Purpose

Soil matric suction, or negative water potential, contributes to soil physical stability (e.g., slope). Plants retain soil matric suction as they take up and transpire water in soil. This study investigated the effects of the common plant root-fungi symbiosis on the changes of the low-range matric suction (i.e., 0–100 kPa), which is relevant to slope stability.

Methods

Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) was grown in compacted soil (dry density ~ 1680 kg m⁻³) with and without the inoculation of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) (Rhizophagus intraradices). Matric suction along the soil depth was measured during wetting and drying. Biomass, fungal colonization rate, and wet-aggregates size distribution were investigated subsequently.

Results

AMF association did not exert significant effects on the matric suction (range 0–80 kPa) distribution compared with the control, during wetting and drying. AMF significantly decreased the root biomass compared with the control. Significantly, higher proportions of 2–5-mm wet-aggregates were observed in the inoculated treatment than the control.

Conclusion

AMF can hinder root growth, and the choice of plant-fungus combination should not be neglected. Higher root biomass is preferred during drying in order to achieve a higher initial suction before the rainfall. Promoting root biomass would be more essential than shoot biomass during wetting (heavy rainfall). The application of AMF should be considered for soil erosion control during the early stage of restoration works.

中文翻译：

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菌根百慕大草对低距离土壤基质吸力的影响

目的

土壤基质吸力或负水势有助于土壤物理稳定性（例如，坡度）。植物在吸收和蒸腾土壤中的水分时会保持土壤基质的吸力。这项研究调查了常见植物根真菌共生对低程基质吸力（即0-100 kPa）变化的影响，这与边坡稳定性有关。

方法

百慕大草（Cynodon dactylon）在有或没有接种丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）（Rhizophagus intraradices）的压实土壤（干密度〜1680 kg m ^-3）中生长。在润湿和干燥过程中测量沿土壤深度的基质吸力。随后研究了生物量，真菌定植率和湿聚集体的大小分布。

结果

在润湿和干燥过程中，与对照组相比，AMF联合对基质吸力（0-80 kPa范围）的分布没有显着影响。与对照相比，AMF显着降低了根生物量。值得注意的是，在接种的处理中观察到的2–5 mm湿集料的比例高于对照。

结论

AMF会阻碍根系生长，因此不应忽略植物真菌组合的选择。在干燥期间优选较高的根生物量，以便在降雨之前获得较高的初始吸力。在潮湿（大雨）期间，促进根系生物量比芽生物量更为重要。在修复工作的初期，应考虑使用AMF进行​​土壤侵蚀控制。