While the link between plant biodiversity and healthy ecosystems is well known, the authors explain that we are only beginning to understand how much of this success depends on the invisible world of soil microbes.
They point out that the way a plant community is structured directly influences the diversity of microbes in the soil, which in turn supports the very functions we need for sustainable agriculture. In this paper, the researchers outline both the direct “plant-driven” effects and the microbe-mediated mechanisms that contribute to a positive relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
They identify how this knowledge can be applied to plant diversification strategies to strengthen agroecosystems, which are often poor in species and highly vulnerable to environmental stress.
As we face global change and the overexploitation of resources, the authors argue that bridging the gap between biodiversity science and actual farming practices is essential for ensuring food security in the Anthropocene.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2022.02.003
Reference:
Cappelli, S. L., Domeignoz-Horta, L. A., Loaiza, V., & Laine, A.-L. (2022). Plant biodiversity promotes sustainable agriculture directly and via belowground effects. Trends in Plant Science, 27(7), 674–687.