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Article
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Metabolic coupling between soil aerobic methanotrophs and denitrifiers in rice paddy fields
Microbial denitrification in rice paddy fields reduces N use efficiency. Here, the authors use field samples from major rice producing areas in China and identify microbial taxa involved in the metabolic couplings between aerobic CH4 oxidation and denitrification in rice paddy fields.
- Kang-Hua Chen
- , Jiao Feng
- & Yu-Rong Liu
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Article
| Open Access
A global meta-analysis on the effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on grasslands and croplands
Inorganic fertilization reduces plant biodiversity. Here, the authors conduct a global meta-analysis on the use of organic and inorganic fertilizer in croplands and grasslands, showing that while both fertilizers increase plant biomass, only organic fertilizer increases biodiversity.
- Ting-Shuai Shi
- , Scott L. Collins
- & Jian-Sheng Ye
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Article
| Open Access
Legume rhizodeposition promotes nitrogen fixation by soil microbiota under crop diversification
Sustainability in agriculture can be improved harnessing biological N2 fixation in legumes. Here, the authors combine different crops with peanut plants finding that maize and oilseed rape are the most successful combinations which have potential to enhance rhizosphere microbiota N2 fixation.
- Mengjie Qiao
- , Ruibo Sun
- & Yan Chen
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Article
| Open Access
Nonpathogenic Pseudomonas syringae derivatives and its metabolites trigger the plant “cry for help” response to assemble disease suppressing and growth promoting rhizomicrobiome
Upon pathogen attack, plants can trigger the “cry for help” response and assemble beneficial rhizobacteria. Here, the authors use nonpathogenic Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 derivatives to elicit a similar “cry for help” response as the wild-type pathogenic DC3000 in Arabidopsis.
- Yunpeng Liu
- , Huihui Zhang
- & Ruifu Zhang
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Article
| Open Access
Dynamic root microbiome sustains soybean productivity under unbalanced fertilization
Root-associated microbiomes contribute to plant growth and health. Here, the authors unveil the quantitative development of the root microbiome under unbalanced fertilization and highlight a key microbial cluster for soybean productivity.
- Mingxing Wang
- , An-Hui Ge
- & Ertao Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Enhancing phosphate-solubilising microbial communities through artificial selection
Phosphate-solubilising microorganisms can contribute to reduce the use of P fertiliser. Here, the authors use two artificial selection methods, environmental perturbation and propagation, to build phosphate-solubilising communities that retain P-solubilising capacity in hydroponic systems.
- Lena Faller
- , Marcio F. A. Leite
- & Eiko E. Kuramae
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Article
| Open Access
An agricultural digital twin for mandarins demonstrates the potential for individualized agriculture
A digital twin represents a real world object using available data. Here, the authors develop a digital twin for mandaring orchards in Jeju island showing the value of individualized agriculture to predict fruit quality at tree level.
- Steven Kim
- & Seong Heo
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Article
| Open Access
Microbiome convergence enables siderophore-secreting-rhizobacteria to improve iron nutrition and yield of peanut intercropped with maize
Intercropping has the potential to improve plant nutrition and crop yield. Here, the authors intercrop peanut and maize and show that Pseudomonas secreted siderophore pyoverdine play an important role in plant iron nutrition.
- Nanqi Wang
- , Tianqi Wang
- & Yuanmei Zuo
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Article
| Open Access
Predatory protists reduce bacteria wilt disease incidence in tomato plants
Soil organisms are affected by the presence of predatory protists. Here, the authors predatory protists are negatively associated with bacteria wilt disease incidence in tomato plants and that fertilisation enhances the abundance of predatory protists
- Sai Guo
- , Zixuan Jiao
- & Stefan Geisen
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Article
| Open Access
Greenhouse gas emissions from US irrigation pumping and implications for climate-smart irrigation policy
This study demonstrates the energy use of US pump irrigation produced 12.6 million tonnes CO2e in 2018, with spatial variability modulated by water source and fuel choice. These county-level estimates can inform strategic irrigation expansion and emissions reduction efforts.
