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Environmental disturbances such as drought can impact soil health and the resistance (ability to withstand environmental stress) and resilience (ability to recover functional and structural integrity after stress) of soil microbial functional activities. A paucity of information exists on the impact of drought on soil microbiome and how soil biological systems respond to and demonstrate resilience to drought stress. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (using only laboratory studies) to assess the response of soil microbial biomass and respiration to drought stress across agriculture, forest, and grassland ecosystems. The meta-analysis revealed an overall negative response of microbial biomass in resistance (-31.6 %) and resilience (-0.3 %) to drought, suggesting a decrease in soil microbial biomass content. Soil microbial respiration also showed a negative response in resistance to drought stress indicating a decrease in soil microbial respiration in agriculture (-17.5 %), forest (-64.0 %), and grassland (-65.5 %) ecosystems. However, it showed a positive response in resilience to drought, suggesting an effective recovery in microbial respiration post-drought. Soil organic carbon (SOC), clay content, and pH were the main regulating factors of the responses of soil microbial biomass and respiration to drought. In agriculture ecosystem, soil pH was primarily correlated with soil microbial respiration resistance and resilience to drought, potentially influenced by frequent land preparation and fertilizer applications, while in forest ecosystem SOC, clay content, and pH significantly impacted microbial biomass and respiration resistance and resilience. In grassland ecosystem, SOC was strongly associated with biomass resilience to drought. The impact of drought stress on soil microbiome showed different patterns in natural and agriculture ecosystems, and the magnitude of microbial functional responses regulated by soil intrinsic properties. This study highlighted the importance of understanding the role of soil properties in shaping microbial responses to drought stress for better ecosystem management.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169544 | DOI Listing |
J Agric Food Chem
September 2025
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
Silica nanoparticles (SiONPs), as emerging foliar nanofertilizers, demonstrate promising potential in agriculture. However, whether foliar application of SiONPs alters belowground soil metabolites and microbe composition and abundance remains largely unknown. In this study, 3-week-old cucumber plants were foliar-sprayed with fumed or Stöber SiO NPs dosing at -4 mg of NPs per plant for 5 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Ecol
September 2025
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
Increasing evidence indicates that the loss of soil microbial α-diversity triggered by environmental stress negatively impacts microbial functions; however, the effects of microbial α-diversity on community functions under environmental stress are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the changes in bacterial and fungal α- diversity along gradients of five natural stressors (temperature, precipitation, plant diversity, soil organic C and pH) across 45 grasslands in China and evaluated their connection with microbial functional traits. By quantifying the five environmental stresses into an integrated stress index, we found that the bacterial and fungal α-diversity declined under high environmental stress across three soil layers (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlob Chang Biol
September 2025
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Droughts are increasing with climate change, affecting the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and limiting their capacity to mitigate rising atmospheric CO levels. However, there is still large uncertainty on the long-term impacts of drought on ecosystem carbon (C) cycling, and how this determines the effect of subsequent droughts. Here, we aimed to quantify how drought legacy affects the response of a heathland ecosystem to a subsequent drought for two life stages of Calluna vulgaris resulting from different mowing regimes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFiScience
September 2025
Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in disease control by establishing symbiotic relationships with plant roots. AMF improve salinity tolerance in plants by regulating the Na/K ratio through selective ion transport and mediate osmotic regulation by inducing the accumulation of osmotic-compatible solutes such as glycine betaine and proline to enable plant cells to maintain water content and the metabolic balance. AMF can also activate antioxidant defense responses by stimulating enzymes that protect plant cells from harmful oxidation and pathological infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBeilstein J Nanotechnol
August 2025
Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Saigon University, 273 An Duong Vuong Street, Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam.
This study employs a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace to explore research trends on the impact of biochar on microplastics (MPs) in soil and water environments. In agricultural soils, MPs reduce crop yield, alter soil properties, and disrupt microbial diversity and nutrient cycling. Biochar, a stable and eco-friendly material, has demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating these effects by restoring soil chemistry, enhancing microbial diversity and improving crop productivity.
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