Impacts of Tillage Practices on Growth, Phosphorus Uptake, and Yield of Maize in Controlled and Field-Based Studies in Relation to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, phosphorus (P) uptake, and yield of maize in the presence or absence of tillage. The two-year field experiment was conducted in Kanagawa, Japan. Firstly, we investigated whether the presence of indigenous AMF communities in the roots, as determined by amplicon sequencing analysis, contributed to maize growth in Experiment 1, a 2-year field-based study. The findings revealed that the maize (Zea mays L.) in rotary tillage had higher P uptake, growth at the six-leaves collar stage, and yield, compared to no tillage. The AMF communities colonizing maize roots were altered by the presence or absence of tillage; specifically, tillage increased the dominance of the Gigasporaceae, whereas no tillage increased the dominance of the Acaulosporaceae. Based on these findings, we confirmed whether the inoculation of similar AMF strains, as analyzed in the field study of tillage practices on maize roots, produces growth-promoting effects for maize growth in a controlled pot experiment consistent with the results of the field experiment. For experiment 2, Dentiscutata cerradensis TK-1, Cetraspora pellucida SZ-3 (Gigasporaceae), Acaulospora morrowiae AP-5, and A. longula F-1 (Acaulosporaceae) were inoculated as AMF inocula for a pot experiment. The results showed that aboveground biomass did not change with any inoculum compared to the control. The P concentration in maize was higher for D. cerradensis TK-1 and C. pellucida SZ-3 inoculation than for the control. However, inoculation with A. morrowiae AP-5 and A. longula F-1 did not change P concentrations from the control. This indicates that D. cerradensis TK-1 and C. pellucida SZ-3 are more effective in promoting P uptake in maize than in A morrowiae AP-5 and A. longula F-1. Based on field and pot experiments, our findings suggest that tillage practices lead to alterations in the AMF communities that colonize the roots, and this shift may also contribute to changes in P uptake and crop growth.

Integration of Horse Manure Vermicompost Doses and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve Fruit Quality, and Soil Fertility in Tomato Field Facing Drought Stress

“…Data in Table 1 illustrate a significant improvement in fruit yield and growth, including fruit shape index (FSI), fruit fresh weight (FW), and fruit dry weight (DW) for tomato fruits planted under well-watered (WW) conditions by all treatments applied. On the DS (drought-stressed) condition, a marked reduction in yield and fruit growth was observed compared with WW conditions; however, on DS conditions, the application of AMF, C1, C2, AMF+C1, and AMF+C2 improved yield (43,63,67,60, and 50%, respectively) and DW (23,44,50,48 and 49%, respectively), compared with control plants. Compared with WW plants, the frequency (F) and intensity (I) of AMF colonization were significantly reduced under DW in tomato plants; however, under DS conditions, AMF, AMF+C1, and AMF+C2 treatments resulted in the significant stimulation of F and I mycorrhization by 130, 117, and 91%, respectively, compared with the non-inoculated DS control (Table 1).…”

“…AMF regulate plant growth and development by forming extra-radical mycelium around the roots, which are inaccessible to roots or even root hairs, enabling the interchange of nutrients and water for carbon sources such as sugars and lipids [ 20 , 21 ]. Plants inoculated with AMF, such as Festuca ovina , Opuntia ficus-indica , and Zea mays , enhance plant growth and improve the absorption of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), demonstrating the usefulness of AMF to various plant species [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Recent research suggests that mycorrhizal fungi do more than just aid nutrient uptake.…”

Struvite and biodiversity to improve phosphorus use in agricultural fields

“…Other measures that have been proven to positively affect earthworm communities are the application of fertilisers, especially in organic form such as manure, compost or slurry as well as the reduction of soil tillage and pesticide use (Cozim-Melges et al, 2024). These measures, like the increase of plant biodiversity, may have additional benefits with respect to the P cycle in agricultural systems, while others such as reduced tillage might have adverse effects (Tatewaki et al, 2023;Xomphoutheb et al, 2020). Therefore, the implementation of agricultural practices needs to be assessed according to their effects on the whole agroecosystem, rather than only on the earthworm community.…”