Spatial variation of soil enzyme activities and microbial functional diversity in temperate alley cropping systems

Mungai, Nancy W.; Motavalli, Peter P.; Kremer, Robert J.; Nelson, Kelly A.

doi:10.1007/s00374-005-0005-1

Cited by 85 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…For example, the activities of soil catalase and alkaline phosphatase are highly correlated with the soil microbial biomass [47]. Mungai et al concluded that SMC functional diversity had decisive effects on soil enzyme activity [48]. Soil invertase was associated with both soil microbial biomass and the soil microbial population [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Continuous Tomato Monoculture on Soil Microbial Properties and Enzyme Activities in a Solar Greenhouse

Zhang

Fan

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Soil-related obstacles resulting from continuous monoculture have limited the sustainable development of the tomato industry in China. An experiment on tomatoes with seven continuous monoculture treatments (the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th crops, respectively) was conducted in a solar greenhouse, to investigate the influence of monoculture on soil quality. Most soil quality indicators first increased and then decreased with increasing continuous monoculture crops, and significant differences among crops were observed. Indicators at the 13th crop were significantly lower than those at the other crops in terms of average well color development (AWCD), substrate richness (S), the Shannon diversity index (H), and the McIntosh index (U) of the soil microbial community (SMC), soil urease (UR), and neutral phosphatase (N-PHO) activities, and available nitrogen (AN) and potassium (AK). However, fungal abundance (FUN) at the 13th crop was significantly higher than that at the other crops. As principal component analysis (PCA) revealed, SMC functional diversity at the 1st, 11th, and 13th crops were similar, and were obviously distinguished from those at the other crops. Moreover, the tomato yield was significantly and positively correlated with soil-available potassium and SMC functional diversity indexes. Our findings indicated that short-term continuous monoculture, e.g., for fewer than seven or nine crops, was beneficial for soil quality improvement. However, continuous monoculture for greater than 11 crops had adverse effects on soil enzyme activities, soil microbial abundances, soil chemical properties, soil SMC functional diversity, and the tomato yield, particularly at the 13th crop.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Continuous Tomato Monoculture on Soil Microbial Properties and Enzyme Activities in a Solar Greenhouse

Zhang

Fan

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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“…Compared to agricultural systems, TBI systems have lower crop yields and less biomass in unharvested crop components, i.e., crop residues and fine roots that act as a source of quickly decomposing C substrates and promote microbial activity [10]. Fine roots could be important for building soil C stocks in the 0-30-cm depth increment of the agricultural system and intercropped area of TBI systems, since more than 95% of crop fine roots are found within the 0-35-cm soil depth increment of these study sites [17].…”

Section: Soil C and N Stocksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Litterfall from trees, as well as the unharvested part of the crop, i.e., intercrop residues, are a source of quickly decomposing C substrates that promote microbial activity and contribute to soil C storage in TBI systems [10,11]. Trees are expected to grow large enough, such that they begin to shade the inter-row area for part of the day, depending on tree spacing and growth habit, reducing evapotranspiration and keeping the soil surface cooler, which would slow decomposition in the topsoil and, thus, reduce CO 2 loss from the system [10,11]. However, light required for crop growth may also be intercepted, thus reducing crop yield.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Carbon Stocks in Two Hybrid Poplar-Hay Crop Systems in Southern Quebec, Canada

Winans

Whalen

Cogliastro

et al. 2014

Forests

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Tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems, consisting of a medium to fast-growing woody species planted in widely-spaced rows with crops cultivated between tree rows, are a potential sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). TBI systems contribute to farm income in the long-term by improving soil quality, as indicated by soil carbon (C) storage, generating profits from crop plus tree production and potentially through C credit trading. The objectives of the current study were: (1) to evaluate soil C and nitrogen (N) stocks in soil depth increments in the 0-30 cm layer between tree rows of nine-year old hybrid poplar-hay intercropping systems, to compare these to C and N stocks in adjacent agricultural systems; and (2) to determine how hay yield, litterfall and percent total light transmittance (PTLT) were related to soil C and N stocks between tree rows and in adjacent agricultural systems. The two TBI study sites (St. Edouard and St. Paulin) had a hay intercrop with alternating rows of hybrid poplar clones and hardwoods and included an adjacent agricultural system with no trees (i.e., the control plots). Soil C and N stocks were greater in the 0-5 cm depth increment of the TBI system within 1 m of the hardwood row, to the west of the poplar row, compared to the sampling point 1 m east of poplar at St. Edouard (p = 0.02). However, the agricultural system stored more soil C than the OPEN ACCESSForests 2014, 5 1953 nine-year old TBI system in the 20-30 cm and 0-30 cm depth increments. Accumulation of soil C in the 20-30 cm depth increment could be due to tillage-induced burial of non-harvested crop residues at the bottom of the plow-pan. Soil C and N stocks were similar at all depth increments in TBI and agricultural systems at St. Paulin. Soil C and N stocks were not related to hay yield, litterfall and PTLT at St. Paulin, but hay yield and PTLT were significantly correlated (R = 0.87, p < 0.05, n = 21), with lower hay yield in proximity to trees in the TBI system and similar hay yields in the middle of alleys as in the agricultural system. Nine years of TBI practices did not produce significant gains in soil C and N stocks in the 0-30 cm layer, indicating that the total C budget, including C sequestered in trees and unharvested components (litterfall and roots), must be assessed to determine the long-term profitability of TBI systems in Canada.

