Growth responses of sugarcane to mycorrhizal spore density and phosphorus rate
R. M. Kelly A D , D. G. Edwards A , J. P. Thompson B E and R. C. Magarey CA School of Land and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia.
B Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, PO Box 2282, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
C Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, PO Box 566, Tully, Qld 4854, Australia.
D Current address: World Concern, PO Box 2938, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
E Corresponding author. Email: john.thompson@dpi.qld.gov.au.
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56(12) 1405-1413 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04185
Submitted: 13 August 2004 Accepted: 15 August 2005 Published: 15 December 2005
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, commonly found in long-term cane-growing fields in northern Queensland, are linked with both negative and positive growth responses by sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), depending on P supply. A glasshouse trial was established to examine whether AM density might also have an important influence on these growth responses. Mycorrhizal spores (Glomus clarum), isolated from a long-term cane block in northern Queensland, were introduced into a pasteurised low-P cane soil at 5 densities (0, 0.06, 0.25, 1, 4 spores/g soil) and with 4 P treatments (0, 8.2, 25, and 47 mg/kg). At 83 days after planting, sugarcane tops responded positively to P fertilizer, although responses attributable to spore density were rarely observed. In one case, addition of 4 spores/g led to a 53% yield response over those without AM at 8 mg P/kg, or a relative benefit of 17 mg P/kg. Root colonisation was reduced for plants with nil or 74 mg P/kg. For those without AM, P concentration in the topmost visible dewlap (TVD) leaf increased significantly with fertiliser P (0.07 v. 0.15%). However, P concentration increased further with the presence of AM spores. Irrespective of AM, the critical P concentration in the TVD leaf was 0.18%. This study confirms earlier reports that sugarcane is poorly responsive to AM. Spore density, up to 4 spores/g soil, appears unable to influence this responsiveness, either positively or negatively. Attempts to gain P benefits by increasing AM density through rotation seem unlikely to lead to yield increases by sugarcane. Conversely, sugarcane grown in fields with high spore densities and high plant-available P, such as long-term cane-growing soils, is unlikely to suffer a yield reduction from mycorrhizal fungi.
Additional keywords: critical P concentration, mycorrhizal dependency, P nutrition, AM colonisation.
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the Sugar Research and Development Corporation. We are very grateful for technical assistance from Judy Bull (BSES, Tully), Janette Mercer, and Winston Bean (UQ, Brisbane), and for biometrical advice from Kerry Bell (QDPIF, Toowoomba).
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