Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas on response of ‘grasslands huia’ and ‘tamar’ white clovers to phosphorus

Abstract

Inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi stimulated the uptake of soil P and enhanced the growth of white clover at low levels of applied P. At high levels of applied P mycorrhizal fungi depressed growth. ‘Tamar’ white clover outyielded ‘Grasslands Huia’, particularly at the high levels of applied P. At the lowest level of applied P Tamar had more of its roots converted to mycorrhizas and was more mycotrophic than Huia. Endomycorrhizas formed by the indigenous fungi may benefit field-grown white clover in Warepa silt loam with applications of up to and possibly in excess of 20 kg P/ha. © 1977 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.