Different genotypes regulate the microbial community structure in the soybean rhizosphere

The soybean rhizosphere has a specific microbial community,but the differences in microbial community structure between different soybean genotypes have not been explained.The present study analyzed the structure of the rhizosphere microbial community in three soybean genotypes.Differences in rhizosphere microbial communities between different soybean genotypes were verified using diversity testing and community composition,and each genotype had a specific rhizosphere microbial community composition.Co-occurrence network analysis found that different genotype plant hosts had different rhizosphere microbial networks.The relationship between rhizobia and rhizosphere microorganisms in the network also exhibited significant differences between different genotype plant hosts.The ecological function prediction found that different genotypes of soybean recruited the specific rhizosphere microbial community.These results demonstrated that soybean genotype regulated rhizosphere microbial community structure differences.The study provides a reference and theoretical support for developing soybean microbial inoculum in the future.

Effects of coal-fired power plants on soil microbial diversity and community structures

Long-term deposition of atmospheric pollutants emitted from coal combustion and their effects on the eco-environment have been extensively studied around coal-fired power plants.However,the effects of coal-fired power plants on soil microbial communities have received little attention through atmospheric pollutant deposition and coal-stacking.Here,we collected the samples of power plant soils(PS),coal-stacking soils(CSS)and agricultural soils(AS)around three coal-fired power plants and background control soils(BG)in Huainan,a typical mineral resource-based city in East China,and investigated the microbial diversity and community structures through a high-throughput sequencing technique.Coal-stacking significantly increased(p<0.05)the contents of total carbon,total nitrogen,total sulfur and Mo in the soils,whereas the deposition of atmospheric pollutants enhanced the levels of V,Cu,Zn and Pb.Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,Thaumarchaeota,Thermoplasmata,Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant taxa in all soils.The bacterial community showed significant differences(p<0.05)among PS,CSS,AS and BG,whereas archaeal and fungal communities showed significant differences(p<0.01)according to soil samples around three coal-fired power plants.The predominant environmental variables affecting soil bacterial,archaeal and fungal communities were Mo-TN-TS,Cu-V-Mo,and organic matter(OM)-Mo,respectively.Certain soil microbial genera were closely related to multiple key factors associated with stacking coal and heavy metal deposition from power plants.This study provided useful insight into better understanding of the relationships between soil microbial communities and long-term disturbances from coal-fired power plants.

Soil microbial community composition and its driving factors in alpine grasslands along a mountain elevational gradient

Understanding the vertical distribution patterns of soil microbial community and its driving factors in alpine grasslands in the humid regions of the Tibet Plateau might be of great significance for predicting the soil microbial community of this type of vegetation in response to environmental change. Using phospholipid fatty acids （PLFA）, we investigated soil microbial community composition along an elevational gradient （3094-4131 m above sea level） on Mount Yajiageng, and we explored the impact of plant functional groups and soil chemistry on the soil microbial community. Except for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi （AM fungi） biomarker 18：2ω6,9 increasing significantly, other biomarkers did not show a consistent trend with the elevational gradient. Microbial biomass quantified by total PLFAs did not show the elevational trend and had mean values ranging from 1.64 to 4.09 ktmol per g organic carbon （OC）, which had the maximum value at the highest site. Bacterial PLFAs exhibited a similar trend with total PLFAs, and its mean values ranged from 0.82 to 1.81 μmol （g OC）-1. The bacterial to fungal biomass ratios had the minimum value at the highest site, which might be related to temperature and soil total nitrogen （TN）. The ratios of Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria had a significantly negative correlation with soil TN and had the maximum value at the highest site. Leguminous plant coverage and soil TN explained 58% of the total variation in the soil microbial community and could achieve the same interpretation as the whole model. Other factors may influence the soil microbial community through interaction with leguminous plant coverage and soil TN. Soil chemistry and plant functional group composition in substantial amounts explained different parts of the variation within the soil microbial community, and the interaction between them had no impact on the soil microbial community maybe beeause long-term grazing greatly reduces litter. In sum, although there were obvious differences in soil microbial communities along the elevation gradient, there were no clear elevational trends found in general. Plant functional groups and soil chemistry respectively affect the different aspects of soil microbial community. Leguminous plant coverage and soil TN had important effects in shaping soil microbial community.

