Use of phospholipid fatty acid analysis as phenotypic biomarkers for soil health and the influence of management practices

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104793
• Publication Date: 2023-01-03T18:22:16Z
• Authors: Charlotte E. Norris; Mathew J.B. Swallow; Daniel Liptzin; Michael Cope; G. Mac Bean; Shannon B. Cappel...; Kelsey L.H. Greub; Elizabeth L. Rieke; Paul W. Tracy; Cristine L.S. Morgan; C. Wayne Honeycutt
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences

Phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) provides an easy to use and robust measure of changing soil microbial condition. The method data on both the quantity composition community- critical knowledge because community is important component health. However, it challenging for new researchers know how process data, interpret results, its effectiveness in evaluating health management. We set out address these challenges using North American Project Evaluate Soil Health Measurements PLFA dataset. dataset comprised results over 1800 agricultural samples from a range environmental regions management practices. Using this dataset, we identified that quantifying biomass through summing biomarkers C14:0 C20:0 yielded greater than specific was almost identical C9:0 C20:0. utilized with common novel biomarker ratios evaluate response changes environment or practice. These were based commonly used genotypic categorization (e.g., Gram-positive Gram-negative) chemical structure either universal characteristics unsaturated saturated) targeted phenotypic known shift growth conditions a15:0 a17:0 i15:0 i17:0). One ratio, adaptation ratio (ARR), significantly correlated mean annual temperature pH across grassland reference plots, wheat climate transect, intensive vegetable wheat-corn Mexico. Neither nor demonstrated clear consistent trends conditions. Targeted also detected significant differences practices decreased tillage, cover crops, organic nutrients, residue retention, rotation diversity. Therefore, standardized calculations vary practices, support wider understanding adoption