EFFECTS OF CO-INOCULATION OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND RHIZOBIUM ON THE TRIPARTITE ASSOCIATION WITH FIELD PEA (Pisum sativum) AND LENTIL (Lens culinaris) UNDER SASKATCHEWAN FIELD CONDITIONS
Date
2015-08-27
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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were recently introduced in western Canada as a commercial biofertilizer for field crop production. Mycorrhizal inoculant use is an established practice in land reclamation and horticultural activities; however, it is only an emerging interest in agricultural systems. Key questions need to be answered regarding its impact on growth, nutrient uptake and yield responses in field crops, particularly for legumes, when co-inoculated with nitrogen (N) fixing rhizobial inoculants. Field experiments were conducted at various locations in Saskatchewan in 2012 and 2013 to investigate the response of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) to the application of a commercial AMF inoculant MYKE® PRO GR (Glomus intraradices) (Premier Tech Ltd.) at the recommended application rate and twice the recommended rate (7.5 kg ha-1 and 15 kg ha-1 respectively) when applied with and without Rhizobium inoculant (Nodulator®, Becker Underwood). All the treatments were repeated with and without phosphorus (16.8 kg ha-1). The results suggest that application of P fertilizer in combination with AMF and Rhizobium significantly enhanced mid-season biomass, and N and P accumulation, seed nutrient yield and biological N fixation. Seed yield of lentil and pea were unaffected by AMF inoculation. It was concluded that the tripartite symbiotic association can have synergistic responses in legumes under prairie field conditions, but the responses can depend on host species and other biotic and abiotic parameters.
Description
Keywords
Keyword 1 Mycorrhizae, Key phrase one Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi, Keyword 2 Rhizobium, Key phrase 2 Tripartite symbiosis
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Soil Science
Program
Soil Science