Author:
Mukasa Mugerwa T. T.,McGee P. A.
Abstract
Levels of organic carbon within agricultural soils in Australia continue to decline predominantly due to intensive cultivation. Such practices place sustainable use of agricultural soils at risk. The aim of the present study was to test whether selected melanised endophytic fungi could enhance organic carbon in an experimental soil. In a compartmental pot study, 20 melanised endophytic fungi significantly increased carbon in an aggregated carbon-rich Alfisol over 14 weeks, with increases of up to 17% measured. Two of these fungi increased organic carbon within microaggregates. This study demonstrates that some melanised endophytic fungi have the potential to increase levels of organic carbon within an experimental soil. Melanin, a polyaromatic compound present within the cell walls of melanised endophytic fungi, may have contributed towards increases in organic carbon, particularly if protected within soil aggregates. Deposition of aromatic carbon within aggregates would leave this carbon less susceptible to oxidation and contribute towards long-term carbon storage in soils.
Subject
Earth-Surface Processes,Soil Science,Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
Cited by
8 articles.
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