Field Trials Don’t Lie: What the Data Says About Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi(AMF)  in Corn

Every input promises a return. But as farmers know, talk is cheap, but real proof lives in the field. That’s why trials matter. When it comes to MycoMaxx, years of data across 1000’s locations tell a consistent story: better roots, healthier plants, bigger yields, and profitability.

The benefits of AMF have been seen not just under ideal lab conditions, but in the tough, unpredictable reality of production agriculture. From Nebraska’s cornfields to fields across the Midwest, farmers using beneficial fungi are seeing measurable results that are worth paying attention to.

What the Trials Show: Corn That Grows Stronger and Smarter

One of the most detailed datasets comes from multiple field reports conducted by soil consultant Mike Petersen. These trials compared corn treated with MycoMaxx and untreated controls.

At tasseling, plants with mycorrhizal fungi showed:

• An average of 44.4 nodal roots, compared to 37.6 in control plots
  
• A 6% increase in stalk diameter—more vascular tissue means better transport of water and nutrients
  
• Thicker stalks with more phloem and xylem packets, indicating stronger, more resilient plants
  
• Higher ear placement for improved harvestability and pollination
  

In earlier-stage trials at V4–V5, the data showed:

• Mycorrhizal plants were taller and had more collars (leaf stages)
  
• Leaf area improved by 39.4% over the control group
  
• Plants reached critical maturity stages 7–10 days earlier, boosting pollination and yield consistency and earlier tasseling
  

This kind of biological momentum early in the season leads to better kernel set(often ears have two more rows of kernels, higher test weight, dryer moisture readings, and ultimately a more profitable crop.

Bigger Roots, Better Access to Water and Nutrients

What sets arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi apart is what they do underground. Fungal hyphae extend beyond the root zone, accessing nutrients and water that the plant can’t reach on its own.

In the Nebraska trial, treated plants had noticeably more root development in deeper nodes (3, 4, and 5). These roots are critical because they feed the plant during the most demanding growth stages – tasseling, pollination, and grain fill.

The trial found:

• An 18.6% improvement in total root mass in treated corn
  
• More lateral roots branching from trunk roots
  
• Stronger crown development and healthier nodal spacing
  

These changes aren’t cosmetic – they directly impact how well the plant can weather dry spells, absorb nitrogen, and support heavy grain loads without tipping or snapping.

What That Means for Yield

Yield isn’t just a product of good weather or genetics; it’s the sum of decisions and biological advantages throughout the season. Treated plots in past seasons have yielded up to 34 bushels per acre more than untreated controls. In high-performing hybrids under irrigation, growers have reported top-end yields of 280–314 bu/ac with fungal treatments in place.

Even in dryland conditions, the ability of mycorrhizal fungi to increase root depth and nutrient efficiency has helped farmers maintain yields while grreatly reducing input costs.

Why the Combine is the Final Judge

Talk about plant health is useful. But when the combine rolls through, the numbers become real. The trials consistently show:

• Higher test weight
  
• More uniform and rows on ear fill
  
• Improved dry-down rates
  
• Better standability and harvest ease(less green snap and goosenecking)
  

These outcomes reduce field loss, save fuel and time, and contribute to the bottom line in ways that aren’t always captured by a simple yield number.

Validating the Results in Your Own Field

The best way to believe this data is to see it on your own farm. That’s why side-by-side strips with and without fungi are recommended for new users. Apply New Age Farming’s MycoMaxx blend at planting – either in-furrow or as a seed treatment – and compare emergence, leaf development, and stalk strength through the season.

Walk your rows. Dig your roots. Watch how quickly the differences appear. By pollination, most farmers can spot the treated rows without needing a flag. And by harvest, the combine will confirm it.

Mycorrhizal Fungi Work And Now We’ve Got the Data to Prove It

There’s a reason more growers are turning to biologicals: they want consistency, resilience, and returns that don’t rely on perfect conditions.

With MycoMaxxi, the evidence is in. Whether it’s improved nodal root development, stronger stalks, or yield stability in variable years, the results speak loud and clear.

Field trials don’t lie. And this one tells you it’s time to start farming with fungi.

Sources

Petersen, Mike. “Trip Report of the VT Crop Stage Plots.” Soils Consultant Report, Wood River Interchange, 2022.

Petersen, Mike. “Trip Report of the V4-V5 Crop Stage Plots.” Soils Consultant Report, Wood River Interchange, 2022.

Kise, Sam. “New Age Farming and the Power of Mycorrhizal Fungi.” Future Farmer Magazine, March-April 2023.