Biological attributes in soils with cover crops in the Soybean direct seeding system in southwest of Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

With the introduction of brachiaria as a cover crop, the no-tillage system stands out due to its high dry matter yield and efficiency in nutrient recycling, promoting the improvement of the biological properties of the soil. However, as important as reporting crop yields, it is necessary to understand the biological response that causes this increase. Assuming that intercropping systems with brachiaria in the no-tillage system promote the improvement of biological attributes, this study aimed to evaluate biological attributes in soils under different intercropping systems after three years under the no-tillage system in the dry and rainy period in Rio Verde and Montividiu, Southwest of Goiás, Brazil. The study was conducted during three crop seasons following the soybean crop in Rio Verde and Montividiu in the Southwest of Goiás. The treatments included corn in monocropping, corn intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis, U. brizantha cv. Marandu, and U. brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás and sorghum intercropped with U. ruziziensis. The biological attributes evaluated were microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, basal soil respiration, metabolic and microbial quotient, β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, acid phosphatase, urease, and fluorescein diacetate. It was observed that management influences biological attributes and enzymatic activity. The intercropping influenced microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, qCO2, and qMic. The β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase enzymes were the most sensitive to management. The arylsulfatase enzyme could not demonstrate the biological efficiency of brachiaria in the 3rd year in one area.