轮作与连作对烟田土壤微生物区系及多样性的影响

为探讨轮作与连作对烟田根际土壤微生物群落的影响,采用实验室微生物培养联合微生物高通量测序技术,分析了玉米-烤烟轮作和烟叶连作对烟株根际土壤微生物数量、群落结构及其多样性的影响。研究结果表明,轮作烟田根际土壤中可培养细菌和放线菌数量均高于连作烟田根际土壤,但真菌数量低于连作烟田。土壤高通量测序结果表明,轮作烟田根际土壤真菌和细菌群落多样性均高于连作烟田;在烟株的生长过程中,轮作和连作烟田在旺长期和成熟期微生物群落相似度降低。相较于黑胫病/根腐病/根结线虫发病率较高(36. 67%)的连作烟田来说,轮作烟田发病率较低(0%),进一步分析真菌和细菌群落结构发现,轮作烟田根际土壤中拮抗菌如Sphingomonas (鞘脂单胞菌属)、Pseudomonas (假单胞菌属)、Aspergillus (曲霉属)等相对丰度均高于连作烟田,而连作烟田根腐病病菌Pythium (腐霉属)丰度较高。     

连作番茄根区病土对番茄生长及土壤线虫与微生物的影响

探索连作番茄根区病土对番茄根结线虫病的诱导效果及引起连作障碍的微生态机制,可为深入了解番茄连作障碍发生机理及探究番茄连作障碍防治方法提供科学依据。本研究利用盆栽试验,测定了番茄在健康土壤及接种病土土壤中生物学特性变化及根结线虫侵染状况,并分析鉴定了土壤中微生物及线虫的种类与数量。结果表明,接种连作番茄根结线虫病株根区病土会对番茄生长及根结线虫侵染产生影响:1)番茄苗期根系根结数达9个?株~(-1),健康土壤无根结;土壤线虫数量较健康土壤增加390.4%;收获期番茄根结线虫侵染率达62.7%,病情指数为80.0%。2)番茄生长受到抑制,叶片防御酶活性降低,收获期茎叶及根系鲜质量较健康土壤分别减少50.2%及33.1%,苗期番茄叶片PPO活性较健康土壤降低15.8%,POD活性较健康土壤增加24.0%,差异均达显著水平(P0.05)。3)番茄根系更易感染有害菌,根系内病原菌甘蓝假单胞菌数量较健康土壤增加463倍,根区土壤细菌、真菌及放线菌总数分别增加46.3%、94.5%及134.0%。4)食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫及植物寄生性线虫数量分别为健康根区土壤的3.3倍、1.6倍及7.3倍,其中的植物寄生线虫95.6%为根结线虫。综上所述,接入连作番茄根结线虫病株根区病土不仅导致番茄遭受根结线虫侵染,而且会导致土壤线虫总量及植物寄生线虫所占比例大幅增加,并使番茄根系内有害细菌数量显著增加,对番茄生长造成显著抑制作用,同时影响番茄的生理生化特性,受线虫侵染番茄防御性酶活性降低,使其更易被根结线虫及病原菌侵染,番茄根区土壤线虫、微生物及根系内优势细菌的种类与数量及其之间的作用发生改变。     

