Soil Biological Properties Research Articles

Atributos microbiológicos em Latossolo Vermelho cultivado com cana-de-açúcar na região de cerrado do Brasil Central

ABSTRACT The contribution of plant residues throughout the sugarcane cycles favors the increase of organic matter and the activity of microorganisms in the soil, especially in the surface layers. Soil texture also has an important effect on ecological processes and soil quality. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate soil biological attributes in different sugarcane cultivation cycles under mechanized harvesting in an Oxisol in the Savanna region of Central Brazil. The study was conducted in commercial areas under sugarcane cultivation during the 2018/2019 season, which were considered homogeneous in terms of soil and climatic conditions, with the source of variation among the areas being the cultivation cycles (C1: one cultivation cycle; C3: three cultivation cycles; C7: seven cultivation cycles) and a savanna vegetation area selected as a reference. Microbiological variables were determined in two layers, 0-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m. The variables related to microbial biomass and texture were subjected to principal component analysis. Areas with longer sugarcane cultivation cycles show higher proportion of microbial biomass carbon in the total organic carbon in subsurface layers (microbial quotient). The performance of the soil microbial community, as expressed by total organic carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen indicators, was associated with higher presence of clay and silt, i.e., soil particles smaller than 0.02 mm.

Temperate Soils Exposed to Drought—Key Processes, Impacts, Indicators, and Unknowns

The summer drought in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022 produced significant speculation concerning how its termination may impact and interact with the soil resource. Whilst knowledge regarding soils and droughts exists in the scientific literature, a coherent understanding of the wider range of impacts on soil properties and functions has not been compiled for temperate soils. Here, we draw together knowledge from studies in the UK and other temperate countries to understand how soils respond to drought, and importantly what and where our knowledge gaps are. First, we define the different types of droughts and their frequency in the UK and provide a brief overview on the likely societal impacts that droughts place on the soil and related ecosystems. Our focus is on ‘agricultural and ecosystem drought’, as this is when soils experience dry periods affecting crops and ecosystem function, followed by rewetting. The behaviour of moisture in soils and the key processes that contribute to its storage and transport are examined. The principal changes in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils resulting from drought, and rewetting (i.e., drought termination) are discussed and their extensive interactions are demonstrated. Processes that are involved in the rewetting of soils are explored for soil and catchment-scale soil responses. Lastly, soils’ recovery after drought is considered, knowledge gaps are identified, and areas to improve understanding are highlighted.

Soil quality assessment and its response to water flow connectivity in different vegetation restoration types, eastern China

Vegetation restoration is the most widely used forest management practice for degraded soils, but the responses of soil quality in different vegetation restoration types may vary. In addition, the relationship between water flow paths connection and soil quality needs to be further explored. In this study, the soil quality index (SQI) and the index of water flow connectivity (IWFC) in the six water flow patterns (PFP, SSB, WSB, CPS, CPW, and CSW) were explored at three forest stands (oak, pine, and bamboo forests) with 50 years for enclosure. The results showed that the bamboo forest stand had the best soil quality as a whole (0.534 ± 0.135), followed by pine (0.530 ± 0.180) and oak forest stands (0.435 ± 0.205). The IWFC in PFP, CPS and CPW water flow patterns decreased gradually with increasing soil depth, while in SSB, WSB and CSB water flow patterns, the IWFC increased at first and then decreased. Finally, the IWFC in the CPW water flow pattern showed the largest positive correlation with the SQI (P < 0.05). The IWFC in the CPW water flow pattern driven by soil physical properties could mainly control the changes in the SQI indirectly (average IE = 0.825) by influencing soil nutrient (average IE = 0.447) and biological (average IE = 0.485) properties, while its direct effects could be ignored (average DE = −0.074), which demonstrated that the joint effects of preferential flow paths and weak stream buffer zones can dramatically reflect the changes in soil quality. The better soil improvement effect of bamboo and pine forest stands compared to the oak forest stand should be given more consideration. This study provided new insights for the assessment of the relationship between soil hydrology and soil quality.

