Cropping management in a livestock–pasture–crop integration modifies microbial communities, activity, and soil health score

Abstract

Understanding indicators of soil health is crucial for developing agricultural systems that are sustainable and climate resilient. Labile soil carbon (C), microbial properties, and nutrient status are all incorporated into the Haney Soil Health Tool with the goal of summarizing several indicators into one index. Monthly soil samples from an integrated crop–livestock system in Central Texas were collected from 2017 to 2019. Fields represented a range of management practices, including cover crops, no‐till, rotational grazing, and a native prairie remnant. Soil samples were analyzed for total C, water‐soluble C, macro‐ and micronutrient content and bioavailability, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Microbial activity was determined via a 24‐h CO2 incubation. Soil health score, C, and PLFAs were well correlated with each other. The greatest total PLFA (219.5 nmol g–1 soil) and organic C (54.3 g kg–1 soil) were found in the native prairie, and the lowest were found in the unfertilized continuous‐corn system (60.5 nmol PLFAs g–1 soil and 24.0 g organic C kg–1 soil). Of all agroecosystems, the perennial grazing system (soil health score, 24.7) was most similar to the native prairie (soil health score, 27.4), having high soil C and a large microbial community. Of the row cropping systems, the no‐till system approached the perennial systems better than the conventional till and unfertilized conventional till (soil health score, 11.1 vs. 8.0 and 5.3, respectively). This study highlights the value of perennial grass grazing in agroecosystems and appropriate best management practices. Expanding this analysis to other sites may provide additional insight.

Connecting soil health and water quality in agricultural landscapes

“…Beginning at the field scale, Menefee et al. (2022) contributes to the development of soil health indicators, examining the usefulness of a phospholipid fatty acid test (PLFA) alongside the Haney Soil Health Tool (a summary of indicators) in a comparison across a range of crop management systems in central Texas. Gutknecht et al.…”

Enhancing the Soil Health–Watershed Health Nexus: Introduction

“…The overview article by Lewandowski and Cates (2023) invites researchers to establish networks, scientific concepts, measurements, and environmental conditions within which soil and watershed health can be correlated and assessment framework(s) applied. The first two research contributions focus on the design of diversified, long‐term conservation systems that integrate complex crop rotations, cover crops, perennials, and livestock with the intent of reducing edge‐of‐field run‐off and or increasing soil water and nutrient storage (Bawa et al., 2021; Menefee et al., 2022). Stakeholder engagement in research and adoption of conservation systems for climatic adaptation are addressed in Gutknecht et al.…”

“…The overview article by Lewandowski and Cates (2023) invites researchers to establish networks, scientific concepts, measurements, and environmental conditions within which soil and watershed health can be correlated and assessment framework(s) applied. The first two research contributions focus on the design of diversified, long-term conservation systems that integrate complex crop rotations, cover crops, perennials, and livestock with the intent of reducing edgeof-field run-off and or increasing soil water and nutrient storage (Bawa et al, 2021;Menefee et al, 2022) Interactions among field management, hydrology, and edge-of-field water quality are the theme of three research articles (Osterholz et al, 2021;Williamson et al, 2021;Fermanich et al, 2022). The research of Williamson et al (2021) illustrates short-and long-term interactions among field conditions (including conservation systems) and streamflow that control phosphorus (P) sources, forms, and abundance.…”

Grazing Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Are Important Parts of a Sustainable Agricultural Future

“…Another sustainability benefit of well-managed grazing is increased plant biodiversity [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. There is also an abundance of scientific evidence that shows that rotating crops, such as corn or soy, with livestock grazed on cover crops can improve soil health [ 18 ], sequester carbon [ 14 , 19 ], and increase the abundance of pollinating insects [ 20 ]. High-intensity agriculture with low crop diversity will decrease insect biodiversity [ 21 ].…”