Ecosystem services driven by soil biota in agricultural landscapes - Effects of farm-based soil management practices

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Diversity, abundance, and biomass of soil biota depend on the biotic abiotic characteristics environment are essential for provision important ecosystem services. Agricultural systems shaped by long-term history farming practices recent management decisions farmer. The present thesis reports effects different tillage organisms, their functions performances. Different approaches were applied: (i) first, investigations microbial chemical parameters carried out under climatic conditions across Europe, (ii) second, an experiment litter breakdown driven mesofauna was conducted at a experimental field site (iii) third, detailed insights effect inversion crop residue placement annelids functional feedback gained laboratory conditions. Study 1 investigates reduced applications compared with conventional four sites Germany, Romania, Spain Sweden. Reduced meant either no-tillage (NT) as direct seeding or minimum (MT) that had working depth between 5 12 cm (3 sites) down to 25-30 (1 site) non-inversive machinery. Conventional (CT) mouldboard ploughing all sites, inverting 23-30 cm. At German site, MT increased concentrations organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N) (MBC) in top 10 In contrast, CT MBC contents bulk densities 20 30 depth. Sweden, NT acidic pH positive C, N upper cm, CT. Romanian clay-rich soil, showed no differences non-inversion (MT), both which 25 Spanish use well stocks significantly, To sum up, enhanced properties most cases. However, effectiveness reduction seems highly such level, texture 2 focuses decomposition residues near Göttingen (Germany), litterbag compare rates plots ploughing. litterbags filled g chopped maize leaves (Zea mays L.). Two mesh sizes used quantify contribution processes. coarse size (2 mm) allowed microorganisms access litterbags, while fine (48 μm) only colonisation microorganisms. October 2017, placed 5-8 ploughed removed after 2, 7 months. addition C material overall loss, abundance species composition Collembola, representative group agricultural systems, measured. Stable isotopes analysis (δ13C δ15N) uptake maize-derived Collembola. Mesofauna improved quality (indicated low C/N ratios). This is presumably more indirect stimulating activity increasing supply N. Overall, Collembola abundances tilled plots. not significantly changed tillage, although euedaphic occurred mainly epedaphic tillage. deeper depths seem be habitat food source because other sources difficult access. results suggest greatly contributes transformation matter availability nutrients. 3 mesocosm displacement microorganisms, enchytraeids earthworms. Undisturbed columns (30 high, 15 Ø) from (Germany) used. investigate two factors ‘tillage’ ‘soil fauna’. Tillage factor levels (1) simulated (SI): ‘ploughed’ manually (5 Zea L.) (2) (NI): undisturbed surface. Soil fauna (addition organisms columns): anecic earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris), endogeic (Octolasion cyaneum), (3) (Enchytraeus crypticus Enchytraeus christenseni) (4) control without fauna. All combinations replicated times (n = 4). ran 114 days dark climate chamber temperature °C. gas fluxes (CO2, N2O) measured automatically every 4.5 hours using chromatograph. ergosterol quantified properties. fate residue-derived traced stable δ15N). reacted differently incorporation material. As expected, L. terrestris consumed than O. cyaneum during experiment. For earthworms, advantageous, whereas species. addition, number affected placement. Anecic CO2 emissions 22% (vs. control). N2O-N emission 188%. there interaction factors. Microbial strongly inversion. Results layers has neutral even annelids. Nevertheless, field-conditions, into may impair endanger mechanically. general, supported thus able enhance services they provide. Ploughing can increase individual species, however, broad spectrum diversity should promoted. appeared some groups Even though emissions, this considered offset sequestration. inversion, hand, appears make large greenhouse emissions. high variability locations suggests recommendations given local scale, related existing development sustainable strategies focus highlights often underestimated importance agriculture.

Language: Английский

Earthworm and Soil Microbial Communities in Flower Strips

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 17, 2022

Abstract Flower strips are a common agricultural practice to increase aboveground biodiversity and beneficial ecosystem services. Although soil communities key component of terrestrial drive important services, their abundance, diversity, composition in flower remain largely unexplored. Here, we shed light on earthworms microorganisms aim provide starting point for research belowground strips. In 2020, established field margin vegetation as well two annual perennial strip mixtures at three study sites Germany that were previously conventional croplands or fallow. Two years following this conversion, determined earthworm investigated the microbiome using real-time PCR (archaea, bacteria, fungi, soil-N-cycling genes) amplicon sequencing (bacteria fungi). Different plant (i.e. margin, annual, strips) harbored distinct microbial communities. Earthworm density biomass declined remained unaffected but increased compared margins. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi showed greater diversity community share non-tilled tilled strips). We attribute changes mainly effect tillage diversity. Overall, suggest serve refugia biota landscapes. Future studies should compare those adjacent fields investigate whether effects restricted spatially extend into (‘spillover’).

Language: Английский