Journal of food science and technology(Iran)

Journal of food science and technology(Iran)

Impact of Integrated Nutrient Sources on Soil Biological Health: Assessing Microbial Biomass Carbon and Population Shifts in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) Rhizosphere

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hasan Habeeb Hussein Al-Shiblawi
Luma Salih Jabbar Al-Taweel
Department of Soil Sciences and Water Recourses, College of Agriculture, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq.
10.48311/fsct.2026.119058.83039
Abstract
This study investigated the comparative effects of three distinct nutrient amendments—triple superphosphate (a mineral phosphate fertilizer), a phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizer, and vermicompost—on key biological parameters in soil cultivated with cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis). The parameters assessed included soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), a robust measure of active microbial biomass, and the concomitant changes in culturable bacterial and fungal population densities. A pot or field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with [X] treatments and [Y] replicates. Soil samples were collected at critical growth stages (e.g., seedling, curd initiation, and harvest) and analyzed using established protocols: the chloroform fumigation-extraction method for SMBC and serial dilution plating on selective media for bacterial and fungal counts. Preliminary results indicate significant treatment-based variations. Vermicompost application consistently promoted the highest SMBC and fostered a more abundant and diverse microbial community, likely due to its stable organic matter and nutrient complexity. The biofertilizer treatment also showed a significant enhancement in SMBC and specific bacterial populations compared to the unamended control, highlighting its role in mobilizing indigenous nutrients. In contrast, the triple superphosphate treatment, while effective in plant phosphorus nutrition, resulted in a less pronounced or moderated effect on overall microbial biomass and composition. These findings underscore the critical role of organic and bio-based amendments in enhancing soil biological quality, which is integral to developing sustainable nutrient management strategies for Brassica vegetable production systems within the agri-food industry.
Keywords
Nutrient management
Phosphate solubilization
Soil fertility
Cauliflower cultivation
Rhizosphere microbiology
Microbial indicators

Subjects

[1]      Furtak, K. and Gałązka, A. (2019). Effect of organic farming on soil microbiological parameters. Polish Journal of Soil Science. 52(2):259.
[2]      Dill Kumar, A. L.; M. Koirala ; S. Zhan Huan .(2020). Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen in Himalayan Rangeland of Eastern Nepal: A Comparison between Grazed and Non-grazed Rangelands. Journal of Rangeland Science, 2020, Vol. 10, No. 2 .
[3]      Yeboah, S.; R. Zhang ; L. Cai1 ; L. Li ; J. Xie ; Z. Luo ; J. Liu and J. Wu .(2016). Tillage effect on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and crop yield in spring wheat-field pea rotation. Plant Soil Environ. Vol. 62, 2016, No. 6: 279–285.
[4]      Song , A ; Z. X. Tang ; Y. Li ; E. Z. Wang ; Y. Q. Lu ; X. D. Liu ; K. Yi ; B. Zhang and F. Fan .(2020). The Effects of Organic and ineral Fertilization on Soil Enzyme Activities and Bacterial Community in the Below- and Above-Ground Parts of Wheat . Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing . Published : 23 September 2020 .  
[5]      Vance, E.D.; P.C. Brookes and D.S. Jenkinson. (1987). An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C. Soil Biol. Biochem. 19: 703-707.
[6]      Black , C.A. (1965b) . Methods of Soil analysis , Part 2 . Chemical and microbiologyical Properties, Am. Soc. Agron. Inc. Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
[7]      Page , A.L. ; R.H. Miller and D.R. Keeney .(1982). Methods of soil analysis . Part (2) 2nd . ed. Agronomy Series 9.Amer. Soc of Agron. Madison. Wisconsin.U.S.A
[8]      Black , C.A. (1965a) . Methods of soil analysis , Part 1 . physical and mineralogical properties, Am. Soc. Agron. Inc. Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
[9]      Debska, B.; Jacek D. ; A. Piotrowska-Długosz and M. Banach-Szott .(2016). The impact of a biofertilizer on the soil organic matter status and carbon sequestration—results from a field-scale study . Soils, Sec 1• Soil Organic Matter Dynamics And Nutrient Cycling • Research Article , Received: 19 October 2015 /Accepted : 5 April 2016 .
[10]        Al-karrawy, N.J. Kadhm .(2020). Application Effect of Different Fertilizers sources on the Biomass and Enzymatic Activity in the Rhizosphere and Bulk Soils of (Vigna radiate L.) . Master Thesis, College of Agriculture, University of Al-Qadisiyah – Iraq.
 
[11]        Heucka, C. ; A. Weigb and M. Spohna .(2015). Soil microbial biomass C:N:P stoichiometry and microbial use of organic phosphorus', Soil Biology & Biochemistry 85, 119-129.
[12]        Meng, T. and J. Liu .(2021). Effects of bio-organic fertilizers on soil organic carbon Components and biomass of shamrock . Bangladesh J. Bot. 50 (3) : 911-916, 2021 (September) Special .
[13]        Bender, S. ; C. Wagg and M.G.A. van der Heijden. 2016. An Underground Revolution: Biodiversity and Soil Ecological Engineering for Agricultural Sustainability. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 31:                 440- 454 .
[14]         Lazcano, C. and M. G. Brandon .2012. Short-term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial community structure and function . original paper , Accepted: 27 .
[15]          Al-Salmawi, N.J .(2021). Effect of a combination of biofertilizers and vermicompost on phosphorus recommendation, growth, and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) in calcareous soil – Wasit Province. PhD Dissertation, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad.
[16]         Amadou A.; A. Song ; Z.  Tang ; Y. Li ; E. Wang ; Y. Lu ; X. Liu ; K. Yi ; B. Zhang and F. Fan .2020. The Effects of Organic and Mineral Fertilization on Soil Enzyme Activities and Bacterial Community in the Below- and Above-Ground Parts of Wheat . Agronomy, 10, 1452; doi:10.3390/agronomy10101452 .
[17]          Al-Mousawi, K.A.; Hassan, Z. K.; and Mohammed, H. J. (2017). Effect of bacterial bio-inoculation and mineral fertilization on some physical and chemical properties of sandy soils and growth indicators of maize (Zea mays L.). Assiut Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 48, No. 4.
[18]         Nikolaidou C., Monokrousos N., Kapagianni P. D., Orfanoudakis M. , Dermitzoglou T. and Papatheodorou, E. M. 2021. The Effect of Rhizophagus irregularis, Bacillus subtilis and Water Regime on the Plant–Microbial Soil System: The Case of Lactuca sativa. Agronomy, 11(11), 2183.‏
[19]          Al-Badeeri, Z. J. (2021). Effect of vermicompost, seaweed extract, and urea on enzymatic activity in the rhizosphere of maize (Zea mays L.). MSc Thesis, College of Agriculture, University of Al-Qadisiyah.
[20]         Khan, S.; Li, X.; Hussain, A. and Zhang, G. (2023). New insight into the soil bacterial and fungal microbiome after phosphorus biofertilizer application as an important driver of regenerative agriculture including biodiversity loss reversal and soil health restoration. Applied Soil Ecology. 189:104941.
[21]         Singh, D., Prabha, R. and Yandigeri, M. S.  (2023). Soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling for sustainable agriculture. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 107:3271–3285.
Journal of food science and technology(Iran)
Volume 22, Issue 164 - Serial Number 164
September 2025
Pages 353-364