ABSTRACT
The atmosphere CO2 emission has been exponentially increasing for the past two decades, and the current level has reached 400 ppm, which has significant effects on climate change, ecosystem functionality and at the same time influencing the soil quality and productivity adversely. Soil can be a sink for atmospheric CO2, and therefore adoption of favourable soil and crop management enhancing C-sink (carbon sequestration) will help in the mitigation of atmospheric CO2. Amongst the several approaches being used to mitigate atmospheric CO2, the use of soil microorganisms is one of potential approaches being used that is gaining importance. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate plant symbionts associating with the roots of more than 80% vascular land plants and are well known for their role in providing the plant with water and mineral nutrients, especially phosphorus, and improving the overall growth of plants (Smith and Read, 2008). Their role in soil quality improvement via hyphal entrapment of soil has been largely demonstrated in various studies under both laboratory and field conditions. However their role in soil quality improvement is not just confined to the hyphae but also lies in the production of a sticky and recalcitrant glycoprotein called glomalin chiefly, which mainly accumulates in the hyphae and spores. The agricultural management practices being followed plays the most crucial role in determining the maintenance of hyphal biomass as well as the extent of glomalin production in soil. In this chapter we summarize the role of glomalin and AMF in soil carbon and heavy metal sequestration and soil quality improvements and also provide insights on how different agricultural practices influence AM formation and consequently carbon sequestration.
