Which factor is NOT a benefit of maintaining microbial diversity in soil?

Maintaining microbial diversity in soil offers numerous benefits that positively impact soil health and agricultural productivity. Promoting nutrient cycling is a significant advantage, as diverse microbial communities help break down organic matter, transform nutrients into bioavailable forms, and enhance overall soil fertility. This process ensures that essential nutrients are readily accessible for plant uptake, thereby supporting healthy plant growth.

Improving soil structural integrity is another crucial benefit of microbial diversity. A rich microbial community contributes to the formation of soil aggregates, which enhances aeration, water retention, and root penetration. These improvements lead to better soil structure overall, which is essential for sustainable agriculture.

Enhancing disease resistance is also a notable advantage of microbial diversity. A diverse soil microbiome can foster beneficial microorganisms that prevent harmful pathogens from establishing in the soil, thereby reducing disease incidence in crops and improving overall plant health.

In contrast, decreasing resilience is not a benefit of maintaining microbial diversity in soil. In fact, greater microbial diversity typically bolsters resilience, allowing ecosystems to better withstand and recover from environmental stresses, such as drought or disease outbreaks. Therefore, this factor is inconsistent with the overall advantages of microbial diversity.