- Avery W. Driscoll
- , Richard T. Conant
- & Nathaniel D. Mueller
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Article
| Open Access
Microbially mediated mechanisms underlie soil carbon accrual by conservation agriculture under decade-long warming
Agricultural soil C dynamics under climate change are difficult to predict. Here, the authors report that experimental warming increases soil organic C stocks in conservation agriculture but not in conventional agriculture, which appears driven by soil microbial responses to no tillage and C inputs from the crops.
- Jing Tian
- , Jennifer A. J. Dungait
- & Jizhong Zhou
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Editorial
| Open AccessFeeding the future global population
Climate change is exacerbating challenges both for global food production and from its environmental impacts. Sustainable and socially responsible solutions for future world-wide food security are urgently needed.
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Article
| Open Access
Waste milk humification product can be used as a slow release nano-fertilizer
The growth in global milk demand has been accompanied by an increase in waste milk disposal. Here, the authors transform waste milk through humification and incorporate the product into attapulgite creating a nano-fertiliser that benefits for plants growing in pots.
- Yanping Zhu
- , Yuxuan Cao
- & Dongqing Cai
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Article
| Open Access
Grassland intensification effects cascade to alter multifunctionality of wetlands within metaecosystems
It is not clear how agricultural intensification affects spatially coupled ecosystems. Here, the authors use long-term datasets on managed grasslands coupled with unmanaged wetlands showing that grassland intensification affects ecosystem service multifunctionality of spatially coupled wetlands
- Yuxi Guo
- , Elizabeth H. Boughton
- & Jiangxiao Qiu
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Article
| Open Access
Crop rotation and native microbiome inoculation restore soil capacity to suppress a root disease
Crop rotation helps preventing pathogen infestations compared to monocultures, which may be partly due to root-associated microbes. Here, the authors show that rhizosphere microbiomes in monocultures are less able to suppress fungal pathogens compared to crop rotations, and that inoculating certain microbes can mitigate it.
- Yanyan Zhou
- , Zhen Yang
- & Xiaogang Li
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Article
| Open Access
Fostering temporal crop diversification to reduce pesticide use
The potential of crop diversification to reduce pesticide use has not been quantified at large scales. Here, the authors use a national network of 1334 cropping system to identify the effect of increasing temporal crop diversity on pesticide use for 16 common crops.
- Maé Guinet
- , Guillaume Adeux
- & Nicolas Munier-Jolain
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Article
| Open Access
A global-temporal analysis on Phytophthora sojae resistance-gene efficacy
Rps genes are used to manage the major soybean pathogen Phytophthora sojae, which causes Phytophthora stem and root rot (PRR). Here, the authors show that widely used Rps genes are no longer effective for managing PRR in the United States, Canada and Argentina.
- Austin G. McCoy
- , Richard R. Belanger
- & Martin I. Chilvers
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Article
| Open Access
Earthworms contribute significantly to global food production
Earthworms contribute to plant growth. Here, Fonte et al. conduct a global meta-analysis and estimate that earthworms contribute to roughly 6.5% of global grain (maize, rice, wheat, barley) production and 2.3% of legume yields, equivalent to over 140 million metric tons annually.
- Steven J. Fonte
- , Marian Hsieh
- & Nathaniel D. Mueller
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Article
| Open Access
Global mean nitrogen recovery efficiency in croplands can be enhanced by optimal nutrient, crop and soil management practices
Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency can improve global food production while minimizing environmental damage. Here, the authors combine 29 meta-analyses revealing that tailored practices based on local conditions can boost NUEr by 30% with variation between high- and middle-income regions.
- Luncheng You
- , Gerard H. Ros
- & Wim de Vries
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Article
| Open Access
Acidification suppresses the natural capacity of soil microbiome to fight pathogenic Fusarium infections
We have limited knowledge on how soil conditions affect microbiota and plant health. Here, the authors find that soil acidification impacts bacterial communities and reduces the capacity of soils to combat fungal pathogens such as Fusarium.
