Improved bio-inocula and living mulching technologies for integrated management of horticultural crops

生物接种剂在商业农业和园艺中的使用受到几个因素的阻碍，其中包括对微生物生态学的了解不足，制剂效率可变以及农民对不同种植制度下的应用技术和要求的认识。因此，该项目预计将提高对生物接种物的生态动态的知识，用于植物保护和植物营养的综合和有机耕作系统与生活覆盖在对比鲜明的环境/气候条件下。将进行研究，以阐明生物接种物如何与病原微生物，共生微生物和其他微生物相互作用，并了解它们如何受到环境和农艺条件的影响。这些知识对于在商业农业和园艺中使用有益微生物以及将其与其他农艺实践结合使用时最大化相关效益至关重要。为了提高配方效率，将采用一种基于生物可降解聚合物（例如纤维素衍生物）或来自未充分利用的生物质的有机/无机混合胶囊壳的创新方法，对有助于植物保护或营养的生物接种物和生物效应物（促进植物生长或对生物或非生物胁迫的适应性的物质）进行微胶囊化。这些新配方的特点是提高了微生物细胞的活力，改善了它们在土壤和植物中的降解行为，并提高了在不同环境和农艺条件下的功效。该项目计划采用新的间作战略，在果园中使用多功能活覆盖作物。预计这些措施将增加养分供应，特别是氮，减少土壤传播的害虫/病原体和杂草的竞争，为农民提供额外收入，并改善地上和地下生物多样性。所有这些因素将增加果园的可持续性和盈利能力，以及提供生态系统服务的可能性。生物接种物与生物覆盖物的关系也将进行评估，以增加我们对生物接种物和土壤管理实践对生物多样性和作物生产的影响的理解，从而实现利用有益微生物的全部潜力以及协同地充分利用活覆盖物的益处。将开发一个数学模型来预测生物接种物的生存动态和随后的传播，并帮助种植者优化不同种植系统中有益微生物的应用。预计这种方法将有助于确保粮食生产，同时提供与气候变化和作物适应/复原力有关的关键生态系统服务。

The use of bio-inocula in commercial agriculture and horticulture is hindered by several factors, among them insufficient knowledge of microbial ecology, variable formulation efficiency and farmers awareness of application technology and requirements under different cropping systems. This project is thus expected to improve the knowledge on the ecological dynamics of bioinocula for plant protection and plant nutrition in both integrated and organic farming systems with living mulching under contrasting environmental/climatic conditions. Studies will be performed to elucidate how bioinocula interact with pathogenic, symbiotic and other microbes and to understand how they are influenced by environmental and agronomical conditions. Such knowledge is essential for maximising benefits associated with using beneficial microbes in commercial agriculture and horticulture as well as when integrating their use with other agronomical practices. To improve formulation efficiency, an innovative approach based on biodegradable polymers (e.g. cellulose-derivatives) or organic/inorganic hybrid capsule shells derived from underutilized biomasses will be used to microencapsulate bio-inocula and bio-effectors (substances promoting plant growth or resilience to biotic or abiotic stresses) contributing to plant protection or nutrition. These new formulations will becharacterized by the improved viability of microbial cells and their improved degradation behaviour in soil and plants, as well as the increased efficacy under different environmental and agronomical conditions.To break the paradigm of monoculture in fruit farming systems and to foster the concept of agroecology and improve biodiversity, this project plans to introduce new intercropping strategies using multifunctional living mulching crops in orchards. These are expected toincrease nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen, to reduce soil-borne pests/pathogens and weeds competition, to provide an additional income to farmers and to improve above- and below-ground biodiversity. All these factors shall increase the sustainability and profitability of fruit orchards as well as the possibility of delivering ecosystem services.The association of bio-inocula with living mulches will be also evaluated, to increase our understanding of the impact of bioinocula and soil management practices on biodiversity and crop production, thus realising the full potentials of using beneficial microorganisms as well as to fully exploit the benefits of living mulches synergistically. A mathematical model to predict bioinocula survival dynamics and subsequent dispersal will be developed and assist growers in optimising application of beneficial microbes for different cropping systems. It is expected that such approach will contribute to securing food production, whilst providing crucial ecosystem services related to climate changemitigation and crop adaptation/resilience.