Article
Microbiology
Zineb Rchiad, Mulan Dai, Chantal Hamel, Luke D. Bainard, Barbara J. Cade-Menun, Yves Terrat, Marc St-Arnaud, Mohamed Hijri
Summary: This study investigates the composition and functions of microbial communities in agricultural soils of a semiarid agroecosystem, and their relationship with soil depth and physicochemical properties. The results show significant effects of soil depth on microbial community composition and functions, with the middle soil depth exhibiting higher taxonomic diversity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Haiming Tang, Yilan Xu, Chao Li, Lihong Shi, Li Wen, Weiyan Li, Kaikai Cheng, Xiaoping Xiao
Summary: The long-term fertilizer management systems have a significant impact on soil microbial biomass turnover in paddy fields, and the combined application of crop residue and organic manure with inorganic fertilizer management is beneficial for increasing soil nutrients and rice yield.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lingling Chen, Hongbin Xu, Siyu Wu, Taogetao Baoyin
Summary: This study found that moderate grazing has negative impacts on the richness and diversity of soil microbial communities, as well as weakening community interactions, with more stability observed in bacterial communities than fungal communities. Changes in aboveground plant biomass and soil properties had a significant influence on soil bacterial communities, while plant nitrogen content, soil NO3--N, and NO3/NH4 ratio were the main influencers of fungal communities. The composition of plant communities played a key role in driving the composition of fungal communities.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chun-Hui Ma, Xing-Hai Hao, Feng-Cai He, Tao-Getao Baoyin, Jue-Jie Yang, Shi-Kui Dong
Summary: This study examined the impact of seasonal grazing on plant and soil microbial diversity in typical temperate grassland. The results showed that seasonal grazing increased aboveground plant biomass and changed the composition and biomass of dominant vegetation. Continuous grazing significantly increased the Margalef richness index of plant community. There was no significant change in soil bacterial, archaeal and fungal diversity between no-grazing and grazing plots, but soil fungi and archaea diversity were higher in certain grazing plots. This study suggests that seasonal grazing is a sustainable management strategy for maintaining typical grassland plant and soil microbial diversity in northern China.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Hao Yu, Ye Deng, Zhili He, Elise Pendall, Yolima Carrillo, Shang Wang, Decai Jin, Liyou Wu, Aijie Wang, Ying Xu, Baoyong Liu, Xin Tai, Jizhong Zhou
Summary: This study found that eCO2 and irrigation treatments significantly impacted the functional composition and structure of soil microbial communities, leading to increased functional diversity and stimulation of key functional genes involved in carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycling in the soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Liu, Liping Qiu, Chunliang Chen, Mengying Wang, Xiaorong Wei, Weibo Kong, Jimin Cheng
Summary: Land-use changes through grazing exclusion (GE) or grassland afforestation (GA) can have different effects on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics in semiarid ecosystems. This study investigated the seasonal patterns of soil N mineralization rates and mineral N contents in a hilly grassland on the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that GE decreased N mineralization rates but increased mineral N contents, while GA had no effect on these metrics. The effects of GE were influenced by topographic positions and soil layers, with greater increases in mineral N on the north slope and at 0-10 cm soil depth.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Aiai Xu, Jie Liu, Zhiying Guo, Changkun Wang, Kai Pan, Fangfang Zhang, Xianzhang Pan
Summary: The study found that various land uses and environmental conditions have different effects on the assembly processes and determinants of soil microbial communities. Predicting the responses of soil microbes to environmental changes requires considering the characteristics of different terrains.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Dayanne Camelo, Jose Carlos Batista Dubeux, Mercia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos, Mario Andrade Lira, Giselle Gomes Monteiro Fracetto, Felipe Jose Cury Fracetto, Marcio Vieira da Cunha, Erinaldo Viana de Freitas
Summary: Vegetation cover impacts soil organic matter and soil microorganism activity; Intercropping forage cactus with tree legumes in semi-arid tropics in Brazil enhances soil microbial biomass and organic matter.
