The effect of AMF combined with biochar on plant growth and soil quality under saline-alkali stress: Insights from microbial community analysis.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar application individually can enhance plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress and promote plant growth efficiency. However, little is known about the potential synergistic effects of their combination on improving plant growth and soil quality under saline-alkali stress. This experiment adopted the potted method to explore the effects of four treatments on switchgrass growth and soil quality: biochar (BC), Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri), biochar + Ri (BR) and a control without biochar or Ri (CK).

Rhizophagus irregularis and biochar can synergistically improve the physiological characteristics of saline-alkali resistance of switchgrass.

Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or biochar (BC) application can improve photosynthesis and promote plant growth under saline-alkali stress. However, little is known about the effects of the two combined on growth and physiological characteristics of switchgrass under saline-alkali stress. This study examined the effects of four treatments: (1) no AMF inoculation and no biochar addition (control), (2) biochar (BC) alone, (3) AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis, Ri) alone, and (4) the combination of both (BC+Ri) on the plant biomass, antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll, and photosynthetic parameters of switchgrass under saline-alkali stress.

Effects of AMF Compound Inoculants on Growth, Ion Homeostasis, and Salt Tolerance-Related Gene Expression in Oryza sativa L. Under Salt Treatments.

Increased soil salinization is among the main factors that limits safe rice production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to alleviate the toxic effects of salt stress in plants. However, more studies on AMF combined with other functional microorganisms are needed to further improve salt tolerance in rice.