Our research addresses three questionsI. Is soil biodiversity reduced in agricultural soil compared with undisturbed soilsΓ2. Does cropping affect which groups of fungi are present in agricultural soilsΓ3.

VAM are important in the growth of cotton and the production of lint. VAM are a normal part of cotton plants and they are usually present in the roots. Only in their absence do we realise their importance.

The research had three parts: * Quantify the V AM fungi at depth in the soil * Determine the rate of colonisation of roots of cotton by V AM fungi.

OBJECTIVES 1993/4 Determine the common species of V AM fungi in the cotton areas of eastern Australia. Place the fungi in pot culture.

In common with about 80% of all plants, cotton forms VAM (vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas). VAM are associations of soil-borne fungi with the roots of plants.