Addition of organic soil conditioner and its effect on the microbial community and mycorrhizal fungi

• Grant number: 11/12407-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso
• Grantee: Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fernando Dini Andreote

Abstract

Phosphorus is one of the elements required by plants and essential for their development. Tropical soils are common to fix phosphorus on clays and oxy-hydroxides of iron and aluminum, making it unavailable to plants. This is limitant for agriculture in these regions, increasing dependence on phosphate inputs and consequently, high production costs. Organic acids, such as humic and fulvic acids can be used as soil conditioners, as they can improve chemical, physical and biological soil properties. These organic acids can compete for the same adsorption sites of phosphorus, which can leave it available in the soil solution. It is known that phosphorus is a non-mobile in the soil, thus, a greater root surface increase its uptake by plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form an association with plant roots, becoming extensions of the same plant and helping the absorption of water and nutrients. In this context, one should evaluate the potential availability of phosphorus using organic conditioner and its effect on soil microbial community, especially its interaction with mycorrhizal fungi. (AU)