U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research: Lubbock, TX
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Lubbock, Texas Cropping Systems Research Laboratory Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Acosta-Martinez, Veronicaitem
                                            Dowd, Scotitem
                                            ALLEN, VIVIEN - TTU
  Submitted to: Eurosoil Congress
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 8/29/2008
                                    Citation: Acosta Martinez, V., Dowd, S.E., Allen, V. 2008. Soil microbial community structure, diversity and functionality in integrated livestock-crop production systems compared to continuous cotton[abstract]. Eurosoil Congress. Vienna, Austria. August 25-29, 2008.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Many regions of the world are facing soil quality and sustainability problems due to monoculture. In the Texas High Plains of US, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) production under continuous monoculture and conventional tillage (since the 1940’s) has contributed to wind-induced soil erosion and organic matter reduction. This study is part of a larger project to develop and evaluate integrated crop and livestock systems that reduce dependence on underground water while optimizing productivity and enhancing soil quality.  A clay soil (Fine, mixed, thermic Torrertic Paleustolls) was studied during the first 10 years under continuous cotton compared to an integrated livestock-crop system with a perennial warm-season grass pasture (Bothriochloa bladhii) and two stages of a rotation (wheat (Triticum aestivum)-fallow-rye (Secale cereale)-cotton).  After 5 years, total C (0-5 cm) was only higher under perennial pasture, but total C (avg: 17.3 g kg-1 soil) and total N (avg: 1.5 g kg-1 soil) were higher in all the integrated crop-livestock systems compared to continuous cotton (11.4 g C kg-1 and 1.1 g N kg-1 soil) after 10 years.  After 5 years, soil microbial biomass C (MBC) was greater in perennial pasture (193 mg kg-1 soil) and in the rotation when sampled under rye or cotton (237 mg kg-1 soil) compared to continuous cotton (124 mg kg-1 soil), but MBC became significantly higher in all the alternative systems after 7 years.  Similar trends were found for enzyme activities of C ('-glucosidase, '-galactosidase), P (alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase), N ('-glucosaminidase), and S (arylsulfatase) cycling.  The integrated crop-livestock systems had higher protozoa (20:4'6c=1.98%) and fungi (18:3'9c=1.30%) than continuous cotton (20:4'6c =1.09%; 18:3'9c= 0.76%) after 5 yrs.  Higher mycorrhizal fungal fatty acids (18:1'9c, 16:1'5c) were detected under ungrazed areas compared to grazed areas in pasture at 0-5 cm.  Results from bacterial diversity as affected by the integrated-crop livestock systems will be discussed.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov