Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization

In organic farming, crop fertilization is largely based on the decomposition of organic matter and biological fixation of nutrients. It is therefore necessary to develop studies conducted to know and understand the soil biological processes for the natural nutrient supplies. The effect of three fert...

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Main Authors: Marta M. Moreno, Carmen Moreno, Carlos Lacasta, Ramón Meco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Applied and Environmental Soil Science
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/826236
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author Marta M. Moreno
Carmen Moreno
Carlos Lacasta
Ramón Meco
author_facet Marta M. Moreno
Carmen Moreno
Carlos Lacasta
Ramón Meco
author_sort Marta M. Moreno
collection DOAJ
description In organic farming, crop fertilization is largely based on the decomposition of organic matter and biological fixation of nutrients. It is therefore necessary to develop studies conducted to know and understand the soil biological processes for the natural nutrient supplies. The effect of three fertilizer managements (chemical with synthetic fertilizers, organic with 2500 kg compost ha−1, and no fertilizer) in a rainfed crop rotation (durum wheat-fallow-barley-vetch as green manure) on different soil biochemical parameters in semi-arid conditions was investigated. Soil organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, organic matter mineralization, CO2 production-to-ATP ratio, and NO3-N content were analysed. Fertilization was only applied to cereals. The results showed the scarce effect of the organic fertilization on soil quality, which resulted more dependent on weather conditions. Only soil organic matter and NO3-N were affected by fertilization (significantly higher in the inorganic treatment, 1.28 g 100 g−1 and 17.3 ppm, resp.). Soil organic matter was maintained throughout the study period by the inclusion of a legume in the cropping system and the burying of crop residues. In fallow, soil microbial biomass carbon increased considerably (816 ng g−1), and NO3-N at the end of this period was around 35 ppm, equivalent to 100 kg N ha−1.
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spelling doaj-art-dcccdbb734644d859c8df6f24d00ea4d2025-08-20T02:21:38ZengWileyApplied and Environmental Soil Science1687-76671687-76752012-01-01201210.1155/2012/826236826236Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral FertilizationMarta M. Moreno0Carmen Moreno1Carlos Lacasta2Ramón Meco3E. Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Ronda de Calatrava 7, 13071 Ciudad Real, SpainE. Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Ronda de Calatrava 7, 13071 Ciudad Real, SpainCSIC, Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, Finca Experimental “La Higueruela”, Santa Olalla, 45530 Toledo, SpainServicio de Investigación Agraria, Consejería de Agricultura y Medio Ambiente de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Pintor Matías Moreno 4, 45071 Toledo, SpainIn organic farming, crop fertilization is largely based on the decomposition of organic matter and biological fixation of nutrients. It is therefore necessary to develop studies conducted to know and understand the soil biological processes for the natural nutrient supplies. The effect of three fertilizer managements (chemical with synthetic fertilizers, organic with 2500 kg compost ha−1, and no fertilizer) in a rainfed crop rotation (durum wheat-fallow-barley-vetch as green manure) on different soil biochemical parameters in semi-arid conditions was investigated. Soil organic matter, microbial biomass carbon, organic matter mineralization, CO2 production-to-ATP ratio, and NO3-N content were analysed. Fertilization was only applied to cereals. The results showed the scarce effect of the organic fertilization on soil quality, which resulted more dependent on weather conditions. Only soil organic matter and NO3-N were affected by fertilization (significantly higher in the inorganic treatment, 1.28 g 100 g−1 and 17.3 ppm, resp.). Soil organic matter was maintained throughout the study period by the inclusion of a legume in the cropping system and the burying of crop residues. In fallow, soil microbial biomass carbon increased considerably (816 ng g−1), and NO3-N at the end of this period was around 35 ppm, equivalent to 100 kg N ha−1.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/826236
spellingShingle Marta M. Moreno
Carmen Moreno
Carlos Lacasta
Ramón Meco
Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization
Applied and Environmental Soil Science
title Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization
title_full Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization
title_fullStr Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization
title_full_unstemmed Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization
title_short Evolution of Soil Biochemical Parameters in Rainfed Crops: Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilization
title_sort evolution of soil biochemical parameters in rainfed crops effect of organic and mineral fertilization
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/826236
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AT ramonmeco evolutionofsoilbiochemicalparametersinrainfedcropseffectoforganicandmineralfertilization