Mycorrhizal fungi increase plant nutrient uptake, aggregate stability and microbial biomass in the clay soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial soil organisms that can form symbiotic associations with the host plant roots. Mycorrhizal symbiosis between plant root and fungi can influence plant diversity and ecosystem productivity. However, the impacts of AMF frequently documented in the loamy to sandy soil, whereas it has no precise mechanism of influencing plant productivity, macronutrient uptake, and aggregation in a clay soil. A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the impact of AMF on plant growth, nutrient uptake and soil aggregation in a clay soil of Bangladesh. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) was cultivated over 105 days with AMF and without AMF (NAMF) with 5 replications. Plant productivity, nutrient uptake, soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), aggregate stability (MWD), and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) were measured after 105 days. Results showed that the plant productivity and nutrient availability in soil and their subsequent uptake in AMF were significantly higher compared to the NAMF treatment (p < 0.01). We observed 17% increase in aggregate stability (measured as mean weight diameter) and 28% increase in organic carbon in AMF inoculated soil compared to NAMF. The microbial biomass carbon and GRSP were significantly higher in the AMF than NAMF treatment (p < 0.01). The findings highlight that AMF introduction can be a promising tool for improving plant production and soil condition in the clay soil instead of conventional farming system.