Effect of long term cropping hybrid sorrel (Rumex patientia x Rumex tianshanicus) on soil biota

Our study is focused on the effects of long-term cultivation of hybrid sorrel on basal soil respiration, specific microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon, the composition of the cultivable soil fungal community, and the composition of soil meso- and macrofauna communities. In a split-plot field experiment in Chotýšany near Vlašim (Central Bohemia, Czech Republic), fields with hybrid sorrel (2 and 10 years old), oilseed rape/wheat rotation (>10 years old), and cultural meadow (>10 years old) were compared. The density and composition of soil meso- and macrofauna communities differed among fields. Soil meso- and macrofauna density were lowest in soils covered by oilseed rape/wheat rotation, while highest density was found in soil overgrown by cultural meadow species. Hybrid sorrel fields contained more pathogenic fungi than oilseed rape/wheat fields or cultural meadows but the difference was only marginally significant. Basal soil respiration and specific microbial respiration (qCO2) were highest in oilseed rape/wheat fields, and microbial biomass was highest in cultural meadows. In conclusion results show that long term effect of hybrid sorrel cultivation alters soil community structure, however the range is in the variation between existing annual and perennial landscape cover. Only exception is higher occurrence of pathogenic fungi but its ecological relevance require future attention.