Tilage influence on soil microbial activity

In addition to provide appropriate environment for crops, mechanized tillage directly affects physical and biological soil properties; besides influencing microbial activity. Therefore, we aimed at assessing how different mechanized tillage systems may affect soil microbiological activities. Treatments consisted of the following soil tillage types: No-tillage (PD), conventional tillage (PC) and minimum tillage (CM). Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design. All analyses were performed at three moments: before and after soil preparation and 14 days after tillage. Collections were made in triplicate at two soil depths (0-0.10 m and 0.10 – 0.20 m). It was determined values of total organic carbon (COT), microbial biomass carbon (CBM), basal soil respiration (RBS), metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and microbial quotient (qMic). No-tillage system showed higher ratios of microbial biomass carbon and soil basal respiration at 0.0 – 0.10 m depth. Therefore, no till was the system that had greater microbial activity in the soil.

tillage; microorganisms; organic carbon