保护地菜田与稻麦轮作田土壤微生物学特征的比较

比较分析了位于长江三角洲嘉兴市的三类主要水稻土(漏水型水稻土、爽水型水稻土和囊水型水稻土)由稻麦(或油菜)轮作改为多年连作露地蔬菜和大棚蔬菜后一些土壤微生物学特征的变化,以衡量土壤质量演变的趋势。结果表明,与稻麦(油)轮作土壤相比,蔬菜地土壤微生物区系发生了极大的变化,细菌数量显著减少,真菌和放线菌数量却显著增加;硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量随土壤类型不同呈不同的变化。多年连作露地蔬菜和蔬菜大棚保护地土壤中微生物生物量碳和总磷脂(TPL)含量显著低于稻麦轮作土壤,土壤中脱氢酶活性也显著低于稻麦轮作土壤。Biolog分析表明,蔬菜大棚保护地土壤中微生物能利用的碳源显著少于露地蔬菜和稻麦轮作土壤,而后两者间无显著差异。说明由稻麦(油)轮作改为多年连作大棚蔬菜后土壤微生物群落结构、功能的多样性明显下降,土壤质量的稳定性和可持续利用性土壤的长期生产力也将大大降低。土壤微生物数量、活性及群落结构和功能多样性的下降主要与蔬菜栽培特别是大棚蔬菜栽培的旱作与稻麦水旱轮作的生态环境条件的变化和前者的过量施用精有机肥和高效NPK复合肥导致的土壤氮、磷富集、有机质下降、次生盐渍化和酸化有关。     

不同轮作模式对砂田土壤微生物区系及理化性状的影响

砂田是干旱半干旱地区具有综合效能的旱作覆盖技术,有明显改良和调节农田小环境的功效,近年来随着砂田产业化的快速发展,西瓜连作现象非常普遍,连作障碍明显。针对砂田西瓜连作障碍明显的现状, 基于定位试验, 研究了西瓜连作(对照, CK)和西瓜→花豆、西瓜→辣椒、西瓜→南瓜3种轮作方式对砂田土壤微生物群落和理化性状的影响, 结果表明: 与连作相比, 3种轮作模式均可改善土壤微生物区系结构, 增加土壤微生物多样性指数, 增加细菌、放线菌数量及细菌数量与真菌数量比值(B/F), 减少真菌数量; 其中以与辣椒轮作效果最为明显, 多样性指数(McIntosh指数, 0.247)较CK(0.146)显著增加, 放线菌数量比例(31.98%)较CK (14.22%)显著增加, 但真菌数量及占总菌数的比例(0.06%)相对CK(0.43%)明显降低。轮作能改变土壤微生态环境, 提高砂田土壤微生物多样性, 缓解西瓜的连作障碍,西瓜与辣椒轮作是有效预防和克服连作障碍的较佳种植制度。     

连续水旱轮作对水稻冷浸田土壤细菌群落结构的影响

利用高通量测序技术,采用单季稻-冬闲(CK)、油菜-水稻(R-R)、春玉米-水稻(C-R)、紫云英-水稻(M-R)和蚕豆-水稻(B-R)五个处理探究水旱轮作模式对水稻冷浸田土壤细菌群落结构的影响,同时分析了土壤理化因子与细菌群落结构的关系。结果表明:水旱轮作能够显著增加水稻产量18%~44%。与CK相比,绝大多数水旱轮作降低了土壤细菌的丰富度,而细菌多样性与CK处理无显著差异。变形菌门和酸杆菌门为土壤中的优势细菌类群,其中变形菌门的丰度最高。与CK相比,轮作后酸杆菌、放线菌、硝化螺旋菌、慢生根瘤菌和亚硝化螺菌等参与碳氮循环的菌群丰度明显增加。聚类分析表明CK和M-R轮作土壤细菌群落单独聚为一类,而B-R、C-R和R-R轮作土壤聚为另一类。冗余分析表明土壤全磷、有效磷和p H是影响水旱轮作土壤细菌群落结构的主要因子。     

不同有机物料对连作大豆根际土壤线虫的影响

为探讨大豆连作体系下农业废弃物为主的不同有机物料对根际土壤线虫的影响,选用6种不同有机物料,设正茬和连作两种处理进行对比分析根际土壤线虫群落差异。结果表明:土壤线虫中重要的优势属和关键属种cp值均为3,说明其繁殖和抗干扰能力比较强。连作7年后根际土壤线虫营养类群中杂食-捕食性线虫相对丰度下降明显,植物寄生线虫相对丰度显著提高,食细菌线虫、食真菌线虫丰度略有提高;相较单施化肥(CK)处理,添加有机物料明显抑制连作大豆根际土壤中植物寄生线虫的大量增长,不同施肥处理效果分别为:猪粪秸秆菌渣牧草鸡粪黄腐酸生物有机肥CK,与正茬相比,各连作处理依次增长6.48%、15.34%、15.98%、18.51%、24.35%、26.33%和27.4%。土壤线虫的生态指数较CK相比也有明显改善。土壤线虫对肥料的响应取决于作物及肥料的质量和养分含量;土壤线虫优势营养类群、优势属种和关键属种可以有效地指示农业土壤健康状况和大豆田间线虫病害的发生程度。     