Biofertilizers: A sustainable strategy for enhancing physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil

A biofertilizer is a biologically derived substance that can enhance soil fertility. It is beneficial for enhancing soil fertility by introducing microorganisms that produce organic nutrients and perhaps decreasing plant illnesses. An extensive review was done to examine the efficacy of several biofertilizers in improving soil properties, including their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The secondary data and material for the article were gathered from a variety of sources, including government reports, published research papers, reports from various organizations, and pertinent websites that were examined and their conclusions presented. Although biofertilizers have proven to be a very sustainable method for improving soil quality and increasing crop output, there is a lack of extensive research on their effects on soil’s physical, chemical, and biological aspects. This study aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of various biofertilizers and their effects. This investigation indicated that biofertilizers such as Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizers, and potassium solubilizers help to increase NPK content in the soil leading to an increase in the productivity of soil. Moreover, biofertilizers help to enhance soil physical properties (soil bulk density, soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil color), chemical properties (soil pH, soil nitrogen content, soil phosphorus content, soil potassium content, and soil organic carbon content), and chemical properties (population of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes). Overall, by overcoming the challenges with biofertilizers in agriculture, we can attain agricultural sustainability.

Biological Characterization of Geo-Referenced Soil Samples from Major Rice-Growing Tracts of Southern Kerala

A survey was conducted from January to March 2023 to assess the soil biological fertility index across five agro-ecological units in the rice-growing belts of Southern Kerala. These units included Onattukara sandy loam (AEU 3), Kari soil (AEU 4), Pokkali soil (AEU 5), Southern laterites (AEU 8), and Midland laterites (AEU 9). The study was carried out in the College of Agriculture, Vellayani Thiruvananthapuram. The survey aimed to assess microbial activity and organic carbon content, thereby enhancing our understanding of the biological fertility across these diverse soil types. Twenty geo-referenced surface soil samples @ 0- 15 cm were collected in every AEU by prescribed method. The collected samples were subjected to the characterization of soil biological properties such as dehydrogenase activity, organic carbon, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N and soil respiratory rate following the standard protocol. The findings showed that organic carbon in AEU 5 with the highest mean value (3.03 %), followed by AEU 4 (2.19 %), AEU 9 (2.01 %), AEU 8 (1.01 %), and AEU 3 (0.56 %). Dehydrogenase activity was highest in AEU 5 (682.54 µg TPF g-1 hr-1), followed by AEU 4, AEU 9, and AEU 8, and lowest in AEU 3 (76.71 µg TPF g-1 hr-1). AEU 5 exhibited the highest microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen activities, while AEU 8 showed the lowest. Soil respiration was highest in AEU 5 and lowest in AEU 3. Based on these soil microbiological indicators, soils were classified into three categories: low, medium, and high fertility. The Biological Fertility Index (BFI) scores indicated favorable conditions in AEU 4 and 5, moderate in AEU 9, and low in AEU 3 and 8. By establishing a comprehensive understanding of soil biological fertility across various agro-ecological units, the research aims to contribute to improved soil health and crop productivity in the region.

Biological Properties Influenced by Different Tree Species in Deep Chambal Ravine of Madhya Pradesh, India

An experiment site planted with different multipurpose trees and their impact on soil biological properties were measured and analyzed. Based on overall growth on biological properties showed that preferred ranking tree species in the following order viz., maximum soil microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenease acticity and soil respiration were recorded under Moring a oleifera, respectively followed by Albizia lebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, Terminalia arjuna, Millettia pinnata and Gmelina arborea while Justicia adhatoda was recorded minimum, respectively. Tree stand growth significantly improved the soil biological properties. Thus, A. Moringa oleifera and Albizia lebbeck species are most suitable multipurpose hardy tree species for rehabilitation of medium and deep ravines of Chambal ravines in India.

Effect of Sod Production on Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of Soils in North and South China

Lawns play a vital role in urban development, but the impact of sod production on soil properties has always been controversial. In this study, we examined the physical, chemical, and biological properties of sod production bases across different regions and years [including northern China (2.5, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 years), referred to as N-2.5, N-3, etc., and southern China (3, 10, 11, 14, 17 years), referred to as S-3, S-10, etc.], with tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass planted in the north and bermudagrass or creeping bentgrass planted in the south. Sod production was found to increase soil bulk density while reducing porosity and field capacity, but these effects did not consistently intensify with longer production periods. Except for available phosphorus and available potassium, other soil nutrients (total carbon, total nitrogen, organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, etc.) were either unaffected or increased at certain time points (S-11, S-14). Prolonged sod production (S-10, S-17) also boosted microbial content. In northern regions, organic matter and total nitrogen were the key factors influencing microbial community structure, whereas in southern regions, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, electrical conductivity, available potassium, and organic matter were most influential. We also found that crop rotation, sand mulching, and deep plowing could enhance soil nutrient content and microbial activity in sod production.

Soil Microorganism Interactions under Biological Fumigations Compared with Chemical Fumigation.

Biological fumigation, a potential alternative to chemical fumigation, shows a wide range of prospective applications. In this study, we carried out biological fumigation experiments to evaluate its effect on alleviating consecutive cropping problems (CRPs) when compared with chemical fumigation. We designed five treatments, namely, CR (no treatment), LN (chemical fumigation with lime nitrogen), Ta (fumigation with marigold), Ra (fumigation with radish), and Br (fumigation with mustard), for soils for replanting eggplant and measured the crop's growth status, soil bacterial and fungal communities, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that the Br and Ra treatments formed similar microbial communities, while the Ta treatment formed unique microbial communities. The genera Olpidiomycota and Rozellomycota could be used as indicator species for the transformation process of soil microbial communities after the Br and Ta treatments, respectively. When compared with the CR and LN treatments, the soil's physicochemical properties were optimized under the Br treatment, and the soil organic matter content increased by 64.26% and 79.22%, respectively. Moreover, under the Br treatment, the soil's biological properties enhanced the bacterial and fungal alpha diversity, and the saprotrophic fungi increased with the depletion of pathotrophic fungi, while some specific probiotic microorganisms (such as Olpidiomycota, Microascales, Bacillus, etc.) were significantly enriched. In contrast, under the Ta treatment, soil nutrient levels decreased and the soil's biological indices deteriorated, whereas the bacterial diversity decreased and the pathogenic fungi increased. Among these three biological fumigation methods, the Br pre-treatment was the best way to alleviate the crop's CRPs and may be a good substitute for chemical fumigation in some situations. However, the Ta treatment also had some risks, such as the loss of land quality and reduced productivity.

The LTAR Grazing Land Common Experiment at Platte River High Plains Aquifer.

The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) consists presently of 18 sites within the contiguous United States that are managed by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and its partners. The LTAR network focuses on developing national strategies for more efficient, resilient, and profitable agricultural production systems, improved environmental quality, and enhanced rural prosperity. The Platte River High Plains Aquifer (PRHPA) LTAR site is managed jointly by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and USDA-ARS and is one of the LTAR sites that conduct research on both integrated cropping and grazing systems. The PRHPA region encompasses multiple land resource areas and diverse agricultural production systems. The PRHPA sites, predominantly located in eastern Nebraska, are designated as an integrated system focused specifically on the region's dominant production practices of row crop (corn and soybean), managed pastures, and beef cattle production. Here, we focus on C3 cool-season smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pasture grazing systems under prevailing and alternative management practices for the region. The sites evaluate continuous and rotational grazing with and without pasture fertilization (prevailing practices). In an additional treatment, cattle are supplemented with dry distillers grains plus solubles, while manure supplies fertilization (alternative practice). Main measurements at the site evaluate plant and animal productivity, forage quality, greenhouse gas fluxes, and soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. This paper describes the regional characteristics of the PRHPA site, ongoing LTAR research related to pasture and livestock production, stakeholder engagement, and future research plans.

Effects of aerial liming on soil chemical and biological properties in metal contaminated and inaccessible lands in Ontario (Canada).

