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Research Project: CONSERVATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH FOR IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PRODUCER PROFITABILITY

Location: National Soil Dynamics Laboratory

Title: Impact of no-tillage and conventional tillage systems on soil microbial communities

Authors
item Mathew, Reji -
item Feng, Yucheng -
item Githinji, Leonard -
item Ankumah, Ramble -
item Balkcom, Kipling

Submitted to: Applied and Environmental Soil Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 5, 2012
Publication Date: June 8, 2012
Citation: Mathew, R.P., Feng, Y., Githinji, L., Ankumah, R., Balkcom, K.S. 2012. Impact of no-tillage and conventional tillage systems on soil microbial communities. Applied and Environmental Soil Science. vol. 2012, Article ID 548620, 10 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/548620. Available: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2012/548620/.

Interpretive Summary: Soil management practices influence soil physical and chemical characteristics and bring about changes in the soil microbial community structure and function. Scientists at Auburn University in cooperation with a scientist with USDA-ARS located at the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory examined the effects of long-term conventional and no-tillage practices on microbial community structure, enzyme activities, and selected physicochemical properties were determined in a continuous corn system on a Decatur silt loam soil. The long-term no-tillage treatment resulted in higher soil carbon and nitrogen contents, viable microbial biomass, and phosphatase activities at the 0-5 cm depth than the conventional tillage treatment. Soil microbial community structure assessed using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) varied by tillage practice and soil depth. The abundance of PLFAs indicative of fungi, bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and actinobacteria was consistently higher in the no-till surface soil. Results of principal components analysis based on soil physicochemical and enzyme variables were in agreement with those based on PLFA and ARISA profiles. Soil organic carbon was positively correlated with most of the PLFA biomarkers. These results indicate that tillage practice and soil depth were two important factors affecting soil microbial community structure and activity, and conservation tillage practices improve both physicochemical and microbiological properties of soil.

Technical Abstract: Soil management practices influence soil physical and chemical characteristics and bring about changes in the soil microbial community structure and function. In this study, the effects of long-term conventional and no-tillage practices on microbial community structure, enzyme activities, and selected physicochemical properties were determined in a continuous corn system on a Decatur silt loam soil. The long-term no-tillage treatment resulted in higher soil carbon and nitrogen contents, viable microbial biomass, and phosphatase activities at the 0-5 cm depth than the conventional tillage treatment. Soil microbial community structure assessed using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) varied by tillage practice and soil depth. The abundance of PLFAs indicative of fungi, bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and actinobacteria was consistently higher in the no-till surface soil. Results of principal components analysis based on soil physicochemical and enzyme variables were in agreement with those based on PLFA and ARISA profiles. Soil organic carbon was positively correlated with most of the PLFA biomarkers. These results indicate that tillage practice and soil depth were two important factors affecting soil microbial community structure and activity, and conservation tillage practices improve both physicochemical and microbiological properties of soil.

   

 
Project Team
Balkcom, Kipling
Torbert, Henry - Allen
Duzy, Leah
Arriaga, Francisco
Price, Andrew
Watts, Dexter
Way, Thomas - Tom
Kornecki, Ted
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Climate Change, Soils, and Emissions (212)
  Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability (216)
 
Related Projects
   DEVELOPING IMPROVED SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE SOUTHEAST
 
 
Last Modified: 05/25/2013
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