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Longepierre M, Feola Conz R, Barthel M, Bru D, Philippot L, Six J, Hartmann M. Mixed Effects of Soil Compaction on the Nitrogen Cycle Under Pea and Wheat. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:822487. [PMID: 35330614 PMCID: PMC8940171 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.822487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil compaction caused by highly mechanized agriculture can constrain soil microbial diversity and functioning. Physical pressure on the soil decreases macropores and thereby limits oxygen diffusion. The associated shift from aerobic to anaerobic conditions can reduce nitrification and promote denitrification processes, leading to nitrogen (N) losses and N depletion that affect plant productivity. High soil moisture content during trafficking can exacerbate the negative effects of soil compaction. However, the extent to which soil moisture amplifies the effects of compaction on the soil microbiome and its control over N cycling is not well understood. Using a controlled greenhouse experiment with two different crops (pea and wheat), we compared the effects of compaction at three different soil moisture levels on soil physicochemical properties, microbial diversity, and the abundance of specific N species and quantification of associated microbial functional groups in the N cycle. Soil compaction increased bulk density from 15% (light compaction) to 25% (severe compaction). Compaction delayed germination in both crops and reduced yield by up to 60% for pea and 40% for wheat. Compaction further induced crop-specific shifts in microbial community structures. After compaction, the relative abundance of denitrifiers increased along with increased nitrate (NO3–) consumption and elevated nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations in the soil pores. Conversely, the relative abundance of nitrifiers remained stable under compaction, but potentially decelerated nitrification rates, resulting in ammonium (NH4+) accumulation in the soil. This study showed that soil compaction effects are proportional to the initial soil moisture content, which could serve as a good indicator of compaction severity on agricultural fields. However, the impact of soil compaction on crop performance and on microbial communities and functions associated with the N cycle were not necessarily aligned. These findings demonstrate that not only the soil physical properties but also various biological indicators need to be considered in order to provide more precise recommendations for developing sustainable farming systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Longepierre
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Manon Longepierre,
| | - Rafaela Feola Conz
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matti Barthel
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Bru
- Department of Agroecology, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Laurent Philippot
- Department of Agroecology, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INRAE, AgroSup Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Johan Six
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hartmann
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Martin Hartmann,
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Gallarotti N, Barthel M, Verhoeven E, Pereira EIP, Bauters M, Baumgartner S, Drake TW, Boeckx P, Mohn J, Longepierre M, Mugula JK, Makelele IA, Ntaboba LC, Six J. In-depth analysis of N 2O fluxes in tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin combining isotope and functional gene analysis. ISME J 2021; 15:3357-3374. [PMID: 34035444 PMCID: PMC8528805 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Primary tropical forests generally exhibit large gaseous nitrogen (N) losses, occurring as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O) or elemental nitrogen (N2). The release of N2O is of particular concern due to its high global warming potential and destruction of stratospheric ozone. Tropical forest soils are predicted to be among the largest natural sources of N2O; however, despite being the world's second-largest rainforest, measurements of gaseous N-losses from forest soils of the Congo Basin are scarce. In addition, long-term studies investigating N2O fluxes from different forest ecosystem types (lowland and montane forests) are scarce. In this study we show that fluxes measured in the Congo Basin were lower than fluxes measured in the Neotropics, and in the tropical forests of Australia and South East Asia. In addition, we show that despite different climatic conditions, average annual N2O fluxes in the Congo Basin's lowland forests (0.97 ± 0.53 kg N ha-1 year-1) were comparable to those in its montane forest (0.88 ± 0.97 kg N ha-1 year-1). Measurements of soil pore air N2O isotope data at multiple depths suggests that a microbial reduction of N2O to N2 within the soil may account for the observed low surface N2O fluxes and low soil pore N2O concentrations. The potential for microbial reduction is corroborated by a significant abundance and expression of the gene nosZ in soil samples from both study sites. Although isotopic and functional gene analyses indicate an enzymatic potential for complete denitrification, combined gaseous N-losses (N2O, N2) are unlikely to account for the missing N-sink in these forests. Other N-losses such as NO, N2 via Feammox or hydrological particulate organic nitrogen export could play an important role in soils of the Congo Basin and should be the focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Gallarotti
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matti Barthel
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Verhoeven
- grid.4391.f0000 0001 2112 1969College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR USA
| | - Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira
- grid.449717.80000 0004 5374 269XSchool of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX USA
| | - Marijn Bauters
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Computational and Applied Vegetation Ecology Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Simon Baumgartner
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ,grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XEarth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Travis W. Drake
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Mohn
- grid.7354.50000 0001 2331 3059Laboratory for Air Pollution/Environmental Technology, Swiss Federal Laboratories of Materials Science and Technology, Empa Dubendorf, Switzerland
| | - Manon Longepierre
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John Kalume Mugula
