The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in soil quality associated with the tillage system applied with chosen parameters of soil biological properties. The long-term field experiments were located at a private farm in Rogów (Zamooeć region, E Poland) on a silt soil and at the Experimental Station in Laskowice (Wrocław region, S-W Poland) on a sandy loam soil. Soil samples were collected from 0-15 and 15-30 cm layers. Winter wheat was grown under traditional, reduced and no-tillage systems. The analyses included estimations of microbial biomass C and N content, microbial respiration rate, activity of dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. After eight years the effects of tillage on both soils were clearly noticed. In general, the less disturbing tillage systems enhanced the increase of soil biological activity by 15-40%, on average, than conventional tillage system. The significant correlations between microbial biomass, and/or enzyme activities with total organic C content indicate that concentration of organic C in soil environment plays an extremely important role in enhancing the stabilization and activity of soil microorganisms, and protection of an extracellular enzymes. The studied parameters of soil biological activity showed their sensitivity to tillage applied and may be considered as an useful indicators of soil quality in monitoring all conditions alter soil environment.

Biochar improves soil physical, chemical and biological properties. However, there is a very limited number of studies comparing the effect of various doses of biochar and wheat straw with nutrients on microbiocenotic composition of soil and their connection with selected biochemical and chemical parameters of soil. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the addition to the soil of wheat straw (WS) and wheat straw biochar (WSB) (300 °C) at 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% doses and the addition of nutrients (MF) on microbial community composition (bacteria, fungi, actinobacteria, Azotobacter spp., ammonifiers, nitrifiers, denitrifiers, C. pasteurianum), dehydrogenase activity index, carbon and nitrogen fractions contents and the content of water soluble Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb. It was demonstrated that coapplication of WS and WSB with MF at 1% and 2% doses increased carbon and nitrogen contents in soil and, in particular, their water soluble fractions (DOC and DON). The synergistic effect of biochar and MF contributed to the increase in the population of soil microorganisms. Dehydrogenase activity index in treatments with the addition of WS, WSB and MF was 1.6-4 times higher compared to the control. The content of heavy metals significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected dehydrogenase activity and the number of nitrifiers and ammonifiers. It was demonstrated that the content of C and N measured for soil microbial biomass in treatments amended with biochar and MF was much greater than in control treatment and MF. However, our studies suggest that the microorganisms' response to the addition of biochar with nutrients increased the number and intensified the activity of soil microorganisms.

Fungi have increased tolerance to environmental stress (also related to the access of pollutants, e.g., trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs). The aim of the study was to evaluate the mycobiome and functional diversity of fungi in long-term crude-oil contaminated soils as the potential bioremediators of oil contaminated sites. Samples were taken from three historical oil wells (over a century old) at two distances: within a 0.5 m radius of the oil wells (OWP1, OWP2, and OWP3) and within a 3 m radius from the oil wells as the controls (OW1, OW2, and OW3). Next generation sequencing (for the ITS region) was accompanied with determination of the functional fungal community based on Biolog FFPlates, glomalin related soil protein (GRSP) content, trace element and PAHs concentration. The research hypothesis assumed that long-term natural bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soils can contribute to intensive development of a unique fungal community adapted to the contamination conditions. The identification of such fungi can be of particular importance in soil bioremediation. There were significant differences in the fungal community and functional diversity between the soil samples. The soils collected directly from the oil wells were characterized by higher biological activity and higher diversity of PAH-degrading fungal candidates compared to the soils collected within 3 m of the oil wells. The total glomalin-related soil proteins (T-GRSP) and easily-extractable glomalin-related soil proteins (EE-GRSP) contents were lower in soil samples taken directly from the crude oil well. The control soil (OW) subjected to a long-term natural remediation may already have sufficient conditions for the growth and development of mycorrhizal fungi. The mycobiome of the soils collected directly from the oil wells (OWP1, OWP2, and OWP3) was characterized by a 35% share of PAH-degrading candidates, compared to the soil collected at the 3 m distance from the oil wells (OW1, OW2, and OW3) at < 5%. The main PAH-degrading fungal candidates belong to genera Ilyonectria, Chaetomium, Gibberella, Paraphoma,

The aim of the study was to compare the activity and functional biodiversity in soil under two different cereals: common maize and winter wheat, both grown in the same pattern of cultivation techniques: conventional (to 25 cm depth) and reduced (to 10 cm depth). Soil samples for comparative analysis were collected at the same time (July 2016) at a long-term field experiment, which was carried out in 2013–2016. Soil biological activity was determined by measurement of dehydrogenases activity (DHa) with TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) application, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) content by fumigation-extraction method, and functional diversity of soil microorganisms using the Biolog EcoPlate System. The results demonstrated that the cultivation technique had a greater impact on the soil biological activity, compared to the type of cereal. Higher biological activity was found in the soil under reduced tillage in both cereals. Calculated correlations showed that DHa, MBC, MBN and acid phosphatases were positively correlated with each other. The negative correlation obtained between yield and biological parameters of activity in soil was not expected.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) content, microbial diversity and soil physical quality depending on the type of soil measures of soil improvement and changes in soil health. The study was based on a 100-year stationary field microplot experiment where the soil profiles were collected with preserving the natural soil horizons. The microplot experiment was carried out on eight different soil types: Brunic Arenosol (Dystric I), Rendzic Leptosol, Fluvic Cambisol, Haplic Cambisol (Eutric), Gleyic Phaeozem, Brunic Arenosol (Dystric II), Haplic Cambisol (Eutric II) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric). These soils are the most common types of agricultural soils in Poland. Relatively significant correlations with the soil quality, physical parameters and the glomalin-related soil proteins have been found. The study determined the total GRSP (T-GRSP) and easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) levels in soils as well as the soil physical quality index and soil’s microbial biodiversity. The GRSP depended on the type of soil and correlated with S-Index and also was responsible for the unique chemical and physical properties of soils. Soils characterized by the highest T-GRSP content belonged to the group of very good and good soil physical quality characterized also by high biological activity, for which there were strong correlations with such parameters as dehydrogenase activity (DHA), microbial biomass content (MBC), microbial nitrogen content (MBN) and total bacteria number (B). The highest T-GRSP content and higher microbial diversity were found in Gleyic Phaeozem, Rendzic Leptosol and Fluvic Cambisol. The T-GRSP and EE-GRSP content were additionally correlated with the number of AMF spores. Very poor and poor soil physical quality according to S-Index characterized Brunic Arenosol (Dystric I) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric). This research indicates that a specific edaphone of soil microorganisms and GRSP content may be of great importance when assessing a soil’s quality and improvements in soil health. The abundance of glomalin-producing fungi significantly affects the quality of the soil. This effect is particularly important for agricultural soils are threatened by ongoing land degradation.