Management of Phosphorus and Nitrogen Fertilization to Optimize Anthyllis-Glomus-Rhizobium Symbiosis for Revegetation of Desertified Semiarid Areas

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition 2005-01, Vol.27 (8), p.1395-1413
• Main Authors: Goicoechea, Nieves, Merino, Silvia, Sánchez-Díaz, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Anthyllis; Anthyllis cytisoides; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); Biological and medical sciences; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Glomus fasciculatum; Metabolism; Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements; Nitrogen; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; Phosphorus; Plant physiology and development; Revegetation; Rhizobium; Rhizobium sp; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1081/PLN-200025850

Anthyllis cytisoides L. is a shrub legume used to recover desertified semiarid areas in association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen fixing bacteria. A detailed study of the microsymbionts establishment could allow determining the most appropriate moment for transplanting A. cytisoides from nursery to natural soils. Moreover, it could be possible to improve the functionality of the symbiosis of A. cytisoides with Glomus fasciculatum (Taxter sensu Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe and Rhizobium sp. by managing phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilization. Our results have shown that A. cytisoides exhibited growth depression when plants did not receive any P and N fertilization, possibly due to competition between microsymbionts for host carbohydrates. On the other hand, while high N addition delayed the development of nodules, low N and P fertilization stimulated both nodule carbon and nitrogen metabolism. It is suggested that the most adequate fertilization to enhance the activity of Anthyllis-Glomus-Rhizobium association should combine low P and N supplies. Furthermore, according to the functionality of both microsymbionts, the most appropriate moment for transplanting A. cytisoides to natural conditions would be between the third and the fourth month after sowing.