Article
Microbiology
Yongkuan Chi, Shuzhen Song, Kangning Xiong, Gadah Albasher, Jinzhong Fang
Summary: Different utilization patterns can affect the soil microbial biomass, microbial entropy, and soil-microorganism stoichiometry imbalance in artificial grassland. This study investigated the responses of soil microbial biomass, microbial entropy, and soil-microorganism stoichiometry imbalance to different utilization patterns in a karst rocky desertification control area. The results showed that grazing grassland had the highest microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen, while enclosed grassland had the highest microbial biomass phosphorus. The study also found that different utilization patterns affected the stoichiometry imbalance in the grassland soil. C:N-imb, C:P-imb, and C:P in the soil had the most significant effect on microbial entropy.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Michaela K. Reay, Karina A. Marsden, Sarah Powell, Leonardo Mena Rivera, David R. Chadwick, Davey L. Jones, Richard P. Evershed
Summary: Urine patches in grazed systems are important for nitrogen cycling, and this study provides evidence that direct assimilation of urine-derived nitrogen into microbial organic nitrogen pools is a key process for retaining nitrogen and supporting plant nitrogen supply. The study used 15N-labelled sheep urine and soil mesocosms to investigate the fate of urinary nitrogen, with results showing that leaching losses decreased over time while uptake into plant biomass and microbial biosynthesis increased. Compound-specific 15N-stable isotope probing revealed that immobilisation of urinary nitrogen following mineralisation was the dominant pathway for biosynthesis.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Zhenyin Bai, Aomei Jia, Zhenjian Bai, Shanmin Qu, Meng Zhang, Linghang Kong, Renhao Sun, Mingjun Wang
Summary: The study found that the arrangement of PV panels has a significant impact on grassland plant species diversity and soil microbial diversity. In particular, PV panels at the front edge can increase the total aboveground productivity and plant diversity of grasslands, while also changing the diversity of soil bacteria and fungi.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yun-Duo Zhao, Xia Hu
Summary: The freeze-thaw process affects microbial communities in alpine soils, but the microbial responses to seasonal freeze-thaw processes in deep soil have been neglected under climate change. This study collected microbial samples from three alpine meadows on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during four seasonal freeze-thaw periods and determined the taxa and biomass of living microbes. The results showed that the microbial biomass varied among different seasonal freeze-thaw periods and soil depths, and the main controlling factors were soil temperature, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lingfei Yu, Wenjuan Sun, Yao Huang
Summary: Grazing exclusion has positive effects on plant and topsoil carbon accumulation, but its effects may change due to altered soil water conditions under climate change.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ning Chen, Xianyue Li, Haibin Shi, Qi Hu, Yuehong Zhang, Xu Leng
Summary: The study found that there were no significant differences in soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, soil enzymes, etc. between biodegradable film mulching and plastic film mulching in the early stage of crop growth, but these values were significantly lower under biodegradable film mulching in the middle stage. The analysis of different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer application levels showed that BM22.5, 280 exhibited the highest crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jiahua Zheng, Qi Wang, Shaoyu Li, Bin Zhang, Feng Zhang, Tianqi Zhao, Jirong Qiao, Mengli Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different mowing intensities on soil bacterial community composition in a typical grassland in Inner Mongolia. The results showed that moderate and heavy mowing significantly altered the overall structure of bacterial communities, while light mowing had minimal impact on bacterial community diversity. Soil organic carbon was identified as the most important factor driving changes in bacterial community assembly induced by mowing. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how bacterial communities support the long-term health of grassland ecosystems.
Article
Soil Science
He Zhang, Aurore Degre, Caroline De Clerck, Shuangshuang Li, Jinshan Lian, Yuanyuan Peng, Tao Sun, Lindan Luo, Yanan Yue, Guihua Li, Jianfeng Zhang
Summary: The continuous expansion of sandy soil poses a threat to crop security. The use of chitin-rich organic material and attapulgite as soil amendments can improve degraded soil by increasing nutrient content and enzyme activity and altering bacterial community structure. This study provides insights into the link between soil properties, bacterial community structure, and microbial carbon metabolism function.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xian Zhou, Yi Jiang, Ganghua Leng, Wanting Ling, Jian Wang
Summary: Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) residues have significant impacts on soil pollution remediation. The addition of exogenous functional microbial consortium and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) can promote the degradation of bound PAH residues. This study fills the cognitive gap of GRSP in regulating the degradation of bound PAH residues in soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Soil Science
Xinyu Zhao, Evrim Elcin, Lizhi He, Meththika Vithanage, Xiaokai Zhang, Jie Wang, Shuo Wang, Yun Deng, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Sabry M. Shaheen, Hailong Wang, Zhenyu Wang
Summary: The increase of cultivated varieties of Chinese herbal remedies, the expansion of cultivation area, and long-term monoculture cropping have led to aggravated problems of soil diseases, yield loss, and quality reduction. Biochar, as a carbon-rich material, has the potential to improve soil quality and alleviate continuous crop obstacles for Chinese herbal remedies.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Editorial Material
