Enhancing Soil Organic Matter Transformation through Sustainable Farming Practices: Evaluating Labile Soil Organic Matter Fraction Dynamics and Identifying Potential Early Indicators

Yves Theoneste Murindangabo (), Marek Kopecký, Kristýna Perná, Thi Giang Nguyen, Mohammad Ghorbani, Petr Konvalina, Andrea Bohatá, Miloslava Kavková, Trong Nghia Hoang, David Kabelka and Eva Klenotová
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Yves Theoneste Murindangabo: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Marek Kopecký: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Kristýna Perná: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Thi Giang Nguyen: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Mohammad Ghorbani: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Petr Konvalina: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Andrea Bohatá: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Miloslava Kavková: Dairy Research Institute Ltd., Ke Dvoru 21a, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Trong Nghia Hoang: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
David Kabelka: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Eva Klenotová: Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: The growing global population and increasing demand for agricultural products have exerted significant pressure on agricultural systems. As a result, soil organic matter depletion and degradation have become prevalent issues, including in regions such as South Bohemia, Czech Republic, where conventional farming practices are predominant. Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a critical role in soil health, crop productivity, and the sustainability of agricultural systems, with changes occurring in both the total and labile fractions of the organic matter pools. However, changes in the total soil organic matter carbon pool (TOC) resulting from agricultural practices occur gradually and may become evident only after several years, posing challenges for timely management adjustments. Therefore, the identification of early indicators of SOM dynamics is crucial for implementing prompt corrective actions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sustainable management practices, such as cultivated crops ( Pisum sativum and Lupinus albus ), selected entomopathogenic and myco parasitic fungi (MEHA) ( Trichoderma virens and Metarhizium brunneum ), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the labile fraction of the SOM pool (C LSOM ) and identify potential early indicators. Our findings demonstrated that the type of crop and applied microorganisms (treatments) significantly affected the C LSOM in peas, and the crop growth stages affected the TOC in both pea and lupin. Growth stages also showed an impact on the C LSOM in lupin. Moreover, in both crops, the change in C LSOM correlated with changes in the SOM oxidation rate constant (k), carbon lability index (LI), carbon management index (CMI), and carbon enrichment ratio (ER). Conversely, changes in the TOC did not exhibit significant correlations, except for LI and CMI, which showed a positive correlation with the TOC in peas ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, the separate application of MEHA and LAB on seeds or leaves resulted in increased SOM carbon pools compared with the combined application. The application of these beneficial microorganisms in pea and lupin crops showed potential in maintaining or increasing C LSOM , which can be assessed early through indicators such as k, LI, CMI, and ER. Contributing to the development of sustainable soil management strategies, future research should further investigate different crops and microorganisms—and the mechanisms underlying their observed relationships—and explore additional early indicators to refine and optimize sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: carbon lability index; carbon management index; entomopathogenic fungi; lactic acid bacteria; oxidation rate constant; soil organic matter pool dynamics (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: 2023
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