ASHS 2024 Conference

Pecans hold significant agricultural importance in the water-limited Southwestern United States, underscoring the need for sustainable soil management practices in pecan cultivation. Recognizing the intricate relationship between soil treatments and the soil microbiome is essential to develop effective orchard soil management strategies. Soil fungi, particularly root-associated mycorrhizal fungi, are vital in facilitating water and nutrient uptake, protecting against pathogens, and enhancing overall orchard health and productivity. Soil management may impact the fungal community composition of Southwestern pecan orchard soils. Various soil management strategies are implemented in pecan orchards, including varying soil cover or applying mycorrhizal and bacterial inoculants. These techniques alter the soil environment, which may change the soil fungal biodiversity. This study investigates the impact of diverse soil management techniques on the soil mycobiome within a twelve-year-old ‘Pawnee’ pecan orchard in New Mexico. In a randomized complete block design, eight treatments of various soil cover – bare soil, cover crops, compost, or a combination of cover crops and compost – each either with or without mycorrhizal and bacterial inoculants, were applied to evaluate their effects on soil fungal diversity. Laboratory analyses, including DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and Illumina sequencing, were performed, alongside physiochemical testing for soil pH, electrical conductivity, and mineral nutrient content. The resulting sequence data were analyzed to provide insights into the complex interactions between soil management practices and microbial communities. Sampling conducted during the 2022 Spring and harvest seasons revealed significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between roots and bulk/rhizosphere soil (P < 0.10). Significant differences in alpha and beta diversity of fungi based on treatment were also observed, highlighting the potential influence of soil management practices, including soil cover and inoculant use, on fungal community composition. Our study offers valuable insights into the temporal changes in the community structure of pecan orchard fungi when treated with different soil amendments. Understanding how soil management practices influence the soil mycobiome can inform more sustainable pecan cultivation practices. By optimizing soil management strategies to support beneficial fungal communities, growers may enhance soil health, water and nutrient availability, and plant resilience to environmental stress.