Different responses of soil fauna gut and plant rhizosphere microbiomes to manure applications

Microbial attributes were compared between soil fauna gut and plant rhizosphere.•Manure applications decreased or increased gut or rhizosphere bacterial diversity.•Stochastic or deterministic processes drove gut or rhizosphere bacterial assembly.•Manure applications increased bacterial network complexity of gut and rhizosphere.Diverse microbes inhabit animals and plants,helping their hosts perform multiple functions in agricultural ecosystems.However,the responses of soil fauna gut and plant rhizosphere microbiomes to livestock manure applications are still not well understood.Here we fed Protaetia brevitarsis larvae(PBL)with chicken manure and collected their frass.The frass and manure were applied as fertilizers to lettuce pots.We then compared the changes of microbial diversity,community assembly,and potential functions between the gut group(i.e.,all PBL gut and frass samples)and the rhizosphere group(i.e.,all rhizosphere soil samples).We revealed that manure applications(i.e.,feeding or fertilization)decreased bacterial diversity in the gut group but increased that in the rhizosphere group.Particularly,the proportions of Bacilli in the gut group and Gammaproteobacteria in the rhizosphere group were increased(up to a maximum of 33.8%and 20.4%,respectively)after manure applications.Stochastic and deterministic processes dominated community assembly in the gut and rhizosphere microbiomes,respectively.Manure applications increased the microbial co-occurrence network complexity of both the gut and rhizosphere groups.Moreover,the proportions of functional taxa associated with human/animal pathogens in the gut group and carbon/nitrogen cycling in the rhizosphere group were enhanced(up to 2.6-fold and 24.6-fold,respectively).Our findings illustrate the different responses of microbial diversity,community assembly,and potential functions in soil fauna gut and plant rhizosphere to manure applications.The results could enhance our knowledge on the reasonable utilization of animal and plant microbiomes in agricultural management.

Changes in soil microbial biomass and community structure with addition of contrasting types of plant litter in a semiarid grassland ecosystem

Aims Elevated atmospheric CO_(2)has the potential to enhance the net primary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems.However,the role of soil microorganisms on soil C cycling following this increased available C remains ambiguous.This study was conducted to determine how quality and quantity of plant litter inputs would affect soil microorganisms and consequently C turnover.Methods Soil microbial biomass and community structure,bacterial community-level physiological profile,and CO_(2)emission caused by different substrate C decomposition were investigated using techniques of biological measurements,chemical and stable C isotope analysis,and BIOLOG-ECO microplates in a semiarid grassland ecosystem of northern China in 2006 and 2007 by mixing three contrasting types of plant materials,C_(3)shoot litter(SC_(3)),C_(3)root litter(RC_(3)),and C4 shoot litter(SC4),into the 10-to 20-cm soil layer at rates equivalent to 0(C0),60(C60),120(C120)and 240 g C m
2(C240).Important Findings Litter addition significantly enriched soil microbial biomass C and N and resulted in changes in microbial structure.Principal component analysis of microbial structure clearly differentiated among zero addition,C_(3)-plant-derived litter,and C4-plant-derived litter and among shoot-and root-derived litter of C_(3)plants;soilmicroorganismsmainly utilized carbohydrates without litter addition,carboxylic acids with C_(3)-plant-derived litter addition and amino acidswith C4-plant-derived litter addition.We also detected stimulated decomposition of older substratewith C4-plant-derived litter inputs.Our results showthat both quality and quantity of belowground litter are involved in affecting soil microbial community structure in semiarid grassland ecosystem.

Insights into Ecological Effects of Invasive Plants on Soil Nitrogen Cycles

The increasing degree of plant invasion is an expanding problem that affects the functioning and composition of forest ecosystems with increasing anthropogenic activities, particularly soil nitrogen (N) cycles. Numerous studies have revealed that one of the main factors for successful plant invasion is that plants could pose significant effects on soil N cycles via direct and/or indirect ways, such as changes in soil microbial communities, litter decomposition rates, and/or soil physicochemical properties. We thereby summarize the ecological effects of invasive plants on soil N cycles, including the aforementioned changes, to understand the mechanism of successful invasion. We also discuss the needs for further research on the relationship between invasive plants and soil N cycles.

