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Similar spatial patterns of soil quality indicators in three poplar-based silvo-arable alley cropping systems in Germany

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A Correction to this article was published on 29 October 2018

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Abstract

Alley cropping systems (ACS) are regarded as a sustainable land-use alternative that provides ecosystem services, assuming that beneficial tree effects extend towards crop alleys. However, the spatial range of these effects has rarely been considered. The objective of this study was to investigate soil quality indicators at different distances from trees in three German silvo-arable ACS. We analysed soil microbial biomass C and N, ergosterol, microbial activity (enzyme activities, substrate-induced respiration rates) and their functional diversity (MicroResp™ method) in topsoils. Furthermore, fungal abundance and fungal and bacterial contribution to microbial residues (amino sugars) were determined. Tree effects on soil quality indicators were estimated for each depth, for the first time considering both, spatial dependence and abiotic factors (pH, clay content) using mixed effects models with repeated measures. Additionally, differences between soil depths were tested. Analysis combining the three ACS revealed a generalisation of effect sizes and spatial range of tree effects on soil quality indicators. Tree implementation in arable systems increased SOC, microbial biomass and activity in upper topsoils and shifted the composition of main microbial groups towards a higher fungal abundance and functional diversity. Soil quality indices decreased with increasing depth. However, in alleys, no differences between distances from trees were observed. Results demonstrate that ACS are capable to enhance soil quality mediated by microorganisms under trees within 5–8 years. Long-term studies are required to estimate whether beneficial tree effects extend towards crop alleys and deeper soil layers when systems are mature.

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  • 29 October 2018

    Table 2 of the original version of this article unfortunately contains the superscript letters “#” and “$” within columns instead of the stastistical letters “a” and “b”. Superscript letters “#” and “$” within columns were changed to “a” and “b”, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the context of the project “SIGNAL—sustainable intensification of agriculture through agroforestry”, which is related to BonaRes. The authors are very grateful to Nicole Gauss and Gabriele Dormann for the induction into the laboratory of Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition at the University of Kassel. We thank Mick Locke for the careful correction of our English.

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  1. Department of Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstraße 1a, 37213, Witzenhausen, Germany

    René Beuschel, Rainer Georg Joergensen & Christine Wachendorf

  2. Biostatistics Unit, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstraße 23, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany

    Hans-Peter Piepho

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Beuschel, R., Piepho, HP., Joergensen, R.G. et al. Similar spatial patterns of soil quality indicators in three poplar-based silvo-arable alley cropping systems in Germany. Biol Fertil Soils 55, 1–14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-018-1324-3

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