ARS | Publication request: MICROBIAL DYNAMICS IN CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC MANAGED SYSTEMS

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 6, 2005
Publication Date: November 6, 2005
Citation: Lachnicht Weyers, S.L., Archer, D.W., Johnson, J.M., Wilts, A.R., Barbour, N.W., Eklund, J.J. 2005. Microbial dynamics in conventional and organic managed systems [abstract][CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. Nov. 6-10, 2005, Salt Lake City, UT.

Technical Abstract: A large-scale systems study on conventional and organic management systems was established. Two year vs. four year crop rotations (corn-soybean, corn-soybean-wheat-alfalfa), inorganic vs. organic fertilizer sources, and conventional vs. strip tillage management practices were compared. Soil samples to a 10-cm depth were taken in the spring over four years from plot establishment. Microbial biomass C and N was determined by chloroform fumigation-direct extraction. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were extracted from freeze-dried soil and exhibited mostly differences in quantity rather than quality. Microbial C changed yearly, with little treatment effects. Microbial N showed differences related to crop rotation. Minimal differences among treatments were expected for the initial years of the study.