Long-term effects of organic amendments on the recovery of plant and soil microbial communities following disturbance in the Canadian boreal forest

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 363; no. 1/2; pp. 331 - 344
• Main Authors: Hahn, Aria S., Quideau, Sylvie A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.02.2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biochemistry and biology; Biogeochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Boreal forests; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Community composition; Community development; Ecology; Ecosystem recovery; Environmental aspects; Fatty acids; Forest ecosystems; Forest floor; Forest soils; Forestry research; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Grassland soils; Land reclamation; Life Sciences; Microbial activity; Microbiological research; Microbiology; Oil sands; Organic soils; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Peat; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant-soil relationships; Reclaimed soils; Regular Article; Soil amendments; Soil composition; Soil ecology; Soil microbiology; Soil microorganisms; Soil moisture; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil water; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Taigas; Terrestrial ecosystems; Vegetation; Canada; North America; America; Boreal mixed-wood forest; Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis; Soil microbial communities; Athabasca Oil Sands Region; Native revegetation; Moisture regimes; Microbial activity; Sand; Boreal zone; Phospholipid; Revegetation; Recovery; Water regime; Microbial community; Organic compounds; Boreal forest; Boreal mixedwood forest; Aliphatic compound; Long tem effect; Perturbation; Complex lipid; Fatty acids; Biological activity; Soils; Analysis; Soil plant relation; Organic amendment
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-012-1306-4

Background and Aims Ecosystem recovery following disturbance requires the reestablishment of key soil biogeochemical processes. This long-term 7 year study describes effects of organic material, moisture, and vegetation on soil microbial community development in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Western Canada. Methods Phospholipid fatty acid analysis was used to characterize and compare soil microbial community composition and development on reclaimed and natural forest sites. Additionally, we conducted a laboratory moisture manipulation experiment. Results The use of forest floor material as an organic amendment resulted in a greater percent cover of upland vegetation and placed the soil microbial community on a faster trajectory towards ecosystem recovery than did the use of a peat amendment. The soil microbial composition within the reclaimed sites exhibited a greater response to changes in moisture than did the soil microbial communities from natural sites. Conclusion Our research shows that the use of native organic amendment (forest floor) on reclaimed sites, and the associated establishment of native vegetation promote the development of soil microbial communities more similar to those found on natural forest sites. Additionally, soil microbial communities from natural sites may be more resistant to changes in soil moisture than those found on reclaimed sites.