scholarly journals Full-Season Cover Crops and Their Traits That Promote Agroecosystem Services

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 830
Author(s):  
Cameron Wagg ◽  
Aafke van Erk ◽  
Erica Fava ◽  
Louis-Pierre Comeau ◽  
T. Fatima Mitterboeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Rooting Density ◽  
Local Ecosystem ◽  
Selection Of

Non-marketable crops are increasingly being used as a tool to promote agroecosystem services and sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, crops vary greatly in the traits by which they capture resources and influence the local ecosystem. Here we report on the traits and associated soil microbial communities that relate to aboveground biomass production, nutrient capture, weed suppression, erosion control and building particulate organic matter of 22 different full-season cover crops. All agroecosystem services were positively correlated with maximum canopy height and leaf area. Rooting density was positively associated with indices of bacterial diversity. While some legumes produced the greatest standing N and P in aboveground biomass, they were also poor at capturing soil nitrate and promoted high levels of potential plant fungal pathogens. Conversely, Brassicaceae crops had the lowest levels of potential plant fungal pathogens, but also suppressed saprophytic fungi and rhizobia. Thus, not all crops are equal in their ability to promote all agroecosystem services, and while some crops may be ideal for promoting a specific agroecosystem service, this could result in a trade-off with another. Nonetheless, our study demonstrates that plant functional traits are informative for the selection of crops for promoting agroecosystem services.

Microbial community analysis of soils under different soybean cropping regimes in the Argentinean south-eastern Humid Pampas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Fernandez-Gnecco ◽  
Kornelia Smalla ◽  
Lorrie Maccario ◽  
Søren J Sørensen ◽  
Pablo Barbieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Temporal Shift ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
No Till

Abstract Soil microbial communities are key players of ecosystem processes and important for crop and soil health. The Humid Pampas region in Argentina concentrates 75% of the national soybean production, which is based on intensive use of agrochemicals, monocropping and no-till. A long-term field experiment under no-till management in the southeast of the Argentinean Pampas provides a unique opportunity to compare soybean under monocropping with cultivation including alternating cover crops or in a three-phase rotation. We hypothesized that cropping regimes and season affect soil microbial community composition and diversity. Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and internal transcribed spacer fragments showed a stronger microbial seasonal dynamic in conservation regimes compared to monocropping. In addition, several bacterial (e.g. Catenulispora, Streptomyces and Bacillus) and fungal genera (e.g. Exophiala) with cropping regime-dependent differential relative abundances were identified. Despite a temporal shift in microbial and chemical parameters, this study shows that long-term cropping regimes shaped the soil microbiota. This might have important implications for soil quality and soybean performance and should therefore be considered in the development of sustainable agricultural managements.

scholarly journals Seasonal dynamics alters taxonomical and functional microbial profiles in Pampa biome soils under natural grasslands

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Barboza ◽  
Victor S Pylro ◽  
Rodrigo Jacques ◽  
Paulo Gubiani ◽  
Júlio Trindade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Pampa Biome ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Microbial Groups ◽  
Composition Changes ◽  
New Strategies ◽  
Selection Of

Soil microbial communities’ assembly is strongly tied to changes in temperature and moisture. Although microbial functional redundancy seems to overcome taxonomical composition changes, the sensitivity and resilience of soil microbial communities from subtropical regions in response to seasonal variations are still poorly understood. Thus, the development of new strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management require a complete understanding of the soil abiotic process involved in the selection of microbial taxa and functions. In this work, we used state of the art molecular methodologies (Next Generation Sequencing) to compare the taxonomic (metataxonomics) and functional (metatranscriptomics) profiles among soil samples from two subtropical natural grasslands located in the Pampa biome, Brazil, in response to short-term seasonal variations. We found consistent effects of season on both microbial community structure and functions, but with the former being more influenced than the latter. These variations were more related to the oscillation in the relative abundances of specific taxa along seasons, rather than extinction and recolonization of taxa along seasons. In conclusion, the most abundant microbial groups and functions were shared between seasons and locations reflecting the existence of a stable taxonomical and functional core microbiota.

scholarly journals Cover crop-driven shifts in soil microbial communities could modulate tomato early crop growth via plant-soil feedbacks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micaela Tosi ◽  
John Drummelsmith ◽  
Dasiel Obregón ◽  
Inderjot Chahal ◽  
Laura L. Van Eerd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Plant Soil

