scholarly journals SOIL QUALITY IN RELATION TO FOREST CONVERSION TO PERENNIAL OR ANNUAL CROPPING IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 1003-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elcio Liborio Balota ◽  
Ines Fumiko Ubukata Yada ◽  
Higo Furlan Amaral ◽  
Andre Shigueyoshi Nakatani ◽  
Mariangela Hungria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N

Many forested areas have been converted to intensive agricultural use to satisfy food, fiber, and forage production for a growing world population. There is great interest in evaluating forest conversion to cultivated land because this conversion adversely affects several soil properties. We examined soil microbial, physical, and chemical properties in an Oxisol (Latossolo Vermelho distrófico) of southern Brazil 24 years after forest conversion to a perennial crop with coffee or annual grain crops (maize and soybeans) in conventional tillage or no-tillage. One goal was to determine which soil quality parameters seemed most sensitive to change. A second goal was to test the hypothesis that no-tillage optimized preservation of soil quality indicators in annual cropping systems on converted land. Land use significantly affected microbial biomass and its activity, C and N mineralization, and aggregate stability by depth. Cultivated sites had lower microbial biomass and mineralizable C and N than a forest used as control. The forest and no-tillage sites had higher microbial biomass and mineralizable C and N than the conventional tillage site, and the metabolic quotient was 65 and 43 % lower, respectively. Multivariate analysis of soil microbial properties showed a clear separation among treatments, displaying a gradient from conventional tillage to forest. Although the soil at the coffee site was less disturbed and had a high organic C content, the microbial activity was low, probably due to greater soil acidity and Al toxicity. Under annual cropping, microbial activity in no-tillage was double that of the conventional tillage management. The greater microbial activity in forest and no-tillage sites may be attributed, at least partially, to lower soil disturbance. Reducing soil disturbance is important for soil C sequestration and microbial activity, although control of soil pH and Al toxicity are also essential to maintain the soil microbial activity high.

Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona A. Robertson ◽  
Peter J. Thorburn
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N

The Australian sugar industry is moving away from the practice of burning the crop before harvest to a system of green cane trash blanketing (GCTB). Since the residues that would have been lost in the fire are returned to the soil, nutrients and organic matter may be accumulating under trash blanketing. There is a need to know if this is the case, to better manage fertiliser inputs and maintain soil fertility. The objective of this work was to determine whether conversion from a burning to a GCTB trash management system is likely to affect soil fertility in terms of C and N. Indicators of short- and long-term soil C and N cycling were measured in 5 field experiments in contrasting climatic conditions. The effects of GCTB varied among experiments. Experiments that had been running for 1–2 years (Harwood) showed no significant trash management effects. In experiments that had been running for 3–6 years (Mackay and Tully), soil organic C and total N were up to 21% greater under trash blanketing than under burning, to 0.10 or 0.25 m depth (most of this effect being in the top 50 mm). Soil microbial activity (CO2 production) and soil microbial biomass also increased under GCTB, presumably as a consequence of the improved C availability. Most of the trash C was respired by the microbial biomass and lost from the system as CO2. The stimulation of microbial activity in these relatively short-term GCTB systems was not accompanied by increased net mineralisation of soil N, probably because of the greatly increased net immobilisation of N. It was calculated that, with standard fertiliser applications, the entire trash blanket could be decomposed without compromising the supply of N to the crop. Calculations of possible long-term effects of converting from a burnt to a GCTB production system suggested that, at the sites studied, soil organic C could increase by 8–15%, total soil N could increase by 9–24%, and inorganic soil N could increase by 37 kg/ha.year, and that it would take 20–30 years for the soils to approach this new equilibrium. The results suggest that fertiliser N application should not be reduced in the first 6 years after adoption of GCTB, but small reductions may be possible in the longer term (>15 years).

