Mixed Growth with Weeds Promotes Mycorrhizal Colonization and Increases the Plant-Availability of Phosphorus under Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

(1) Background: Weed control decreases the competition for nutrients, but also the potential of increased phosphorus (P) mobilization in soils caused by higher plant diversity. (2) Methods: Impacts of weed species under maize on mycorrhizal colonization and plant-availability of P were investigated in two pot experiments. Plant traits and P mobilization were tested in weed-free maize and in mixed growth with six annual weed species. (3) Results: Growth of maize decreased in treatments with weeds, while P concentrations in its shoots increased in mixed growth with C. album, E. crus-galli and P. convolvulus. Mycorrhizal colonization of maize without weeds was low (<20% of root length), but increased in mixed growth with C. album, E. crus-galli and V. arvensis up to 40%. The activities of Pmobilizing hydrolytic enzymes (phosphatases, ß-glucosidase) and plant-availability of P were occasionally higher under mixed growth with weeds. The dimension of weed impacts on P cycling under maize differed significantly between both experiments. (4) Conclusions: Weeds potentially promote P mobilization and mycorrhizal colonization under maize, but this impact is not guaranteed. The weed-based improved P supply of maize should be defined under field conditions to allow a controlled weed tolerance in maize cropping systems.