Article
VAM as Carbon Allies
by Dr Ash Martin PhD BSc(For)Hons
Healthy soils are the foundation of productive farming, and VAM play a big role in strengthening them. This review explored how VAM contribute to soil fertility, soil carbon, and long term productivity.
What they did: Scientists reviewed evidence on how VAM (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, aka AM Fungi or AMF) influence soil structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage, with a focus on their role in building and maintaining fertile soils.
What they found:
- VAM improve soil aggregation, which helps lock organic matter and carbon into the soil.
- They produce glomalin, a sticky protein that binds soil particles, stabilises structure, and protects organic matter.
- VAM reduce nutrient losses, helping soils hold onto nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Their activity supports a more diverse and active microbial community.
What this means for you:
- Encouraging VAM helps build soils that store more organic matter and carbon, improving fertility and long‑term productivity.
- Practices like reduced tillage, cover crops, and balanced fertilisation support VAM activity and improve soil function.
- VAM inoculants or bio‑fertiliser blends can be used to enhance soil structure, nutrient efficiency, and carbon storage.
- Stronger soils mean better water retention, less erosion, and more reliable yields over time.
VAM are powerful allies in building fertile, carbon rich soils. By supporting them, growers can improve yields, reduce input costs, and strengthen the long term productivity of their land.
> Not sure how much carbon building potential your soils have? Our VAM Wise for Soil, VAM Wise for Plants (Annuals) and VAM Wise for Plants (Perennials) tests can show you the current strength of your VAM community. Our Structure Wise test can also show you how much carbon is stored as glomalin. The results could be surprising!
Read the full article:
Shukla et al. (2025). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF): A pathway to sustainable soil health, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas mitigation.
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