Influence of oats cover crop preceding dryland lucerne establishment on some aspects of soil microbial ecology

Marais, Anelia; Labuschagne, Johan; Booyse, M.

doi:10.1080/02571862.2019.1640299

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In our study, significantly higher activities of β-glucosidase, phosphatase, and arylsulfatase were recorded under the cover crop treatments, mainly in the wheat and oat treatments, which produced the highest amounts of residues and carbon applied to the soil. Similarly, [62,63] reported that soil enzyme activities, mainly dehydrogenase and phosphatase, were on average 20% higher in plots under cover crops in comparison to a control treatment. A more developed cover crop helps in improving soil glycosidase and phosphatase activities [64,65].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Elhaddad,

González,

Abdelhamid

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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In Tunisia, the olive is the most cultivated fruit crop in the northern region, where annual rainfall exceeds 400 mm. This olive-growing area is characterized by a wide coverage of marginal soil with a high slope gradient. Therefore, the inclusion of cover crops in olive orchards is a sustainable solution to enhance ecosystem productivity, improve soil fertility, and increase oil yields. This study aimed to investigate the short-term (two cropping seasons in 2021 and 2022) effects of different seeded cover crops and soil management practices on soil characteristics, as well as soil health by measuring soil enzyme activities and microbial diversity. Six cover crop types consisting of wheat, vetch, oat, fenugreek, a vetch–oat mixture, and spontaneous vegetation were tested in association with rainfed olive trees (cv. Chetoui) in the north of Tunisia and compared to a control (which was tilled periodically three times per year without intercropping). During the first cropping season, cover crops were cut as animal feed, and only residues were incorporated into the soil. However, during the second year, all cover crop biomass was incorporated into the soil. The results indicated that the dry biomass production and carbon uptake were significantly higher in grass species (wheat and oat). All of the cover crops, including the spontaneous vegetation, significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) and macronutrient levels, mainly, available phosphorus. On the other hand, the highest level of soil nitrogen was found in the fenugreek cover crop. The soil enzyme activities in the cover crops of wheat, oat, and the vetch–oat mix were higher than those in the control. Together with the increase in soil organic matter (SOM), this demonstrates a significant improvement in soil health with cover crops. Furthermore, this study proves that the utilization of carbon sources was dominated by amides, amines, and amino acids in the fenugreek plot, while it was dominated by polymers and carboxylic acids in the case of the wheat and oat. Overall, this study demonstrates that seeding cover crops is a sustainable management practice not only to integrate livestock but also to improve soil health in semiarid olive orchards.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Elhaddad,

González,

Abdelhamid

et al. 2024

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A more developed cover crop helps in improving the soil glycosidase and phosphatase activities [57,58]. The intercropping with grasses species , increased also phosphatase activity in short time after incorporation of the cover crops biomass [59]. It has been found that phosphatase activities was related to soil mineral contents, especially Na, K, P , Zn, C and total N concentrations in intercropped olive orchards [57].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternatives Cover Crops and Soil Managements Modified Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities and Soil Microbial Diversity in Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv.Chétoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Fadoua,

Chehab,

González

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In Tunisia, olive is the most cultivated fruit crop while in the north where rainfall exceeded 400mm.year-1, the olive growing area is in widely extension in marginal soil with high slope gradient. Thus, the inclusion of cover crops is a sustainable solution to increase the ecosystem productivity, improve the soil fertility and oil yields. But, in Tunisia a few study were investigated the effect of legumes cover crop on the olive productivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term (two cropping seasons s 2021 and 2022) effects of different seeded cover crops and soil management practices on the cover crops and soil characteristics, as well as enzymes activities and related microbial diversity. Six intercropping were tested in rainfed olive orchards (cv.Chétoui): Spontaneous vegetation (Spont), Wheat, Vetch, Oat, Fenugreek, mixture Vetch-Oat and compared to control (3 periodic tillage/year without intercropping). During the first cropping season, cover crops were cut as animal feed and only residues were incorporated into the soil. While, during the second year, all cover crops biomass were incorporated into the soil. Results indicate that the dry biomass and carbon uptake were significantly higher in grasses species (Wheat and Oat). But, highest level of nitrogen was found in Fenugreek cover crops. As compared to control, all cover crops including spontaneous vegetation increased soil organic matter and macronutrient level, mainly phosphorus. The most activity of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arysulphatase was found in the cover crops plot of wheat and oat. In addition, this study improve that the utilization of the carbon sources was dominated by amides, amine and amino-acids in the fenugreek plot; while it was dominated by polymers and carboxylic acids in the case of wheat and oat.

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Influence of oats cover crop preceding dryland lucerne establishment on some aspects of soil microbial ecology

Cited by 2 publications

References 8 publications

Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Alternative Cover Crops and Soil Management Practices Modified the Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities, and Soil Microbial Diversity of Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv. Chetoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

Alternatives Cover Crops and Soil Managements Modified Macronutrients, Enzymes Activities and Soil Microbial Diversity in Rainfed Olive Orchards (cv.Chétoui) under Mediterranean Conditions in Tunisia

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