Acidic soils, characterized by low pH and poor phosphorus availability, pose significant challenges to leguminous plant growth and productivity. Traditional methods to improve soil phosphorus involve chemical fertilization, which can have environmental drawbacks.
Mycorrhizal fungi offer a promising alternative by enhancing nutrient uptake and soil health. Based on these challenges, there is a need to conduct in-depth research on sustainable agricultural practices that leverage microbial inoculants to improve crop productivity.
Researchers from Nanjing Agricultural University have delved into the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation versus traditional phosphorus fertilization on soybean growth. Their findings were published in Horticulture Research on March 2, 2024.
The study compared the effects of AMF inoculation and P-fertilization on soybean growth, focusing on plant biomass and the composition of the rhizosphere microbiome. Results showed that the biomass of higher P-efficiency soybean PT6 increased by 46.74%–65.22% with AMF inoculation, whereas P-fertilization alone did not significantly enhance growth.