The soil microbiome: An essential, but neglected, component of regenerative agroecosystems

Hermans, Syrie M.; Lear, Gavin; Case, Bradley S.; Buckley, Hannah L.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106028

Cited by 25 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…In contrast, rhizosphere- and root-associated fungal 1 communities were impacted by genotype and tillage, respectively. Generally, soil disturbances caused by field management, such as cropping system, tillage, fertilization, and residue management, are among the major factors affecting soil microbial community structure and diversity ( Nannipieri et al., 2003 ; Guo et al., 2016 ; Tang et al., 2022 ; Hermans et al., 2023 ). However, disentangling the effects of agricultural practices on soil microbial community structure is complex.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of conservation tillage on wheat performance and its microbiome

Romano,

Bodenhausen,

Basch

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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Winter wheat is an important cereal consumed worldwide. However, current management practices involving chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and intensive tillage may have negative impacts on the environment. Conservation agriculture is often presented as a sustainable alternative to maintain wheat production, favoring the beneficial microbiome. Here, we evaluated the impact of different water regimes (rainfed and irrigated), fertilization levels (half and full fertilization), and tillage practices (occasional tillage and no-tillage) on wheat performance, microbial activity, and rhizosphere- and root-associated microbial communities of four winter wheat genotypes (Antequera, Allez-y, Apache, and Cellule) grown in a field experiment. Wheat performance (i.e., yield, plant nitrogen concentrations, and total nitrogen uptake) was mainly affected by irrigation, fertilization, and genotype, whereas microbial activity (i.e., protease and alkaline phosphatase activities) was affected by irrigation. Amplicon sequencing data revealed that habitat (rhizosphere vs. root) was the main factor shaping microbial communities and confirmed that the selection of endophytic microbial communities takes place thanks to specific plant–microbiome interactions. Among the experimental factors applied, the interaction of irrigation and tillage influenced rhizosphere- and root-associated microbiomes. The findings presented in this work make it possible to link agricultural practices to microbial communities, paving the way for better monitoring of these microorganisms in the context of agroecosystem sustainability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of conservation tillage on wheat performance and its microbiome

Romano,

Bodenhausen,

Basch

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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“…Common regenerative agriculture practices include reduced synthetic (nitrogen) fertiliser use, adoption of intercropping systems ( Brooker et al., 2015 ) and reduced tillage, well-known practices that are increasingly implemented. Nevertheless, soil microbiome manipulation in regenerative agriculture should be given due consideration as an underlying tool for providing various essential benefits to soil ( Hermans et al., 2023 ).…”

Section: Soil- and Gut Microbes And Functional Diversity Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than a meat- or synthetic nitrogen fertiliser-substitute: a review of legume phytochemicals as drivers of ‘One Health’ via their influence on the functional diversity of soil- and gut-microbes

Duarte,

Iannetta,

Gomes

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

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Legumes are essential to healthy agroecosystems, with a rich phytochemical content that impacts overall human and animal well-being and environmental sustainability. While these phytochemicals can have both positive and negative effects, legumes have traditionally been bred to produce genotypes with lower levels of certain plant phytochemicals, specifically those commonly termed as ‘antifeedants’ including phenolic compounds, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). However, when incorporated into a balanced diet, such legume phytochemicals can offer health benefits for both humans and animals. They can positively influence the human gut microbiome by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, contributing to gut health, and demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Beyond their nutritional value, legume phytochemicals also play a vital role in soil health. The phytochemical containing residues from their shoots and roots usually remain in-field to positively affect soil nutrient status and microbiome diversity, so enhancing soil functions and benefiting performance and yield of following crops. This review explores the role of legume phytochemicals from a ‘one health’ perspective, examining their on soil- and gut-microbial ecology, bridging the gap between human nutrition and agroecological science.

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“…Conventional agriculture contributes worryingly to biodiversity losses, partially due to high stock densities, heavy use of pesticides and fertilizer, monocultures, and the CT approach [131]. Radical changes in tillage modes are required, not only to address the loss of biodiversity but also to ensure food and medicine security in the future.…”

Section: Effects On Biodiversity and Soil Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation Tillage in Medicinal Plant Cultivation in China: What, Why, and How

Hao

Xiao

et al. 2023

Agronomy

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Ecological cultivation is a promising regime for medicinal plant production. For a long time, unreasonable farming methods have threatened soil health and medicinal agriculture and restricted the sustainable development of ecological agriculture for medicinal plants. However, there is a lack of comprehensive discourse and discussion about the pros and cons of different tillage regimes. Here, the research trend and application prospects of no-tillage (NT) are comprehensively reviewed, and the ecological benefits, challenges, and opportunities of the NT system in ecological agriculture of medicinal plants are scrutinized, aiming to call for an about-face in the sustainable conservation and utilization of both phytomedicine resources and agricultural/ecological resources. An exhaustive literature search in PubMed, Bing, Scopus, and CNKI was performed to outline the research trend in conservation tillage and medicinal plants during the recent four decades. The application of NT has a long history and can reduce tillage frequency and intensity and protect soil from erosion and deterioration. NT is often combined with organic mulch to significantly reduce soil disturbance. NT and stover mulching have the advantages of saving manpower and resources and improving soil quality, crop yield, and quality. The ecological and economic benefits of NT in long-term medicinal plant cultivation could be prominent. In developing medicinal plant cultivation, competing with food crops should be avoided as much as possible, and the impact on the production of major grain crops should be minimized. Therefore, the full utilization of soil resources in forests, mountains, and wasteland is advocated, and sustainable soil utilization is the core issue in the process of land reclamation. NT and stover mulching not only inherit the traditional concept of “natural farming”, conform to the basic laws of ecology, as well as the growth characteristics of medicinal plants, but also protect the ecological environment of the production area. It would become the core strategy of ecological agriculture for medicinal plants. Our summary and discussions would help propose countermeasures to popularize NT and organic mulch, promote relevant research and scientific allocation of resources, and adapt to local conditions to achieve precise management and harmonize conservation and production of medicinal plants.

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The soil microbiome: An essential, but neglected, component of regenerative agroecosystems

Cited by 25 publications

References 81 publications

Impact of conservation tillage on wheat performance and its microbiome

Impact of conservation tillage on wheat performance and its microbiome

More than a meat- or synthetic nitrogen fertiliser-substitute: a review of legume phytochemicals as drivers of ‘One Health’ via their influence on the functional diversity of soil- and gut-microbes

Conservation Tillage in Medicinal Plant Cultivation in China: What, Why, and How

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