Soil properties, microbial communities, and sugarcane yield in paired fields with short- or long-term sugarcane cultivation histories

Abstract

Abiotic and biotic factors relationship with microbial ecology and yield decline were evaluated in soils under short- and long-term sugarcane cultivation. Sugarcane yields at paired sites were higher in short-term compared to long-term cultivation soils. Evaluation of soil properties confirmed higher levels of soil organic matter and micro- and macro-nutrients interacting with soil pH and texture in soils with newly cultivated sugarcane production capable of affecting microbial ecology. Depletion of micronutrients, including iron, copper, and zinc, was associated with the long-term cultivation of sugarcane. Soil extracellular enzyme activity was affected by soil nutrient concentrations and cultivation history. Endophytic fungal colonization was more extensive in sugarcane roots from plants grown in long-term cultivation soils. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biomarker profiles in bulk soils exhibited clustering for location and paired soils within locations. Similarity was based on relative abundance of biomarkers for different taxonomic groups under the influence of soil pH, texture, organic matter, and nutrients. FAME biomarker profiles revealed greater cultivation history differences for rhizosphere soils than for bulk soils. The observed patterns for short- and long-term sugarcane cultivation soils would likely influence the structure of the microbial community in the rhizosphere and subsequently influence plant growth. However, there was no consistent pattern for the FAME biomarkers distinguishing long-term from short-term sugarcane cultivation soils. The soil chemical and microbial community results highlight differences between recently and continuously cultivated soils associated with detrimental effects on soil health resulting from long-term sugarcane production.