Tensions in tillage: Reduction in tillage intensity associates with lower wheat growth and nutritional grain quality despite enhanced soil biological indicators

IF 6.4 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment Pub Date : 2025-04-15 DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2025.109675

Matthias Waibel , Jennifer Michel , Maurine Antoine , Iñaki Balanzategui-Guijarro , Da Cao , Pierre Delaplace , Jacques Le Gouis , David Alvarez , Claire Léon , Sandy Manfroy , Jordi Moya-Laraño , Sibille Perrochon , Sara Sanchez-Moreno , Inés Santin-Montanya , José Luis Tenorio , Cécile Thonar , Hervé Vanderschuren , Dominique Van Der Straeten , Thomas Verlinde , Markus Weinmann , Sarah Symanczik

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Dryland ecosystems are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of intensive agriculture, with intensive tillage exerting a major impact on soil health and its biotic components. The implementation of less disturbing soil management practices can be essential for preserving the soil environment and maintaining the diverse communities of microorganisms, micro- and mesofauna, which are vital contributors to soil fertility. In this study, we assessed soil chemical properties, soil biodiversity and functionality, and wheat crop growth across a tillage gradient encompassing no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and standard tillage (ST). Results showed that reducing tillage intensity increased soil macronutrient levels and the abundance of soil biota. Overall, higher levels of bacterial and fungal marker genes and higher abundance of predatory acari were observed in MT and NT compared to ST. Also, nematode abundance increased by 25 % in MT and 50 % in NT, compared to ST. Similarly, community structure analysis revealed that tillage strongly influenced bacterial, fungal and acari community composition, reflecting a gradient of soil disturbance intensity. Corresponding to the increased abundance of soil biota, reducing tillage intensity increased microbial activity and soil functionality along the disturbance gradient. In addition, evidence of the formation of biocrust as a possible source of carbon input was found. Despite enhanced soil biological indicators in less intensive tillage systems, wheat growth, nitrogen uptake and grain B vitamin contents were higher in ST compared to NT. In addition, we observed a shift in technological grain properties across tillage practices. The higher root:shoot ratio (an indicator of nitrogen deficiency) and median root diameter (hormone-driven lateral expansion) in NT suggest that soil compaction could be a potential cause of reduced wheat performance. These results suggest that despite improved soil biological indicators, other factors such as low rates of N mineralization potential due to drought conditions during the study year and the prevalence of soil compaction may limit wheat performance in NT systems.

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耕作中的紧张关系：尽管土壤生物指标增强，但耕作强度的降低与小麦生长和营养品质的降低有关

旱地生态系统特别容易受到集约化农业的不利影响，集约化耕作对土壤健康及其生物成分产生重大影响。实施较少干扰的土壤管理措施对于保护土壤环境和维持对土壤肥力至关重要的微生物、微型和中型动物的多样化群落至关重要。在这项研究中，我们评估了土壤化学性质、土壤生物多样性和功能，以及小麦作物在免耕（NT）、免耕（MT）和标准耕作（ST）三种耕作方式下的生长情况。结果表明，减少耕作强度可提高土壤宏量养分水平和土壤生物群丰度。总体而言，MT和NT的细菌和真菌标记基因水平和捕食性蜱螨丰度均高于ST.， MT和NT的线虫丰度分别比ST.增加了25 %和50 %。同样，群落结构分析显示，耕作对细菌、真菌和蜱螨群落组成有强烈影响，反映了土壤扰动强度的梯度。与土壤生物群丰度增加相对应的是，减少耕作强度增加了沿扰动梯度的微生物活性和土壤功能。此外，还发现了生物结壳形成作为碳输入可能来源的证据。尽管在低集约耕作制度下，土壤生物指标有所提高，但小麦生长、氮素吸收和籽粒B族维生素含量在ST耕作制度下高于NT耕作制度。此外，我们观察到不同耕作方式下谷物技术性状的变化。NT地区较高的根冠比（氮缺乏指标）和根径中值（激素驱动的横向扩张）表明土壤压实可能是小麦生产性能下降的潜在原因。这些结果表明，尽管土壤生物指标有所改善，但其他因素，如研究年度干旱条件导致的氮矿化潜力率低以及土壤压实的普遍存在，可能限制小麦在NT系统中的表现。

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来源期刊

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

11.70

自引率

9.10%

发文量

392

审稿时长

26 days

期刊介绍： Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment publishes scientific articles dealing with the interface between agroecosystems and the natural environment, specifically how agriculture influences the environment and how changes in that environment impact agroecosystems. Preference is given to papers from experimental and observational research at the field, system or landscape level, from studies that enhance our understanding of processes using data-based biophysical modelling, and papers that bridge scientific disciplines and integrate knowledge. All papers should be placed in an international or wide comparative context.