Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues
Sustainable peat alternatives, such as composts and management residues, are considered to have beneficial microbiological characteristics compared to peat-based substrates. Studies comparing microbiological characteristics of these three types of biomass are, however, lacking. This study examined i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.983855/full |
| _version_ | 1798000396670599168 |
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| author | Steffi Pot Steffi Pot Caroline De Tender Caroline De Tender Sarah Ommeslag Ilse Delcour Johan Ceusters Johan Ceusters Bart Vandecasteele Jane Debode Karen Vancampenhout |
| author_facet | Steffi Pot Steffi Pot Caroline De Tender Caroline De Tender Sarah Ommeslag Ilse Delcour Johan Ceusters Johan Ceusters Bart Vandecasteele Jane Debode Karen Vancampenhout |
| author_sort | Steffi Pot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sustainable peat alternatives, such as composts and management residues, are considered to have beneficial microbiological characteristics compared to peat-based substrates. Studies comparing microbiological characteristics of these three types of biomass are, however, lacking. This study examined if and how microbiological characteristics of subtypes of composts and management residues differ from peat-based substrates, and how feedstock and (bio)chemical characteristics drive these characteristics. In addition, microbiome characteristics were evaluated that may contribute to plant growth and health. These characteristics include: genera associated with known beneficial or harmful microorganisms, microbial diversity, functional diversity/activity, microbial biomass, fungal to bacterial ratio and inoculation efficiency with the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Bacterial and fungal communities were studied using 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene metabarcoding, community-level physiological profiling (Biolog EcoPlates) and PLFA analysis. Inoculation with T. harzianum was assessed using qPCR. Samples of feedstock-based subtypes of composts and peat-based substrates showed similar microbial community compositions, while subtypes based on management residues were more variable in their microbial community composition. For management residues, a classification based on pH and hemicellulose content may be relevant for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Green composts, vegetable, fruit and garden composts and woody composts show the most potential to enhance plant growth or to suppress pathogens for non-acidophilic plants, while grass clippings, chopped heath and woody fractions of compost show the most potential for blends for calcifuge plants. Fungal biomass was a suitable predictor for inoculation efficiency of composts and management residues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:18:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84477483512e439b8962832359c87ed1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:18:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-84477483512e439b8962832359c87ed12022-12-22T04:27:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2022-09-011310.3389/fmicb.2022.983855983855Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residuesSteffi Pot0Steffi Pot1Caroline De Tender2Caroline De Tender3Sarah Ommeslag4Ilse Delcour5Johan Ceusters6Johan Ceusters7Bart Vandecasteele8Jane Debode9Karen Vancampenhout10Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Geel, BelgiumPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, BelgiumPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, BelgiumDepartment of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Zwijnaarde, BelgiumPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, BelgiumPCS Ornamental Plant Research, Destelbergen, BelgiumDivision of Crop Biotechnics, Department of Biosystems, Research Group for Sustainable Crop Production & Protection, KU Leuven, Geel, BelgiumCentre for Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, BelgiumPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, BelgiumPlant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Merelbeke, BelgiumDivision Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Geel, BelgiumSustainable peat alternatives, such as composts and management residues, are considered to have beneficial microbiological characteristics compared to peat-based substrates. Studies comparing microbiological characteristics of these three types of biomass are, however, lacking. This study examined if and how microbiological characteristics of subtypes of composts and management residues differ from peat-based substrates, and how feedstock and (bio)chemical characteristics drive these characteristics. In addition, microbiome characteristics were evaluated that may contribute to plant growth and health. These characteristics include: genera associated with known beneficial or harmful microorganisms, microbial diversity, functional diversity/activity, microbial biomass, fungal to bacterial ratio and inoculation efficiency with the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum. Bacterial and fungal communities were studied using 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene metabarcoding, community-level physiological profiling (Biolog EcoPlates) and PLFA analysis. Inoculation with T. harzianum was assessed using qPCR. Samples of feedstock-based subtypes of composts and peat-based substrates showed similar microbial community compositions, while subtypes based on management residues were more variable in their microbial community composition. For management residues, a classification based on pH and hemicellulose content may be relevant for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Green composts, vegetable, fruit and garden composts and woody composts show the most potential to enhance plant growth or to suppress pathogens for non-acidophilic plants, while grass clippings, chopped heath and woody fractions of compost show the most potential for blends for calcifuge plants. Fungal biomass was a suitable predictor for inoculation efficiency of composts and management residues.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.983855/fullmicrobiologycompostsBiolog EcoPlatesPLFA analysissustainable horticultural substratesnature management residues |
| spellingShingle | Steffi Pot Steffi Pot Caroline De Tender Caroline De Tender Sarah Ommeslag Ilse Delcour Johan Ceusters Johan Ceusters Bart Vandecasteele Jane Debode Karen Vancampenhout Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues Frontiers in Microbiology microbiology composts Biolog EcoPlates PLFA analysis sustainable horticultural substrates nature management residues |
| title | Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues |
| title_full | Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues |
| title_fullStr | Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues |
| title_short | Elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues |
| title_sort | elucidating the microbiome of the sustainable peat replacers composts and nature management residues |
| topic | microbiology composts Biolog EcoPlates PLFA analysis sustainable horticultural substrates nature management residues |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.983855/full |
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