Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy
Industrial farming without considering soil biological features could lead to soil degradation. We aimed to evaluate the biochemical properties (BPs) and biological fertility (BF) of different soils under processing tomato cultivation; estimate the BF through the calculation of a simplified BF index...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/219 |
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| author | Livia Vittori Antisari Chiara Ferronato Mauro De Feudis Claudio Natali Gianluca Bianchini Gloria Falsone |
| author_facet | Livia Vittori Antisari Chiara Ferronato Mauro De Feudis Claudio Natali Gianluca Bianchini Gloria Falsone |
| author_sort | Livia Vittori Antisari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Industrial farming without considering soil biological features could lead to soil degradation. We aimed to evaluate the biochemical properties (BPs) and biological fertility (BF) of different soils under processing tomato cultivation; estimate the BF through the calculation of a simplified BF index (BFIs); determine if the crop was affected by BP and BF. Three farms were individuated in Modena (MO), Ferrara (MEZ) and Ravenna (RA) provinces, Italy. Soil analysis included total and labile organic C, microbial biomass-C (Cmic) and microbial respiration measurements. The metabolic (qCO<sub>2</sub>), mineralization (qM) and microbial (qMIC) quotients, and BFIs were calculated. Furthermore, plant nutrient contents were determined. The low Cmic content and qMIC, and high qCO<sub>2</sub> found in MEZ soils indicate the occurrence of stressful conditions. The high qMIC and qM, and the low qCO<sub>2</sub> demonstrated an efficient organic carbon incorporation as Cmic in MO soils. In RA soils, the low total and labile organic C contents limited the Cmic and microbial respiration. Therefore, as confirmed by the BFIs, while MO showed the healthiest soils, RA soils had an inefficient ecophysiological energy state. However, no effects on plant nutrient contents were observed, likely because of masked by fertigation. Finally, BP monitoring is needed in order to avoid soil degradation and, in turn, crop production decline. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:40:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b950ee8a03164a588c0e7661ec4864f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:40:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b950ee8a03164a588c0e7661ec4864f42023-12-11T17:50:32ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2021-02-0111221910.3390/min11020219Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern ItalyLivia Vittori Antisari0Chiara Ferronato1Mauro De Feudis2Claudio Natali3Gianluca Bianchini4Gloria Falsone5Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, ItalyCentro Sperimentale per lo Studio e l’Analisi del Suolo (CSSAS), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Earth Science, University of Florence, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Earth Science, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Fanin 40, 40127 Bologna, ItalyIndustrial farming without considering soil biological features could lead to soil degradation. We aimed to evaluate the biochemical properties (BPs) and biological fertility (BF) of different soils under processing tomato cultivation; estimate the BF through the calculation of a simplified BF index (BFIs); determine if the crop was affected by BP and BF. Three farms were individuated in Modena (MO), Ferrara (MEZ) and Ravenna (RA) provinces, Italy. Soil analysis included total and labile organic C, microbial biomass-C (Cmic) and microbial respiration measurements. The metabolic (qCO<sub>2</sub>), mineralization (qM) and microbial (qMIC) quotients, and BFIs were calculated. Furthermore, plant nutrient contents were determined. The low Cmic content and qMIC, and high qCO<sub>2</sub> found in MEZ soils indicate the occurrence of stressful conditions. The high qMIC and qM, and the low qCO<sub>2</sub> demonstrated an efficient organic carbon incorporation as Cmic in MO soils. In RA soils, the low total and labile organic C contents limited the Cmic and microbial respiration. Therefore, as confirmed by the BFIs, while MO showed the healthiest soils, RA soils had an inefficient ecophysiological energy state. However, no effects on plant nutrient contents were observed, likely because of masked by fertigation. Finally, BP monitoring is needed in order to avoid soil degradation and, in turn, crop production decline.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/219soil qualitymicrobiological indicatorsbiofertilityintensive farmingcropland |
| spellingShingle | Livia Vittori Antisari Chiara Ferronato Mauro De Feudis Claudio Natali Gianluca Bianchini Gloria Falsone Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy Minerals soil quality microbiological indicators biofertility intensive farming cropland |
| title | Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy |
| title_full | Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy |
| title_short | Soil Biochemical Indicators and Biological Fertility in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study from Northern Italy |
| title_sort | soil biochemical indicators and biological fertility in agricultural soils a case study from northern italy |
| topic | soil quality microbiological indicators biofertility intensive farming cropland |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/2/219 |
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