Long-term effects of leguminous cover crops on biochemical and biological properties in the organic and mineral layers of soils of a coconut plantation |
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| Institution: | 1. Indian Institute of Spices Research, P.O. Box 1701, Marikunnu P.O., Calicut 673012, Kerala, India;2. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (Regional Station), Hirehalli, Karnataka, India;3. Central Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 181, Port Blair 744101, Andaman Islands, India;1. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark;2. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark;1. Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forest, Nature and Energy, Tuscia University, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;2. Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest system, Tuscia University, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;1. UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland;2. Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany;3. Institute of Soil Science and Soil Conservation, iFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany;4. Chair of Soil Science, Technische Universität Berlin, Ernst Reuter Platz 1, 10587 Berlin, Germany;5. Soil Science and Soil Protection, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;6. UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland;1. Dept. of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra Beniel Km 3.2, 03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain;2. Dept. of Agrochemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alicante, P.O.Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain;1. Division of Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, ICAR- Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala, India;2. University of Calicut, Kozhikode, Kerala, India |
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| Abstract: | The primary aim of the study was to determine the long-term (12 years) effects of leguminous cover crops like Atylosia scarabaeoides, Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides and Pueraria phaseoloides on important soil biochemical and biological properties and their interrelationships in the organic (fresh litter layer, F and fermented + humus layer, F + H) and mineral (0–10 and 10–20 cm) layers of soils of a 19-year-old coconut plantation.The total biomass production (above-ground) for the 12-year period varied significantly between the cover crops and ranged from 34.86 (calopo) to 90.43 (pueraria) Mg ha–1. Total N and C additions at the cover cropped (CC) site for the 12-year period were 0.97–3.07 Mg ha–1 and 16.90–43.34 Mg ha–1, respectively. Irrespective of layers, the levels of organic C, total N, organic substrates viz., dissolved organic C and N, labile organic N, water soluble carbohydrates, and light fraction organic matter-C and were markedly higher in the CC site compared to the control. Consequently, the levels of microbial biomass-C (CMIC), -N (NMIC) and -P (PMIC), net N mineralization rates, CO2 evolution, metabolic quotient (qCO2) and the activities of l-asparaginase, l-glutaminase and β-glucosaminidase were significantly higher in the CC site compared to the corresponding levels in the control site. Between layers, the levels of various chemical, biochemical and microbial parameters were consistently higher in the organic layers compared to the mineral layers at all the sites including control. Among the ratios of various microbial indices, the ratios of CMIC: organic C and CMIC: PMIC did not differ significantly between the layers and sites. However, the ratio of CMIC: NMIC was relatively higher in the mineral layers and control site. The variation in individual soil properties between layers and sites reflected the concomitant changes occurring in soil organic matter content. Apparently, microbial activity was limited by the supply of biologically available substrates in the mineral layers and the control site. Contrarily, the more direct supply of nutrients from decomposing plant litter and the indirect supply of nutrients from the mineralization of organic matter led to significantly higher levels of microbial biomass in the organic layers. |
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