LogoTeluq
Français
Logo
Open access research
publication repository

Species-specific responses to forest soil inoculum in planted trees in an abandoned agricultural field [r-libre/1239]

Saint-Denis, Annick; Kneeshaw, Daniel; Bélanger, Nicolas; Simard, Suzanne; Laforest-Lapointe, Isabelle, & Messier, Christian (2017). Species-specific responses to forest soil inoculum in planted trees in an abandoned agricultural field. Applied Soil Ecology, 112, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2016.12.008

File(s) available for this item:
  PDF - Manuscript_2nd_Revision_ApplSoilEcol_A St-Denis_2016.pdf
Content : Accepted Version
Restricted access
 
Item Type: Journal Articles
Refereed: Yes
Status: Published
Abstract: Tree plantations are commonly used to restore abandoned agricultural fields with varying degrees of success. Agricultural soils differ from forest soils in nutrient availability and microbial communities. The objective of this study was to test the effect of adding small amounts of forest soil on the survival, growth and rates of mycorrhizal fungal colonization of trees planted in an abandoned agricultural field over the crucial first three growing seasons. Seedlings of two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and two ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species were planted in an abandoned agricultural field. Soil inocula were taken from four forest stands, each dominated by one of the planted species. Half of the soil samples were sterilized before inoculation to distinguish microbial from nutrient effects. The effect of the quantity of soil inoculum added was tested using 300 and 1500 ml of forest soil. Tree mortality was low and did not vary between treatments. The growth of EM tree species responded, positively or negatively, to forest soil inoculation. A negative feedback was detected on the growth of red oak seedlings inoculated with red oak soil. Seedlings inoculated with EM sterilized soils were smaller than control seedlings, presumably due to lower nutrient availability of EM forest soils compared to agricultural field soil. The majority of the effects, either positive or negative, were observed the first year. After three seasons of growth, only yellow birch seedlings that had received 1500 ml of non-sterilized red oak soil still benefited from soil inoculation. More research is needed in nutrient-limited soils to determine whether inoculation would have greater or longer term benefits on tree survival and growth.
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Depositor: Bélanger, Nicolas
Owner / Manager: Nicolas Bélanger
Deposited: 17 Nov 2017 18:33
Last Modified: 12 Dec 2019 14:25

Actions (login required)

RÉVISER RÉVISER