3种西兰花种植方式对根际土壤细菌群落结构和多样性的影响研究

为明确不同种植方式减缓西兰花的连作障碍,本研究采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术,分析和比较了浙江省台州湾滨海滩涂地西兰花种植区单季稻-西兰花水旱轮作、南瓜-西兰花旱旱轮作和西兰花连作3种种植方式对西兰花根际土壤细菌群落结构和多样性的影响。结果表明,3种种植方式西兰花根际土壤共获得28门、92纲、167目、301科、691属土壤细菌。变形菌门、酸杆菌门、放线菌门、芽单胞菌门、拟杆菌门、绿湾菌门、蓝细菌门、厚壁菌门、硝化螺旋菌门、疣微菌门是台州湾滩涂围垦地西兰花根际土壤细菌相对丰度较高的优势菌群。水旱轮作能提高西兰花根际土壤细菌变形菌门、酸杆菌门和绿湾菌门的相对丰度,但降低了西兰花根际土壤细菌放线菌门、芽单胞菌门、拟杆菌门和蓝细菌门的相对丰度。多样性指数和丰富度指数均以水旱轮作为最高,其次是旱旱轮作,以西兰花连作的土壤多样性指数和丰富度指数最低。因此,与西兰花长期连作相比,水旱轮作和旱旱轮作均能改善台州湾滨海滩涂地区西兰花根际土壤细菌群落结构。水稻-西兰花水旱轮作更能增加西兰花根际土壤细菌有益菌丰度,提高其根际土壤细菌多样性指数,以改良西兰花根际生态环境。本研究结果为实现该区域西兰花优质高产栽培提供了理论和实践依据。     

连作年限对香蕉园土壤线虫群落结构及多样性的影响

为研究连作对蕉园土壤生态系统的影响,以海南香蕉种植区为例,采集不同连作年限(l a、3 a、5 a、7a、10 a和15 a)蕉园土壤,采用线虫形态学鉴定方法,分析了不同连作年限蕉园土壤线虫群落结构及多样性的变化规律。结果表明:整个生育期不同连作年限地块共发现土壤线虫属45个。苗期随连作年限增加线虫总数、食细菌线虫数量和食真菌线虫数量逐渐降低(15 a除外);营养生长期随连作年限增加线虫总数、食细菌线虫数量和食真菌线虫数量先增加后降低;抽蕾期随连作年限增加线虫总数和食细菌线虫数量先增加后降低,食真菌线虫数量逐渐降低。整个生长季,随着连作年限增加植物寄生线虫数量先增加后降低。苗期、营养生长期和成熟期,随着连作年限增加捕食/杂食线虫数量逐渐降低。苗期和抽蕾期的线虫总数显著高于营养生长期和成熟期。苗期的食真菌线虫数量和营养生长期的植物寄生线虫数量显著低于其他各生长时期。苗期和营养生长期的捕食/杂食线虫数量显著低于抽蕾期和成熟期。苗期随连作年限增加,优势度指数(λ)先增加后降低,香农多样性指数(H)和植物寄生线虫成熟度指数(PPI)逐渐增加,瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)和通路指数(NCR)逐渐降低;营养生长期随连作年限增加,λ先增加后降低,NCR和PPI逐渐增加,H、自由生活线虫成熟度指数(MI)和WI逐渐降低;抽蕾期随连作年限增加,λ先增加后降低,NCR和PPI逐渐增加,H和WI逐渐降低;成熟期随连作年限增加,H和MI逐渐降低,PPI逐渐增加。从整个生育期来看,随生长时间推移,H逐渐增加,λ逐渐降低,苗期和营养生长期的MI低于抽蕾期和成熟期,苗期和成熟期的WI低于营养生长期和抽蕾期。本研究显示,土壤线虫群落结构可有效反映连作蕉园土壤的健康状况,土壤线虫可作为土壤中重要的指示生物。     

