Effect of a commercial mycorrhiza on soil nutrients bioavailability and growth of young olive trees grown in a pot experiment
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abstract
Mycorrhizal colonization of plant roots may have several benefits to nutrients
and water acquisition by plants. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the effect of a
commercial mycorrhiza on: (i) soil properties, in particular on the bioavailability of the
nutrients; (ii) the nutritional status of the olive plants during the growing season; and (iii)
dry matter yield on olive plants. The experiment was conducted in pots in a greenhouse of
the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, located in the northeast of Portugal. Seven
treatments (Control, Mycorrhiza + 3% NPK, 3% NPK; 3% NPK + 3% N, 3% NPK + 3%
P, 3% NPK + 3% K, 3% NPK + micronutrients) were arranged as a completely random
design with three replicates. Young rooted plants (~20 cm height) were used in this study
and grown in pots of 3 kg soil for a year. The plants were destroyed one year after had
been planted and separated into roots, stems and leaves. The plant’s parts were dried in an
oven (70 ºC), weighted, ground and analyzed for the elemental composition. From a soil
sample of each experimental unit they were determined several soil properties. Total
(roots+stems+leaves) matter yield did not significantly vary with the fertilizer treatments.
Phosphorus concentrations in the stems and roots were significantly higher in Mycorrhiza
treated plants than in the other treatments. In Mycorrhiza pots there were recorded the
higher pH values. Soil phosphorus and potassium availability in Mycorrhiza pots was
similar to the treatments receiving an addition of these elements. Mycorrhiza gave soil
organic matter values similar to the treatments producing the higher values. Regarding
phosphatase activity, the Mycorrhiza (487.51 μg nitrofenol g-1 h-1) showed twice the value
of the treatment with phosphorus addition (280.70 μg nitrofenol g-1 h-1). Thus, the
commercial mycorrhiza was able to maintain the plant nutritional status.
PDR2020 throught the project Valor+: “Criação de valor com os subprodutos agroalimentares e florestais” (PPDR2020-2024-032958).
