Effect of long-term agricultural practices on soil and rhizosphere microbial communities

This study aimed at analyzing the effect of long-term agricultural management strategies (tillage: mouldboard plough vs cultivator; N-fertilization intensity: intensive vs. extensive; cropping history: rapeseed vs. winter wheat last standing crop) applied in the field on the assemblage of the rhizosphere microbial community of the model plant lettuce cultivated in these field soils under controlled growth chamber conditions. By applying a multidisciplinary approach, our study adds to the increasing knowledge of how soil microbiota can be manipulated through agricultural management practices as well as to a better understanding of plant-microbe-interactions to facilitate a more sustainable crop production.