Soil microbiomes drive the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and regulate soil N supply and loss,thus,pivotal nitrogen use efficiency(NUE).Meanwhile,there is an increasing awareness that plant associated microbiomes and soil food web interactions is vital for modulating crop productivity and N uptake.The rapid advances in modern omics-based techniques and biotechnologies make it possible to manipulate soil-plant microbiomes for improving NUE and reducing N environmental impacts.This paper summarizes current progress in research on regulating soil microbial N cycle processes for NUE improvement,plant-microbe interactions benefiting plant N uptake,and the importance of soil microbiomes in promoting soil health and crop productivity.We also proposes a potential holistic(rhizosphere-root-phyllosphere)microbe-based approach to improve NUE and reduce dependence on mineral N fertilizer in agroecosystems,toward nature-based solution for nutrient management in intensive cropping systems.
