The conversion of overgrazed pastures to almond orchards and alfalfa cropping systems may favor microbial indicators of soil quality in Central Iran

Abstract

Land use changes may have a major influence on soil quality that is important in sustaining ecosystem productivity. Yet, the effects of these changes on soil quality are not well understood, particularly in poor heterogeneous pastures overgrazed by sheep. The aim of this study was to determine the short-term response of soil quality indicators to changes in land use from permanent pastures overgrazed to almond orchards and then to alfalfa cropping systems occurring in Saman plain, Central Iran. Soil quality indicators were evaluated in four land use systems including permanent pastures (PP) overgrazed by sheep, pastures converted to almond orchards (AO) for more than 45 years, almond orchards converted to alfalfa fields for 5 years (FA) and almond orchards converted to alfalfa fields for 2 years (TA). Composite soil samples from each of the four random replicates of the land use systems were sampled to a depth of 30 cm, and analyzed for soil bulk density, total N, total organic C, wet aggregate stability, C mineralization, microbial biomass C, and phosphatase activities. Land use changes (i.e. conversion of pastures to almond orchards and then to alfalfa fields) resulted in significant increases in soil bulk density, and total organic C and N contents. Similarly, total organic C and N pools were far greater in TA and FA compared to PP and AO land use systems. The soil porosity and aggregate stability (MWD) in PP and AO land use systems were significantly greater than those in TA and FA land use systems. Carbon mineralization and microbial biomass C and the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases were substantially higher in the alfalfa fields than those in overgrazed pastures and almond orchards. The microbial metabolic quotient ( qCO 2) increased in alfalfa fields, although the increases were marginal. It would appear that (1) the conversion of poor pastures to alfalfa cropping systems favors soil microbial properties, (2) microbial properties are the most sensitive soil quality indicators responding positively to short-term changes in land use. It is also concluded that improvement in soil quality and enhanced biological activity in alfalfa fields demonstrated the gradual resilience of the poor and overgrazed pastures once converted to a fast growing and N 2 fixing legume crop.