The soil microbiome is the set of micro-organisms that inhabit the soil substrate, where they perform essential functions for life. These microorganisms include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, archaea and others. The soil microbiome influences soil fertility, structure, biodiversity and nutrient cycling, as well as the health of the plants and animals that depend on it.
In our view, the secrets of the soil microbiome are exciting and complex, and require advanced molecular analysis, bioinformatics and agronomy techniques to be revealed. In this exclusive interview, together with Juan Rebori , agronomist – BDM of Biome Makers Inc. and AI expert, we discover some of the most relevant aspects of the soil microbiome, its benefits, threats and challenges for the future.
In general terms, what are the advantages of knowing the state of the microbiome in agricultural production and how can it improve medium- and long-term yields on farms?
Knowing what is happening in both crops and soil is key to making data-driven agricultural decisions. It is especially important to know what is happening with the soil microbiome, as it is the best bio-indicator of the state of soil health. The soil microbiome tells us through various bio-indicators what is happening in relation to soil health and functionalities, such as nutrient pathways, which is essential for developing fertilisation programmes that support improved yields.
More specifically, how has the Biome Makers technology improved the application of the results in tomato crops of the research group RNM-934 (AGROMA) of the University of Almeria? ? Notably the reduction of non-organic fertilisers, the production of phytohormones and the increase in yield…
For the project with the University of Almeria, BeCrop® Trials was used, which is a service based on our BeCrop® technology and aims to verify the effects of an input using the functionalities of the soil microbiome as a biomarker. As general results of the analyses, it was found that the most significant effects took place when the plants were treated with biofertilisers and with a 20% reduction of inorganic fertilisers, showing a fruit extraction efficiency of 16% (N), 33.7% (P) and 22.8% (K) compared to the untreated plot.
In addition, the products seemed to favour the development of phytohormones involved in fruit growth and plant resistance. Likewise, in one of the periods (T3), higher yields per square metre were obtained (33%) with larger fruit size (calibre), allowing economic yields of up to 52% higher than the control treatment, in which no biofertiliser products were applied.
You can read the full case study and watch the webinar analysing the project here.
How can knowledge of the microbiome help mitigate the effects of prolonged and intense droughts and desertification on Mediterranean agriculture?
By analysing the soil microbiome we can check which stress resilience-related microorganisms exist in our crops. In case we have few microorganisms that protect the crop from future climatic adversities, we can apply specific products and/or practices to enhance the occurrence of microorganisms related to soil resilience functionalities and thus mitigate adverse effects on soil and crops.
In the Fuentes del Silencio vineyard, Biome Makers has been key in assessing the quality of the Terroir, which has led to recognition by the sector. How did you achieve this, what were the keys and the aspects of the microbiome that highlight its excellence?
This was a very interesting case because after comparing the terroir of the vineyard with other vineyards around the world, it was found that the plots analysed had a high biodiversity and that there were Acidiphilum bacteria. that are related to the gold mines. This was key to know that the wine produced in the analysed plots was unique.
What recommendations do you make to improve carbon storage in soil with vulnerabilities to sodium, nitrates, salinity, etc.?
As a first step, it is always essential to know the potential capacity of the soil microbiome to allow adequate storage and conservation of soil carbon. This type of diagnosis can be carried out with the BeCrop® Test, which has several bio-indicators of soil carbon pathways. Knowing what state our soil is in, there are various practices that could be carried out, such as incorporating cover crops, reducing ploughing and/or other practices that involve soil organic matter degradation. In addition, soil carbon conservation often has a positive impact in terms of biodiversity, physico-chemical properties, soil resilience and soil water conservation, thus reducing the vulnerabilities you were asking about.
Thanks to knowledge of the soil genome, how can we reduce the incidence of soil diseases by reducing fungicide inputs and rebalancing soils with excess pathogens?
Knowing the genome of the soil microbiome will allow us to know the presence and abundance of certain pathogens in the soil, as well as their biocontrollers. Knowledge of the pathogen/biocontrol agent balance will allow us to adjust our management practices and the type of products used, to act specifically on pathogens that represent a high level of risk to our crops. This information is key to reducing the use of fungicides and other products that may affect soil health in general.
From ZERYA Producciones sin Residuos S.L. we are dedicated to ensuring both pesticide-free and regenerative agriculture, two practices that benefit the environment and people’s health. By committing to our crop management, we contribute to improving the soil microbiome, positively impacting soil fertility and productivity.
If you want to know more about us or how you can transform your production model, visit www.zerya.org, write to us at consultas@zerya.org or call us on +34 622 690 956.
