Study

Soil microbial activity as influenced by compaction and straw mulching

  • Published source details Siczek a. & Frąc M. (2012) Soil microbial activity as influenced by compaction and straw mulching. International Agrophysics, 26, 65-69.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Control traffic and traffic timing

Action Link
Soil Fertility

Add mulch to crops

Action Link
Soil Fertility
  1. Control traffic and traffic timing

    A randomized, replicated experiment in 2008 on silty soils in Lublin, Poland (Siczek & Frąc 2012) found fewer bacteria (1,700 million colonies/kg) and lower bacterial activity in strongly compacted soil, but higher numbers and activity in moderately compacted soil (4,650 million colonies/kg) compared to an uncompacted treatment (2,600 million colonies/kg). Bulk density was 22.5% and 15.5% higher in the strongly and moderately compacted soil respectively, compared to uncompacted soil (1.3 Mg/m3). There were three compaction treatments in a soybean Glycine max crop obtained using a wheel tractor: strongly (5 passes), moderately (3 passes) and uncompacted (0 passes) soil. There were six replicates, total area for each compaction was not specified. Within each treatment were 1.8 x 2.1 m plots with no mulch, or mulched with straw. Fertilizer was applied uniformly to all plots at 54-70-80 kg/ha NPK. Soil was sampled three times during crop development from the centre of the soybean rows. Microbial parameters including bacterial number and enzyme activities were measured.

     

  2. Add mulch to crops

    A randomized, replicated experiment in 2008 on silty soils in Lublin, Poland (Siczek & Frąc 2012) found that adding a straw mulch increased bacteria counts (3.5 billion colonies/kg) and activity compared to soil with no mulch (2.4 billion colonies/kg). There were three compaction treatments in a soybean Glycine max crop obtained using a wheel tractor: strongly compacted (5 passes); moderately compacted (3 passes); and uncompacted (0 passes) soil. There were six replicates. Within each treatment were 1.8 x 2.1 m plots with either no mulch or a straw mulch. Fertilizer was applied uniformly to all plots at 54-70-80 kg/ha NPK. Bacterial numbers and enzyme activities were measured in soil samples taken three times during crop development from the centre of the soybean rows.

     

     

     

Output references
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