Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa

The Argentine Pampa is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, but sole crop management practices have led to soil degradation and losses of soil organic matter. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in 2007 and in 2012...

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Main Authors: Oelbermann, Maren, Regehr, Alison, Echarte, Laura
Format: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352009415000036
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/4827
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2015.01.002
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author Oelbermann, Maren
Regehr, Alison
Echarte, Laura
author_browse Echarte, Laura
Oelbermann, Maren
Regehr, Alison
author_facet Oelbermann, Maren
Regehr, Alison
Echarte, Laura
author_sort Oelbermann, Maren
collection INTA Digital
description The Argentine Pampa is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, but sole crop management practices have led to soil degradation and losses of soil organic matter. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in 2007 and in 2012 in two intercrop systems [1:2 intercrop (one row of maize (Zea mays L.) and two rows of soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.)) and 2:3 intercrop (two rows of maize and three rows of soybean)], and in a maize and soybean sole crop. Results showed that C and N input from crop residues was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the maize sole crop, followed by the intercrops and the soybean sole crop. The land equivalent ratio (LER), based on crop biomass, was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the 2:3 intercrop. Soil physical and chemical characteristics (bulk density, pH, SOC and N, C/N ratio) were not significantly (P < 0.05) different among treatments and were significantly greater in 2012, except for pH, at all depths. Gross SOC turnover time was significantly longer (P < 0.05) in 2012 compared to 2007 for all treatments and depths, except in the maize sole crop. Soil microbial biomass (SMB) C and N were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the 2:3 intercrop in both years. To a 40 cm depth, SMB-C turnover time (SMB-CT) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the soybean sole crop followed by the intercrops and the maize sole crop in 2007, whereas in 2012, SMB-CT was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the intercrops followed by the soybean and the maize sole crops. The soil light fraction N (LF-N) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the maize sole crop in both years. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) for LF-C. Our results demonstrated that cereal–legume intercropping is a more sustainable agroecosystem land management practice in the Argentine Pampa, with respect to soil C and N transformations, compared to sole cropping.
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spelling INTA48272019-04-05T13:29:37Z Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa Oelbermann, Maren Regehr, Alison Echarte, Laura Suelo Cultivo Intercalado Cereales Leguminosas Residuos de Cosechas Carbono Orgánico del Suelo Soil Intercropping Cereals Legumes Crop Residues Soil Organic Carbon Región Pampeana The Argentine Pampa is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, but sole crop management practices have led to soil degradation and losses of soil organic matter. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in 2007 and in 2012 in two intercrop systems [1:2 intercrop (one row of maize (Zea mays L.) and two rows of soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.)) and 2:3 intercrop (two rows of maize and three rows of soybean)], and in a maize and soybean sole crop. Results showed that C and N input from crop residues was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the maize sole crop, followed by the intercrops and the soybean sole crop. The land equivalent ratio (LER), based on crop biomass, was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the 2:3 intercrop. Soil physical and chemical characteristics (bulk density, pH, SOC and N, C/N ratio) were not significantly (P < 0.05) different among treatments and were significantly greater in 2012, except for pH, at all depths. Gross SOC turnover time was significantly longer (P < 0.05) in 2012 compared to 2007 for all treatments and depths, except in the maize sole crop. Soil microbial biomass (SMB) C and N were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the 2:3 intercrop in both years. To a 40 cm depth, SMB-C turnover time (SMB-CT) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the soybean sole crop followed by the intercrops and the maize sole crop in 2007, whereas in 2012, SMB-CT was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the intercrops followed by the soybean and the maize sole crops. The soil light fraction N (LF-N) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the maize sole crop in both years. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) for LF-C. Our results demonstrated that cereal–legume intercropping is a more sustainable agroecosystem land management practice in the Argentine Pampa, with respect to soil C and N transformations, compared to sole cropping. EEA Balcarce Fil: Oelbermann, Maren. University of Waterloo. Department of Environment and Resource Studies; Canadá Fil: Regehr, Alison. University of Waterloo. Department of Environment and Resource Studies; Canadá Fil: Echarte, Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina 2019-04-05T13:27:14Z 2019-04-05T13:27:14Z 2015-04 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352009415000036 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/4827 2352-0094 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2015.01.002 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Elsevier Geoderma Regional 4 : 100-107 (April 2015)
spellingShingle Suelo
Cultivo Intercalado
Cereales
Leguminosas
Residuos de Cosechas
Carbono Orgánico del Suelo
Soil
Intercropping
Cereals
Legumes
Crop Residues
Soil Organic Carbon
Región Pampeana
Oelbermann, Maren
Regehr, Alison
Echarte, Laura
Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa
title Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa
title_full Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa
title_fullStr Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa
title_full_unstemmed Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa
title_short Changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal–legume intercropping in the Southern Pampa
title_sort changes in soil characteristics after six seasons of cereal legume intercropping in the southern pampa
topic Suelo
Cultivo Intercalado
Cereales
Leguminosas
Residuos de Cosechas
Carbono Orgánico del Suelo
Soil
Intercropping
Cereals
Legumes
Crop Residues
Soil Organic Carbon
Región Pampeana
url https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352009415000036
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/4827
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2015.01.002
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