The importance of no-till in the development of cropping systems to maximise benefits of arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis

Abstract

The symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with plant roots presents several benefits to agricultural systems, including improved soil structure, resistance of crops to drought and soil pathogens, and its importance will increase in the future due to the scarcity of P reserves in the world. No-till is a powerful tool to manage AMF in the cropping systems as it allows the use of ERM developed in the previous year and the ERM developed by weeds in the beginning of the cropping year, as a major source of inoculum for the new crop. Therefore the design of crop rotations to take full advantage of AMF symbiosis, like an enhanced ability to uptake P, must consider the tillage system to be adopted and an appropriate weeds management.