Agronomic Practices for Optimizing the AMF Abundance and Diversity for Sustainable Food Production

The chapter emphasizes the critical role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in addressing soil fertility degradation caused by global climate changes and unsustainable agricultural practices. AMF, through symbiotic relationships with crop plants, offers an eco-friendly approach that significantly contributes to soil health and plant growth. Their bioinoculant potential is particularly noteworthy, influencing essential aspects such as mineral nutrition, water absorption, and mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The synergistic impact of AMF on overall plant development and productivity, as well as their beneficial interactions with other microorganisms in the rhizosphere, is highlighted. By discussing the functionality of AMF as valuable microorganisms, the chapter underscores their potential to enhance agricultural sustainability. Furthermore, it provides insights into the positive effects of AMF inoculation on major crops like maize, sorghum, and soybean, demonstrating the promise of AMF as a sustainable agricultural solution. Mycorrhizal colonization can be stimulated by plant root exudates, such as strigolactones, among others. These compounds can help plants adapt to different soil stresses, such as low P. Commercial products based on AMF are available to farmers. These products are enriched with high numbers of propagules of various mycorrhizal fungi species. When applied, these mycorrhizal fungi establish symbiotic relationships with plant roots, significantly enhancing the efficiency of nutrient and water uptake and consequently plant performance. The symbiotic association with mycorrhizal fungi is a valuable strategy to maximize the benefits for both plants and the surrounding ecosystem.