Interaction of maize and living mulch: Soil chemical properties and bioactivity

Abstract

The short-term stationary field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture (LUA) (Aleksandras Stulginskis University since 2011) in 2009-2011. The soil of experiment was Calc(ar)i Epihypogleyic Luvisol (LVg-p-w-cc(sc). The objective of investigations was to determine the influence of competition between maize, inter-row living mulch plants and weeds for soil nutrients on soil enzyme activities. Spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), white mustard (Sinapis alba L.), spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lamk.), black medic (Medicago lupulina L.), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were sown as living mulch into maize inter-rows. Results were compared with hand weeding treatment. Maize inter-row covering with different living mulches negatively influenced on maize productivity, however, it increased amounts of phosphorus and potassium in the soil, especially at the beginning of experiment. During three years of experiment, soil pH in 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers increased on the average by 4%, amount of organic carbon 42 and 34%, total nitrogen 62 and 43%, phosphorus 18 and 21% and potassium 22 and 27%. Maize inter-row covering with leguminous living mulch plants positively influenced on soil urease and saccharase activity, especially with Persian clover and black medic.