Interactions Between Biotic Components in Soils and Their Modification by Management Practices in Canada: A Review

Mills, J. T.; Alley, B. P.

doi:10.4141/cjps73-084

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…• Taxonomic consideration was still needed for several of the groups so that further ecological study could be carried out at the genus or species level to study life cycles and feeding habits; this was essential to evaluate the role of soil invertebrates in the natural or managed systems. From a review of available literature, Mills and Alley (1973) concluded that soil microfloral and faunal components were vitally involved with soil fertility, plant growth, and decomposition of plant residues and pesticides. The components were interrelated in a complex manner and that a knowledge of the interactions was essential for studying adverse environmental effects of monocultural practices.…”

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main area identified as requiring further research was how to study and assess interactions of soil microflora and fauna in relation to their microenvironments, as most agricultural problems in soil involve interactions. Mills and Alley (1973) For personal use only.…”

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

“…• Influences of tillage management practices, including effects from rotations, introducing new crops, use of fertilizers and pesticides These priority areas as identified by Mills and Alley (1973) and Willard (1974) are still very relevant today for agroecosystems when addressing the influence of management practices on soil biodiversity. The review by Mills and Alley (1973) goes towards identifying key areas of information about soil biota groups that must be considered in interpreting influences from environmental and anthropogenic impacts and assessing their contributions to crop production.…”

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The review by Mills and Alley (1973) goes towards identifying key areas of information about soil biota groups that must be considered in interpreting influences from environmental and anthropogenic impacts and assessing their contributions to crop production.…”

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges related to soil biodiversity research in agroecosystems - Issues within the context of scale of observation

Fox¹,

MacDonald²

2003

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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Soil biodiversity, the study of the variety of life in the soil, has received increasing attention as an outcome of recent national and international initiatives, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and various programs related to sustainable development of agroecosystems. The broad objectives of this paper are to set the stage for a “state of the art” review of soil biodiversity research in Canadian agricultural systems, to highlight the relevance of soil biodiversity studies at various scales of observation, to acknowledge the importance of soil biodiversity to the soil system with respect to soil functions, and processes and to suggest research challenges and opportunities. Study scale is of critical importance as it determines both the kind of soil biodiversity information and the feasible level of detail (spatially and temporally). At all scales from global to national to regional to landscape to ecosystems ranging to even fine scales of habitat niches at soil particle level, soil biota respond to the physical, chemical and biological constraints of their environment as mediated by environmental and anthropogenic influences. For example, at the landscape level, there exists a mosaic of ecosystems that can be characterized as a continuum ranging from unmanaged (natural), uncontrolled systems regulated primarily by environmental influences to managed, controlled systems regulated primarily by anthropogenic influences. In agroecosystems, soil biota contribute to the decomposition of crop residues and nutrient cycling, soil aggregation and water infiltration, suppression of soil-borne diseases and pests, and detoxification of chemicals. The intensity and duration of environmental and anthropogenic influences on these soil biota will affect their spatial and temporal distribution within this continuum of ecosystems occurring in the landscape and thereby also affect the extent of their capability for contributing towards soil functions and processes. Within this spatial and temporal context, research challenges are discussed. Key words: Soil biodiversity, scale of observation, agroecosystems, soil quality

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Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rationale For Soil Biodiversity Studies From An Agroecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Challenges related to soil biodiversity research in agroecosystems - Issues within the context of scale of observation

Fox¹,

MacDonald²

2003

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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“…A ratio above the equilibrium would indicate that soil organic C is increasing and below that it is decreasing (Gregorich et al 1994). Mills and Alley (1973) recognized that microorganisms and soil fauna contributed to soil fertility, plant growth and the decomposition of plant residues and pesticides. General assessments of the extent of the influence of soil organisms on the rate of soil organic matter decomposition have been undertaken by burying litterbags (Coleman and Crossley, Jr. 1996) or inserting monitoring strips (von Törne 1990; Kratz 1998) that contain an organic substrate as a food source.…”

Section: How Is the Composition Of Soil Biota Related To C Decompositmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing soil biota in Canadian agroecosystems: State of knowledge in relation to soil organic matter

Fox¹

2003

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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Organic residues resulting from crop and animal production either become incorporated in the soil or remain on the surface and, thus, provide much of the nutrient and energy sources for many soil organisms. Characterizing the response of soil biota to these organic materials is a challenging undertaking due to the complexity of the soil ecosystem with respect to the magnitude of biodiversity involved, the possibilities for interrelationships with biochemical and biophysical processes, and the immense range of scale of observation from particle, through to aggregate, field, landscape and regional levels. The objectives of this paper were to review the available research pertaining to Canadian agroecosystems, which characterize the response of soil biota to soil organic matter dynamics, and to identify the issues, challenges and knowledge gaps. The response by soil organisms is discussed from two approaches: (1) their state of occurrence in terms of population response to soil organic matter as a nutrient and carbon/energy source, and (2) the extent of their influence in contributing to organic matter dynamics, that is, assessing their functional role. For the most part, Canadian research has emphasized comparative studies based on population responses by broad soil biota groups to soil organic matter additions or losses as an outcome of undertaking various agronomic practices. Studies that evaluate the extent of contributions by soil biota to soil organic matter dynamics are few, and rare at the species level. For Canadian agroecosystems, there is currently a great need for research initiatives that address the immense knowledge gaps that exist in relation to (a) identifying the specific contributions to soil organic matter processes and interactions of soil biota both at species and community level, (b) predicting outcomes of the contributions of soil biota groups in regulating or controlling soil organic matter processes both spatially and temporally across landscapes, and (c) assessing the risk to soil biodiversity in various agroecosystems in being able to sustain these functional roles. Key words: Soil biota, functional role, soil organic matter, agroecosystems, ecosystem services

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Metabolism of 14c-labeled plant materials by woodlice (Tracheoniscus rathkei brandt) and soil microorganisms

Reyes

Tiedje

1976

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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Interactions Between Biotic Components in Soils and Their Modification by Management Practices in Canada: A Review

Cited by 10 publications

References 25 publications

Challenges related to soil biodiversity research in agroecosystems - Issues within the context of scale of observation

Challenges related to soil biodiversity research in agroecosystems - Issues within the context of scale of observation

Characterizing soil biota in Canadian agroecosystems: State of knowledge in relation to soil organic matter

Metabolism of 14c-labeled plant materials by woodlice (Tracheoniscus rathkei brandt) and soil microorganisms

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