Add root associated bacteria/fungi to introduced plants

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 2
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

60%
Certainty

15%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Many plants have symbiotic relationships with bacteria and fungi associated with their roots. These fungi can help to reduce the effects of plant pathogens as well helping to fix atmospheric nitrogen, thereby potentially increasing plant survival and growth.

Study locations

Key messages

Two controlled studies (one of which was randomized) in Spain found that adding rhizobacteria to soil increased the biomass of shrubs. One of these studies also found an increase in shrub height.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A randomized, controlled study in 2011–2012 in experimental fields in southern Spain (Mengual et al. 2014) found that inoculating soils with rhizobacteria increased the shoot and root biomass of French lavender Lavandula dentata. Lavender plants where soil was inoculated had higher shoot (2–9 g) and root biomass (0–3 g) than where soil was not inoculated (shoot: 1 g, root: 1 g). In March 2011 rhizobacteria cultures were added to the soil of 20 pots where lavender seedlings were growing, but not five others. The seedlings were planted in a field in May 2011. In June 2012 plants were harvested and their dry weight was estimated.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Mengual C., Schoebitz M., Azcón R. & Roldán a. (2014) Microbial inoculants and organic amendment improves plant establishment and soil rehabilitation under semiarid conditions. Journal of Environmental Management, 134, 1-7.
A controlled study in 2008–2011 in a field in southern Spain (Perez-Fernandez et al.2016) found that inoculating shrubs with rhizobial bacteria increased their height and biomass. Cytisus balansae plants that had been inoculated were taller (2–8 m) than those that had not been inoculated (1 m) and the same was true for Cytisus multiflorus (inoculated: 2–6 m, non-inoculated: 1 m), Cytisus striatus (inoculated: 5–6 m, non-inoculated: 1 m), and Genista florida plants (inoculated: 1–7 m, non-inoculated: 1 m). All four shrub species also had higher biomass when inoculated (60–530 mg/plant) than when they were not inoculated (30–110 mg/plant). In 2008 forty seedlings of each plant species were grown in a greenhouse in soil inoculated with rhizobial bacteria, and another 40 in soil that was not inoculated. In 2009 plants were transplanted to a field. In 2011 the height of plants was measured and plants were harvested and dried to allow biomass to be calculated.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Pérez-Fernández M.A., Clavo-Magro E. & Valentine A. (2016) Benefits of the symbiotic association of shrubby legumes for the rehabilitation of degraded soils under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Land Degradation and Development, 27, 395-405.

Please cite as:

Martin, P.A., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Shrubland and Heathland Conservation. Pages 483-525 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Shrubland and Heathland Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Add root associated bacteria/fungi to introduced plants Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	2	Synopsis Link
Add peat to soil (alongside planting/seeding) Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	2	Synopsis Link
Strip/disturb topsoil (alongside planting/seeding) Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	3	Synopsis Link