Dynamics of soil properties and fungal community structure in continuous-cropped alfalfa fields in Northeast China.

ABSTRACT: To compensate for the seasonal imbalance between livestock and forage yield in the cold region of Northeast China, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) continuous cropping has been widely employed in animal husbandry. However, the effects of continuous cropping of alfalfa on soil properties, including physical, chemical and biological properties, are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the soil properties and fungal community composition of alfalfa fields under continuous cropping for different time periods (i.e., 1, 2, 6, 9, 12, 13 and 35 years). The results showed that soil moisture, total C, total N, NO₃ ^--N and available K content decreased at less than 10 years of continuous cropping and then increased at more than 10 years of continuous cropping, bu

SUBMITTER: Yao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6571135 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature