Abstract
Although biomass and yield increase of plant following cover crops is often observed in intensive vegetable production systems, clear understanding of the mechanisms driving such stimulatory effects is still poor. Effects of wheat cover crop on cucumber seedling growth were studied by 1) adding nutrients to balance difference in soil nutrients caused by planting wheat, 2) adding activated carbon, residue washing and burning to remove secondary metabolites from root exudates and litter decomposition of wheat, 3) soil sterilization and soil biota inoculation to validate the role of changes in soil biota induced by wheat. Wheat cover crop increased cucumber seedling growth and plant N, P and K concentrations, but decreased soil available N, P, K, Mn and B contents. Cucumber seedling growth decreased after eliminating the difference in soil nutrients, removing secondary metabolites and sterilizing soils. Feedback effects of soil biota on cucumber seedling growth were positive. Wheat cover crop increased the diversity of soil bacterial and fungal community, changed the structure and composition of Pseudomonas spp., and decreased the abundances of Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp. Wheat cover crop promoted cucumber seedling growth by changing soil nutrient availability and regulating soil microbial community diversity.
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