The effect of dandelion or a cover crop on mycorrhiza inoculum potential, soil aggregation and yield of maize

A field experiment was conducted to observe the influence of a cover crop ( winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L.), and a perennial weed (dandelion, Tarax acum officinale Weber ex Wi,og.), on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) inoculum potential, soil aggregation and maize yield after one season. Myco rrhizal colonization of maize roots was higher following the autumn plantin g of either winter wheat or dandelion compared with fallow. In the dandelio n plots maize had significantly higher P content, shoot dry weight and yiel d relative to the winter wheat plots. Winter wheat and dandelion both impro ved soil aggregation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.