b'COVER CROP CORNERHOW COVER CROPS ENHANCE THE 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 OFnature is inspiring. Over thethe soil it was grown in, climate, and the soil centuries, different organisms have had relation- microbiome in which it was grown, to name a ships with other organisms so they can workfew influences. Through natures intelligence, the together, sharing resources and areas of specializa- plant will share its microbiome to turn on genes tion so both species are able to thrive.to help itself to thrive, as well as other plants There have been synergies between plants,that are growing in the area. The updated root microbes and the soil since the start of plants onmicrobiome will then work its way up the plant, land. There is a beautiful relationship of plantsup the stem, over the leaves and into the seed. Kevin Elmy photosynthesising, capturing sunlight, convertingThe plants that grow from this plant will have Elmy is founder of Covercarbon dioxide and water to create glucose, thenthe updated microbiome that will allow that next Crops Canada. His bookconverting that to other molecules within theplant to be better suited to the environment. Cover Cropping in Western Canada is availableplant to facilitate growth.Often in the seed production process, we com-through Friesen Press,At the No Till on the Plains Conference inpromise this. Practices such as synthetic fertiliz-Amazon, and digitallyKansas in January, this process was explaineders, fungicides, monocultures, and soils with low through Apple Books,to us. To obtain nutrients from the soil, thelevels of microbial diversity and activity limit the Kindle, and Google Play.plant will release some of the carbon sequesteredrhizosheath formation. Including a cover crop in For more info on Cover Crops Canada visitthrough photosynthesis into the soil as a root exu- the lower canopy creates an opportunity to build covercrops.ca date to attract soil microbes. Through rhizophagy,on the microbiome of the seed produced. This or root feeding, the root hairs will then absorbmeans the seedlings that develop from this next the microbes, strip the cell walls off the microbes,generation will have a more robust microbiome, and expose the cytoplasm of the cell.creating a more resilient plant. The plant will then use what it requires fromBy changing the species that are grown with the microbe cytoplasm, replicate the microbesthe seed crop in conjunction with the local soil nucleus, and then shoot it back out of the rootmicrobiome, we can develop seed that is locally into the soil. To assist cell wall growth, the plantadapted. Growing monoculture stands locally will stimulate the microbe to rebuild its cell wall.will develop locally adapted plants over time, The microbe will be attracted to the root exudatesbut having a companion crop growing with it from the plant feeding them to function in theincreases the diversity of the microbiome quicker soil, only to be taken up by the root hair again. assuming good rhizosheaths are produced by Microbes that the cell wall is unable to breakeach of the species. down are stored in the plant root tissue, releasedThe legacy effect will also kick in, assuming when the plant root dies. Some microbes functiona good diverse rotation is being utilized. This within the plant cells, carrying on functions onincreases the diversity of the microbes in the soil behalf of the plant. that can colonize the roots as they move through Nutrient uptake is much more complicatedthe soil.than we initially thought, when we believed thatManaging our crops using techniques that do plants just passively took up nutrients from thenot allow for a healthy soil-microbe-plant interac-soil moisture solution. tion and growth of a diverse microbial population will keep producers hooked on synthetic inputs. The Seed Connection We need to change our cropping systems, What does this mean for seed? Dr. Christineso our crops get off to a better startand that Jones states that the seed is preloaded with themeans using cover crops to support the biological microbiome for each plant at each location.resource that is soil. It is developed through how it was managed, 16 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADAMARCH 2024'