Comparative study of functional activities and microorganism’s communities in agro-ecological and conventional soil of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crops

Abstract

Land management practices are widely known to influence soil quality. In this ecosystem, soil microorganisms participate in soil biogeochemical cycles; in particular, the transformation of organic matter is essential for plant nutrition. This study aimed to assess differences in the functional diversity and structure of soil microbial communities between two tomato plant cultures in Morocco: one with conventional management and the other with agroecological practices. The soil functional diversity was assessed by evaluating the microbial metabolic capabilities using the Biolog EcoPlate™ microplate method and measuring soil enzyme activities. The microbial biomass of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi was evaluated by medium-based cultures. The analysis demonstrated that the soil microbial community reacts differently depending on the mode of management. Results showed that the organic farming soil exhibited significantly higher metabolic activity and diversity, as indicated by the average well color development (AWCD) value of 0.79 compared to 0.61 in the conventional soil. Similarly, the soil activities of β-D-galactosidase, phosphatase, and urease were markedly greater in the organic soil. Moreover, the microbial populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi were more abundant in the organic soil. These findings demonstrate the positive impact of organic farming practices on sustaining long-term soil productivity and health, supporting their role in enhancing sustainability and productivity in agroecosystems.