Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations
Abstract Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is one of the most well-studied perennial biomass crops because of its high productivity and potential to store carbon. Yet, little information on controlling weeds in giant reed plantations and their influences on the soil ecosystem is available. In the present...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51491-z |
| _version_ | 1797349974175907840 |
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| author | Nevien Elhawat Andrea Balla Kovács Gabriella Antal Erika Kurucz Éva Domokos-Szabolcsy Miklós Gábor Fári Tarek Alshaal |
| author_facet | Nevien Elhawat Andrea Balla Kovács Gabriella Antal Erika Kurucz Éva Domokos-Szabolcsy Miklós Gábor Fári Tarek Alshaal |
| author_sort | Nevien Elhawat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is one of the most well-studied perennial biomass crops because of its high productivity and potential to store carbon. Yet, little information on controlling weeds in giant reed plantations and their influences on the soil ecosystem is available. In the present study, three different weed control methods, i.e., intercropping (living mulch) with sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.), herbicide (glyphosate), and hoeing, were investigated in a 2-year giant reed farm. The intercropping presented significantly higher values (on average) of all the tested soil properties than herbicide and hoeing, except for the catalase activity and pH. The dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and urease activities in the soil under intercropping were higher than the herbicide by 75%, 65%, and 80% (on average), respectively. Also, the soil under intercropping had higher soil organic matter (SOM) and soil respiration than the herbicide by 20% and 25%, respectively. Intercropping also increased the content of N pools, i.e., NO3 −˗N, NH4 +˗N, Org-N, and Total-N by 517%, 356%, 38%, and 137%, respectively, compared to herbicide. These findings illustrated that controlling weeds in biomass plantations through legume intercropping brings benefits not only to soil properties but also to biomass productivity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:38:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-108fefe325974568be41004051473ec4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:38:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-108fefe325974568be41004051473ec42024-01-21T12:17:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-51491-zLiving mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantationsNevien Elhawat0Andrea Balla Kovács1Gabriella Antal2Erika Kurucz3Éva Domokos-Szabolcsy4Miklós Gábor Fári5Tarek Alshaal6Department of Applied Plant Biology; Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenInstitute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, FAFSEM, University of DebrecenInstitute of Horticulture University of DebrecenInstitute of Horticulture University of DebrecenDepartment of Applied Plant Biology; Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenDepartment of Applied Plant Biology; Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenDepartment of Applied Plant Biology; Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of DebrecenAbstract Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is one of the most well-studied perennial biomass crops because of its high productivity and potential to store carbon. Yet, little information on controlling weeds in giant reed plantations and their influences on the soil ecosystem is available. In the present study, three different weed control methods, i.e., intercropping (living mulch) with sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis L.), herbicide (glyphosate), and hoeing, were investigated in a 2-year giant reed farm. The intercropping presented significantly higher values (on average) of all the tested soil properties than herbicide and hoeing, except for the catalase activity and pH. The dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and urease activities in the soil under intercropping were higher than the herbicide by 75%, 65%, and 80% (on average), respectively. Also, the soil under intercropping had higher soil organic matter (SOM) and soil respiration than the herbicide by 20% and 25%, respectively. Intercropping also increased the content of N pools, i.e., NO3 −˗N, NH4 +˗N, Org-N, and Total-N by 517%, 356%, 38%, and 137%, respectively, compared to herbicide. These findings illustrated that controlling weeds in biomass plantations through legume intercropping brings benefits not only to soil properties but also to biomass productivity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51491-z |
| spellingShingle | Nevien Elhawat Andrea Balla Kovács Gabriella Antal Erika Kurucz Éva Domokos-Szabolcsy Miklós Gábor Fári Tarek Alshaal Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations Scientific Reports |
| title | Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations |
| title_full | Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations |
| title_fullStr | Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations |
| title_short | Living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities, nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed (Arundo donax L.) plantations |
| title_sort | living mulch enhances soil enzyme activities nitrogen pools and water retention in giant reed arundo donax l plantations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-51491-z |
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