Long-term effects of tillage intensity on the distribution of microbial biomass and activity in four arable field-sites across Europe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilka Schmoock ◽  
Deborah Linsler ◽  
Mignon Sandor ◽  
Rainer Georg Joergensen ◽  
Martin Potthoff
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Soil Microbial

<p>Over the last decades, reduced tillage became more and more important as a suitable soil management practice. Moreover, reduced tillage is expected to promote a healthy and active soil life as a feature of sustainable agricultural. The determination of soil microbial biomass and microbial indices are suitable indicators for estimating soil quality. This study follows a regional approach and focusses at four different countries with varying environmental conditions at long-term experimental field-sites (LTE´s) across Europe. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB-C), the metabolic quotient (<em>q</em>CO<sub>2</sub>) and the ratio of SMB-C to soil organic carbon (SOC) were measured as microbial properties.</p><p>Our contribution to the ongoing discussion of the effectiveness of non-conventional tillage systems is (i) the comparison between conventional ploughing (CT) and minimum tillage (MT), (ii) the comparison of inversion vs. not inversion tillage at the same working depth, (iii) the comparison of ploughing vs. no-tillage (NT), (iv) the comparison between reduced tillage systems with each other (MT vs. NT).</p><p>We found a significant difference of SMB-C for CT and MT between 0 and 10 cm in Germany and Sweden, but no difference between tillage treatments for the sampled soil profile (0-30 cm). We highlight that tillage changed the vertical distribution of SMB-C, showing similar values among soil depths under CT and a depth gradient with decreasing values for MT.</p><p>The comparison of inversion vs. not inversion tillage at the same working depth in Romania showed no differences between CT and MT at all. This suggests that humus-rich soils seem to be more resistant to tillage-related disturbances. The working depth might have a greater impact for both, inversion and non-inversion tillage than the type of the tillage system itself.</p><p>For the comparison of CT and NT, we used the field-sites in Spain and Sweden. In Spain, NT was clearly of advantage for microbial biomass and activity, compared to CT. This was true for the whole sampled soil profile (0-30 cm) whereas in Sweden differences could only be detected between SMB-C levels in two soil depths. Our results indicate that the effect of tillage seems to be smaller in cold-temperate areas.</p><p>Comparing MT and NT in Sweden, we found no difference in SMB-C between these two forms of conservation tillage, neither in the first centimeters, nor in the whole sampled profile. Consequently, minimum tillage seems to be an alternative in cold and moist regions if no-tillage is not possible to apply without reducing soil quality or crop yields.</p><p>We conclude that even if minimum and no-tillage are generally beneficial for microorganisms, there is a big variance between the different forms of reduced tillage systems. Thus, statements cannot be made across different soils and machine types, but have to be made on a regional scale.</p><p> </p>

Soil microbiological properties during decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
J. T. O’Donovan ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
T. K. Turkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Microbial Functional Diversity ◽  
Soil Microbial

Field experiments were conducted to correlate decomposition of red clover (Trifolium pratense) green manure (GM), field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica rapa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) residues, and soil organic C (SOC), under zero tillage and conventional tillage, with soil microbial biomass C (MBC), bacterial functional diversity and microbial activity (CO2 evolution). A greenhouse experiment was also conducted to relate crop residue quality to soil microbial characteristics. Zero tillage increas ed MBC only in the 0- to 5-cm soil layer. Soil MBC decreased more with soil depth than either microbial diversity or total SOC. Legume GM residues induced greater initial CO2 evolution than the other residues. This means that results that do not include the initial flush of microbial activity, e.g., by sampling only in the season(s) following residue placement, probably underestimate gas evolution from legume crop residues. Residue N, P and K contents were positively correlated with microbial functional diversity and activity, which were positively correlated with crop residue decomposition. Therefore, microbial functional diversity and activity were good indicators of microbial decomposition processes. Residue C/N and C/P ratios (i.e., high C content) were positively correlated with MBC, which was positively correlated with SOC. Therefore, soil MBC was a good indicator of soil quality (soil organic matter content). Key words: Biological soil quality, crop residues, crop rotation, microbial activity, microbial biomass, microbial diversity

scholarly journals Microbial biomass and enzyme activity of a Cerrado Oxisol under agroecological production system

Bragantia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 899-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enderson Petrônio de Brito Ferreira ◽  
Adriane Wendland ◽  
Agostinho Dirceu Didonet
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Pigeon Pea ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Velvet Bean ◽  
Microbial Indicators ◽  
Basal Soil Respiration ◽  
C And N

