Native synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) enhanced maize growth more effectively than commercial plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) in low-fertility soils, increasing root-to-shoot ratios by 78-121% compared to 23-86% with PGPRs. SynComs showed robust colonization and minimal disruption to soil niche structure, suggesting that native microbes offer a home-field advantage and potential for improved crop microbiome engineering in poor soils.