Natural re-establishment of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae following stripmine reclamation in Wyoming.
Abstract
Percentage root infection of Agropyron smithii and A. intermedium by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae was measured and soil spores were counted in 6 reclaimed stripmine sites in Wyoming. On 2- and 3-yr old sites infection and spore counts were less than or equal to 50% of native prairie levels. Spore counts of a 3-yr old disced prairie site were not different from the undisturbed prairie level, but infection was significantly lower. Spore counts of the reclaimed sites were not highly correlated with root infection.<new para>ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT:<new para>Percentage root infection of Agropyron smithii and A. intermedium and soil spore counts on 2- and 3-yr-old reclaimed sites were c. 50% or less than native prairie levels. Spore counts of a 3-yr-old disked prairie site were not different from the undisturbed prairie level but infection was significantly lower. Spore counts of the reclaimed sites were not highly correlated with percentage root infection. Of 7 annuals colonizing the reclaimed and disked sites, 5 were non-mycorrhizal.