Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use crop rotationBiodiversity: Four randomized, replicated trials from Canada, Portugal and Zambia measured the effect of including legumes in crop rotations and found the number of microbes and diversity of different soil animals increased. Erosion: One randomized, replicated trial from Canada found that including forage crops in crop rotations reduced rainwater runoff and soil loss, and one replicated trial from Syria showed that including legumes in rotation increased water infiltration (movement of water into the soil). Soil organic carbon: Four studies from Australia, Canada, and Denmark (including two controlled replicated trials and one replicated site comparison study), found increased soil organic carbon under crop rotation, particularly when some legumes were included. Soil organic matter: Three of five replicated trials from Canada, Portugal and Syria (one also randomized, one also controlled and randomized), and one trial from the Philippines found increased soil organic matter, particularly when legumes were included in the rotation. One study found lower soil organic matter levels when longer crop rotations were used. One randomized, replicated study found no effect on soil particle size. Soils covered: Clay, clay-loam, fine clay, loam, loam/silt loam, sandy clay, sandy loam, silty clay, silty loam. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F857https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F857Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:22:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use alley croppingA controlled, randomized, replicated study from Canada found that intercropping with trees resulted in a higher diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. SOIL TYPES COVERED: sandy-loam. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F903https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F903Wed, 02 Oct 2013 08:57:33 +0100