Researchers found that combining two beneficial soil fungi—arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma longibrachiatum—significantly improved poor quality albic soils when straw was returned to fields. The combined treatment increased soil pH, nutrients, and enzyme activity while promoting beneficial bacteria like Sphingomonas. This microbial approach offers farmers a sustainable, environmentally friendly way to restore degraded soils and improve agricultural productivity in regions with challenging soil conditions.