Abstract
Organic farming has positive effects on soil microbial population, process, and activity. To examine effects of two different management methods (organic farming vs. conventional farming) on the cultivation of Japanese apricot, contents of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), total glomalin, and soil chemical properties were analyzed and compared. The organic farming practice resulted in significantly higher contents of organic matter, total FAME, total bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and total glomalin than the conventional farming practice. Soil organic matter showed positive correlation with contents of soil microbial biomass, total bacteria, total glomalin, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetes, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In 2018, the organic farming practice resulted in lower ratios of cy17:0 and 16:1ω7c than the conventional farming practice, indicating that microbial stress was reduced by the input of organic fertilizer into soil. Based on principal component analyses (PCA) of soil microbial communities, ratios of cy17:0 to 16:1ω7c in orchid soil can be used as microbial indicators to distinguish organically farmed orchard soil from conventionally farmed orchard soil.
Highlights
The market for organic agricultural produce is rapidly expanding because more and more people are preferring safe food due to widespread awareness about environmental friendliness, wellness, and food safety
The market size of organic agricultural products has increased by an annual average of 3.6%
Soil physio-chemical properties are primarily considered for soil management in the case of organic farming, soil microorganisms are very important for material cycling as key members of the natural ecosystem [3, 4]
Summary
The market for organic agricultural produce is rapidly expanding because more and more people are preferring safe food due to widespread awareness about environmental friendliness, wellness, and food safety. In the global organic produce market, the supply is quickly outpaced by the demand [1]. The number of organic farmers and certified cultivation area have increased steadily from 2000 to 2017 at annual growth rates of 23.6% and 28.1%, respectively. The market size of organic agricultural products has increased by an annual average of 3.6%. Soil physio-chemical properties are primarily considered for soil management in the case of organic farming, soil microorganisms are very important for material cycling as key members of the natural ecosystem [3, 4]
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