project - Research and innovation
Functional biodiversity of soil organisms
Functional biodiversity of soil organisms
Objectives
The aim is to help promote the sustainable functioning of the soil ecosystem based on knowledge of the functional biodiversity (BD) of microorganisms and the soil fauna: clarifying the relations between soil BD and sustainable agriculture, particularly nutrient cycles; identifying groups of organisms and/or functions which are most numerous/active in agricultural soils with limited nutrient losses; developing sensitive + practical biological indicators; identifying cultivation measures that have a positive effect on the diversity and quality of the soil life and the natural soil fertility.
Objectives
The aim is to help promote the sustainable functioning of the soil ecosystem based on knowledge of the functional biodiversity (BD) of microorganisms and the soil fauna: clarifying the relations between soil BD and sustainable agriculture, particularly nutrient cycles; identifying groups of organisms and/or functions which are most numerous/active in agricultural soils with limited nutrient losses; developing sensitive + practical biological indicators; identifying cultivation measures that have a positive effect on the diversity and quality of the soil life and the natural soil fertility.
Activities
We have recently found indications that reduced fertilisation and tillage of agricultural soils allows fungi to play a greater role in the soil ecosystem and leads to a more natural soil fauna. It is not yet clear what the implications of a dominant fungal population are for soil fauna such as earthworms, which also play a major role in mineralisation. If the fungal population increases rapidly while the availability of nutrients is lower, the fungi/bacteria ratio may be useful as an indicator for sustainability. The existing populations of soil animals may also be significant in this regard.
Various research methods are used, such as fungi/ bacteria ratios, bacteria and fungi activity, number and diversity of microarthropods and earthworms, and potential mineralisation. The results are compared with available field data on tillage, fertilisation, nutrient balance and leaching, and with various reference situations. New molecular techniques are also being developed, including the use of microarrays.
We have developed biological indicators of soil quality which are used in field projects and in the Soil Biological Indicator for the National Soil Quality Monitoring Network.
Activities
We have recently found indications that reduced fertilisation and tillage of agricultural soils allows fungi to play a greater role in the soil ecosystem and leads to a more natural soil fauna. It is not yet clear what the implications of a dominant fungal population are for soil fauna such as earthworms, which also play a major role in mineralisation. If the fungal population increases rapidly while the availability of nutrients is lower, the fungi/bacteria ratio may be useful as an indicator for sustainability. The existing populations of soil animals may also be significant in this regard.
Various research methods are used, such as fungi/ bacteria ratios, bacteria and fungi activity, number and diversity of microarthropods and earthworms, and potential mineralisation. The results are compared with available field data on tillage, fertilisation, nutrient balance and leaching, and with various reference situations. New molecular techniques are also being developed, including the use of microarrays.
We have developed biological indicators of soil quality which are used in field projects and in the Soil Biological Indicator for the National Soil Quality Monitoring Network.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other public (national, regional) research funds
- Agricultural sectors
- Crops (generic)
Project keyword
1 Practice Abstracts
This research project investigates the relation between the diversity of crops and cultivation methods above ground and the biodiversity of organisms below ground, and evaluates the significance of this for the life support functions of the soil, such as the retention of nutrients and the suppression of diseases.
The results reveal large differences between various categories of soil type and land use, and significant effects of farm management on most groups of organisms. The largest proportion of the measured biomass consists of bacteria. This biomass is high in grassland, lower in arable land and very low in horticultural soils. Across the same series of soils, the species composition of microarthropods varies in a way that reflects an increasing intensity of use: the diversity of nematodes changes and bacterial activity rises as the intensity of use increases (measured in livestock units per hectare).
This research project investigates the relation between the diversity of crops and cultivation methods above ground and the biodiversity of organisms below ground, and evaluates the significance of this for the life support functions of the soil, such as the retention of nutrients and the suppression of diseases.
The results reveal large differences between various categories of soil type and land use, and significant effects of farm management on most groups of organisms. The largest proportion of the measured biomass consists of bacteria. This biomass is high in grassland, lower in arable land and very low in horticultural soils. Across the same series of soils, the species composition of microarthropods varies in a way that reflects an increasing intensity of use: the diversity of nematodes changes and bacterial activity rises as the intensity of use increases (measured in livestock units per hectare).
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Project coordinator
Project partners
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Alterra Wageningen UR Sub-department of Soil Quality
Project partner
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National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) The Netherlands
Project partner
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Louis Bolk Institute The Netherlands
Project partner
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Environmental Sciences department at Utrecht University the Netherlands
Project partner
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Institute of Ecology and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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EU JRC Institute for Environment and Sustainability Ispra Italy
Project partner
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Consiglio per la ricerca e la sperimentazione in agricoltura
Project partner
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Istituto Sperimentale per la Nutrizione delle Piante Rome Italy
Project partner
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Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) Frick Switzerland
Project partner
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University of Bremen Germany
Project partner
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University of Lund Sweden
Project partner
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Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen UK
Project partner