From pesticides to compost: How agricultural management practices shape soil microbial communities and soil functions across Swiss farms

Abstract

A critical asset of healthy soils is a rich and functionally diverse microbiota, yet many agricultural practices - including frequent pesticide use and insufficient organic amendments - risk compromising this biological foundation. In this contribution, we present results from two complementary studies conducted on more than 100 farms in Switzerland to investigate how pesticide application and compost use affect the diversity, composition and structure of soil microbial communities. Using a combination of molecular analyses (16S/ITS rRNA amplicon sequencing, quantitative PCR of functional genes), soil physicochemical properties and indicators for soil functions, we found that pesticide residues are associated with shifts in microbial community composition and, in some cases, reduced bacterial diversity. Conversely, farms that regularly apply compost show increased fungal richness and more complex microbial networks than reference farms. By linking these changes in microbial community traits to soil functional indicators - such as soil respiration and aggregate stability - we could shed light on the interrelationships of soil biodiversity, physicochemical properties, and soil functions, as well as the influence of agricultural management.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11594

Journal

Unknown journal

Year

2025