top of page
Throughout much of the twentieth century, intensive farming has caused substantial loss of organic matter and soil biological function. Today, more farmers recognize the importance of protecting soils and restoring organic matter through reduced tillage, diversified crop rotation, cover cropping, and increased organic amendments. Such management practices are expected to foster soil conditions more similar to those of undisturbed, native plant-soil systems by restoring soil biophysical integrity and re-establishing plant-microbe interactions that retain and recycle nutrients.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The above-mentioned generalized and specific microbial processes are understudied and could become more operational once soils are no longer subjected to intensive tillage and organic matter depletion. Gaining insights into conditions that lead to ecologically beneficial microbial metabolisms will help to align agricultural management practices with efficient nutrient cycling and lower environmental impact. (Bhowmik et al 2017; AIMS Microbiology)
Schematic of agricultural management practices that aim to re-establish more native soil properties and create habitat conditions conducive to the microbial metabolisms highlighted here: heterotrophic CO2 assimilation, H2 oxidation, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), non-denitrifer N2O reduction, and fungal NO3- uptake. Respective colors of text, connecting arrows, and lines are blue (for physical structure improvement); green (for increased living plant inputs); and red (for more diverse organic inputs). (Adapted from Bhowmik et al 2017 AIMS Microbiol.)
bottom of page