Physical and chemical soil variables and the relation with the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizae in angleton (Dichanthium aristatum Benth) roots

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), associated with the roots of the angleton grass, related to physicochemical soil factors in livestock farms of four agroecological zones of the sub-region Sabana of Sucre, Colombia. The percentage of AMF colonization of roots was estimated by the staining technique, which allowed to observe under the microscope the presence of colonizing fungal structures and the subsequent determination of the percentage of colonization for sample, farms and area. With the results of the colonization percentage and the physicochemical soil analysis a correlation between th ese variables, using statistical methods and multivariate analysis, was performed. The analysis of simple correspondence showed a relationship between the presence of colonizing structures and the soil texture. The results of analysis between multiple types of colonizing structures and physicochemical soil variables showed the presence of vesicles and arbuscules in soils with high contents of calcium, magnesium and potassium and low values of nitrogen and phosphorus. There is a need for further studies in other geographical areas and other grasses to establish correlation between physicochemical soil variables and the magnitude of AMF colonization in tropical pastures in Colombia.

Keywords

• Micorrizae
• Colonization
• Roots
• Angleton
• Soil