Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

The invisible architects: microbial communities and their transformative role in soil health and global climate changes.

Iqbal S, Begum F, Nguchu BA, Claver UP, Shaw P.

Environ Microbiome · 2025

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Summary

This review synthesises current understanding of how soil microbial communities — functioning as key biogeochemical agents — underpin soil health through nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and structural maintenance. It likely examines the dual role of these communities in both mediating climate change impacts and contributing to greenhouse gas dynamics. The paper situates microbial ecology within the broader context of global environmental change, drawing on evidence from diverse soil and land-use contexts.

UK applicability

Although the paper takes a global perspective, the findings are broadly applicable to UK soil management policy, particularly in the context of the Environmental Land Management scheme and efforts to improve soil health and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. UK practitioners and policymakers may draw on the mechanistic insights to inform soil monitoring frameworks and regenerative land management practices.

Key measures

Microbial diversity indices; greenhouse gas fluxes (CO₂, N₂O, CH₄); soil carbon and nitrogen cycling rates; indicators of soil health

Outcomes reported

The paper likely reviews how microbial communities influence soil biogeochemical cycles, nutrient turnover, and greenhouse gas emissions, and examines their collective contribution to soil health and climate feedback mechanisms.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Soil microbiology & biogeochemical cycling
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Soil systems (cross-habitat)
DOI
10.1186/s40793-025-00694-6
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-00m

Topic tags

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