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Dryland cropping systems influence the microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a semiarid sandy soil

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Abstract

Indicators of soil quality, such as microbial biomass C and N (MBC, MBN) and enzyme activities (EAs), involved in C, P, N, and S cycling, as affected by dryland cropping systems under conventional (ct) and no tillage (nt) practices were evaluated for 5 years. The soil is sandy loam with an average of 16.4% clay, 67.6% sand, and 0.65 g kg−1 OM at 0–10 cm. The crops evaluated were rotations of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or forage sorghum (also called haygrazer), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), and winter rye (Secale cereale): grain sorghum–cotton (Srg–Ct), cotton–winter rye–sorghum (Ct–Rye–Srg), and forage sorghum–winter rye (Srf–Rye). The tillage treatments did not affect soil MB and EAs of C cycling (i.e., β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, α-galactosidase), P cycling (alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase), and S cycling (arylsulfatase)—except for separation due to tillage for Srf–Rye and Ct–Rye–Srg observed in PCA plots when all EAs were evaluated together. After 3 years, rotations with a winter cover crop history (Ct–Rye–Srg and Srf–Rye) enhanced soil MBN (up to 63%) and EAs (21-37%) compared to Srg–Ct. After 5 years, Srg–Ct and Ct–Rye–Srg showed similar soil MBC, MBN, EAs, total carbon (TC), and organic carbon (OC). A comparison of Srg–Ct plots with nearby continuous cotton (Ct–Ct) research plots in the same soil revealed that it took 5 years to detect higher TC (12%), MBC (38%), and EAs (32–36%, depending on the enzyme) under Srg–Ct. The significant improvements in MB and EAs found, as affected by dryland cropping systems with a history of winter cover crops and/or higher biomass return crops than cotton, can represent changes in soil OM, nutrient cycling, and C sequestration for sandy soils in the semiarid Texas High Plains region. It is significant that these soil changes occurred despite summer crop failure (2003 and 2006) and lack of winter cover crops (2006) due to lack of precipitation in certain years.

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Notes

  1. Mention of this or other proprietary products is for the convenience of the readers only and does not constitute endorsement or preferential treatment of these products by USDA-ARS.

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Acknowledgements

The initiation of this study in 2003 was possible due to the funding from the Ogallala Aquifer Research Initiative in that year. This research was also supported by the Agricultural Research Service under the GRACEnet Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Unit, USDA-ARS, 3810 4th St., Lubbock, TX, 79415, USA

    Veronica Acosta-Martínez, Robert Lascano, Jill D. Booker & Ted M. Zobeck

  2. Central Great Plains Resources Management Research, USDA-ARS, 40335 County Road GG, Akron, CO, 80720, USA

    Francisco Calderón

  3. Southern Plains Area, USDA-ARS, 1001 Holleman Drive East, College Station, TX, 77840-4117, USA

    Dan R. Upchurch

Authors
  1. Veronica Acosta-Martínez
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  2. Robert Lascano
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  3. Francisco Calderón
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  4. Jill D. Booker
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  5. Ted M. Zobeck
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  6. Dan R. Upchurch
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Correspondence to Veronica Acosta-Martínez.

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Acosta-Martínez, V., Lascano, R., Calderón, F. et al. Dryland cropping systems influence the microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a semiarid sandy soil. Biol Fertil Soils 47, 655–667 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0565-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-011-0565-1

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