Do tree-based intercropping systems increase the diversity and stability of soil microbial communities?

Plant: soil interactions in temperate multi-cropping production systems

“…In contrast to bacteria, AM fungi were found to be more affected by host plant abundance and diversity, rather than soil chemical properties (Bainard et al 2012), apart from nutrient availability (Lacombe et al 2009). Strong host specificity amongst mycorrhizal fungi leads to distinct plant-specific fungal communities, with some species exclusively associated with arbuscular, ecto-, or ectoendo-mycorrhizal fungi (Bever et al 2010;Bainard et al 2011b).…”

“…In contrast, Zhang et al (2010a) found highest species richness of bacteria in monocultures and not in faba bean-maize intercrops. Within some agroforestry systems, compared to conventional arable fields, significantly greater Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria ratios were found, including beneficial actinomycetes, which are important decomposers and antibiotic producers (Lacombe et al 2009). …”

“…Most studies on AMF in multi-cropping circumstances have focussed on alley cropping designs. The inclusion of tree species can alter microbial communities by modifying the microclimate within the cropping alleys, improving soil structural stability via roots and extraradical mycelium networks and different organic matter inputs, and by nature of the more heterogeneous vegetation cover can affect soil chemical and nutritional properties, via patchier distribution of leaf litter and root networks (Chifflot et al 2009;Lacombe et al 2009;Bainard et al 2011a).…”

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

“…Benefits include increased soil organic C and greater C sequestration (Thevathasan and Gordon 2004;Peichl et al 2006;Oelbermann and Voroney 2011); reduced leaching of water contaminants including nitrate and E. coli (Thevathasan and Gordon 2004;Dougherty et al 2009;Bergeron et al 2011); reduced N 2 O emissions (Beaudette et al 2010); enhancement, diversification and stabilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi populations (Chifflot et al 2009;Lacombe et al 2009;Bainard et al 2012); and augmentation of earthworm, bird and insect populations (Thevathasan and Gordon 2004). Some of these effects have been observed in relatively young agroforestry systems, only 5 to 8 yr old.…”

Comparative study of microbial community structure in different filter media of constructed wetland

“…Media characteristics such as pH and water content are expected to control microbial community composition (Bååth and Anderson, 2003;Drenovsky et al, 2004). But it is difficult to correlate PLFA profiles to any of the media characteristics perhaps due to the implicitly confounding nature of PLFA data, as different microbial groups share common fatty acids (Lacombe et al, 2009). Steel slag was especially different from other media.…”