Summary
This field study in China examined how organic fertiliser application influences soil multifunctionality and upland high-quality rice production whilst reshaping soil microbial communities and their ecological interactions. The authors present evidence suggesting that organic inputs enhance multiple soil functions concurrently, with shifts in microbial assemblages appearing to support both improved yield metrics and soil biological capacity. The work contributes mechanistic insight into how organic fertiliser-driven changes in soil microbial networks may underpin enhanced soil functioning and crop performance in rice systems.
UK applicability
Findings from upland rice systems in China have limited direct applicability to UK cereal production (primarily temperate wheat, barley and oats in lowland conditions). However, the mechanistic insights on how organic inputs reshape microbial networks and soil multifunctionality may be relevant to UK organic arable systems, subject to validation in temperate soil and climate conditions.
Key measures
Soil multifunctionality index, rice yield, grain quality parameters, soil microbial community structure, microbial ecological networks (co-occurrence networks), soil biological and biochemical properties
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil multifunctionality indices, upland rice yield and quality metrics, and shifts in soil microbial community composition and ecological network structure under organic fertiliser application. Changes in microbial assemblages were assessed in relation to concurrent improvements in soil functions and crop performance.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.