Disentangling the direct and indirect effects of cropland abandonment on soil microbial activity in grassland soil at different depths
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Chronosequence
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Soil respiration
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The impact of soil fauna on soil processes is of utmost importance, as the activity of soil fauna directly affects soil quality. This is expressed by the direct effects of soil fauna on soil physical and soil chemical properties that not only have great importance to food production and ecosystems services, but also on weathering and hydrological and geomorphological processes. Soil animals can be perceived as ecosystem engineers that directly affect the flow of water, sediments and nutrients through terrestrial ecosystems. The biodiversity of animals living in the soil is huge and shows a huge range in size, functions and effects. Most work has been focused on only a few species such as earthworms and termites, but in general the knowledge on the effect of soil biota on soil ecosystem functioning is limited as it is for their impact on processes in the soil and on the soil surface. In this presentation we would like to review some of the impacts of soil fauna on soil properties that have implications for geo-ecosystem functioning and soil formation processes.
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A large number of organisms live in the soil. They perform a variety of functions for their growth and reproduction. For these functions of soil organisms, soils behave like a living entity. Soil components photosynthesize, respire, and reproduce. In addition, they produce organic matter, consume organic matter, and decompose them. Some of them burrow in the soil, make spaces for their accommodation and movement, and mix surface and subsoil materials together. Soil becomes a dynamic body for the activity of soil organisms. The changes that are caused by soil organisms have their impact on soil fertility and productivity. A sterile soil is not a soil in the real sense. Although soil biota, which includes living roots and soil organisms, occupies a very small fraction of the total soil volume (<0.5 %), it has tremendous influences on soil properties and soil processes. However, soil organisms are usually the most active in the surface soil zone of 0–15 cm, because this zone has accumulation of organic residues and available nutrients. Soil depth, organic matter and nutrients, microclimate, and physical and chemical soil environment influence the structure and function of soil biota.
Soil morphology
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Modelling soil organic matter dynamics requires reproducible and accurate data from several methods that follow such evolution based on changes in soil organic matter properties. The objective of this study is to investigate changes in the chemical, thermal and biological properties of soil organic matter after afforestation using emerging methods such as thermal analysis, isothermal calorimetry, and </span><sup>13</sup><span>C CPMAS NMR. These methods were applied to a chronosequence of soils where large losses of carbon have occurred in the 29 years since afforestation. Results show that over this period the soil organic matter becomes more aromatic, resulting in increased thermal stability and decreased microbial activity. Over longer time frames, between 29 and 40 years after afforestation, soil organic matter increased, mainly in the aliphatic and carbohydrate fractions with enhanced thermal stability and consequent metabolic changes from microbial adaptation to the new organic matter.
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Soil fertility is defined as the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation. Perhaps no other living organism in the soil is as important as an earthworm in helping to increase soil health. Earthworms are the most commonly occur in the soil. The activities of burrowing and feeding by earthworms have many valuable effects generally on soil quality for crop production. Earthworms increase soil aeration, infiltration, structure, nutrient cycling, water movement, and plant growth. Earthworms are one of the major decomposers of organic matter. They get their nutrition from microorganisms that live on organic matter and in soil material. When they move through the soil eating, earthworms form tubular channels or burrows. These burrows can persist for a long time in the soil. Earthworm burrows increase soil porosity which increases the amount of air and water that get into the soil. Increased porosity also lowers bulk density and increases root development. Earthworm excrement or casts increase soil fertility because it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Earthworm casts also contain microorganisms which increase in abundance as organic matter is digested in their intestines. The cycling of nutrients from organic matter and the increase in microorganisms facilitates plant growth. They cast along with binding agents released by earthworms also improve soil structure and increase aggregate stability. The soil biota benefits soil productivity and contributes to the sustainable function of all ecosystems. The cycling of nutrients is a critical function that is essential to life on earth. Earthworms (EWs) are a major component of soil fauna communities in most ecosystems and comprise a large proportion of macrofauna biomass. Their activity is beneficial because it can enhance soil nutrient cycling through the rapid incorporation of detritus into mineral soils. In addition to this mixing effect, mucus production associated with water excretion in earthworm guts also enhances the activity of other beneficial soil microorganisms. This is followed by the production of organic matter. So, in the short term, a more significant effect is the concentration of large quantities of nutrients (N, P, K, and Ca) that are easily assimilable by plants in fresh cast depositions. In addition, earthworms seem to accelerate the mineralization as well as the turnover of soil organic matter. Earthworms are known also to increase nitrogen mineralization, through direct and indirect effects on the microbial community. The increased transfer of organic C and N into soil aggregates indicates the potential for earthworms to facilitate soil organic matter stabilization and accumulation in agricultural systems, and that their influence depends greatly on differences in land management practices.
Soil structure
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In this modern era of green revolution and biotechnology, the significant use of our natural resources and traditional practices of preparing organic manure and applying them to soil is a matter of great concern. Modern crop production technology has considerably raised output but have also jeopardized environment through nitrate pollution and exterminating the beneficial soil Microflora and Microfauna by adversely altering the physical and chemical properties of soil resulting in adverse effects on fragile ecosystem. The cycling of nutrients is a critical eco system function that is essential to life on earth and is followed by the production of organic matter. There is increasing evidence that soil macro invertebrates play a key role in soil organic matter (SOM) transformations and nutrient dynamic at different spatial and temporal scales through perturbation and the production of biogenic structures for the improvement of soil fertility and land productivity (Brussaard et al., 1997; Lavelle and Spain, 2001). Organic matter has a unique role to play in soil fertility. The pH of soil of Godda district range from 4.7 to 8.1. The organic carbon content in the district ranges from 0.29 to 1.63 %. Available nitrogen content in the surface soils of Godda district ranges between 220 and 630 kg/hac. Available phosphorus content in these soils ranges between 1.0 and 12.8kg/hac. Soil biota community largely includes collembolan, Soil Mites, other soil Arthropods and earthworms. Earthworm abundance in upper 0.1 m of the soil profile is positively correlated with decomposition rate of plant leaf litter. The analysis of between – subject effects and within-subject was also found to be highly significant. Regression analysis for different soil fauna and abiotic factors in different ecosystem. Earthworm were positivity correlated with soil temperature, soil moisture, atmospheric temperature and rainfall, but showed a negative correlation with pH, organic matter and relative humidity. Eisenia Foetida is the most efficient in waste processing, while Eudrilus Eugeniae is large fast growing, reasonably prolific and would be ideal for protein product. This is the only study highlight the cyclic fluctuation in the species structure at different time intervals. A composite study on microbial association with the predominant earthworm species at a given time may provide necessary information on its ecological role.
Microfauna
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