@article{fdi:010055651,
  title = {{M}ulch type affects soil biological functioning and crop yield of conservation agriculture systems in a long-term experiment in {M}adagascar},
  author = {{D}jigal, {D}. and {S}aj, {S}. and {R}abary, {B}. and {B}lanchart, {E}ric and {V}illenave, {C}{\'e}cile},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}onservation agriculture ({CA}) is rapidly developing in {M}adagascar but little is known about its effects on local soil functioning. {T}o assess some of those effects, we investigated the effects of three {CA} systems and two levels of fertilization on soil functioning using nematofauna as indicator. {T}he systems consisted in (i) soybean ({G}lycine max {L}.)-maize ({Z}ea mays {L}) rotation with mulch of residues, {CA}-{R}; (ii) bean ({P}haseolus vulgaris {L}.)-soybean rotation with living mulch of {P}ennisetum clandestinum, {CA}-{K}; (iii) continuous maize with living mulch of {D}esmodium uncinatum, {CA}-{D} and were compared with soybean-maize under conventional tillage ({CT}) and natural fallow ({NF}). {T}he fertilization levels consisted in ( i) farmyard manure, {FYM}; and (ii) farmyard manure + mineral fertilizers, {FYM} + {NPK}. {L}ocated in the {H}ighlands of {M}adagascar, the experiment was setup in 1991 and andic {D}ystrustept soil had been sampled in 2005-2007. {W}e measured nematode abundances and ecological indices as well as the abundance and biomass of soil macrofauna, soil water and organic {C} and {N} contents and plant yields. {W}e hypothesized that (1) {CA} including maize in monoculture would lead to higher abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes; (2) both dead-residue mulch and inorganic fertilization would lead to a more basal nematode community structure; and (3) that the combination of system effects on soil nematode community would be able to forecast differential crop yields for the {CA} systems. {O}ur results show that {CA} systems tested were able to support better/comparable maize and soybean yields compared with {CT}, provided that crop rotation is correctly managed. {S}upporting our first hypothesis, abundance of plant parasitic nematodes was (40-150 times) higher under maize monoculture. {A}bundance of soil nematofauna and trophic groups (excepted carnivores and omnivores) was stable during the three years. {I}norganic fertilization increases carnivorous and omnivorous nematodes to 122% and 140%, respectively. {E}cological indices showed that soil functioning of {CA} systems was intermediate between that {NF} and {CT}. {CA} systems were characterized by a highly structured soil food-web compared with {CT}. {Y}et, soil processes intensity revealed to be lower in {CA} with dead mulch compared with {CA} with living mulch, contrasting with our second hypothesis. {T}he characterization of nematofauna discriminated well the different systems and supports our third hypothesis. {N}ematode structure and enrichment indices were significantly correlated to soil organic {C} and {N} content as well as grain yields. {T}hey proved to be powerful bio-indicators of soil functioning in the {CA} systems studied.},
  keywords = {{N}ematode community ; {S}oil management ; {C}ropping system ; {C}over crop ; {N}o-tillage ; {S}oil bio-functioning ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil and {T}illage {R}esearch},
  volume = {118},
  numero = {},
  pages = {11--21},
  ISSN = {0167-1987},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.still.2011.10.008},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055651},
}