This presentation proposes research to test the hypothesis: efficient use of nitrogen in a RG-WC dairy production system is controlled by the composition, activity and interaction between soil, plant and animal microbiomes that mediate nitrogen transactions in these environments. Research questions:
• What are the main structural and functional characteristics of agricultural microbiomes and how do they respond to increasing levels of nitrogenous fertiliser?
• What are the key soil-plant-animal microbiome interactions that impact on improved pasture and animal productivity and on water quality?
• Which features of agricultural microbiomes can be managed to improve productivity and water quality?
• Are there bio-indicators of microbiome interactions that can be used to track agricultural productivity and water quality?
Funding
Funded by the New Zealand Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment's Our Land and Water National Science Challenge (Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai) as part of project Innovative Agricultural Microbiomes