@article{fdi:010077905,
  title = {{E}ffect of sugarcane residue retention and fertiliser application on soil microbial abundance and community structure},
  author = {{M}thimkhulu, {S}. and {T}itshall, {L}. {W}. and {L}erch, {T}. {Z}. and {P}odwojewski, {P}ascal and {V}an {A}ntwerpen, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}his study, carried out in a long-term sugarcane trial, investigated changes in selected soil microbiological properties induced by continuous crop residue burning or mulching, with and without fertiliser application. {T}he sugarcane residue treatments are: a) burned with tops removed ({B}to); b) burned with tops scattered ({B}t); and c) green harvested and mulched ({M}). {T}hese treatments were either fertilised ({F}) or unfertilised ({F}o). {T}he amount of double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ds{DNA}), used in this study as an indicator of soil microbial biomass, increased with increasing crop residue levels ({B}to: 10.4 mu g g(-1): 12.2 mu g g(-1) {M}: 14.4 mu g g(-1)) in {F}o treatments, suggesting that high soil organic matter levels in {M} treatments serves as the major energy and carbon source for microorganisms. {H}owever, significant differences (p<0.01) were only observed between {B}to and {M} treatments. {I}n {F} treatments the ds{DNA} amount was similar across all crop residue treatments but significantly (p<0.01) lower than in {F}o plots. {T}he significantly low ds{DNA} amount found in the {F} treatment was attributed to high soil acidity levels measured in this treatment compared with {F}o. {I}n both {F}o and {F} plots, {M} treatments significantly (p<0.01) increased in the bacterial abundance. {I}n contrast, the {M} treatment showed a significant (p<0.01) decrease in fungal abundance in comparison with {B}to and {B}t. {B}acterial and fungal richness increased with increase in crop residues and decreased with fertiliser application. {T}hese results highlight the value of greencane harvesting and the negative impact of continuous blanket application of fertiliser on soil quality.},
  keywords = {sugarcane ; crop residues ; ds{DNA} ; fertiliser application ; bacteria ; fungi ; {AFRIQUE} {DU} {SUD} ; {MOUNT} {EDGECOMBE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {S}ugar {J}ournal},
  volume = {122},
  numero = {1453},
  pages = {54--57},
  ISSN = {0020-8841},
  year = {2020},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010077905},
}