Record ID No. |
1854 |
Author(s) |
Muleta D., Assefa F., Nemomissa S., Granhall U , 2008 |
Affiliation |
SLU, Department of Microbiology, POB 7025, S-75007 Uppsala, SWEDEN |
Title |
Distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spores in soils of smallholder agroforestry and monocultural coffee systems in southwestern Ethiopia |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Biology and Fertility of Soils.44(4):653-659p. |
Categories |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Miscellaneous |
Organism |
n.a. |
Country |
SWEDEN, Europe |
Abstracts |
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with the root system of coffee
(Coffea arabica L.) plants, but their distribution in smallholder agroforestry and monocultural
coffee systems is not well known. This study investigates the spatial distribution of AMF spores
in a field study in southwestern Ethiopia. Soil samples from different depths (0-50 cm) were
collected under the tree canopies of Acacia abyssinica, Albizia gummifera, Ficus sur, Ficus vasta
and randomly selected unshaded coffee plants at different sampling points (canopy base, radius,
edge and outside canopy). Significantly higher AMF spore densities were recorded at canopy bases
and at 0-30 cm soil depth. Spore populations were found to belong to five genera: Acaulospora,
Entrophospora, Glomus, Gigaspora and Scutellospora, with Glomus and Acaulospora dominating.
Sampling points, sites and depths, shade tree species and shade tree/coffee plant age affected
AMF spore density. Agroforestry practices including the use of leguminous shade trees effectively
maintained AMF numbers in soils even at depth compared with unshaded coffee plants
(monocultures). |