Sammanfattning

Purpose Push-pull is an intercropping technology that is rapidly spreading among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The technology intercrops cereals with Desmodium to fight off stem borers, eliminate parasitic weeds, and improve soil fertility and yields of cereals. The above-ground components of push-pull cropping have been well investigated. However, the impact of the technology on the soil microbiome and the subsequent role of the microbiome on diverse ecosystem benefits are unknown. Here we describe the soil microbiome associated with maize-Desmodium intercropping in push-pull farming in comparison to long-term maize monoculture. Methods Soil samples were collected from long-term maize-Desmodium intercropping and maize monoculture plots at the international centre for insect physiology and ecology (ICIPE), Mbita, Kenya. Total DNA was extracted before16S rDNA and ITS sequencing and subsequent analysis on QIIME2 and R. Results Maize-Desmodium intercropping caused a strong divergence in the fungal microbiome, which was more diverse and species rich than monoculture plots. Fungal groups enriched in intercropping plots are linked to important ecosystem services, belonging to functional groups such as mycorrhiza, endophytes, saprophytes, decomposers and bioprotective fungi. Fewer fungal genera were enriched in monoculture plots, some of which were associated with plant pathogenesis and opportunistic infection in humans. In contrast, the impact of intercropping on soil bacterial communities was weak with few differences between intercropping and monoculture. Conclusion Maize-Desmodium intercropping diversifies fungal microbiomes and favors taxa associated with important ecosystem services including plant health, productivity and food safety.

Nyckelord

Soil microbiome; Push-pull farming; Intercropping microbiome; 16S; ITS; Desmodium spp

Publicerad i

Plant and Soil
2021,
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Bella David, Aneth

  • Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • University of Dar es Salaam

• Larsson Herrera, Sebastian

  • Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Alsanius, Beatrix

  • Institutionen för biosystem och teknologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Dekker, Teun

  • Institutionen för växtskyddsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Globala målen

SDG15 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
SDG2 Avskaffa hunger, uppnå tryggad livsmedelsförsörjning och förbättrad nutrition samt främja ett hållbart jordbruk


UKÄ forskningsämne

Markvetenskap


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05082-w

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/113308