Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 49-60 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 56 composition of rhizomicrobiomes associated with different leguminous plants. In a study examining soybean and alfalfa, it was found that soil pH, along with phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), significantly affected the rhizomicrobiome composition of soybean, while soil pH and nitrogen (N) were more influential for alfalfa (Xiao et al., 2017). Additionally, soil physicochemical factors, including pH and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), were found to significantly impact the structure and composition of microbial communities in various rhizocompartments of desert leguminous plants (Zhou et al., 2020a). 7.2 Environmental conditions Environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture also affect plant-microbe interactions. Soil moisture, for example, can influence the selection pressures on plant traits mediated by microbial community structure. In an experiment with Brassica rapa, it was observed that plants grown in soils with simplified microbial communities exhibited reduced growth and fecundity, and these effects were consistent across different soil moisture treatments (Lau and Lennon, 2011). This indicates that environmental stressors like soil moisture can modulate the impact of microbial communities on plant traits and interactions. 7.3 Plant species and their specific traits The specific traits of leguminous plant species can differentially influence soil microbial communities. Different legume species have been shown to affect soil microbial community structure and function in species-specific ways. For example, the introduction of Medicago sativa and Astragalus adsurgens into abandoned fields significantly restored soil carbon and nitrogen content and microbial biomass within 3~5 years, whereas Melilotus suaveolens had a retarding effect on these parameters (Li et al., 2012). Additionally, legume species were found to enrich soil fungal communities more than grass species, and the variation in soil microbial community structure was greater among different legume species compared to grass species (Zhou et al., 2017). 7.4 Agricultural practices Agricultural practices such as crop rotation, use of fertilizers, and pesticides can significantly influence plant-microbe interactions. These practices can impose selective pressures on microbial communities, thereby affecting their composition and function. For instance, the use of fertilizers can alter soil nutrient levels, which in turn can influence the microbial communities associated with leguminous plants. Studies have shown that soil nutrients, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are negatively correlated with bacterial diversity, while the proportion of antagonistic bacteria is positively correlated with soil bacterial diversity (Schlatter et al., 2015). This suggests that agricultural practices that modify soil nutrient levels can have profound effects on the microbial communities and their interactions with leguminous plants. In summary, the interactions between leguminous plants and soil microbial communities are influenced by a complex interplay of soil properties, environmental conditions, plant species traits, and agricultural practices. Understanding these factors is essential for optimizing plant-microbe interactions to enhance soil health and plant productivity. 8 Applications and Implications for Agriculture 8.1 Use of Leguminous plants in sustainable agriculture Leguminous plants play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to form symbiotic relationships with soil microbes, such as rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These interactions enhance nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and improving soil health (Shtark et al., 2012; Swarnalakshmi et al., 2020). The introduction of leguminous plants into agricultural systems can increase soil nutrient content and microbial diversity, which are essential for maintaining soil fertility and promoting plant growth. Additionally, leguminous plants can improve the resilience of soil microbial communities, making them more robust against environmental stresses (Zhang et al., 2019).
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