Cover Crops in the Production System

Cover crops in the Southeastern region of Buenos Aires, Argentina: effects on organic matter physical fractions and nutrient availability

In the Southeastern region of Buenos Aires province, soybean monoculture has led to a decline in soil organic matter (SOM) levels in soil, mostly the labile fractions. The reduction of SOM has a negative impact on the soil environment. Cover crops (CC) constitute an alternative to maintain or improve SOM levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oat as CC on (a) the SOM dynamics and (b) the availability of macro- and micronutrients in a representative soil of the Southeastern region of Buenos Aires province. Total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TON), as well as their labile and mineral-associated fractions, and macro- and micronutrient availability were determined. The treatments were soybean monoculture with and without oat as cover crop. The increases in SOC and TON were 22.7% and 11%, respectively, when CC was included to the soybean monoculture. These increases were observed mostly in the labile fractions, with increases of 61.3 and 38.7% for the particulate coarse organic carbon (PCOf) and particulate fine organic carbon (PCOf), respectively, and 79.2% for the particulate coarse organic nitrogen (NOPg). Regarding the nutrients, an increase of 47.6% was observed in manganese (Mn) in the first 5 cm of soil depth, and a decrease in phosphorous (P) availability in the same soil layer due to its consumption and retention by CC. It can be conclude that CC presented a surface soil effect on the dynamic of SOM, increasing C, N, and available Mn contents, but decreasing soil P availability

Oat, Soybean monoculture, Particulate organic carbon and nitrogen

Beltrán M.J., H. Sainz Rozas, J.A. Galantini, R.I. Romaniuk, P. Barbieri. 2018. Cover crops in the Southeastern region of Buenos Aires, Argentina: effects on organic matter physical fractions and nutrient availability. Environmental Earth Sciences 77:428. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-018-7606-0.

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Texture influence on soil phosphorus content and distribution in semiarid Pampean grasslands

Soil texture can modify the content and dynamic of soil phosphorus (P). The objective of this work was to study the P form contents associated to physical fractionation of SOM in soils with different texture. Soil samples (0-0.15 m) were obtained from 27 sites with different texture in a twenty five years old pasture located in the Experimental Station of Bordenave, Argentina (63°01’20”W; 37°51’55”S). Soil particle size fractions were obtained by wet sieving separating the fine (0-100 µm) and coarse (100-2000 µm) fractions. Soil organic matter was determined in each fraction, mineral associated (MOM) and particulate organic matter (POM), respectively. Extractable (Pe), organic (Po), inorganic (Pi) and total extractable (Pt) phosphorus was determined and occluded P (Pocl) was calculated as the difference [Pt - (Po+Pi)] in the whole soil and the particles fractions. In these soils, texture determines P reserves and the equilibrium of its different forms. Available P forms (estimated by Pe) was related to the inorganic form present the fine fraction of the soil. Phosphorus content in its different forms is closely associated with soil fractions. Soils with higher content of fine fraction present the coarse fraction enriched in Po. All the studied P forms were higher in fine textured soils than in coarse ones, however, P forms in particle size fractions showed different tendencies. In coarse textured soils, Po in MOM was lower than fine textured ones. However, P content in MOM was richer and in POM was poorer than in fine textured soils. The available P, estimated with Pe content, comes predominantly from the inorganic pool and it is associated to the fine fraction of the soil. Phosphorus content in its different forms is closely associated with soil size fractions. It was proposed a conceptual model in which size fractionation of SOM and P forms determination can be represented to a better understanding of soil P equilibriums.

Suñer L., Galantini J.A. 2015. Texture influence on soil phosphorus content and distribution in semiarid Pampean grasslands. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science (ISSN: 2320-7035) Vol.: 7, Issue: 2 109-120, no. IJPSS.2015.136, 

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