Reasonable management of perennial planting grassland contributes to positive succession of soil microbial community in Sanjiangyuan of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,China

Grassland reconstruction is a major approach to alleviate the‘black beach’in Sanjiangyuan of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.It is vital to understand how to manage the planting grassland after reconstruction.And which artificial grassland management pattern is more likely to restore the degraded grassland of‘black beach?’To provide the scientific basis for the restoration of‘black beach’,we investigated the changes in vegetation characteristics,soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial community structure of planting grassland under different management patterns,and explored the effect of the management patterns on community succession of planting grassland.In this study,vegetation characteristics and soil physicochemical properties were measured by field investigation and laboratory analyses,respectively.Soil microbial community composition was determined by high-throughput sequencing techniques.The results showed that there were significant differences in vegetation characteristics,soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial community structure of the planting grassland under different management patterns.Actinobacteria and Basidiomycota were mainly controlled by vegetation plant species diversity,aboveground biomass(AGB)and soil organic carbon(SOC).Shannon-Wiener index,AGB and SOC peaked and the relative abundance of amplicon sequence variants annotated by Actinobacteria and Basidiomycota were significantly enriched under the management pattern of the planting once treatment.Additionally,the soil had the highest bacterial diversity and the lowest fungal diversity under the planting once treatment,becoming a‘bacterial’soil.These vegetation characteristics and soil environment were more conducive to overall positive community succession,indicating that the planting once treatment is the most reasonable management pattern for restoring the‘black beach’.

Assessing bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of 8-year-old genetically modified poplar(Populus spp.)

Microbe communities in rhizosphere ecosystems are important for plant health but there is limited knowledge of them in the rhizospheres of genetically modified（GM） plants, especial for tree species. We used the amplitude sequencing method to analyze the V4 regions of the 16 S r RNA gene to identify changes in bacterial diversity and community structure in two GM lines（D520 and D521）, one non-genetically modified（nonGM） line and in uncultivated soil. After chimera filtering,468.133 sequences in the domain Bacteria remained. There were ten dominant taxonomic groups（with [1 % of all sequences） across the samples. 241 of 551 genera（representing a ratio of 97.33 %） were common to all samples.A Venn diagram showed that 1.926 operational taxonomic units（OTUs） were shared by all samples. We found a specific change, a reduction in Chloroflexi, in the microorganisms in the rhizosphere soil planted with poplars. Taken together, the results showed few statistical differences in the bacterial diversity and community structure between the GM line and non-GM line, this suggests that there was no or very limited impact of this genetic modification on the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere.

Bioreactor performance and microbial community dynamics in a production-scale biogas plant in northeastern China

In cold regions,heating is necessary to maintain the continuous and steady year-round operation of biogas fermentation.In this study,changes in the liquid composition,biogas production,and microbial diversity in heated-and unheated-phase samples were evaluated in a production-scale biogas plant that was fed continuously with cattle manure as a mono-substrate in Heilongjiang province in northeastern China.The volatile solid(VS)and volatile fatty acid(VFA)contents both gradually decreased in the heated and unheated fermentation processes.The chemical oxygen demand(COD)removal efficiency in the unheated phase sampled on June 15(s-6-15)and October 15(a-10-15)and in the heated phase sampled on January 15(w-1-15)was 63.35%,44.2%and 44.0%,respectively.The biogas production yields were in agreement with the results obtained for the VS and VFA contents and COD removal efficiency.The performance of the reactor in the heated phase was less efficient than that in the unheated phase,and the biogas production efficiency in June-August was higher than that in the other months.However,the CH4 content in the biogas remained similar all year.Moreover,ARDRA(Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis)was used to study the microbial community composition in the fermentation process.The results showed that the methanogenic archaeal consortium consisted mainly of members of the genera Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales.In the heated phase,hydrogenotrophic methanogens represented the dominant methanogen in w-1-15 feedstock.After fermentation,the strict aceticlastic methanogen Methanosaeta became the dominant methanogen.In the unheated phase,the hydrogenotrophic methanogens and aceticlastic methanogens were equivalent in s-6-15 feedstock and effluent,and aceticlastic methanogens were dominant in both a-10-15 feedstock and effluent.Assessments of the bacteria diversity of the microbial communities revealed that the common strains in the feed and effluent of the three samples included the rumen bacteria,Bacteroides,Clostridium,Ruminococcaceae and Proteobacteria.

