Aims In low-input agricultural systems, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a role in plant nutrition, protection and water use. Evaluating how agricultural practices affect the composition of AMF communities is therefore an important step towards sustainable intensification. We characterized the AMF communities in enset (Ensete ventricosum) roots in smallholder enset-based farming systems in south Ethiopia and assessed the effects of soil fertility management on those communities. Methods We assessed AMF diversity and community composition in the roots of 181 enset plants from 23 farms by Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing. Roots were collected from intensively manured parts of the farms (regular manure application), and from less manured parts of the farms (occasional manure application). Results AMF communities in both intensively and less manured parts of the farms were comprised primarily by species belonging to Glomeraceae, which accounted for 67% of the total operational taxonomic units recorded. However, unlike Glomeraceae, majority of Acaulosporaceae sequences were recovered from less manured parts of the farms. Intensively manured parts of the farms were associated with higher soil pH, available P, organic carbon, total N and C:N ratio, and with significantly lower AMF richness and diversity. Moreover, unexpectedly organic carbon and total N explained a large part of the variation in AMF community composition compared with available P. Conclusions Intensive manure applications enhance soil nutrient availability and soil organic carbon but result in lower AMF richness and diversity, and in a shift in AMF community composition. This may promote less mutualistic AMF community.

This work was carried out within the framework of the Institutional University Collaboration (IUC) partnership between Arba Minch University, Ethiopia and the University of Leuven, Belgium, which was funded by the Flemish Inter-University Council for Development Collaboration VLIR-UOS. We want to thank the farmers of Gamo, Dawro and Kaffa for their hospitality and for allowing us to sample their farms. We also want to acknowledge the support of IUC coordinators Dr. Simon Shibru and Dr. Roel Merckx ...

https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05462-w

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Rony Swennenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5258-9043

https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05462-w

Biotech and Plant Breeding

Agronomy; Farming Systems; Food Security; Plant Breeding; Plant Production; Soil Fertility

Arbuscular Mycorrhiza; Farming Systems; Soil Fertility

Africa; East Africa

Ethiopia

Eastern Africa Hub

Plant and Soil