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Agronomy
Special Issues
Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity
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Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2021) | Viewed by 33961

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elena Baldi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DiSTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum, University di Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: soil organic matter; root morphology and physiology; fruit tree mineral and organic nutrition; fruit quality; soil sickness
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few decades, the intensification of agricultural practices due to the increased demand for food has led to the rapid degradation of soils with a consequent risk of reduced plant performance. However, the increasing attention being paid to food quality and environmental issues, together with the necessity of improving the chemical, biological, and physical properties of soils, has led to the growing use of organic fertilizers as an alternative to agro-chemicals. The supply of organic matter or the use of biofertilizers could be a valuable alternative to the use of chemicals to meet plant nutritional requirements and improve soil biodiversity. Furthermore, the use of organic amendments represents an environmentally safe strategy for the disposal of urban and industrial organic wastes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight studies on the interactions between plants and soils as a consequence of the supply of organic matter or biofertilizers to orchards. We welcome manuscripts that deal with the effect of organic amendments or biofertilizer supply on plant performance, soil biodiversity and quality, and their interaction in orchard systems.

Dr. Elena Baldi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil biodiversity
  • nutrient cycling
  • organic matter
  • plant growth
  • biofertilizers

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 175 KiB  
Editorial
Soil–Plant Interaction: Effects on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity
by Elena Baldi
Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2378; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122378 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6068
Abstract
Soil is a non-renewable resource essential to human life [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)

