Nature
Defending Earth’s terrestrial microbiome
Importance of protecting terrestrial microbiomes for ecosystem health and stability.
Media & Research
Rhizosphere
Using Streptomyces spp. as plant growth promoters and biocontrol agents
Streptomyces spp., a key genus in Actinobacteria, show promise in agriculture. They promote plant growth and biocontrol of pests, diseases, and weeds through the production of phytohormones, siderophores, enzymes, and...
Land Degradation and Development
Global patterns and controls of soil greenhouse gas fluxes and crop yield under biochar application
Biochar application increased soil CO2 emissions (7.4%) and crop yield (9.4%), while decreasing methane (−13.0%) and nitrous oxide emissions (−26.8%), global warming potential (−7.7%), and greenhouse gas intensity (−14.3%). The...
MDPI
Rhizobiome Transplantation: A Novel Strategy beyond Single-Strain/Consortium Inoculation for Crop Improvement
Rhizobiome transplantation is a promising approach to enhance plant protection and crop production beyond traditional microbial inoculation. This review compares single-strain, dual, and consortium applications, assesses other microbial communities like...
PNAS
Enumerating soil biodiversity
Methods and importance of quantifying soil biodiversity for ecosystem health.
Nature
Drought re-routes soil microbial carbon metabolism towards emission of volatile metabolites in an artificial tropical rainforest
Drought alters soil microbial activity and carbon allocation, increasing CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions to the atmosphere. This study found that while CO2 efflux decreased due to reduced...
PLOS Biology
Can we manipulate the soil microbiome to promote carbon sequestration in croplands?
Manipulating the microbiome of cropland soils has the potential to accelerate soil carbon sequestration, but strategies to do so need to be carefully vetted. Here, we highlight the general steps...
Nature
Biodiversity of the beneficial soil-borne fungi steered by Trichoderma-amended biofertilizers stimulates plant production
Soil microbiota significantly impacts plant performance, and bio-organic fertilizers can enhance this effect. In a long-term field experiment with cabbage, adding Trichoderma guizhouense to organic fertilizers increased plant biomass by...
Nature
Oxygen priming induced by elevated CO2 reduces carbon accumulation and methane emissions in coastal wetlands
Elevated CO2 and warming reduced net CH4 flux in coastal wetlands due to increased aerobic decomposition. Whereas warming alone stimulated methane (CH4) emissions, according to this four-year field study, highlighting...
Journal of Applied Ecology
Soil restoration increases soil health across global drylands: A meta-analysis
Active soil restoration effectively improves soil health, as shown by a global meta-analysis of 1403 studies. Restoration increased soil health metrics, with notable gains in mycorrhizal colonization (+6967%) and reductions...
Nature
A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene
Land conversion to crop production results in high soil organic carbon (SOC) loss, though this can be partially mitigated by introducing trees or adding biochar and organic amendments. Forest management...
Nature
Unlocking complex soil systems as carbon sinks: multi-pool management as the key.
Focusing on mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) for long-term carbon storage is important, but not enough due to diverse formation pathways and environmental variations. Effective soil management should also address particulate...
Nature
Streptomyces polyketides mediate bacteria–fungi interactions across soil environments
Arginine-derived polyketides (arginoketides) produced by Streptomyces mediate interactions with fungi from Aspergillus and Penicillium genera, triggering the production of natural products. Notably, azalomycin F from Streptomyces iranensis activates the orsellinic...
Nature
Patterns in soil microbial diversity across Europe
Land-use perturbation affects microbial community composition and function. Analyzing 79,000 bacterial and 25,000 fungal OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) from 715 sites in Europe, we found reduced microbial diversity in woodlands...
ESA
Soil Surface Treatments and Precipitation Timing Determine Seedling Development across Southwestern US Restoration Sites
Across 21 dryland sites, RestoreNet evaluated seeding and soil surface treatments (pits, mulch, ConMod) over 3 years. Soil treatments and timing of precipitation significantly improved seedling emergence, while near-term climate-adapted...
Nature
Asymmetry of carbon sequestrations by plant and soil after forestation regulated by soil nitrogen
Forestation significantly contributes to carbon sequestration, storing 913.19 ± 47.58 Tg C in northern China, with 74% in biomass and 26% in soil. This large-scale study of 25304 trees and...
Cambridge Press
Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis
IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report offers a thorough review of climate science, integrating observations, paleoclimate data, and climate modeling. It covers current climate status, human impacts, future projections, and risk assessments....
New Phytologist Foundation
Home-based microbial solution to boost crop growth in low-fertility soil
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...
Nature
Microbial carbon use efficiency promotes global soil carbon storage
This study examines how microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) influences soil organic carbon (SOC) formation and persistence using global datasets, modeling, and meta-analysis. Findings reveal that CUE is four times...
PNAS
Harnessing nature and ancient wisdom to store carbon
Carbon-negative solutions include engineered methods like direct air capture (DAC) and nature-based solutions. Agro-Sequestration, proposed by Yablonovitch and Deckman, offers a natural and permanent storage approach by burying dried, salted...
PubMed
Restoring particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon through regenerative agriculture
Regenerating SOC in agricultural soils can mitigate global warming and sustain food production. This meta-analysis reveals that practices such as no-till, cropping system intensification, and integrated crop-livestock (ICL) increase particulate...
PubMed
Water availability creates global thresholds in multidimensional soil biodiversity and functions
Soil biodiversity and functions across global biomes exhibit nonlinear patterns strongly influenced by water availability. A study of 383 sites reveals that shifts in precipitation and evapotranspiration significantly impact soil...
Agricultural Water Management
Impact of bacteria-nitrogen coupling on cotton growth and nitrogen utilization under different salt stress
Bacillus subtilis improved cotton growth and soil nitrogen efficiency under salt stress. Optimal results were achieved with 5.0 mg·kg⁻¹ Bacillus subtilis and 300 kg·hm⁻² nitrogen fertilizer, increasing cotton yield by...
MDPI
The Recent Use of Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria to Promote the Growth of Agricultural Food Crops
In the past 15–20 years, the use of Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) has significantly increased, demonstrating effectiveness beyond laboratory settings to field conditions. This review discusses recent reports on various PGPB...
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Water deficits shape the microbiome of Bermudagrass roots to be Actinobacteria rich
Microbes can enhance plant growth under stress, but their role in sustaining turfgrass during drought is unclear. In bermudagrass, drought increased root endophytic Actinobacteria, particularly Streptomyces. Irrigation at ≤40% ET...
Nature
Soil carbon sequestration benefits of active versus natural restoration vary with initial carbon content and soil layer
Active and natural restoration both enhance soil carbon sequestration but vary in effectiveness. In a large-scale study across China, active restoration sequestered more carbon in carbon-poor soils and topsoil, while...
Journal of Environmental Management
Carbon farming: Are soil carbon certificates a suitable tool for climate change mitigation?
Soil carbon certificates can help mitigate climate change by compensating farmers for increasing soil organic carbon, but issues with permanence, measurement, and governance limit their effectiveness.
Nature
Monitoring global carbon emissions in 2022
In 2022, global CO2 emissions rose by 1.5% to 36.1 GtCO2, consuming up to 36% of the remaining carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5°C. Despite a 5.4% drop in...
ICOS
Global Nitrous Oxide Budget (1980–2020)
Nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas, has risen 25% since 1750. A comprehensive study using bottom-up and top-down approaches shows anthropogenic emissions, mainly from agriculture, increased by 40% from...
Frontiers in Microbiomes
Interactive effects of depth and differential irrigation on soil microbiome composition and functioning
Soil microbiomes respond differently to moisture changes depending on depth, with surface layers showing greater shifts in composition and function. Rhizosphere microbiomes also react to irrigation, but responses vary by...
MDPI
Soil Microbes from Saline–Alkali Farmland Can Form Carbonate Precipitates"
Soil microbes in saline-alkali lands can significantly enhance soil carbon sequestration by forming inorganic carbon. This study isolated microbes from the Yellow River Delta and identified ten strains (bacterial and...
PubMed
Rapid remodeling of the soil lipidome in response to a drying-rewetting event
Soil drying and rewetting alter microbial lipid and metabolite profiles. Drought reduces phosphorus-rich lipids and increases stress-related sphingolipids. Rewetting boosts bacterial lipids and polar metabolites, indicating rapid recovery and growth....
Frontiers in Microbiology
Biopriming of seed with plant growth-promoting bacteria for improved germination and seedling growth
Biopriming with beneficial microorganisms enhances seed germination and seedling vigor, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments. This study showed that several bacterial isolates from diverse environments can solubilize nutrients...
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
PGPR: the treasure of multifarious beneficial microorganisms for nutrient mobilization, pest biocontrol and plant growth promotion in field crops
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant growth through metabolite production, enzyme activities, nutrient mobilization, and biocontrol, while also offering bioremediation benefits. PGPR can replace harmful agrochemicals, promoting sustainable agriculture. This...
