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Higher crop yields possible thanks to disease-resistant fungi

05-12-2023 | |
Mycorrhizal fungi can serve as a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, which are often used to ward off crop diseases. - Photo: Henk Riswick
Mycorrhizal fungi can serve as a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, which are often used to ward off crop diseases. - Photo: Henk Riswick

Spreading fungi that cooperate with plants in soil over infected farmland can save or even increase crop yields. This has been demonstrated by a Swiss research team.

In a recent study conducted by Swiss scientists from the universities of Zurich and Basel, Agroscope, and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, a breakthrough has been achieved in understanding the role of mycorrhizal fungi in large-scale agriculture. The research, published in Nature Microbiology, explores the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on crop growth and the potential for predicting success in large-scale inoculation.

Key Findings

  • Large-scale field trials on 800 Swiss acres revealed significant crop yield improvements, ranging from -12% to an impressive +40%.
  • Soil microbiome indicators, rather than nutrient availability, proved instrumental in predicting 86% of the variation in plant growth response to AMF inoculation.
  • The abundance of pathogenic fungi emerged as a crucial factor, predicting 33% of the success in AMF inoculation.

Implications for Farmers

The study highlights the potential of leveraging soil microbiome indicators for strategic AMF inoculation, providing farmers with a data-driven approach to enhance crop yield while minimizing dependence on traditional fertilizers and pesticides.

  • Soil microbiome indicators offer a practical and sustainable biotechnological perspective for predicting inoculation success at the onset of the growing season.
  • Farmers can benefit from increased profitability through precise microbiome engineering, optimizing agricultural management practices.
Hekkert
Geert Hekkert Chief editor of Future Farming