Our understanding regarding the influence of intensive agricultural practices, including cover cropping and tillage, on communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is lacking. This would prove to be an obstacle in the improvement of current maize (Zea mays L.) production. therefore, using amplicon sequencing, we aimed to clarify how AMF communities and their diversity in maize roots vary under different cover cropping systems and two types of tillage (rotary and no tillage). Two kinds of cover crops (hairy vetch and brown mustard) and fallow treatments were established with rotary or no tillage in rotation with maize crops. Tillage and no tillage yielded a set of relatively common AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the maize crops, representing 78.3% of the total OTUs. The percentage of maize crop OTUs that were specific to only tillage and no tillage were 9.6% and 12.0%, respectively. We found that tillage system significantly altered the AMF communities in maize roots. However, the AMF communities of maize crops among cover cropping treatments did not vary considerably. Our findings indicate that compared with cover cropping, tillage may shape AMF communities in maize more strongly. Growing cover crops and practicing conservation tillage are agricultural practices worldwide that have been recommended to promote soil fertility. In particular, Williams et al. 1 reported that conservation tillage, including reduced or no tillage, modifies water-holding capacity and structure of soil in conservative agricultural systems. In general, conservation tillage can improve soil aggregation, increase the amount of soil organic carbon in the surface layer, and reduce erosion 2,3. Moreover, conservation tillage enhances soil microbial diversity and the abundance of beneficial functional soil microorganisms 3,4. The soil microbial communities stimulated by conservation tillage can play important roles in soil aggregation, soil carbon sequestration, and soil nutrition; improve water use efficiencies; and influence crop yields 5,6. The practice of cover cropping potentially reduces soil and wind erosion 7 , enhances soil organic matter 8 , inhibits weed establishment 9 , and increases the abundance and activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) 10. Indeed, crops with AMF have a greater capacity to take up phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), and water 10 than crops without AMF. This greater capacity generally results in robust crop growth under conditions of limited nutrient availability or drought. AMF also contribute to increasing plant resistance against pathogens and help make crops generally healthier 11-13. AMF also contribute to crop health indirectly because of their effects on soil processes in agricultural settings 14,15. In particular, they can contribute to soil health, soil aggregate formation, and soil stability by increasing the soil's nutrient cycling and organic matter content 16,17. However, certain agricultural practices have negative influences on AMF abundance and functions 18,19. For example, convent...