Effects of herbicides and mulch on the soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial composition of two revegetated riparian zones over 3 years

Negar Omidvar; Steven M. Ogbourne; Zhihong Xu; Joanne Burton; Rebecca Ford; Babak Salehin; Iman Tahmasbian; Ruby Michael; Rachele Wilson; Shahla Hosseini Bai

doi:10.1007/s11368-023-03530-x

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Effects of herbicides and mulch on the soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial composition of two revegetated riparian zones over 3 years

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Effects of herbicides and mulch on the soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial composition of two revegetated riparian zones over 3 years

Negar Omidvar, Steven M. Ogbourne, Zhihong Xu, Joanne Burton, Rebecca Ford, Babak Salehin, Iman Tahmasbian, Ruby Michael, Rachele Wilson and Shahla Hosseini Bai

Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol.23(7), pp.2766-2782

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-023-03530-x

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Abstract

Revegetation

Roundup®

BioWeed™

Slasher®

Acetic acid

Soil fungi and bacteria

Purpose: Revegetation of riparian zones is important to improve their soil nitrogen (N) dynamics and to preserve their microbial compositions. However, the success of revegetation projects currently depends on weed control to reduce non-target vegetation competing over nutrients and to ensure the target plant species growth and survival. Different weed control methods affect soil microbial composition and N cycling. However, the long-term effects of herbicides on soil nitrogen (N) pools and microbial community composition remain uncertain even after cessation of the herbicide application. Materials and methods: This study compared the impacts of different herbicides (Roundup®, BioWeed™, Slasher®, and acetic acid) with mulch on soil N dynamics and microbial community structure 3 years after vegetation establishment (herbicides applied repeatedly in the first 2 years after which no herbicides were applied in the third final year). Results and discussion: Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was significantly higher in mulch compared with Roundup®, BioWeed™, Slasher®, and acetic acid at month 26 at the Kandanga site and month 10 at the Pinbarren site. Soil MBC remained significantly higher in mulch compared with Roundup® and BioWeed™, 12 months after the cessation of herbicide application at the Pinbarren site. Soil MBC in the Roundup® and BioWeed™ groups was also lower than the acceptable threshold (160 mg kg−1) at month 34 at the Pinbarren site. Soil NO3−-N was significantly higher in the mulch than the Roundup® at months 22 and 34 after revegetation at the Pinbarren site which could be partly explained by the decreased abundance of the denitrifying bacteria (Candidatus solibacter and C. koribacter). Additionally, both soil bacterial and fungal communities at the Pinbarren site and only fungal community at the Kandanga site were different in the mulch group compared with all other herbicides. The differences persisted 12 months after the cessation of herbicide application at the Pinbarren site. Conclusion: Our study suggested that the application of mulch to assist with riparian revegetation would be beneficial for soil microbial functionality. The use of herbicides may have long-lasting effects on soil microbial biomass and diversity and therefore herbicides should be used with caution as part of an integrated land management plan.

Details

Title: Effects of herbicides and mulch on the soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial composition of two revegetated riparian zones over 3 years
Authors: Negar Omidvar (Corresponding Author) - Griffith University
Steven M. Ogbourne (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
Zhihong Xu (Author) - Griffith University
Joanne Burton (Author) - Queensland Department of Environment and Science
Rebecca Ford (Author) - Griffith University
Babak Salehin (Author) - Griffith University
Iman Tahmasbian (Author) - Department of Primary Industries
Ruby Michael (Author) - Griffith University
Rachele Wilson (Author) - Griffith University
Shahla Hosseini Bai (Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol.23(7), pp.2766-2782
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.1007/s11368-023-03530-x
ISSN: 1614-7480; 1439-0108
Copyright note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Grant note: Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) Australian Government Clean Energy Future package project; Australian Government
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99731498902621
Output Type: Journal article