Characterization of microbial biomass in peat alternative casing soil

The Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), works as a research institution for BIOSCHAMP project, contributing to a pesticide-free mushroom sector, safer for the environment, for the operators and for consumers.

IRNASA-CSIC has carried out the extraction and determination of the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFAs) content by GC-FID equipment [1] for the characterization of microbial biomass and structure of biostimulants in peat-alternatives as casing soil in semi-commercial trials, in connection and co-operation with other project partners (CTICH, INAGRO and WR).

Peat-reduced casing soils, containing different alternative materials, with and without biostimulant application, have been characterized at two different sampling times along the mushroom cultivation cycle from CTICH and INAGRO semi-comercial trials.

It’s been measured the overall microbial quantity and the distribution of various types of microorganisms, known as microbial community structure, during two stages of mushroom cultivation (Agaricus bisporus). This involved analyzing the concentrations of PLFAs associated with fungi and bacteria in the soil blends employed as controls, as well as in two distinct alternative casing soils. The objective was to observe the microbial community within these alternative coverings and assess the broader-scale impacts of a biostimulant.

IRNASA-CSIC contributes to generate new knowledge and advancing the state-of-the-art, strengthening the R&D and innovation connections and co-operation with other European research entities. The research team has experience in the analysis of PLFAs profile in soil samples from laboratory and field assays, where evolution of total bacterial and fungal communities is monitored at different times and under different soil management treatments (e.g. application of organic residues as soil amendments in agriculture for maintaining soil sustainability) [2].