Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community in the alpine meadow in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Objective  To investigate the responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community to nitrogen and phosphorus additions and the driven factors in the Qinghai-Tibetan alpine meadow, and have a better knowledge of the effects of fertilization on alpine meadow AMF community.

Method  Through regular analyses and high-throughput sequencing (Illumina Miseq), we studied the effects of nitrogen addition (0, 7.5, 15.0 g·m⁻²) and phosphorus addition (0, 7.5, 15.0 and 30.0 g·m⁻² P₂O₅) for three year on soil chemical property, AMF colonization rate, OTU richness, Shannon diversity index and AMF community composition in Qinghai-Tibetan alpine meadow.

Result  The 36 AMF OTUs from seven families were detected. The addition of nitrogen, phosphorus and their interaction had no influence on AMF colonization rate, OTU richness and Shannon diversity index. Compared with low nitrogen addition treatment, high nitrogen input treatment significantly decreased the relative abundance of Glomeraceae. Soil organic carbon, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus and total phosphorus contents were the factors which impacted AMF community.

Conclusion  Root AMF community in Qinghai-Tibetan alpine Kobresia meadow wasn’ t affected by nitrogen or phosphorus addition. However, the distribution of community was significantly correlated with edaphic factors.