Experimental Agriculture

Table of Contents - 1992 - Volume 28, Issue 04  

Research Article

Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Phosphorus Uptake of Chickpea Grown in Northern Syria

Edwin Webera1, Eckhard Georgea1, Douglas P. Becka2, Mohan C. Saxenaa2 and Horst Marschnera1

a1 Institute of Plant Nutrition, Hohenheim University, Box 70 05 62, D-7000 Stuttgart 70, Germany and Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria

a2 Legumes Program, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria

Abstract

Inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) improved growth of chick-pea (Cicer arielinum L.) and doubled phosphorus (P) uptake at low and intermediate levels of P fertilization in a pot experiment on sterilized low-P calcareous soil. In field experiments at Tel Hadya, northern Syria, growth, shoot P concentration and seed yield of spring-sown chickpea remained unaffected by inoculation with VAMF or by P fertilization. The mycorrhizal infection of chickpea was high (approximately 75% of root length mycorrhizal at the flowering stage) irrespective of inoculation with VAMF or P fertilization and may ensure efficient P uptake under field conditions.

(Accepted January 02 1992)