Nematodes associated with saffron II: Bioindication for soil health assessment and impact of agricultural practices

Authors: BENJLIL, HINDE - Ibn Zohr University; IHITASSEN, ABDERRAHIM - Ibn Zohr University; IDHMIDA, AMINE - Ibn Zohr University; AIT HAMZA, MOHAMED - Ibn Zohr University; BRAIMI, AMINA - Ibn Zohr University; FURZE, JAMES - Ibn Zohr University; Paulitz, Timothy; FERJI, ZAHRA - Hassan Ii University; CHERIFI, KHALIL - Ibn Zohr University; MAYAD, EL HASSAN - Ibn Zohr University

Submitted to: Applied Soil Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/2023
Publication Date: 8/30/2023
Citation: Benjlil, H., Ihitassen, A., Idhmida, A., Ait Hamza, M., Braimi, A., Furze, J., Paulitz, T.C., Ferji, Z., Cherifi, K., Mayad, E. 2023. Nematodes associated with saffron II: Bioindication for soil health assessment and impact of agricultural practices. Applied Soil Ecology. 23(08):0929-1393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105111.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105111

Interpretive Summary: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most costly spice worldwide and constitutes a vital crop because of its socio-economic role in the region of Taliouine –Taznakht (Morocco). Likewise, nematodes are important soil organisms and are considered as a good bioindicators of soil health. Thus, plant parasitic nematodes could affect crop performance including saffron. However, Free-living nematodes (FLN) offer key ecological services as nutrient mineralization and pest suppression. The current investigation was designed to assess soil health through the determination of taxonomic and functional diversity of saffron nematodes assemblages. Overall, the findings of the present study provide important and informative data on soil food web structure, function, and soil health in saffron agroecosystems from Taliouine-Taznakht regions, which constitute the foundation of sustainable saffron production and Moroccan saffraneraie management.

Technical Abstract: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most costly spice worldwide and constitutes a vital crop because of its socio-economic role in the region of Taliouine –Taznakht (Morocco). Likewise, nematodes are important soil organisms and are considered as a good bioindicators of soil health. Thus, plant parasitic nematodes could affect crop performance including saffron. However, Free-living nematodes (FLN) offer key ecological services as nutrient mineralization and pest suppression. The current investigation was designed to assess soil health through the determination of taxonomic and functional diversity of saffron nematodes assemblages. Besides, a quantitative and qualitative understanding soil food web structure were carried out, as well as the study of the impact of agricultural practices on saffron agroecosystems in the study area. In detail, soil samples were surveyed along eleven areas from 163 saffron field core plots. Ecological and functional indices (Maturity Index (MI), Plant Parasitic Index (PPI), Channel Index (CI), Enrichment Index (EI), and Structure Index (SI)) were computed using Nematode INdicator Joint Analysis (NINJA) program. The results reported forty-eight nematode genera belonging to 30 families across these sites with Acrobeloides, Cephalobus, Eucephalobus, Aphelenchus and Ditylenchus being the most predominant genera in their corresponding feeding guilds. Also, the highest enrichment index was found in Taouyalte site (EI=38.80) characterized by high MI =2.302 and SI=30.20. Nematode functional food web analysis showed that Taouyalte tend to be a structured and enriched ecosystem; however, the remaining areas were degraded. The highest plant-parasitic index was observed in Khousama (KH) (PPI=2.63) and the differences between sites were statistically significant. The co-inertia analyses revealed that age of plantation, irrigation type, irrigation frequency, crop plantation type, and crop rotation had a significant impact on (MI), (SI) and PPI indices and on saffron nematodes trophic groups particularly predators and fungivores. Overall, the findings of the present study provide important and informative data on soil food web structure, function, and soil health in saffron agroecosystems from Taliouine-Taznakht regions, which constitute the foundation of sustainable saffron production and Moroccan saffraneraie management.