Natural reestablishment of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae following stripmine reclamation in Wyoming.
Abstract
Soil spore counts of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in six reclaimed stripmine sites in Wyoming were lower than in undisturbed prairie, while counts in disced prairie sites were intermediate. Mycorrhizal infection of Agropyron spp. and spore counts increased to up to 50% of undisturbed prairie levels in reclaimed areas, and to 100% of undisturbed levels in disced areas, after 3 years. However, spore counts were not correlated with root infection. Only two of seven annuals which colonised the reclaimed and disced sites were mycorrhizal.<new para>ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT:<new para>Soil spore counts of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in six reclaimed stripmine sites in Wyoming were lower than in undisturbed prairie, while counts in disced prairie sites were intermediate. Mycorrhizal infection of Agropyron spp. and spore counts increased to up to 50% of undisturbed prairie levels in reclaimed areas, and to 100% of undisturbed levels in disced areas, after 3 years. However spore counts were not correlated with root infection. Only two of seven annuals which colonised the reclaimed and disced sites were mycorrhizal.