Aiming to evaluate the effects of soil management and cover crops on microbial indicators of soil quality, an experiment was carried out under field conditions in which common bean and corn were cropped under no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) after sunnhemp, velvet bean, pigeon pea, jack bean, sorghum and fallow (weeds). The basal soil respiration (BSR), C and N of the microbial biomass (Cmic and Nmic), metabolic quotient (qCO2), total enzymatic activity (TEA), β-glycosidase (β-GA) activity and acid phosphatase activity (APA) were evaluated in samples collected in 0-0.10 m depth. Cmic, qCO2, TEA, β-GA and APA were more sensitive in determining the effects caused by tillage and cover crops. Although the cover crops had not provided a remarkably influence on the studied indicators, in general, the highest values of Cmic, Nmic, BSR, TEA, β-GA and APA and the lowest values of qCO2 were observed under NT compared to CT. Cmic and TEA values were 35% and 13% higher under NT when compared to CT, respectively. In addition, NT showed values closer to those found under "Cerrado" area for the studied parameters, indicating a greater sustainability under this soil management system compared to CT management.

scholarly journals Effects of Mixing Feldspathic Sandstone and Sand on Soil Microbial Biomass and Extracellular Enzyme Activities—A Case Study in Mu Us Sandy Land in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
pp. 3963
Author(s):  
Xiuxiu Feng ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Fazhu Zhao ◽  
Hongying Bai ◽  
Russell Doughty
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Enzyme Activities ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Extracellular Enzyme ◽  
Soil Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Feldspathic Sandstone

Microbial biomass, extracellular enzyme activity, and their stoichiometry in soil play an important role in ecosystem dynamics and functioning. To better understand the improvement of sand soil quality and the limitation of soil nutrients after adding feldspathic sandstone, we investigated changes in soil microbial activity after 10 months of mixing feldspathic sandstone and sand, and compared the dynamics with soil properties. We used fumigation extraction to determine soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), phosphorus (MBP), and microplate fluorometric techniques to measure soil β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), β-1,4-xylosidase (BX), β-D-cellobiohydrolase (CBH), N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG), and Alkaline phosphatase (AKP). We also measured soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), and soil water content (SWC). Our results showed that the soil microbial biomass C, N, P, and individual extracellular enzyme activities significantly increased in mixed soil. Similarly, the soil microbial biomass C:N, C:P, N:P, MBC:SOC, and BG:NAG significantly increased by 54.3%, 106.3%, 33.1%, 23.0%, and 65.4%, respectively. However, BG:AKP and NAG:AKP decreased by 19.0% and 50.3%, respectively. Additionally, redundancy analysis (RDA) and Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that SWC, SOC, porosity and field capacity were significantly associated with soil microbial biomass indices (i.e., C, N, P, C:N, C:P, N:P in microbial biomass, and MBC:SOC) and extracellular enzyme activity metrics (i.e., individual enzyme activity, ecoenzymatic stoichiometry, and vector characteristics of enzyme activity), while pH, EC, and SIC had no correlation with these indices and metrics. These results indicated that mixing feldspathic sandstone and sand is highly susceptible to changes in soil microbial activity, and the soil N limitation decreased while P became more limited. In summary, our research showed that adding feldspathic sandstone into sand can significantly improve soil quality and provide a theoretical basis for the development of desertified land resources.

scholarly journals Grass–legume intercropping in integrated crop-livestock systems: a strategy to improve soil quality and soybean yield in the Brazilian Cerrado

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana M. A. S. Moraes ◽  
Luiz Gustavo de O. Denardin ◽  
Gabriela C. Pires ◽  
Evelyn C. Gonçalves ◽  
Laércio S. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Pigeon Pea ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N ◽  
Livestock Systems

