Effect of phosphate fertilisers on the production of mycorrhizal inoculum in soil

Abstract

Mycorrhizal inocula were prepared in two soils by growing white clover host plants with a variety of phosphate fertilisers applied at rates ranging from 0 to 2.8 g/pot. The infectivity of the inocula was subsequently assessed using white clover as the test plant. Superphosphate generally depressed inoculum infectivity despite greatly increased host root growth. Chatham Rise and Christmas Island ‘C’ grade rock phosphates had little overall effect on inoculum infectivity despite greatly increased root growth in soil fertilised with Chatham Rise rock phosphate. © 1980 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.