Relazione tra il pascolamento bovino, microbiologia del suolo e cicli dei nutrienti nei pascoli di alta quota

The following work illustrates an exploratory approach as regards the characterization of high altitude pastures from the point of view of the functional soil microbiology, linked to the nitrogen cycle. The study took place over two years, from 2018 to 2019, involving 4 different pastures between Trentino and Veneto. Topsoil samples were taken, from which DNA was subsequently extracted and purified. The extracted DNA was amplified through the application of real-time PCR with primer for target genes related to nitrification and denitrification processes. The genes studied were the nosZfor denitrification and the amoA, archea and bacterial variant, for nitrification. The statistical analysis was based on the evaluation of the presence and absence of genes in the study areas in the various periods considered. Differences were observed between nitrifying and denitrifying genes during the two years of the test. AmoAgenes are found linked to local morphological factors, such as altitude, while nosZdo not. These also show less variability, appearing with greater constancy, taking over that high altitude pastures have good denitrification potential.