Soil microbial community interactions under tillage systems in Australia

For several years suboptimal land management, such as tillage and stubble burning, led to accelerated soil deterioration in Australia. The excessive use of tillage affected crop productivity and decreased soil health. Tillage can alter water and oxygen flow, soil structure, temperature and aggregate formation that directly or indirectly affect soil microbiomes. Microbial communities are involved in the different biogeochemical cycles and soil formation. Alterations to this habitat may compromise the productivity of soils. This chapter shows the impact of tillage on soil physicochemical properties and how these changes can affect the function and diversity of soil microbial communities. A better understanding of the soil properties interaction will help to improve land management and protect our soils from further deterioration