Summary
This controlled microcosm study experimentally reduced soil microbial diversity to investigate mechanistic links between soil biodiversity loss and ecosystem functioning in agriculture. Simplified soil communities showed significantly reduced ecosystem multifunctionality, crop productivity, and nutrient retention capacity; notably, mineral fertiliser application had minimal compensatory effect and actually impaired plant nitrogen acquisition from organic sources. The findings suggest that maintaining soil bacterial and eukaryotic diversity is essential for sustaining multiple ecosystem services in agroecosystems.
UK applicability
These findings are directly relevant to UK agricultural policy and practice, particularly regarding soil health standards and the potential limits of chemical fertiliser substitution for biodiversity conservation. The controlled nature of the microcosm work establishes causal relationships that UK farmers and policymakers should consider when evaluating intensification strategies and soil stewardship.
Key measures
Soil bacterial richness (45.9% reduction achieved), eukaryote richness (82.9% reduction achieved), ecosystem multifunctionality (R = 0.79 correlation with biodiversity), plant productivity, soil nutrient retention capacity, leek nitrogen uptake from litter (38.8% reduction with fertilisation), indicator taxa analysis via random forest
Outcomes reported
The study measured changes in soil ecosystem multifunctionality, crop productivity (leek yield), soil nutrient retention, and nitrogen uptake in response to experimentally reduced soil microbial diversity. It examined how mineral fertiliser application interacts with soil biodiversity loss.
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