The diversity of soil communities, the ?poor man's tropical rainforest?

Giller, Paul S.

doi:10.1007/bf00055827

Cited by 352 publications

(202 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…As evidenced by differences in qCO 2 , soil disturbance by tillage is probably a major factor in the tillage effects. These disturbances may result in reductions in the population and diversity of soil organisms due to desiccation, mechanical destruction, soil compaction, reduced pore volume and disruption of access to food resources (Giller 1996). Tillage also accelerates C mineralization by increasing soil aeration and the contact between soil and residues (Reicosky et al 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil microbial biomass and carbon dioxide flux under wheat as influenced by tillage and crop rotation

Lupwayi¹,

Rice²,

Clayton³

1999

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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Soil organic matter is important both from an agronomic and an environmental perspective because it affects the capacity of the soil to sustain crop growth, and it is a source and sink of atmospheric CO2-C. Soil microbial biomass comprises a small proportion of total soil organic matter, but it is more dynamic than total soil organic matter. Therefore, measurements of soil microbial biomass may show the effects of soil management on potential changes in soil organic matter before such effects can be detected by measuring total soil organic matter. The effects of tillage and crop rotation on soil microbial biomass and activity were studied in 1995–1997 in the wheat phase of different cropping rotations that had been established in 1992 under zero tillage or conventional tillage in northern Alberta. Soil microbial biomass was often significantly (P < 0.05) higher, but never significantly lower, under zero tillage than under conventional tillage. However, CO2 evolution (basal respiration) was usually higher under conventional tillage than under zero tillage, resulting in higher specific respiration (qCO2) under conventional tillage than under zero tillage. The higher additions but lower losses of labile C under zero tillage mean that more C is sequestered in the soil in the zero-tillage system. Thus, this system contributes less to atmospheric CO2 than conventional tillage, and that soil organic matter accumulates more under zero tillage. Plots preceded by summerfallow, especially under conventional tillage, usually had the lowest microbial biomass and CO2 evolution, and plots preceded by legume crops had higher microbial biomass and lower qCO2 than other treatments. Tillage and rotation had little effect on total soil organic matter 5 yr after the treatments had been imposed, probably because of the cold climate of northern Alberta, but the results confirm that the labile forms of soil C are more sensitive indicators of soil organic C trends than total soil organic C. These effects of tillage and rotation on soil microbial biomass were similar to those on microbial diversity reported previously. These results confirm that zero tillage and legume-based crop rotations are more sustainable crop management systems than conventional tillage and fallowing in the Gray Luvisolic soils of northern Alberta. Key words: Carbon sequestration, carbon mineralization, microbial activity, soil organic matter

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil microbial biomass and carbon dioxide flux under wheat as influenced by tillage and crop rotation

Lupwayi¹,

Rice²,

Clayton³

1999

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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“…A multitude of fauna-fauna interactions occurs in soil as can be supposed by the high diversity of soil organisms [50,82,108,122]. Considering that the two major microfaunal phyla, nematodes and protozoa, are constituted of species of various trophic levels, trophic interactions within and between protozoa and nematodes presumably are commonplace.…”

Section: Fauna-fauna Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial-faunal interactions in the rhizosphere and effects on plant growth

Bonkowski

Cheng

Griffiths³

et al. 2000

European Journal of Soil Biology

176

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− Nutrient acquisition by plants occurs in an environment characterized by complex interactions between roots, micro-organisms and animals, termed the rhizosphere. Competition for mineral elements in this sphere is high. The rhizosphere processes are driven by photosynthetically fixed carbon released by roots either directly to mycorrhizal fungal symbionts or as exudates fuelling a wider spectrum of organisms, mainly bacteria. In particular, the role of the soil fauna interacting with rhizosphere micro-organisms and plant roots has so far found little attention. We present evidence that the interaction between plant roots, root exudates and micro-organisms can only be understood in relation to soil faunal activity, indicating that the soil fauna has an important function in regulating rhizosphere microbial processes and therefore significantly affects plant growth. © 2000 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS rhizosphere / microbial activity / soil biota / food web interactions / plant growth

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“…There is increasing interest in descriptions of soil biodiversity and the understanding of the processes that explain the functioning of communties, either in natural or disturbed ecosystems (Giller 1996). In the savannas of Carimagua, in the eastern plains of Colombia, several studies were and are being conducted to investigate these processes in an area where no previous attempt to gain knowledge of the soil fauna has been carried out (Decaëns et al 1994, Decaëns et al 1999aDecaëns et al 1999b;Jiménez et al 1998aJiménez et al , 1998bJiménez et al , 1999.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%