Altitudinal Gradient and Soil Depth as Sources of Variations in Fungal Communities Revealed by Culture-Dependent and Culture-Independent Methods in the Negev Desert, Israel.

We examined fungal communities in soil profiles of 0-10 cm depth along the altitudinal gradient of 250-530-990 m.a.s.l. at the Central Negev Desert, Israel, which benefit from similar annual precipitation (95 mm). In the soil samples collected in the summer of 2020, a mycobiota accounting for 169 species was revealed by both culture-dependent and culture-independent (DNA-based) methodologies. The impact of soil depth on the variations in fungal communities was stronger than the impact of altitude. Both methodologies displayed a similar tendency in the composition of fungal communities: the prevalence of melanin-containing species with many-celled large spores (mainly Alternaria spp.) in the uppermost layers and the depth-wise increase in the proportion of light-colored species producing a high amount of small one-celled spores. The culturable and the DNA-based fungal communities had only 13 species in common. The differences were attributed to the pros and cons of each method. Nevertheless, despite the drawbacks, the employment of both methodologies has an advantage in providing a more comprehensive picture of fungal diversity in soils.

Organic amendments from recycled waste promote short-term carbon sequestration of restored soils in drylands.

Soils are considered as a major reservoir for terrestrial carbon and it can act as a source or sink depending upon the land management activities. In semi-arid areas, the natural recovery of soils degraded by mining activities is complicated. A possible solution to recover soil quality and functionality, plant cover and carbon sequestration capacity could be the application of organic amendments. This work focuses on a restoration carried out in 2018 by applying with different composted organic amendments (stabilized sludge, gardening and greenhouse waste) in a limestone quarry under semi-arid climate (SE Spain). The objective was to evaluate the effects of different organic amendments on net CO2 exchange in two microcosms: soil-Stipa tenacissima and soil-spontaneous vegetation. Soil physical and chemical properties, environmental and ecological variables and their interrelationship were studied in amended and unamended soils. The results obtained under soil-forming factors in the study area showed an increase in soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, improved moisture and plant growth, and plant canopy development in amended soils. Soil moisture, soil temperature and plant cover significantly influenced net CO2 exchange. In general, microcosms with S. tenacissima showed higher carbon sequestration rates than soils with only spontaneous plant cover. Soils treated with a vegetable-only amendments showed higher plant cover and CO2 fixation rates after significant rainfall. On the other hand, the plots treated with sludge compost presented more soil respiration than photosynthesis, especially in the wet seasons. Soils with sludge and greenhouse compost mixed had higher CO2 fixation rates than soils restored with a mixture of sludge and garden compost. Soils with greenhouse waste compost showed CO2 fixation in the microcosm with plants in all campaigns, being the best treatment to promote atmospheric CO2 sequestration in soil restoration.

Short-term effects of post-fire soil mulching with wheat straw and wood chips on the enzymatic activities in a Mediterranean pine forest.

Soils of Mediterranean forests can be severely degraded due to wildfire. However, post-fire management techniques, such as soil mulching with vegetal residues, can limit degradation and increase functionality of burned soils. The effects of post-fire mulching on soil functionality have been little studied in Mediterranean forests, and it is still unclear whether the application of straw or wood residues is beneficial. This study explores the changes in important soil chemical and biochemical properties in a pine forest of Central Eastern Spain after a wildfire and post-fire mulching with straw or wood chips. Only basal soil respiration (BSR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA), pH and water field capacity (WFC) significantly changed after the fire and mulching. In contrast, the other enzymatic activities - urease (UA), alkaline phosphatase (Alk-PA) and ß-glucosidase (BGA), - total organic carbon (TOC) and electrical conductivity (EC) were not influenced by these soil disturbances. Time from fire and soil conditions (due to burning and management) were significant variability factors for BSR, pH, BGA, UA, TOC, EC. Mulching increased BSR compared to burned areas, especially in soils with straw (+30 %), thanks to addition of fresh organic residues, quickly incorporated in the soil. Soil pH showed a low variability among the four soil conditions, and TOC was higher in mulched soils (on average + 20 % compared to the burned soils), and this was correlated to the increased BSR. The role of mulching was essential with reference to WFC, as the post-fire management limited its reduction after the fire (on average from -30 % to -20 %). Finally, the Principal Component Analysis coupled to the Analytical Hierarchical Cluster Analysis confirmed the significant influence of the post-fire management on some enzymatic activities, although a sharp discrimination among the four soil conditions was only evident between unburned and burned sites, regardless of the management. Overall, it has been shown that mulching promotes conservation of fragile Mediterranean soils, indicating its effectiveness at preserving soil functionality in areas affected by forest fires.