Sensitivity of Nematode Community Analysis to Agricultural Management Practices and Inoculation with Local Effective Microorganisms in the Southeastern United States

Laura Ney,Miguel Cabrera,Dorcas Franklin,Dennis Hancock,Anish Subedi,Kishan Mahmud,Mussie Habteselassie,Subash Dahal,Quint Newcomer

doi:10.3390/soilsystems3020041

Abstract

In order to ensure a soil system’s sustained ability to carry out ecosystem services, indicators that assess soil health are needed. We examined the capacity of nematode maturity index (MI), structure index (SI), enrichment index (EI), and trophic groups as measures of soil health, by determining soil nematodes’ sensitivity to cropping systems: rotation, perturbation, fertilization, and inoculation with local effective microorganisms (LEM). Plots were managed for two years under different rotations, annual ryegrass/fallow (ARF) and cereal rye/edamame soybean (CRS). In the third year of the study, all of the plots were managed exactly the same as a wheat/edamame rotation. Data were collected in both winter and summer of this year. In all three years, three inoculant treatments (LEM, False-LEM and No inoculate) were applied. In CRS plots, which received the most tillage and fertilization, there were greater SI values in soils that received LEM application. Nematode community structure described by each MI, SI, and EI were sensitive enough to reflect changes due to differences in soil management practices from previous years. Principal components analysis confirmed that nitrogen mineralization is an important measure to include when using nematode community analysis in the development of a soil health index.

Highlights

Soils are an essential natural resource that provides food, fiber and building materials through agricultural production and offers a host of other important ecosystem services.These services include capturing and storing water, decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, gas exchange, carbon sequestration, and suppression of disease and pests [1]
Soils from plots previously managed in the bare control (BC) and Annual Ryegrass/ Fallow system (ARF) rotation systems had higher maturity index (MI) and structure index (SI) values than the soils managed in the Cereal rye/soy system (CRS) rotation system (Table 2)
Like in the winter sampling, the SI values were higher in the soils from plots previously managed in the bare control plots (BC) and ARF rotation systems than soils managed in the CRS rotation system (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Soils are an essential natural resource that provides food, fiber and building materials through agricultural production and offers a host of other important ecosystem services. These services include capturing and storing water, decomposing organic matter, cycling nutrients, gas exchange, carbon sequestration, and suppression of disease and pests [1]. For the sake of clarity, we will be referring to soil health as the capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health [4]

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