- Xiaogang Li
- , Dele Chen
- & Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
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Article
| Open Access
Global meta-analysis shows reduced quality of food crops under inadequate animal pollination
Animal pollination may not only contribute to crop yields, but also to food quality. This meta-analysis based on 190 studies shows that animal pollination improves food quality, both in terms of organoleptic properties and, to a lesser extent, nutritional values.
- Elena Gazzea
- , Péter Batáry
- & Lorenzo Marini
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Article
| Open Access
Projected landscape-scale repercussions of global action for climate and biodiversity protection
Competition between agriculture and land conservation may hinder climate and biodiversity targets. Here, the authors use global models integrating multiple spatial scales to assess how ambitious land conservation action and associated land-use dynamics could drive changes in landscape heterogeneity, pollination supply and soil loss.
- Patrick José von Jeetze
- , Isabelle Weindl
- & Alexander Popp
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Article
| Open Access
China can be self-sufficient in maize production by 2030 with optimal crop management
Population growth in China has increased the demand for food. Combining data-driven projections with field experiments, Luo et al. find that China can achieve self-sufficiency in maize production by 2030 implementation of optimal planting density and management without expanding cropping areas.
- Ning Luo
- , Qingfeng Meng
- & Pu Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Impact of small farmers' access to improved seeds and deforestation in DR Congo
Availability of modern seed varieties in developing countries has had positive effects on households’ well-being. Here, the authors show that without support to maintain soil fertility, access to modern seed varieties increases primary forest clearance in DR Congo.
- Tanguy Bernard
- , Sylvie Lambert
- & Margaux Vinez
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Article
| Open Access
A thousand-genome panel retraces the global spread and adaptation of a major fungal crop pathogen
Zymoseptoria tritici is an important fungal pathogen of wheat which has spread globally. Here, the authors perform genomic analyses on a collection of ~1100 Z. tritici samples from 42 countries to describe its global spread and elucidate mechanisms of adaptation to different environmental conditions.
- Alice Feurtey
- , Cécile Lorrain
- & Daniel Croll
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Article
| Open Access
Global crop yields can be lifted by timely adaptation of growing periods to climate change
'Crop growing periods and cultivars are key to crop adaptation. Here, the authors use a modelling approach that integrates farmers decision and biophysical crop models, showing the importance of cultivar, sowing date and growing period adaptation.'
- Sara Minoli
- , Jonas Jägermeyr
- & Christoph Müller
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Article
| Open Access
The genome and lifestage-specific transcriptomes of a plant-parasitic nematode and its host reveal susceptibility genes involved in trans-kingdom synthesis of vitamin B5
Plant-parasitic nematodes are a threat to crop production. Combining bioinformatics, genetic and biochemical approaches, the authors show that the plant pathogen beet cyst nematode possesses an incomplete vitamin B5 synthesis pathway, of potential prokaryotic origin, complemented by its plant host.
- Shahid Siddique
- , Zoran S. Radakovic
- & Sebastian Eves-van den Akker
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Article
| Open Access
A deeper understanding of system interactions can explain contradictory field results on pesticide impact on honey bees
Pesticide impact on honey bees under field conditions remains elusive. Here, the authors combine a systems biology approach and laboratory experiments to show that the immune suppressive effect of the pathogen deformed wing virus can be responsible for the disparity amongst honey bee experiments.
- Dimitri Breda
- , Davide Frizzera
- & Francesco Nazzi
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Article
| Open Access
Global systematic review with meta-analysis reveals yield advantage of legume-based rotations and its drivers
Crop rotations including legumes have been proposed as a strategy to enhance food production. Here, the authors conduct a global meta-analysis on legume-based crop rotations, showing that legume pre-crops increase 20% of yield in average across various crops and climatic regions.
- Jie Zhao
- , Ji Chen
- & Huadong Zang
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Article
| Open Access
Win-win opportunities combining high yields with high multi-taxa biodiversity in tropical agroforestry
Resolving ecological-economic trade-offs is a challenge in agriculture. Here, Wurz et al. find that in Malagasy vanilla agroforests, vanilla yield is generally not related to tree, herbaceous plant, bird, amphibian, reptile and ant biodiversity, creating opportunities for conservation outside protected areas.
- Annemarie Wurz
- , Teja Tscharntke
- & Ingo Grass
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Article
| Open Access
A highly conserved core bacterial microbiota with nitrogen-fixation capacity inhabits the xylem sap in maize plants
The plant xylem microbiota remains understudied. Here, the authors characterise the xylem microbiota in maize plants finding that some bacteria carried N fixing genes. By using synthetic communities the authors confirm that xylem inhabiting and N fixing bacteria provide the host plant with N.
- Liyu Zhang
- , Meiling Zhang
- & Chao Ai
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Article
| Open Access
Rhizosphere bacteriome structure and functions
Understanding soil microbiota dynamics is key the development of soil-based sustainable agriculture and conservation strategies. This meta-analysis shows that bulk soil functions as a seed bank for the rhizosphere, which encompasses a rich microbiota adapted to dynamic conditions in hotpots.
- Ning Ling
- , Tingting Wang
- & Yakov Kuzyakov
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Article
| Open Access
Relative effects of land conversion and land-use intensity on terrestrial vertebrate diversity
Land use is a major driver of biodiversity loss, but disentangling the contribution of its various components is challenging. Here, the authors partition the role of land use type and intensity in explaining global patterns of impending species losses for terrestrial vertebrates.
- Philipp Semenchuk
- , Christoph Plutzar
- & Stefan Dullinger
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Article
| Open Access
Sustainable intensification for a larger global rice bowl
Increasing rice yield while improving resource use efficiency is of great importance. This study examines cropping systems globally to highlight areas where rice production can be improved by prioritizing R&D strategies.
- Shen Yuan
- , Bruce A. Linquist
- & Patricio Grassini
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Article
| Open Access
Cooperative herbivory between two important pests of rice
Herbivore cooperation between insect pests can result in substantially greater damage to crops but also constitutes a good target for improved pest control. Liu et al. reveal how the brown plant-hopper and the rice striped stem-borer obtain mutual benefits when feeding on the same rice plant.
- Qingsong Liu
- , Xiaoyun Hu
- & Yunhe Li
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Article
| Open Access
Divergent abiotic spectral pathways unravel pathogen stress signals across species
Spectral screening can be used to monitor plant health. Here via airborne hyperspectral imaging of tree species, the authors show that spectral pathways associated with vascular pathogens can be distinguished from those linked to abiotic stress providing the potential for early detection of threatening diseases.
- P. J. Zarco-Tejada
- , T. Poblete
- & J. A. Navas-Cortes
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Article
| Open Access
Sustainable irrigation based on co-regulation of soil water supply and atmospheric evaporative demand
Irrigation is the most important use of water. A newly developed irrigation management scheme leads to a significant reduction in water use and increase in economic gains while maintaining crop yields, presenting opportunities for real-world impacts under current and future climate conditions.
- Jingwen Zhang
- , Kaiyu Guan
- & Grace L. Miner
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Article
| Open Access
Identifying and characterizing pesticide use on 9,000 fields of organic agriculture
There is much uncertainty on use and impact of pesticides in organic agriculture. Here, the authors compare pesticide use in conventionally and organically managed fields in Kern County (US), finding that organic fields are less likely to be treated but, when they are, they receive similar pesticide amount as the conventional fields.
- Ashley E. Larsen
- , L. Claire Powers
- & Sofie McComb
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Article
| Open Access
Climate warming promotes pesticide resistance through expanding overwintering range of a global pest
Climate-driven range shifts may affect pesticide resistance. Here, the authors analyse experimentally parameterised and field-tested models to show that a cosmopolitan insect pest, the diamondback moth, is acquiring resistance against local pesticides through expanding overwintering range.
- Chun-Sen Ma
- , Wei Zhang
- & Volker H. W. Rudolf
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Article
| Open Access
Kinship networks of seed exchange shape spatial patterns of plant virus diversity
This study combines ethnobotanical and epidemiological data to understand how social networks of seed exchange influence the genetic structure of the African cassava mosaic virus in Gabon. Results reveal contrasted patterns of viral diversity in patrilineal and matrilineal communities, consistent with cultural differences in modes of seed exchange.
