b'COVER CROP CORNERHow Cover Crops Enhancethe MicrobiomeBy changing the species that are grown with the seed crop in conjunction with the local soil microbiome, we can develop seed that is locally adapted.THE INTELLIGENCE OF nature is inspiring. Overwas managed, the soil it was grown in, climate, and the the centuries, different organisms have had relationshipssoil microbiome in which it was grown, to name a few with other organisms so they can work together, sharinginfluences. Through natures intelligence, the plant will resources and areas of specialization so both species areshare its microbiome and share other plant microbiome able to thrive.to turn on genes to help itself to thrive, as well as other There have been synergies between plants, microbesplants that are growing in the area. The updated root and the soil since the start of plants on land. There ismicrobiome will then work its way up the plant, up the a beautiful relationship of plants photosynthesising,stem, over the leaves and into the seed. The plants that capturing sunlight, converting carbon dioxide and watergrow from this plant will have the updated microbiome KEVIN ELMY,to create glucose, then converting that to other moleculesthat will allow that next plant to be better suited to the is founder of Coverwithin the plant to facilitate growth.environment. Crops Canada. His book CoverAt the No Till on the Plains Conference in KansasOften in the seed production process, we comprise Cropping inin January, this process was explained to us. To obtainthis. Practices such as synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, Western Canada is available throughnutrients from the soil, the plant will release some ofmonocultures, and soils with low levels of microbial Friesen Press,the carbon sequestered through photosynthesis into thediversity and activity limit the rhizosheath formation. Amazon, and digitally throughsoil as a root exudate to attract soil microbes. ThroughIncluding a cover crop in the lower canopy creates an Apple Books,rhizophagy, or root feeding, the root hairs will thenopportunity to build on the microbiome of the seed Kindle, and Google Play. For moreabsorb the microbes, strip the cell walls off the microbes,produced. This means the seedlings that develop from info on Coverand expose the cytoplasm of the cell.this next generation will have a more robust microbiome, Crops Canada visit covercrops.ca The plant will then use what it requires from thecreating a more resilient plant. microbe cytoplasm, replicate the microbes nucleus, andBy changing the species that are grown with the seed then shoot it back out of the root into the soil. To assistcrop in conjunction with the local soil microbiome, cell wall growth, the plant will stimulate the microbe towe can develop seed that is locally adapted. Growing rebuild its cell wall. The microbe will be attracted to themonoculture stands locally will develop locally adapted root exudates from the plant feeding them to function inplants over time, but having a companion crop growing the soil, only to be taken up by the root hair again.with it increases the diversity of the microbiome quicker Microbes that the cell wall is unable to break down are assuming good rhizosheaths are produced by each of stored in the plant root tissue, released when the plantthe species. root dies. Some microbes function within the plant cells,The legacy effect will also kick in, assuming a good carrying on functions on behalf of the plant. diverse rotation is being utilized. This increases the Nutrient uptake is much more complicated thandiversity of the microbes in the soil that can colonize the we initially thought, when we believed that plantsroots as they move through the soil.just passively took up nutrients from the soil moistureManaging our crops using techniques that do not allow solution. for a healthy soil-microbe-plant interaction and growth of a diverse microbial population will keep producers hooked The Seed Connection on synthetic inputs. We need to change our cropping What does this mean for seed? Dr. Christine Jones statessystems, so our crops get off to a better startand that that the seed is preloaded with the microbiome for eachmeans using cover crops to support the biological resource plant at each location. It is developed through how itthat is soil. SPUDSMART.COMSpring 202441'