Ecological management model for the improvement of soil fertility through the regulation of rare microbial taxa in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plantation soils. (15th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Xiangde; Leng, Yang; Zhou, Zeyu; Shang, Huaiguo; Ni, Kang; Ma, Lifeng; Yi, Xiaoyun; Cai, Yanjiang; Ji, Lingfei; Ruan, Jianyun; Shi, Yuanzhi
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 308(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15
• Subjects: Agriculture management -- Soil fertility -- Rare microbial taxa -- Co-occurrence network -- Random forest regression; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Agricultural management is essential to enhance soil ecosystem service function through optimizing soil physical conditions and improving nutrient supply, which is predominantly regulated by soil microorganisms. Several studies have focused on soil biodiversity and function in tea plantation systems. However, the effects of different agriculture managements on soil fertility and microbes remain poorly characterized, especially for what concerns perennial agroecosystems. In this study, 40 soil samples were collected from 10 tea plantation sites in China to explore the effects of ecological and conventional managements on soil fertility, as well as on microbial diversity, community composition, and co-occurrence network. Compared with conventional management, ecological management was found to significantly enhance soil fertility, microbial diversity, and microbial network complexity. Additionally, a significant difference in community composition was clearly observed under the two agriculture managements, especially for rare microbial taxa, whose relative abundance significantly increased under ecological management. Random forest modeling revealed that rare taxa (e.g., Rokubacteria and Mortierellomycota), rather than dominant microbial taxa (e.g., Proteobacteria and Ascomycota), were key variables for predicting soil fertility. This indicates that rare taxa might play a fundamental role in biological processes. Overall, our results suggest that ecological management is more efficient than conventional management in regulating rare microbial taxa and maintaining a good soil fertility in tea plantation systems. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Conventional management decreased soil fertility. Ecological management increased microbial diversity and soil fertility. Ecological management enhanced the complexity of network patterns. Soil fertility was mainly determined by rare microbial taxa. Ecological management facilitated sustainable agricultural development.