Mycorrhiza Reduces Phosphorus Uptake from Struvite in Rye (Secale cereale L.) Plants

To reduce dependency on inorganic phosphorus (P) fertiliser, secondary P fertilisers such as struvite are becoming more important. However, the P uptake of these new fertilisers by plants is often not known and may be enhanced by plant associated microorganisms. We therefore investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on P uptake in rye (Secale cereale L.), grown in the middle compartment of a box with chambers separated by a 30 µm mesh allowing fungal hyphae but not roots to penetrate. Plants with (AM) or without (control) mycorrhizae (Rhizophagus irregularis) were grown in a P limited sand medium for 72 days. After harvest, plants were analysed for mycorrhizal colonization, shoot and root development and nutrient (P, Ca, Mg) uptake. Further, pH was measured in each compartment. Shoot biomass of both treatments was not different, but root biomass was significantly lower in AM plants. Despite plants of the AM treatment being colonised by mycorrhizae, their P uptake was substantially lower compared to the control treatment, but root nutrient concentration was higher. Even though the pH in the mycorrhizal compartment of the AM treatment was significantly lower compared to the control, water- and CAL-extractable P were similar, indicating little P uptake from this compartment. Extractable P was reduced only in the root compartment of the control, which was associated with a lower pH compared to the AM treatment. In conclusion, mycorrhizae did not increase P uptake from struvite in rye plants. Non-mycorrhizal plants which invested more biomass into roots took up more P.