Abstract

CENTURION, N. et al. Effect of the termination method of cover crops on soil microbiological parameters under two levels of irrigation. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.4, pp.481-490.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.28496.

Cover crops (CC) improve the sustainability of agro-ecosystems. The CC termination method impacts the benefits they provide, and this effect could be modulated by water availability. In a greenhouse experiment we evaluated the soil microbiological response to four CC termination methods: Mowing and Incorporation (INC), Glyphosate (GLY), Roller Crimper (ROL), the combination Glyphosate+Roller Crimper (RGL) and a non-CC control (CON), in combination with two irrigation levels, high and low. At 57 days after maize seeding, soil basal respiration, substrate-induced respiration, microbial biomass carbon, metabolic quotient, microbial quotient, together with total fungi, bacteria and archaea, fungus/bacteria ratio, hyphal length, and mycorrhizal colonization were measured. The high level of irrigation enhanced the differences between the termination methods at microbial level. Residue incorporation was the most beneficial method at both irrigation levels. Roller crimper benefits were greater at high water availability than at low water availability. Although the response of the two methods with glyphosate varied with water level, their response remained similar regardless of the level. Water level modulated the soil microbiological response to the termination methods and should be considered in their choice.

Keywords : cover crop termination; incorporation; roller; glyphosate; water.

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