Abstract
Properties of a claim loam soil, collected in Aranjuez (Madrid) and enriched with organic matter and microorganisms, were evaluated under controlled temperature and moisture conditions, over a period of three months. The following treatments were carried out: soil (control); soil + 50 t ha-1 of animal manure (E50); soil + 50 t ha-1 of animal manure + 30 L ha-1 of effective microorganisms (E50EM); soil + 30 t ha-1 of the combination of various green crop residues and weeds (RC30) and soil + 30 t ha-1 of the combination of various green crop residues and weeds + 30 L ha-1 of effective microorganisms (RC30EM). Soil samples were taken before and after incubation and their physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters analyzed. Significant increase was observed in the production of exopolysaccharides and basic phosphatase and esterase enzyme activities in the treatments E50EM and RC30EM, in correlation with the humification of organic matter, water retention at field capacity, and the cationic exchange capacity (CEC) of the same treatments. The conclusion was drawn that the incorporation of a mixture of effective microorganisms (EM) intensified the biological soil activity and improved physical and chemical soil properties, contributing to a quick humification of fresh organic matter. These findings were illustrated by the microbiological activities of exopolysaccharides and by alkaline phosphatase and esterase enzymes, which can be used as early and integrated soil health indicators.
Highlights
During the last ten years, awareness has been raised about soil quality as a matter of concern throughout the world
The use of animal manure, crop diversification and rotation, and the application of biological control agents are appropriate practices recommended to restore and/or improve the quality of agricultural soils
The aim of this research was to develop an efficient and fast methodology that combines physical, chemical, and microbiological soil parameters to evaluate the improvement of soil quality as a function of organic matter and microorganism species incorporation in degraded soils
Summary
During the last ten years, awareness has been raised about soil quality as a matter of concern throughout the world. The low input of organic matter into the soil in conventional production systems has caused imbalances in the edaphic ecosystems, decreasing the microbial activities of mycorrhizas, endobacteria, and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). This effect contributes significantly to modify plant growth by limiting plant nutrition and by making plants more susceptible to pests (García et al, 1994; Valarini et al, 1997; Frighetto et al, 1999; Agrawal et al, 1999).
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