Chapter 10. Implications of Past, Current, and Future Agricultural Practices for Mycorrhiza-Mediated Nutrient Flux
Citation
Hamel, C., Plenchette, C. 2016. Implications of past, current and future agriculture practices for mycorrhiza-mediated nutrient flux. Chapter 10 in Mycorrhizal Mediation of Soil to be edited by Nancy Johnson, Catherine Gehring, and Jan Jansa. Elsevier, 526 pp.
Plain language summary
Most plant do not have roots, they have mycorrhizae, which are symbiotic associations between fungi and plants. Mycorrhizae (from the Greek myco: fungus and rhiza: root) are symbiotic organs that have made major and consistent contributions to crop production throughtout the history of humanity. The evolution of tillage equipment negatively impacted mycorrhizae, and in more recent times, the Green Revolution brought about by the fertilizer industry reduced further the relevance of mycorrhizae in countries producing crops intensively. As the contribution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to nutrient flux in agricultural soils has declined, negative impacts of agriculture on the environment have increased. However, science and technology have begun to elevate the mycorrhizal symbiosis from irrelevance to an important resource in agriculture. As we are heading towards a world of 9 billion, the dependence of agriculture on mycorrhizae should increase, if agriculture is to be sustainable. Mycorrhizae improve the efficiency of nutrient cycling in soil.
Abstract
Most plant do not have roots, they have mycorrhizae, which are symbiotic associations between fungi and plants. Mycorrhizae (from Greek myco: fungus and rhiza: root) are symbiotic organs that have made major and consistent contributions to crop production throughtout the history of humanity. The evolution of tillage equipment negatively impacted mycorrhizae, and in more recent times, the Green Revolution brought about by the fertilizer industry reduced further the relevance of mycorrhizae in countries producing crops intensively. As the contribution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to nutrient flux in agricultural soils has declined, negative impacts of agriculture on the environment have increased. However, science and technology have begun to elevate the mycorrhizal symbiosis from irrelevance to an important resource in agriculture. As we are heading towards a world of 9 billion, the dependence of agriculture on mycorrhizae should increase, if agriculture is to be sustainable. Mycorrhizae improve the efficiency of nutrient cycling in soil.