Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization Enhanced Early Growth ofMallotus paniculatusandAlbizia samanunder Nursery Conditions in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Forest over logging, forest fire, forest conversion, and opencast mining have promoted deforestation in Indonesia, and reforestation is needed immediately. However, reforestation is limited by low seedling quality and production, and slow seedling growth in nurseries. Native tropical tree and fast-growing species,Mallotus paniculatusandAlbizia saman, are potential to promote the first rotation of reforestation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to promote nutrient uptake and plant growth. We examined the effects of two native AM fungi,Gigaspora decipiensandGlomus clarum, on the growth ofM. paniculatusandA. samanseedlings under nursery conditions. At harvest, after six months, we determined AM colonization, shoot dry weight, and shoot N and P concentration. Approximately 90% and 50% ofM. paniculatusandA. samanroots, respectively, were colonized by AM fungi, without any difference between the inoculation treatments.G. decipiensandG. clarumincreased shoot height, leaf number, shoot dry weight, and shoot N and P uptake of both species. A positive correlation was observed between N and P uptake and shoot dry weight. These results suggest that AM fungi are effective in accelerating nutrient uptake and plant growth, which will, in turn, promote reforestation and sustainable forest timber production.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation improves Albizia saman and Paraserianthes falcataria growth in post-opencast coal mine field in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…The increase of P uptake could be related to the degree of AM colonization. Our study confirmed the previous finding that G. decipiens and R. clarus colonization in A. saman and Mallotus paniculatus increased shoot N and P uptake and shoot dry weight under nursery conditions (Wulandari et al, 2014). Together, the results suggest that seedlings grown in the nursery are highly dependent on AM fungal inoculation for improved nutrient uptake and growth without fertilizer application.…”

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Inoculation on Growth of Tropical Tree Species under Nursery and Post-Opencast Bauxite Mining Field in Bintan Island, Indonesia

“…In E. cyclocarpum seedlings, both R. clarus and G. decipiens improved shoot growth. In comparison with the previous investigation, this result showed that R. clarus and G. decipiens enhanced shoot growth of S. saman and M. paniculatus [27], A. saman, and P. falcataria [16]. This result confirms that AM inoculation could promote the growth of seedlings on low-soil-fertility media in the nursery.…”

“…Inoculation with AM fungi is highly recommended to promote the growth of mycorrhizal tree seedlings in the nursery before transplantation into the degraded land of the mining field. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved the early growth of Mallotus paniculatus in the nursery [27]. These fungi also enhance leguminous seedling growth and P uptake of P. falcataria, Calliandra calothyrsus, Cassia siamea, and Sesbania grandifolia [34].…”

“…To increase the growth of G. arborea, S. saman, F. moluccana, and E. cyclocarpum, two AM fungal species, Rhizophagus clarus and Gigaspora decipiens were inoculated into seeds. These AM fungal species were adopted because they are native to Indonesia and previous studies have shown that they have the capacity to promote plant growth in Indonesia's tropical peat-swamp forests [26], coal mining [27,16]. This technique, combining fast-growing tree species and native AM fungi, should be relatively easy for staff in the environmental divisions of bauxite mining companies to apply.…”

The Role of Mycorrhizae on Seedlings and Early Growth of Sugarcane

“…AMF inoculation since seedling in forest plants (Gleditsia sinensis Lam) was also reported to increase seedling height, stem diameter, dry weight of seed biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and NPK content in root, stem, and leaf tissue [13]. Likewise, inoculation of AMF in nurseries on tropical plant seeds was also reported to increase plant height, root diameter, and biomass [16] as well as N and P content of seedlings and root dry weight in forest plant seedlings [17].…”