Impacts of reducing fallow periods on indicators of soil function in subtropical dryland farming systems

Seasonal fallows – periods with no living plant cover are frequently implemented in dryland cropping systems to allow recharge of soil moisture for the subsequent cash crop. Over time, repeated fallow deplete organic matter, a foundation health that affects long-term functional capacity soils. Reducing by growing crops (non-harvested terminated prior reproductive development), double (increasing frequency harvested crops), or rotating ley pasture several years, were investigated their potential improve maintain attributes. These ‘reduced fallow’ compared against conventional cereal-based production system seasonal as well permanent fallow. Soil reduced had higher concentrations total nitrogen and mineral-associated Reduced also carbon than fallow, but not system. changes associated greater microbial respiration improved surface storage at crop planting. The conventional, similar structure abundance mega-aggregates. In contrast, micro- macro-aggregates did subject tillage after three years preparation return cropping. substantially numbers root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus thornei), surpassing 2000 kg-1 threshold economic damage. results demonstrate different methods reducing can generate range outcomes uniformly desirable terms Across indicators assessed, generated widest improvements fertility function This suggests may be valuable tool promoting subtropical farming systems.