Journal Article

FZJ-2021-00227

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Soil Organic Matter Composition in Coastal and Continental Date Palm Systems: Insights from Tunisian Oases

Mlih, R.FZJ* ; GOCKE, M. I. (Corresponding author) ; BOL, R.FZJ* ; BERNS, A. E.FZJ* ; FUHRMANN, I. ; BRAHIM, N.

2019
Elsevier Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26763  doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(19)60814-3

Abstract: In Tunisia, the coastal oasis of Chenini is characterized by a lush vegetation cover, while more inland continental oases (e.g. Guettaya oasis) have a very scarce vegetation cover. For sustaining date production, organic fertilizer is applied, either spread on the soil surface (in Chenini) or buried under a sand layer (in Guettaya). We examined on a molecular level how these management techniques affect soil organic matter composition in oasis systems. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals indicated for Guettaya a dominance of fresh plant input, which was most pronounced in the uppermost soil close to palms. Evidence of more degraded organic matter was found in deeper soil near the palms, as well as in soil more distant from palms. Amino sugar analysis revealed lower contents in the uppermost Guettaya soil near the palms. The overall microbial amino sugar residue contents were similar in range as those found in other dryland environments. With increased distance from trees the amino sugar contents declined in Guettaya where the palms grow on the bare soil but this was not the case for Chenini with multi-layer vegetation cover under the date palms. In agreement with previous dryland studies, the soil microbial community in both oasis systems was dominated by fungi in topsoil, but shifted towards bacteria-derived residues in subsurface soil. This might be due to higher variability of temperature and moisture in topsoil and/or lower degradability of fungal remains, but here further research is required.

Keyword(s): Geosciences (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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