Evaluation of two commercial fungal inoculants for improving phosphorus supply to crops grown in soils with contrasting management histories

Abstract

AbstractTwo fungal inoculants are commercially available in Canada and the USA that target improving plant access to soil phosphorus (P). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Penicillium bilaiae were used to inoculate wheat, lentil and flax grown in an organically-managed and a conventionally-managed soil. A second crop was grown after freezing the soil to evaluate if the inoculants carried over to a second crop. Crops in the organically managed soil were smaller and took up less P than the same crop in the conventionally managed soil. Inoculation with either inoculant improved shoot growth and P uptake in wheat grown in the organically-managed soil and in lentil grown in the conventionally-managed soil. Co-application of the inoculants was never superior to the single inoculants. Carry-over effects were slight and inconsistent.