Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Phosphorus Uptake of Chickpea Grown in Northern Syria

Edwin Weber, Eckhard George, Douglas P. Beck, Mohan C. Saxena, Horst Marschner. (3/10/2008). Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Phosphorus Uptake of Chickpea Grown in Northern Syria. Experimental Agriculture, 28 (4), pp. 433-442.

Abstract

Inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) improved growth of chick-pea (Cicer arielinum L.) and doubled phosphorus (P) uptake at low and intermediate levels of P fertilization in a pot experiment on sterilized low-P calcareous soil. In field experiments at Tel Hadya, northern Syria, growth, shoot P concentration and seed yield of spring-sown chickpea remained unaffected by inoculation with VAMF or by P fertilization. The mycorrhizal infection of chickpea was high (approximately 75% of root length mycorrhizal at the flowering stage) irrespective of inoculation with VAMF or P fertilization and may ensure efficient P uptake under field conditions.