Abstract
Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) can improve soil quality and increase soybean yield. As a way to intensify agricultural production in ICLS, different fertilization strategies can be adopted. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of fertilization strategies on soil quality indicators and soybean yield in ICLS in the Brazilian Cerrado. An ICLS experiment under soybean as the first crop and pasture (Urochloa brizantha) as the second crop was started in 2019. Four fertilization strategies were evaluated: (i) Conventional fertilization (P and K in the crop phase, CF − N); (ii) CF + nitrogen in the pasture phase (CF + N); (iii) “system fertilization” (P and K in the pasture phase, SF − N) and; (iv) SF + N in the pasture phase (SF + N). Soil was sampled at soybean full bloom (2019 and 2020) and soybean yield in the 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22 cropping seasons. Total organic carbon (TOC) was not affected by the fertilization strategies. On the other hand, SF + N increased the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 19% compared to CF − N. The metabolic quotient (qCO2) was 25% higher under CF – N compared to the SF treatments. The β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase were higher under SF + N, which also had a soybean yield 16% higher than CF − N. We show for the first time that the adoption of “system fertilization” combined with N fertilization on pasture promotes short-term improvements on soil quality and increases soybean yield under no-till ICLS in Brazilian tropical soils.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Agrisus Foundation for providing substantial financial support and grants provided by Yara Brasil through the Aliança SIPA association. We also thank Fazenda Guarita for the area provided for the experiment, and Funbio and PRS Cerrado for partial financial support.
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This study was funded by Agrisus Foundations (grant numbers #2623/2019 and #3049/2021), and Yara Brasil through the Aliança SIPA association.
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Pires, G.C., de Oliveira Denardin, L.G., Silva, L.S. et al. System Fertilization Increases Soybean Yield Through Soil Quality Improvements in Integrated Crop-Livestock System in Tropical Soils. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 22, 4487–4495 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-01050-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-01050-0