Understanding Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization in Walnut Plantations: The Contribution of Cover Crops and Soil Microbial Communities

Babacar Thioye, Marc Legras, Lisa Castel, François Hirissou, Naouel Chaftar and Isabelle Trinsoutrot-Gattin
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Babacar Thioye: UniLaSalle, AGHYLE Research Unit UP 2018.C101, 3 Rue du Tronquet, F-76134 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Marc Legras: UniLaSalle, AGHYLE Research Unit UP 2018.C101, 3 Rue du Tronquet, F-76134 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Lisa Castel: UniLaSalle, AGHYLE Research Unit UP 2018.C101, 3 Rue du Tronquet, F-76134 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
François Hirissou: Chamber of Agriculture Dordogne, 24200 Sarlat, France
Naouel Chaftar: UniLaSalle, AGHYLE Research Unit UP 2018.C101, 3 Rue du Tronquet, F-76134 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Isabelle Trinsoutrot-Gattin: UniLaSalle, AGHYLE Research Unit UP 2018.C101, 3 Rue du Tronquet, F-76134 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Soil microorganisms play a central role in biological soil functioning. One of the beneficial microbiota that has a symbiotic association with most of the plants is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of cover crops—widely used in conservation agriculture or organic farming—on native mycorrhizal fungi. This study was conducted in Southern France, in 20-year-old walnut orchards, where faba bean ( Vicia faba Roth) was intercropped. To find whether the native AM fungal community associated with walnut trees was influenced by cover crops and soil microbial communities, analyses of soil physicochemical and microbiological indicators were carried out with roots and soil samples collected from four modalities (walnut in conventional farming with and without cover crops, and walnut in organic farming with and without cover crops). Our results showed that the presence of cover crops mainly influenced the soil microbial abundance and activities in conventional plots. In contrast, cover crops stimulated AM fungal colonization of walnut roots in organic plots, reaching 35% and 54% for arbuscule abundance and mycorrhizal intensity, respectively. In conventional plots, ergosterol and mineral nitrogen contents were mainly correlated with mycorrhizal colonization, while only acid phosphatase activity in soil was positively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization in organic plots. The use of the faba bean showed the great role played by cover crops in the enhancement of walnut trees’ mycorrhizal colonization. Identification of the functional traits of AM fungi sensitive to walnut trees is required to inform decisions in specific agricultural practices.

Keywords: Juglans regia; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; cover crops; soil; organic farming; conventional (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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