Institut für ökologische Chemie, Pflanzenanalytik und Vorratsschutz
Objectives and work planThe subproject of the JKI investigates the function and diversity of soil life and their contribution to soil fertility and soil health. Earthworm communities make an important contribution to soil fertility and health and will be surveyed in the subproject with respect to their population sizes, functions and diversity under conventional and organic farming. The data collected will be used to determine which life form types of earthworms benefit from agroforestry systems and how far the positive influence of the trees extends into the field (sub-objective 1). Another sub-objective of the sub-project is the breakdown of the species composition of soil fungi and the classification into beneficial and phytopathogenic fungi. This will clarify to what extent the agroforestry modified community of soil fungi contributes to soil health (e.g. suppression of soil-borne plant diseases). Furthermore, the diversity of the soil fungi will be recorded (sub-goal 2). Once the species composition of the soil fungal community is known, major representatives of soil fungi will be quantified. In addition, population sizes of major groups of soil microorganisms will be recorded to determine if soil microbial life is supported (subgoal 3). The overall goal of the subproject is to link the positive effects of agroforestry on soil life (earthworms and microorganisms) with soil fertility and soil health.Definition of the work content of the project partnerEarthworm communities:Earthworm communities will be recorded using allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) sprouting. After emergence, the earthworms will be taxonomically determined and divided into the functional groups of litter dwellers (epigaeic), mineral soil dwellers (endoaeic) and deep burrowers (anectic) based on their life form types. Furthermore, population size, biomass, diversity, age structure and species composition will be investigated. Surveys in old agroforestry systems are planned in the first phase of the project, and in young systems in the second phase.Soil fungal community:High-throughput sequencing will be used to dissect the composition of soil fungi. Furthermore, the diversity and functional potential of the soil fungi will be determined. Additionally, a classification into beneficial (e.g. saprotrophic fungi, mycorrhizae, antagonists) and phytopathogenic fungi (e.g. Alternaria, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia) is planned.Quantification of soil microorganisms:The main groups of soil microorganisms (archaea, bacteria and fungi) as well as beneficial and phytopathogenic soil fungi will be quantified using real-time PCR. Clarification of the occurrence of beneficial and phytopathogenic fungi will be based on knowledge gained from high-throughput sequencing. Surveys are planned in old agroforestry systems in the first phase of the project and in young systems in the second phase of the project.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