设施种植模式对土壤细菌多样性及群落结构的影响

为了研究有机和常规设施种植模式及轮作对土壤细菌多样性和群落结构的影响,本研究采用Illumina平台Hiseq 2500高通量测序技术,于2016年6月(作物处于收获期)对北京市顺义区不同设施种植模式(分别为有机设施种植模式和常规设施种植模式下的叶菜连作、茄果连作和叶茄轮作)下土壤细菌进行16S r RNA测序。测序质控后共获得17 278个操作分类单元(operational taxonomic units,OTUs),共计318 851条有效序列。比较不同种植模式和轮作下土壤细菌多样性、细菌群落结构组成、相对丰度及土壤理化性质与细菌群落多样性关系的差异性。结果表明:土壤微生物群落结构在有机和常规设施种植模式下差异明显,有机设施种植土壤细菌多样性高于常规设施种植;有机设施种植下轮作与连作土壤细菌群落结构表现出明显差异,而常规设施种植下,两者没有明显差异;有机种植模式下,轮作土壤细菌群落多样性高于连作土壤;设施种植土壤细菌群落主要属于鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas,5.05%)和芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus,4.84%),相对丰度大于0.5%的共有14个属。有机设施种植土壤含有较多促进植物生长、有机质分解的细菌,常规设施种植土壤中降解化学杀虫剂、防治土壤病害、促进硝化过程的细菌较多。RDA分析结果显示土壤细菌群落主要受全磷、速效磷、有机质的影响。Tumebacillus、Candidatus Solibacter和Acidothermus都是分解有机质、利用碳源的细菌属,与土壤有机质含量呈正相关关系。由此可见,设施条件下,有机和常规种植土壤微生物群落结构的差异性主要源于肥料使用、有害生物防治措施和管理方式的不同。有机设施种植模式下,轮作更有利于发挥其改良土壤营养循环和防治土壤病虫害的作用。上述结果为在微生物水平上研究设施条件下不同种植模式的土壤生态质量差异提供了参考。     

嘎隆拉山铁杉林（Tsuga dumosa）土壤线虫群落 结构及多样性研究

为了解西藏墨脱嘎隆拉山铁杉林土壤生态系统线虫群落的结构及多样性特征，课题组于2017年9月对嘎隆拉山铁杉林不同生境土壤0-25cm深度范围的线虫群落进行了调查。采用种类组成、个体密度、多样性指数、功能性指数等特征值分析了土壤线虫群落的结构及多样性特点。并且，对嘎隆拉山铁杉林土壤线虫群落结构与土壤理化性质之间的关系进行了冗余分析及线性相关性分析。结果显示，嘎隆拉山铁杉林土壤线虫隶属于5目29科34属，个体密度平均278条/100g干土，土层间无明显差异；群落优势属为垫咽属和细齿属；食真菌性线虫是最主要的营养类群；土壤有机质以真菌降解途径为主；指数MI、PPI 值则说明了嘎隆拉山铁杉林生态系统受到干扰较小，成熟度高，目前处于相对稳定的状态。     

