Soil chemical properties affected by cover crops under no-tillage system

Abstract

The use of cover crops in no-tillage systems (NTS) can significantly improve the soil's fertility. Thus, a study was performed to evaluate changes in chemical properties of soil caused by cover crops in a no-tillage system. The field experiment consisted of the following crop rotation: cover crops/rice/cover crops/rice. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with three replications. Treatments consisted of four cover crops (Brachiaria brizantha(Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Marandu, Brachiaria ruziziensis R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard, Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Colonião, and Pennisetum glaucum(L.) R. Br. cv. BN-2) and fallow (control treatment). Soil samples were collected at the beginning of the summer crop in Oct 2007, Oct 2008 and Oct 2009 at 0-5 cm soil depth. The use of cover crops provided for a significant increase in the level of nutrients, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation in the soil. Soil fertility improved from the first to second year with the growing of cover crops. The soil under cover crops P. glaucum, B. ruziziensis, and B. brizantha showed higher fertility than the area under fallow.

Effects of grain-producing cover crops on rice grain yield in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

“…Nascente et al (2015) observed significant increases in soil nutrient levels, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation after two years of cultivating cover crops by following rice crops. Cover crops such as grasses Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, and Brachiaria brizantha produce large amounts of dry biomass (> 10 Mg ha -1 ) and provide significant increases in soil fertility (Moreti et al, 2007;Rosolem et al, 2010;Pacheco et al, 2011;Nascente et al, 2015).…”

“…Nascente et al (2015) observed significant increases in soil nutrient levels, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation after two years of cultivating cover crops by following rice crops. Cover crops such as grasses Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, and Brachiaria brizantha produce large amounts of dry biomass (> 10 Mg ha -1 ) and provide significant increases in soil fertility (Moreti et al, 2007;Rosolem et al, 2010;Pacheco et al, 2011;Nascente et al, 2015). However, despite not having significant changes in the chemical and physical properties of the soil, due to the use of cover crops in our trial, this practice should be continued because, ,on the long run, it can provide cycling nutrients and other benefits such as maintenance of soil moisture, protection against erosion, and lower oscillation of soil temperature Nascente et al, 2015) and can produce grains.…”

“…Cover crops such as grasses Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, and Brachiaria brizantha produce large amounts of dry biomass (> 10 Mg ha -1 ) and provide significant increases in soil fertility (Moreti et al, 2007;Rosolem et al, 2010;Pacheco et al, 2011;Nascente et al, 2015). However, despite not having significant changes in the chemical and physical properties of the soil, due to the use of cover crops in our trial, this practice should be continued because, ,on the long run, it can provide cycling nutrients and other benefits such as maintenance of soil moisture, protection against erosion, and lower oscillation of soil temperature Nascente et al, 2015) and can produce grains. Moreti et al (2007), Cunha et al (2011), andNascente et al (2015) added that by using cover crops, the chemical properties of soil are enhanced with their regular use, i.e., it is interesting to use cover crops every year before rice cultivation.…”

“…Sá (1993) reported the use of cover crops for 16 years and the increase in phosphorus concentration from 29 to 129 mg kg -1 . Sá (1993), Crusciol et al (2015), and Nascente et al (2015) showed increases in K + levels in NTS because of the use of cover crops. Other studies also showed accumulations of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ (Falleiros et al, 2003) (Franzluebbers & Hons, 1996), increases in cation exchange capacities, in soil organic matters, and in P and K + Nascente et al, 2015), and also changes in pH and reductions of Al saturation (Cunha et al, 2011) due to cover crops in NTS.…”

“…Among many benefits, cover cops can significantly affect the chemical properties of the soil (Boer et al, 2007;Carpim et al, 2008;Garcia et al, 2008;Torres & Pereira, 2008;Cunha et al, 2011;Nascente et al, 2015). Sá (1993) reported the use of cover crops for 16 years and the increase in phosphorus concentration from 29 to 129 mg kg -1 .…”