Agricultural intensification reduces microbial network complexity and the abundance of keystone taxa in roots

Summary

This comparative field study of 60 Swiss wheat farms demonstrates that organic farming systems harbour significantly more complex and connected root fungal networks than conventional or no-till systems. Agricultural intensification is strongly associated with reduced fungal network connectivity and lower abundance of keystone mycorrhizal taxa. The findings provide the first characterisation of mycorrhizal keystone taxa in agroecosystems and suggest that farming practice intensity directly shapes the functional architecture of root microbiota.

UK applicability

Given the similar temperate climate, soil types, and cereal production systems in the United Kingdom, these findings are likely relevant to UK wheat farming. However, UK-specific validation would be needed to assess whether observed patterns hold across different soil parent materials and regional management practices.

Key measures

Root fungal network connectivity (quantified via graph metrics), keystone taxa abundance and occurrence, mycorrhizal fungal colonization rates in roots and soils, soil phosphorus levels, bulk density, soil pH, agricultural intensification index

Outcomes reported

The study quantified root fungal community structure and network complexity across conventional, no-till, and organic wheat farming systems, measuring keystone taxa abundance and mycorrhizal fungal colonization. It identified a strong negative association between agricultural intensification and root fungal network connectivity, with keystone taxa primarily comprising arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Topic tags