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Aims: A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of alley cropping systems on microbial activity and soil organic matter (SOM) pools. We hypothesized that enzyme activity and labile pools of SOM are early and sensitive indicators of changes induced by tree introduction in the cropping systems.Methods: Poplar-alfalfa and alder-gramineous (cereal or ryegrass) associations and their respective control systems (alfalfa and gramineous) were compared in terms of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and water contents, SOM labile pools, NIRS-MIRS spectra and microbial enzyme activity in the topsoil (0–15 cm) for 4 years after tree planting.Results: After 1 year, tree introduction induced a decrease in soil water content, microbial biomass N and some enzyme activities under alfalfa system. After 4 years, tree introduction resulted in higher soil water contents in both systems (alfalfa and gramineous); higher microbial biomass N and lower C:N in alfalfa-poplar plots compared to control plots. MIRS-NIRS analyses showed a greatest differentiation in SOM quality between alfalfa-based systems.Conclusions: The effects of temperate agroforestry systems on SOC in the topsoil are relatively weak in the first years after tree introduction. Observed effects were more pronounced in the alfalfa-poplar system, probably due to higher tree growth. Further studies will provide insights into the longer-term effects of these systems on soil functioning.

Improving agricultural productivity to meet the growing food and feed demand via nitrogen fertilization comes with trade‐offs such as environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. Biogas residues (BRs) being a relatively new biofertilizer aiming at substituting chemical nitrogen fertilizers, have raised questions regarding their biosecurity and environmental footprint. In this study, we explored and compared the effect of repeated application of different nitrogen fertilizers on the bacterial and fungal α‐diversity, relative abundance, β‐diversity, and taxonomic composition in grassland soils over a period of two years. Given the paramount importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable agriculture and climate change, we examined the relative abundance of Glomeromycota and their response to the different nitrogen fertilizers. Finally, the soil microbial community was scanned for the most prominent pathogens that are often detected in BRs and are the main concern related to their application on agricultural soils. Microbial communities in the soil were identified and quantified via high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA marker gene for bacteria, and the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2) region for fungi. Overall, the results suggest that the soil bacteriome is more sensitive than the mycobiome to nitrogen fertilization. Specifically, ammonium sulfate application appears to negatively impact bacterial alpha‐diversity, while also altering the relative abundance of Glomeromycota, prompting us to question the potential involvement of the sulfammox process in the loss of soil microbial diversity. Notably, the application of biogas residues did not alter the diversity or abundance of soil microbial communities, nor harbored any significant pathogens; therefore, advocating for their safety and encouraging further research to validate their safe nature and beneficial properties. Improving agricultural productivity to meet the growing food and feed demand via nitrogen fertilization comes with trade‐offs such as environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. In this study, we explored and compared the effect of repeated application of different chemical nitrogen fertilizers and biogas residues on the bacterial and fungal diversity in grassland soils. As opposed to chemical nitrogen fertilizers, biogas residues did not alter the diversity or abundance of soil microbial communities, nor harbored any significant pathogens; therefore, advocating for their safety and environmental benefits.

Featured Application A sequestration-based remediation strategy using several types of carbonaceous amendments and its potential to reduce transfer to plants. The present study aims to assess the respective efficiency of Biochars (BCs) and activated carbons (ACs) to limit PCB 101, 138, 153 and 180 transfer to plants. A set of 6 high carbon materials comprising 3 BCs and 3 ACs was tested and used to amend a soil at 2% rate. Then, the two most efficient carbonaceous materials were used as an amendment of an historically contaminated soil sampled in the St Cyprien vicinity (Loire, France). An environmental availability assessment was performed using the ISO/DIS 16751 Part A assay (n = 3). For the in vivo part, Cucurbita pepo were grown for 12 weeks. Significant decreases of transfer were found for both assays notably for powdered ACs (up to 98%). By contrast, significantly lower levels of transfer reduction were observed when BCs amendments were performed, ranging from 27 to 80% for environmental availability assessment and 0 to 36% for C. pepo. Reduction factors above 90% for the 2 selected materials were found from amended historically contaminated soils. Present results led to consider such a sequestering strategy as valuable to ensure plant production on non-dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (NDL-PCBs) contaminated soils.

Hop ( Humulus lupulus L.) is an emblematic industrial crop in the French North East region that developed at the same time as the brewing activity. Presently, this sector, especially microbreweries, are interested in endemic wild hops, which give beer production a local signature. In this study, we investigated the genetic and metabolic diversity of thirty-six wild hops sampled in various ecological environments. These wild accessions were propagated aeroponically and cultivated under uniform conditions (the same soil and the same environmental factors). Our phytochemical approach based on UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis led to the identification of three metabolic clusters based on leaf content and characterized by variations in the contents of twelve specialized metabolites that were identified (including xanthohumol, bitter acids, and their oxidized derivatives). Furthermore, molecular characterization was carried out using sixteen EST-SSR microsatellites, allowing a genetic affiliation of our wild hops with hop varieties cultivated worldwide and wild hops genotyped to date using this method. Genetic proximity was observed for both European wild and hop varieties, especially for Strisselspalt, the historical variety of our region. Finally, our findings collectively assessed the impact of the hop genotype on the chemical phenotype through multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis. Our results highlighted the ’WRKY 224’ allele as a key discriminator between high- and low-metabolite producers. Moreover, the model based on genetic information explained 40% of the variance in the metabolic data. However, despite this strong association, the model lacked predictive power, suggesting that its applicability may be confined to the datasets analyzed.

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is an emblematic industrial crop in the French North East region that developed at the same time as the brewing activity. Presently, this sector, especially microbreweries, are interested in endemic wild hops, which give beer production a local signature. In this study, we investigated the genetic and metabolic diversity of thirty-six wild hops sampled in various ecological environments. These wild accessions were propagated aeroponically and cultivated under uniform conditions (the same soil and the same environmental factors). Our phytochemical approach based on UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis led to the identification of three metabolic clusters based on leaf content and characterized by variations in the contents of twelve specialized metabolites that were identified (including xanthohumol, bitter acids, and their oxidized derivatives). Furthermore, molecular characterization was carried out using sixteen EST-SSR microsatellites, allowing a genetic affiliation of our wild hops with hop varieties cultivated worldwide and wild hops genotyped to date using this method. Genetic proximity was observed for both European wild and hop varieties, especially for Strisselspalt, the historical variety of our region. Finally, our findings collectively assessed the impact of the hop genotype on the chemical phenotype through multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis. Our results highlighted the WRKY 224 allele as a key discriminator between high- and low-metabolite producers. Moreover, the model based on genetic information explained 40% of the variance in the metabolic data. However, despite this strong association, the model lacked predictive power, suggesting that its applicability may be confined to the datasets analyzed.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.