黄瓜连作土壤高温处理对根结线虫和枯萎病的影响

[目的]设施黄瓜连作导致根结线虫和枯萎病发生普遍且严重,利用夏季温室休闲期高温闷棚是解决上述土传病害安全而有效的途径之一。本试验模拟高温闷棚,研究不同温度处理连作土壤根结线虫和枯萎病的变化,旨在为利用太阳光进行温室高温消毒提供理论支撑。[方法]本试验以连作1~19茬‘津优30’黄瓜品种的土壤为试材,首先探明不同连作茬次黄瓜的根结线虫和枯萎病发生程度以及土壤中二者病原物种群数量的动态变化,然后对发病较重的第17茬连作土壤分别进行45℃、50℃、55℃和60℃的高温处理,最后测定比较不同温度处理后的土壤中病原物数量变化,并对高温处理后的土壤进行栽培试验,测量和比较两种病害的发生程度及植株各项生长指标。[结果]随着黄瓜连作茬次的增加,土壤中根结线虫和枯萎病菌的种群数量均增加,两种病害也逐茬加重,至第17茬两种病害的发病程度及其对应病原物的数量均达最高(或次高)水平;对第17茬黄瓜连作土壤进行45℃~60℃的高温处理,随着温度的升高,土壤中的根结线虫和枯萎病菌的数量均减少,当处理温度达55℃时可完全杀灭土壤中根结线虫,达60℃时可同时杀灭枯萎病菌;用高温处理的连作土壤栽培黄瓜秧苗,其根结线虫病和枯萎病的发生程度均随着处理温度的升高而减轻,当处理土壤的温度达到50℃和60℃以上时,根结线虫病和枯萎病分别被完全控制;另外,用60℃处理的连作土壤定植黄瓜,其后期植株生长指标和壮苗指数也显著优于对照。[结论]土传病害随连作茬次增加而加重主要是缘于土壤中病原物积累,定植前对土壤55℃以上的高温处理,可有效减少乃至完全杀灭土壤中根结线虫和枯萎病菌,从而减轻或杜绝两种病害的发生。     

Successional trends in the characteristics of soil nematode communities in cropped and fallow lands in Senegal (Sonkorong)

Soil nematode communities in the 0–15 cm soil layer are used as indicators for describing the processes of fallow succession in the semi-arid zone of West Africa (Senegal). Abundance of plant feeding nematodes, non-plant feeding nematodes, plant parasite index (PPI), species richness and Shannon evenness of plant parasitic nematodes were measured at five stages of succession: fields, early (1–3 years), intermediate (8–10 years), old (18–20 years) fallows, and forest stage. These nematological indexes were analyzed simultaneously by multivariate analysis to show the indicative properties of nematode communities. Overall, changes in abundance of nematode groups, PPI and diversity, show continuous trends from early fallow to mature stages of the succession; these trends parallel theoretical trends in secondary succession. In addition, soil nematode parameters were meaningful and expressed interactions of various uncontrolled factors with successional processes, such as environmental conditions or cropping history. During the 3 years of the survey, the structure of nematode communities, described by index analysis, showed little temporal change and supported the use of nematodes as stable indicators.     

Nematodes associated with saffron II: Bioindication for soil health assessment and impact of agricultural practices

BackgroundSaffron cultivation is vital in the Taliouine-Taznakht regions, but the influence of agricultural practices on soil nematode communities, critical for soil health and plant productivity, is not well understood.This study characterizes nematode communities in saffron fields of the Taliouine-Taznakht regions, assessing the impact of various agricultural practices on these communities, with a focus on their diversity, functional roles, and potential as bio-indicators of soil health.A total of 163 soil samples were collected from saffron fields in Taliouine-Taznakht. Nematode communities were identified, quantified, and their functional diversity analyzed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to visualize relationships between nematode communities and sampling sites. Co-inertia analysis assessed the impact of agricultural practices on nematode diversity.The nematode communities were diverse and varied across regions. PCA identified unique nematode community compositions in different saffron fields. Omnivorous nematodes were strongly linked with Taouyalte (TA), and herbivorous ones were prevalent at Agadir Melloul (AM) and Sidi Hssaine (SH). Modern crop types, high-frequency irrigation, and alfalfa-barley rotation were positively correlated with predator nematode abundance, potentially controlling plant parasitic nematodes and encouraging nutrient cycling. Conversely, monocropping, traditional irrigation, and long plantation age correlated with reduced structure and maturity indices, suggesting a less stable ecosystem.This study unveils the intricate relationships between nematode communities in Taliouine-Taznakht saffron fields and agricultural practices. Findings indicate that specific practices, such as crop rotation and modern irrigation techniques, can foster beneficial nematode groups that improve soil health and potentially regulate harmful plant parasitic nematodes. This knowledge is crucial for crafting sustainable and effective saffron cultivation strategies.     

