Strawberry Yield Improvement by Hydrogen-Based Irrigation Is Functionally Linked to Altered Rhizosphere Microbial...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Plant Physiology

Background:

• Molecular hydrogen (H₂) plays a vital role in agricultural microbial systems.
• The precise mechanisms by which H₂ influences crop yield remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of H₂-based irrigation on strawberry yield and soil microbial communities.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying H₂'s effects on nutrient uptake and crop production.

Main Methods:

• H₂-based irrigation applied to strawberry plants with and without nutrient fertilization.
• Analysis of soil nutrient content (N, P, K, organic matter).
• Gene expression analysis of nutrient absorption-related genes in root tissues.
• Metagenomics profiling of rhizosphere microbial communities.
• Quantitative PCR to assess the abundance of functional genes involved in nutrient cycling.

Main Results:

• H₂ irrigation significantly increased strawberry yield, irrespective of fertilization.
• Reduced soil available N, P, K, and organic matter correlated with increased expression of nutrient absorption genes.
• H₂ altered rhizosphere microbial composition, enriching plant-growth-promoting and H₂-oxidizing bacteria.
• Increased abundance of genes involved in carbon fixation, nitrate reduction, and phosphorus cycling was observed.
• Genes related to carbon degradation and nitrogen denitrification showed decreased abundance.

Conclusions:

• H₂-based irrigation functionally modifies microbe-mediated soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles.
• These alterations enhance plant nutrient uptake capacity, leading to increased horticultural crop yield.
• H₂ presents a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture, improving crop productivity through microbial modulation.