Assessment of Soil Quality Using Rhizosphere Fungal Communities Across Tribal Agroecosystems of North-Western Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Soil quality is a key determinant of agricultural productivity and ecosystem sustainability, with rhizosphere fungi serving as important biological indicators of soil health. This study investigated the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and rhizosphere fungal communities associated with banana, sugarcane, groundnut, and chilli cultivated in different agroecosystems of Nandurbar District, Maharashtra, India. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected during winter, summer, and rainy seasons and analysed for pH, soil moisture, temperature, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity using standard analytical procedures. Fungal isolates were recovered using the serial dilution plate technique and identified through morphological characteristics. Marked seasonal and crop-specific variations were observed in both soil properties and fungal communities. The rainy season supported the highest fungal abundance and diversity, whereas comparatively lower populations were recorded during summer. Dominant fungal genera included Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Mucor, with their distribution closely associated with soil moisture, organic carbon, and nutrient availability. The findings indicate that soil physicochemical characteristics are closely associated with rhizosphere fungal dynamics and support the suitability of fungal communities as biological indicators of soil quality. Integrating microbial and soil fertility assessments provides an effective approach for monitoring ecosystem health and developing sustainable soil management strategies for improving agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions.