Dynamic root microbiome sustains soybean productivity under unbalanced fertilization

Root-associated microbiomes contribute to plant growth and health, and are dynamically affected by plant development and changes in the soil environment. However, how different fertilizer regimes affect quantitative changes in microbial assembly to effect plant growth remains obscure. Here, we explore the temporal dynamics of the root-associated bacteria of soybean using quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP) to examine its response to unbalanced fertilizer treatments (i.e., lacking either N, P or K) and its role in sustaining plant growth after four decades of unbalanced fertilization. We show that the root-associated bacteria exhibit strong succession during plant development, and bacterial loads largely…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 32050081, 32001886, 31825003, 32088102
• CA
  Chinese Academy of Sciences

  Awards: YSBR-011, XDB27040207