Soil microbiome indicators can predict crop growth response to large-scale inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Alternative solutions to mineral fertilizers and pesticides that reduce the environmental impact of agriculture are urgently needed. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant nutrient uptake and reduce plant stress; yet, large-scale field inoculation trials with AMF are missing, and so far, results remain unpredictable. We conducted on-farm experiments in 54 fields in Switzerland and quantified the effects on maize growth. Growth response to AMF inoculation was highly variable, ranging from -12% to +40%. With few soil parameters and mainly soil microbiome indicators, we could successfully predict 86% of the variation in plant growth response to inoculation. The abundance of pathogenic fungi, rather…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• UO
  University of Bern
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Awards: 40IN40_215832, 40IN40_215832/1, 40IN40_215832 / 1
• ET
  Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
• GR
  Gebert Rüf Stiftung

  Awards: GRS-072/17, GRS-088/20
• A
  Agroscope