Impact of Cover Crops and Poultry Litter on Selected Soil Properties and Yield in Dryland Soybean Production

Abstract

Soil biological properties are important for the stabilization and preservation of a good soil structure. Management practices can affect the diversity and population of microorganisms, which could beneficially change soil properties and promote a more sustainable dryland crop production. This study was established near Pontotoc, MS, USA (34°07′ N, 88°59′ W) on an Atwood silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleudalf) to evaluate the impacts of cover crops, planting dates and fertilizer sources (poultry litter, inorganic fertilizer and no fertilizer) on selected biologically related soil properties in a no-tillage, dryland soybean production. Soil analyses included total carbon and nitrogen, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP), water stable aggregate (WSA) and soil pH. Cover crop production and soybean yield were also determined. The results indicated that the fertilizer source had an impact on total nitrogen, EE-GRSP and soybean yield. Total N was 6% higher with poultry litter at the early planting date compared to no fertilizer (control) (p < 0.0018) and at the late planting date, when total N and EE-GRSP were increased by 11% and 13%, respectively, with poultry litter compared to no fertilizer. Additionally, soil pH was reduced by 0.25 units in the poultry litter-amended treatment. Soybean yield was increased by 68% and 51% in early-planted soybean and 42% and 40% in late-planted soybean with poultry litter and inorganic fertilizer, respectively, compared to no fertilizer. This study revealed that biological soil properties and soybean yield were influenced by poultry litter application. The results showed no significant effects of cover crops over the short time period of the study.

Differential Response of Soil Microbial Diversity and Community Composition Influenced by Cover Crops and Fertilizer Treatments in a Dryland Soybean Production System

“…Soil samples used for measurement of physical and chemical properties were stored at −20 • C and subsamples used for DNA analysis were stored at −80 • C (in 50 mL tubes). Detailed protocols were described in one of our previous studies [28]. Particle size [38], total C and N [39], soil pH [40], water-stable aggregates (WSA) [41], easily extractable glomalin-related soil proteins (EE-GRSP) [42], and permanganate oxidizable C (POXC) [43] were measured on air-dried samples, which were ground to pass a 2-mm sieve.…”

“…Importantly, no-till and cover crops enhance soil microbial growth and activity [24,25]. Organic soil amendments, such as poultry litter, a soil health practice which when combined with tillage and cover crop conservation practices are agronomically beneficial and promote soil health [26][27][28]. Even in soybeans, which fix their own nitrogen, poultry litter improves organic carbon, which influence the soil health and increases soybean yields [28,29], where application time and rate are critical.…”

The Effects of Management (Tillage, Fertilization, Plant Density) on Soybean Yield and Quality in a Three-Year Experiment under Transylvanian Plain Climate Conditions

“…Soybean production is affected by soil fertility and soil water content in relation to the soil tillage system [26][27][28], and the quality of soybean production is affected more by fertilization and climatic factors [29].…”

The Role of Cover Crop Types and Residue Incorporation in Improving Soil Chemical Properties

“…Gattullo et al [9] assessed the effect of a fescue cover crop on soil quality, yield, and grape qualitative parameters and reported that cover crops increased, on average, soil organic carbon, total N, other soil chemical properties. Pokhrel et al [10] evaluated the impact of cover crops and poultry litter on selected soil chemical properties and yield in dryland soybean production system and found no significant effects of cover crops over the short period of the study.…”