Density of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nutrient Status of Soils in Selected Land Use Types and Soil Depths
Density of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nutrient Status of Soils in Selected Land Use Types and Soil Depths
Nzube Thaddeus Egboka1*, Olajire Fagbola2, Ugochukwu Nnamdi Nkwopara1, Nnaemeka Henry Okoli1, Akaninyene Isaiah Afangide1 and Tochukwu Victor Nwosu3
ABSTRACT
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are one of the most beneficial components of the soil biota whose abundance in soil varies with land use type, soil depth and location. The study investigated the density of the AMF and nutrient status of soils in selected land use types and soil depths. Soil samples were collected from some fallow, cassava and pineapple fields in Ibadan and Ikwuano areas of Nigeria at 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm depths and analyzed in the Laboratory. Spore densities of AMF varied significantly (P > 0.05) between the fallow and cultivated (cassava and pineapple) land use types in both locations. Across the soil depths, however, AMF spore density decreased significantly with depth in Ibadan, with mean values of 54±6, 45±3 and 39±5 spores 100 g-1 soil at the 0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm, respectively. In Ikwuano, there was no significant differences among means, and mean spore densities were more abundant at the 15–30 cm depth (67±2 spores 100 g-1 soil), followed concordantly by the 0–15 cm (66±4 spores 100 g-1 soil) and lowest at 30–45 cm depth (64±3 spores 100 g-1 soil). The status of soil nutrient elements (C, N, P, Ca, Mg, K and Na) were relatively higher in Ikwuano than in Ibadan soils. Spore density, essentially, correlated significantly positive (r = 0.910*, P > 0.05) with the exchangeable K+, but correlated significantly negative (r = -0.834*, P > 0.05) with total N in the fallow field. The density of the AMF was higher in the fallow than the cultivated land use types, and more at the 0–15 cm depth relative to the subsoil depths.
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June 2022
Vol. 38, Iss. 2, Pages 388-758
