The hidden potential of saprotrophic fungi in arable soil: Patterns of short-term stimulation by organic amendments

Saprotrophic fungi are abundant in soils of (semi-)natural ecosystems, where they play a major role in ecosystem functioning. On the contrary, saprotrophic fungal biomass is remarkably low in intensively managed soils, and this can have a negative impact on soil functioning. Nevertheless, arable soils harbour a diverse pool of fungi, which can be stimulated by organic amendments. Management targeted towards increasing soil organic matter often coincides with an increase in fungal biomass, but it can take years before effects are seen. However, a rapid stimulation of fungal biomass at the start of the growing season could immediately benefit crop production by improving nutrient availability, soil structure, and suppression of soil-borne diseases. The objective of this study is to realize a rapid increase in saprotrophic fungal biomass with organic amendments. In controlled pot experiments, dried and milled organic materials of different quality were added to an arable sandy soil. Ergost..., , See the first sheet of the excel document.

Sequencing data at ENA accession number PRJEB33534
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