Soil Science
Melanie M. Pollierer, Anton Potapov, Andrey Zaitsev
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Yajie Wang, Jiefeng Li, Yongfen Wei, Zhiyi Deng, Xiaodi Hao, Fusheng Li
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of heavy metal pollution caused by coal production on soil microbial ecology in the semi-arid region of Heilongjiang. The results reveal negative correlations between heavy metals and bacterial abundance and diversity. Twelve sensitive bacterial taxa and corresponding models were identified. Water content and total phosphorus were also found to play vital roles in regulating the bacterial community in the soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Sujit Das, Sunanda Biswas, B. Ramakrishnan, T. K. Das, T. J. Purakayastha, B. H. Gawade, Priya Singh, Partha Sarathi Ghorai, Saloni Tripathy, Kanchan Sinha
Summary: This study assessed the impact of conservation agriculture on the biological soil health index in a rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The results showed that zero till direct seeded rice and crop residue incorporation could improve soil organic carbon, enzyme activities, and microbial population. Specifically, the inclusion of mungbean residues and sesbania brown manuring significantly increased the abundance of the nifH gene in the soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xingxiu Huang, Genxing Pan, Lianqing Li, Xuhui Zhang, Hailong Wang, Nanthi Bolan, Bhupinder Pal Singh, Chongjian Ma, Fuwei Liang, Yanjie Chen, Huashou Li
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of using a mixture of biomass waste ash and biochar on soil pH, heavy metal remediation, and plant growth. The results showed that the mixed use could ameliorate soil acidification, reduce absorption of cadmium and lead by plants, and promote plant growth. The special fertilizer prepared from the mixture can be used to promote crop growth and reduce environmental pollution.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Astrid C. H. Jaeger, Martin Hartmann, Rafaela Feola Conz, Johan Six, Emily F. Solly
Summary: This study investigates the effects of tree mortality on soil microbial communities using a mesocosm experiment. The results show that tree death influenced soil microbial abundance and composition, with the potential to affect soil processes in forest ecosystems.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Dane C. Elmquist, Subodh Adhikari, Ina Popova, Sanford D. Eigenbrode
Summary: This study investigated the effects of soil arthropod communities from cereal-based agroecosystems on wheat plant growth and above-belowground interactions. The results showed that wheat grown in soils with arthropod communities had better growth and defense against aphids, compared to wheat grown in soils without arthropod communities.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Lei Wang, Jing Wang, Zhonghou Tang, Jidong Wang, Yongchun Zhang
Summary: This study found that the application of organic fertilizer enhances carbon and phosphorus cycling enzyme activities in soil, reshapes the soil microbial community structure, and regulates the interactions between these crucial indicators through soil organic carbon.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Soil Science
M. Pawlett, N. T. Girkin, L. Deeks, D. L. Evans, R. Sakrabani, P. Masters, K. Garnett, N. Marquez-Grant
Summary: The modern funeral industry faces environmental risks and challenges, and natural burial offers a more sustainable alternative. However, there is a lack of research comparing the risks and benefits of natural burial practices, including groundwater contamination and atmospheric emissions. More scientific research is needed to understand and regulate funeral options, as well as cultural incentives for natural burial.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhongcheng Wang, Jin Zhao, Dan Xiao, Meifeng Chen, Xunyang He
Summary: Root AMF colonization, diversity, and interactions vary with soil depth. Higher soil nutrient levels and root biomass promote colonization but suppress diversity and interactions in the upper soil layer compared to deeper layers.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhiyang Zhang, Shiting Zhang, Riikka Rinnan
Summary: This study revealed the mechanisms behind the effects of dung deposition on soil heterotrophic respiration, providing insights for grassland management and carbon feedback prediction in grazed ecosystems.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Ismail Ibrahim Garba, Graham R. Stirling, A. Marcelle Stirling, Alwyn Williams
Summary: Integrating diverse cover crops into dryland crop-fallow rotations can enhance soil nutrient and water retention, suppress soil-borne pests, and improve soil health. The effects on soil nematode communities are modulated by the functional type and mixture composition of the cover crops. Selecting cover crops with appropriate traits can improve soil health through suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes, promotion of free-living nematodes, and enhancement of soil food web complexity.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Min Li, Chao He, Miao Wei, Junmeng Long, Jingru Wang, Xinrong Yang, Kehan Wang, Xueli He
Summary: In extreme desert environments, black septate endophytes (DSE) can benefit the relict plant Gymnocarpos przewalskii by assisting it to survive and maintain ecosystem stability. The colonization of DSE in the roots of G. przewalskii varies significantly with seasons and sites, with soil properties being a major factor affecting the composition of DSE. Additionally, the functional metabolite composition of DSE strains varies greatly with different drought levels and isolates, indicating the potential complementarity between different strains in helping hosts cope with drought stress.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)