Edaphic and Reclamation Aspects of Vesicular‐Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Wyoming Red Desert Soils

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Abstract
Three Aridisols and an Entisol in the Red Desert of southwest Wyoming were surveyed for vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal biomass. The survey was conducted to determine attenuation of VAM fungal biomass in profiles of these arid soils, to examine possible edaphic influence on VAM fungal distributions and to evaluate the potential of these soils in providing VAM fungal biomass for use in reclamation. Fungal biomass levels—as indicated by fungal spore densities and bioassay percent infections—was apparently related to morphological and chemical properties that differ between individual soils and their associated vegetation. While fungal spore densities generally attenuated with depth in the Aridisols, the Torrifluvent retained high densities of spores (up to 81 spores g−1 soil) to a depth of 140 cm. The VAM fungal biomass attenuation in relatively deep horizons of these arid soils may still allow adequate formation of propagules for use in reclamation of disturbed lands.