Effect of Land Use Change on Status of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Some Hyrcanian Forest Soil A Case Study of Lahidjan Region, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effects of land use change on status of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the some Hyrnaian forest soils of Guilan province in north of Iran. Soil samples were collected on 5 adjacent plots, which belong to 3 land-use types including native broadleaf forest, 13-y old Pinus taeda and Poplar plantation. Some soil properties, spore population and root colonization of Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi have been measured. The mean spore numbers was found to fluctuate from 23 to 36.8 20 g^-1 in Pinus taeda and native forest soils, respectively. Significant difference found in Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi spore number among land use types. Two afforested soil with Pinus taeda and Populus sp had lower Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi spore number than native broadleaf forest soil. Statistically significant variations were observed in the total percentage of mycorrhizal colonization among the roots of different tree species. The highest percentage of colonization found among the tree roots of native forest. It may be concluded that soil management system and plant cover are the factors affecting Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungistatus in some Hyrcanian forest soils and show that it may be useful as an indicator of land use change effects on Hyrcanian forest soil.