The Effect of Plant Diversity and Soil Properties on Soil Microbial Biomass and Activity in a Novel Ecosystem

Wojciech Bierza, Gabriela Woźniak (), Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba, Franco Magurno, Monika Malicka, Damian Chmura, Agnieszka Błońska, Andrzej M. Jagodziński and Zofia Piotrowska-Seget ()
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Wojciech Bierza: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Gabriela Woźniak: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Franco Magurno: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Monika Malicka: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Damian Chmura: Institute of Environmental Protection and Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, Willowa 2 Street, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Agnieszka Błońska: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland
Andrzej M. Jagodziński: Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5 Street, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland
Zofia Piotrowska-Seget: Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 28 Street, 40-032 Katowice, Poland

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Plant–microbial relations have not yet been fully disclosed in natural or seminatural ecosystems, nor in novel ecosystems developing spontaneously on post-coal mine heaps. The aim of this study was to determine which factor, biotic (plant taxonomic diversity vs. plant functional diversity) or abiotic (physicochemical substrate parameters), affects the biomass of soil microbial communities the most, as well as soil in situ respiration in novel ecosystems. The study was carried out on unreclaimed plots selected according to four different combinations of taxonomic and functional plant diversity. Additionally, plots on a reclaimed heap served as a comparison between the two management types. The biomass of several soil microbial groups was analysed using phospholipid fatty acids profiles. We detected that soil microbial biomass was more impacted by abiotic parameters (explaining 23% of variance) than plant diversity (explaining 12% of variance). Particularly, we observed that substrate pH was the most important factor shaping microbial community biomass, as shown in the RDA analysis. The highest microbial biomass was found in plots with low taxonomic and functional diversity. This finding can be explained by the fact that these plots represented a more advanced phase of vegetation development in the early stages of plant succession.

Keywords: Calamagrostis epigejos; phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA); plant taxonomical and functional diversity; post-mining spoil heap; soil respiration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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