The manual addition of lime to soil, in addition to tree planting and fertilization have been the dominant strategy described in restoration protocols for ecosystems damaged by acid rain and metal contamination. Investigations on aerial-limed soils in inaccessible lands are limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of aerial liming on soil pH, organic matter, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities, and aboveground plant population quality in metal-contaminated lands in northern Ontario, Canada. Soil samples were collected from three sites around the City of Greater Sudbury with each pair being composed of a reclaimed (areal-limed) site and an adjacent undisturbed (unlimed) area. Soil physico-chemistry, microbial biomass (assessed by Phospholipid fatty acid analysis) and enzymatic activities were analyzed. Soil pH was higher in limed sites compared to unlimed at recently restored sites (Baby Lake and Wahnapitae) but not at the oldest reclaimed site (HWY 80 N). Organic matter was higher in limed areas compared to the unlimed reference site only at most recently reclaimed site at Baby Lake. Aboveground plant population health was visibly improved in limed sites compared to unlimed areas. Metal concentrations of iron (Fe) and arsenic (As), total microbial biomasses, gram-negative bacterial, fungal, and eukaryotic biomasses were all significantly increased in the limed soils compared to the unlimed samples. The same trend was observed for the activities of three of the enzymes tested, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (BG), aryl sulfatase (AS), and glycine aminopeptidase (GAP). Interestingly, strong positive correlations between the levels of soil organic matter, microbial biomasses, and NAGase and ALP activities were observed. Although expensive, aerial liming is effective in restoring inaccessible sites impacted by smelting operations where other methods cannot easily be used.

Exploring the Potential of Macroalgae for Sustainable Crop Production in Agriculture.

Marine macroalgae, which typically colonize coastal areas, are simple plant organisms. They live on rocks in coastal regions and are classified into red, brown, and green macroalgae. These algae are an important natural resource in agriculture due to their ability to enhance the structural, chemical, and biological properties of soil. Marine macroalgae can be used to produce various biocidal molecules that are effective in controlling plant pathogens. Much of the literature on marine macroalgae and their derivatives focuses primarily on the pharmaceutical field, while their use in agriculture is still considered secondary. However, various studies and experiments have demonstrated their potential to play a significant role in crop protection and enhancement. This review aims to highlight the various applications of macroalgae in plant production. It also emphasizes the biotechnological importance of marine macroalgae derivatives as biofertilizers, molecules for controlling insects and microorganisms, and as plant growth conditioners. Compounds from macroalgae, such as fatty acids, carotenoids, polyphenols, and carbohydrates, are being investigated for their fungicidal, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects against various plant pathogens. Beyond enhancing crop production, macroalgae can also be considered multifunctional bioinoculants suitable for use in organic farming.

Food waste biochar for sustainable agricultural use: Effects on soil enzymes, microbial community, lettuce, and earthworms

This study investigates the effects of food waste biochar (FWB) on the biological properties of soil, including the microbial community structure, enzyme activities, lettuce growth, and earthworm ecotoxicity. This holistic assessment of various soil organisms was used to assess the potential of FWB as a soil amendment strategy. Pot experiments were carried out over a 28-d period using various FWB concentrations in soil (0–3% w/w). The presence of FWB enhanced the activity of alkaline phosphatase and beta-glucosidase in proportion to the FWB concentration. Similarly, the dehydrogenase activity after 28 d was positively correlated with the FWB concentration. Notably, the application of FWB improved the bacterial diversity in the soil, particularly among hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, while also prompting a shift in the fungal community structure at the class level. Measures of lettuce growth, including total fresh weight, shoot length, and leaf number, also generally improved with the addition of FWB, particularly at higher concentrations. Importantly, FWB did not adversely affect the survival or weight of earthworms. Collectively, these findings suggest that FWB can enhance soil microbial enzyme activity and support plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, potentially leading to increased crop yields. This highlights the potential of FWB as an eco-friendly soil amendment strategy.

