Abstract
The application of mycorrhizal biofertilizers in agriculture has demonstrated potential for improving crop yield and nutrition. However, their effectiveness across different tillage systems and under on-farm conditions remain underexplored. This two-year study evaluated the effects of tillage practices and supplemental arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the yield and nutrient composition of organically grown sweet corn ( Zea mays ). The experiment followed a split-plot design with two tillage practices—full tillage (FT) and reduced tillage (RT)—and four AMF treatments: mock (control), native AMF community (NAT), Rhizophagus irregularis , and Funneliformis mosseae . Results showed that FT significantly increased fresh and dry ear yields compared to RT. AMF inoculation, particularly with R. irregularis , enhanced kernel phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations. Inoculation with R. irregularis and F. mosseae also increased kernel vitamin B6 and C levels. Tillage influenced amino acid composition, with leucine and phenylalanine concentrations being higher in FT, while tryptophan was greater in RT. Additionally, R. irregularis and F. mosseae inoculation increased aspartic acid and glycine concentrations, which play a role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting a potential role for AMF in enhancing crop stress resilience and nutritional quality. Despite these benefits, natural AMF colonization across treatments may have masked the full effects of supplemental inoculation, highlighting the complexity of evaluating AMF biofertilizers in field conditions. Overall, this study suggests that while the presence of native AMF complicates the assessment of exogenous inoculation, AMF biofertilizers have positive implications for enhancing nutrient density of sweet corn across tillage practices.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Full tillage significantly increased fresh and dry ear yields compared with reduced tillage.
Verbatim
e0“FT significantly increased fresh and dry ear yields compared to RT”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
R. irregularis inoculation enhanced kernel phosphorus and potassium concentrations.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Treatment
- AMF inoculation, particularly with R. irregularise0
- Interactor
- R. irregularis
Rhizophagus irregularise0symbiont - Outcome
- kernel phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrationse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“AMF inoculation, particularly with R. irregularis , enhanced kernel phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
R. irregularis inoculation increased kernel vitamins B6 and C.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Treatment
- Inoculation with R. irregularise0
- Interactor
- R. irregularisRhizophagus irregularise0symbiont
- Outcome
- kernel vitamin B6 and C levelse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Inoculation with R. irregularis and F. mosseae also increased kernel vitamin B6 and C levels”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
F. mosseae inoculation increased kernel vitamins B6 and C.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Treatment
- F. mosseaee0
- Interactor
- F. mosseae
Funneliformis mosseaee0symbiont - Outcome
- kernel vitamin B6 and C levelse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Inoculation with R. irregularis and F. mosseae also increased kernel vitamin B6 and C levels”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Full tillage had higher leucine and phenylalanine concentrations.
Verbatim
e0“leucine and phenylalanine concentrations being higher in FT, while tryptophan was greater in RT”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced tillage had greater tryptophan concentration.
Verbatim
e0“leucine and phenylalanine concentrations being higher in FT, while tryptophan was greater in RT”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
R. irregularis inoculation increased aspartic acid and glycine concentrations.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Treatment
- R. irregularise0
- Interactor
- R. irregularisRhizophagus irregularise0symbiont
- Outcome
- aspartic acid and glycine concentrationse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“R. irregularis and F. mosseae inoculation increased aspartic acid and glycine concentrations”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
F. mosseae inoculation increased aspartic acid and glycine concentrations.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Treatment
- F. mosseae inoculatione0
- Interactor
- F. mosseaeFunneliformis mosseaee0symbiont
- Outcome
- aspartic acid and glycine concentrationse0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“R. irregularis and F. mosseae inoculation increased aspartic acid and glycine concentrations”
t0“sweet corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Natural AMF colonization may have masked supplemental inoculation effects.
- Taxon
- sweet cornt0
- Interactor
- AMFe0symbiont
- Outcome
- full effects of supplemental inoculatione0
- Qualifier
- natural AMF colonization across treatmentse0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“natural AMF colonization across treatments may have masked the full effects of supplemental inoculation”
t0“sweet corn”
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