Intercropping: spatial modelling of soil microbes

Background

Intercropping, the practice of growing multiple types of crops in the same field, may reduce the environmental impact of agricultural systems, for example by reducing the amount of pesticides or fertiliser needed. The mechanisms behind these benefits are largely unknown, but the soil microbial community is thought to be involved. Since the composition of the soil microbiome varies greatly even between nearby plants, spatial structure and distance between plants likely play essential roles.  

Project description

Here, we aim to develop a spatially explicit reaction-diffusion partial differential equation model of multiple types of soil microbes interacting with each other and with the plants through root exudates. With this model, we wish to identify the effect of intercropped versus monocropped microbe-promoting (e.g. Allium fistulosum – spring onion) and microbe-suppressing plants (e.g. Brassica oleracea – several cabbage varieties such as broccoli and kale) on soil microbial eco-evolutionary dynamics. Moreover, we will conduct a literature review to identify key open questions that this type of model can answer. We will then extend our model in relevant directions to answer these questions.

Our model will be integrated with data from concurrent greenhouse and open-field intercropping experiments performed within a recently started within-WUR consortium that studies the role of plant diversity and soil microbiome in intercropping. Our research aims to contribute to both the fundamental theoretical understanding of microbial ecology in space, and to application in the understanding and design of specific intercropping systems.