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Assessment of Soil Health in Urban Agriculture: Soil Enzymes and Microbial Properties

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  • Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana

    (Korea Biochar Research Center & School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea)

  • Sang Soo Lee

    (Korea Biochar Research Center & School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea)

  • Nabeel Khan Niazi

    (Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
    Southern Cross GeoScience, Southern Cross University, Lismore 2480, Australia)

  • Young-Han Lee

    (Division of Environment-Friendly Agriculture Research, Gyeogsangnam-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Service, Jinju 52773, Korea)

  • Kye Hoon Kim

    (Department of Environmental Horticulture, The University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea)

  • Jeong-Hun Park

    (Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea)

  • Deok Hyun Moon

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea)

  • Yong Sik Ok

    (Korea Biochar Research Center & School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea)

Abstract

Urban agriculture has been recently highlighted with the increased importance for recreation in modern society; however, soil quality and public health may not be guaranteed because of continuous exposure to various pollutants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil quality of urban agriculture by soil microbial assessments. Two independent variables, organic and inorganic fertilizers, were considered. The activities of soil enzymes including dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, urease, alkaline and acid phosphatases were used as indicators of important microbial mediated functions and the soil chemical properties were measured in the soils applied with organic or inorganic fertilizer for 10 years. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis was applied to determine the soil microbial community composition. Relatively higher microbial community richness and enzyme activities were found in the organic fertilizers applied soils as compared to the inorganic fertilizers applied soils. Principal component analysis explained the positive influence of organic fertilizers on the microbial community. The application of organic fertilizers can be a better alternative compared to inorganic fertilizers for the long-term health and security of urban agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana & Sang Soo Lee & Nabeel Khan Niazi & Young-Han Lee & Kye Hoon Kim & Jeong-Hun Park & Deok Hyun Moon & Yong Sik Ok, 2017. "Assessment of Soil Health in Urban Agriculture: Soil Enzymes and Microbial Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:2:p:310-:d:90825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zezza, Alberto & Tasciotti, Luca, 2010. "Urban agriculture, poverty, and food security: Empirical evidence from a sample of developing countries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 265-273, August.
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    1. Nontobeko Gloria Maphuhla & Francis Bayo Lewu & Opeoluwa Oyehan Oyedeji, 2020. "The Effects of Physicochemical Parameters on Analysed Soil Enzyme Activity from Alice Landfill Site," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Roghayeh Vahedi & MirHassan Rasouli-Sadaghiani & Mohsen Barin & Ramesh Raju Vetukuri, 2021. "Interactions between Biochar and Compost Treatment and Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve the Qualitative Properties of a Calcareous Soil under Rhizobox Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Zakir Hussain & Limei Deng & Xuan Wang & Rongyang Cui & Gangcai Liu, 2022. "A Review of Farmland Soil Health Assessment Methods: Current Status and a Novel Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Tian, Guangli & Qiu, Husen & Wang, Yuting & Zhou, Xinguo & Li, Dongwei, 2022. "Short-term legacy effects of rice season irrigation and fertilization on the soil bacterial community of the subsequent wheat season in a rice-wheat rotation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    5. Hanbyul Lee & Seung-Yoon Oh & Young Min Lee & Yeongseon Jang & Seokyoon Jang & Changmu Kim & Young Woon Lim & Jae-Jin Kim, 2020. "Successional Variation in the Soil Microbial Community in Odaesan National Park, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, June.

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