The Underlying Mechanism of Soil Aggregate Stability by Fungi and Related Multiple Factor: A Review

Soil aggregation is considered as an essential ecosystem process mediated by soil organism. In this review, the hyphae network, binding agents, and exudates of fungi traits involved in soil aggregation and stability are summarized, as well as root architecture, microbial community and other indirect driver. Then, a better understanding of variable influencing factors on fungi traits and their interaction is explored. In the field, fungi inoculums, no-tillage, fertilization, and herbicides could change soil aggregation and stability via fungi traits. This current state of knowledge is helpful for resolve worldwide deterioration in soil quality, as a result of high-intensity agronomic practice, human disturbance, and environmental global changes and so on. Although fungi used for eco-engineering measures in the field has been not fully understood, the recovery and development of fungi will be one of more promising and cost-effective efforts to maintain soil structure, via fungi inoculums or land management practice. Meanwhile, better trait-based analytical approaches and an intermediate step should be developed before transferring laboratory results to application of the field in future research.