@article{fdi:010042499,
  title = {{E}ffects of living mulches or residue amendments on soil microbial properties in direct seeded cropping systems of {M}adagascar},
  author = {{R}abary, {B}. and {S}all, {S}aidou and {L}etourmy, {P}. and {H}usson, {O}. and {R}alambofetra, {E}. and {M}oussa, {N}. and {C}hotte, {J}ean-{L}uc},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}here is growing recognition for the need to study the impact of agricultural land uses on biological and biochemical properties of soils. {I}n {M}adagascar, cropping systems based on direct seeding with permanent vegetation cover provide a new means for sustainable agriculture to protect the environment and make the most of natural resources. {T}his study assessed the effects of different direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems on soil microbial biomass and activities. {T}he soil was andic {D}ystrustept. {S}amples of the soil were taken from 0 to 5 cm soil layer of three direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems ({DMC} using crop residues and living mulches). {T}he samples were compared with samples from conventionally tilled plots ({CT}) and natural fallows ({NF}). {T}he field experiments were carried out over a 12-year-period and two types of amendment were applied once a year at sowing, farmyard manure ({FYM}) and farmyard manure combined with an {NPK} chemical fertilizer. {T}he {C} and {N} content, microbial basal respiration and biomass and p-glucosidase, urease and acid phosphatase activities were determined. {T}he results showed that there was no interaction between soil management strategies and the use of fertilizer. {F}urthermore, the fertilizer did not affect the soil {C} and {N} content or the acid phosphatase and urease activities. {F}armyard manure with added {NPK} had a significantly greater effect than farmyard manure on its own, increasing the microbial biomass, soil respiration and beta-glucosidase activity up to 26%, 52% and 20%, respectively but there was no significant difference between natural fallows and direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems. {H}owever, conventional tillage showed a significantly lower soil microbial biomass, {C} content, microbial respiration and urease activity than natural fallows. {T}he results for direct seeding mulch-based systems varied according to the microbial activities measured. {H}owever, soil p-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities were significantly higher for the direct seeding mulch-based systems using crop residues than for the direct seeding mulch-based systems using living mulches. {D}irect seeding mulch-based systems with {D}esmodiurn uncinatum living mulch had significantly lower microbial biomass and respiration than the other direct seeding mulch-based systems. {T}here was less evidence of change in the soil between natural fallow and direct seeding mulch-based systems but a higher build-up of some microbial properties was obtained for direct seeding mulch-based systems soil than in conventionally tilled soils and natural fallow.},
  keywords = {microbial biomass ; microbial activity ; direct seeding ; crop residues ; living mulch ; andic {D}ystrustept},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}pplied {S}oil {E}cology},
  volume = {39},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {236--243},
  ISSN = {0929-1393},
  year = {2008},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.apsoil.2007.12.012},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010042499},
}