Effects of MSW-compost amendment on the vineyard soil microbiota
Sustainable agriculture increasingly relies on organic amendments that integrate circular economy principles. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-derived compost (MSW-Compost) represents a promising candidate as soil amendment in viticulture, yet its impact on soil microbiota remains poorly investigated. This work assessed the effects of MSW-compost application on the bacterial microbiota of a Mediterranean vineyard soil over a twelve-month period, comparing two application methods (surface mulching and tillage incorporation). Soil DNA was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, complemented by functional prediction (Picrust2) and Tea Bag Index (TBI) to assess soil decomposition activity. MSW-compost significantly increased alpha-diversity and affected beta-diversity of the microbiota, regardless of application method, with effects persisting throughout the entire observation period with a diminishing trend. Devosia emerged as the hub taxon of the co-occurrence network and was increased by compost addition. While a similar number of taxa were increased or reduced, functional prediction revealed a notable enrichment of metabolic pathways, both synthetic and degradative; this finding was supported by the enhanced red tea decomposition data. Our results indicate that MSW-compost acts as a beneficial soil amendment, simultaneously enhancing microbial diversity and soil decomposition activity. This study provides novel evidence supporting the use of MSW-compost as a sustainable tool for improving soil health in productive vineyards.
Sustainable agriculture increasingly relies on organic amendments that integrate circular economy principles. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-derived compost (MSW-Compost) represents a promising candidate as soil amendment in viticulture, yet its impact on soil microbiota remains poorly investigated. This work assessed the effects of MSW-compost application on the bacterial microbiota of a Mediterranean vineyard soil over a twelve-month period, comparing two application methods (surface mulching and tillage incorporation). Soil DNA was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, complemented by functional prediction (Picrust2) and Tea Bag Index (TBI) to assess soil decomposition activity. MSW-compost significantly increased alpha-diversity and affected beta-diversity of the microbiota, regardless of application method, with effects persisting throughout the entire observation period with a diminishing trend. Devosia emerged as the hub taxon of the co-occurrence network and was increased by compost addition. While a similar number of taxa were increased or reduced, functional prediction revealed a notable enrichment of metabolic pathways, both synthetic and degradative; this finding was supported by the enhanced red tea decomposition data. Our results indicate that MSW-compost acts as a beneficial soil amendment, simultaneously enhancing microbial diversity and soil decomposition activity. This study provides novel evidence supporting the use of MSW-compost as a sustainable tool for improving soil health in productive vineyards.
University of Salento