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Precipitation Controls on Soil Biogeochemical and Microbial Community Composition in Rainfed Agricultural Systems in Tropical Drylands

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  • Thalita F. Abbruzzini

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico
    Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Morena Avitia

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Karen Carrasco-Espinosa

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Víctor Peña

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Alberto Barrón-Sandoval

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Ulises Isaac Salazar Cabrera

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Rocío Cruz-Ortega

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Mariana Benítez

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Ana E. Escalante

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Julieta A. Rosell

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Ana Wegier

    (Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

  • Julio Campo

    (Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico 04510, Mexico)

Abstract

The current and expected expansion of agriculture in the drylands of Mexico, together with the decrease in precipitation occurring in the country, likely affect ecosystem processes and will bring great challenges for the suitability of rainfed agriculture for smallholder farmers. Here, we assessed metrics of the soil C, N, and P cycles, as well as soil microbial diversity, under rainfed maize and common bean cropping in arid and semiarid regions of central Mexico. The soil enzymatic vector angles of cultivated plots in both regions were above 45°, suggesting P limitation for microbial growth and crop productivity. Although changes were not observed in the intensity of this P-limitation with aridity, we found a negative effect of drought increase on the concentration of soil organic C and total N, with consequences for the C, N, and P balance in soils. Increasing aridity leads to the homogenization of microbial diversity. Considering a scenario in which decreases in mean annual precipitation would uncouple the biogeochemical cycles and homogenize soil biodiversity, the ecological implications could be an increase in the vulnerability of agricultural ecosystems to drought, with negative consequences for the suitability of rainfed agriculture in the drylands of central Mexico.

Suggested Citation

  • Thalita F. Abbruzzini & Morena Avitia & Karen Carrasco-Espinosa & Víctor Peña & Alberto Barrón-Sandoval & Ulises Isaac Salazar Cabrera & Rocío Cruz-Ortega & Mariana Benítez & Ana E. Escalante & Juliet, 2021. "Precipitation Controls on Soil Biogeochemical and Microbial Community Composition in Rainfed Agricultural Systems in Tropical Drylands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11848-:d:665525
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