Analysis of Bradford Reactive Soil Protein in Agronomic Treatments at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize over 70% of land plant families. The fungi are obligate biotrophs and usually form a mutualistic relationship with plants in which AMF provides essential soil nutrients in exchange for photosynthetic carbon compounds. Glomalin is a glycoprotein produced by AMF. Many scientists now think glomalin may play important roles in soil aggregation and carbon storage. Crop yields can be improved by increasing AMF and glomalin levels in the soil, thereby augmenting soil carbon and soil aggregation. In our study, we used the Bradford Assay to estimate glomalin (defined operationally as Bradford Reactive Soil Protein (BRSP)) levels in different agronomic treatments at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. We compared BRSP levels in conventional, no till, low input, organic, and successional agronomic treatments.