Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This study evaluated the hypothesis of greater crop rotation complexity leads to improve the soil biological health. According to European Union (EU) requirements for organic production (EU Regulation 2018/848), organic production must be take place directly in the soil, and a crop rotation is mandatory. Additionally, with the crop rotation must include a green manure crop that can add nutrients to the soil. Two crop rotation systems were compared; one had a simple crop
rotation using nitrogen fixing crop (sugar pea; Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) and the other had crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) intercropping with cucumber. Soil samples were taken from each system over time to measure soil respiration, microbial activity, total protein, active
carbon, organic matter and available nutrients in the soil. The overall time effect proved highly significant (P < 0.01) for soil active carbon, total protein content, total organic matter content, phosphorus content, and microbial activity; therefore, time appeared to be the main driving factor
behind the dynamics of studied biological and chemical properties of soil. As for the influence of crop rotation, it turned out to be relatively minor since only potassium content exhibited a significant rotation effect (P < 0.05). Moreover, interactions between crop rotation and time also
appeared to have a significant influence (P < 0.01) on pH value, electrical conductivity, nitrogen content, and soil respiration rate (P < 0.05), thus making the influence of crop rotation dependent on time and vice versa. Therefore, crop rotation appeared to be a comparatively less effective
aspect affecting soil health.