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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160126
Title: SOIL AMENDMENT WITH ORGANIC MATERIALS FOR IMPROVED SOIL QUALITY

Author
item KREMER, ROBERT
item PARK, KEECHOON - UNIV OF MO

Submitted to: Sustainable Land Application Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2004
Publication Date: 1/20/2004
Citation: Kremer, R.J., Park, K. 2004. Soil amendment with organic materials for improved soil quality. Proceedings of the Sustainable Land Application Conference, January 4-8, 2004. Lake Buena Vista, Florida. p. 72.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Environmentally sound and productive crop and soil management practices are essential to promote elevated soil organic matter, use crop rotation and reduced tillage, and reduce pesticide inputs. Surveys have verified the relationship between on-farm practices that promoted soil organic matter accumulation and increased soil quality. The objective of the current study was to assess soil biological activities (bioindicators) for describing soil quality under sustainable agricultural practices. In controlled field studies, organic amendments (poultry litter, municipal compost, commercial compost, cover crop residues) were applied in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to a Mexico silt loam in central Missouri cropped to soybean. A biodynamic fertilizer (Effective Microorganisms [EM]) was also included in split-plot treatments. Biological indicators including soil enzymes (selected to represent C and N transformations), soil respiration, water-stable soil aggregation, and microbial diversity (Biolog substrate utilization) were measured to assess impacts of organic amendments. Changes in soil microbial diversity due to organic amendment were detected and indicated the direct effects of the amendments on soil biological processes by influencing soil microbial community composition. Analyses of soil quality bioindicators demonstrated that organic composts and cover crops are of considerable value for use in improving soils in agroecosystems.