Propagation of Grevillea banksfi Affects the Dynamic of Mycorrhizal Fungi Communities Associated with Native Tree Species of Madagascar

Propagation of exotic plant species is found in many regions of Madagascar Island. This work aims to describe the impacts of the propagation of Grevillea banksii on soil microbial activities and on the regeneration of two native tree species （Intsia bij＇uga and Dalbergia trichocarpa） in the eastern part of Madagascar. The study was conducted within Ianjomara forest where some types of the vegetation are observed such as an area characterized by grassland （P 1）, by homogeneous population of G. banksii （P2） and by a natural forest composed mainly of L bijuga or D. trichocarpa （P3 and P4）. Structure of mycorrhizal fungi communities and associated microorganisms were described on soils from each study plot. The development of I. b^juga and 1）. trichocarpa, was evaluated 4 months after planting on P1, P2, P3, P4 soils formerly colonized by G. banksii. According to the nutrients availability on each soil type, the development of G. banksii was accompanied or not by a high formation of cluster roots. The authors＇ results also show that soil occupied by G. banksii decreased the global microbial and phosphatase activities of soil especially on soil within a high density of cluster roots. Moderately mycotrophic, G. banksii disturbs the structure and the dynamics of symbiotic microflora such as endomycorrhizal fungi （MA） and rhizobia associated with the two native tree species. The findings illustrate the negative impact of G. banksii propagation on the regeneration and the conservation of native tree species in Madagascarian forest.

Effect of rhizosphere on soil microbial community and in-situ pyrene biodegradation

To access the influence of a vegetation on soil microorganisms toward organic pollutant biogegration,this study examined the rhizospheric effects of four plant species(sudan grass,white clover,alfalfa,and fescue)on the soil microbial community and in-situ pyrene(PYR)biodegradation.The results indicated that the spiked PYR levels in soils decreased substantially compared to the control soil without planting.With equal planted densities,the efficiencies of PYR degradation in rhizosphere with sudan grass,white clover,alfalfa and fescue were 34.0%,28.4%,27.7%,and 9.9%,respectively.However,on the basis of equal root biomass the efficiencies were in order of white clover..alfalfa.sudan.fescue.The increased PYR biodegradation was attributed to the enhanced bacterial population and activity induced by plant roots in the rhizosphere.Soil microbial species and biomasses were elucidated in terms of microbial phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid(PLFA)biomarkers.The principal component analysis(PCA)revealed significant changes in PLFA pattern in planted and non-planted soils spiked with PYR.Total PLFAs in planted soils were all higher than those in non-planted soils.PLFA assemblages indicated that bacteria were the primary PYR degrading microorganisms,and that Gram-positive bacteria exhibited higher tolerance to PYR than Gram-negative bacteria did.

Biochar-based Bacillus subtilis inoculant for enhancing plants disease prevention:microbiota response and root exudates regulation

Plants regulate root exudates to form the composition of rhizosphere microbial community and resist disease stress.Many studies advocate intervention with biochar(BC)and exogenous microbe to enhance this process and improve plant defenses.However,the mechanism by which BC mediates exogenous microorganisms to enhance root exudate-soil microbial defensive feedback remains unclear.Here,a BC-based Bacillus subtilis SL-44 inoculant(BC@SL)was prepared to investigate the defensive feedback mechanism for plants,which enhanced plant growth and defense more than BC or SL-44 alone.BC@SL not only strengthened the direct inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani Rs by solving the problem of reduced viability of a single SL-44 inoculant but also indirectly alleviated the Rs stress by strengthening plant defensive feedback,which was specifically manifested by the following:(1)increasing the root resistance enzyme activities(superoxide dismutase up to 3.5 FC);(2)increasing the abundance of beneficial microbe in soil(0.38-16.31%Bacillus);and(3)remodeling the composition of root exudates(palmitic acid 3.95-6.96%,stearic acid 3.56-5.93%,2,4 tert-butylphenol 1.23-2.62%,increasing citric acid 0.94-1.81%,and benzoic acid 0.97-2.13%).The mechanism reveals that BC@SL can enhance the positive regulatory effect between root exudates and microorganisms by optimizing their composition.Overall,BC@SL is a stable and efficient new solid exogenous soil auxiliary,and this study lays the foundation for the generalization and application of green pesticides.

