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Mir YH, Ganie MA, Shah TI, Bangroo SA, Mir SA, Shah AM, Wani FJ, Qin A, Rahman SU. Soil microbial and enzyme activities in different land use systems of the Northwestern Himalayas. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15993. [PMID: 37780386 PMCID: PMC10540776 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Soil microbial activity (SMA) is vital concerning carbon cycling, and its functioning is recognized as the primary factor in modifying soil carbon storage potential. The composition of the microbial community (MC) is significant in sustaining environmental services because the structure and activity of MC also influence nutrient turnover, distribution, and the breakdown rate of soil organic matter. SMA is an essential predictor of soil quality alterations, and microbiome responsiveness is imperative in addressing the escalating sustainability concerns in the Himalayan ecosystem. This study was conducted to evaluate the response of soil microbial and enzyme activities to land conversions in the Northwestern Himalayas (NWH), India. Soil samples were collected from five land use systems (LUSs), including forest, pasture, apple, saffron, and paddy-oilseed, up to a depth of 90 cm. The results revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of dehydrogenase (9.97-11.83 TPF µg g-1 day-1), acid phosphatase (22.40-48.43 µg P-NP g-1 h-1), alkaline phosphatase (43.50-61.35 µg P-NP g-1 h-1), arylsulphatase (36.33-48.12 µg P-NP g-1 h-1), fluorescein diacetate hydrolase (12.18-21.59 µg g-1 h-1), bacterial count (67.67-123.33 CFU × 106 g-1), fungal count (19.33-67.00 CFU × 105 g-1), and actinomycetes count (12.00-42.33 CFU × 104 g-1), with the highest and lowest levels in forest soils and paddy-oilseed soils, respectively. Soil enzyme activities and microbial counts followed a pattern: forest > pasture > apple > saffron > paddy-oilseed at all three depths. Paddy-oilseed soils exhibited up to 35% lower enzyme activities than forest soils, implying that land conversion facilitates the depletion of microbiome diversity from surface soils. Additionally, reductions of 49.80% and 62.91% were observed in enzyme activity and microbial counts, respectively, with soil depth (from 0-30 to 60-90 cm). Moreover, the relationship analysis (principal component analysis and correlation) revealed a high and significant (p = 0.05) association between soil microbial and enzyme activities and physicochemical attributes. These results suggest that land conversions need to be restricted to prevent microbiome depletion, reduce the deterioration of natural resources, and ensure the sustainability of soil health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasir Hanif Mir
- Division of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Mumtaz Ahmad Ganie
- Division of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Tajamul Islam Shah
- Division of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Shabir Ahmed Bangroo
- Division of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Shakeel Ahmad Mir
- Division of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Aanisa Manzoor Shah
- Division of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Fehim Jeelani Wani
- Division of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Anzhen Qin
- Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang, China
| | - Shafeeq Ur Rahman
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
- MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, Beijing, China
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Huang C, Fu S, Ma X, Ma X, Ren X, Tian X, Tong Y, Yuan F, Liu H. Long-term intensive management reduced the soil quality of a Carya dabieshanensis forest. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5058. [PMID: 36977743 PMCID: PMC10050458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of soil quality can provide new insights into the sustainable management of forests. This study investigated the effects of three types of forest management intensities (non-management (CK), extensive management (EM), and intensive management (IM)), and five management durations (0, 3, 8, 15, and 20 years) on the soil quality of a Carya dabieshanensis forest. Further, minimum data sets (MDS) and optimized minimum data sets (OMDS) were established to evaluate the soil quality index (SQI). A total of 20 soil indicators representing its physical, chemical, and biological properties were measured for the 0-30 cm layer. Using one-way ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA), the total data set (TDS), the minimum data set (MDS), and optimized minimum data set (OMDS) were established. The MDS and OMDS contained three (alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), and pH) and four (total phosphorus (TP), soil organic carbon (SOC), AN, and bulk density (BD)) soil indicators, respectively. The SQI derived from the OMDS and TDS exhibited a stronger correlation (r = 0.94, p < 0.01), which was suitable for evaluating the soil quality of the C. dabieshanensis forest. The evaluation results revealed that the soil quality was highest during the early stage of intensive management (IM-3), and the SQI of each soil layer was 0.81 ± 0.13, 0.47 ± 0.11, and 0.38 ± 0.07, respectively. With extended management times, the degree of soil acidification increased, and the nutrient content decreased. Compared with the untreated forest land the soil pH, SOC, and TP decreased by 2.64-6.24%, 29.43-33.04%, and 43.63-47.27%, respectively, following 20 years of management, while the SQI of each soil layer decreased to 0.35 ± 0.09, 0.16 ± 0.02 and 0.12 ± 0.06, respectively. In contrast to extensive management, the soil quality deteriorated more rapidly under longer management and intensive supervision. The OMDS established in this study provides a reference for the assessment of soil quality in C. dabieshanensis forests. In addition, it is suggested that the managers of C. dabieshanensis forests should implement measures such as increasing the amount of P-rich organic fertilizer and restoring vegetation to increase soil nutrient resources for the gradual restoration of soil quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Huang
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Songling Fu
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaomin Ma
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Ma
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoliang Ren
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Xinxin Tian
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Yinhao Tong
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Feiyang Yuan
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Hua Liu
- School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang W Rd, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China.
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Bai YC, Li BX, Xu CY, Raza M, Wang Q, Wang QZ, Fu YN, Hu JY, Imoulan A, Hussain M, Xu YJ. Intercropping Walnut and Tea: Effects on Soil Nutrients, Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Communities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:852342. [PMID: 35369467 PMCID: PMC8971985 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.852342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The practice of intercropping, which involves growing more than one crop simultaneously during the same growing season, is becoming more important for increasing soil quality, land-use efficiency, and subsequently crop productivity. The present study examined changes in soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activity, and microbial community composition when walnut (Juglans spp.) was intercropped with tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants in a forest and compared with a walnut and tea monocropping system. The results showed that walnut-tea intercropping improved the soil nutrient profile and enzymatic activity. The soil available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), organic matter (OM) content, and sucrase activity were significantly boosted in intercropped walnut and tea than in monocropping forests. The interaction between crops further increased bacterial and fungal diversity when compared to monoculture tea forests. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chlamydiae, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota were found in greater abundance in an intercropping pattern than in monoculture walnut and tea forest plantations. The walnut-tea intercropping system also markedly impacted the abundance of several bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which were previously shown to support nutrient cycling, prevent diseases, and ameliorate abiotic stress. The results of this study suggest that intercropping walnut with tea increased host fitness and growth by positively influencing soil microbial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Chao Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Bao-Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | | | - Mubashar Raza
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Qi-Zhu Wang
- Center for Walnut Technology of Baokang County, Xiangyang, China
| | - Ya-Nan Fu
- Center for Walnut Technology of Baokang County, Xiangyang, China
| | - Jian-Yang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of the Discovery and Development of Novel Pesticides, Shenyang Sinochem Agrochemicals R&D Co., Ltd., Shenyang, China
| | - Abdessamad Imoulan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technics of Errachidia, Mouly Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
| | - Muzammil Hussain
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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