Effects of Cover Crops on the Soil Microbiome and Carry Over Impact on FRCR in Barely and Soybean

Abstract

This study explored the influence that different cover crops have on the soil microbiome (Chapter 2) and the impact on Fusarium root and crown rot (FRCR) of barley and soybean (Chapter 3). Field trials were conducted with cover crops planted in the first year, and barley and soybean no-till seeded in the second year. Cover crop effects on microbial communities were characterized using amplicon sequencing and carryover effect on FRCR was studied. Controlled inoculated greenhouse trials were conducted to study the potential disease suppressive nature of certain cover crop soils. Choice of cover crop significantly influenced soil microbial community structure and composition by changing the abundance of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms, thereby having an impact on FRCR in barley and soybean. Soybean and barley FRCR were positively associated with soil pathotroph abundance. FRCR suppressive abilities of soil after growing sorghum-sudangrass were confirmed in both field and greenhouse trials.