High C input by perennial energy crops boosts belowground functioning and increases soil organic P content

TitleHigh C input by perennial energy crops boosts belowground functioning and increases soil organic P content
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsFerrarini A., Martani E., Fornasier F., Amaducci S.
JournalAgriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Volume308
Pagination15
Date PublishedMar
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number0167-8809
Accession NumberWOS:000604619500010
KeywordsAgriculture, Belowground, biomass production, C substrate utilization, Carbon sequestration, Depth decay, Ecosystem services, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, Enzyme activities, enzyme-activities, functioning, Land-use change, microbial community, nitrogen availability, Perennial energy crops, phosphorus composition, physiological profiles, Plant C input, plant inputs, Plant-microbial-SOM linkages, profile, soil organic matter, Soil organic P
Abstract

C input to soil together with plant-microbial-soil organic matter (SOM) transformations are key ecological drivers for soil functioning in perennial cropping systems. In this study, we assessed the effect of three woody (poplar, black locust, willow) and three herbaceous (giant reed, miscanthus, switchgrass) perennial energy crops (PECs) on SOM pools, soil microbial biomass and metabolism and soil P forms distribution. After 9 y from plantation on a low-grade arable land, PECs significantly increased SOM content as much as 3.9 g kg(-1) (+23 %) in the topsoil (0-30 cm). At the same time active C increased by 194 mg kg(-1) (+ 43 %) and microbial biomass by 10.7 mg g(-1) (+ 80 %). Microbial catabolic activity as measured respectively with twenty enzymes activities (EA) involved in C-, N-, P-, and S- cycling increased by 90 % and C substrate utilization profile (CSU - Microresp (TM)) showed an increase of respiration rate by 13 % on average of all 16 substrates utilized. PERMANOVA and dbRDA analysis indicated that activity of microbial community associated with PECs differed significantly from that of arable land, with herbaceous PECs significantly increasing EA involved in C and N cycling while woody PECs increasing those involved in P-cycling. Interestingly, organic P forms content (monoester- and diester-P) along with its contribution to total NaOH-EDTA extractable soil P increased in all PECs, but more in woody than herbaceous ones. Functional diversity and evenness of microbial community resulted higher under herbaceous than woody PECs. Depth decay relationships of Bray Curtis similarity for EA patterns, more than CSU profile, was significantly smaller in woody and arable land than in herbaceous PECs, indicating a significant control of plant C inputs to soil from deep-rooting systems on proximate agents of belowground functioning. Our investigation highlighted the higher capability PECs, compared to annual cropping systems, in coupling nutrients cycling with C cycling, with the high C input being most probably the driving factor. Therefore, PECs might be ultimately considered not just as energy crops but also as a valuable strategy for revitalizing depleted soils by conventional agricultural practices.

Short TitleAgric. Ecosyst. Environ.Agric. Ecosyst. Environ.
Alternate JournalAgric. Ecosyst. Environ.
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Cited Reference Count: 148
Ferrarini, A. Martani, E. Fornasier, F. Amaducci, S.
Martani, Enrico/0000-0003-0236-0328; Ferrarini, Andrea/0000-0001-9390-7004
Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF)
This work was partially founded by HEDGE-BIOMASS project cofinanced by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF). We thank Piero Bonardi and Paolo Serra for their help running soil sampling and site management, and the undergraduate's students who helped analyse soil samples.

18
Elsevier
Amsterdam
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Ferrarini, A (corresponding author), Univ Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Dept Sustainable Crop Prod, Via Emilia Parmense 84, I-29122 Piacenza, Italy.
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