Biodiversiteit in landbougronde, volhoubare plantproduksie en die beheer van plantpatogene
Date
2010-06
Authors
Reinecke, A. J. (Koot)
Reinecke, Sophie A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
Grond is ’n baie heterogene substraat wat ’n omgewingsmatriks daarstel wat in ruimte en oor
tyd kan varieer wat betref pH, organiese koolstof, verspreiding van partikelgrootttes en voginoud.
Ook chemiese, fi siese en biologiese faktore tree op en grond bevat ’n enorme verskeidenheid
van grondlewende ongewerwelde diere en mikrobes wat met mekaar en met die omgewing in
wisselwerking verkeer en sodoende plantproduktiwiteit direk en indirek beïnvloed. ’n Oorsig
van die meer onlangse wetenskaplike literatuur oor die rol van grondbiodiversiteit dui op die
belangrike rol van grondlewende invertebrate, veral erdwurms, om grondeienskappe en ook
grondgedraagde patogene te beïnvloed. Erdwurms het in baie gronde ’n kritieke funksie in die
regulering van sleutelprosesse wat impakteer op plantproduktiwiteit en die gelyktydige eliminering
of teenwerking van grondgedraagde siektes.
Die doel van hierdie oorsig is eerstens om by te dra tot die opheldering van die rol wat
grondbiodiversiteit in die algemeen speel en om meer in die besonder te fokus op die invloed
wat erdwurms het op plantpatogene en parasiete. Getuienis word verskaf dat hierdie diere se
aktiwiteit plantproduktiwiteit kan beïnvloed en patogene kan onderdruk. As die aard en omvang
van die rol van grondorganismes beter bekend is en dit bevestig kan word dat hulle
plantproduktiwiteit bevorder, soos wat baie grondbioloë meen, is die volgende logiese stap om
die kennis van hulle ekologie uit te brei en te benut. Deur gunstige omgewingstoestande te skep
en te bestuur kan hulle oorlewing en aktiwiteit in landbougronde verseker word. ’n Oorsig word
ook verskaf van landboupraktyke wat nuttige grondorganismes bevoordeel. Die oordeelkundige
implementering hiervan kan die dienste wat hierdie grondorganismes lewer, beskikbaar stel om
agro-ekostelsels te verbeter en volhoubaar te maak. Om hierdie ideaal te kan bereik, moet ’n
beter begrip van hierdie organismes se voorkeure, wisselwerkings en verdraagsaamheidsomvange
verkry word. Eers dan kan metodes om omgewingstoestande te manipuleer meer algemeen
toegepas word om die voordele wat die organismes bied ten volle te benut.
Soils are very heterogeneous substrates providing an environmental matrix with varying spatial and temporal gradients of pH, organic carbon, particle size distribution and moisture content. Chemical, physical as well as biological factors are operational and soil includes a vast variety of soil-dwelling invertebrates and microbes that interact with each other and the environment to infl uence plant productivity directly and indirectly. A review of recent literature on the role of soil biodiversity highlights the important role of soil invertebrates, notably earthworms, in infl uencing soil characteristics and soil borne plant pathogens. Earthworms are widely recognized as having critical functions in soil in regulating key processes that impact favourably on plant productivity and simultaneously eliminating or reducing soil borne diseases. The aim of this review is fi rstly to contribute towards a clarifi cation of the role of soil biodiversity in general and to focus specifi cally on that of earthworms and their role in influencing plant pathogens and parasites. Evidence is provided that their activities can support plant productivity and suppress pathogens. Once the nature and extent of their role is better known and they are confi rmed to support plant productivity to the extent that many soil biologists believe, the next logical step is to utilize knowledge of their ecology to create and manage favourable environmental conditions to ensure their survival and activity in agricultural soils. Agricultural management practices that favour soil organisms are also reviewed. Implementing these will make the services of soil biota available to improve and sustain agro-ecosystems. This requires a better understanding of the preferences and tolerance ranges of these organisms and their interactions before we can apply methodologies in general to manipulate environmental conditions to maximise the benefi ts that they may offer.
Soils are very heterogeneous substrates providing an environmental matrix with varying spatial and temporal gradients of pH, organic carbon, particle size distribution and moisture content. Chemical, physical as well as biological factors are operational and soil includes a vast variety of soil-dwelling invertebrates and microbes that interact with each other and the environment to infl uence plant productivity directly and indirectly. A review of recent literature on the role of soil biodiversity highlights the important role of soil invertebrates, notably earthworms, in infl uencing soil characteristics and soil borne plant pathogens. Earthworms are widely recognized as having critical functions in soil in regulating key processes that impact favourably on plant productivity and simultaneously eliminating or reducing soil borne diseases. The aim of this review is fi rstly to contribute towards a clarifi cation of the role of soil biodiversity in general and to focus specifi cally on that of earthworms and their role in influencing plant pathogens and parasites. Evidence is provided that their activities can support plant productivity and suppress pathogens. Once the nature and extent of their role is better known and they are confi rmed to support plant productivity to the extent that many soil biologists believe, the next logical step is to utilize knowledge of their ecology to create and manage favourable environmental conditions to ensure their survival and activity in agricultural soils. Agricultural management practices that favour soil organisms are also reviewed. Implementing these will make the services of soil biota available to improve and sustain agro-ecosystems. This requires a better understanding of the preferences and tolerance ranges of these organisms and their interactions before we can apply methodologies in general to manipulate environmental conditions to maximise the benefi ts that they may offer.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.satnt.ac.za/
Keywords
Soil biodiversity, Soil invertebrates, Agricultural ecology, Sustainability
Citation
Reinecke, A. J. & Reinecke, S. A. 2010. Biodiversiteit in landbougronde, volhoubare plantproduksie en die beheer van plantpatogene. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie, 29(2), 77-96.