Influence of biological fertilizer and plant cover in the physical properties of soil

Abstract

The physical properties of the soil affect the root growth of the plants, which depending on the restriction level, the culture yield is reduced. The goal of this study was to identify the effects of biological fertilizer and soil cover on soil physical properties. This study was carried out in two crop seasons (2015/16 and 2016/17), where the experimental design was in randomized blocks arranged in factorial scheme: biological fertilizer (with and without) and soil cover plants (millet, crotalaria and fallow clean), and a forest fragment as a control. Biological fertilization and soil cover plants promoted significant increases in the soil moisture, macroporosity, and total porosity, as well as reducing microporosity and soil resistance to penetration. Thus, the physical properties of the soil were increased with the use of biological fertilizer, millet, and crotalaria as soil cover. The biological fertilizer did not promote soybean and maize yield increases, however, their yields were increased with millet and crotalaria.

Keywords

• physical properties of the soil. soil management. soil quality.