Variations in Nitrogen Accumulation and Use Efficiency in Maize Differentiate with Nitrogen and Phosphorus Rates and Contrasting Fertilizer Placement Methodologies.

Balanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) rates, coupled with rational fertilization methodology, could promote crop N accumulation, N use efficiency, and yield production, particularly in semi-arid and arid regions. To test these characteristics, a two-year (2018 and 2019) pot experiment was performed by growing summer maize in a rain-proof glass greenhouse under nine combined N (112, 150, and 187 kg ha-1, urea) and P (45, 60, and 75 kg ha-1 calcium superphosphate) rates and three contrasting fertilizer placements. The fertilizers were placed by broadcast on the soil surface (Broadcast), a side band on a 4 cm strip of soil surface within 7 cm from the sowing line (Side band), and a deep band on a 4 cm strip below 7 cm soil depth within 7 cm from the sowing line (Deep band). Results from three maize growth stages (eight-leaf, 45 days after sowing, DAS; tasseling, 60 DAS; and harvest, 115 DAS) showed that leaf, stem, root N accumulation, and total soil N were significantly increased under Deep band than under both Side band and Broadcast at N150P60, N187P60, N150P75, and N187P75, but not at N112P45, N150P45, N187P45, N112P60, and N112P75. Significantly greater leaf, stem, and root N accumulations were also displayed at N150 and N187 than at N112 for the same P60 or P75 under the Deep band at 60 DAS and 115 DAS; while for leaf and stem, N accumulations were greater at P75 and P60 than at P45 for the same N150 under Deep band at 45 DAS, 60 DAS, and 115 DAS. Significantly greater agronomy N use efficiency, partial factor productivity, and N use efficiency were exhibited under the Deep band than under the Side band and Broadcast at N150P75 and N187P75, but at N150P60 and N187P60 for NUE only. In addition, leaf, stem, seed, and root N concentrations positively correlated with their own N accumulations or soil N concentrations at the tasseling and harvest stages. Our results demonstrate that a synchronized N150P60, N187P60, N150P75, or N187P75 fertilization rate with Deep band placement can improve soil N availability and root N uptake, and thereby, increase aboveground N accumulation, N use efficiency, and yield production of maize, which is particularly practical for small-holder farmers globally.

Differences in aluminum tolerance and immobilization between two indigenous ectomycorrhizal fungi Lactarius deliciosus and Pisolithus tinctorius from Southwest China's forest stands.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity severely decreases plant growth and productivity in acidic soil globally. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can promote host plant's Al-tolerance by acting as a physical barrier or bio-filter. However, little information is available on the role of ECM fungus on Al immobilization with respect to Al-tolerance. This present study aimed to screen a promising indigenous ECM fungus with high Al-tolerance and to understand its role in Al immobilization related to Al-tolerance. Two ECM fungal strains (Lactarius deliciosus 2 and Pisolithus tinctorius 715) isolated from forest stands in Southwest China were cultured in vitro with 0.0, 1.0 or 2.0 mM Al addition for 21 days to compare their Al accumulation and Al-tolerance. Meanwhile, fungal mycelia were incubated in 0.037 mM Al3+ solutions, and then Al3+ concentrations in the solution were determined at time 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min, and the Al3+ immobilization characteristics were evaluated using the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models. Results showed that 1.0 or 2.0 mM Al3+ addition significantly increased fungal biomass production by 23% or 41% in L. deliciosus 2, not in P. tinctorius 715. Fungal Al3+ concentrations in L. deliciosus 2 and P. tinctorius 715 were significantly increased by 293% and 103% under 2.0 mM than under 1.0 mM Al3+ addition. The pH values in the culture solution were significantly decreased by 0.43 after 21 d fungus growth but no changes between these two fungi under the same Al3+ addition. Fungal Al3+ immobilization showed a three-stage trend with initially a rapid rate followed a relatively slower rate until reaching equilibrium. The pseudo-second order model was the best (R2 = 0.98 and 0.99 for L. deliciosus 2 and P. tinctorius 715) to fit the experimentally observed data among the three models. Compared to P. tinctorius 715, L. deliciosus 2 also had greater intercept value, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and extracellular Al3+ proportion in fungal mycelia. Additionally, bio-concentration on Al3+, active site numbers for Al3+, boundary layer thickness, CEC, and immobilization on the cell wall in fungal mycelia were involved in ECM fungal Al-tolerance. These results show that both ECM fungi are Al-tolerant while L. deliciosus 2 is a promising indigenous ECM isolate with higher Al-tolerance in Southwest China, and they can be hence applied to the afforestation and ecological restoration in acidic soil.

