Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient limiting crop growth and productivity, particularly in saline-alkali soils with low P availability. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to enhance P uptake in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); however, the synergistic effects and underlying biological mechanisms by which AMF improve P acquisition and utilization efficiency under varying P application levels remain unclear. To explore P acquisition strategies associated with AMF status, root morphology traits, rhizosphere carboxylate exudation, soil properties and microbial biomass, we conducted a pot experiment growing alfalfa in saline-alkali soil under four P application levels (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg kg−1), with or without AMF inoculation. Our results showed that AMF colonization and P application synergistically increased alfalfa biomass and shoot/root P concentrations. Notably, at a low P application level of 5 mg kg−1, the mycorrhizal contribution to P absorption and P-utilization efficiency reached their highest levels, while both declined under high P conditions (20 mg kg−1), suggesting an interaction between P availability and AMF efficacy. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and regression analysis revealed that rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations were positively associated with P-utilization efficiency, whereas soil available P, microbial biomass P (MBP) and carbon (MBC) negatively affected it. Among these factors, AMF-induced enhancement of rhizosphere carboxylate exudation played a critical role in promoting P-utilization efficiency in alfalfa under low-P conditions. In contrast, higher P availability reduced rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations, resulting in lower P-utilization efficiency. In conclusion, the combination of AMF colonization and low P application synergistically improves P acquisition and utilization efficiency in alfalfa, providing valuable insights for sustainable nutrient management in saline-alkali soils with limited P availability.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
AMF colonization with phosphorus application increased alfalfa biomass.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativae0 - Treatment
- AMF colonization and P applicatione0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Outcome
- alfalfa biomasse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AMF colonization and P application synergistically increased alfalfa biomass and shoot/root P concentrations.”
Claim · model-written summary
AMF colonization with phosphorus application increased alfalfa shoot and root P concentrations.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- AMF colonization and P applicatione0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Outcome
- shoot/root P concentrationse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AMF colonization and P application synergistically increased alfalfa biomass and shoot/root P concentrations.”
Claim · model-written summary
At 5 mg kg−1 phosphorus, mycorrhizal contribution to alfalfa P absorption peaked.
Verbatim
e0“at a low P application level of 5 mg kg−1, the mycorrhizal contribution to P absorption and P-utilization efficiency reached their highest levels”
Claim · model-written summary
At 5 mg kg−1 phosphorus, mycorrhizal contribution to alfalfa P-utilization efficiency peaked.
Verbatim
e0“at a low P application level of 5 mg kg−1, the mycorrhizal contribution to P absorption and P-utilization efficiency reached their highest levels”
Claim · model-written summary
Mycorrhizal contribution to alfalfa P absorption declined at 20 mg kg−1 phosphorus.
Verbatim
e0“the mycorrhizal contribution to P absorption and P-utilization efficiency reached their highest levels, while both declined under high P conditions (20 mg kg−1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mycorrhizal contribution to alfalfa P-utilization efficiency declined at 20 mg kg−1 phosphorus.
Verbatim
e0“the mycorrhizal contribution to P absorption and P-utilization efficiency reached their highest levels, while both declined under high P conditions (20 mg kg−1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Rhizosphere carboxylate concentration was positively associated with alfalfa P-utilization efficiency.
Verbatim
e0“rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations were positively associated with P-utilization efficiency”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil available P was negatively associated with alfalfa P-utilization efficiency.
Verbatim
e0“soil available P, microbial biomass P (MBP) and carbon (MBC) negatively affected it.”
e1“rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations were positively associated with P-utilization efficiency”
Claim · model-written summary
Microbial biomass P and carbon were negatively associated with alfalfa P-utilization efficiency.
Verbatim
e0“soil available P, microbial biomass P (MBP) and carbon (MBC) negatively affected it.”
e1“rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations were positively associated with P-utilization efficiency”
Claim · model-written summary
AMF-enhanced rhizosphere carboxylate exudation was interpreted as promoting alfalfa P-utilization efficiency under low phosphorus.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Compound
- carboxylatee0
- Outcome
- P-utilization efficiencye0
- Qualifier
- under low-P conditionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AMF-induced enhancement of rhizosphere carboxylate exudation played a critical role in promoting P-utilization efficiency in alfalfa under low-P conditions.”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher phosphorus availability reduced rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations.
- Taxon
- rhizospheree0
- Treatment
- higher P availabilitye0
- Outcome
- rhizosphere carboxylate concentrationse0
- Direction
- reducede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“higher P availability reduced rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations, resulting in lower P-utilization efficiency.”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher phosphorus availability was interpreted to lower alfalfa P-utilization efficiency by reducing rhizosphere carboxylates.
Verbatim
e0“higher P availability reduced rhizosphere carboxylate concentrations, resulting in lower P-utilization efficiency.”
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