Summary
This field experiment demonstrates that nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in soil confer benefits to pea plants that extend beyond direct nitrogen provisioning to include increased tolerance to insect pests and aphid-borne viral pathogens. Rhizobia-inoculated soil outperformed synthetic nitrogen fertilisation in reducing aphid populations and virus prevalence, with these pest-suppression effects accounting substantially for yield gains. The findings indicate that soil microbial communities exert both direct and indirect effects on aboveground crop health and productivity under field conditions.
UK applicability
The findings are likely applicable to UK pea production systems, as pea aphids and PEMV are prevalent pests in temperate legume cultivation. However, the study location and specific cultivars used should be confirmed to assess whether results translate to UK soil types, climate conditions, and farming practices.
Key measures
Pea yield; aphid abundance (Acyrthosiphon pisum); PEMV incidence; plant growth; structural equation modelling of treatment effects
Outcomes reported
The study measured pea plant yield, aphid abundance, pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) incidence, and plant tolerance to these pests and pathogens under four soil treatment conditions. It compared the effectiveness of rhizobia inoculation versus synthetic nitrogen fertilisation on aboveground pest and pathogen management.
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