Publication Date:
2012-01-01
Description:
The responses of the soil microbial community features associated to the legume treeAcacia senegal(L.) Willd. including both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) diversity and soil bacterial functions, were investigated under contrasting environmental conditions. Soil samples were collected during dry and rainy seasons in two contrasting rainfall sites of Senegal (Dahra and Goudiry, in arid and semiarid zone, resp.). Soils were taken from the rhizosphere ofA. senegalboth in plantation and natural stands in comparison to bulk soil. A multiple analysis revealed positive correlations between soil physicochemical properties, mycorrhizal potential and enzyme activities variables. The positive effects ofA. senegaltrees on soil mycorrhizal potential and enzyme activities indicates that in sahelian regions, AMF spore density and diversity as well as soil microbial functions can be influenced by land-use systems (plantation versus natural population ofA. senegal) and environmental conditions such as moisture and soil nutrient contents. Our study underlines the importance of prior natural AMF screening for better combinations ofA. senegalseedlings with AMF species to achieve optimum plant growth improvement, and for restoration and reforestation of degraded lands.
Print ISSN:
2090-4614
Electronic ISSN:
2090-4622
Topics:
Biology
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