Vorarbeit für die Zukunft: Wie nachhaltige Praktiken Bodenökosysteme

Sustainable land use practices offer significant advantages in regulating underground herbivores and soil microorganisms compared to intensive land use. Researchers from Leipzig University, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig (iDiv) and other leading institutions have shown that these practices promote a more resilient soil system that is better able to resist disturbances.

The study, recently published in Global Change Biology, shows that sustainable land management supports the stability of energy flows and sustains the activities of key actors in the soil food web such as decomposers, herbivores and predators. This balanced dynamic ensures that the flooring system remains functional and productive even in difficult conditions.

The research, which was carried out with the advanced experimental facility of the Global Change Experimental Facility at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), also proved that this regulation persists even under the predicted future climate conditions. This highlights the adaptability of sustainable land use practices to a changing climate and provides a robust approach to maintaining soil quality over time.

Another advantage of sustainable land use is the improved control of herbivores by their natural counterparts. This effect is particularly evident in sustainably managed arable land and grassland, where the balance within the soil system is better maintained. Regulating herbivore populations is crucial because uncontrolled propagation can severely affect plant growth and jeopardize overall productivity.

„Our results show the potential benefits of less intensive and more sustainable land management for the function of soil food webs – both today and in a changing climate,“ explains Marie Sünnemann, first author of the study from the Institute of Biology at Leipzig University and iDiv.

Effects of intensive and sustainable land use simulated in experiments

To better understand these impacts, researchers conducted a field experiment that investigated how intensive and sustainable land use affects the diversity of soil organisms in arable and grassland areas. The comprehensive study also considered future climate change scenarios to assess the long-term impacts of different land management strategies.

In their groundbreaking experiment, the researchers investigated how warming and summer drought affect soil organisms under intensive and sustainable land use. The study included a variety of soil organisms, including microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, as well as nematodes, springtails, mites, and larger animals such as beetles, spiders, centipedes, and centipedes.

„Our focus was on the energy cycles in the soil food web – the energy that is passed on from decomposers and herbivores to small predators,“ explains Prof. Dr. Nico Eisenhauer, co-author and scientist at iDiv. This energy flow served as a central indicator of how effectively the main groups of soil organisms – decomposers, microbe-eaters, herbivores and predators – perform their roles in the ecosystem.

Fostering resilience: The potential of sustainable land use

This research highlights a crucial truth: sustainable land-use practices are key to promoting resilient soil systems in the face of modern agricultural demands and a changing climate. By promoting stability in the soil food web, these practices ensure the balanced interaction of decomposers, herbivores and predators – maintaining energy flows and functionality even under challenging conditions.

The experimental approach of the study illustrates the tangible benefits of transitioning from intensive to sustainable land use. By implementing these practices, we can not only secure the soil, but also a sustainable future for generations to come.

Original publication
Marie Sünnemann, Andrew D. Barnes, Angelos Amyntas, Marcel Ciobanu, Malte Jochum, Alfred Lochner, Anton M. Potapov, Thomas Reitz, Benjamin Rosenbaum, Martin Schädler, Anja Zeuner, Nico Eisenhauer
Journal: Global Change Biology
Article title: Sustainable Land Use Strengthens Microbial and Herbivore Controls in Soil Food Webs in Current and Future Climates
Article publication date: 15.11.2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17554

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