Research

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13 pages, 2891 KiB  
Article
Root System Morphology of Ipê-Roxo Tree Grown in Soil Subjected to Phosphorus Application in Subtropical Climate Region
by Carolina Fogliarini Parcianello, Álvaro Luís Pasquetti Berghetti, Maristela Machado Araujo, Gabriel Alberto Sans, Vanessa Marques Soares, Vanessa Viera Trindade de Oliveira, Vinícius Wille Alves, Lincon Oliveira Stefanello, Matheus Severo de Souza Kulmann, Moreno Toselli, Elena Baldi and Gustavo Brunetto
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081563 - 5 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3232
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) availability in subtropical soils does not often meet the nutritional demand of native tree species such as the ipê-roxo tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus); therefore, it is necessary to supply P at planting. However, the impact of P on root system [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) availability in subtropical soils does not often meet the nutritional demand of native tree species such as the ipê-roxo tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus); therefore, it is necessary to supply P at planting. However, the impact of P on root system growth remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of P application on root morphology of H. heptaphyllus plants over a 36-month period in a subtropical climate region. During the experiment, the plants subjected to fertilization with 40 kg P ha−1 were compared to untreated control. Plant roots were scanned through minirhizotron system 18 and 36 months after transplant (MAT), and generated images were used to determine total root length, mean root diameter and total root volume. Plant height and leaf P concentrations were also evaluated. Phosphorus application enhanced root and whole plant growth with a more evident effect at 36 MAT, when soil P availability decreased. The results give important information on the cultivation of H. heptaphyllus plants in soils presenting low P availability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)
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18 pages, 3507 KiB  
Article
Aluminum Toxicity in Sweet Cherry Trees Grown in an Acidic Volcanic Soil
by Claudia Bonomelli and Pamela Artacho
Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061259 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3256
Abstract
Chile is the world’s largest exporter of sweet cherries. New plantings have been shifted to southern regions, where aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity could be a serious constraint on establishing orchards in acidic volcanic soils. This study investigated the effects of soil Al on growth [...] Read more.
Chile is the world’s largest exporter of sweet cherries. New plantings have been shifted to southern regions, where aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity could be a serious constraint on establishing orchards in acidic volcanic soils. This study investigated the effects of soil Al on growth and macronutrient uptake in non-bearing ‘Bing’ on Gisela®6 trees grown in 120 L pots containing volcanic soil with four concentrations of exchangeable Al (0.12, 0.40, 0.60, and 1.24 cmol kg−1). At the end of the first and second seasons after planting, the trees were destructively harvested, and individual organs were analyzed for dry weight, Al concentration, and macronutrient concentration. Increasing soil Al concentrations had a detrimental effect on nutrient uptake and growth, particularly in the second season. However, fine-root growth was significantly reduced from the first season and from low soil Al concentrations. In sweet cherry trees, Al was preferentially accumulated in root tissues and its translocation to aerial organs was restricted. In addition, Al accumulation in fine roots, in conjunction with a reduction in root growth, severely restricted the uptake of N, P, K, Mg, and, particularly, Ca. Therefore, soil acidity must be corrected to ensure the successful establishment of sweet cherry orchards in southern Chile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)
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18 pages, 3587 KiB  
Article
Effect of Biofertilizers Application on Soil Biodiversity and Litter Degradation in a Commercial Apricot Orchard
by Elena Baldi, Paola Gioacchini, Daniela Montecchio, Stefano Mocali, Livio Antonielli, Giorgio Masoero and Moreno Toselli
Agronomy 2021, 11(6), 1116; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061116 - 30 May 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4827
Abstract
The aim of the present experiment was to determine if the supply of biofertilizers could differently stimulate the native microbiota, thus determining different patterns of organic material decomposition processes. The microbial composition of soil and litter was investigated by next generation sequencing using [...] Read more.
The aim of the present experiment was to determine if the supply of biofertilizers could differently stimulate the native microbiota, thus determining different patterns of organic material decomposition processes. The microbial composition of soil and litter was investigated by next generation sequencing using a metabarcoding approach. The chemical structure of the decomposing litterbags was investigated through the TG-DTA analysis and NIR spectroscopy. The study was conducted in an apricot orchard in Italy, and two different type of biofertilizers (AMF and Trichoderma spp.) were compared to unfertilized control over one year. Bacteria and fungi in soil, 162 days from litter deposition, evidenced differentiated clusters for control and both biofertilizers; on the other hand, only fungal composition of litterbags was modified as a consequence of Trichoderma spp. supply; no effect was observed in the bacterial community of litterbags. NIR and TG-DTA analysis evidenced a significant change over time of the chemical composition of litterbags with a faster degradation as a consequence of Trichoderma spp. supply testified by a higher degradation coefficient (1.9) than control (1.6) and AMF (1.7). The supply of biofertilizers partially modified the bacteria community of soil, while Trichoderma spp. Influenced the fungal community of the litter. Moreover, Trichoderma spp. Evidenced a faster and higher degradation of litter than AMF-biofertilizers, laying the foundation for an efficient use in orchard. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)
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29 pages, 4476 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of Rice Cultivation and Off-Season Period on Dynamics of Soil Enzyme Activities and Bacterial Communities in Two Agro-Ecological Regions of Mozambique
by Obinna T. Ezeokoli, Valter N. A. Nuaila, Chinedu C. Obieze, Belo A. Muetanene, Irene Fraga, Maria Natalia Tesinde, Alexis Ndayiragije, João Coutinho, Ana M. P. Melo, Rasheed A. Adeleke, Ana I. Ribeiro-Barros and David Fangueiro
Agronomy 2021, 11(4), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040694 - 6 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5123
Abstract
Soil ecosystem perturbation due to agronomic practices can negatively impact soil productivity by altering the diversity and function of soil health determinants. Currently, the influence of rice cultivation and off-season periods on the dynamics of soil health determinants is unclear. Therefore, soil enzyme [...] Read more.
Soil ecosystem perturbation due to agronomic practices can negatively impact soil productivity by altering the diversity and function of soil health determinants. Currently, the influence of rice cultivation and off-season periods on the dynamics of soil health determinants is unclear. Therefore, soil enzyme activities (EAs) and bacterial community compositions in rice-cultivated fields at postharvest (PH) and after a 5-month off-season period (5mR), and fallow-fields (5-years-fallow, 5YF; 10-years-fallow, 10YF and/or one-year-fallow, 1YF) were assessed in two agroecological regions of Mozambique. EAs were mostly higher in fallow fields than in PH, with significant (p < 0.05) differences detected for β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities. Only β-glucosidase activity was significantly (p < 0.05) different between PH and 5mR, suggesting that β-glucosidase is responsive in the short-term. Bacterial diversity was highest in rice-cultivated soil and correlated with NO3−, NH4+ and electrical conductivity. Differentially abundant genera, such as Agromyces, Bacillus, Desulfuromonas, Gaiella, Lysobacter, Micromonospora, Norcadiodes, Rubrobacter, Solirubrobacter and Sphingomonas were mostly associated with fallow and 5mR fields, suggesting either negative effects of rice cultivation or the fallow period aided their recovery. Overall, rice cultivation and chemical parameters influenced certain EAs and shaped bacterial communities. Furthermore, the 5-month off-season period facilitates nutrient recovery and proliferation of plant-growth-promoting bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)
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9 pages, 1683 KiB  
Article
The Self-Seeding of Anthemis arvensis L. for Cover Crop in Olive Groves under Intense Rabbit Grazing
by Antonio J. Carpio, María-Auxiliadora Soriano, José A. Gómez and Francisco S. Tortosa
Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091412 - 17 Sep 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2628
Abstract
Cover crops can be an effective means to protect soil and reduce risks of erosion in olive groves. However, for this protection to be significant, the vegetation must attain a significant amount of ground cover, which is estimated to be at least 30% [...] Read more.
Cover crops can be an effective means to protect soil and reduce risks of erosion in olive groves. However, for this protection to be significant, the vegetation must attain a significant amount of ground cover, which is estimated to be at least 30% during the rainy season. In olive groves on degraded soils, which occupy large surface areas in the olive-growing areas of the Mediterranean region, the establishment of cover crops may be an arduous challenge, particularly in areas with a high density of rabbits. In this study, we have selected two olive orchards with scarce natural vegetation located in Andalusia (southern Spain), in which rabbit populations intensively forage the cover crops, to test whether the self-seeding of an unpalatable species corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis L.; A. arvensis for short) could achieve sufficient coverage for soil protection, in the year following that in which the broadcast-seeding was carried out for the implementation of cover crops. The hand broadcast-seeding of A. arvensis was carried out on sixteen elementary plots in the lanes of the two olive orchards in the autumn of 2015, and seed germination in the subsequent self-seeding took place in the autumn of 2016. The plant height and A. arvensis ground cover in these plots were measured throughout the two growth cycles, and aerial biomass was measured at maturity. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the maximum plant height between the two growth cycles (mean ± SD of 21.2 ± 1.6 cm), while the ground cover was significantly greater in the case of self-seeding, especially during the winter (37.2 ± 8.1 and 9.3 ± 6.7% for self-seeding and broadcast-seeding, respectively), and aerial biomass at maturity had more than doubled (99.7 and 43.9 g m−2, respectively). These data suggest that this unpalatable species could establish an effective herbaceous cover by means of self-seeding in olive groves on degraded soils that are being overgrazed owing to the high pressure of rabbits. Despite the poor establishment in the broadcast-seeding year, our findings indicate that A. arvensis might be an alternative cover crop that could help the sustainability of these threatened olive groves. Its high seed production (2000 to 4000 seeds per plant), and an early emergence just after the first autumn rains, should result in an increased ground cover by A. arvensis during the rainy season in the subsequent years of self-seeding. This, therefore, could contribute to soil conservation, in addition to providing other benefits of increased biodiversity and improvement for agricultural landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)
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Review

