EFFECTS OF CO-INOCULATION OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND RHIZOBIUM ON THE TRIPARTITE ASSOCIATION WITH FIELD PEA (Pisum sativum) AND LENTIL (Lens culinaris) UNDER SASKATCHEWAN FIELD CONDITIONS

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were recently introduced in western Canada as a commercial biofertilizer for field crop production. Mycorrhizal inoculant use is an established practice in land reclamation and horticultural activities; however, it is only an emerging interest in agricultural systems. Key questions need to be answered regarding its impact on growth, nutrient uptake and yield responses in field crops, particularly for legumes, when co-inoculated with nitrogen (N) fixing rhizobial inoculants. Field experiments were conducted at various locations in Saskatchewan in 2012 and 2013 to investigate the response of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) to the application of a commercial AMF inoculant MYKE® PRO GR (Glomus intraradices) (Premier Tech Ltd.) at the recommended application rate and twice the recommended rate (7.5 kg ha-1 and 15 kg ha-1 respectively) when applied with and without Rhizobium inoculant (Nodulator®, Becker Underwood). All the treatments were repeated with and without phosphorus (16.8 kg ha-1). The results suggest that application of P fertilizer in combination with AMF and Rhizobium significantly enhanced mid-season biomass, and N and P accumulation, seed nutrient yield and biological N fixation. Seed yield of lentil and pea were unaffected by AMF inoculation. It was concluded that the tripartite symbiotic association can have synergistic responses in legumes under prairie field conditions, but the responses can depend on host species and other biotic and abiotic parameters.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Soil Science

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Biswaray, Anisha 1987-

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Walley, Fran
• Germida, Jim
• Bedard Haughn, Angela
• Hamel, Chantal

• Keyword 1 Mycorrhizae
• Key phrase one Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi
• Keyword 2 Rhizobium
• Key phrase 2 Tripartite symbiosis

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/12635

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/12635