Karst Soil Patch Heterogeneity with Gravels Promotes Plant Root Development and Nutrient Utilization Associated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with plant roots play an essential role in the belowground ecological process karst habitats high spatial and substrate heterogeneity. However, effects of AM on root morphology nutrient uptake under different soil patch sizes gravel content are still unclear. A controlled experiment was conducted using a square device divided into 16 grid patches. This had three treatments, including fungal treatment inoculated (M+) or without Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerd (M−), heterogeneity through homogeneous (Homo), heterogeneity-large (Hetl) heterogeneity-small (Hets), gravel-free (GF), gravel-low (GL), gravel-high (GH). Root traits nutrients Bidens pilosa L were analyzed, result showed significantly increased dry weight, length, surface area, average diameter, volume, tips, branching points, N, P, K acquisitions B. roots, but decreased specific length. The Hets compared Hetl regulated by fungi. GL GH treatments also GF These results indicate that roots’ nutritional acquisition benefits higher mixed for its morphological development soil. In conclusion, we suggest gravels promotes utilization to plants arbuscular