Effect of plant parasitic nematodes on the sustainability of a natural fallow cultural system in the Sudano-Sahelian area in Senegal

To study the influence of fallow on plant parasitic nematodes and soil fertility, the difference in the growth of millet in a greenhouse was compared in sterilized and naturally infested soil. These soils are ferruginous and were taken from a 17-year-old fallow plot and a neighbouring cultivated field, located in the region of Thysse Kaymor in Senegal. The plant-parasitic nematode community of the previously cultivated soil consisted primarily of two species: an ectoparasite, Tylenchorhynchus gladiolatus, and an endoparasite, Scutellonema cavenessi. The soil from the fallow plot was infested with many species, but under the influence of the millet crop, it evolved towards the two species situation observed in the cultivated soil, except that under the experimental conditions (in pots), Pratylenchus pseudopratensis replaced S. cavenessi. Whether or not the soil was infested with nematodes, the previous fallow period had a positive effect on the development of successive millet crops. The impoverishment of the soil through repeated cultivation and the impact of nematodes both reduced crop growth. The two factors evolved in the same way, that is a decrease in the development rate of the millet as the number of crop cycles increased. The symptoms of soil impoverishment can be corrected, either by suppressing the nematodes or by fallowing.     

Effectiveness of native West African arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in protecting vegetable crops against root-knot nematodes

Twenty strains of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), native to West Africa, and three commercial AMF, were evaluated for their protective effect against root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., in pots and field experiments in Benin. In pots, these strains were assessed in sterilized soil following inoculation of nematodes and in non-sterilized soil naturally infested with nematodes using tomato. The four strains showing greatest potential in suppressing nematode development were further assessed in the field with a relatively high natural infestation level of nematodes (155 per 100 cm³ soil) over a tomato–carrot double cropping. In the pot experiments, most native strains provided significant suppression of nematode multiplication and root galling, but in most cases the level of nematode control depends on either sterilized or non-sterilized soils. In the field experiments, application of AMF mostly resulted in significant suppression of nematode multiplication and root galling damage on both crops indicating that the AMF persists and remains protective against root-knot nematodes over two crop cycles. Field application of AMF increased tomato yields by 26% and carrot yields by over 300% compared with the non-AMF control treatments. This study demonstrates for the first time, the protective effect of indigenous West African AMF against root-knot nematodes on vegetables. The potential benefits of developing non-pesticide AMF-based pest management options for the intensive urban vegetable systems are evident.     

Effect of Cropping System on Physical Properties of Clay Soil Under Intensive Rice Cultivation

Cropping systems are thought to alter soil quality in paddy rice fields. This study was conducted to quantify the long‐term effects of continuous crop production under different cropping systems with different crop rotations on physical properties of alluvial clay soil in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Soil samples were collected from four treatments: (i) traditional intensive rice monoculture with three rice crops per year (R–R–R); (ii) rotation with two rice crops and maize (R–M–R); (iii) rotation with two rice crops and mung bean (R–Mb–R); and (iv) rotation with one rice and two upland crops, mung bean and maize (R–Mb–M). We hypothesized that cropping systems with rotations of upland crops and their temporary beds improve the physical quality of paddy rice soil; hence, they are better options towards sustainable agriculture. Results show an improvement of soil physical quality for systems with two rice crops and one upland crop (R–M–R and R–Mb–R) and those with one rice crop with two upland crops (R–Mb–M) compared with intensive rice monoculture (R–R–R). This was translated in decreased bulk density and soil strength, increased soil organic carbon and total porosity, and higher aggregate stability index, plant‐available water capacity, and Dexter's S index, especially at depths of 10–20 and 20–30 cm. The systems with different upland crops (maize or mung bean) showed similar high physical quality improvement. To maintain soil quality in future seasons, introducing a cropping system with at least one upland crop in rotation with rice is recommended. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil biological quality after 36 years of ley-arable cropping,permanent grassland and permanent arable cropping

