Abstract
Continuous monoculture in major agricultural regions has been characterized by the loss of fertility, increased soil erosion and surface runoff. Thus, the inclusion of cover crops (CC) is a promising option aimed at better preserving the sustainable production of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to assess the short-term effect of CC on soil microbial community structure and related enzyme activities and macronutrient availability. Species tested as CC were: oat (Avena sativa L.), vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), which were sown in two species mixtures, oat/radish (CC1) and oat/radish/vetch (CC2), with soybean monoculture and soybean/corn being the cash crops. The field trial was performed under no-tillage, and soil sampling was carried out in 2013 and 2014. The analysis of soil phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) showed an increase of total bacterial PLFA and Gram-positive PLFA under CC treatments, being on average 6.8% significantly higher in CC2 and CC1 than in the control treatment. In addition, soil enzyme activities (esterase activity, dehydrogenase activity and acid phosphatase activity) were on average 20% higher in plots under CC in comparison to control treatments. The total N was significantly higher after CC2 treatment (3.13 mg g−1) than in either the CC1 (2.00 mg g−1) or control (2.19 mg g−1). This research revealed that the inclusion of CC mixtures in crop rotation produced an increase in bacterial PLFA, in particular Gram-positive bacteria, in the short term. These changes were related to soil enzyme activities and to the availability of the main macronutrients N and P, with a CC mixture including oat/radish/vetch being highly recommended not only to improve soil biological processes but also to provide additional N to the cash crop.
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