The Effect of Leonardite-Derived Amendments on Soil Microbiome Structure and Potato Yield

Nuraly Akimbekov, Xiaohui Qiao, Ilya Digel, Gulzhamal Abdieva, Perizat Ualieva and Azhar Zhubanova
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Nuraly Akimbekov: Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, al-Farabi ave. 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Xiaohui Qiao: Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, al-Farabi ave. 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Ilya Digel: Laboratory of Cell- and Microbiology, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich-Mussmann-Straße 1, D 52428 Jülich, Germany
Gulzhamal Abdieva: Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, al-Farabi ave. 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Perizat Ualieva: Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, al-Farabi ave. 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Azhar Zhubanova: Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, al-Farabi ave. 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Humic substances originating from various organic matters can ameliorate soil properties, stimulate plant growth, and improve nutrient uptake. Due to the low calorific heating value, leonardite is rather unsuitable as fuel. However, it may serve as a potential source of humic substances. This study was aimed at characterizing the leonardite-based soil amendments and examining the effect of their application on the soil microbial community, as well as on potato growth and tuber yield. A high yield (71.1%) of humic acid (LHA) from leonardite has been demonstrated. Parental leonardite (PL) and LHA were applied to soil prior to potato cultivation. The 16S rRNA sequencing of soil samples revealed distinct relationships between microbial community composition and the application of leonardite-based soil amendments. Potato tubers were planted in pots in greenhouse conditions. The tubers were harvested at the mature stage for the determination of growth and yield parameters. The results demonstrated that the LHA treatments had a significant effect on increasing potato growth (54.9%) and tuber yield (66.4%) when compared to the control. The findings highlight the importance of amending leonardite-based humic products for maintaining the biogeochemical stability of soils, for keeping their healthy microbial community structure, and for increasing the agronomic productivity of potato plants.

Keywords: leonardite; humic substances; soil health; microbial community; potato (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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