ARS | Publication request: MICROBIOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF SOIL QUALITY DURING AMELIORATION PROCESSES OF ERODIBLE SOILS

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 20, 2002
Publication Date: December 31, 2002
Citation: Paszkowski, W.L., Ksiezniak, A., Wroblewska, B.R., Dexter, A.R., Czyz, E., Tomaszewska, J., Kennedy, A.C., Kremer, R.J. 2002. MICROBIOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF SOIL QUALITY DURING AMELIORATION PROCESSES OF ERODIBLE SOILS. Meeting Proceedings.

Technical Abstract: The effect of agricultural management practices and inoculation of select bacterial strains on microbial and physio-chemical properties of erodible soils were investigated in the field. We tested the effects of non-fluorescent Pseudomonas and the addition of lime or green manures (triticale and lupinus) on the yield and nutrient composition of alfalfa, winter wheat and the physical properties of erodible soil. Soil samples for microbiological and physicochemical analyses were taken from 10 cm depth in the experimental field in April and October of each year. Changes in microbial, physical and chemical indicators of soil quality occurring over time were measured to evaluate effects of lime, green manures (triticale and lupinus), and inoculation on soil quality attributes. Inoculation of seed with Pseudomonas sp. strain did not affect the yields of alfalfa and winter wheat or soil characteristics as compared to the control. Liming of erodible soil with calcium carbonate at a rate of 2 t/ha and amendment with green manures changed all microbial and physico-chemical parameters measured. The search for new methods of protection for erodible soils is a high priority both in the United States and in Poland. Our research using biological methods is an alternative or complementary approach to conventional agricultural and or amelioration methods and can be used to develop a sustainable technology to protect erodible soils.