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Effects of epigeic earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) on enzyme activities of a sterilized soil–sand mixture and nutrient uptake by maize

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Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of epigeic earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus intraradices) on soil enzyme activities and nutrient uptake by maize, which was grown on a mixture of sterilized soil and sand. Maize plants were grown in pots inoculated or not inoculated with AMF, treated or not treated with earthworms. Wheat straw was added as a feed source for earthworms. Mycorrhizal colonization of maize was markedly increased in AM fungi inoculated pots and further increased by addition of epigeic earthworms. AM fungi and epigeic earthworms increased maize shoot and root biomass, respectively. Soil acid phosphatase activity was increased by both earthworms and mycorrhiza, while urease and cellulase activities were only affected by earthworms. Inoculation with AM fungi significantly (p < 0.001) increased the activity of soil acid phosphatase but decreased soil available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations at harvest. Addition of earthworms alone significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil ammonium-N content, but decreased soil available P and K contents. AM fungi increased maize shoot weight and root P content, while earthworms improved N, P, and K contents in shoots. AM fungi and earthworm interactively increased maize shoot and root biomass through their regulation of soil enzyme activities and on the content of available soil N, P, and K.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Zhiguo Wu from University of Pennsylvania for comments on the manuscript. This work was funded by the Special Scientific Fund for Non-profit Public Industry (MOA, 201103003), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project 31172037), Innovative Group Grant of NSFC (31121062), and Scientific Research Foundation at China Agricultural University (Project 2010JS112).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resource and Environmental Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China

    Huan Li, Chong Wang, Xiaolin Li & Yi Lou

  2. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China

    Dan Xiang

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  1. Huan Li
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  2. Dan Xiang
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  3. Chong Wang
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  4. Xiaolin Li
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Correspondence to Chong Wang.

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Dan Xiang contributed equally.

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Li, H., Xiang, D., Wang, C. et al. Effects of epigeic earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices) on enzyme activities of a sterilized soil–sand mixture and nutrient uptake by maize. Biol Fertil Soils 48, 879–887 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-012-0679-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-012-0679-0

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