U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Agricultural Systems Research: Sidney, MT
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    NPARL
                        NPARL
                                    Pest Management Research
                                    Grasshoppers: Their Biology, Identification and Management:Search small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Sidney, Montana Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory Agricultural Systems Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Caesar, Thecanitem
                                            Espeland, Erinitem
                                            Caesar, Anthonyitem
                                            Sainju, Upendraitem
                                            Lartey, Robertitem
                                            Gaskin, John
  Submitted to: Microbial Ecology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2013
                                    Publication  Date: 7/1/2013
                                    Citation: Caesar, T., Espeland, E.K., Caesar, A.J., Sainju, U.M., Lartey, R.T., Gaskin, J.F. 2013. Effects of agaricus lilaceps fairy rings on soil aggregation and microbial community structure in relation to growth stimulation of western wheatgrass (pascopyrum smithii) in Eastern Montana rangeland. Microbial Ecology.  66(1): 120-131.Interpretive Summary: Stimulation of plant productivity caused by Agaricus fairy rings has been reported, but little is known about factors aiding that productivity including soil aggregation and the beneficial microbial populations in the plant root zone. In collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, Sidney, MT ARS scientists studied soils and plants in three concentric sampling zones caused by Agaricus lilaceps fairy rings in Eastern Montana rangeland. The study was initiated because these fairy rings are known to stimulate growth of western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), a desirable native forage. Results showed an increase in soil aggregate formation and stability in the plant stimulation zone of the rings compared to inside and outside the rings. Additional tests found high population size of fungi and high fungal activity in the stimulated zone. Furthermore, populations of soil-binding bacteria were also the highest in soil adhering to wheatgrass root collected in the stimulation zone. This study suggests that growth stimulation of western wheatgrass in these fairy rings may be attributed to the activity of the fungus which helped enhance soil quality in bulk soil at 0-15 cm depth and influenced the amount and functionality of specific beneficial bacterial communities in the grass root-adhering soil. Consequently, encouraging the growth of fairy rings could increase forage availability in Montana rangelands.
                                Technical Abstract: Stimulation of plant productivity caused by Agaricus fairy rings has been reported, but nothing is known about soil aggregation and the microbial community structure of the stimulated zone, particularly the communities that can bind to soil particles. We studied three concentric zones of Agaricus lilaceps fairy rings in Eastern Montana that stimulate western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii): outside the ring (OUT), inside the ring (IN), and adjacent to the fungal fruiting bodies (SZ) to determine 1) soil aggregate formation and stability, 2) the microbial community composition and  the N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase activity associated with bulk soil at 0-15 cm soil depth, and 3) the predominant culturable bacterial communities that can bind to soil adhering to wheatgrass root. In bulk soil, macroaggregates (4.75-2.00 and 2.00-0.25 mm) and aggregate stability increased in SZ compared to IN and OUT. The ratio fungal to bacteria (FAME) and N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase activity were the highest in SZ, suggesting high fungal population and high fungal cellulolytic activity. A soil sedimentation assay performed on the predominant isolates from root-adhering soil indicated  more soil-binding bacteria in SZ than IN and OUT; Pseudomonas fluorescent and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were the most efficient in binding soil in SZ, whereas Bacillus spp. were more efficient in IN. This study suggests that growth stimulation of western wheatgrass in A. lilaceps fairy rings may be attributed to the activity of the fungus by enhancing soil quality of bulk soil at 0-15 cm depth and influencing the amount and functionality of specific predominant microbial communities in the wheatgrass root-adhering soil.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov