The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be a critical factor in enhancing both the productivity and the diversity of plants in ecosystems, and the plants in the ecosystem also strongly influence the occurrence of these fungi. The relationships between different land use systems and AMF communities in the semi-arid region of the State of Paraíba, NE Brazil were evaluated. The experiment followed a split-plot randomized block design, with four replicates. The main plots were defined by the presence or absence of trees (gliricidia and maniçoba), while the split plots were defined by three land use systems: 1) traditional cropping of maize + beans, 2) buffel grass pasture, and 3) prickly pear forage crop. The presence of trees increased... |