Summary
This field study investigated whether the two dominant fungal phyla—Ascomycota and Basidiomycota—serve as reliable indicators of land use effectiveness in promoting soil organic carbon accrual. Over 20 years, short-rotation woody plantations, particularly Salix and Robinia, substantially increased total organic carbon (+30% and +20% respectively), total fungal abundance, and microbial biomass compared to adjacent arable soil, with Ascomycota showing the strongest correlation to carbon accumulation and microbial activity.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in Italy and may have limited direct applicability to United Kingdom soil and climate conditions, which differ notably in temperature, moisture regimes, and soil types. However, the findings on Ascomycota as a reliable indicator of carbon accumulation in temperate woody systems could be transferable to UK agroforestry initiatives, particularly if similar short-rotation species (such as willow and black locust analogues) are employed, though UK-specific validation would be warranted.
Key measures
Total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass (dsDNA), Ascomycota and Basidiomycota DNA copy numbers (quantified via digital PCR), soil enzyme activities (C-cycle related), fungal community composition (next generation sequencing)
Outcomes reported
The study quantified Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungal DNA copy numbers and soil enzyme activities in woody plantation versus arable soil systems over a 20-year period. Soil organic carbon content, microbial biomass, and fungal populations were compared across three woody species (Salix, Robinia, Populus) and conventional arable cropping.
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