Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil physical and chemical properties, maize growth, cadmium, and lead content of farmland from a lead-zinc mine area

• Main Authors: ZHANG Jin-xiu, ZHAN Fang-dong, WANG Can, LI Bo, LI Ming-rui, HE Yong-mei, LI Yuan
• Format: Article
• Language: zho
• Published: Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture 2020-09-01
• Series: Journal of Agricultural Resources and Environment
• Subjects: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (amf); glomalin related soil protein; bioavailability; mineral nutrition; photosynthetic physiology
• Online Access: http://www.aed.org.cn/nyzyyhjxb/html/2020/5/20200514.htm

The present study aimed to investigate effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on soil physical and chemical properties, maize growth, photosynthetic physiology, nutrient content, and cadmium and lead content in maize under heavy metal stress. Heavy metalcontaminated farmland soil was sampled from lead-zinc mining areas in Huize and Lanping Counties, Yunnan Province. A pot experiment was carried out using maize as the host plant with AMF inoculation. Results showed that:Inoculation with AMF significantly increased the content of easily extractive glomalin related soil protein (EE-GRSP) and total glomalin related soil protein (T-GRSP). The available content of Cd and Pb in soil reduced by 34.6%~79.5%, and the content of available nitrogen and phosphorus in soil increased by 30.9%~206%. Under inoculation with AMF, the content of nitrogen and phosphorus in maize increased significantly by 17.6%~38.5%, photosynthesis of leaves and plant biomass were enhanced, and content of Cd and Pb in maize reduced by 30.0%~68.7%. Correlation analysis indicated that there was a very significant positive correlation between the T-GRSP content and the content of available nitrogen and phosphorus. A significant negative correlation between the content of EE-GRSP and T-GRSP and the available Pb content in soil, and a significant positive correlation between the content of Cd and Pb in maize and the available content of Cd and Pb in soil were observed. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between the nitrogen content in maize roots and the available nitrogen content in soil, and between the phosphorus content in maize and the available phosphorus content in soil. Results indicated that AMF inoculation reduced the content of Cd and Pb in maize by decreasing the bioavailability of Cd and Pb with an increase in the GRSP in the polluted soil, and enhanced maize biomass by increasing the available nutrient content in soil and improving the mineral nutrition and photosynthetic physiology of maize.