Abstract

ARAUJO, Tais dos S. et al. Biomass and microbial activity in soil cultivated with maize intercropped with soil cover legumes. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2019, vol.42, n.2, pp.51-60. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.15433.

Soil organic carbon and microbial biomass activity have been used as indicators of soil quality in agroecosystems, since they are sensitive to reflect changes caused by different soil management systems. This study evaluated changes in microbial biomass and its activity in soil under cultivation of maize intercropped with legumes. The experimental design was randomized blocks, factorial arrangement (6 x 2), with four replications. Treatments consisted of arrangements of maize intercropped with legumes: maize monoculture; maize intercropped with jack bean; with crotalaria; with velvet bean; pigeon pea and cowpea, associated to two sampling depths (0.0-0.10 m and 0.10-0.20 m). Variables evaluated included: microbial biomass carbon (C-BMS), basal respiration (C-CO₂), metabolic quotient (qCO₂), microbial quotient (qMIC) and soil organic matter (MOS). In the superficial layer, the soil cover influenced all analyzed variables. Corn intercropped with crotalaria and pigeon pea provided microbial biomass carbon and microbial quotient similar to soil in the natural condition. The system with monoculture maize showed high metabolic quotient, assuming stress conditions. The carbon of soil microbial biomass (C-BMS) shows better quality in the depth of 0.0-10 cm.

Keywords : intercropping; biochemical indicators; soil organic matter; microbial quotient.

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