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Published on: July 16, 2017
Impact of Drought on Soil Microbial Communities
Sujani De Silva1, Lithma Kariyawasam Hetti Gamage1, Vesh R Thapa1
1Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
None:
Drought, an increasingly prevalent climate stressor due to global warming, profoundly impacts agricultural systems, particularly the soil microbiome. Soil microorganisms are crucial for nutrient cycling, plant health, and ecosystem stability; however, drought-induced changes disrupt microbial community structure, function, and interactions with plants. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the effects of drought on soil microbiomes, with a focus on microbial diversity, resilience, and functional shifts in agricultural contexts. It highlights key microbial mechanisms underpinning plant drought tolerance, including symbioses with plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, it addresses knowledge gaps in the long-term effects of repeated drought events, microbial adaptations, and plant-soil feedback mechanisms. By advancing our understanding of drought-microbiome dynamics, this review aims to inform sustainable agricultural practices and resilience strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought on crop productivity and ecosystem health.
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