Underground Explorers

This project addresses a central conflict in modern agriculture: the impact of chemical fertilization and herbicides on biological interactions driving biofertility. In the Argentine Pampean region, we evaluate the cumulative effects of four years of anthropogenic pressure on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) networks. The experimental design contrasts three systems: soybean monoculture (negative control), pristine soil (positive control), and intensified rotation. Within the intensified system, four experimental strips assess the impact of fertilization (zero vs. supra-optimal urea) and weed management (chemical vs. mechanical roller). By analyzing these extreme contrasts, this study provides field evidence of how industrial practices alter real fungal connectivity. Integrating these results with long-term soil health indicators monitored since 2022 aims to validate "always-green" systems as drivers of organic nitrogen nutrition, supporting a transition toward biointegrated landscapes where fungal heritage conservation aligns with food security.