Abstract
Mineral fertilization is considered to be useful for improving soil fertility and yields. However, its use is linked to global warming and soil and water pollution by its rapid mobilization. On the other hand, organic fertilization is recommended to maintain or improve soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks while contributing to climate change mitigation. The main goal of this study was to assess the effect of two different fertilizer types, mineral and organic, during three cowpea crop cycles on the soil’s physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, crop yield, crop quality and nutritional composition when considering two cowpea cultivars (Feijão frade de fio preto (FP) and Feijão frade de fio claro (FC)). The use of mineral fertilizers was seen to contribute to improved soil fertility due to the increase in soil properties, such as recalcitrant carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium content, available K and available Mg. On the other hand, organic fertilizers only increased the nitrate content in the soil. There were no differences in terms of cowpea crop yield, quality and nutritional composition by fertilizer type. Thus, both fertilizer types contributed to the same crop yield and quality, and thus the use of organic fertilizers can result in a sustainable alternative for maintaining cowpea crop yield and quality.
Highlights
The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the effect of mineral and organic fertilizers on soil organic carbon content and pools, soil nutrients, soil aggregation, soil enzyme activities and the crop yield and quality parameters, and (2) infer if there is a relationship between soil fertility and crop yield and quality
There was no significant effect of fertilizer type on the soil organic carbon (SOC), AS, LC, Ca, P
Mineral fertilizers increased the RC, nitrogen forms (Nt and NH4 + ) and nutrient availability (Mg and K), but the concentration of soil nutrients with organic fertilizers was suitable for providing high crop yield and quality
Summary
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) was first cultivated in Africa, and its cultivation has extended to tropical and semi-arid regions of the world [1]. 25%), vitamins, fibers, minerals and other nutrients [2,3]. This legume is a drought-tolerant and warm weather crop which can be used in human food, and for animal feed and the recovery of soil fertility through its use as green manure [4]. Cowpea as a legume crop needs a symbiotic association with effective nitrogen-fixing bacteria to attain maximal benefits from symbiotic N2 fixation and save costly N fertilizers. Cowpea establishes symbiotic relationships with several species of the phyla Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria [5]
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