Summary
This review synthesises the linkages between soil microbiome function and climate-smart agriculture, arguing that microbial communities are essential drivers of nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem resilience. The authors examine how chemical inputs and environmental stresses have altered soil microbial diversity and propose that leveraging symbiotic and non-symbiotic plant–microbe interactions, supported by precision agriculture tools (weather analytics, artificial intelligence, and low-chemical machinery), can enhance climate mitigation whilst maintaining productivity.
UK applicability
The mechanistic principles of soil microbiome function in supporting nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration are applicable to UK farming contexts, particularly for regenerative and organic systems seeking to reduce chemical inputs. However, the review does not address UK-specific soil types, climate conditions, or regulatory frameworks governing agricultural practice.
Key measures
Microbial diversity and richness; nutrient cycling (macro and micronutrient availability); soil organic carbon; greenhouse gas emissions; endophyte recruitment and inheritance; soil food web dynamics
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews how soil microbiome composition and function underpin climate-smart agriculture outcomes, including nutrient availability, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas mitigation. It examines both symbiotic and non-symbiotic plant–microbe interactions and their potential inheritance through seed endophytes.
Topic tags
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