The Role of Soil Amendments in Shaping Soil and Plant-Associated Microbiomes

Dear Colleagues,

Soil amendments generally refer to various organic inputs based on livestock manure, green manure, and cover crops that are extensively utilized in organic agricultural systems for soil-borne disease management. Soil-amendment-based strategies typically utilize effective nutritional sources to either stimulate disease-suppressing populations or directly suppress specific pathogenic elements in soil. The use of such strategies is consistent with accumulating evidence indicating that plant health and soil fertility are to a large extent governed by the broader microbial consortia in soil. Accordingly, successful application of amendment-based approaches provides both a conceptual and practical paradigm for improving food production in ways that also reduce negative impacts on the environment. To date, however, very few such protocols have been found that outperform conventional practices. The main goal of the upcoming Special Issue is to review cutting-edge studies investigating the influence of amendment-based practices on soil- and plant-associated communities from the rhizosphere and endosphere to phyllosphere. A broader understanding and consideration of how these altered microbiomes may enhance or diminish plant health will support the development of more sustainable and effective amendment-based approaches.

Dr. Shiri Freilich
Guest Editor

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