Soil resilience and recovery: rapid community responses to management changes.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Soil degradation is a major global problem; to investigate the potential for recovery of soil biota and associated key functions, soils were monitored during the early years of conversion between permanent grassland, arable cropping and bare fallow (maintained by regular tilling). Distinct differences in soil properties had become apparent 50 years after a previous conversion.

Methods

Subplots on previously permanent grassland, arable and bare fallow soil were converted to the two alternatives, generating 9 treatments. Soil properties (soil organic carbon, mesofauna, microbial community structure and activity) were measured.

Results

After 2 years, mesofauna and microbial abundance increased where plants were grown on previously bare fallow soils an

SUBMITTER: Hirsch PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7045894 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature