Microbial-based soil quality indicators in irrigated and rainfed soil portions of Mediterranean olive and peach orchards under sustainable management

作者：Pascazio Silvia; Crecchio Carmine; Scagliola Marina; Mininni Alba N; Dichio Bartolomeo; Xiloyannis Cristos; Sofo Adriano^*

来源：Agricultural Water Management, 2018, 195: 172-179.

DOI：10.1016/j.agwat.2017.10.014

• Drip irrigation
• Microbial biomass carbon
• Nitrogen functional genes
• Soil quality and fertility
• Soil enzyme activities
• Sustainable soil management

The main objective of this study was to apply microbial indicators of soil quality in drip-irrigated olive and peach orchards managed with sustainable agricultural practices. Soil characterization was carded out in different areas of the orchards along the row, under the drippers (R-dr), and along the inter-row, rainfed (IRrf), to evaluate the effects of irrigation. Two parameters were followed during one year: a) a biochemical soil indicator (N-c/N-k ratio) based on soil N/C turnover and soil enzyme activities, and b) the abundance of three important N-cycling genes (nifH, amoA and nosZ). Localized irrigation caused higher values of water content in the R-dr, areas, compared to IRrf. The N-c/N-k ratio exhibited all the attributes of a reliable soil fertility indicator, being generally higher in irrigated R-dr areas. The abundance of nifH and amoA in the soil showed a trend similar to N-c/N-k, being affected by higher soil water content, while nosZ abundance was generally insensitive to irrigation. Both N-c/N-k and gene abundances, much more than the measured chemical, biochemical and molecular soil parameters considered alone, can give a precise idea on N and C soil dynamics, that in turn, affect soil quality and fertility.

• 出版日期2018-1-1