Abstract Aims The integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) under no-tillage improves soil fertility of the Brazilian Cerrado. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different grass-legume intercropping compared to single grass cultivation in the off-season of an ICLS on (i) soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, (ii) soil microbial biomass and activity, (iii) soil enzymatic activity, and (iv) soybean grain yield in succession. Methods The field study was conducted in an on-farm experiment in 2016/17 and 2017/18 cropping seasons. The soybean was cultivated in the summer season, with the subsequent treatments in the off-season, using two grasses (Urochloa ruziziensis and U. brizantha), single or intercropped with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) or Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). We evaluated soil organic C and N pools, microbial biomass and activity, enzyme activity, and soybean yield. Results Cowpea intercropping yielded 24% more soybeans than grasses single cropped. There was a higher microbial biomass and activity, and enzymatic activity in the soil under grass-legume intercropping. In addition to the lower basal respiration and microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2), the greater microbial quotient (qMIC) and microbial biomass C indicate a higher soil microbial C utilization efficiency under grass-legume intercropping. The soil total organic C and N stocks increased under Pigeon pea intercropping by 16% and 27%, respectively, compared to single grasses. Conclusions Grass-legume intercropping in the pasture phase of ICLS is an additional tool to maximize soybean yields in the short term. The intercropping effects on soybean yield were directly related to soil quality improvements through soil biological and biochemical properties.

scholarly journals Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Methuselah Mang'erere Nyamwange ◽  
Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru ◽  
Monicah Mucheru-Muna
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N

Determination of biologically active components of the soil organic matter, such as soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) can be used as indicators for variations in soil productivity due to changes in soil management. Soil agronomic management practices bring about changes in the physical and chemical properties of the soil, resulting in variations in soil microbial biomass and microbial diversity. The effects of tillage, mulch and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial biomass C and N, microbial populations and bacterial diversity were determined from the treatment combinations which had been applied for 5 years in Central Kenyan Highlands. The test crop used was maize (Zea mays L.). The study involved conventional and minimum tillage systems, mulching and inorganic fertilizers (120 kg N/ha). Tillage (P < 0.001), mulch (P < 0.001), and fertilizer (P = 0.009) significantly affected soil microbial biomass C and N whereby minimum tillage and mulch increased soil microbial biomass C and N. Interestingly, minimum tillage and mulch recorded the highest bacteria and fungi CFUs compared to conventional tillage and inorganic fertilizers. Only fertilizer and mulch (P < 0.001) had significant effect on actinobacteria CFUs. Amplified ribosomal DNA analysis (ARDRA) showed that the highest genetic distance of 0.611 was recorded between treatments conventional tillage + no mulch + no NPK fertilizer and conventional tillage + no mulch + NPK fertilizer. The results demonstrate that minimum tillage and mulching are attractive soil agronomic management practices since they increase soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in agricultural soils.

Soil microbial biomass and diversity respond to tillage and sulphur fertilizers

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 577-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
M. A. Monreal ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
C. A. Grant ◽  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Soil Microbial

There is little information on the effects of S management strategies on soil microorganisms under zero tillage systems o n the North American Prairies. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of tillage and source and placement of S on soil microbial biomass (substrate induced respiration) and functional diversity (substrate utilization patterns) in a canola-wheat rotation under conventional and zero tillage systems at three sites in Gray Luvisolic and Black Chernozemic soils. Conventional tillage significantly reduced microbial biomass and diversity on an acidic and C-poor Luvisolic soil, but it had mostly no significant effects on the near-neutral, C-rich Luvisolic and Chernozemic soils, which underlines the importance of soil C in maintaining a healthy soil. Sulphur had no significant effects on soil microbial biomass, and its effects on microbial diversity were more frequent on the near-neutral Luvisol, which was more S-deficient, than on the acidic Luvisol or the Chernozem. Significant S effects on microbial diversity were observed both in the bulk soil (negative effects, compared with the control) and rhizosphere (positive effects) of the acidic Luvisol, but all significant effects (positive) were observed in root rhizospheres in the other soils. Sulphur by tillage interactions on acidic Luvisolic soil indicated that the negative effects of S in bulk soil occurred mostly under zero tillage, presumably because the fertilizer is concentrated in a smaller volume of soil than under conventional tillage. Sulphate S effects, either negative or positive, on microbial diversity were usually greater than elemental S effects. Therefore, S application can have direct, deleterious effects on soil microorganisms or indirect, beneficial effects through crop growth, the latter presumably due to increased root exudation in the rhizosphere of healthy crops. Key Words: Biolog, conservation tillage, microbial biodiversity, rhizosphere, soil biological quality, S fertilizer type and placement

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document