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Abstract
A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the organic phosphorus (P) (phytate) utilization of Zea mays L. with different nitrogen (N) forms (NH4+ and NO3−) when both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Funelliformis mosseae) and phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (PSB, Pseudomonas alcaligenes) are present. The soil was supplied with either KNO3 or (NH4)2SO4 (200 mg kg−1 N) with or without phytin (75 mg P kg−1). Results showed that the application of NH4+ to the soil in a plant–AM fungus–PSB system decreased rhizosphere pH and increased phosphatase activity. It also enhanced the mineralization rate of phytin, which resulted in the release of more inorganic P. The application of NO3− promoted mycorrhizal colonization and hyphal length density in the soil. The inorganic P in the hyphosphere decreased, but more P was transferred to the plant through the mycorrhizal hyphae. Hence, in addition, the application of the two different N forms did not significantly alter the content of plant P. The plant supplied with different N fertilizers acquired P through different mechanisms associated with other microbes. NH4+ application promoted phytin mineralization by decreasing soil pH, whereas NO3− application increased inorganic P uptake by strengthening the mycorrhizal pathway.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31201693, 31372139), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20120008130001), the Science Foundation of Guangdong province (S2012040006938), and Guangdong Academy of Sciences (qnjjsq201102; rcjj201202).
Notes
1. Supplementary Content may be viewed online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2013.861028.