Articles | Volume 6, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-483-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-483-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
09 Oct 2020
Original research article |
| 09 Oct 2020
| 09 Oct 2020
Development of a soil biological quality index for soils of semi-arid tropics
Selvaraj Aravindh
Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore 641003, India
Chinnappan Chinnadurai
Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore 641003, India
Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore 641003, India
Related subject area
Soil biodiversity and soil health
Biochar promotes soil aggregate stability and associated organic carbon sequestration and regulates microbial community structures in Mollisols from northeast China
Only a minority of bacteria grow after wetting in both natural and post-mining biocrusts in a hyperarid phosphate mine
Lower functional redundancy in “narrow” than “broad” functions in global soil metagenomics
Pairing litter decomposition with microbial community structures using the Tea Bag Index (TBI)
Network complexity of rubber plantations is lower than tropical forests for soil bacteria but not for fungi
Changes in soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities at different soil depths after long-term straw mulching under a no-till system
Microbial communities and their predictive functional profiles in the arid soil of Saudi Arabia
What do we know about how the terrestrial multicellular soil fauna reacts to microplastic?
Soil microbial biomass and function are altered by 12 years of crop rotation
Soil denitrifier community size changes with land use change to perennial bioenergy cropping systems
Knowledge needs, available practices, and future challenges in agricultural soils
Technological advancements and their importance for nematode identification
Fire affects root decomposition, soil food web structure, and carbon flow in tallgrass prairie
Case study of microarthropod communities to assess soil quality in different managed vineyards
A meta-analysis of soil biodiversity impacts on the carbon cycle
Jing Sun, Xinrui Lu, Guoshuang Chen, Nana Luo, Qilin Zhang, and Xiujun Li
SOIL, 9, 261–275, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-261-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-261-2023, 2023
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A field experiment was conducted to compare and analyze the effects of combined application of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer on soil aggregate stability mechanism, the dynamic characteristics of aggregate organic carbon, and the microbial community structure in northeast black soil. We provide a scientific basis for formulating effective strategies to slow down soil quality degradation and ensure the sustainable development of the agroecosystem.
Talia Gabay, Eva Petrova, Osnat Gillor, Yaron Ziv, and Roey Angel
SOIL, 9, 231–242, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-231-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-231-2023, 2023
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This paper evaluates bacterial growth in biocrusts after a large-scale mining disturbance in a hyperarid desert, using a stable isotope probing assay.
We discovered that biocrust bacteria from both natural and post-mining plots resumed photosynthetic activity but did not grow following hydration. Our paper provides insights into the effects of a large-scale disturbance (mining) on biocrusts and their response to hydration, with implications for biocrust restoration practices in Zin mines.
Huaihai Chen, Kayan Ma, Yu Huang, Qi Fu, Yingbo Qiu, Jiajiang Lin, Christopher W. Schadt, and Hao Chen
SOIL, 8, 297–308, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-297-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-297-2022, 2022
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By analyzing and generalizing microbial taxonomic and functional profiles, we provide strong evidence that the degree of soil microbial functional redundancy differs significantly between “broad” and “narrow” functions across the globe. Future sequencing efforts will likely increase our confidence in comparative metagenomes and provide time-series information to further identify to what extent microbial functional redundancy regulates dynamic ecological fluxes across space and time.
Anne Daebeler, Eva Petrová, Elena Kinz, Susanne Grausenburger, Helene Berthold, Taru Sandén, Roey Angel, and the high-school students of biology project groups I, II, and
III from 2018–2019
SOIL, 8, 163–176, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-163-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-163-2022, 2022
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In this citizen science project, we combined a standardised litter bag method (Tea Bag Index) with microbiome analysis of bacteria and fungi colonising the teabags to gain a holistic understanding of the carbon degradation dynamics in temperate European soils. Our method focuses only on the active part of the soil microbiome. The results show that about one-third of the prokaryotes and one-fifth of the fungal species (ASVs) in the soil were enriched in response to the presence of fresh OM.
Guoyu Lan, Chuan Yang, Zhixiang Wu, Rui Sun, Bangqian Chen, and Xicai Zhang
SOIL, 8, 149–161, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-149-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-8-149-2022, 2022
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Forest conversion alters both bacterial and fungal soil networks: it reduces bacterial network complexity and enhances fungal network complexity. This is because forest conversion changes the soil pH and other soil properties, which alters the bacterial composition and subsequent network structure. Our study demonstrates the impact of forest conversion on soil network structure, which has important implications for ecosystem functions and the health of soil ecosystems in tropical regions.
Zijun Zhou, Zengqiang Li, Kun Chen, Zhaoming Chen, Xiangzhong Zeng, Hua Yu, Song Guo, Yuxian Shangguan, Qingrui Chen, Hongzhu Fan, Shihua Tu, Mingjiang He, and Yusheng Qin
SOIL, 7, 595–609, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-595-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-595-2021, 2021
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Straw mulching is not always combined with no-till systems during conservation tillage. We explored the effects of long-term straw mulching on soil attributes with soil depths under a no-till system. Compared to straw removal, straw mulching had various effects on soil properties at different depths, the biggest difference occurring at the topsoil depth. Overall, straw mulch is highly recommended for use under the no-till system because of its benefits to soil fertility and bacterial abundance.
