Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi help farmers cut back on chemical fertilizers.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are fungi that live inside and on the roots of most plants. The plant feeds the fungi and the fungi sends out its root- like hypha collecting water and nutrients such as phosphate, potassium and nitrate from the soil and transfers them to the plant.
When paired with the right AMF, a plant is more drought resistant and healthier. You can buy AMF as well as seeds coated with AMF. A recent study showed that adding one of these AMF, Phomopsis liquidambari, to rice seedlings allowed them to cut the amount of nitrogen fertilizer in half while maintaining yield and rice nutrient levels. This cut pollution from excess nitrogen and increased soil microbial biomass which as we know means you are increasing the health of your soil.
Source: Mycorrhizal Inoculants For Vegetable Crops
Siddikee, M. A. et al. Endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari and different doses of N-fertilizer alter microbial community structure and function in rhizosphere of rice. Sci. Rep. 6, 32270; doi: 10.1038/srep32270 (2016)