Microhabitat heterogeneity associated with Vanilla spp.and its influences on the microbial community of leaf litter and soil

The impact of forest microhabitats on physiochemical properties of the soil and that of microbial communities on tropical soils remain poorly understood.To elucidate the effect of tropical forest stand on leaf litter and soil microbial communities,we studied enzyme activities,microbial biomass,and diversity in three distinct microhabitats in terms of plant richness,diameter at breast height(DBH),and physiochemical properties of soil and litter,each associated with a different Vanilla sp.In the soil,positive correlations were found between electrical conductivity(EC)and total organic carbon(TOC)with phosphatase activity,and between nitrogen(N)and water-soluble carbon(WSC)content with urease activity(UA).In the litter,the water content was positively correlated with bacterial and fungal biomass,and N and WSC contents were positively correlated with fungal biomass.Positive correlations were found between plant richness and UA in the soil,plant richness and fungal biomass in the soil and litter,and DBH and fungal biomass in the litter.Amplicon sequencing revealed differences between microhabitats in the relative abundance of some fungal and bacterial taxa and in the bacterial community composition of both litter and soil.Bacterial richness and diversity were different between microhabitats,and,in litter samples,they were negatively correlated with DBH and plant richness,respectively.By contrast,none of the soil and litter physiochemical properties were significantly correlated with microbial diversity.Our results show that significant shifts in enzyme activity,microbial biomass,and diversity in the microhabitats were driven by key abiotic and biotic factors depending on the soil or litter sample type.

Identifying human-induced influence on microbial community:A comparative study in the effluent-receiving areas in Hangzhou Bay

Microbial community structure is afiected by both natural processes and human activities.In coastal area,anthropegenetic activity can usually lead to the discharge of the effluent from wastewater treatment plant(WWTP)to sea,and thus the water quality chronically turns worse and marine ecosystem becomes unhealthy.Microorganisms play key roles in pollutants degradation and ecological restoration;however,there are few studies about how the WWTP effluent disposal influences coastal microbial communities.In this study,sediment samples were collected from two WWTP effluentreceiving areas(abbreviated as JX and SY)in Hangzhou Bay.First,based on the high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene,microbial community structure was analyzed.Secondly,several statistical analyses were conducted to reveal the microbial community characteristics in response to the effluent disposal.Using PCoA,the significant difference of in microbial community structure was determined between JX and SY;using RDA,water COD and temperature,and sediment available phosphate and ammonia nitrogen were identified as the key environmental factors for the community difference;using LDA effect size analysis,the most distinctive microbes were found and their correlations with environmental factors were investigated;and according to detrended beta-nearesttaxon-index,the sediment microbial communities were found to follow"niche theory".An interesting and important finding was that in SY that received more and toxic COD,many distinctive microbes were related to the groups that were capable of degrading toxic organic pollutants.This study provides a clear illustration of eco-environmental deterioration under the long-term human pressure from the view of microbial ecology.

Systems Biology of Plant-Microbiome Interactions

In natural environments,plants are exposed to diverse microbiota that they interact with in complex ways.While plant-pathogen interactions have been intensely studied to understand defense mechanisms in plants,many microbes and microbial communities can have substantial beneficial effects on their plant host.Such beneficial effects include improved acquisition of nutrients,accelerated growth,resilience against pathogens,and improved resistance against abiotic stress conditions such as heat,drought,and salinity.However,the beneficial effects of bacterial strains or consortia on their host are often cultivar and species specific,posing an obstacle to their general application.Remarkably,many of the signals that trigger plant immune responses are molecularly highly similar and often identical in pathogenic and beneficial microbes.Thus,it is unclear what determines the outcome of a particular microbe-host interaction and which factors enable plants to distinguish beneficials from pathogens.To unravel the complex network of genetic,microbial,and metabolic interactions,including the signaling events mediating microbe-host interactions,comprehensive quantitative systems biology approaches will be needed.