Munawwar A. Khan and Shams T. Khan
SOIL, 6, 513–521, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-513-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-513-2020, 2020
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Soil is a renewable resource for purposes ranging from agriculture to mineralization. Soil microbiome plays vital roles in facilitating process like providing nutrients to plants, or their mobilization for plant uptake, consequently improving plant growth and productivity. Therefore, understanding of these microbial communities and their role in soil is crucial for exploring the possibility of using microbial community inoculants for improving desert soil fertility and agricultural potential.
Frederick Büks, Nicolette Loes van Schaik, and Martin Kaupenjohann
SOIL, 6, 245–267, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-245-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-245-2020, 2020
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Via anthropogenic input, microplastics (MPs) today represent a part of the soil organic matter. We analyzed studies on passive translocation, active ingestion, bioaccumulation and adverse effects of MPs on multicellular soil faunal life. These studies on a wide range of soil organisms found a recurring pattern of adverse effects on motility, growth, metabolism, reproduction, mortality and gut microbiome. However, the shape and type of the experimental MP often did not match natural conditions.
Marshall D. McDaniel and A. Stuart Grandy
SOIL, 2, 583–599, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-583-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-583-2016, 2016
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Modern agriculture is dominated by monoculture crop production, having negative effects on soil biology. We used a 12-year crop rotation experiment to examine the effects of increasing crop diversity on soil microorganisms and their activity. Crop rotations increased microbial biomass by up to 112 %, and increased potential ability to supply nitrogen as much as 58 %, compared to monoculture corn. Collectively, our findings show that soil health is increased when crop diversity is increased.
Karen A. Thompson, Bill Deen, and Kari E. Dunfield
SOIL, 2, 523–535, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-523-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-523-2016, 2016
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Dedicated bioenergy crops are required for future energy production; however the effects of land use change from traditional crops to biofuel crops on soil microbial communities, which drive greenhouse gas production, are largely unknown. We used quantitative PCR to enumerate these microbial communities to assess the sustainability of different bioenergy crops, including miscanthus and corn. We found that miscanthus may be a suitable crop for bioenergy production in variable Ontario conditions.
Georgina Key, Mike G. Whitfield, Julia Cooper, Franciska T. De Vries, Martin Collison, Thanasis Dedousis, Richard Heathcote, Brendan Roth, Shamal Mohammed, Andrew Molyneux, Wim H. Van der Putten, Lynn V. Dicks, William J. Sutherland, and Richard D. Bardgett
SOIL, 2, 511–521, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-511-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-511-2016, 2016
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Enhancing soil health is key to providing ecosystem services and food security. There are often trade-offs to using a particular practice, or it is not fully understood. This work aimed to identify practices beneficial to soil health and gaps in our knowledge. We reviewed existing research on agricultural practices and an expert panel assessed their effectiveness. The three most beneficial practices used a mix of organic or inorganic material, cover crops, or crop rotations.
Mohammed Ahmed, Melanie Sapp, Thomas Prior, Gerrit Karssen, and Matthew Alan Back
SOIL, 2, 257–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-257-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-257-2016, 2016
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This review covers the history and advances made in the area of nematode taxonomy. It highlights the success and limitations of the classical approach to nematode taxonomy and provides reader with a bit of background to the applications of protein and DNA-based methods for identification nematodes. The review also outlines the pros and cons of the use of DNA barcoding in nematology and explains how DNA metabarcoding has been applied in nematology through next-generation sequencing.
E. Ashley Shaw, Karolien Denef, Cecilia Milano de Tomasel, M. Francesca Cotrufo, and Diana H. Wall
SOIL, 2, 199–210, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-199-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-199-2016, 2016
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We investigated fire's effects on root decomposition and carbon (C) flow to the soil food web. We used 13C-labeled dead roots buried in microcosms constructed from two burn treatment soils (annual and infrequent burn). Our results showed greater root decomposition and C flow to the soil food web for the annual burn compared to infrequent burn treatment. Thus, roots are a more important C source for decomposers in annually burned areas where surface plant litter is frequently removed by fire.
E. Gagnarli, D. Goggioli, F. Tarchi, S. Guidi, R. Nannelli, N. Vignozzi, G. Valboa, M. R. Lottero, L. Corino, and S. Simoni
SOIL, 1, 527–536, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-527-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-527-2015, 2015
M.-A. de Graaff, J. Adkins, P. Kardol, and H. L. Throop
SOIL, 1, 257–271, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-257-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-257-2015, 2015
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Short summary
Soil quality is important for functioning of the agricultural ecosystem to sustain productivity. It is combination of several physical, chemical, and biological attributes. In the present work, we developed a soil biological quality index, a sub-set of the soil quality index (SBQI) using six important biological variables. These variables were computed from long-term manurial experimental soils and transformed into a unitless 10-scaled SBQI. This will provide constraints of soil processes.
Soil quality is important for functioning of the agricultural ecosystem to sustain productivity....
