Stimulation of mycorrhizal activity inVigna unguiculatathrough low level fertilization of an oxisol subjected to imposed erosion

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Abstract
A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the combined effects of lime, nitrogen and phosphorus on mycorrhizal activity in an oxisol subjected to imposed erosion using Vigna unquiculata (L.) Walp cv. ‘California Blackeye No. 5’ (cowpea) as a test plant. Cowpea was grown in the soil in the presence or absence of the vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus aqgregatum (Schenck & Smith emend. Koske) with or without a basal nutrient (basal) consisting of K, Mg, S, Zn, Cu and B; and with basal nutrients plus lime, N and P (complete). The extent of mycorrhizal colonization of roots as well as mycorrhizal effectiveness measured in terms of leaf disc P content increased significantly when the eroded soil was amended with a combination of all of the nutrients and inoculated with Glomus aggregatum. Vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation and nutrient amendment was also accompanied by significant increase in shoot P, Cu, Zn and N content, and nodule, shoot and root dry matter yield. The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of replacing lost nutrients before legumes could be successfully established on highly weathered eroded soils inoculated with vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.