Abstract
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of soil microbiome dynamics is imperative for bolstering sustainable agricultural productivity and devising effective soil management strategies. This study investigates the impact of leaf and other compost amendments on soil microbial richness and diversity. Metagenomic profiling techniques targeting 16S rRNA genes and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were employed to examine the bacterial and fungal microbiome structure in both pre-plantation and post-harvest soils. The findings reveal a notable increase in beneficial bacterial and fungal genera in the soil amended with compost, including Bacillus, Nitrospira, Planctomyces, Myxococcus, Agromyces, Wallemia, Pichia, and Microascus. Conversely, pathogenic genera such as Corynebacterium, Burkholderia, Nocardia, Olpidium, Penicillium, Acremonium, and Alternaria exhibited higher abundance in soil amended with chemical fertilizers, highlighting the potential of bio-compost amendments in bioremediation and pathogen control. The post-harvest soil samples amended with leaf-based compost showed an increase of 116% in beneficial bacterial genera and a 21% increase in beneficial fungal genera, accompanied by a 59% and 60% decrease in pathogenic bacterial and fungal genera, respectively. In contrast, the chemical fertilizer amendment reduced beneficial bacterial and fungal genera by approximately 49% and 2%, respectively, while increasing pathogenic bacterial genera by about 132% in the post-harvest soil. The study underscores the significant impact of leaf-based bio-compost amendments on soil microbial richness, diversity, and overall soil health. Leaf-based bio-compost enhanced microbial diversity and functionality, fostering beneficial microorganisms that play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, and strengthening soil ecosystem resilience.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC