Journal article
Unraveling microbiomes and functions associated with strategic tillage, stubble, and fertilizer management
Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, Vol.323, p.107686
01/01/2022
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Abstract
Occasional one-time tillage (strategic tillage, ST) is an effective tool for managing weeds and crop diseases in no-till and conversative farming systems. However, there is limited understanding of the impacts of ST on soil microbiome and their associated soil processes, particularly in dryland agriculture. This study aims to quantify the effect of one-off ST - after three years - on soil microbiomes and functions in a long-term no-till farming system under crop stubble and fertilizer management practices. The results showed that ST had marginal effects on microbial richness and diversity, enzyme activities, and catabolic function, but significantly affected the abundance of some microbial taxa (Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota) that are relevant to carbon (C) degradation. Stubble retention, regardless of tillage and fertilizer management, mainly increased the abundance of copiotrophs such as Proteobacteria (e.g., Rhizobiales) and Actinobacteria (e.g., Streptomyces and Micromonosporaceae), and affected Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Among the management practices, stubble retention was the main factor that contributed to increased richness and diversity of the soil bacterial and fungal community. Supplementary fertilizer application, regardless of tillage and stubble management had minimal impact on bacterial and fungal richness and diversity, enzyme activity and catabolic function. The variation in bacterial community structure was influenced mainly by soil pH (c.a. 10%), while only a small but significant effect (< 7%; P = 0.001) was attributed to tillage and stubble management. Wheat grain yields ranged between 5 and 5.3 t ha-1 and were not affected by tillage, stubble, nor fertilizer management practices. Similarly, these management practices did not influence total soil C or nitrogen concentrations. Our findings show that strategic tillage, when used to address specific constraints in no-till systems in dryland agriculture, does not have a significant effect on total soil C, microbial ecology nor catabolic function.
•Strategic tillage (ST) after 3-years did not affect microbial richness and diversity.•ST affected Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia.•ST increased Auriculariaceae but decreased Pezizales.•ST did not affect soil enzymatic activities or catabolic function.•Stubble retention increased bacterial and fungal richness and composition.
Details
- Title
- Unraveling microbiomes and functions associated with strategic tillage, stubble, and fertilizer management
- Creators
- Yunying Fang - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesLukas Van Zwieten - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesMichael T. Rose - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesSotirios Vasileiadis - University of ThessalyErica Donner - University of South AustraliaTony Vancov - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesJessica L. Rigg - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesZhe (Han) Weng - University of QueenslandEnzo Lombi - University of South AustraliaBarbara Drigo - University of South AustraliaMark Conyers - Wagga Wagga Base HospitalEhsan Tavakkoli - Charles Sturt University
- Publication Details
- Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, Vol.323, p.107686
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 991013372607902368
- Copyright
- ©2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article