Effects of different fertilizer treatments on ectomycorrhizal colonization potential in 2 Scots pine forests in Sweden

Ectomycorrhizal fungal colonization potential was studied in two low-productivity Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests in Sweden treated with different fertilizers. Young Pinus sylvestris seedlings were used as baits for ectomycorrhizal fungi for one growing season and the total ectomycorrhizal colonization level and frequencies of different types were recorded. One of the experimental sites had been fertilized once with 600 kg nitrogen (N) ha-1, either as ammonium nitrate or urea, 13 years previously. At this site no difference in the total number of ectomycorrhizal root tips was found between the different treatments and approximately 70% of all root tips were ectomycorrhizal. The other experimental site had been continuously fertilized for 15 years with a balanced nutrient mixture, applied either daily as a solution (IF treatment), or as solid fertilizers once a year (F treatment). The IF treatment had received 1700 kg N ha-1 and the F treatment 950 kg N ha-1 until our study was conducted. At this site a significant decrease in total ectomycorrhizal infection level was found as an effect of the fertilizer treatment. In the non-fertilized plots, 70% of all root tips were ectomycorrhizal and the corresponding figure for fertilized plots was 55%. At both sites the frequency of one of the eight classified ectomycorrhizal types decreased significantly in all fertilized plots except in the urea treatment.