Superfungus Boosts Crop Yields by 40%

In a highly encouraging development for securing and enhancing food production, a comprehensive field study has shown that treating farmland soil with mycorrhizal fungi can increase maize crop yields by 40%, all without the need for extra fertilizers or pesticides.

In the study conducted in Switzerland, scientists incorporated Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) into the soil before planting across 800 test plots on 54 maize farms.

This fungus naturally exists in fertile soil, infiltrating plant roots to create tree-like structures known as arbuscules. As these structures expand, they enhance the plant’s root surface area, consequently boosting nutrient absorption.

Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Yields by Up to 40%, Says Study Co-Lead Marcel van der Heijden

Marcel van der Heijden, the co-lead of the study and a soil ecologist at the University of Zurich and agricultural research center Agroscope, stated, “On a quarter of the plots, the mycorrhizal fungi enabled up to 40% better yields. That’s significant.”

In examining why a third of the plots showed minimal or even reduced yield, the researchers observed that fertile soil produced comparable or, in some cases, lower yields.

“We found that the inoculation worked most effectively when there were numerous fungal pathogens already present in the soil,” explained Stefanie Lutz, co-first author from Agroscope.

These fungi are believed to act as an initial line of defense for the soil, repelling plant-harming pathogens that could significantly diminish crop yields. Consequently, in fields with existing pathogens, the fungi helped maintain yields that might otherwise have suffered losses. Additionally, the positive impact of the fungi on yields was less pronounced in fields without pathogen contamination. As beneficial organisms, they also assist plants in absorbing nutrients from the soil.

Utilizing Soil Microbiome Indicators for 86% Accurate Prediction of Plant Growth, According to Study Findings

Building on the overall findings, the team then utilized soil microbiome indicators to accurately predict the variation in plant growth for any given plot before planting, achieving an 86% accuracy rate.

“We were able to forecast the success of inoculation in nine out of 10 fields, allowing us to predict the harvest yield even before the field season,” stated Klaus Schläppi, co-lead author from the University of Basel. “This predictability enables the targeted application of fungi in fields where they will be effective. That’s a crucial aspect for developing these technologies into a reliable agricultural method.”

This breakthrough has the potential to enhance food production without the heavy reliance on pesticides and fertilizers. A 2022 United Nations report indicates that 40% of the world’s soil is moderately or severely degraded, a figure predicted to increase to 90%.

While the challenge of efficiently implementing fungi on a larger commercial scale remains, van der Heijden noted, “the results of this field trial represent a significant stride toward a more sustainable agriculture.”

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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