Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)
Mining activities alter soil physicochemical and biological properties that are critical for plant establishment. Revitalisation of soil biological properties via microbial inoculations can potentially be adopted to improve vegetation restoration. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of using beneficia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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WILEY
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/IC150100041 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90141 |
| _version_ | 1848765336170528768 |
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| author | Wong, Wei San Morald, T.K. Whiteley, A.S. Nevill, Paul Trengove, R.D. Yong, Jean W.H. Dixon, Kingsley Valliere, Justin M. Stevens, Jason C. Veneklaas, Erik J. |
| author_facet | Wong, Wei San Morald, T.K. Whiteley, A.S. Nevill, Paul Trengove, R.D. Yong, Jean W.H. Dixon, Kingsley Valliere, Justin M. Stevens, Jason C. Veneklaas, Erik J. |
| author_sort | Wong, Wei San |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Mining activities alter soil physicochemical and biological properties that are critical for plant establishment. Revitalisation of soil biological properties via microbial inoculations can potentially be adopted to improve vegetation restoration. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of using beneficial microorganisms in the form of commercially available inoculants to enhance plant performance in a non-toxic and infertile mine-waste substrate, using pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.] as a test plant. Six treatments were established to investigate the effects of inoculants (Bradyrhizobium spp., microbial mix and uninoculated controls) and water availability (low and moderate) in a factorial design over 6 months. Plant performance was determined by physiological parameters (leaf gas exchange, leaf carbon, nitrogen and stable isotopes) and growth (height and biomass). Plant xylem sap phytohormones were measured to determine the plants' physiological status and effects of inoculation treatments. Results revealed that water had a greater effect on plant growth than inoculation treatments. Inoculation treatments, however, improved some physiological parameters. This study suggests that physical conditions such as soil moisture and nutrient availability may occlude more subtle (direct or interactive) effects of beneficial soil microbes on plant growth and plant condition. Prior knowledge on the biological and physicochemical properties of the soil to be amended, and on plant species-specific responses, would be needed to customise microbial inoculants for maximum benefits to ecological restoration, to support future adoption of this practice. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:33:38Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-90141 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:33:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | WILEY |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-901412023-02-14T06:40:17Z Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) Wong, Wei San Morald, T.K. Whiteley, A.S. Nevill, Paul Trengove, R.D. Yong, Jean W.H. Dixon, Kingsley Valliere, Justin M. Stevens, Jason C. Veneklaas, Erik J. Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Environmental Sciences Soil Science Environmental Sciences & Ecology Agriculture gas exchange microbial inoculation mine site restoration phytohormones soil amendments xylem sap ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION DROUGHT TOLERANCE GROWTH PROMOTION SOIL QUALITY CARBON NITROGEN LEAF DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENTS Mining activities alter soil physicochemical and biological properties that are critical for plant establishment. Revitalisation of soil biological properties via microbial inoculations can potentially be adopted to improve vegetation restoration. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of using beneficial microorganisms in the form of commercially available inoculants to enhance plant performance in a non-toxic and infertile mine-waste substrate, using pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.] as a test plant. Six treatments were established to investigate the effects of inoculants (Bradyrhizobium spp., microbial mix and uninoculated controls) and water availability (low and moderate) in a factorial design over 6 months. Plant performance was determined by physiological parameters (leaf gas exchange, leaf carbon, nitrogen and stable isotopes) and growth (height and biomass). Plant xylem sap phytohormones were measured to determine the plants' physiological status and effects of inoculation treatments. Results revealed that water had a greater effect on plant growth than inoculation treatments. Inoculation treatments, however, improved some physiological parameters. This study suggests that physical conditions such as soil moisture and nutrient availability may occlude more subtle (direct or interactive) effects of beneficial soil microbes on plant growth and plant condition. Prior knowledge on the biological and physicochemical properties of the soil to be amended, and on plant species-specific responses, would be needed to customise microbial inoculants for maximum benefits to ecological restoration, to support future adoption of this practice. 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90141 10.1002/ldr.4165 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/IC150100041 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP150101111 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ WILEY fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Environmental Sciences Soil Science Environmental Sciences & Ecology Agriculture gas exchange microbial inoculation mine site restoration phytohormones soil amendments xylem sap ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION DROUGHT TOLERANCE GROWTH PROMOTION SOIL QUALITY CARBON NITROGEN LEAF DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENTS Wong, Wei San Morald, T.K. Whiteley, A.S. Nevill, Paul Trengove, R.D. Yong, Jean W.H. Dixon, Kingsley Valliere, Justin M. Stevens, Jason C. Veneklaas, Erik J. Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| title | Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| title_full | Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| title_fullStr | Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| title_short | Microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: A test using pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| title_sort | microbial inoculation to improve plant performance in mine-waste substrates: a test using pigeon pea (cajanus cajan) |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Environmental Sciences Soil Science Environmental Sciences & Ecology Agriculture gas exchange microbial inoculation mine site restoration phytohormones soil amendments xylem sap ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION DROUGHT TOLERANCE GROWTH PROMOTION SOIL QUALITY CARBON NITROGEN LEAF DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENTS |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/IC150100041 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/IC150100041 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90141 |