About this Research Topic

Background

Growing concerns about health, stringent regulations on fumigant application, and the increasing demand for sustainable food have created a need for innovative agricultural practices to effectively manage soil-borne pathogens. While traditional soil fumigation has been commonly used, alternative practices like soil bio-fumigation, biosolarization, and anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) have gained popularity due to their potential sustainability benefits. However, these techniques often rely on impermeable plastic barriers, which can be a drawback from a sustainability standpoint.

Promisingly, there are technologies emerging that focus on shifting soil microbial communities to naturally suppress soil-borne pathogens and diseases. By leveraging these microbial communities, we may indirectly enhance soil health and promote a circular economy, particularly when incorporating organic amendments originating from agricultural and food byproduct bioconversion technologies.
This research topic seeks high-quality articles and reviews that illuminate the interactions between soil, organic amendments, and pathogens in both the short and long term. We aim to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms at play in controlling soil-borne pathogens, including the resilience of microbial communities, the role of plant resistance, and the overall effects on soil health and crop yields.

In order to develop more sustainable food and cropping systems, it is imperative to reduce the reliance on agrochemicals. Soil microorganisms, whether naturally occurring or introduced through inoculums, play a pivotal role in providing ecosystem services that can contribute to this goal. As such, the objective of this research topic is to advance knowledge on managing soil microbial communities to enhance soil suppressiveness.

We strongly encourage contributions that provide fresh insights into practices that effectively control and mitigate the negative effects of pests, pathogens, and diseases on crops. Furthermore, studies focused on exploring how shifts in soil microbial communities can improve soil health and enhance crop productivity are highly encouraged. By enhancing our understanding and application of soil microbial management practices, we can pave the way for more sustainable agriculture and address the challenges posed by soil-borne pathogens.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Soil microorganisms, fungi, bacteria, soil suppressiveness, biocontrol, soil health, organic waste management, soil amendments, soil improvers, rhizosphere, microbiome, biofertilizers

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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