Navigating Climate Change: Exploring the Dynamics Between Plant–Soil Microbiomes and Their Impact on Plant Growth and Productivity

Summary

This narrative review examines the interconnected effects of climate change on plant–soil microbiome dynamics and agricultural productivity. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events substantially modify rhizosphere microbial communities, affecting nutrient cycling, enzyme activity, and plant health. The authors synthesise evidence-based adaptation and mitigation strategies—including soil management, stress-tolerant varieties, cover cropping, crop rotation, organic amendments, and targeted microbiome modifications—and call for integrated research at the intersection of plant–soil microbiomes and climate change adaptation.

Regional applicability

Although this is a global review with no specific United Kingdom field data cited, the mechanistic findings on microbiome-climate interactions and the recommended strategies (cover cropping, crop rotation, soil organic amendment, crop variety selection) are directly applicable to UK temperate and mixed farming systems. UK farmers and agronomists should consider how intensifying weather extremes and shifting seasonal patterns may disrupt established soil microbiota and require tailored microbiome-informed management.

Key measures

Microbial diversity and community composition in the rhizosphere; microbial enzyme synthesis; nutrient cycling rates; plant growth and yield outcomes; soil health indicators; pest and disease incidence; climate resilience of crop varieties

Outcomes reported

This narrative review synthesised evidence on how climate change alters plant–soil microbiome composition and function, and their cascading effects on nutrient cycling, soil health, and crop productivity. The paper evaluated adaptive and mitigative strategies including soil management, crop breeding, cover cropping, crop rotation, and microbiome-targeted interventions.

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