Fig. 2.

Strategies to optimize interactions with beneficial microbes to improve plant nitrogen (N) acquisition. Various strategies can be combined to reduce the use of N fertilizers and improve crop N acquisition. They include (i) capitalizing on the beneficial impact of microbes either individually or when they are present in tripartite associations; (ii) utilizing plant genetic deversity to select the most efficient interactions in terms of the acquisition of nutrients, N in particular; and (iii) developing agronomic practices such as no-till and those based on the use of cover crops that favor plant–microbe interactions (Hirel et al., 2011).