Links Among Crop Diversification, Microbial Diversity, and Soil Organic Carbon: Mini Review and Case Studies.

ABSTRACT: Interactions between species above- and belowground are among the top factors that govern ecosystem functioning including soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. In agroecosystems, understanding how crop diversification affects soil biodiversity and SOC storage at the local scale remains a key challenge for addressing soil degradation and biodiversity loss that plague these systems. Yet, outcomes of crop diversification for soil microbial diversity and SOC storage, which are key indicators of soil health, are not always positive but rather they are highly idiosyncratic to agroecosystems. Using five case studies, we highlight the importance of selecting ideal crop functional types (as opposed to focusing on plant diversity) when considering diversification options for maximizing SOC accumulation

SUBMITTER: Wooliver R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9082997 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature