Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production
Cover crops play an important role in low-input cropping systems, increasing the use of agro-ecosystem services. Due to the lack of information about the impact of cover crops and bio-fertilizers on popcorn maize (Zea mays everta Sturt.) growth and yield quality, especially the popping volume and nu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1250903/full |
| _version_ | 1797354431995445248 |
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| author | Vesna Dragičević Milena Simić Željko Dolijanović Snežana Đorđević Milovan Stoiljković Ivica Dimkić Milan Brankov |
| author_facet | Vesna Dragičević Milena Simić Željko Dolijanović Snežana Đorđević Milovan Stoiljković Ivica Dimkić Milan Brankov |
| author_sort | Vesna Dragičević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cover crops play an important role in low-input cropping systems, increasing the use of agro-ecosystem services. Due to the lack of information about the impact of cover crops and bio-fertilizers on popcorn maize (Zea mays everta Sturt.) growth and yield quality, especially the popping volume and nutritive quality, such as concentrations of protein and mineral elements, this research aimed to provide essential information. The interrelation between popcorn maize productivity and quality with important groups of soil microorganisms presents additional novelty. The results demonstrated that field pea is a beneficial cover crop, especially when combined with a bio-fertilizer, supporting the accumulation of maize biomass, chlorophyll, yield potential, and the concentrations of protein, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn. In addition, field pea residues promoted N-fixing bacteria, and the number of total microorganisms, especially actinomycetes and decomposing bacteria, which could promote nutrient uptake and grain quality. Residues of cover crop mixtures, common vetch + winter oats and field pea + winter oats, promoted the total number of microorganisms in the soil, and up to the end of vegetation, a greater number of decomposition and ammonification microorganisms were found, especially when the bio-fertilizer was applied, which consequently could support greater maize biomass. Popping volume, as a main trait of popcorn maize, had the highest value in the common vetch + winter oats variant, supporting again the statement that quality traits could be enhanced in sustainable production. Unlike living cover crops, mulch mainly affected soil microbial communities and promoted the development of actinomycetes and cellulolytic microorganisms during the growing season. The results of this research could contribute to the development of sustainable popcorn maize production for improved grain quality. They could also serve as a basis for isolating beneficial soil microorganisms to develop new bio-fertilizers that could improve maize production in synergy with cover crops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:50:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6dd25e2f47e848a2920cd043b5f9c49f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:50:18Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-6dd25e2f47e848a2920cd043b5f9c49f2024-01-16T04:40:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2024-01-011410.3389/fpls.2023.12509031250903Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize productionVesna Dragičević0Milena Simić1Željko Dolijanović2Snežana Đorđević3Milovan Stoiljković4Ivica Dimkić5Milan Brankov6Group for Agro-ecology and Cropping Practices, R&D Department, Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Belgrade, SerbiaGroup for Agro-ecology and Cropping Practices, R&D Department, Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Cropping Technology and Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaAgrounik d.o.o, Šimanovci, SerbiaLaboratory of Physical Chemistry, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, SerbiaCahir of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaGroup for Agro-ecology and Cropping Practices, R&D Department, Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Belgrade, SerbiaCover crops play an important role in low-input cropping systems, increasing the use of agro-ecosystem services. Due to the lack of information about the impact of cover crops and bio-fertilizers on popcorn maize (Zea mays everta Sturt.) growth and yield quality, especially the popping volume and nutritive quality, such as concentrations of protein and mineral elements, this research aimed to provide essential information. The interrelation between popcorn maize productivity and quality with important groups of soil microorganisms presents additional novelty. The results demonstrated that field pea is a beneficial cover crop, especially when combined with a bio-fertilizer, supporting the accumulation of maize biomass, chlorophyll, yield potential, and the concentrations of protein, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn. In addition, field pea residues promoted N-fixing bacteria, and the number of total microorganisms, especially actinomycetes and decomposing bacteria, which could promote nutrient uptake and grain quality. Residues of cover crop mixtures, common vetch + winter oats and field pea + winter oats, promoted the total number of microorganisms in the soil, and up to the end of vegetation, a greater number of decomposition and ammonification microorganisms were found, especially when the bio-fertilizer was applied, which consequently could support greater maize biomass. Popping volume, as a main trait of popcorn maize, had the highest value in the common vetch + winter oats variant, supporting again the statement that quality traits could be enhanced in sustainable production. Unlike living cover crops, mulch mainly affected soil microbial communities and promoted the development of actinomycetes and cellulolytic microorganisms during the growing season. The results of this research could contribute to the development of sustainable popcorn maize production for improved grain quality. They could also serve as a basis for isolating beneficial soil microorganisms to develop new bio-fertilizers that could improve maize production in synergy with cover crops.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1250903/fullpopcorn productivitypopcorn biomasschlorophyllgrain qualitymineral elementssoil microorganisms |
| spellingShingle | Vesna Dragičević Milena Simić Željko Dolijanović Snežana Đorđević Milovan Stoiljković Ivica Dimkić Milan Brankov Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production Frontiers in Plant Science popcorn productivity popcorn biomass chlorophyll grain quality mineral elements soil microorganisms |
| title | Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production |
| title_full | Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production |
| title_fullStr | Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production |
| title_short | Combined effect of cover crops and bio-fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production |
| title_sort | combined effect of cover crops and bio fertilizer on sustainable popcorn maize production |
| topic | popcorn productivity popcorn biomass chlorophyll grain quality mineral elements soil microorganisms |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1250903/full |
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