Cover crops reduce environmental impact by improving soil biological properties and crop yield

 

Cover crops (CC) represent a potential practice to reduce the use of herbicides and the impact on the environment. In addition to controlling weeds and increasing crop yields, they allow to increase microbial biomass and activity through the addition of crop residues. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of the inclusion of CC and herbicide application on microbial activity, labile organic matter and crop yield. The assay was done under a soybean - corn rotation system without tillage. It was made on a split plot design with three replicates, where the main factor was the previous crop of the summer crop, a cover crop, and bare fallow (B). The secondary factor was the post-emergence chemical control of weeds during the summer crop, with and without glyphosate applications. The soil sampling was carried out at 10 cm depth during four consecutive crop seasons (2013/2014, 2015/2016; 2016/2017 and 2017/2018), until 15 days after applying the last dose of glyphosate. The biological variables Respiration (R); Fluorescein diacetate (FDA), Acid Phosphatase (AF); and chemical soil variables, particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), Anaerobic nitrogen (AnN), and soybean and corn yields were measured. In addition, the environmental impact index for each management was calculated. In general, the inclusion of CC increased R, 51% the FDA and 21% AF; and the applications of herbicide decreased contents of POC by 36%, PON 40% and AnN by 25% in one crop seasons apparently influenced by the temperatures and rainfall. Soybean and corn yields were higher with applications, ardless of the previous crop. However, the plots with CC without herbicide application exceeded the levels of B without application by 30%. The CC favored the biological properties of the soil without modify crops yields, reducing the environmental risk 64% even making applications. On the other hand, the applications of herbicide affected the labile soil organic matter fractions increasing the environmental risk respect to the management without applications. From the evaluated soil conditions, CC used in agricultural systems to promote soil biological properties and crop yields is recommended. This practice reduces environmental impact even in combination with herbicide application.

Triticale, Rye, Vetch, Glyphosate

Boccolini M.F., C.R. Cazorla, J.A. Galantini, P.A. Belluccini, T. Baigorria. 2019. Cultivos de cobertura disminuyen el impacto ambiental mejorando propiedades biológicas del suelo y el rendimiento de los cultivos. RIA (INTA) 45(3) 412-425.

Descargar     (en Español)         /         Download     (in Spanish)

ResearchGate     Journal      Google Drive