Abstract
Soil microorganisms play a central role in biological soil functioning. One of the beneficial microbiota that has a symbiotic association with most of the plants is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of cover crops—widely used in conservation agriculture or organic farming—on native mycorrhizal fungi. This study was conducted in Southern France, in 20-year-old walnut orchards, where faba bean (Vicia faba Roth) was intercropped. To find whether the native AM fungal community associated with walnut trees was influenced by cover crops and soil microbial communities, analyses of soil physicochemical and microbiological indicators were carried out with roots and soil samples collected from four modalities (walnut in conventional farming with and without cover crops, and walnut in organic farming with and without cover crops). Our results showed that the presence of cover crops mainly influenced the soil microbial abundance and activities in conventional plots. In contrast, cover crops stimulated AM fungal colonization of walnut roots in organic plots, reaching 35% and 54% for arbuscule abundance and mycorrhizal intensity, respectively. In conventional plots, ergosterol and mineral nitrogen contents were mainly correlated with mycorrhizal colonization, while only acid phosphatase activity in soil was positively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization in organic plots. The use of the faba bean showed the great role played by cover crops in the enhancement of walnut trees’ mycorrhizal colonization. Identification of the functional traits of AM fungi sensitive to walnut trees is required to inform decisions in specific agricultural practices.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Cover crops mainly influenced microbial abundance and activity in conventional plots.
Verbatim
e0“the presence of cover crops mainly influenced the soil microbial abundance and activities in conventional plots”
t0“walnut”
Claim · model-written summary
Cover crops stimulated walnut arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in organic plots.
- Taxon
- walnute0
- Treatment
- cover cropse0
- Interactor
- AM fungale0symbiont
- Outcome
- AM fungal colonization of walnut rootse0
- Direction
- stimulatede0
- Setting
- organic plotse0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“cover crops stimulated AM fungal colonization of walnut roots in organic plots”
Claim · model-written summary
Arbuscule abundance reached 35% in organic plots.
Verbatim
e0“reaching 35% and 54% for arbuscule abundance and mycorrhizal intensity, respectively”
t0“walnut”
Claim · model-written summary
Mycorrhizal intensity reached 54% in organic plots.
Verbatim
e0“reaching 35% and 54% for arbuscule abundance and mycorrhizal intensity, respectively”
t0“walnut”
Claim · model-written summary
Ergosterol and mineral nitrogen correlated with colonization in conventional plots.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“In conventional plots, ergosterol and mineral nitrogen contents were mainly correlated with mycorrhizal colonization”
t0“walnut”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil acid phosphatase activity positively correlated with colonization in organic plots.
Verbatim
e0“only acid phosphatase activity in soil was positively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization in organic plots”
t0“walnut”