HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Melero Sánchez, S. Articles by Ruiz-Porras, J. C. PubMed Articles by Melero Sánchez, S. Articles by Ruiz-Porras, J. C. Agricola Articles by Melero Sánchez, S. Articles by Ruiz-Porras, J. C. Related Collections Soil Conservation Biogeochemical Processes

CROPPING SYSTEMS

Long-Term Study of Properties of a Xerofluvent of the Guadalquivir River Valley under Organic Fertilization

^a Inst. de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera "Las Torres-Tomejil" Seville (IFAPA), Carretera Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra Km 12.2. 41200 Alcalá del Río (Seville) Spain
^b Inst. de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Avenida Reina Mercedes 10, P.O. Box 1052, 4180 Sevilla, Spain

^* Corresponding author (sebastiana.melero.ext{at}juntadeandalucia.es).

The long-term effect of inorganic and organic fertilization in a vegetable crop rotation on soil chemical and biochemical properties was investigated in a trial in southern Spain. Two crops were grown in succession, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and a mixed-cropped strawberry–onion (Fragaria vesca L.–Allium cepa L.). Total organic carbon (TOC), Kjeldahl-N, bicarbonate-extractable P (Olsen-P), ammonium acetate extractable-potassium (AAE-K), microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), and enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, protease, and alkaline phosphatase) were determined in soils in the seventh and eighth year of management comparison. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and the Cmic to TOC ratio were also calculated. Organically fertilized soils showed significant increases in TOC and Kjeldahl-N, available-P, AAE-K, microbial biomass C, and enzymatic activities compared with those found under inorganically fertilized soils. The qCO2 values were greater in inorganic than in organic fertilized plots indicating a lower microbial community respired at a greater rate in inorganic fertilized soils. The Cmic to TOC ratio in organic plots was lower than in inorganic plots indicating that microorganism in inorganically fertilized soils could have a better efficiency in the conversion of C sources to microbial biomass. Long-term organic fertilization positively affected soil organic matter content, thus improving soil chemical and biological fertility under arid environmental conditions in southwest Spain. However precautions must be taken as excessive accumulation of some nutrients, particularly N and P, can arise from the long-term use of compost.

Abbreviations: AAE-K, ammonium acetate extractable-potassium • Cmic, microbial biomass carbon • EC, electrical conductivity • qCO₂, metabolic quotient • SOM, soil organic matter • TOC, total organic carbon

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Received for publication November 10, 2006.