Statistical analysis and simulation modelling of the belowground food webs of two winter wheat management practices.

Abstract

Soil food webs from conventional and integrated management practices at an experimental site (Netherlands) were analysed using multivariate statistical procedures and simulation modelling, so as to identify patterns in species interactions and material transfers. Cluster analysis, canonical discriminant analysis and canonical correspondence analysis of the dynamics of biomass-N of functional groups within the food webs indicated that the webs could be compartmented into functional groups based on food choice and trophic level. The degree of compartmentalization depended on management practice. Consumers of fungi were separated in time from consumers of bacteria under the integrated management practice whereas little separation was observed under conventional practice. Simulation modelling was used to estimate the flux rates of nitrogen among functional groups within the food webs. The modelling demonstrated that more flow occurred in the integrated plot than in the conventional plot. More material flow occurred in the upper 10 cm of the integrated plot than in the 10-25 cm layer, whereas there was no such difference in the conventional plot. The effect may be due to the differences in the tillage practice on each plot. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)