Andong Shi1,2,3, Timothy Cavagnaro2,3, Krista Sumby2, Glenn McDonald2, Matthew Denton2, A. Prof Stuart Roy2, Rhiannon Schilling1,2,3
1South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Urrbrae, 5064, Australia, 2School of Agriculture Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, 5064, Australia, 3College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, 5042, Australia
Biography:
Dr. Andong Shi has been working in the Agronomy group at SARDI in the past 1.5 years or so, learning new and practical side of the story in agriculture, particularly in broadacre farming system. Previously he worked in soil ecology/biology, focussed on soil microbial responses to abiotic stresses, root-soil interaction in simulated soil growing condition, and non-destructive imaging system for root and shoot of various crop types.
Abstract:
To maintain sustainable broadacre farming in the future, a better understanding of soil microbiome functions and processes associated with adapting agronomic management practices will be key. This is primarily due to the irreplaceable roles of the soil microbiome in soil and plant interactions, human health and ecosystem functions and stability. We approached this challenge by reviewing how different land management practices influence soil microbial communities. The important role that the soil microbiome plays in cropping systems is analysed in the context of an overview of changes in land management over the past two decades using southern Australian dryland farming as a case study. Many major changes in management have occurred in this system during this time, including i) reduction in tillage, with a corresponding increase in direct drilling and stubble retention, ii) inclusion of oilseeds and pulses in cereal-dominated rotation systems, iii) decrease in the pasture-dominated grain production systems, iv) increased use of agrochemicals, v) different soil amelioration applications and vi) development of innovative agricultural technology. We review the overarching role of climate extremes in impacting agronomic management practices in southern Australian farming systems. In all, we demonstrate the complex interplay between land management changes and the activity, diversity and functions of the soil microbiome, with reference to changes in agronomic management practices.