Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow

Novel crop rotation is an important factor influencing the composition of soil microorganisms. However, the effect of introducing oilseed and cover crops (CCs) into monoculture durum rotations on soil microbial communities is not clear in the Northern Great Plains. The objective of this study was to...

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Main Authors: Sadikshya R. Dangi, Brett L. Allen, Jay D. Jabro, Tatyana A. Rand, Joshua W. Campbell, Rosalie B. Calderon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/2050
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author Sadikshya R. Dangi
Brett L. Allen
Jay D. Jabro
Tatyana A. Rand
Joshua W. Campbell
Rosalie B. Calderon
author_facet Sadikshya R. Dangi
Brett L. Allen
Jay D. Jabro
Tatyana A. Rand
Joshua W. Campbell
Rosalie B. Calderon
author_sort Sadikshya R. Dangi
collection DOAJ
description Novel crop rotation is an important factor influencing the composition of soil microorganisms. However, the effect of introducing oilseed and cover crops (CCs) into monoculture durum rotations on soil microbial communities is not clear in the Northern Great Plains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2-year durum (<i>Triticum durum</i> D.) rotations with Ethiopian mustard (<i>Brassica carinata</i> A.) or camelina (<i>Camelina sativa</i> L.) or a 10-species forage/CC mix planted to replace fallow rotations with wheat on soil microorganisms. This study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications in a no-tillage system. The results showed that total bacterial proportion was significantly higher in durum following fallow and camelina compared to durum following CC and carinata. Total fungal proportion was significantly higher in durum following CC compared to durum following oilseed crops and fallow. The fungal-to-bacterial ratio was significantly higher in durum following CC compared to durum following camelina and fallow. The crop species, soil pH and highly variable rainfall influenced the microbial community dynamics. The abundance of specific microbial groups due to crop-related changes might play a key role in the yield of subsequent crops and soil biological health. This study provides valuable insights into the use of CC mix and oilseeds as an alternative crop for fallow in a wheat–fallow system under dryland farming conditions. Future work is required to elucidate the biological mechanisms and functions of the soil microbial communities in the preceding and subsequent crop relative to soil health and crop productivity.
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spelling doaj-art-81ebd4380fd44412a7bbc7a7c13993e52025-08-20T01:56:09ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-09-01149205010.3390/agronomy14092050Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and FallowSadikshya R. Dangi0Brett L. Allen1Jay D. Jabro2Tatyana A. Rand3Joshua W. Campbell4Rosalie B. Calderon5Agricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1500 N Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USAAgricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1500 N Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USAAgricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1500 N Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USAAgricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1500 N Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USAAgricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1500 N Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USAAgricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, 1500 N Central Avenue, Sidney, MT 59270, USANovel crop rotation is an important factor influencing the composition of soil microorganisms. However, the effect of introducing oilseed and cover crops (CCs) into monoculture durum rotations on soil microbial communities is not clear in the Northern Great Plains. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2-year durum (<i>Triticum durum</i> D.) rotations with Ethiopian mustard (<i>Brassica carinata</i> A.) or camelina (<i>Camelina sativa</i> L.) or a 10-species forage/CC mix planted to replace fallow rotations with wheat on soil microorganisms. This study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications in a no-tillage system. The results showed that total bacterial proportion was significantly higher in durum following fallow and camelina compared to durum following CC and carinata. Total fungal proportion was significantly higher in durum following CC compared to durum following oilseed crops and fallow. The fungal-to-bacterial ratio was significantly higher in durum following CC compared to durum following camelina and fallow. The crop species, soil pH and highly variable rainfall influenced the microbial community dynamics. The abundance of specific microbial groups due to crop-related changes might play a key role in the yield of subsequent crops and soil biological health. This study provides valuable insights into the use of CC mix and oilseeds as an alternative crop for fallow in a wheat–fallow system under dryland farming conditions. Future work is required to elucidate the biological mechanisms and functions of the soil microbial communities in the preceding and subsequent crop relative to soil health and crop productivity.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/2050cover cropcrop rotationdurummicrobial communitiesoilseed crop
spellingShingle Sadikshya R. Dangi
Brett L. Allen
Jay D. Jabro
Tatyana A. Rand
Joshua W. Campbell
Rosalie B. Calderon
Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow
Agronomy
cover crop
crop rotation
durum
microbial communities
oilseed crop
title Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow
title_full Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow
title_fullStr Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow
title_full_unstemmed Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow
title_short Soil Microbial Properties of Durum Grown after Camelina, Carinata, Cover Crops, and Fallow
title_sort soil microbial properties of durum grown after camelina carinata cover crops and fallow
topic cover crop
crop rotation
durum
microbial communities
oilseed crop
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/2050
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