Influence of long-term conservation tillage on soil and rhizosphere microorganisms

Abstract

 In long-term field experiments on sandy loam and loamy sand soils, the influence of conservation and conventional tillage on soil and rhizosphere microorganisms was studied. Conservation tillage stimulated rhizosphere bacteria on winter wheat, winter barley, winter rye and maize in different soil layers. Particularly the populations of Agrobacterium spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were increased. On the sandy loam, N₂ fixation and nodulation of pea plants were significantly increased. No influence of different soil tillage was determined on the colonization of the rhizosphere by mycorrhiza and saprophytic fungi. Stubble residues infected with Gaeumanomyces graminis were infectious for a longer time on the soil surface than after incorporation into the soil.