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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #123361
Title: SOIL MICROBIAL PROPERTIES UNDER PERMANENT GRASS, CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE, AND NO-TILL MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Author
item CARPENTER BOGGS, LYNNE - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item STAHL, PETE - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item Lindstrom, Michael
item SCHUMACHER, TOM - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Soil & Tillage Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2001
Publication Date: 1/1/2003
Citation: CARPENTER BOGGS, L., STAHL, P.D., LINDSTROM, M.J., SCHUMACHER, T.E. SOIL MICROBIAL PROPERTIES UNDER PERMANENT GRASS, CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE, AND NO-TILL MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA. SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH. 2003. V. 71. P. 15-23.

Interpretive Summary: Most arable land in South Dakota has been managed using intensive tillage since the beginning of the twentieth century. Severe soil erosion and USDA conservation requirements have led to widespread adoption of reduced intensity tillage methods in the past 25 years. No-till methods are gaining in interest for their potential to further reduce soil erosion, fuel and labor costs, and equipment wear. The objective of this study was to determine how no-till and the more conventional reduced tillage have affected soil microbial activities and their effects on microbial soil quality, using permanent grass fields as a high-quality standard. Microbial biomass and activities, particularly those related to nitrogen and phosphorus availability were examined. Most measures of microbial activity were similar for the two cropping management systems but greater under permanent grass. The results did show that no-till management in central South Dakota is allowing incremental enhancement of root fungi colonizatio and microbial enzymatic activity allowing crops grown to better resist low available phosphorus as well as other stresses better than crops in conventionally tilled soils. These data will be used by conservation planners and producers to develop no-till management production systems in low rainfall annual cropping areas to effectively reduce soil erosion and maintain or enhance crop productivity.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine how no-till and more conventional tillage have affected microbial parameters of soil quality, using permanent grass fields as a standard of local high-quality soils. Agricultural fields in South Dakota were matched within soil type and location so that each set contained one field managed in permanent grass cover, one managed for annual crops using conventional tillage, and one managed for annual crops using no-till. Microbial biomass and activities were examined. Most measures of microbial activity were similar in the two annual cropped management systems but greater under permanent grass. Soils managed under permanent grass contained approximately 160% more labile carbon and 50% more microbial biomass, and supported approximately 150% greater dehydrogenase enzyme activity and 50% greater microbial respiration than no-till and conventionally tilled soils, which were similar. Acid phosphatase activity was greatest under permanent grass, but similar under both row crop systems. Mycorrhizal colonization of crop roots under permanent grass was greater than under conventional tillage, but not greater than that under no-till. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly different among all management systems, being greatest under grass, moderate under no-till, and least under conventional tillage. No- till management in central South Dakota is allowing incremental enhancement of mycorrhizal colonization and phosphatase activity. Permanent grass cover provides better conditions for mycorrhizal colonization and most microbial activities than either conventionally tilled or no-till crop management. Crops grown in a no-till system may be expected to resist low available P as well as other stresses better than crops in conventionally tilled soils.