Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils
Zero tillage management of agricultural soils has potential for enhancing soil carbon (C) storage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the mechanisms which control carbon (C) sequestration in soil in response to zero tillage are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigat...
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Elsevier
2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41146/ |
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| author | Mangalassery, S. Mooney, Sacha J. Sparkes, D.L. Fraser, W.T. Sjögersten, Sofie |
| author_facet | Mangalassery, S. Mooney, Sacha J. Sparkes, D.L. Fraser, W.T. Sjögersten, Sofie |
| author_sort | Mangalassery, S. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Zero tillage management of agricultural soils has potential for enhancing soil carbon (C) storage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the mechanisms which control carbon (C) sequestration in soil in response to zero tillage are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the links between zero tillage practices and the functioning of the soil microbial community with regards to C cycling, testing the hypothesis that zero tillage enhances biological functioning in soil with positive implications for C sequestration. Specifically, we determined microbial respiration rates, enzyme activities, carbon source utilization and the functional chemistry of the soil organic matter in temperate well drained soils that had been zero tilled for seven years against annually tilled soils. Zero tilled soils contained 9% more soil C, 30% higher microbial biomass C than tilled soil and an increased presence of aromatic functional groups indicating greater preservation of recalcitrant C. Greater CO2 emission and higher respirational quotients were observed from tilled soils compared to zero tilled soils while microbial biomass was 30% greater in zero tilled soils indicating a more efficient functioning of the microbial community under zero tillage practice. Furthermore, microbial enzyme activities of dehydrogenase, cellulase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, phenol oxidase and peroxidase were higher in zero tilled soils. Considering zero tillage enhanced both microbial functioning and C storage in soil, we suggest that it offers significant promise to improve soil health and support mitigation measures against climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:44:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-41146 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:44:18Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | nottingham-411462020-05-04T17:05:26Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41146/ Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils Mangalassery, S. Mooney, Sacha J. Sparkes, D.L. Fraser, W.T. Sjögersten, Sofie Zero tillage management of agricultural soils has potential for enhancing soil carbon (C) storage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the mechanisms which control carbon (C) sequestration in soil in response to zero tillage are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the links between zero tillage practices and the functioning of the soil microbial community with regards to C cycling, testing the hypothesis that zero tillage enhances biological functioning in soil with positive implications for C sequestration. Specifically, we determined microbial respiration rates, enzyme activities, carbon source utilization and the functional chemistry of the soil organic matter in temperate well drained soils that had been zero tilled for seven years against annually tilled soils. Zero tilled soils contained 9% more soil C, 30% higher microbial biomass C than tilled soil and an increased presence of aromatic functional groups indicating greater preservation of recalcitrant C. Greater CO2 emission and higher respirational quotients were observed from tilled soils compared to zero tilled soils while microbial biomass was 30% greater in zero tilled soils indicating a more efficient functioning of the microbial community under zero tillage practice. Furthermore, microbial enzyme activities of dehydrogenase, cellulase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, phenol oxidase and peroxidase were higher in zero tilled soils. Considering zero tillage enhanced both microbial functioning and C storage in soil, we suggest that it offers significant promise to improve soil health and support mitigation measures against climate change. Elsevier 2015-05-01 Article PeerReviewed Mangalassery, S., Mooney, Sacha J., Sparkes, D.L., Fraser, W.T. and Sjögersten, Sofie (2015) Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils. European Journal of Soil Biology, 68 . pp. 9-17. ISSN 1164-5563 Carbon sequestration; Microbial biomass carbon; Greenhouse gases; Soil enzymes; Soil organic matter; Soil microbial functional diversity https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2015.03.001 doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2015.03.001 doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2015.03.001 |
| spellingShingle | Carbon sequestration; Microbial biomass carbon; Greenhouse gases; Soil enzymes; Soil organic matter; Soil microbial functional diversity Mangalassery, S. Mooney, Sacha J. Sparkes, D.L. Fraser, W.T. Sjögersten, Sofie Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| title | Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| title_full | Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| title_fullStr | Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| title_short | Impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| title_sort | impacts of zero tillage on soil enzyme activities, microbial characteristics and organic matter functional chemistry in temperate soils |
| topic | Carbon sequestration; Microbial biomass carbon; Greenhouse gases; Soil enzymes; Soil organic matter; Soil microbial functional diversity |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41146/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41146/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41146/ |