Tree-distance and tree-species effects on soil biota in a temperate agroforestry system

Abstract Aims Cropland agroforestry systems are land-use with numerous environmental advantages over monoculture croplands including promotion of soil life. This study aimed to investigate tree-species and tree-distance effects on biota in a temperate system. Methods Our was conducted at paired alley-cropping cropland The tree rows the system comprised blocks poplar Fritzi Pauley, Max 1 or black locust. Within system, microbial earthworm communities were collected along transects spanning from center into crop rows. Archaea, bacteria, fungi quantified using real-time PCR. community composition earthworms deciphered amplicon sequencing morphological identification, respectively. Results Tree promoted abundance bacteria earthworms, which we attribute mainly litter input absence tillage. Fungal altered by rows, resulting an increased proportion ectomycorrhizal tree-row associated mycobiome. Blumeria graminis, causal agent powdery mildew, increasing distance trees. We suggest that enhanced antagonism, densities and/or microclimate contributed suppression B. graminis vicinity Tree-species effect had minor influence our site. Conclusions In comparison cropland, benefits abundance, diversity, function may enhance suppressiveness.