Impact of Management Practices on Soil Organic Carbon Content and Microbial Diversity Under Semi-Arid Conditions

Nadia Bekhit, Fatiha Faraoun (), Faiza Bennabi, Abbassia Ayache, Fawzia Toumi, Rawan Mlih (), Viktoriia Lovynska and Roland Bol
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Nadia Bekhit: Laboratory of Spaces Eco-Development, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Djilalli Liabes University, Ex-ITMA, PB 89, Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria
Fatiha Faraoun: Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity, Conservation and Valorization, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Djilalli Liabes University, Ex-ITMA, PB 89, Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria
Faiza Bennabi: Laboratory of Spaces Eco-Development, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Djilalli Liabes University, Ex-ITMA, PB 89, Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria
Abbassia Ayache: Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity, Conservation and Valorization, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Djilalli Liabes University, Ex-ITMA, PB 89, Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria
Fawzia Toumi: Laboratory of Spaces Eco-Development, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Djilalli Liabes University, Ex-ITMA, PB 89, Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria
Rawan Mlih: Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
Viktoriia Lovynska: Laboratory of Forestry and Forest Management, Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University, 49600 Dnipro, Ukraine
Roland Bol: Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Globally, arid and semi-arid agricultural land is characterized by low soil organic carbon (SOC) content. This impacts on the abundance and diversity of soil microorganisms in such environments. We therefore examined SOC and bacterial community structure dynamics in the single plots of the conventional (PC), improved fertilization (PA) and unimproved control (PT) at El Hmadna experimental station (Northwest Algeria) during five-time intervals T(0), T(15), T(70), T(104) and T(147 days). The SOC content was determined using the modified Walkley and Black method. The 16S rRNA genes were isolated from soils and sequenced using the Illumina sequencing platform. Over time, OC levels increased by more than 15%, especially in the improved plot. The highest OC stock was observed for the unmanaged control plot (47 Mg ha −1 ), also associated with higher bacterial biomass. However, taxonomic analysis revealed that bacterial diversity was higher in PA and PC, with Actinobacteria (42%) and Firmicutes (15%) dominating. Soil salinity did negatively influence SOC but the imposed management practices such as organic amendments did improve both carbon retention and bacterial diversity. The results underline the importance of imposing sustainable agricultural practices to improve carbon sequestration and soil health in semi-arid regions.

Keywords: semi-arid area; organic carbon dynamics; bacterial microflora; physicochemical properties; soil management practices; clay soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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