Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems

Soil multifunctionality is closely tied to soil health, yet a comprehensive understanding of this link in agricultural soils is lacking. The aim of this study was to understand how long-term fertilization practices affect the provision of multiple services by comparing the multifunctionality of soil...

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Main Authors: Sacha Delmotte, Caroline Brunel, Louise Castanier, Amélie Fevrier, Alain Brauman, Antoine Versini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2475
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author Sacha Delmotte
Caroline Brunel
Louise Castanier
Amélie Fevrier
Alain Brauman
Antoine Versini
author_facet Sacha Delmotte
Caroline Brunel
Louise Castanier
Amélie Fevrier
Alain Brauman
Antoine Versini
author_sort Sacha Delmotte
collection DOAJ
description Soil multifunctionality is closely tied to soil health, yet a comprehensive understanding of this link in agricultural soils is lacking. The aim of this study was to understand how long-term fertilization practices affect the provision of multiple services by comparing the multifunctionality of soils. The three objectives were to (i) determine whether the effect of fertilization is consistent across soil types, (ii) describe the effect of the different fertilizers on soil multifunctionality, and (iii) identify soil chemical properties that can be easily used proxies of soil multifunctionality. The descriptors belong to three functioning indexes associated with nutrient availability, carbon transformation, and soil structure maintenance. This study is the first to investigate the effect of a variety of organic fertilizers on the health of three soil types by combining physical, chemical, and biological indicators in sugarcane agroecosystems. An increase in soil multifunctionality was obtained, with no effect on yield. The effect of fertilizers was consistent across soil types. Filter mud and green waste compost significantly increased the multifunctionality and functioning indexes compared to mineral fertilizer. Modifications in soil properties did not fully explain the observed variations. Our results confirm the high potential of organic fertilization to improve multifunctionality and provide ecosystem services.
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series Agronomy
spelling doaj-art-ea4f23e3e9d244749103157db7e43a0e2025-08-20T02:26:51ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-10-011411247510.3390/agronomy14112475Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane AgroecosystemsSacha Delmotte0Caroline Brunel1Louise Castanier2Amélie Fevrier3Alain Brauman4Antoine Versini5CIRAD, UPR78, Recyclage et Risque, 97400 Saint-Denis, FranceCIRAD, UPR HortSys, 97455 Saint-Pierre, FranceCIRAD, UPR78, Recyclage et Risque, 97400 Saint-Denis, FranceeRcane, 97490 Saint-Denis, FranceIRD, Eco&Sols, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, IRD, Institut Agro, 34060 Montpellier, FranceCIRAD, UPR78, Recyclage et Risque, 97400 Saint-Denis, FranceSoil multifunctionality is closely tied to soil health, yet a comprehensive understanding of this link in agricultural soils is lacking. The aim of this study was to understand how long-term fertilization practices affect the provision of multiple services by comparing the multifunctionality of soils. The three objectives were to (i) determine whether the effect of fertilization is consistent across soil types, (ii) describe the effect of the different fertilizers on soil multifunctionality, and (iii) identify soil chemical properties that can be easily used proxies of soil multifunctionality. The descriptors belong to three functioning indexes associated with nutrient availability, carbon transformation, and soil structure maintenance. This study is the first to investigate the effect of a variety of organic fertilizers on the health of three soil types by combining physical, chemical, and biological indicators in sugarcane agroecosystems. An increase in soil multifunctionality was obtained, with no effect on yield. The effect of fertilizers was consistent across soil types. Filter mud and green waste compost significantly increased the multifunctionality and functioning indexes compared to mineral fertilizer. Modifications in soil properties did not fully explain the observed variations. Our results confirm the high potential of organic fertilization to improve multifunctionality and provide ecosystem services.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2475multifunctionalitysoil healthorganic fertilizationsugarcaneBiofunctool<sup>®</sup>
spellingShingle Sacha Delmotte
Caroline Brunel
Louise Castanier
Amélie Fevrier
Alain Brauman
Antoine Versini
Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
Agronomy
multifunctionality
soil health
organic fertilization
sugarcane
Biofunctool<sup>®</sup>
title Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
title_full Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
title_fullStr Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
title_short Organic Fertilization Improves Soil Multifunctionality in Sugarcane Agroecosystems
title_sort organic fertilization improves soil multifunctionality in sugarcane agroecosystems
topic multifunctionality
soil health
organic fertilization
sugarcane
Biofunctool<sup>®</sup>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2475
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AT carolinebrunel organicfertilizationimprovessoilmultifunctionalityinsugarcaneagroecosystems
AT louisecastanier organicfertilizationimprovessoilmultifunctionalityinsugarcaneagroecosystems
AT ameliefevrier organicfertilizationimprovessoilmultifunctionalityinsugarcaneagroecosystems
AT alainbrauman organicfertilizationimprovessoilmultifunctionalityinsugarcaneagroecosystems
AT antoineversini organicfertilizationimprovessoilmultifunctionalityinsugarcaneagroecosystems