The cultivation of maize (Zea mays, L.) in low-fertility soils presents significant challenges for farmers in Central America. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of maize varieties in low-fertility soil and their response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Two experiments were conducted at Zamorano, Honduras. In the first experiment, 16 varieties were evaluated with and without AMF inoculation in a split-plot arrangement of a completely randomized design with four replications in a screenhouse. In the second experiment, 12 varieties were evaluated with and without chemical fertilization in a split-plot arrangement of a complete randomized block design with four replications and AMF inoculation in a low-fertility field. Fertilization and non-fertilization treatments were distributed in the main plots, and varieties were assigned to subplots. Varieties Tuxpeño, Olotillo Mejorado, Planta Baja, DICTA Sequía, DICTA Maya, Indio Choluteca, and Capulín showed significant improvement in grain yield when AMF inoculation and fertilization were applied. Indio Choluteca and Capulín also performed well with both inoculation and fertilization, indicating their adaptability and yield potential in low-fertility soils. Relative chlorophyll content (r= 0.5719), 100-seed weight (r= 0.6296), and dry biomass (r= 0.6250) were found to correlate positively with yield. The study concludes that AMF inoculation and fertilization can significantly improve maize grain yield in soils with low fertility, highlighting the potential of AMF for enhancing productivity in low-input systems. Full text: [doi:10.5377/ceiba.v56i2.17118]