title: Long-term impact of farm management and crops on soil microorganisms assessed by combined DGGE and PLFA analyses.
abstract: In the present study, long-term organic and conventional managements were compared at the experimental field of Monsampolo del Tronto (Marche region, Italy) with the aim of investigating soil chemical fertility and microbial community structure. A polyphasic approach, combining soil fertility indicators with microbiological analyses (plate counts, PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [DGGE] and phospholipid fatty acid analysis [PLFA]) was applied. Organic matter, N as well as some important macro and micronutrients (K, P, Mg, Mn, Cu, and Zn) for crop growth, were more available under organic management. Bacterial counts were higher in organic management. A significant influence of management system and management x crop interaction was observed for total mesophilic bacteria, nitrogen fixing bacteria and actinobacteria. Interestingly, cultivable fungi were not detected in all analyzed samples. PLFA biomass was higher in the organic and Gram positive bacteria dominated the microbial community in both systems. Even if fungal biomass was higher in organic management, fungal PCR-DGGE fingerprinting revealed that the two systems were very similar in terms of fungal species suggesting that 10 years were not enough to establish a new dynamic equilibrium among ecosystem components. A better knowledge of soil biota and in particular of fungal community structure will be useful for the development of sustainable management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stagnari
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perpetuini
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tofalo
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura - Unità di Ricerca per l'Orticoltura (CRA - ORA) Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanelli
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura - Unità di Ricerca per l'Orticoltura (CRA - ORA) Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leteo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Della Vella
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schirone
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suzzi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo Mosciano Sant'Angelo, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisante
keywords: fungal community; long-term soil management; microbial groups; organic and conventional food; soil fertility indicators