Insights into the Belowground Biodiversity and Soil Nutrient Status of an Organic Apple Orchard as Affected by Living Mulches

Ewa M. Furmanczyk (), Eligio Malusà, Dawid Kozacki and Malgorzata Tartanus
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Ewa M. Furmanczyk: Department of Plant Protection, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Eligio Malusà: Department of Plant Protection, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Dawid Kozacki: Department of Plant Protection, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Malgorzata Tartanus: Department of Plant Protection, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: The impact of living mulches established with three officinal plants ( Alchemilla vulgaris , Fragaria vesca and Mentha x piperita ) on the soil bacterial microbiome and activity, the nematodes population, and the nutrient status of an organic apple orchard was assessed. The composition and diversity of the bacterial communities were differentially modified by living mulches. The activity of the bacterial microbiome associated with F. vesca was higher and utilized more C sources in comparison to other treatments. The combined analysis of the core bacterial microbiome and metabolic activity pointed to a potential effect of F. vesca on different levels of the soil’s trophic network. The living mulches did not affect the overall number of nematodes, but in some cases, they modified the structure of the population: F. vesca induced the highest share of bacteria feeders and the lowest number of herbivores and fungal feeders. The living mulches modified the availability of some nutrients and the pH. Multivariate analysis of the whole dataset showed several potential inter-dependencies between the assessed parameters that are worthy of further study. In conclusion, the introduction of multifunctional living mulches based on officinal plants induced changes to the soil’s genetic and functional biodiversity and chemical properties. These modifications could deliver ecosystem services particularly relevant to organic apple orchards.

Keywords: Alchemilla vulgaris; Fragaria vesca; Mentha x piperita; soil bacteria; nematodes (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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