and P contents and indirectly increased the shoot N and P uptake. At low P rate, soil N mobilization by earthworms might have reduced potential N competition by arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphae, resulting in greater plant shoot and root biomass. Earthworms and AMF interactively enhanced soil N and P availability, leading to greater nutrient uptake and plant growth.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Special Scientific Fund for Non-profit Public Industry (MOA, 201103003) and the Project Sponsored by the Scientific Research Foundation in China Agricultural University (Project 2010JS112).

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  1. Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, MOE, College of Resource and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Huan Ll, Xiaolin Li, Junling Zhang & Chong Wang

  2. University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA

    Zhengxia Dou

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Correspondence to Chong Wang.

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Ll, H., Li, X., Dou, Z. et al. Earthworm (Aporrectodea trapezoides)–mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices) interaction and nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by maize. Biol Fertil Soils 48, 75–85 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0610-0

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