Severe nutrient depletion reshapes rhizosphere microbial succession toward necromass recycling under continuous monocropping of Coix lacryma-jobi

Summary

This field study demonstrates that continuous monocropping of Coix lacryma-jobi induces severe nutrient depletion that fundamentally reshapes rhizosphere microbial communities towards necromass-recycling phenotypes. The findings suggest that sustained nutrient stress restructures soil microbial ecology in ways that may further impair nutrient availability for plant uptake, potentially constituting a feedback mechanism in soil degradation under monocropping. The work contributes to understanding how farming practises drive both chemical and biological soil degradation.

UK applicability

Whilst Coix lacryma-jobi is not a major UK crop, the mechanistic insights regarding nutrient depletion and microbial succession are potentially relevant to continuous monocropping of cereals (wheat, barley) in UK arable systems, particularly where rotations are shortened and soil nutrient management is marginal.

Key measures

Rhizosphere microbial community composition (likely 16S rRNA sequencing or metagenomics), soil nutrient concentrations, microbial functional capacity for necromass decomposition

Outcomes reported

The study examined how severe nutrient depletion alters rhizosphere microbial community composition and function under continuous monocropping of Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi). Microbial succession patterns shifted towards dominance of necromass-recycling organisms as soil nutrients became depleted.

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