Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species
Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality, and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms (<i>Eisenia</i> sp.) affected the (a) soil bacteria...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/6/1216 |
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| author | Adriano Sofo Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi Maddalena Curci Francesco Reyes Maria J. I. Briones Judith M. Sarneel Domenico Cardinale Carmine Crecchio |
| author_facet | Adriano Sofo Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi Maddalena Curci Francesco Reyes Maria J. I. Briones Judith M. Sarneel Domenico Cardinale Carmine Crecchio |
| author_sort | Adriano Sofo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality, and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms (<i>Eisenia</i> sp.) affected the (a) soil bacterial community composition, (b) litter decomposition, and (c) plant growth (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> L., broccoli; <i>Vicia faba</i> L., faba bean). We performed a mesocosm experiment in which plants were grown outdoors for four months with or without earthworms. Soil bacterial community structure was evaluated by a 16S rRNA-based metabarcoding approach. Litter decomposition rates were determined by using the tea bag index (TBI) and litter bags (olive residues). Earthworm numbers almost doubled throughout the experimental period. Independently of the plant species, earthworm presence had a significant impact on the structure of soil bacterial community, in terms of enhanced <i>α</i>- and <i>β</i>-diversity (especially that of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Verrucomicrobia) and increased 16S rRNA gene abundance (+89% in broccoli and +223% in faba bean). Microbial decomposition (TBI) was enhanced in the treatments with earthworms, and showed a significantly higher decomposition rate constant (<i>k</i><sub>TBI</sub>) and a lower stabilization factor (<i>S</i><sub>TBI</sub>), whereas decomposition in the litter bags (<i>d</i><sub>litter</sub>) increased by about 6% in broccoli and 5% in faba bean. Earthworms significantly enhanced root growth (in terms of total length and fresh weight) of both plant species. Our results show the strong influence of earthworms and crop identity in shaping soil chemico-physical properties, soil bacterial community, litter decomposition and plant growth. These findings could be used for developing nature-based solutions that ensure the long-term biological sustainability of soil agro- and natural ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:01:33Z |
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| id | doaj.art-baeafb9dd4024ab6a2f377d9f6b29cb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:01:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-baeafb9dd4024ab6a2f377d9f6b29cb42023-11-17T13:20:43ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-03-01126121610.3390/plants12061216Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant SpeciesAdriano Sofo0Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi1Maddalena Curci2Francesco Reyes3Maria J. I. Briones4Judith M. Sarneel5Domenico Cardinale6Carmine Crecchio7Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures: Architecture, Environment and Cultural Heritage (DiCEM), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via Lanera 20, 75100 Matera, ItalyDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Giovanni Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, ItalyDepartment of Ecology and Animal Biology, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Pontevedra, SpainDepartment of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå Universitet, 90187 Umeå, SwedenIndependent Researcher, 75100 Matera, ItalyDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, ItalyEarthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality, and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms (<i>Eisenia</i> sp.) affected the (a) soil bacterial community composition, (b) litter decomposition, and (c) plant growth (<i>Brassica oleracea</i> L., broccoli; <i>Vicia faba</i> L., faba bean). We performed a mesocosm experiment in which plants were grown outdoors for four months with or without earthworms. Soil bacterial community structure was evaluated by a 16S rRNA-based metabarcoding approach. Litter decomposition rates were determined by using the tea bag index (TBI) and litter bags (olive residues). Earthworm numbers almost doubled throughout the experimental period. Independently of the plant species, earthworm presence had a significant impact on the structure of soil bacterial community, in terms of enhanced <i>α</i>- and <i>β</i>-diversity (especially that of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Verrucomicrobia) and increased 16S rRNA gene abundance (+89% in broccoli and +223% in faba bean). Microbial decomposition (TBI) was enhanced in the treatments with earthworms, and showed a significantly higher decomposition rate constant (<i>k</i><sub>TBI</sub>) and a lower stabilization factor (<i>S</i><sub>TBI</sub>), whereas decomposition in the litter bags (<i>d</i><sub>litter</sub>) increased by about 6% in broccoli and 5% in faba bean. Earthworms significantly enhanced root growth (in terms of total length and fresh weight) of both plant species. Our results show the strong influence of earthworms and crop identity in shaping soil chemico-physical properties, soil bacterial community, litter decomposition and plant growth. These findings could be used for developing nature-based solutions that ensure the long-term biological sustainability of soil agro- and natural ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/6/1216carbon/nitrogen ratio<i>Eisenia</i> sp.olive littersoil bacteriasoil chemico-physical propertiessoil sustainable management |
| spellingShingle | Adriano Sofo Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi Maddalena Curci Francesco Reyes Maria J. I. Briones Judith M. Sarneel Domenico Cardinale Carmine Crecchio Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species Plants carbon/nitrogen ratio <i>Eisenia</i> sp. olive litter soil bacteria soil chemico-physical properties soil sustainable management |
| title | Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species |
| title_full | Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species |
| title_fullStr | Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species |
| title_short | Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species |
| title_sort | earthworm driven changes in soil chemico physical properties soil bacterial microbiota tree tea litter decomposition and plant growth in a mesocosm experiment with two plant species |
| topic | carbon/nitrogen ratio <i>Eisenia</i> sp. olive litter soil bacteria soil chemico-physical properties soil sustainable management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/6/1216 |
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