Increased diversification of crop rotation systems induces plant-beneficial rhizobiomes to facilitate crop performance

Abstract

Diversified crop rotation systems play a key role in sustainable agricultural production by increasing crop diversity and reducing management intensity. Evidence is accumulating that this diversification shapes the root-associated bacteria and fungi – the rhizobiome. However, the intimate link and feedback between crop diversification and the rhizobiome remains poorly understood. Our aim was to understand rhizobiome (bacteria and fungi) changes induced by increased crop diversification in rotation systems in a long-term field experiment, and their functional feedback on crop performance in a pot experiment. We found that increased crop diversification shapes rhizobiome composition in favour of potential plant-beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms, e.g. increases Podospora by up to 97 %, with a simultaneous reduction of plant pathogens, e.g. decreases Fusarium by up to 89 %. These diversification-induced rhizobiome shifts lead to an enhanced maize growth of up to 156 % in the subsequent pot experiment. Our findings emphasise the pivotal role of increased crop diversification in shaping plant-beneficial rhizobiomes and verify the functional importances of these rhizobiomes in enhancing subsequent crop performance. Therefore, our research highlights that crop diversification in rotation systems is needed to sustainably promote crop performance in future agroecosystems.