Soil protists: An untapped microbial resource of agriculture and environmental importance

Protists are essential components of soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. They play a vital role in the microbial food web as consumers of bacteria, fungi, and other small eukaryotes and are also involved in maintaining soil fertility and plant productivity. Protists also contribute to regulating and shaping the bacterial community in terrestrial ecosystems via specific prey spectra. They play a role in plant growth promotion and plant health improvement,mostly via nutrient cycling, grazing, and the activation of bacterial genes required for plant growth and phytopathogen suppression. Thus, protists may prove to be a useful inoculant as biofertilizer and biocontrol agent. They can also be applied as model organisms as bioindicators of soil health. Despite their usefulness and essentiality, they are often forgotten and under-researched components of the soil microbiome, as most of our research focuses on bacteria and fungi. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of protists in plant productivity and plant health management and in shifts in soil bacterial community composition, as well as their roles as bioindicator. We also discuss the perspectives of knowledge gaps and future prospects to further improve soil biology.More research in soil protistology will provide insights into sustainable agriculture and environmental health alongside the study of bacteria and fungi.

Assessment of organic compost and biochar in promoting phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil using Calendula officinalis in the Loess Plateau, China

The Loess Plateau,located in Gansu Province,is an important energy base in China because most of the oil and gas resources are distributed in Gansu Province.In the last 40 a,ecological environment in this region has been extremely destroyed due to the over-exploitation of crude-oil resources.Remediation of crude-oil contaminated soil in this area remains to be a challenging task.In this study,in order to elucidate the effects of organic compost and biochar on phytoremediation of crude-oil contaminated soil(20 g/kg)by Calendula officinalis,we designed five treatments,i.e.,natural attenuation(CK),planted C.officinalis only(P),planted C.officinalis with biochar amendment(PB),planted C.officinalis with organic compost amendment(PC),and planted C.officinalis with co-amendment of biochar and organic compost(PBC).After 152 d of cultivation,total petroleum hydrocarbons(TPH)removal rates of CK,P,PB,PC and PBC were 6.36%,50.08%,39.58%,73.10%and 59.87%,respectively.Shoot and root dry weights of C.officinalis significantly increased by 172.31%and 80.96%under PC and 311.61%and 145.43%under PBC,respectively as compared with P(P<0.05).Total chlorophyll contents in leaves of C.officinalis under P,PC and PBC significantly increased by 77.36%,125.50%and 79.80%,respectively(P<0.05)as compared with PB.Physical-chemical characteristics and enzymatic activity of soil in different treatments were also assessed.The highest total N,total P,available N,available P and SOM(soil organic matter)occurred in PC,followed by PBC(P<0.05).C.officinalis rhizospheric soil dehydrogenase(DHA)and polyphenol oxidase(PPO)activities in PB were lower than those of other treatments(P<0.05).The values of ACE(abundance-based coverage estimators)and Chao 1 indices for rhizospheric bacteria were the highest under PC followed by PBC,P,PB and CK(P<0.05).However,the Shannon index for bacteria was the highest under PC and PBC,followed by P,PB and CK(P<0.05).In terms of soil microbial community composition,Proteiniphilum,Immundisolibacteraceae and Solimonadaceae were relatively more abundant under PC and PBC.Relative abundances of Pseudallescheria,Ochroconis,Fusarium,Sarocladium,Podospora,Apodus,Pyrenochaetopsis and Schizothecium under PC and PBC were higher,while relative abundances of Gliomastix,Aspergillus and Alternaria were lower under PC and PBC.As per the nonmetric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)analysis,application of organic compost significantly promoted soil N and P contents,shoot length,root vitality,chlorophyll ratio,total chlorophyll,abundance and diversity of rhizospheric soil microbial community in C.officinalis.A high p H value and lower soil N and P contents induced by biochar,altered C.officinalis rhizospheric soil microbial community composition,which might have restrained its phytoremediation efficiency.The results suggest that organic compost-assisted C.officinalis phytoremediation for crude-oil contaminated soil was highly effective in the Loess Plateau,China.

