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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pendleton, Oregon » Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385507
Research Project: Attaining High Quality Soft White Winter Wheat through Optimal Management of Nitrogen, Residue and Soil Microbes

Location: Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center

Title: Soil microbial diversity and activity linked to crop yield and quality in a dryland organic wheat production system

Author
item Reardon, Catherine - Kate
item HAGERTY, CHRISTINA - Oregon State University
item Klarer, Emmi
item KLEIN, ANN - Former ARS Employee
item MACHADO, STEPHEN - Oregon State University
item MELLE, CAROLINE - Former ARS Employee
item Paulitz, Timothy
item LARRY, PRITCHET - Oregon State University
item Schlatter, Daniel
item Wuest, Stewart

Submitted to: Electronic Publication
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2021
Publication Date: 6/15/2021
Citation: Reardon, C.L., Hagerty, C., Klarer, E.R., Klein, A., Machado, S., Melle, C., Paulitz, T.C., Larry, P., Schlatter, D.C., Wuest, S.B. 2021. Soil microbial diversity and activity linked to crop yield and quality in a dryland organic wheat production system. Electronic Publication. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sqaGpNfKo.

Interpretive Summary: Nutrient cycling is key to a healthy and productive soil. How we manage our soils can shape the microbial communities and alter the capacity of soil to store, transform and cycle nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This presentation will provide an overview of soil microbiology and discuss the roles (and consequences) of microbes and management on soil health. This talk focuses on the interaction between the soil environment and the microbial activity in long-term experimental plots in Pendleton.

Technical Abstract: Soil health is a key element to a productive soil. Soils are colonized by a highly complex network of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) and small animals (nematodes, rotifers, insects) that drive nutrient cycling (or turnover) through decomposition, predation and pathogenesis. Microbial decomposition of plant and animal residues is a major source of energy in soil ecosystems. Nutrients released from the decomposed residues can be converted into microbial biomass or released in mineral or plant-available form (e.g. carbon dioxide, water, ammonium, nitrate, phosphorous, etc.). Additionally, fungi and bacteria can promote soil aggregation resulting in improved soil structure and reduced erodibility. By understanding the effects of how we farm on the microbial communities, we may be able to change our management to promote beneficial communities. This talk focuses on the interaction between the soil environment and the microbial activity in long-term experimental plots in Pendleton.