Bacterial and fungal communities respond differently to varying tillage depth in agricultural soils.

ABSTRACT: In arable cropping systems, reduced or conservation tillage practices are linked with improved soil quality, C retention and higher microbial biomass, but most long-term studies rarely focus on depths greater than 15 cm nor allow comparison of microbial community responses to agricultural practices. We investigated microbial community structure in a long-term field trial (12-years, Lincoln, New Zealand) established in a silt-loam soil over four depth ranges down to 30 cm. Our objectives were to investigate the degree of homogenisation of soil biological and chemical properties with depth, and to determine the main drivers of microbial community response to tillage. We hypothesised that soil microbiological responses would depend on tillage depth, observed by a homogenisation of microbial c

SUBMITTER: Anderson C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5649590 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature