Abstract
Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) activities and bacterial community structure were assessed in a long-term (26 years) experiment, at physiological stages of sorghum growth, comparing different management methods for organic (manure, straw residues) and inorganic (urea) amendments at the INERA field station in Saria (Burkina Faso). Annual application of manure led to the highest soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities. Investigations indicated that only microbial biomass and β-glucosidase activities were affected during the cropping season. Phosphatase and FDA enzyme activities did not depend on the crop development stages. The application of N fertilizer modified phosphatase and FDA enzyme activities, the activities being higher in soils amended with N fertilizer. The bacterial community structure was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) targeting the eubacterial 16S rRNA gene. Cluster analysis of PCR-DGGE patterns showed two major clusters, the first containing the mineral fertilization and straw treatments and the second, the straw + urea, manure and manure + urea treatments. Sorghum grain yields were the highest for manure treatments. In this long-term experiment, applying straw did not produce a better grain yield than that obtained in the un-amended plot.
Highlights
In the Sudano-Sahelian region, agricultural soil productivity has been severely impaired owing to intensive cultivation, drought and soil erosion, which have led to a decrease in soil organic matter, a depletion of soil nutrients
The application of organic amendments can, affect the activity, structure, diversity and function of soil microorganisms, which play a key role in soil processes to a greater extent than the application of inorganic fertilizers [7] [13]
Measurement of soil hydrolases provides an early indication of changes in soil fertility, since they are related to the mineralization of important nutrient elements and their dynamics in these systems may regulate nutrient uptake and plant growth
Summary
In the Sudano-Sahelian region, agricultural soil productivity has been severely impaired owing to intensive cultivation, drought and soil erosion, which have led to a decrease in soil organic matter, a depletion of soil nutrients. In semi-arid agricultural conditions, crop residues are removed and organic input such as manure is rare. Bationo et al [2] and Badiane et al [3] recommended regular inputs of organic amendments to soil while other authors advocated the use of improved fallows to restore organic matter to soil [4] [5]. These agricultural management methods are known to enhance the stock of soil carbon [6]. FDA is hydrolysed by esterases, proteases and lipases, enzymes involved in the microbial decomposition of organic matter in soil [16]
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