Microbial trait-based approaches for agroecosystems

Abstract

Conventional agricultural practices negatively impact soil biodiversity, carbon stocks, and greenhouse gas emissions in ways that make them unsustainable for supporting future supply of food and fiber. Better management of agrobiodiversity will likely play a critical role in transitioning towards more sustainable practices. In particular, innovation and developments targeting the aboveground and belowground components of agroecosystems should be informed by frameworks and approaches that harness the –in particular functional– diversity of complex microbial communities. Here, we review and discuss microbial trait-based approaches that will help us understand and steer agroecosystem functioning in the face of global change. We highlight how trait-based approaches can improve agricultural practices related to soil functioning (e.g. soil fertility and aggregation); climate regulation (e.g. carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation to climate change; plant health; and reduction of contaminant-related hazards for human health. We also consider how microbial trait-based approaches can be used as a tool to improve cultivated plant performance through artificial selection and microbiome engineering. Last, we discuss the inherent obstacles associated with the development and implementation of trait-based approaches owing to strong interactions within microbial communities and linkages between plants and the soil environment. Despite these obstacles, microbial trait-based approaches hold promise for the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems needed to feed and nourish a rapidly growing human population.

Authors 8

1. Sascha Krause corresponding

   East China Normal University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences , East China Normal University , Shanghai , China

   School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

2. Stefan Bertilsson

   Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Uppsala , Sweden

   Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Uppsala, Sweden

3. Hans‐Peter Grossart

   University of Potsdam · Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Biochemistry and Biology , Potsdam University , Potsdam , Germany

   Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries , Berlin , Germany

   Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Potsdam, Germany

   Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany

4. Paul L. E. Bodelier

   Netherlands Institute of Ecology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Microbial Ecology , Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) , Wageningen , Netherlands

   Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands

5. Peter M. van Bodegom Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University · East China Normal University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences , Leiden University , Leiden , the Netherlands

   School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

6. Jay T. Lennon Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University · Indiana University Bloomington · Indiana University · East China Normal University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biology , Indiana University , Bloomington , IN , USA

   School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences , East China Normal University , Shanghai , China

   Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

   Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

7. Laurent Philippot

   Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Agroécologie · Institut Agro Dijon

   Affiliation as printed

   University Bourgogne Franche Comte , INRAE , AgroSup Dijon , Department of Agroecology , Dijon , France

   University Bourgogne Franche Comte, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Department of Agroecology, Dijon, France

8. Xavier Le Roux

   Lyon 1 Université · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Lyon · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Ecologie microbienne

   Affiliation as printed

   Ecologie Microbienne , INRAE , CNRS , Université de Lyon , Université Lyon 1 , VetAgroSup , UMR1418 , UMR5557 , Villeurbanne , France

   Ecologie Microbienne, INRAE, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, VetAgroSup, UMR1418, UMR5557, Villeurbanne, France