The Effect of Organic Biostimulants on Beneficial Soil Microorganism Activity

Organic biostimulants and organic fertilizers can improve soil health for various horticultural crops. The objectives of these experiments were to determine if biostimulants beneficially increase soil microorganism activity in soilless medium, and additionally measure the impact of synthetic and organic fertilizers with blackstrap molasses on plant nutrient uptake nutrient runoff. It was hypothesized that the addition of biostimulants will increase soil microbe activity. Evolution of soil carbon dioxide was measured by comparing different rates (0, 15, 30, and 45 mL/3.8 L of water) of blackstrap molasses using a randomized block design with 3 replications in nursery containers. Also, a second study using St. Augustinegrass and tomatoes fertilized with organic and synthetic fertilizers was evaluated with and without a biostimulant rate (30 mL/3.8 L of water). The plants were arranged in randomized complete block design with 6 replications. Soil biostimulants did significantly increase the microorganism activity at the 0.05 level. The highest rate of blackstrap molasses improved soil biological activity over a 4-week period. Additionally, fertilizer combined with molasses did show significant increases in soil microbiology for over 5 weeks for both tomatoes and St. Augustinegrass. Molasses increased soil microbial activity but not plant nutrition. Organic fertilizer though resulted in higher levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur in plant tissue. Further research is being conducted to measure the influence of biostimulants on the breakdown of composting plant matter. Organic fertilizer slightly increased soil water pH but reduced nutrient load pollution based on a 7-day nutrient effluent study. Total nutrients (nitrates, P, Ca, Mg, and S) runoff was significantly less than synthetic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer reduced nutrient dumping in waste effluent. Organic fertilizers can improve nutrient use efficiency.

Microalgal bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture and their interactions with soil biotic and abiotic components:A review

Modern agricultural practices have posed a detrimental impact on the environment due to their intensive use to meet the food demands of an ever-increasing population.In this context,microalgal bioinoculants,specifically cyanobacteria and green microalgae,have emerged as sustainable options for agricultural practices to improve soil organic carbon,nutrient availability,microbial quality,and plant productivity.An overview of current and future perspectives on the use of microalgal bioinoculants in agriculture practices is presented in this review,along with a discussion of their interactions with soil biotic and abiotic factors that affect soil fertility,plant health,and crop productivity.The benefits of microalgal bioinoculants include releasing agronomically important metabolites(exopolymers and phytohormones)as well as solubilizing soil nutrients.Furthermore,they function as biocontrol agents against soil-borne pathogens and facilitate the establishment of rhizosphere communities of agricultural importance.So far,very few studies have explored the basic mechanisms by which microalgal bioinoculants interact with soil biotic and abiotic factors.In recent years,advanced molecular techniques have contributed to a better understanding of these interactions.

Effects of Slope Aspects on Soil Bacterial and Arbuscular Fungal Communities in a Boreal Forest in China

The effects of slope aspects on soil biogeochemical properties and plant communities in forested environments have been studied extensively; however, slope aspect influence on soil microbial communities remains largely unexamined, despite the central role of soil biota in ecosystem functioning. In this study, the communities of both soil bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF） were investigated using tagged pyrosequencing for three types of slope aspects （south-facing aspect, north-facing aspect and flat area） in a boreal forest of the Greater Khingan Mountains, China. The bacterial and AMF community composition differed with slope aspects. Bacterial diversity was the lowest on the north-facing aspect, and AMF diversity was the lowest on the flat area. Aspects also had a significant impact on soil pH and available phosphorus （P） and shrubby biomass. Soil pH and understory shrub biomass were significantly correlated with bacterial communities, and soil available P and shrub biomass showed significant correlations with AMF communities. Our results suggested that slope aspects affected bacterial and AMF communities, mediated by aspect-induced changes in plant community and soil chemical properties （e.g., pH and available P）, which improved the knowledge on the effects of forest slope aspects on aboveground and belowground communities.