Laccaria bicolor Mobilizes both Labile Aluminum and Inorganic Phosphate in Rhizosphere Soil of Pinus massoniana Seedlings Field Grown in a Yellow Acidic Soil.

Plant growth is often limited by highly activated aluminum (Al) and low available phosphorus (P) in acidic soil. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can improve their host plants' Al tolerance by increasing P availability while decreasing Al activity in vitro or in hydroponic or sand culture systems. However, the effect of ECM fungi on inorganic P (IP) and labile Al in acidic soil in the field, particularly in conjunction with Al treatment, remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to determine the influence of ECM fungal association on the mobilization of IP and labile Al in rhizosphere soil of host plants grown in the field with external Al treatment and the underlying nutritional mechanism in plant Al tolerance. To do so, 4-week-old Pinus massoniana seedlings were inoculated with three ECM isolates (Laccaria bicolor 270, L. bicolor S238A, and L. bicolor S238N) and grown in a Haplic Alisol field with or without Al treatment for 12 weeks. Results showed that L. bicolor association enhanced the available P depletion and facilitated the mobilization of IP and labile Al, in turn improving the capacity of host plant to use Al-bound P, Ca-bound P, and occluded P, particularly when P. massoniana seedlings were inoculated with L. bicolor S238A. Inoculation with L. bicolor isolates also enhanced the solubility of labile Al and facilitated the conversion of acid-soluble Al into exchangeable Al. Our findings suggested that ECM inoculation could enhance plant Al tolerance in the field by mobilizing IP to improve the P bioavailability but not by decreasing Al activity.IMPORTANCE Here, we reveal the underlying nutritional mechanism in plant Al tolerance conferred by ectomycorrhizal (ECM)-fungus inoculation in the field and report the screening of a promising ECM isolate to assist phytoremediation and afforestation using Pinus massoniana in acidic soil in southern China. This study advances our understanding of the contribution of ECM fungi to plant-ECM-fungus symbiosis and highlights the vital role of ECM-fungus inoculation in plant Al tolerance. In addition, the results described in the present study confirm the importance of carrying out studies in the field rather than only in vitro studies. Our findings strengthen our understanding of the role of ECM-fungus association in detecting, utilizing, and transporting unavailable nutrients in the soil to enhance host plant growth and adaptability in response to adverse habitats.

[Dynamics of microbes and enzyme activities during litter decomposition of Pinus massoniana forest in mid-subtropical area].

The dynamics of microbial quantity and enzyme activities during decomposition process of masson pine (Pinus massoniana) leaf litter, oak (Quercus aliena) leaf litter and their mixture (at natural mass ratio, 8: 2) were studied with litterbag method in the pinus forest typical vegetations of mid-subtropical Jinyun Mountain nature reserve. The results showed that the decomposition constant K of leaf litter ranked as follows: mixture (0.94) > oak (0.86) > masson pine (0.67). Microbial groups and enzyme activity exhibited some similar responses to the litter decomposition process. After 135 days, fungal and microbial quantities reached the maximum while bacterial and actinomycetic number reached the minimum, presumably due to the high-temperature environment. The correlative analysis showed that the cellulase and acid phosphatase activity had significant positive relationship with the dry weight remaining rate (P < 0.05), which played a key role for microbes in utilizing the substrates at early stages. Meanwhile, the polyphenol oxidase activity showed highly significant negative correlation with the dry weight remaining rate (P < 0.01) in pine litter and the mixed litter, which worked on further decay of recalcitrant compound at late stages. Through the whole process, the microbial quantity and polyphenol oxidase activity were generally in the order of oak litter > mixed litter > pine litter, while in most cases the oak litter showed the lowest acid phosphatase activity, the ranking of which had some differences with the order of the decomposition constant K, indicating that litter decomposition was the result of integrated action by microbe and many kinds of enzymes. The results suggested that differences in litter composition and seasonal climate strongly influenced the microbial communities and the ecosystem processes they mediate. When mixed with oak leaves in given stand, the pine litter had an accelerating decomposition rate, which might depend on the higher microbial quantity and polyphenol oxidase activity in the mixed litter.