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The overall objective is to provide integrated tools to predict the contribution of native and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to crop phosphorus (P) nutrition and productivity in soil test laboratories, enabling these commercial laboratories to make recommendations about the value of AM inoculation, and more accurate recommendations for costly P fertilizer use.  We will deliver three models.  Two of them will provide improved recommendations for P fertilization based on (1) empirical indicators of the contribution of AM fungi or (2) direct measurement of AM fungi using DNA markers, in addition to soil P supply capacity. The other model (3) will generate probabilities of yield increase with the use of an AM inoculant, based on results of a soil test.

The objectives of the different components of the project are to:

1. Develop empirical indicators of the contribution of native AM fungi to crop P nutrition and productivity based on soil capacity, and crop management practices, incorporate these indicators into forecasting models, and test these models
2. Develop molecular markers to identify and quantify AM fungal taxa from environmental samples, a protocol to use these indicators in soil testing laboratories, incorporate these indicators into forecasting models, and test these models
3.  Develop indicators of soil responsiveness to AM inoculation, using an Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) certified AM fungal inoculant in numerous simple on-farm assays, and incorporate these indicators into a forecasting model to predict the likely outcome of the inoculation of wheat crops
4.  Share the data collected in the field surveys with the NAHARP Agri-Environmental Indicator Initiative, and develop a basis for monitoring soil health in Canada

Soil P fertility management is challenging on organic field cropping, where only a few P sources can be used to provide agro-ecosystems with agronomic amounts of P (Government of Canada 2006).  The AM fungi naturally increase the P use efficiency of plants and can mitigate the problem of low soil P availability often encountered in organic crop production.  We propose to develop tools for the management of the AM symbiosis in cultivated soils of Canada using wheat as a test crop, through two different approaches.  We recently found that the distribution of AM fungi in cultivated soils of Saskatchewan was related to soil type.  On this basis, we will seek indicators of AM fungi’s contribution to wheat nutrition, among descriptors of the soil environment through surveys on organic and conventional farms. 

Important progress is being made in the field of AM fungal genetics.  Sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of two AM fungal isolates reveals that mtDNA has a very low level of polymorphism and offers an avenue for the development of a diagnostic test for AM fungi based on the analysis of their mtDNA.  Such a test would allow direct measurement of AM fungi abundance in soil or root samples and analysis of the composition of their community.  An mtDNA region could be an ideal indicator for the contribution of AM fungi to wheat P nutrition and yield.  Once identified, these indicators will be used in models to forecast wheat P fertilizer requirements taking into consideration both soil P supply capacity and the contribution of AM fungi to the ability of wheat plants to extract P from the soil.  Different models will be evaluated over two years for the precision of their P fertilizer requirement forecasts, and the best model will be used in soil fertility management programs at Western Ag Innovations.  A model will also be constructed to forecast the influence of AM inoculation of wheat seeds on the yield of wheat crops, based on conditions of the soil environment. 

The data collected from soil surveys will be shared with the Agri-Environmental Indicator Initiative of the National Agri-Environmental Health Analysis and Reporting Program’s (NAHARP) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in support of the elaboration of an important baseline for soil health monitoring in Canada.  The project will apply expertise in AM fungal genetics and molecular biology, soil analysis, pedology and modeling to create tools to improve the profitability of Canadian farms, the health of cultivated soils and the quality of the environment for all Canadians.

• [PDF - 30 kB]
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• [PDF - 2.2 MB]
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• [PDF - 99 kB]
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• [PDF - 30 kB]
  • Canadian Organic Science Conference. 2012
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• • The Western Producer. January 2012 
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• • Mycorrhiza (2012) 21: 183-193
• Soil microorganisms are at the heart of the new green revolution
  • OACC News Article. 2012
    
• Soil type and properties influence the abundance of fungal root endophytes and wheat productivity in the Canadian Prairie
  • 60th Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists. 2010

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