Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System
Determination of biologically active components of the soil organic matter, such as soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) can be used as indicators for variations in soil productivity due to changes in soil management. Soil agronomic management practices bring about changes in the physi...
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doaj-edc252e7fe3d4de2ae5e6982f091b2ba2021-04-16T12:55:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2021-04-01510.3389/fsufs.2021.614527614527Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping SystemMethuselah Mang'erere Nyamwange0Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru1Monicah Mucheru-Muna2Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Environmental Sciences and Education, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaDetermination of biologically active components of the soil organic matter, such as soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) can be used as indicators for variations in soil productivity due to changes in soil management. Soil agronomic management practices bring about changes in the physical and chemical properties of the soil, resulting in variations in soil microbial biomass and microbial diversity. The effects of tillage, mulch and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial biomass C and N, microbial populations and bacterial diversity were determined from the treatment combinations which had been applied for 5 years in Central Kenyan Highlands. The test crop used was maize (Zea mays L.). The study involved conventional and minimum tillage systems, mulching and inorganic fertilizers (120 kg N/ha). Tillage (P < 0.001), mulch (P < 0.001), and fertilizer (P = 0.009) significantly affected soil microbial biomass C and N whereby minimum tillage and mulch increased soil microbial biomass C and N. Interestingly, minimum tillage and mulch recorded the highest bacteria and fungi CFUs compared to conventional tillage and inorganic fertilizers. Only fertilizer and mulch (P < 0.001) had significant effect on actinobacteria CFUs. Amplified ribosomal DNA analysis (ARDRA) showed that the highest genetic distance of 0.611 was recorded between treatments conventional tillage + no mulch + no NPK fertilizer and conventional tillage + no mulch + NPK fertilizer. The results demonstrate that minimum tillage and mulching are attractive soil agronomic management practices since they increase soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in agricultural soils.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.614527/fullsoil microbial biomass C and Nbacteriafungiactinobacteriaamplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Methuselah Mang'erere Nyamwange Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru Monicah Mucheru-Muna |
spellingShingle |
Methuselah Mang'erere Nyamwange Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru Monicah Mucheru-Muna Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems soil microbial biomass C and N bacteria fungi actinobacteria amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis |
author_facet |
Methuselah Mang'erere Nyamwange Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru Monicah Mucheru-Muna |
author_sort |
Methuselah Mang'erere Nyamwange |
title |
Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System |
title_short |
Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System |
title_full |
Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System |
title_fullStr |
Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System |
title_full_unstemmed |
Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System |
title_sort |
tillage, mulching and nitrogen fertilization differentially affects soil microbial biomass, microbial populations and bacterial diversity in a maize cropping system |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
issn |
2571-581X |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Determination of biologically active components of the soil organic matter, such as soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) can be used as indicators for variations in soil productivity due to changes in soil management. Soil agronomic management practices bring about changes in the physical and chemical properties of the soil, resulting in variations in soil microbial biomass and microbial diversity. The effects of tillage, mulch and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial biomass C and N, microbial populations and bacterial diversity were determined from the treatment combinations which had been applied for 5 years in Central Kenyan Highlands. The test crop used was maize (Zea mays L.). The study involved conventional and minimum tillage systems, mulching and inorganic fertilizers (120 kg N/ha). Tillage (P < 0.001), mulch (P < 0.001), and fertilizer (P = 0.009) significantly affected soil microbial biomass C and N whereby minimum tillage and mulch increased soil microbial biomass C and N. Interestingly, minimum tillage and mulch recorded the highest bacteria and fungi CFUs compared to conventional tillage and inorganic fertilizers. Only fertilizer and mulch (P < 0.001) had significant effect on actinobacteria CFUs. Amplified ribosomal DNA analysis (ARDRA) showed that the highest genetic distance of 0.611 was recorded between treatments conventional tillage + no mulch + no NPK fertilizer and conventional tillage + no mulch + NPK fertilizer. The results demonstrate that minimum tillage and mulching are attractive soil agronomic management practices since they increase soil microbial biomass and bacterial diversity in agricultural soils. |
topic |
soil microbial biomass C and N bacteria fungi actinobacteria amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.614527/full |
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