Abstract
Abstract Agricultural nutrient-management increasingly recognises soil stoichiometry and microbial biodiversity yet rarely integrates them with crop nutrient demand. Soil microbiomes regulate nutrient availability, recovery and resilience, but depend on balanced elemental resources and supportive management. We argue that sustainable productivity requires synchronised managing of crop demand, soil C:N:P balance and microbial nutrient cycling. Our proposed framework identifies interventions to improve nutrient recovery, reduce environmental losses, and sustain soil fertility and resilience.