Microbial Partnerships for Sustainable Soybean Cultivation: Mechanisms, Applications and Prospects.

Abstract

Soybean production is increasingly threatened by fluctuating environmental conditions and nutrient limitations. While synthetic fertilisers can alleviate these constraints, their excessive use has raised concerns regarding long-term soil health. Consequently, leveraging beneficial soil microbes, a diverse group of microorganisms that reside in the soil ecosystem, as biofertilizers represents a promising solution for sustainable agriculture. This review examined a tripartite framework involving microbial interactions, host genetic control and environmental influences. By addressing the not-yet fully understood mechanisms, including the genetic determinants of microbial recruitment and the degree of functional redundancy among microbial groups, we discussed how soybean genotypes shape rhizosphere niches via variations in root system architecture, immune signalling cascades, and root exudate profiles, assessing how these traits have been altered through domestication. Furthermore, how genotype-specific interactions can be strategically managed through crop rotation and intercropping practices in the field was also explored. By synthesising these co-dependent relationships, this review provides a roadmap for developing low-input, resilient soybean systems to optimise nutrition in an era of changing climate conditions.