Linking diagnostic features to soil microbial biomass and respiration in agricultural grassland soil: a large‐scale study in Ireland

Abstract

The functional potential of soil ecosystems can be predicted from the activity and abundance of the microbial community in relation to key soil properties. When describing microbial community dynamics, soil physicochemical properties have traditionally been used. The extent of correlations between properties, however, differs between studies, especially across larger spatial scales. In this research we analysed soil microbial biomass and substrate‐induced respiration of 156 samples from Irish grasslands. In addition to the standard physicochemical, soil type and land management variables, soil diagnostic properties were included to identify if these important soil–landscape genesis classes affected microbial biomass and respiration dynamics in Irish soil. Apart from physicochemical properties, soil drainage class was identified as having an important effect on microbial properties. In particular, biomass‐specific basal (qCO2) and substrate‐induced respiration (SIR:CFE) were explained best by the soil drainage. Poorly drained soil had smaller values of these respiration measures than well‐drained soil. We concluded that this resulted from different groups within the microbial community that could use readily available carbon sources, which suggests a change in microbial community dynamics associated with soil texture and periods of water stress. Overall, our results indicate that soil quality assessments should include both physicochemical properties and diagnostic classes, to provide a better understanding of the behaviour of soil microbial communities. Highlights Assessing the effect of soil diagnostic features and properties on microbial biomass and respiration A soil biological survey from 156 grassland sites in Ireland Soil drainage class has an important effect on microbial properties Soil quality assessments should include both physicochemical properties and diagnostic classes

The response of soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial respiration to different land use types: A case of areas in Central-North Hungary region

“…It is well known that Mg 2+ , together with other base cations, is an important soil nutrient that greatly influences the soil microbial population and their activity since it is required for microbial growth and protein synthesis (RUTGERS et al, 2009). The finding of a strong positive correlation between SMR and Mg 2+ was also detected by RICHTER et al (2018), who assessed the effect of diagnostic features, land use, and soil type on microbial biomass and microbial indices in Irish grassland. This study also found a positive correlation of K2O with SMR (r = 0.58; p < 0.05).…”

Mapping Soil Biodiversity in Europe and the Netherlands

“…For soil pH, an optimum was assumed at a pH(H 2 O) of 6.5 [36,51,52]. For clay content, an optimum was assumed at 25% clay particles, as lower values show a decrease in fertility and microbial biomass [53], and higher values may lead to anaerobic conditions [54]. For bacterial functional diversity, 1-hillslope from the community-level physiological profile determined in Biolog plates-was used as a measure for richness [47].…”

“…Difference between predicted and observed values (expressed in fractions) for 11 biological attributes in 49 soil samples of the Province Noord-Brabant[54]). …”

Influencia de diferentes intensidades de pastoreo, estrés hídrico y contenido de nutrientes sobre los microorganismos del suelo en Patagonia sur

“…Chilena (Dube et al, 2009), pastizales de toda Irlanda (Richter et al, 2018), ecosistemas arbóreo de suelos arenosos (Lee y Jose, 2003) y la misma tendencia de correlación para pastizales templados (Cui y Holden, 2015). Estas relaciones observadas afirman la idea de que el C orgánico es de vital importancia para los microorganismos del suelo y su dependencia como fuente de recurso para la biota edáfica en diferentes ecosistemas.…”

“…Observamos que las mayores coberturas vegetales y precipitaciones en el sitio de la EMH se acompañaron con valores superiores de carbono orgánico del suelo, el cual es de vital importancia como fuente de recurso para la biota edáfica (Lauber et al, 2008;Richter et al 2018). Además, en las distintas áreas ecológicas, la respuesta positiva de la RBS fue atribuida al C-BM del suelo.…”