Influence of Leguminous Cover Crops on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a No-Till Tropical Fruit Orchard

South Florida’s agricultural soils are traditionally low in organic matter (OM) and high carbonate rock fragments. These calcareous inherently nutrient-poor require management for successful crop production. Sunn hemp (SH, Crotalaria juncea) velvet bean (VB, Mucuna pruriens) highly productive leguminous cover crops (CCs) that have shown potential to add large quantities of dry biomass nutrient- organic-matter-limited systems. This study focuses on intercropping these two CCs with young carambola (Averrhoa carambola) trees. The objective was test the effectiveness green manure providing nutrients supplementing traditional fertilizer regimes a sustainable soil-building option. Typically, poultry (PM) is standard used or production area. As such, PM treatments fallow were included comparison. control (F), (FM), sunn (SH), SH (SHM), (VB), VB (VBM). grown summer growing seasons. At end each 90-day period, terminated left soil surface decompose no-till fashion. results suggest produced greatest amount material ranging from 48 71% higher than over result, also accumulated significantly amounts total carbon (TC) nitrogen (TN) within their added soil. hemp, SHM, FM showed accumulation OM, TC, TN. Soil inorganic N (NH?? + NO3? NO2) fluctuated throughout experiment. Our indicate generally, VB-treated had highest available around 2 months post termination, while SH-treated exhibited values at CC termination time. (SHM)treatments availability 4 after termination. enzyme activity SHM levels ?-1-4- glucosidase ?-N-acetylglucosaminidase among all treatments. Overall, SH, fruit setting.