Impact of coconut husk biochar on soil physical and biological properties, growth characters and yield of banana

Impact of coconut husk biochar on soil physical and biological properties, growth characters and yield of banana

Enhanced tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) yield and soil biological properties through integrated use of soil, compost, and foliar fertilization under greenhouse conditions

This study investigates the combined effects of standard soil fertilization, composted animal manure, and foliar fertilization on tomato yield, soil nutrient content, and soil biological properties under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted from March to October 2023 using a completely randomized block design with four replications. The treatments included: 1) Control (no fertilization), 2) Standard soil fertilization (30 kg N/da, 8 kg P2O5/da, 40 kg K2O/da), 3) Standard soil fertilization + composted animal manure (2 t/da), 4) Standard soil fertilization + foliar fertilization (1 kg 17-17-17/100 liters of water every 20 days), and 5) Standard soil fertilization + compost + foliar fertilization. Tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Roma) were transplanted into pots filled with clay soil. Throughout the experiment, soil moisture content was maintained at field capacity. Plants were harvested on October 30, 2023, and data on fruit yield, soil nutrient content (NPK), and soil biological properties (microbial biomass C, CO2 production, and dehydrogenase enzyme activity) were recorded. The highest yield (4.5 kg/plant) was observed in the treatment combining standard soil fertilization, composted animal manure, and foliar fertilization, representing a 275% increase compared to the control (1.2 kg/plant). The standard soil fertilization treatment alone yielded 2.8 kg/plant (133.3% increase), while the combination with composted animal manure yielded 3.5 kg/plant (191.7% increase), and with foliar fertilization, 3.9 kg/plant (225% increase). Soil analyses showed significant increases in available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the combined treatments. The highest biological properties were also recorded in the combined treatment.

Impact of petroleum contamination on soil properties in Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan

This study aims to assess the extent of hydrocarbon and heavy metal contamination in soils from specific areas on Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula, including Absheron, Suraxanı, and Baku, and to evaluate the impact of this contamination on soil properties. Soil samples were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and iron, alongside assessments of soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The results revealed significant contamination across all studied areas, particularly in Suraxanı, where TPH levels reached 190 ± 20 mg/kg, exceeding the environmental standard of 100 mg/kg. Similarly, Suraxanı soils exhibited alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals, with aluminum at 30,128 ± 1,500 mg/kg, arsenic at 50.94 ± 2.5 mg/kg, and cadmium at 0.153 ± 0.01 mg/kg, all surpassing acceptable limits. These contaminants severely degraded soil health, evidenced by increased bulk density (1.7 g/cm³ in Suraxanı) and reduced soil porosity. Microbial activity, a key indicator of soil fertility, was also markedly lower in contaminated regions, with the total bacterial count in Suraxanı being less than half that of the uncontaminated area. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive soil management practices and stricter environmental regulations to mitigate contamination's adverse effects and protect both ecosystems and public health in Azerbaijan’s petroleum contaminated areas.

Effect of stabilized organic amendments on biodegradability of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, soil biological properties, and plant biomass

Effect of stabilized organic amendments on biodegradability of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, soil biological properties, and plant biomass

Feasibility of Vis-NIR spectroscopy approach to predict soil biological attributes in arid land soils.

Visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy has recently emerged as an efficient and cost-effective tool for monitoring soil parameters and provides an extensive array of measurements swiftly. This study sought to predict fundamental biological attributes of calcareous soils using spectral reflectance data in the Vis-NIR range through the application of partial least square regression (PLSR) and stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) techniques. The objective was to derive spectrotransfer functions (STFs) to predict selected soil biological attributes. A total of 97 composite samples were collected from three distinct agricultural land uses, i.e., sugarcane, wheat, and date palm, in the Khuzestan Province, Iran. The samples were analyzed using both standard laboratory analysis and proximal sensing approach within the Vis-NIR range (400-2500 nm). Biological status was evaluated by determining soil enzyme activities linked to nutrient cycling including acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), dehydrogenase (DEH), soil microbial respiration (SMR), microbial biomass phosphorus (Pmic), and microbial biomass carbon (Cmic). The results indicated that the developed PLSR models exhibited superior predictive performance in most biological parameters compared to the STFs, although the differences were not significant. Specifically, the STFs acceptably accurately predicted ACP, ALP, DEH, SMR, Pmic, and Cmic with R2val (val = validation dataset) values of 0.68, 0.67, 0.65, 0.65, 0.76, and 0.72, respectively. These findings confirm the potential of Vis-NIR spectroscopy and the effectiveness of the associated STFs as a rapid and reliable technique for assessing biological soil quality. Overall, in the context of predicting soil properties using spectroscopy-based approaches, emphasis must be placed on developing straightforward, easily deployable, and pragmatic STFs.

