Abstract
This research aimed to study the soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) under maize plant after a long-term application of nitrogen fertilizer and tillage systems (at the 37th growing season). The treatments were arranged in a factorial (3x3) in a randomized completely block design with 3 replications. The first factor was tillage systems, namely intensive tillage (IT) system, minimum tillage (MT) system, and no tillage (NT) system, and the second factor was the long-term application of nitrogen fertilizer, namely 0, 100, and 200 kg N ha-1. Data were analyzed using an orthogonal contrast test and a correlation test between SMBC and organic-C, total-N, and pH of the soil. The results showed that, in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of maize plant, MT system increased the SMBC compared to NT and IT systems. However, application of long-term application of nitrogen fertilizer did not increase the SMBC. Nevertheless, fertilizer application of 100 kg N ha-1 increased the SMBC compare to 200 kg N ha-1.Furthermore, the combination of MT system and 100 kg N ha-1 could increase the SMBC compared to the other combined treatment between tillage systems and N fertilization doses. The SMBC was higher in the rhizosphere than in non-rhizosphere of maize plant.Keywords: Non-rhizosphere, rhizosphere, soil microbial biomass carbon, tillage systems
Highlights
Most of reclaimed tidal lowland area in South Sumatra is located at the east coast
The potential cropping pattern at C-typhology land was rice-corn based on water availability in land
Water retention in tertiary channel was the main option in water table control in this area
Summary
Most of reclaimed tidal lowland area in South Sumatra is located at the east coast. The land in this area is characterized by sulphate acid layers either in the potential or actual form. Reclaimed tidal lowland area of Delta Saleh is classified as potential sulphate acid land. Rice production level in this area was in average of 2.5-3.0 Mg ha-1 and cropping index was once per year (Imanudin et al 2004). This low production was related to water status heterogenity in the farm at tertiary blocks. Water availability in swamp area is directly related to crop evapotranspiration requiremenet, and to dynamic of soil fertility status (Imanudin and Susanto 2007)
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