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Effect of organic, conventional and mixed cultivation practices on soil microbial community structure and nematode abundance in a cultivated onion crop
Author(s) -
Reilly Kim,
Cullen Eileen,
LolaLuz Theodora,
Stone Dorothy,
Valverde Juan,
Gaffney Michael,
Brunton Nigel,
Grant James,
Griffiths Bryan S
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.6206
Subject(s) - temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , biology , organic farming , microbial population biology , nematode , microbial ecology , agronomy , pest analysis , community structure , agriculture , biological pest control , integrated pest management , crop , ecology , botany , bacteria , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics
BACKGROUND Responses of the soil microbial and nematode community to organic and conventional agricultural practices were studied using the Teagasc Kinsealy Systems Comparison trial as the experimental system. The trial is a long‐term field experiment which divides conventional and organic agriculture into component pest‐control and soil treatment practices. We hypothesised that management practices would affect soil ecology and used community level physiological profiles, microbial and nematode counts, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis ( DGGE ) to characterise soil microbial communities in plots used for onion ( Allium cepa L.) cultivation . RESULTS Microbial activity and culturable bacterial counts were significantly higher under fully organic management. Culturable fungi, actinomycete and nematode counts showed a consistent trend towards higher numbers under fully organic management but these data were not statistically significant. No differences were found in the fungal/bacterial ratio. DGGE banding patterns and sequencing of excised bands showed clear differences between treatments. Putative onion fungal pathogens were predominantly sequenced under conventional soil treatment practices whilst putative soil suppressive bacterial species were predominantly sequenced from the organic pest‐control treatment plots . CONCLUSION Organic management increased microbial activity and diversity. Sequence data was indicative of differences in functional groups and warrants further investigation. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry