**12. Soil erosion and nutrient leaching**

AMF helps to successfully overcome soil erosion and nutrient leaching in natural as well as in agricultural lands [51]. AMF mycelium is highly ramified and creates a three-dimensional matrix that enmeshes and crosslinks soil particles without compacting the soil with soil glycoprotein, glomalin for stabilization of soil aggregates [52]. Glomalin and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs) account for a vital fraction of total organic soil carbon (2–5%), and for sequestration of carbon in the soil [53]. The hyphal network of AMF, and their promoting effects on plant growth and root system development, protect the soil from erosion by wind and water, promotes water retention capacity and nutrient supply [54].

Nutrient leaching is a serious risk as it results in soil infertility and pollution of groundwater and surface water (rivers, lakes). Agricultural lands are disturbed by malpractices like extensive plowing and tilling, and receive large amounts of fertilizer with N, P and K. These can get washed out from the soil due to the lack of retention systems leading to undesirable consequences [55]. AMF reduces nutrient leaching from the soil [56] by operating at different levels, such as improving soil structure, nutrient sequestration to the micro and macro-soil aggregates, uptake of nutrients from the soil solution and reviving its retention capacity [57].

### **13. Crop care and horticulture**

Cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery of flowers, fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants with AMF associations has received notable appreciation. Other extended aspects of horticulture include plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, landscape and garden design, construction, maintenance, and arboriculture [58]. The AMF attributes such as upregulation of Pi, nutrients, survival rate, plantlet micropropagation, crop uniformity, enhanced fruit production with high nutrient values, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress are attracting botanists, horticulturists, and other scientists (**Figures 6** and **7**) [60].

#### **Figure 6.**

*Outcome of AMF inoculation on enhanced root structure and size of Banana saplings; control compared with the test saplings T1–4 (photo courtesy: Emara [59]).*

**39**

**Figure 8.**

*Advantages of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Production for the Profitability…*

**14. Potential use in reforestation, landscaping, bioremediation and** 

*Geranium plants grown on commercial nutrient regime (left) and that grown with the same nutrient supply with additional mycorrhizal fungi (right) which shows better nutrient and water uptake and use efficiency* 

Mycorrhizal associations are extensively utilized for reforestation programs, the ectomycorrhizal fungi are employed to produce containerized seedlings and AMF are raised with plantlets to survive transplantation shock [61]. Such seedlings may have better survival after planting in tropical settings or another natural environ-

Landscaping is an evolving industry financed by enthusiastic customers from private corporations, businesses, private homes and government agencies for esthetic highway and road maintenance, seeking low-cost and natural solutions. AMF association has encouraged the best native planting and reclamation practices with appealing sports fields, road medians, golf courses, public and private parks, and gardens [60]. Bioremediation and revegetation are a scenario that promotes plant growth in contaminated soils and AMF has acclaimed its potential in this regard also [63]. Decades of agricultural and industrial malpractices, volcanic ash, mine spoils, waste deposits and other anthropogenically polluted sites are filled with organic compounds or heavy metals. AMF has mineral-scavenging capacities with two kinds of strategies, they accumulate and sequester toxic metal ions, or they deliver to plants in the form of essential mineral nutrients such as Cu and Zn [64].

*Improved land scaping with AMF (photo courtesy: AMF lawns @ AMFLawns. Landscape Company).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95458*

**revegetation**

**Figure 7.**

ment with varied climate conditions [62].

*(photo curtesy: Mycorrhizal applications @ GPNMAG.COM 2018).*

*Advantages of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Production for the Profitability… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95458*

#### **Figure 7.**

*Mycorrhizal Fungi - Utilization in Agriculture and Forestry*

**12. Soil erosion and nutrient leaching**

**13. Crop care and horticulture**

of anthocyanins, chlorophyll, carotenoids, total soluble phenolics, tocopherols, sugars, organic acids, vitamin C, flavonoids, and mineral nutrients [49] and enhanced

AMF helps to successfully overcome soil erosion and nutrient leaching in natural as well as in agricultural lands [51]. AMF mycelium is highly ramified and creates a three-dimensional matrix that enmeshes and crosslinks soil particles without compacting the soil with soil glycoprotein, glomalin for stabilization of soil aggregates [52]. Glomalin and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs) account for a vital fraction of total organic soil carbon (2–5%), and for sequestration of carbon in the soil [53]. The hyphal network of AMF, and their promoting effects on plant growth and root system development, protect the soil from erosion by wind and water,

Nutrient leaching is a serious risk as it results in soil infertility and pollution of groundwater and surface water (rivers, lakes). Agricultural lands are disturbed by malpractices like extensive plowing and tilling, and receive large amounts of fertilizer with N, P and K. These can get washed out from the soil due to the lack of retention systems leading to undesirable consequences [55]. AMF reduces nutrient leaching from the soil [56] by operating at different levels, such as improving soil structure, nutrient sequestration to the micro and macro-soil aggregates, uptake of

Cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery of flowers, fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants with AMF associations has received notable appreciation. Other extended aspects of horticulture include plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, landscape and garden design, construction, maintenance, and arboriculture [58]. The AMF attributes such as upregulation of Pi, nutrients, survival rate, plantlet micropropagation, crop uniformity, enhanced fruit production with high nutrient values, resistance to biotic and abiotic stress are attracting

nutrients from the soil solution and reviving its retention capacity [57].

botanists, horticulturists, and other scientists (**Figures 6** and **7**) [60].

the biosynthesis of phytochemicals in edible plants (**Figure 5**) [50].

promotes water retention capacity and nutrient supply [54].

**38**

**Figure 6.**

*the test saplings T1–4 (photo courtesy: Emara [59]).*

*Outcome of AMF inoculation on enhanced root structure and size of Banana saplings; control compared with* 

*Geranium plants grown on commercial nutrient regime (left) and that grown with the same nutrient supply with additional mycorrhizal fungi (right) which shows better nutrient and water uptake and use efficiency (photo curtesy: Mycorrhizal applications @ GPNMAG.COM 2018).*

## **14. Potential use in reforestation, landscaping, bioremediation and revegetation**

Mycorrhizal associations are extensively utilized for reforestation programs, the ectomycorrhizal fungi are employed to produce containerized seedlings and AMF are raised with plantlets to survive transplantation shock [61]. Such seedlings may have better survival after planting in tropical settings or another natural environment with varied climate conditions [62].

Landscaping is an evolving industry financed by enthusiastic customers from private corporations, businesses, private homes and government agencies for esthetic highway and road maintenance, seeking low-cost and natural solutions. AMF association has encouraged the best native planting and reclamation practices with appealing sports fields, road medians, golf courses, public and private parks, and gardens [60].

Bioremediation and revegetation are a scenario that promotes plant growth in contaminated soils and AMF has acclaimed its potential in this regard also [63]. Decades of agricultural and industrial malpractices, volcanic ash, mine spoils, waste deposits and other anthropogenically polluted sites are filled with organic compounds or heavy metals. AMF has mineral-scavenging capacities with two kinds of strategies, they accumulate and sequester toxic metal ions, or they deliver to plants in the form of essential mineral nutrients such as Cu and Zn [64].

Bioremediation and phytoremediation by mycorrhizal inoculants are an emerging frontier and needs attention (**Figure 8**).
