| Autor: |
Silva AMM; Soil Science Department, 'Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, Brazil., Feiler HP; Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA., Qi X; College of Grassland, Resources, and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China., de Araújo VLVP; Soil Science Department, 'Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, Brazil., Lacerda-Júnior GV; Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-Embrapa, Jaguariúna 13918-110, São Paulo, Brazil., Fernandes-Júnior PI; Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-Embrapa Semiárido, Petrolina 56302-970, Pernambuco, Brazil., Cardoso EJBN; Soil Science Department, 'Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in plant health due to their ability to improve tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pool of native AMF from a harsh environment on plant performance and changes in soil attributes under different levels of drought. An experiment using maize was established, varying the soil water content to simulate severe drought (30% of the water-holding capacity [WHC]), moderate (50% of the WHC) and no drought (80% of the WHC, control treatment). Soil and plant attributes were measured (enzyme activity, microbial biomass, AMF root colonisation and plant biomass and nutrient uptake). There was a two-fold increase in plant biomass under moderate drought when compared to no drought treatment, but there was no difference in nutrient uptake. Under severe drought, there were the highest enzyme activities related to phosphorus (P) cycling and P microbial biomass, indicating higher P microbial immobilization. The increase in AMF root colonisation was observed in plants under moderate and no drought. Our findings demonstrated that the better use of the AMF inoculum varied according to drought levels, with better performance under moderate drought due to the increase in plant biomass. |
