THE INFLUENCE OF WINTER COVER CROPS AND THEIR INCORPORATION METHODS ON SOIL BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES IN THE SPRING WHEAT AGROCENOSIS

Abstract

The field experiment was performed at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy in 2021–2022. Soil – Endocalcaric Amphistagnic Luvisol. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of winter cover crops of different botanical families and their incorporation methods on soil biological properties in the agrocenosis of spring wheat under organic farming conditions. Plots, where perennial ryegrass and winter rye were shallowly incorporated for green manure in the spring, showed an upward trend in the amount of organic matter in the soil, compared to their deep ploughing. The number of earthworms was found 2.5 times higher in the plots, where crimson clover was deeply ploughed for green manure in the spring, compared to deeply ploughed winter vetch. The highest earthworm biomass was found in the plots, where the cover crop of crimson clover was deeply incorporated for green manure in the spring. The highest CO₂ emissions from soil were found when the cover crop of perennial ryegrass was deeply ploughed for green manure in the spring.