Current Opinion in Microbiology
Streptomyces behavior and competition in the natural environment
Streptomyces bacteria, known for their extensive metabolic abilities and adaptive behaviors, use novel growth strategies and metabolic functions to compete for resources and prevent phage replication or inhibit other microbes....
MDPI
Recent Advances in the Bacterial Phytohormone Modulation of Plant Growth
This review covers the role of phytohormones produced by plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in regulating plant growth under stress. It discusses recent advances in bacterial phytohormone functions, their beneficial effects...
Global Change Biology
Environmental microbiome engineering for the mitigation of climate change
Environmental microbiome engineering offers a new strategy for climate change mitigation by optimizing microbial communities for carbon stabilization. This review covers the process of microbial sourcing, design, and delivery, and...
Journal of Ecology
Linking rhizosphere soil microbial activity and plant resource acquisition strategy
Rhizosphere soil microbial activity is closely linked to plant resource acquisition strategies across tree species. Microbial activities, including extracellular enzymes and soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization, varied significantly with plant...
Frontiers in Plant Science
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: Salt stress alleviators to improve crop productivity for sustainable agriculture development
Halo-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) offer a green solution for salinity-affected agriculture by enhancing crop productivity and managing nutrient availability. They improve plant tolerance through VOCs, antioxidants, and phytohormones while...
Nature
A sensitive soil biological indicator to changes in land-use in regions with Mediterranean climate
Soil microbial functional diversity can effectively indicate soil health in agriculture. This study, conducted in Mediterranean and semiarid regions of Israel, identified community level physiological profiling (CLPP) as a rapid...
Journal of Applied Microbiology
Actinobacteria as a source of biofertilizer/biocontrol agents for bio-organic agriculture
The review discusses the potential of actinobacteria, particularly Streptomyces, as sustainable biofertilizers in agriculture. These microorganisms enhance plant growth, yield, and stress resistance, offering a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers....
Frontiers in Plant Science
Preparation, biocontrol activity and growth promotion of biofertilizer containing Streptomyces aureoverticillatus HN6
Streptomyces aureoverticillatus HN6 is an effective biofertilizer for improving soil fertility and controlling plant diseases. Compared to frame composting, natural composting optimizes conditions for higher temperatures and thorough decomposition. The...
Microbial Ecology
Extraradical Mycorrhizal Hyphae Promote Soil Carbon Sequestration through Difficultly Extractable Glomalin-Related Soil Protein in Response to Soil Water Stress
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance SOC sequestration under water stress (WS) by increasing glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) production. AMF increased GRSP production and SOC, and soil aggregate stability, particularly under...
Plant and Soil
Microbes modify soil nutrient availability and mediate plant responses to elevated CO2
Phosphorus (P) is crucial for understory plant growth under elevated CO2 (eCO2); P limits plant responses to eCO2 and microorganisms have an indirect role. This commentary discusses the challenges of...
Nature
Standardized multi-omics of Earth’s microbiomes reveals microbial and metabolite diversity
This study presents a multi-omics analysis of 880 microbial community samples from the Earth Microbiome Project. Standardized methods reveal habitat-specific metabolite diversity and microbial associations, highlighting key taxa and metabolites...
Nature
Soil structure and microbiome functions in agroecosystems
Soil microbiomes are essential for agroecosystem functions like fertility, productivity, and stress tolerance. This review highlights how soil structure influences microbiome functions and how agricultural practices impact this relationship. It...
Restoration Ecology
Soil health indicators for monitoring forest ecological restoration: a critical review
Forest restoration benefits from monitoring soil indicators, crucial for evaluating success. This review highlights a rise in reported indicators, mainly chemical ones, but notes regional research gaps and limited reference...
Science of The Total Environment
Hydrological connectivity improves soil nutrients and root architecture at the soil profile scale in a wetland ecosystem
Improved hydrological connectivity significantly enhances nutrients and root architecture in wetlands. In a study of Tamarix chinensis in the Yellow River Delta, higher connectivity increased soil organic carbon, organic matter,...
Frontiers in Microbiomes
Calcite dissolving bacteria from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) pegging zone influences soil calcium level
Calcite-dissolving bacteria from peanuts can alter soil calcium levels, benefiting plant growth.
Environmental Research
Plant-soil-microbes: A tripartite interaction for nutrient acquisition and better plant growth for sustainable agricultural practices
Microorganisms significantly enhance plant growth and resilience by converting nutrients, inhibiting pathogens, and inducing defense responses.** Despite advances in omics and gene editing for crop improvement, the role of beneficial...
