Arbuscular mycorrhizae play key role for mungbeans in low phosphorus soil

Abstract

Mungbean has a high arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) dependency so there is a risk to production if growers do not adequately address phosphorus (P) nutrition. Gaps exist in current understanding of mungbean P nutrient requirements to maximise productivity, particularly if soil AMF levels are low at planting. A glasshouse trial of mungbean (cv. Jade-AU ) with factorial combinations of three AMF levels
(NIL, LOW and HIGH) and eight P rates, was conducted. All mungbean plants increased in biomass and pod production as P level increased. However, lower AMF levels in the soil meant mungbean plants required higher rates of P to attain similar growth. If AMF levels are low following a long fallow of more than 12 months and/or soil P levels are deficient to low, the application of between 44 and 87 kg P/ha is required to maximise production.