16 Mycorrhizal fungi in infertile and weathered soils

Abstract

Infertile and weathered soils present significant challenges for agriculture due to the low availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in agricultural sustainability in such soils by creating symbiotic associations with plant roots, facilitating nutrient and water absorption, and increasing plant resistance to environmental stresses. These mycorrhizal associations not only increase soil exploitation, but also improve the absorption efficiency of nutrients such as phosphorus, and mobilize nutrients from recalcitrant sources. Furthermore, mycorrhizal fungi serve as a nutrient reservoir, functioning as a buffer to ensure a continuous supply of nutrients to plants. The chapter has highlighted the ability of mycorrhizal fungi to improve plant nutrition and contribute to the recovery of soil fertility in degraded environments.