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“…L'apport au sol de matière organique provenant des arbres entraîne généralement une augmentation de la biomasse microbienne (Seiter et al 1999 ;Lee et Jose 2003 ;Wojewoda et Russel 2003), de l'activité enzymatique (Mungai et al 2005) et des populations d'invertébrés (Park et al 1994), notamment de vers de terre (Price et Gordon 1999) qui contribuent à diminuer la densité apparente du sol et à augmenter la minéralisation des éléments nutritifs. Dans un système pacanier -cotonnier de 47 ans, Lee et Jose (2003) ont mis en évidence une augmentation de 130 % de la biomasse microbienne par rapport à une monoculture du cotonnier, de même que de 61 % de sa respiration, ce qui se traduit par une amélioration de la qualité du sol.…”

Section: Les Bénéfices Environnementaux Des Systèmes De Cultures Inteunclassified

“…Dans un système pacanier -cotonnier de 47 ans, Lee et Jose (2003) ont mis en évidence une augmentation de 130 % de la biomasse microbienne par rapport à une monoculture du cotonnier, de même que de 61 % de sa respiration, ce qui se traduit par une amélioration de la qualité du sol. C'est généralement dans la zone située à proximité des rangées d'arbres que les paramètres physico-chimiques et biologiques qui caractérisent la fertilité des sols se trouvent particulièrement améliorés (Park et al 1994, Browaldh 1995, Thevathasan et Gordon 1997, Price et Gordon 1999, Seiter et al 1999, Mungai et al 2005.…”

Section: Les Bénéfices Environnementaux Des Systèmes De Cultures Inteunclassified

Cultures intercalaires avec arbres feuillus : quel potentiel pour le Québec?

Rivest¹,

Olivier²

2007

The Forestry Chronicle

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RÉSUMÉLa plantation de feuillus représente une bonne opportunité pour intensifier la production de bois de qualité. En l'absence de revenus à court terme, ses bénéfices paraissent toutefois incertains pour les propriétaires privés. Les systèmes de cultures intercalaires (SCI), qui suscitent un intérêt croissant dans plusieurs pays tempérés, constituent une avenue à explorer pour dynamiser la plantation de feuillus et maximiser sa rentabilité, notamment dans l'écozone des plaines à forêts mixtes du Québec. Les résultats d'études récentes démontrent que les cultures intercalaires ne nuisent généralement pas à la croissance des arbres et peuvent même dans certains cas l'améliorer. En plus de présenter de multiples atouts environnementaux, notamment en ce qui concerne la fertilité des sols, la biodiversité et le paysage, les SCI s'avèrent souvent plus rentables que les systèmes conventionnels de plantation forestière. En revanche, les arbres peuvent entrer en concurrence avec les cultures pour la lumière, l'eau et les éléments minéraux, diminuant la productivité agricole. L'itinéraire technique propre aux SCI permet toutefois de maîtriser en partie cette compétition. Les perspectives de développement des SCI sont discutées dans le contexte biophysique et socio-économique propre à l'écozone des plaines à forêts mixtes du Québec.Mots clés : bénéfices environnementaux, bois de qualité, compétition pour les ressources, croissance des arbres, écozone des plaines à forêts mixtes, itinéraire technique, plantation de feuillus, productivité des cultures, rentabilité, systèmes de cultures intercalaires ABSTRACTHardwood plantations constitute a good opportunity to intensify the production of high-quality timber. However, in the absence of short-term investment returns, their economic benefits seem uncertain for landowners. Intercropping systems, which are stimulating interest in many temperate countries, could constitute an innovative way to increase the use of hardwood plantations and maximize their profitability, in particular in the mixedwood plain ecozone in Quebec. Results from recent studies show that intercrops do not usually affect tree growth and could even stimulate it in some cases. Furthermore, in addition to their various environmental benefits related to soil fertility, biodiversity and landscape, intercropping systems are quite often more profitable than conventional forest plantations. Finally, even though trees can compete with crops for light, water and nutriments, decreasing crop productivity, the technical itinerary specific to intercropping systems allows for the control of at least part of this competition. The development perspectives of intercropping systems are discussed, taking into account the biophysical and socio-economic context specific to the mixedwood plain ecozone in Quebec.

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Spatial variation of soil enzyme activities and microbial functional diversity in temperate alley cropping systems

Cited by 85 publications

References 16 publications

Effects of Continuous Tomato Monoculture on Soil Microbial Properties and Enzyme Activities in a Solar Greenhouse

Effects of Continuous Tomato Monoculture on Soil Microbial Properties and Enzyme Activities in a Solar Greenhouse

Soil Carbon Stocks in Two Hybrid Poplar-Hay Crop Systems in Southern Quebec, Canada

Cultures intercalaires avec arbres feuillus : quel potentiel pour le Québec?

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