Cropping practices manipulate abundance patterns of root and soil microbiome members paving the way to smart farming

Summary

This field experiment examined how soil and plant microbiomes respond to different cropping practices in a wheat-based system, comparing conventional and organic management with varying tillage intensities. Although microbial richness was minimally affected, the researchers found that cropping practices significantly altered community composition in predictable ways—with tillage primarily structuring soil bacteria, management type driving soil fungi, and management type determining root bacteria. The identification of cropping-sensitive microbes, particularly those that are influential community members or keystone taxa, suggests potential pathways for targeted microbiota management in future agricultural systems.

Regional applicability

The study was conducted in Switzerland, and findings on temperate wheat-based systems are likely transferable to United Kingdom arable conditions. The management types (conventional and organic) and tillage intensities tested are directly relevant to UK farming practice; however, region-specific soil types, climates, and cropping rotations may modulate the magnitude of microbiome responses observed.

Key measures

Microbial community composition and richness (16S rRNA and ITS sequencing); variation in microbial communities explained by cropping practices (~10%); taxonomic identification of cropping-sensitive taxa; co-occurrence patterns within microbial communities

Outcomes reported

The study quantified how conventional versus organic management and tillage intensity alter soil bacterial and fungal communities, and root-colonising microbes in wheat. It identified cropping-sensitive microbes and their response patterns across different management practices.

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