Abstract Sustainable agricultural practices such as crop diversification, cover crops and residue retention are increasingly applied to counteract detrimental effects of agriculture on natural resources. Since part of their effects occur via changes soil microbial communities, it is critical to understand how these respond to different practices. Our study analyzed five cover crop (cc) treatments (oat, rye, radish, rye-radish mixture and no-cc control) and two crop residue management strategies (retention/R+ or removal/R-) in an 8-year diverse horticultural crop rotation trial from ON, Canada. Cc effects were small but stronger than those of residue management. Radish-based cover crops tended to be the most beneficial for both microbial abundance and richness, yet detrimental for fungal evenness. Cc species, in particular radish, also shaped fungal and, to a lesser extent, prokaryotic community composition. Crop residues modulated cc effects on bacterial abundance and fungal evenness (i.e., more sensitive in R- than R+), as well as microbial taxa. Several microbial structure features, some affected by cc, were correlated with early tomato growth in the following spring (e.g., composition, taxa within Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Ascomycota). Our study suggests that, whereas mid-term cc effects were small, they need to be better understood as they could be influencing crop productivity via plant-soil feedbacks.

scholarly journals Seasonal dynamics alters taxonomical and functional microbial profiles in Pampa biome soils under natural grasslands

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Barboza ◽  
Victor S Pylro ◽  
Rodrigo Jacques ◽  
Paulo Gubiani ◽  
Júlio Trindade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Pampa Biome ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Microbial Groups ◽  
Composition Changes ◽  
New Strategies ◽  
Selection Of

Soil microbial communities’ assembly is strongly tied to changes in temperature and moisture. Although microbial functional redundancy seems to overcome taxonomical composition changes, the sensitivity and resilience of soil microbial communities from subtropical regions in response to seasonal variations are still poorly understood. Thus, the development of new strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management require a complete understanding of the soil abiotic process involved in the selection of microbial taxa and functions. In this work, we used state of the art molecular methodologies (Next Generation Sequencing) to compare the taxonomic (metataxonomics) and functional (metatranscriptomics) profiles among soil samples from two subtropical natural grasslands located in the Pampa biome, Brazil, in response to short-term seasonal variations. We found consistent effects of season on both microbial community structure and functions, but with the former being more influenced than the latter. These variations were more related to the oscillation in the relative abundances of specific taxa along seasons, rather than extinction and recolonization of taxa along seasons. In conclusion, the most abundant microbial groups and functions were shared between seasons and locations reflecting the existence of a stable taxonomical and functional core microbiota.

Functional response of soil microbial communities to tillage, cover crops and nitrogen fertilization

2016 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 147-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie Nivelle ◽  
Julien Verzeaux ◽  
Hazzar Habbib ◽  
Yakov Kuzyakov ◽  
Guillaume Decocq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Functional Response ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Soil Microbial

scholarly journals Effect of fungal, oomycete and nematode interactions on apple root development in replant soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma L. Tilston ◽  
Gregory Deakin ◽  
Julie Bennett ◽  
Thomas Passey ◽  
Nicola Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Development ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Competitive Interactions ◽  
Apple Replant Disease ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Single Organism ◽  
Root Tissues ◽  
Root Lesion Nematodes

Abstract Background Apple replant disease (ARD) is a phenomenon associated with poor tree establishment at sites where the same, or a closely-related species, has grown for at least 1–2 years. No single organism has been identified as the universal causal agent, but there is increasing evidence that multiple soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes form an ARD disease complex. Root damage caused by root lesion nematodes has also been implicated in facilitating the entry of pathogens into root tissues resulting in the development of severe ARD. Methods We used a reductionist approach to determine effects of one or more members of the ARD complex on ARD in a number of selected rootstock genotypes with contrasting characteristics. Through a 15-month pot-based experiment in which semi-selective biocides were applied to soil from a replant orchard, we investigated (1) the nature of the interactions (i.e. antagonistic, additive or synergistic) between different groups of soil biota and ARD severity, and (2) whether rootstock characteristics modify ARD severity. Results There might be competitive interactions between oomycetes and fungal pathogens in infecting apple roots and hence subsequent ARD development. Controlling all three ARD components (oomycetes, fungi, and nematodes) led to the best root development. However, these effects on root development were not manifested in the above-ground tree development 15 months after treatment. Specific soil biocide treatments against fungi and oomycetes led to large changes in soil microbial communities whereas the nematicide treatment led to least changes. In spite of the observed ARD, comparing rhizosphere microbial sequences among treatments failed to reveal candidate pathogens for ARD. Conclusions Candidate ARD oomycetes and fungal pathogens are likely to engage in competitive interactions among themselves in infecting apple roots. Although soil amendments affected soil microbiota, such effects appear to be very unpredictable.

