『Abstract
Use of catch crops as a green manure may increase soil fertility
due to improved soil organic matter content as well as soil biological
activities. We conducted a 3-year field experiment to evaluate
the impact of catch crops [oilseed radish (OD) (Raphanus sativus
L.) and field pea (FP) (Pisum sativum L.)] and inorganic
N fertilization at 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg N ha-1 year-1
on the activities of soil enzymes (β-glucosidase - GLU, nitrate
reductase - NR, urease - UR, arginine deaminase - ADA, acid and
alkaline phosphatase - PAC and PAL)
and chemical properties of typical Alfisol. Each year,
catch crops were sown at the beginning of August and ploughed
three months later in 2005, 2006 and 2997. Ten the main crop -
spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - was grown in 2006,
2007 and 2008. Soil samples were taken twice a year, in spring
before spring wheat sowing (March or April) and in summer, immediately
after the harvest. In March (April 2006) organic carbon (CORG) and available potassium (KAVAIL)
did not show significant changes as influenced by catch crops.
Total nitrogen (NTOT) content was significantly
lower in control soil than in catch crop treatments, while the
concentration of available P (PAVAIL) behaved
in the opposite way. N fertilization rates did not significantly
affect the chemical properties of soil without catch crops (C)
(with the exception of MgAVAIL concentration).
In contrast, the chemical properties did not show clear tendencies
depending on N fertilization in soil with field pea or oilseed
radish. Significantly higher soil enzymatic activities were observed
in the catch crops treatment than in the control (C). The studied
enzymes also showed a significantly of ADA and PAL
activities in August and GLU activity in March (April 2006). Both
PAC and PAL as well
as GLU, ADA and NR activities were always higher in August than
in \march (April 2006), while UR (with the exception of 2007)
behaved in a reverse manner. The enzyme activities were 10-28%
lower at a rate of 160 kg N ha-1 year-1
compared to the highest activity noted in the case of a rate of
40 and/or 80 kg N ha-1 year-1 with the exception
of UR activity, which was unaffected by N fertilization rates.
Cultivation of catch crops for so-called green manure can be useful
management practice for enhancing soil biological activity as
evaluated by enzymatic activity. Enzyme activities were more sensitive
to the presence of catch crop green biomass and N fertilization
rates than chemical properties. Therefore, they might be useful
as an early indicator in the evaluation of the alteration of soils
caused by different agricultural activities.
Keywords: Catch crops; Green manure; Mineral N fertilization;
Soil enzyme activities; Chemical properties』
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Site description and experimental design
2.2. Soil and plant analysis
2.3. Statistical analysis
3. Results
3.1. Analysis of catch crop biomass
3.2. Chemical properties of soil
3.3. Soil enzymatic activity
3.4. Correlation between the studied properties
4. Discussion
4.1. The influence of catch crops and seasonal changes
4.2. The influence of N fertilization treatment
4.3. Correlations among the studied properties
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References