Greater network connectivity and fewer putative pathogens in the rhizosphere microbiome under organic farming at a regional scale

Summary

Abstract Background and aims Microbes in the rhizosphere play a crucial role in regulating various agroecosystem functions that determine crop productivity. While management practices influence the structure and composition of these microbial communities, our understanding of this influence in farmers' fields remains limited at regional scale. Methods In this study, we conducted an on-farm study to investigate the rhizosphere microbiome of crops grown under conventional and organic management. We collected rhizosphere samples from 30 conventionally managed and 23 organically managed farms in the Midwest USA, and analyzed the associated bacterial and fungal communities for diversity, co-occurrence patterns, biomarkers, and functional traits. Results Our findings revealed significantly highe