scholarly journals Soil Microbial Indicators within Rotations and Tillage Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1244
Author(s):  
Gevan D. Behnke ◽  
Nakian Kim ◽  
Maria C. Zabaloy ◽  
Chance W. Riggins ◽  
Sandra Rodriguez-Zas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Environment ◽  
Microbial Indicators ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Continuous Corn ◽  
Bacterial Indicator ◽  
Long Term Effect

Recent advancements in agricultural metagenomics allow for characterizing microbial indicators of soil health brought on by changes in management decisions, which ultimately affect the soil environment. Field-scale studies investigating the microbial taxa from agricultural experiments are sparse, with none investigating the long-term effect of crop rotation and tillage on microbial indicator species. Therefore, our goal was to determine the effect of rotations (continuous corn, CCC; continuous soybean, SSS; and each phase of a corn-soybean rotation, Cs and Sc) and tillage (no-till, NT; and chisel tillage, T) on the soil microbial community composition following 20 years of management. We found that crop rotation and tillage influence the soil environment by altering key soil properties, such as pH and soil organic matter (SOM). Monoculture corn lowered pH compared to SSS (5.9 vs. 6.9, respectively) but increased SOM (5.4% vs. 4.6%, respectively). Bacterial indicator microbes were categorized into two groups: SOM dependent and acidophile vs. N adverse and neutrophile. Fungi preferred the CCC rotation, characterized by low pH. Archaeal indicators were mainly ammonia oxidizers with species occupying niches at contrasting pHs. Numerous indicator microbes are involved with N cycling due to the fertilizer-rich environment, prone to aquatic or gaseous losses.

scholarly journals Long term crop rotation effect on soybean yield explained by soil- and root-associated microbiome and soil health indicators

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achal Neupane ◽  
Izzet Bulbul ◽  
Ziyi Wang ◽  
R. Michael Lehman ◽  
Emerson Nafziger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
The Other ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
One Year

Abstract Background Crop rotation is an important management tactic that farmers use to manage crop production and reduce pests and diseases. Long-term crop rotations may select groups of microbes that form beneficial or pathogenic associations with the following crops, which could explain observed crop yield differences with different crop sequences. To test this hypothesis, we used two locations each with three long-term (14 year), replicated, crop rotation treatments: continuous corn ( Zea mays ) (CCC), corn/corn/soybean (SCC), and corn/soybean (CSC); both CSC and SCC had each phase present each year. In Year 15, we grew soybean ( Glycine max ) in each plot, so that soybean replaced corn in CCC and in the CSC phase where soybean grew in Year 14, and took data from soybeans following CCC (14 years of corn), SCC (two years of corn), CSC (one year of corn), and SCS (one year of soybean). Soybean yield and soil health indicators were measured, along with the bulk soil microbiome and soybean root-associated microbiome.Results Soybean yields were significantly higher following CCC than in the other three treatments at both locations. Soil protein as a soil health indicator was also higher following CCC than in the other treatments. Differential abundances of bacterial and fungal taxa were related to yield differences in a site-specific manner. Uncultured bacterial taxa in family JG30-KF-AS9 was enriched in the high-yielding CCC plots in Monmouth, whereas Microvirga , Rhodomicrobium , and Micromonosporaceae were enriched in the low-yielding SCS plots. Members of the fungal phylum Ascomycota were informative in explaining yield differences among treatments mostly as pathogens, but Tumularia , Pyrenochaetopsis and Schizothecium were enriched in the CCC plots, suggesting a role as either corn pathogens or beneficial fungal taxa for soybean. Multivariate analysis associated soil health indicators with the rotation regimes and some of the differentially abundant microbial taxa.Conclusions Our finding of associations between soil health indicators related to soil microbial populations and soybean yield following different cropping sequences has wide-ranging implications, opening the possibility of both monitoring and manipulating soil microbial populations as a way to improve crop yield potential.

scholarly journals Soil properties after 36 years of N fertilization under continuous corn and corn-soybean management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nakian Kim ◽  
Gevan D. Behnke ◽  
María B. Villamil
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Block Design ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Continuous Corn

Abstract. Modern agricultural systems rely on inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilization to enhance crop yields, but its overuse may negatively affect soil properties. Our objective was to investigate the effect of long-term N fertilization on key soil properties under continuous corn [Zea mays L.] (CCC) and both the corn (Cs) and soybean [Glycine max L. Merr.] (Sc) phases of a corn-soybean rotation. Research plots were established in 1981 with treatments arranged as a split-plot design in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot was crop rotation (CCC, Cs, and Sc), and the subplots were N fertilizer rates of 0 kg N ha−1 (N0, controls), and 202 kg N ha−1, and 269 kg N ha−1 (N202, and N269, respectively). After 36 years and within the CCC, the yearly addition of N269 compared to unfertilized controls significantly increased cation exchange capacity (CEC, 65 % higher under N269) and acidified the top 15 cm of the soil (pH 4.8 vs. pH 6.5). Soil organic matter (SOM) and total carbon stocks (TCs) were not affected by treatments, yet water aggregate stability (WAS) decreased by 6.7 % within the soybean phase of the CS rotation compared to CCC. Soil bulk density (BD) decreased with increased fertilization by 5 % from N0 to N269. Although ammonium (NH4+) did not differ by treatments, nitrate (NO3−) increased eight-fold with N269 compared to N0, implying increased nitrification. Soils of unfertilized controls under CCC have over twice the available phosphorus level (P) and 40 % more potassium (K) than the soils of fertilized plots (N202 and N269). On average, corn yields increased 60 % with N fertilization compared to N0. Likewise, under N0, rotated corn yielded 45 % more than CCC; the addition of N (N202 and N269) decreased the crop rotation benefit to 17 %. Our results indicated that due to the increased level of corn residues returned to the soil in fertilized systems, long-term N fertilization improved WAS and BD, yet not SOM, at the cost of significant soil acidification and greater risk of N leaching and increased nitrous oxide emissions.

scholarly journals The influence of fertilisation and crop rotation on soil microbial characteristics in the long-term field experiment

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Mikanová ◽  
M. Friedlová ◽  
T. Šimon
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Urease Activity ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Microbial Characteristics ◽  
Rotation Field ◽  
Term Field

Soils were sampled from the plots with four variants of fertilisation: Nil – without fertilisation, NPK – mineral fertilisation, FYM – farmyard manure, FYM + NPK – farmyard manure with mineral fertilisation, and two variants of crop rotation: field IV – classical 9-year crop rotation, field B – 2-year rotation of alternative growing. Determination of urease, CFU of <I>Azotobacter</I> spp. and potential nitrogenase activity was conducted during the period 1999–2004. The urease activity was positively affected by manure fertilisation (FYM) and by the combination of FYM + NPK. The statistically significantly highest counts of <I>Azotobacter</I> spp. and the highest nitrogenase activity were determined on field B in variants FYM and FYM + NPK. The results show that there was a higher amount of accessible nitrogen present on field IV than on field B. This might explain the lower counts of <I>Azotobacter</I> spp. and therefore the lower nitrogenase activity. According to our results, activity of urease, CFU of <I>Azotobacter</I> spp. and potential nitrogenase activity are very closely connected with N inputs.

Long–term effect of crop rotation and nutrient management on soil–plant nutrient cycling and nutrient budgeting in Indo–Gangetic plains of India

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (14) ◽  
pp. 2007-2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madasur Subbabhat Venkatesh ◽  
Kali Krishna Hazra ◽  
Probir Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Bhisham Lal Khuswah ◽  
Arakalagud Nanjundaiah Ganeshamurthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Plant Nutrient ◽  
Gangetic Plains ◽  
Long Term Effect

Organic matter additions to soil and effects on microbially mediated carbon cycling

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel hasler ◽  
Mark pawlett ◽  
Jim harris ◽  
Helen bostock ◽  
Marc redmile-gordon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Carbon Cycling ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Soil Microbial Community ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Horse Manure ◽  
Soil Microbial Community Composition

&lt;p&gt;The type of soil organic amendment selected can have profound implications for carbon cycling processes in soils. Understanding the link between this choice and its effect on the soil microbiome will improve our understanding of the capacity of these materials to improve carbon sequestration and cycling dynamics. Understanding and facilitating the lifestyle strategies of microorganisms processing organic matter is essential to improving our understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle. This research focuses on utilising organic amendments to alter the indigenous soil microbial community composition and function to improve the capacity of the soil to cycle and store carbon in horticultural soils. &amp;#160;The effects of annual application of various organic fertilisers (peat, bracken, bark, horse manure, garden compost) in a long-term (10year) field experiment were explored. Sampling was completed pre and post application of organic matter within one season (following 10 years of applications) to identify which organic amendment was more effective in producing benefits to plants through improved soil organic matter and which amendments provide the greatest legacy effect on carbon cycling. The response of the soil microbial community composition (phospholipid fatty acid analysis) and carbon functional cycling dynamics (respiration using MicroResp&amp;#8482;) were determined with a view to improving our understanding of the interaction between the materials applied and microbial processes. PCA of the MicroResp&amp;#8482; data identified that all treatments had a different functional profile compared to the control[PM1]&amp;#160; with peat being significantly different from all other treatments. Horse manure and bark differed significantly within a single growing season; prior and post organic matter addition in spring 2019. &amp;#160;Microbial biomass measurements for garden compost and horse manure were significantly higher following organic matter addition compared to all other treatments and the control[PM2]&amp;#160;.&amp;#160; All treatments had a significant effect [PM3]&amp;#160;on hot water extractable carbon and total carbon. Peat had a significantly different effect[PM4]&amp;#160;, when compared to other treatments, on the soil PLFA profile and bark application significantly increased [PM5]&amp;#160;the neutral lipid (NLFA) biomarker 16:1&amp;#969;5. &amp;#160;Bark and horse manure application both significantly increased PLFA fungal biomarker 18:2&amp;#969;6,9. No significant differences were found between the fungal/bacterial ratios of the organic matter additions prior to being added to the soil. These findings show that altering the resources available to the soil microbial community has a significant impact on soil microbial community composition and microbially mediated carbon cycling functionality. Increasing our understanding of how soil functions are altered by land management decisions will enable better informed predictions of the long-term benefits of organic matter applications on carbon sequestration and cycling dynamics.&lt;/p&gt;

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