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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365195
Research Project: Management Practices for Long Term Productivity of Great Plains Agriculture

Location: Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research

Title: Soil sterilization leads to re-colonization of a healthier rhizosphere microbiome

Author
item LI, KUN - Shenyang Agricultural University
item DILEGGE, MICHAEL - Colorado State University
item MINAS, LOANNIS - Colorado State University
item Hamm, Alison - Ali
item Manter, Daniel
item VIVANCO, JORGE - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Rhizosphere
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/9/2019
Publication Date: 11/11/2019
Citation: Li, K., Dilegge, M., Minas, L., Hamm, A.K., Manter, D.K., Vivanco, J.M. 2019. Soil sterilization leads to re-colonization of a healthier rhizosphere microbiome. Rhizosphere. 12. Article e100176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2019.100176.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2019.100176

Interpretive Summary: Soil sterilization is often applied in cropping systems to remove soilborne pathogens and nematodes; however, it may also promote beneficial microbes. In an effort to better understand the role of sterilization on microbial communities and resultant plant growth, we examined the interaction between soil sterilization and the growth of three different crops (one native crop, peach; and two non-native crops, corn and tomato) in a soil known to have peach replant disease. Soil sterilization significantly increased plant growth in all crop species. The commonality of this growth promotion supports the notion that sterilization can, at least temporarily, support beneficial microbes that promote crop growth. In the two non-native crops, there were several common beneficial functions that were promoted by sterilization: N fixation, P solubilization, biological control, and root growth promotion. The recovery of the microbial community following sterilization is also clearly dependent upon the presence of a living plant and the final community structure may differ by crop species. Despite the well documented effect of soil sterilization to remove pathogens, it is also a potential means to promote rapid changes in soil microbial communities and the apparent promotion of beneficial microbes and a healthier soil microbiome.

Technical Abstract: Soil sterilization is often applied in cropping systems to remove soilborne pathogens and nematodes; however, it may also promote beneficial microbes. In an effort to better understand the role of sterilization on microbial communities and resultant plant growth, we examined the interaction between soil sterilization and the growth of three different crops (one native crop, peach; and two non-native crops, corn and tomato) in a soil known to have peach replant disease. Soil sterilization significantly increased plant growth in all crop species. The commonality of this growth promotion supports the notion that sterilization can, at least temporarily, support beneficial microbes that promote crop growth. In the two non-native crops, there were several common beneficial functions that were promoted by sterilization: N fixation, P solubilization, biological control, and root growth promotion. The recovery of the microbial community following sterilization is also clearly dependent upon the presence of a living plant and the final community structure may differ by crop species. Despite the well documented effect of soil sterilization to remove pathogens, it is also a potential means to promote rapid changes in soil microbial communities and the apparent promotion of beneficial microbes and a healthier soil microbiome.