- grid.442836.f0000 0004 7477 7760Département de Biologie, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Isaac Ahanamungu Makelele
- grid.442836.f0000 0004 7477 7760Département de Biologie, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Landry Cizungu Ntaboba
- grid.442834.d0000 0004 6011 4325Département d’ Agronomie, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Johan Six
- grid.5801.c0000 0001 2156 2780Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Longepierre M, Widmer F, Keller T, Weisskopf P, Colombi T, Six J, Hartmann M. Limited resilience of the soil microbiome to mechanical compaction within four growing seasons of agricultural management. ISME Commun 2021; 1:44. [PMID: 36740718 PMCID: PMC9723577 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-021-00046-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Soil compaction affects many soil functions, but we have little information on the resistance and resilience of soil microorganisms to this disturbance. Here, we present data on the response of soil microbial diversity to a single compaction event and its temporal evolution under different agricultural management systems during four growing seasons. Crop yield was reduced (up to -90%) in the first two seasons after compaction, but mostly recovered in subsequent seasons. Soil compaction increased soil bulk density (+15%), and decreased air permeability (-94%) and gas diffusion (-59%), and those properties did not fully recover within four growing seasons. Soil compaction induced cropping system-dependent shifts in microbial community structures with little resilience over the four growing seasons. Microbial taxa sensitive to soil compaction were detected in all major phyla. Overall, anaerobic prokaryotes and saprotrophic fungi increased in compacted soils, whereas aerobic prokaryotes and plant-associated fungi were mostly negatively affected. Most measured properties showed large spatial variability across the replicated blocks, demonstrating the dependence of compaction effects on initial conditions. This study demonstrates that soil compaction is a disturbance that can have long-lasting effects on soil properties and soil microorganisms, but those effects are not necessarily aligned with changes in crop yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Longepierre
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Thomas Keller
- Soil Quality and Soil Use, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Tino Colombi
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Six
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hartmann
- Sustainable Agroecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Courtois P, Rorat A, Lemiere S, Guyoneaud R, Attard E, Longepierre M, Rigal F, Levard C, Chaurand P, Grosser A, Grobelak A, Kacprzak M, Lors C, Richaume A, Vandenbulcke F. Medium-term effects of Ag supplied directly or via sewage sludge to an agricultural soil on Eisenia fetida earthworm and soil microbial communities. Chemosphere 2021; 269:128761. [PMID: 33168285 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in consumer products that release Ag throughout their life cycle has raised potential environmental concerns. AgNPs primarily accumulate in soil through the spreading of sewage sludge (SS). In this study, the effects of direct exposure to AgNPs or indirect exposure via SS contaminated with AgNPs on the earthworm Eisenia fetida and soil microbial communities were compared, through 3 scenarios offering increasing exposure concentrations. The effects of Ag speciation were analyzed by spiking SS with AgNPs or AgNO3 before application to soil. SS treatment strongly impacted Ag speciation due to the formation of Ag2S species that remained sulfided after mixing in the soil. The life traits and expression of lysenin, superoxide dismutase, cd-metallothionein genes in earthworms were not impacted by Ag after 5 weeks of exposure, but direct exposure to Ag without SS led to bioaccumulation of Ag, suggesting transfer in the food chain. Ag exposure led to a decrease in potential carbon respiration only when directly added to the soil. The addition of SS had a greater effect on soil microbial diversity than the form of Ag, and the formation of Ag sulfides in SS reduced the impact of AgNPs on E. fetida and soil microorganisms compared with direct addition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Courtois
- Univ. Lille, IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Artois, Yncrea Hauts-de-France, ULR4515 - LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France.
| | - Agnieszka Rorat
- Univ. Lille, IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Artois, Yncrea Hauts-de-France, ULR4515 - LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Sébastien Lemiere
- Univ. Lille, IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Artois, Yncrea Hauts-de-France, ULR4515 - LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Rémy Guyoneaud
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, UMR IPREM 5254, Environmental Microbiology, 64000, Pau, France
| | - Eléonore Attard
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, UMR IPREM 5254, Environmental Microbiology, 64000, Pau, France
| | - Manon Longepierre
- Université de Pau et des Pays de L'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, UMR IPREM 5254, Environmental Microbiology, 64000, Pau, France
| | - François Rigal
- Azorean Biodiversity Group, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Departamento de Ciencias Agráriase Engenharia Do Ambiente, Universidade Dos Açores, PT-9700-042, Angra Do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
| | - Clément Levard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Perrine Chaurand
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Anna Grosser
- Częstochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Anna Grobelak
- Częstochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Kacprzak
- Częstochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Infrastructure and Environment, Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Christine Lors
- Univ. Lille, IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Artois, Yncrea Hauts-de-France, ULR4515 - LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Agnès Richaume
- LEM, Laboratoire D'Ecologie Microbienne, UMR 5557, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Franck Vandenbulcke
- Univ. Lille, IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Artois, Yncrea Hauts-de-France, ULR4515 - LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et Géo-Environnement, F-59000, Lille, France
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