Training Microbes to Prepare Soils for the Impacts of Climate Change

By Callum Thomas

The study, led by Professor Matthew Goddard at the University of Lincoln, has shown that naturally occurring soil microbes can be "trained" to better tolerate saltier conditions, potentially helping farmers maintain crop yields as climate change continues to alter agricultural environments.

The study, led by Professor Matthew Goddard at the University of Lincoln, has shown that naturally occurring soil microbes can be "trained" to better tolerate saltier conditions, potentially helping farmers maintain crop yields as climate change continues to alter agricultural environments.

Published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the research addresses one of the world's fastest-growing agricultural challenges. Rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures are leading to increased salinity levels in agricultural soils, reducing their ability to support healthy crop growth. Around 30% of agricultural soils worldwide are already affected by increased salinization, with that figure expected to rise to around 50% by 2050.

Training soil to handle salt

The research found that exposing soils to low levels of saline irrigation encouraged naturally occurring microbial communities within the soil to adapt over time. These adapted communities were better able to function under increased salinization, helping established crops continue to grow and maintain yields where higher salinity would normally have a damaging effect.