Insight is needed into how management influences soil biota when sustainable grassland systems are developed. A crop rotation of grass and maize can be sustainable in terms of efficient nutrient use. However, there is lack of information on the effect of such a crop rotation on soil biological quality. Earthworms, nematodes, bacteria and fungi were sampled over three years in a 36 years old experiment. Permanent arable land was compared with permanent grassland and with a ley-arable crop rotation. In the rotation, a period of three years of grassland (temporary grassland) was followed by a period of three years of arable land (temporary arable land) and vice versa. In the first year of arable cropping in the rotation, the number of earthworms was already low and not different from continuous cropping. In the three-year grass ley, the abundance of earthworms returned to the level of permanent grassland in the second year. However, the restoration of earthworm biomass took a minimum of three years. Furthermore, the anecic species did not recover the dominance they had in the permanent grassland. The numbers of herbivorous and microbivorous nematodes in the ley-crop rotation reached similar levels to those in the permanent treatments within one to two years. Although the same holds for the nematode genera composition, the Maturity Index and the proportion of omnivorous nematodes in the temporary treatments remained significantly lower than in their permanent counterparts. Differences in recovery were also found among microbial parameters. In the temporary treatments, bacterial growth rate and the capacity to degrade a suite of substrates recovered in the second year. However, the Community-Level Physiological Profiles in the permanent grassland remained different from the other treatments. Our results suggest that many functions of soil biota that are well established in permanent grassland, are restored in a ley-arable crop rotation. However, due to a reduction in certain species, specific functions of these soil biota could be reduced or lost. The ley-arable crop rotations were intermediate to permanent grassland and continuous arable land in terms of functioning of soil biota (e.g., N-mineralization). In terms of the functional aspects of the soil biota, permanent grassland might be preferable wherever possible. For maize cultivation, a ley-arable crop rotation is preferable to continuous arable land. However, a ley-arable crop rotation is only preferable to continuous arable cropping if it is not practised at the expense of permanent grassland at farm level.     

Managing crop root zone ecosystems for prevention of harmful and encouragement of beneficial nematodes

The goal of agricultural nematologists is usually considered to be the prevention of harmful nematode populations from reaching levels that cause noticeable yield losses in field crops. Usually, it is the plant-parasitic nematodes that are attributed with constraining plant growth and development. Not nearly as well understood is the impact on crop plants of the non-plant-parasitic and bacteria-feeding nematodes. This latter group can interact with plant-growth-promoting bacteria to improve soil fertility and improve crop productivity. The challenge has become finding methods to develop and maintain those systems that build-up beneficial nematode populations while simultaneously suppressing plant-parasitic nematodes and associated plant pathogens. Beneficial soil nematodes are usually more abundant in crop management systems subjected to sophisticated crop sequences, cultivation practices and organic amendments. Models to predict the population dynamics of a nematode species have been developed. However, the inadequacies of nematode identification, compounded by the irregular distribution of nematodes in soil, have made it difficult to obtain reliable data on nematode distribution and abundance with which to refine these simulation models. Since many different nematode extraction methods are in use today it also becomes extremely difficult to meaningfully compare quantitative data from different laboratories. As the number of factor variables affecting soil nematode populations is large and monitoring seasonal populations awkward, nematode influence on crop health and yield determination is seldom fully recognized. Thus, it is usually only those catastrophic nematode outbreaks that are recognized, while systematic benefits are rarely recognized or appreciated. Perhaps, with the utilization of molecular biotechnology it will become possible to better elucidate nematode plant–host interactions. Clearly, these root zone relationships will increasingly become a key component in understanding soil ecosystem function and lead to better cropping system design.