On-farm assessment of cover cropping effects on soil C and N pools, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure

Abstract

Introducing cover crops (CC) in annual cropping systems can promote nutrient cycling and improve soil health. However, impacts of CC on soil health indicators vary and depend on the duration of CC, cropping systems, and other environmental conditions. We performed an on-farm assessment of cover cropping impacts on soil health indicators including C and N pools, enzyme activities, and microbial community structure under different no-till maize-based cropping systems (maize (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) [CS], CS-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) [CSWw], and maize-oats (Avena sativa L.) [CO]). At five farms, fields with different durations of CC were compared to adjacent no CC (NCC) fields. In general, long-term CC enhanced the soil health parameters compared to NCC. Long-term (20-year) winter rye CC had higher water-extractable C and N content, enzyme activities (β-glucosidase (1.2 times greater), urease (5.5 times greater), acid (1.5 times greater) and alkaline (4 times greater) phosphatase, arylsulfatase (0.8 times greater) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) (0.7 times greater)) and soil bacterial community abundance (1.2 times greater). Short-term (3–6 years) legume and grass CC mixtures increased β-glucosidase (0.9 times), acid (0.7 times) and alkaline (1.5 times) phosphatase, arylsulfatase (3 times), FDA (0.8 times) activities and total phospholipid fatty acid (1.6 times) concentration. However, short-term (3–6 years) winter rye, legume and brassica mixtures did not significantly alter soil microbial community structure. This study showed that implementation of CC for >6 years promoted C, N, S, and P cycling that are beneficial to soil health in maize-based cropping systems.

Living grass mulching improves soil enzyme activities through enhanced available nutrients in citrus orchards in subtropical China

“…These enzymes were the most closely related to the organic matter formed by the decomposition of herbaceous residues ( Sinsabaugh et al., 2008 ). This is consistent with the finding of Feng et al. (2021) .…”

“…residues (Sinsabaugh et al, 2008). This is consistent with the finding of Feng et al (2021). They reported that a short-term leguminous grass mulching system increased the BG activity compared with the non-mulching treatment, indicating the increased C inputs from grass mulching which could stimulate microbial activity.…”

Reuse of Pruning Waste from Subtropical Fruit Trees and Urban Gardens as a Source of Nutrients: Changes in the Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of the Soil

“…As shown in previous studies [21], nutrient release can alter soil microbial activity. This has been reported for activities of enzymes such as βglucosidase and dehydrogenase [22], as well as urease and phosphatase, over time periods longer than six years [23].…”

Influence of Intensive and Super-Intensive Olive Grove Management on Soil Quality—Nutrients Content and Enzyme Activities

“…), as well as the influence of environmental conditions on soil functions [25][26][27]. Thus, different types of cover crops produce different responses in soil enzymatic activities, as well as in the soil microbial biomass and soil microbial community structure [28]. The results of Samuel et al [29] showed that the addition of mineral fertilizers to organic fertilizers (green manure and farmyard manure) resulted in a significant increase in each soil enzymatic activity due to heightened plant biomass production, which, in turn, stimulated soil biological activity upon incorporation.…”