REVEALING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND FUNGICIDES ON SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS

Fungicide applications are effective to prevent soil borne fungal pathogens that are known to cause crop damage and decrease yields. However, these pesticides can exert toxic or inhibitory effects on non-target organisms such as soil microbial communities. In addition, with projected changes of temperatures and soil moisture, fungicide effects remain unexplored, thus, must be closely monitored. The aim of this study was to evaluate soil health parameters such as soil respiration and soil enzyme activities, from the use of fungicides, Azoxystrobin and Tebuconazole, with anticipated temperatures and moisture levels based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Representative Concentrated Pathway 8.5 scenario (RCP 8.5) from the end of the century. 30 random samples were collected from a conventional farm from Raymondville, Texas (26° 28’ 57.69” N and 97° 55’ 53.21” W) for laboratory analyses under a microcosm approach for a 45-day incubation period. Fungicides were applied accordingly by the recommended manufacture rate. The microbial communities’ responses to fungicide, increasing temperatures and decreasing moisture alone and in combination were studied in a factorial experiment, resulting in a total of 12 treatments with 12 replicates each. Preliminary data on soil respiration and beta-glucosidase enzyme activity will be presented. In completing this investigation, the findings will assist in the future uncertainty with fungicides together with climate change on the soil microbial communities. These communities are the basis of soil health that ultimately support the sustainability within agriculture. Not only would this study aid in closing the gap of knowledge within these topics, but also help farmers within the Lower Rio Grande Valley Region as well as those that live in similar climate conditions with their soil to ensure crop production in future.