Future Directions International Strategic Directions Paper: Agricultural Application of Mycorrhizal Fungi to Increase Crop Yields, Promote Soil Health and Combat Climate Change, Johns 2014

There are a number of agricultural practices that will enhance fungi colonisation. Wherever possible, of course, the full range of critical soil health processes that govern productivity should be allowed to regenerate agricultural ecologies naturally. It may, however, be necessary or more practical to inoculate seed with fungi spores in order to recover degraded soils. A number of farmers in the Great Southern agricultural region of Western Australia are undertaking this course of action. Finding themselves confronted with an unsustainable spiral of ever-increasing commercial fertiliser costs and uneconomic or diminishing crop yields, it was realised that a different approach needed to be taken. In recent growing seasons, seed has been inoculated with commercial fungi spores just prior to planting. While it is still too early to provide statistically robust outcomes and, bearing in mind that there are no “silver bullets” in agricultural production, the indications are that mycorrhizal fungi are promoting improvements in crop vitality, yield and soil condition [Johns 2014: 4].