Response of soil microbial community diversity to continuous cucumber cropping in facilities along the Yellow River irrigation area

Abstract

Cucumber is an important cash crop; however, continuous cropping obstacles readily occur within the intensive production processes of facility horticulture. This study aimed to determine the effects of continuous cropping on soil quality and the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil of cucumbers. Rhizosphere soil of cucumber planted continuously for 4, 8, and 12 years was investigated, and soil that was not continuously planted was used as the control. Soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, microbial diversity, and richness were determined. The results showed that with the increase in continuous cropping years (0, 4, 8, and 12 years), soil total salt content continuously increased, while the pH value significantly decreased. Compared with the control, soil organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and nitrate nitrogen contents increased significantly after 4 and 8 years of continuous cropping. Spearman correlation analysis showed that pH was negatively correlated with sucrase or sucrose and available phosphorus was positively correlated with alkaline phosphatase. Compared with the control, the diversity and abundance of bacterial and fungal communities in cucumber rhizosphere soil decreased after 4 and 12 years of continuous cropping. Continuous cropping led to a significant increase in the richness of the dominant phylum of cucumber rhizosphere soil. Principal coordinates analysis showed that, compared with the control, the soil microbial community structure was significantly separated after 4, 8, and 12 years of continuous cropping, and the microbial community structure was most similar after 4 and 8 years of continuous cropping. In addition, redundancy analysis showed that pH was the main driver of soil microbial dominance. In conclusion, continuous cropping of cucumber along the Yellow River irrigation area has led to the deterioration of soil nutrients and microbial communities in that region. This experiment provides a theoretical foundation for addressing the challenges associated with continuous cropping in cucumber cultivation.

Soil Nutrient, Enzyme Activity, and Microbial Community Characteristics of E. urophylla × E. grandis Plantations in a Chronosequence

“…The physical and chemical properties of soil have been shown to become unbalanced by short-term and continuous planting of E. urophylla × E. grandis [18]. There was a considerable decrease in soil pH with the number of years of continuous cultivation.…”

“…Although it is recognized that permanent Eucalyptus cultivation causes changes in soil properties and microbial characteristics, the specific factors influencing Eucalyptus growth remain elusive. Despite the existing literature containing studies on the effects of continuous Eucalyptus cultivation on the physicochemical properties of soil, enzyme activities, and microorganisms, there are significant discrepancies due to differences in study sites, cultivation practices, and age of planting [18,19]. These variations contribute to uncertainties in identifying the key factors responsible for soil degradation and the patterns of soil microbial changes over the course of Eucalyptus planting.…”

Diallyl Trisulfide Acts as a Soil Disinfestation Against the Ilyonectria destructans through Inducing the Burst of Reactive Oxygen Species

“…1 Unlike diseases transmitted through air, water, or seedlings, soil-borne diseases are characterized by the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the soil, making their eradication challenging. 2 In recent years, the intensification and spread of soil-borne diseases have been closely associated with the practice of continuous cropping, which refers to the consecutive planting of the same crop. 3 To mitigate disease outbreaks, soil sterilization is a commonly employed method aimed at eliminating soil-borne pathogens.…”

“…Soil-borne diseases have the potential to cause significant yield losses and are recognized as major constraints in crop production . Unlike diseases transmitted through air, water, or seedlings, soil-borne diseases are characterized by the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the soil, making their eradication challenging . In recent years, the intensification and spread of soil-borne diseases have been closely associated with the practice of continuous cropping, which refers to the consecutive planting of the same crop .…”