Phosphate‐solubilising microorganisms (PSM) are often reported to have positive effects on crop productivity through enhanced phosphorus (P) nutrition. Our aim was to evaluate the validity of this concept. Most studies that report ‘positive effects’ of PSM on plant growth have been conducted under controlled conditions, whereas field experiments more frequently fail to demonstrate a positive response. Many studies have indicated that the mechanisms seen in vitro do not translate into improved crop P nutrition in complex soil–plant systems. Furthermore, associated mechanisms are often not rigorously assessed. We suggest that PSM do not mobilise sufficient P to change the crops’ nutritional environment under field conditions. The current concept, in which PSM solubilise P ‘for the plant’ should thus be revised. Although PSM have the capacity to solubilise P to meet their own needs, it is the turnover of the microbial biomass that subsequently provides P to plants over a longer time. Therefore, the existing concept of PSM function is unlikely to deliver a reliable strategy for increasing crop P nutrition. A further mechanistic understanding is needed to determine how P mobilisation by PSM as a component of the whole soil community can be manipulated to become more effective for plant P nutrition.

中文翻译：

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磷酸盐增溶微生物可提高农作物的生产力：一项关键评估。

磷酸盐增溶性微生物（PSM）通常通过增强磷（P）营养对作物生产率产生积极影响。我们的目的是评估该概念的有效性。多数报道PSM对植物生长具有“积极影响”的研究都是在受控条件下进行的，而田间试验更经常未能证明其有积极的反应。许多研究表明，体外观察到的机制在复杂的土壤-植物系统中不能转化为改善作物磷素的营养。此外，相关机制通常没有得到严格评估。我们建议PSM在田间条件下不能动员足够的P来改变作物的营养环境。因此，应该修改当前的概念，在该概念中，PSM为工厂溶解P。尽管PSM具有溶解磷的能力，以满足其自身的需求，但微生物生物量的转化却随后在更长的时间内为植物提供了磷。因此，现有的PSM功能概念不太可能提供增加作物P营养的可靠策略。需要进一步的机械理解来确定如何操纵PSM作为整个土壤群落组成部分的磷动员，使其对植物的磷营养更加有效。