Seraina Lisa Cappelli, Luiz A. Domeignoz-Horta, Viviana Loaiza, Anna-Liisa Laine

While the positive relationship between plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is relatively well-established, far less in known about the extent to which this relationship is mediated via below-ground microbial responses to plant diversity. Limited evidence suggests that the diversity of soil microbial communities is sensitive to plant community structure, and that diverse soil microbial communities promote functions desired of sustainable food production systems such as enhanced carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. Here, we discuss available evidence on how plant diversity could be utilized to purposefully guide soil biodiversity in agricultural systems that are typically depleted of biodiversity, and are notoriously sensitive to both biotic and abiotic stressors. We outline the direct and soil microbe-mediated mechanisms expected to promote a positive BEF relationship both above- and below-ground. Finally, we identify management schemes based on ecological theory and vast empirical support that can be utilized to maximize ecosystem functioning in agroecosystems via biodiversity implementation schemes.