Effects of mycorrhizal Bermuda grass on low-range soil matric suction
- PDF / 742,129 Bytes
- 11 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 5 Downloads / 160 Views
SOILS, SEC 3 • REMEDIATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATED OR DEGRADED LANDS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effects of mycorrhizal Bermuda grass on low-range soil matric suction Xun Wen Chen 1,2 & James Tsz Fung Wong 3 & Jun-Jian Wang 1,2 & Charles Wang Wai Ng 3 & Ming Hung Wong 1,2,4 Received: 28 May 2020 / Accepted: 12 November 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose Soil matric suction, or negative water potential, contributes to soil physical stability (e.g., slope). Plants retain soil matric suction as they take up and transpire water in soil. This study investigated the effects of the common plant root-fungi symbiosis on the changes of the low-range matric suction (i.e., 0–100 kPa), which is relevant to slope stability. Methods Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) was grown in compacted soil (dry density ~ 1680 kg m−3) with and without the inoculation of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) (Rhizophagus intraradices). Matric suction along the soil depth was measured during wetting and drying. Biomass, fungal colonization rate, and wet-aggregates size distribution were investigated subsequently. Results AMF association did not exert significant effects on the matric suction (range 0–80 kPa) distribution compared with the control, during wetting and drying. AMF significantly decreased the root biomass compared with the control. Significantly, higher proportions of 2–5-mm wet-aggregates were observed in the inoculated treatment than the control. Conclusion AMF can hinder root growth, and the choice of plant-fungus combination should not be neglected. Higher root biomass is preferred during drying in order to achieve a higher initial suction before the rainfall. Promoting root biomass would be more essential than shoot biomass during wetting (heavy rainfall). The application of AMF should be considered for soil erosion control during the early stage of restoration works. Keywords Soil matric suction . Mycorrhizae . Wet-aggregate . Grass . Water uptake
Highlights • We investigated the effects of a mycorrhizal grass on soil matric suction. • Mycorrhizal association did not exert significant effects on the matric suction. • Root biomass would be more essential than shoot biomass in retaining suction. • Higher proportions of 2–5-mm wet-aggregates observed in the mycorrhizal treatment. • Bermuda grass associated with mycorrhizae is a potential method for erosion control. Responsible editor: Ravi Naidu * Charles Wang Wai Ng [email protected]
2
State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
3
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China
4
Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER), and Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong K
Data Loading...
