Rivera Alejandro, Adriana

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    Effect of cover crops on soil quality parameters of a Fraternidad soil (Typic Haplusterts) at Lajas Valley Agricultural Reserve, Puerto Rico
    (2022-05-09) Rivera Alejandro, Adriana; Muñoz, Miguel A.; College of Agricultural Sciences; O'Hallorans Castillo, Julia M.; Tirado-Corbalá, Rebecca; Sánchez-de León, Yaniria; Department of General Programs in Agricultural Sciences; Rodríguez-Carías, Abner A.
    Efforts to develop better soil management practices are the key for achieving sustainable ecosystems. Cover crops are one of the many tools available to achieve this goal, that is why we evaluated the effect of ten species on different soil quality parameters. The ten cover crop species were grouped in four types: 1) Legumes, that included, Mucuna pruriens (Mucuna), Crotalaria juncea (Sunn hemp), and Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea); 2) Grasses, that included, Sorghum bicolor (Soghum), and Pennisetum glaucum (Pearl millet); 3) Broadleaves, that included Fagopyrum esculentum (Buckwheat), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower), and Sesamum indicum (Sesame); and 4) Brassicas, that included, Eruca sativa (Arugula) and Raphanus sativus (Radish). Cover crops were sown individually in four growing cycles during a year with residue incorporation after each cycle. Three soil samplings were performed: before any incorporation of cover crop residues, after one incorporation, and after three incorporations. The soil quality parameters evaluated were texture, bulk density, aggregate stability, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrate, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, basal respiration, and dehydrogenase activity. Aggregate stability significantly increased after cover crop incorporation from 35.2% to 50.3%. There was a significant increase in nitrate (N-NO3- ) from 1.55 mg/kg after one incorporation to 3.45 mg/kg after three incorporations, with legumes having the highest input of 3.95 mg/kg. Organic carbon increased from 1.91% to 2.14% after the third incorporation of cover crop residue, but no difference was observed among cover crop species. The legumes, grasses, and broadleaves evaluated are great cover crop options and can provide high fresh yield, mulch, weed suppression, and long and short-term ground cover. Brassicas did not tolerate water ponding conditions and had poor establishment, therefore are not recommended for locations where low permeability soils prevail. In just one year, with cover cropping an increase was observed in soil aggregate stability, organic carbon, NO3- - nitrogen and exchangeable potassium as well as a decreased in soil resistance to penetration.