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Soil Phosphorus and pH Influence the Growth of Mycorrhizal Sweetgum

Abstract

The response of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) seedlings grown either without or inoculated with the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Gigaspora margarita‘Becker’ and ‘Hall’ to 25, 50, and 100 ppm soil phosphorus (P) and adjusted soil pHs of 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, and 7.8 was observed during the first growing season. The best seedling growth for both VAM and noninoculated seedlings occurred at soil pH 4.5 and 100 ppm of soil P where mean heights and top dry weights averaged \u3e 28 cm and 8 g, respectively. As soil pH increased, seedling growth decreased significantly and at pH 7.8 the seedlings averaged \u3c 4 cm in height regardless of the soil P level or mycorrhizal condition. Seedling growth at all pH levels, except pH 7.8, decreased with decreasing soil P. Inoculated seedlings were significantly larger than noninoculated seedlings at 25 ppm soil P and pHs 4.5 and 5.5. Soil P, soil pH, and mycorrhizal condition significantly influenced nutrient levels in plant parts. Soil nutrient levels varied significantly with soil pH

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