Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41039197›Full record

ArticleBMC microbiology2025

Functional and taxonomic profiles of soil microbial communities of tropical legume soils from smallholder farmers' fields in Tzaneen, Limpopo province, South Africa.

Tiisetso Mpai, Mamonokane Olga Diale, Nemera Shargie, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Prudence Nompumelelo Mtsweni, Francina Lebogang Bopape, Michael Bairu, Ahmed Idris Hassen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Tiisetso MpaiAgricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), P. bag X134, Queenwood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa.
Mamonokane Olga DialeAgricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), P. bag X134, Queenwood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa.
Nemera ShargieAgricultural Research Council - Grain Crops. X1251, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
Abe Shegro GerranoAgricultural Research Council - Vegetables, Industrial and Medicinal Plants, P. Bag c293, Pretoria, South Africa.
Prudence Nompumelelo MtsweniAgricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), P. bag X134, Queenwood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa.
Francina Lebogang BopapeAgricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), P. bag X134, Queenwood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa.
Michael BairuAgricultural Research Council - Vegetables, Industrial and Medicinal Plants, P. Bag c293, Pretoria, South Africa.
Ahmed Idris HassenAgricultural Research Council, Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP), P. bag X134, Queenwood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa. HassenA@arc.agric.za.

Funding

Department of Agriculture (DoA), South Africa PHP012403000067
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSoil microorganisms play a vital role as the major indicators of soil health in sustainable agricultural farming systems. However, intensive cultivation and unrecommended farmers' soil management practices negatively affect the soil microbial communities, and hence that of the soil health. Here, we investigated the functional and taxonomic diversity of soil microorganisms on six selected smallholder farmers that grow Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Limpopo Province, South Africa using metagenomics and phenotypic profiles studies. Five soil samples, randomly collected per farm and pooled into a single representative sample were used. Metagenomics raw read quality control, genome assembly and annotation were performed on the KBase platform while the community level physiological profile analysis was done using Biolog Ecoplates™.

resultsThe results indicated that the soil microbial communities in Chosen Generation farm had higher rates of carbon source utilization. Likewise, it showed greater microbial abundance of varying taxonomy in which Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla while Bacillus, Streptomyces, Microvirga and Bradyrhizobium were the most represented genera.

conclusionsThis study reports that soils from the six farms studied are enriched with genetically and physiologically diverse microorganisms that are responsible for crop growth. While soil physico-chemical properties can be associated with microbial diversity in this study, further studies on farming practices such as fertilizer and irrigation are recommended to further explore their possible effects on soil microbes.

Indexed as

BacteriaFabaceaeMicrobiotaSoil MicrobiologyAgricultureBiodiversityMetagenomicsPhylogenyRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSoilSouth AfricaTropical ClimateVignaRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSoilActinobacteriaBacillusBiologMetagenomicsSmallholder farmersTaxonomy

Identifiers

PMID41039197
PMCPMC12492531

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.