Sammanfattning

The use of the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium(Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) may have the potential to sustain soil health and fertility through the development of an extensive root system. However, references are scarce to demonstrate its potential influence in a context of a limited perennial grain growth phase, integrated into annual grain crops succession. This study aims at determining how early a perennial crop rooting system differs from that of an annual crop through root development and root traits and microbial indicators. Our results indicate that the two-year-old intermediate wheatgrass promotes a denser and deeper rooting system with proportionally more root biomass and length deeper in the soil profile. From the first growing season, the perennial grain demonstrated a suite of root traits typical of a more resource-conservative strategy, and more belowground-oriented resource allocation. Soil fungal biomass indicators were enhanced. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) indicators were notably found to be improved at 1 m depth during the second growing season. This study provides evidence that grain-based agriculture can benefit from the potential of deeper and long-lived root systems of intermediate wheatgrass to manage soils. The periodic use of a short-term perennial phase in the crop rotation has the potential to improve soil functioning in the long term.

Nyckelord

perennial grains; rooting system; root traits; soil microbial indicators; soil quality; arbuscular mycorrhiza; crops rotation

Publicerad i

Agronomy
2020, Volym: 10, nummer: 9, artikelnummer: 1254
Utgivare: MDPI

SLU författare

• Barreiro, Ana

  • Institutionen för biosystem och teknologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Dimitrova Mårtensson, Linda-Maria

  • Institutionen för biosystem och teknologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

Framtidens lantbruk (tom Jan 2017)
SLU Nätverk växtskydd


Globala målen

Skydda, återställa och främja ett hållbart nyttjande av landbaserade ekosystem, hållbart bruka skogar, bekämpa ökenspridning, hejda och vrida tillbaka markförstöringen samt hejda förlusten av biologisk mångfald
Avskaffa hunger, uppnå tryggad livsmedelsförsörjning och förbättrad nutrition samt främja ett hållbart jordbruk
Säkerställa hållbara konsumtions- och produktionsmönster


UKÄ forskningsämne

Jordbruksvetenskap
Markvetenskap


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091254

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/108674