Effects of Microbiotic Soil Crust Organisms and Mycorrhizal Fungi on Seedling Growth of Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima).
Abstract
Many Army land managers find stabilization, rehabilitation, and revegetation extremely difficult on disturbed lands in arid and semi-arid regions. Blackbrush, Coleogyne ramosissima, occurs as a landscape dominant in the ecotonal region between hot and cold deserts of the western United States. Soils in this region are often characterized by well-developed microbiotic soil crusts. Revegetation efforts using blackbrush have met with limited success, prompting speculation on possible interactions with soil microorganisms, including mycorrhizal fungi. A series of experiments conducted from 1993 to 1997 tested the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of young blackbrush seedlings under a variety of soil nutrient conditions. In all cases, growth of blackbrush seedlings was enhanced in the presence of mycorrhizal fungi. Inoculation resulted in increased plant biomass, decreased allocation to root systems in general (particularly fine roots), and increased tissue concentrations of both phosphorus and nitrogen. The addition of mycorrhizal fungi also significantly decreased the ability of cheatgrass to compete with blackbrush seedlings when grown at low soil nutrient levels. Revegetation of blackbrush areas would likely benefit from the use of mycorrhizal inoculum. Soil fertilization, however, is detrimental to the establishment of this species and is not recommended.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA374242
Entities
People
- Burton K. Penleton
- Gwyn L. Howard
- Rosemary L. Pendleton
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory