Influence of different management systems and liming on mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi in a long-term experiment

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of different soil management systems with and without liming on root colonization and production of extraradicular mycelium. Through multivariate analysis technique, an experiment established in 1978 in Guarapuava, state of Parana was used. Correspondence analysis proved the existence of negative effects of the conventional tillage on the root mycorrhizal colonization (AMF) of the soil, mainly in structures as arbuscules and vesicles. The liming showed to be beneficial for the parameters of root micorrhyzal colonization and hyphal length, being more significant for conservationist management systems, such as no-tillage. In the areas under conventional management systems there was a reduction in micorrhyzal root colonization and consequently a decrease in beneficial effects of AMF for the plants, reducing the quality of the soil and the sustainability.