THE INFLUENCE OF COVER CROP MIXTURES ON SOIL BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out in 2024 at Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. The soil in which the experiment was performed was Endocalcaric Amphistagnic Luvisol. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of multi-component cover crops of different botanical composition on the biological properties of the soil under organic farming conditions. Experimental treatments: 1. Without cover crop; 2. TGS AntiNem 2 (2 species); 3. TGS N Fiks 2 (4 species); 4. TGS Biom 4 (6 species); 5. TGS N Fiks 4 (8 species); 6. TGS D Strukt 1 (9 species); 7. Rigol TR TerraLife (12 species); 8. TGS MM3 (13 species). In multi-component cover crops, consisting of 4, 8, 9, 12 and 13 plant species, aboveground dry biomass was determined significantly from 1.8 to 2.2 times higher than in cover crop, consisting of 2 plant species. Soil enzyme activity was influenced by plant species diversity. Significantly highest soil enzyme saccharase activity was found in fields with a cover crop, consisting of 12 plant species. In fields with multi-component cover crops, consisting of 9 or more plant species, the enzyme urease activity was found  significantly from 1.5 to 2.1 times higher than in fields without a cover crop and with cover crops with lower plant species diversity. The number of earthworms did not differ significantly between the different plots. In plots with multi-component cover crops, a trend of increasing earthworm biomass was observed, compared to plots without cover crops.