The Usage of Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in Drought Areas and Low–Input Crop Production Systems

With increasing interest in the development of sustainable agriculture in semi-arid regions, low-input land use systems are being considered as an option for low-production sites. Soil loss and erosion remain significant environmental challenges in marginal lands worldwide. Highly efficient rhizosphere microorganisms like VAM (vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal) play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture by supplying unavailable soil nutrients and forming microaggregates. These microorganisms chemically enmesh and stabilize microaggregates and smaller macroaggregates into larger macroaggregate structures.

In Turkey, the majority of agricultural activities face nutrient deficiencies and soil erosion, especially in low-input sites with poor vegetation cover under drought conditions. The goal of this study is to apply VAM for low-input vegetation to improve soil nutrient supply and protect soil structure stability. Trap cultures offer a non-molecular approach to baiting cryptic species of VAM present in plant communities. This study focuses on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in selected habitats using trap culture methodology.

The research examines the rate of root colonization by VAM at varying inocula levels and evaluates the capability of selected VAM species to form symbioses with other soil bacterial species for nutrient supply and soil aggregation in low-input sites. This study aims to combine classical and molecular methods to elucidate VAM species that contribute significantly to soil nutrition and structure stability.