Application of Residue, Inorganic Fertilizer and Lime Affect Phosphorus Solubilizing Microorganisms and Microbial Biomass under Different Tillage and Cropping Systems in a Ferralsol
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Date
2021
Authors
Bolo, Peter
Kihara, Job
Mucheru-Muna, Monicah
Njeru, Ezekiel Mugendi
Kinyua, Michael
Sommer, Rolf
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Phosphorus is a critical nutrient for plant growth. Several agronomic practices have been promoted to improve
soil fertility and crop productivity in Western Kenya. Yet, despite their benefits, a dearth of knowledge exists on
their long-term effects on soil microbial biomass and phosphorus solubilizing microbial species (PSMs) abundance especially in this region. In a long-term (15 years) agronomic field trial, we selected 8 treatments that
allowed for evaluation of 1) Effect of tillage in a maize-soybean rotation with fertilization and residue retention;
2) Effect of residue retention in a maize-soybean rotation with fertilization under conservation tillage; 3) Effect of
N and P fertilization in a maize-soybean rotation with conventional tillage; 4) Effect of liming in a maize-soybean
intercropping with conventional tillage; and 5) Effect of maize-soybean rotation versus intercropping under
conservation tillage on microbial biomass and PSMs abundance. The study was conducted in a long-term conservation agriculture experiment (30 seasons) in a Ferralsol in Western Kenya in 2016 and 2017. Reduced tillage
significantly (P < 0.05) increased microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and abundance of different PSMs relative
to conventional tillage, though the results were not consistent for some species. Residue addition significantly
increased MBP and abundance of different PSMs compared to systems without residue addition. Liming significantly reduced PSMs abundance in 2016, though this was inconsistent for 2017. In 2017, no effect of liming on
soil pH was found. Fertiliser addition significantly increased PSMs abundance in 2016, but this was also
inconsistent for 2017. Some PSMs strains were significantly more abundant in maize and soybean intercropping
system compared to rotation, and vice versa. Our study demonstrated that not only the agronomic inputs applied
but also tillage and cropping systems employed can variably affect the soil microbial populations.
Description
Article
Keywords
Organic residue, Reduced tillage, Inorganic fertiliser, Bacteria, Fungi, Rotation, Intercropping
Citation
Bolo, P., Kihara, J., Mucheru-Muna, M., Njeru, E. M., Kinyua, M., & Sommer, R. (2021). Application of residue, inorganic fertilizer and lime affect phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms and microbial biomass under different tillage and cropping systems in a Ferralsol. Geoderma, 390, 114962.