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19 pages, 983 KiB  
Review
Ecosystem Functions of Microbial Consortia in Sustainable Agriculture
by Ana Aguilar-Paredes, Gabriela Valdés and Marco Nuti
Agronomy 2020, 10(12), 1902; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10121902 - 2 Dec 2020
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 7670
Abstract
Knowledge of the agricultural soil microbiota, of the microbial consortia that comprise it, and the promotion of agricultural practices that maintain and encourage them, is a promising way to improve soil quality for sustainable agriculture and to provide food security. Although numerous studies [...] Read more.
Knowledge of the agricultural soil microbiota, of the microbial consortia that comprise it, and the promotion of agricultural practices that maintain and encourage them, is a promising way to improve soil quality for sustainable agriculture and to provide food security. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of beneficial soil microorganisms on crop yields and quality, the use of microbial consortia in agriculture remains low. Microbial consortia have more properties than an individual microbial inoculum, due to the synergy of the microorganisms that populate them. This review describes the main characteristics, ecosystem functions, crop benefits, and biotechnological applications of microbial consortia composed of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and Actinobacteria, to promote the restoration of agricultural soils and, consequently, the quality and health of agricultural crops. The aim is to provide knowledge that will contribute to the development of sustainable and sufficiently productive agriculture, which will adapt in a good way to the pace of the growing human population and to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant Interaction: Focus on Plant Growth and Soil Biodiversity)
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