scholarly journals Understanding Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization in Walnut Plantations: The Contribution of Cover Crops and Soil Microbial Communities

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Babacar Thioye ◽  
Marc Legras ◽  
Lisa Castel ◽  
François Hirissou ◽  
Naouel Chaftar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽  
Symbiotic Association ◽  
Soil Microbial

Soil microorganisms play a central role in biological soil functioning. One of the beneficial microbiota that has a symbiotic association with most of the plants is arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of cover crops—widely used in conservation agriculture or organic farming—on native mycorrhizal fungi. This study was conducted in Southern France, in 20-year-old walnut orchards, where faba bean (Vicia faba Roth) was intercropped. To find whether the native AM fungal community associated with walnut trees was influenced by cover crops and soil microbial communities, analyses of soil physicochemical and microbiological indicators were carried out with roots and soil samples collected from four modalities (walnut in conventional farming with and without cover crops, and walnut in organic farming with and without cover crops). Our results showed that the presence of cover crops mainly influenced the soil microbial abundance and activities in conventional plots. In contrast, cover crops stimulated AM fungal colonization of walnut roots in organic plots, reaching 35% and 54% for arbuscule abundance and mycorrhizal intensity, respectively. In conventional plots, ergosterol and mineral nitrogen contents were mainly correlated with mycorrhizal colonization, while only acid phosphatase activity in soil was positively correlated with mycorrhizal colonization in organic plots. The use of the faba bean showed the great role played by cover crops in the enhancement of walnut trees’ mycorrhizal colonization. Identification of the functional traits of AM fungi sensitive to walnut trees is required to inform decisions in specific agricultural practices.

scholarly journals Time of Interseeding of Lana Vetch and Winter Rye Cover Strips Determines Competitive Impact on Pumpkins Grown Using Organic Practices

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1716-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Vanek ◽  
H.C. Wien ◽  
Anu Rangarajan
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Vicia Villosa

Growing a main vegetable crop for harvest and a cover crop for residue return to soil in the same growing season is a promising strategy to sustain soil quality in vegetable rotations. Our research evaluated cover crop strips interseeded between pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo L.) as a way to implement such a strategy. Cover crop types were lana vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa Ten.) and a lana vetch–winter rye (Secale cereale L.) mix, interseeded before, at the same time, or after pumpkins. The competitive impact of different cover crop strips was assessed using pumpkin yield, cover strip biomass, crop nitrogen status, soil nitrate status, and soil water potential. Cover strips were also assessed for competitiveness with native weeds. Seeding date affected the competitiveness of cover strips with pumpkins, while cover type did not. Cover crops seeded before pumpkins or at the same time reduced pumpkin yield in proportion to biomass produced by the cover strips early in pumpkin growth. Cover strips seeded after pumpkins did not reduce yield. Tilling in a before-seeded cover strip at 30 days after pumpkin seeding gave higher pumpkin yield than before-seeded cover strips that were not tilled. At three of four sites, after-seeded cover strips had the lowest percent weed biomass in strips, and at two sites with moderate weed pressure vetch–rye strips were more effective than vetch alone in suppressing weeds. Cover strips seeded before or at the same time as pumpkins reduced pumpkin yield by taking up resources that were otherwise available to pumpkins. At a high-rainfall site, competition for soil nitrate by cover crop strips was the dominant factor in reducing pumpkin yield. At a low-rainfall site, the dominant factor was competition for water. Because of effective weed suppression and lack of pumpkin yield reduction, interseeding vetch–rye strips after pumpkins was a promising practice, as was tilling in preexistent cover strips at an interval <30 days after pumpkin seeding. Good previous weed management and rye–vetch mixes at high seeding rates are necessary to allow interseeded cover strips to outcompete weeds.

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