- Marc Delêtre
- , Jean-Michel Lett
- & Charles Spillane
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Article
| Open Access
Above- and belowground biodiversity jointly tighten the P cycle in agricultural grasslands
Relationships between biodiversity and phosphorus cycling and the underlying processes are complex. Here the authors analyse a biodiversity manipulation experiment and an agricultural management gradient to show how plant and mycorrhizal fungal diversity promote phosphorus exploitation.
- Yvonne Oelmann
- , Markus Lange
- & Wolfgang Wilcke
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Matters Arising
| Open Access
Results from a biodiversity experiment fail to represent economic performance of semi-natural grasslands
- Bettina Tonn
- , Martin Komainda
- & Johannes Isselstein
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Article
| Open Access
Global irrigation contribution to wheat and maize yield
There are big uncertainties in the contribution of irrigation to crop yields. Here, the authors use Bayesian model averaging to combine statistical and process-based models and quantify the contribution of irrigation for wheat and maize yields, finding that irrigation alone cannot close yield gaps for a large fraction of global rainfed agriculture.
- Xuhui Wang
- , Christoph Müller
- & Shilong Piao
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Article
| Open Access
Cropland expansion in the United States produces marginal yields at high costs to wildlife
Conversion of natural ecosystems to cropland is a threat to most native wildlife. Here the authors quantify the impact of recent cropland expansion on the habitat of representative pollinator, bird, plant species across the conterminous United States, showing diminished crop yield returns at the cost of important habitat losses.
- Tyler J. Lark
- , Seth A. Spawn
- & Holly K. Gibbs
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Article
| Open Access
Yield reduction under climate warming varies among wheat cultivars in South Africa
Wheat yield is sensitive to temperature, but there could be substantial variation in this response across cultivars. Here the authors present data on the climatic responses of wheat cultivars in South Africa, highlighting which cultivars might be better able to maintain yield under warming.
- Aaron M. Shew
- , Jesse B. Tack
- & Petronella Chaminuka
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Article
| Open Access
Evolution of generalist resistance to herbicide mixtures reveals a trade-off in resistance management
Mixtures of antibiotics or pesticides can help reduce the evolution of resistance to individual compounds. Here, Comont et al. show that in blackgrass, an important agricultural weed, herbicide mixtures do reduce specialized resistance but instead can select for a generalized resistance mechanism.
- David Comont
- , Claudia Lowe
- & Paul Neve
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Article
| Open Access
Fingerprint of rice paddies in spatial–temporal dynamics of atmospheric methane concentration in monsoon Asia
The role of paddy rice agriculture in the spatial and temporal dynamics of atmospheric methane concentration remains unclear. Here, Zhang et al. show that regions with dense rice paddies have high satellite-based column averaged CH4 concentrations (XCH4), and that seasonal dynamics of XCH4 mirror those of paddy rice growth.
- Geli Zhang
- , Xiangming Xiao
- & Berrien Moore III
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Article
| Open Access
The greenhouse gas impacts of converting food production in England and Wales to organic methods
The greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential of organic methods is poorly understood. Here, the authors assess the GHG impact of a 100% shift to organic food production in England and Wales and find that direct GHG emissions are reduced with organic farming, but when increased land use abroad to allow for production shortfalls is factored in, GHG emissions are elevated well-above the baseline.
- Laurence G. Smith
- , Guy J. D. Kirk
- & Adrian G. Williams
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Article
| Open Access
Closing yield gaps for rice self-sufficiency in China
Whether or not China can be rice self-sufficient in the future is in question. Here the authors provide a spatially explicit yield-gap analysis of Chinese rice production under future scenarios, identifying priority areas for improving yields to meet demands by 2030.
- Nanyan Deng
- , Patricio Grassini
- & Shaobing Peng
Purines enrich root-associated Pseudomonas and improve wild soybean growth under salt stress