Assessment of the Ecotoxicity of Thallium According to the Biological Properties of Soils

In laboratory model experiments, the ecotoxicity of Tl was assessed by changing the microbiological, biochemical and phytotoxic properties of soils in the South of Russia: ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozem (Loamic)), seropesks (Eutric Arenosol) and brown forest slightly unsaturated soil (Eutric Cambisol), differing in granulometric composition, pH and organic matter content. As a rule, there was a direct relationship between the concentration of Tl and the degree of deterioration of the studied soil properties. Tl nitrate showed higher ecotoxicity than oxide. The strongest ecotoxic effect of Tl was manifested on chernozem and seropesks 10 days after contamination, on brown forest soil — 30 days later. Restoration of biological properties of soils was observed for 90 days. Ordinary chernozem showed the greatest resistance to Tl contamination, and seropeski showed the least. The results obtained indicate a high ecotoxicity of Tl.

Let the dust settle: Impact of enhanced rock weathering on soil biological, physical, and geochemical fertility

Terrestrial enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a promising carbon dioxide removal technology that consists in applying ground silicate rock such as basalt on agricultural soils. On top of carbon sequestration, ERW has the potential to raise the soil pH and release nutrients, thereby improving soil fertility. Despite these possible co-benefits, concerns such as heavy metal pollution or soil structure damage have also been raised. To our knowledge, these contrasted potential effects of ERW on soil fertility have not yet been simultaneously investigated. This field trial aimed at assessing the impact of ERW on biological, physical, and chemical soil properties in a temperate agricultural context. To do so, three vineyard fields in Switzerland were selected for their distinct geochemical properties and were amended with basaltic rock powder at a dose of 20 tons per hectare (2 kg.m−2). On each field, basaltic rock powder was either applied one year before the sampling campaign, one month before the sampling campaign, or not applied (control) for a total of 27 plots with 9 repetitions of each level. Overall, basaltic rock powder addition had a predominantly positive to neutral effect on soil fertility. Most soil properties showed no significant change either 1 month or 1 year post application. Nevertheless, our study highlighted a significant increase in earthworm abundance (+71 % on average), soil respiration (+50 %) and extractable sodium concentration (+23 %) as early as 1 month post application. The higher soil respiration raises the question of CO2 losses from organic matter mineralization that could limit ERW's efficiency. The increase in sodium raises concerns about a sodification risk potentially damaging soil fertility. These elements now require further investigation before enhanced rock weathering can be considered a viable and secure carbon dioxide removal technology.

Cover crop grazing length impacts on soil health and crop productivity in US Coastal Plain soils

AbstractIntroducing integrated crop‐livestock systems into row crop production promotes income diversification and potential soil health benefits through cover crop grazing on degraded soils of the southeastern United States, but effects of these practices on crop yields and soil health in Coastal Plain soils are not well established. A 4‐year study was performed to evaluate the effects of grazing a multi‐species winter cover crop on soil health and crop yields under mid‐February, mid‐March, and mid‐April cattle removal dates and a non‐grazed control within an annual cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and peanut crop rotation (Arachis hypogaea L.). Chemical soil health indicators (soil organic carbon and permanganate oxidizable carbon), physical soil health indicators (water‐stable aggregates and penetration resistance), biological soil health indicators (microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization), crop yield, and cover crop biomass were evaluated. Cover crop biomass at termination was reduced by 3660, 5250, and 5610 kg ha−1 for the mid‐February, mid‐March, and mid‐April cattle removal treatments compared to the non‐grazed control. No grazing treatment effects were observed for biological soil properties. Soil organic carbon was higher in the non‐grazed treatment than the mid‐April grazing treatment across 0‐ to 30‐cm depth. Penetration resistance across 0‐ to 50‐cm depth and water‐stable aggregates at the 0‐ to 30‐cm depth were both negatively impacted by increased grazing period lengths. Results from this study suggest that longer cover crop grazing periods have little effect on biological and chemical soil health indicators in the short term but can negatively impact some physical soil health indicators.