Abstract
Purpose
Soil physico-chemical properties, biomass production, and root density are considered key factors indicating soil health in an agroecosystem. The soil physico-chemical changes and plant growth (e.g., shoot biomass production and root density) in a 6-year cultivation of plant species used as green manure in a sandy soil from Tropical ecosystem, North-eastern Brazil, were investigated between July and December 2019.
Material and methods
We characterized soil physical and chemical properties, shoot biomass production, and root density under ten plant species used as green manure: Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. cv. Basilisk, Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC, Crotalaria juncea L., Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don, Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC, Neonotonia wightii (Wight & Arn.) J.A. Lackey, Pennisetum glaucum L., and Stilozobium aterrimum Piper and Tracy.
Results and discussion
The highest values of soil pH, exchangeable cations, CEC, and soil available water capacity were found on the plots where Poaceae plants were cultivated, whereas for H++Al3+, C.E.C., soil available water, and soil available water capacity were found on the plots where Fabaceae plants were cultivated. On the plots where C. ensiformis and N. wightii were cultivated, we found the highest shoot dry biomass and root density, respectively. The results highlight the importance to consider plant species from both Poaceae and Fabaceae family used as green manure as soil conditioner (by promoting soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and hydraulic properties into plant root zone), and thus creating a positive plant-soil feedback.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that (1) a consecutive green manure practice without any input of fertilizers after 6 years changed positively both soil physical and chemical properties, and improve plant growth (e.g., shoot dry biomass and root density) in tropical savanna climate conditions; and (2) by altering soil fertility, both Poaceae and Fabaceae plants used as green manure may create a sustainable cycle into the soil profile thus promoting soil health.
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We declare that all the authors made substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the data. All the authors participate in drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content; and finally, the authors gave final approval of the version to be submitted to Journal of Soil and Sediments through transfer desk service.
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dos Santos Nascimento, G., de Souza, T.A.F., da Silva, L.J.R. et al. Soil physico-chemical properties, biomass production, and root density in a green manure farming system from tropical ecosystem, North-eastern Brazil. J Soils Sediments 21, 2203–2211 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02924-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02924-z