ORCID
0000-0002-7499-6774
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Plant and Soil Science
First Advisor
Eric Bishop von Wettberg
Abstract
Cropping systems that display stable yields under fluctuating abiotic and biotic conditions are critical to withstand the reality of climate change. To maintain food system stability we must support crop management strategies that enhance agrobiodiversity. For example, management practices like cover cropping or intercropping increase agrobiodiversity and display higher pest and disease tolerance, stabler yields, and greater resistance to climatic stressors. We examined the distinct soil microbial communities and root traits of these diversified agroecosystems that arise through interspecific interactions as a potential source of increased resilience. The presence of multiple plant species in a system alters root architecture, root exudate profiles and root associated soil microbes. These shifts may then result in changes in soil function and increased stress buffering capacity. The plant-soil-microbe interactions observed in diversified cropping systems are the focus of this dissertation. The first chapter investigated the rotational value of 108 pea genotypes grown in rotation with Corn, and the relationship between rotational value and soil microbial communities. The second chapter assessed the impact of crop species and cultivar on soil microbes and crop yield and nutrition of corn, bean, and squash grown in the three sisters polyculture with emphasis placed on microbiome complementarity. The third chapter investigated methods for phenotyping root architectural and exudate complementarity of crops growing in intercropping systems. This work identified novel methods for assessing the exudate profiles and root architectures of intercropped plants that can increase breeding efficiency for these systems. Collectively, this work illuminates the role of plant-soil-microbe interactions in supporting resilience in cropping systems with increased agrobiodiversity
Language
en
Number of Pages
180 p.
Recommended Citation
Kretzler, Bailey Marie, "Microbiome, Root Architectural, And Root Exudate Complementarity In Cropping Systems With Increased Agrobiodiversity" (2025). Graduate College Dissertations and Theses. 2142.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/2142