Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Article in Press
doi:10.1016/j.agee.2005.09.009
Review
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic farming
P. Goslinga, , , A. Hodgeb, G. Goodlassc and G.D. Bendinga
Abstract
Symbiotic associations between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant
roots are widespread in the natural environment and can provide a
range of benefits to the host plant. These include improved
nutrition, enhanced resistance to soil-borne pests and disease,
improved resistance to drought, tolerance of heavy metals and better
soil structure. Many agricultural crops are mycorrhizal and there is
widespread if equivocal evidence that crop plants benefit from the
arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association in the same way. However,
many agricultural practices including use of fertilisers and
biocides, tillage, monocultures and the growing of non-mycorrhizal
crops are detrimental to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). As a
result, agroecosystems are impoverished in AMF and may not provide
the full range of benefits to the crop. Organic farming systems may
be less detrimental to AMF because they exclude the use of
water-soluble fertilisers and most biocides and generally have
diverse rotations. The evidence available suggests that this leads to
increased AMF inoculum in soils, greater crop colonisation and
enhanced nutrient uptake. AMF might therefore be able to substitute
for reduced fertiliser and biocide inputs in organic systems, though
there is little evidence for increased yield resulting from high
rates of AMF colonisation in organic systems. This review examines
the benefits that the AM association can have for agroecosystems and
how farm management practices influence the AM association.
Management options that may be employed to increase the benefits that
AMF can bring to this type of farming system, such as changes to the
rotation and careful use of tillage, are discussed.
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