Soil organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical agroforestry system |
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Authors: | K Chander S Goyal D P Nandal K K Kapoor |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Microbiology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar – 125 004, India Tel: +91-1662-31171 Ext. 4292; Fax: +91-1662-34952; e-mail: hau@hau.nic.in, IN;(2) Department of Agroforestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 India, IN |
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Abstract: | The effects of growing trees in combination with field crops on soil organic matter, microbial biomass C, basal respiration
and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils under a 12-year-old Dalbergia sissoo (a N2-fixing tree) plantation intercropped with a wheat (Triticum aestivum) – cowpea (Vigna sinensis) cropping sequence. The inputs of organic matter through D. sissoo leaf litter increased and crop roots decreased with the increase in tree density. Higher organic C and total N, microbial
biomass C, basal soil respiration and activities of dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were observed in treatments with
tree-crop combination than in the treatment without trees. Soil organic matter, microbial biomass C and soil enzyme activities
increased with the decrease in the spacing of the D. sissoo plantation. The results indicate that adoption of the agroforestry practices led to an improved organic matter status of
the soil, which is also reflected in the increased nutrient pool and microbial activities necessary for long-term productivity
of the soil. However, tree spacing should be properly maintained to minimize the effects of shading on the intercrops.
Received: 21 February 1997 |
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Keywords: | Agroforestry Soil organic matter Microbial biomass Soil respiration Soil enzymes Dalbergia sissoo |
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