Simulating Microbial Functional Diversity Dynamics in Agricultural Soils: An Individual Based Modeling Approach

Abstract

New agricultural soil model approaches based on the microbiome dynamics must be considered as they can contribute to understand microbiological soil processes directly linked to substrate metabolism and the influence of these processes on plant growth. The present work presents an approach to the modelling of the interactions of the soil microbial functional diversity with the plant in terms of functions associated to specific processes of organic Carbon and Nitrogen metabolism. The substrates transformations arising in the organic matter that enters as a part of an agricultural scheme are the base for define this metabolism. As result, it has been possible to simulate a rhizospheric soil based on the concept of complex system dynamics and Individual Based Modeling known too as Agent-Based Modeling in an agricultural management context. The explicit definition of the microbiome functional diversity and the processing of the structural elements Carbon and Nitrogen, allowed representing the functional dynamics of this complex system composed by microorganisms, Carbon, Nitrogen and the plant. The variables that reflect the biology and the adaptation to the rhizospheric environment chara cterized the microorganisms and the assemblage community patterns i n time. The main simulations output are system glucose and nitrate levels and an approach to plant growth, all resultant from the metabolic process of the considered Carbon and Nitrogen consortia. The results indicate that the mi croorganism’s diversity assemblages and its functional expression have a fundamental role in terms of plant growth.