Agricultural management and pesticide use reduce the functioning of beneficial plant symbionts


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Date

2022-08

Publication Type

Journal Article

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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) acquisition is key for plant growth. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) help plants acquire P from soil. Understanding which factors drive AMF-supported nutrient uptake is essential to develop more sustainable agroecosystems. Here we collected soils from 150 cereal fields and 60 non-cropped grassland sites across a 3,000 km trans-European gradient. In a greenhouse experiment, we tested the ability of AMF in these soils to forage for the radioisotope P-33 from a hyphal compartment. AMF communities in grassland soils were much more efficient in acquiring P-33 and transferred 64% more P-33 to plants compared with AMF in cropland soils. Fungicide application best explained hyphal P-33 transfer in cropland soils. The use of fungicides and subsequent decline in AMF richness in croplands reduced P-33 uptake by 43%. Our results suggest that land-use intensity and fungicide use are major deterrents to the functioning and natural nutrient uptake capacity of AMF in agroecosystems.

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published

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Volume

6 (8)

Pages / Article No.

1145 - 1154

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03427 - Frossard, Emmanuel / Frossard, Emmanuel check_circle

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