• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1984

Potted, germinating Pinus rigida ${\times}$ P. taeda seedlings were inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) ectomycorrhizal fungus to test the effectiveness of Pt in relation to organic amendment and changes in soil fertility and soil texture. Pt was cultured as mycelia in vermiculite-peat moss mixture with nutrients and added to sterilized pot soils with or without organic amendment (fully fermented compost) at three soil texture levels (sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam) in a factorial design. Plants were grown in a greenhouse for 4 months and harvested to compare their growth with non-mycorrhizal plants and plants infected by natural fungi. Regardless of sod texture, soil fertility, or organic amendment, seedlings inoculated with Pt were better in dry weight and height than non-mycorrhizal plants or those infected by natural fungi. An exception was observed in the most fertile soil (0.075% N and 1.32% organic matter content in sandy loam with organic amendment), where non-mycorrhizal plants were slightly bigger (8%) and heavier (18%) than Pt-inoculated plants. In over-all average, Pt-inoculated seedlings were 30% taller and 107% heavier than those infected by natural fungi and 31 % taller and 60% heavier than non-mycorrhizal plants. Growth stimulation of seedlings by Pt was more pronounced in less fertile sand soil when organic was not amended. Mycorrhizal frequency of Pt (% of mycorrhizal root tips) was reduced to about half (from 84 to 33% in sandy loam and from 77 to 40% in loamy sand) by organic amendment, while that of natural fungi was not significantly affected. Severe nitrogen deficiency was observed in the needles of non-mycorrhizal plants (1.38% N), while both Pt-inoculated plants (1.68% N) and those infected by natural fungi (1.89% N) did not develop symptom, suggesting an active role of mycorrhizae in absorption of soil nitrogen. Top to root ratio increased with organic amendment to non-mycorrhizal plants, but was not significantly affected by fungal treatment. It was concluded from this study that relative effectiveness of Pt was determined by soil fertility. Organic amendment to less fertile sand soil increased effectiveness of Pt, while the same amendment to more fertile loamy sand and sandy loam decreased effectiveness of Pt. Benefits of Pt mycorrhizae would be expected most either when organic was not added to the soil, or when soil nutrients were not abundant.