Microbial Fertilization Improves Soil Health When Compared to Chemical Fumigation in Sweet Lily

Abstract

Lanzhou Lily(Lilium davidii) var. unicolor, which is also known as sweet lily in China, is used as a type of food. This lily is distributed in narrow regions, propagates asexually, cultivates perennially, and cultivates commonly in serious consecutive replant problems (CRPs). Soil fumigation is commonly used to control soil-borne disease to alleviate crops’ consecutive replant problems (CRPs). However, due to the improper fumigation application, it is common to cause chemical hazard to crops. In this study, we designed a two-factor experiment to explore the bacterial and fungal community structure and some specific microbial groups in the lily rhizosphere soil after chemical versus bacterial fertilizer treatments, by using a metagenomic analysis of the treated soils. The results showed that metham-sodium soil fumigation (SMF treatment) significantly decreased plant growth, as well as it significantly decreased both soil fungal diversity and abundance at the OTUs levels, while Special 8™ microbial fertilizer supplement (MF treatment) significantly improved plant growth and increased fungal diversity and abundance. Under FM treatment, Chao1 richness and Shannon’s diversity increased by 6.70% and 35.09% compared to CK (no treatment). However, the bacterial diversity and abundance were not significantly changed among these treatments. The fungal and bacterial community structure were different in all treatments. In SMF treatment, the pathogenic fungal species Fusarium oxysporum increased compared to CK, but it significantly decreased in MF treatment; in MF and MMF treatments, some beneficial bacteria groups such as the bacterial phylum Proteobacteria and its member genus Sphingomonas, as well as the fungal genus Mortierella, increased compared to CK and SFM treatments, but the harmful bacterial genera Gemmatimona was decreased, as well as the harmful fungal genus Cryptococcus. Thus, we concluded that under chemical fumigation conditions, both fungal diversity loss and overall microorganism reduction, which impair multiple ecosystem function, in conjunction with the increase of harmful fungal species such as Fusarium oxysporum, are causes for soil degradation. On the other hand, under microbial fertilizer supplement, it was the fungal diversity increase, as well as these beneficial microorganisms groups’ accumulation, together with those harmful groups’ depletion, played important roles in restoring and improving soil health that suffered from the chemical fumigant hazard. In addition, the bacterial phylum Proteobacteria and its member genus Sphingomonas are involved in soil health recovery and promotion. The results also emphasized that whether soil is chemically fumigated or not, beneficial microorganism supplementary is effective in ensuring soil productivity.

Effects of Ficus carica L. Water Extract on Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc. Growth

“…These dominant microbial groups can produce various extracellular hydrolase, degrade various insoluble organic substances in soil to obtain various nutrients required for cell metabolism, and play an important role in the mineralization of organic matter, to participate in the natural cycles, purify the environment, and enhance soil fertility [38]. At the same time, they resist rhizosphere harmful microorganisms in various ways, inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, to reduce the impact of diseases on plant growth and development, and indirectly promote plant colonization, growth, and development [39].…”

Response of Strawberry Fruit Yield, Soil Chemical and Microbial Properties to Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation with Biochar and Rice Bran

“…Soil disinfestation before crop planting is often used to control soil-borne pathogens in crops that are produced on a large scale [6]. The chemical fumigants chloropicrin, metam sodium, and dazomet are expensive to use, and their prolonged use increases the risk of environmental damage and poses a potential threat to human health [7]. Physical and biological soil disinfestation is less likely to cause harm to the soil environment, but they have not been widely used because they are expensive and have a slow and unstable effect on pests [8].…”