Microbial Properties of a Ferric Lixisol as Affected by Long Term Crop Management and Fertilization Regimes in Burkina Faso, West Africa

We used an ongoing long-term field trial established since 1960 in Burkina Faso, to study the microbial properties of a Ferric Lixisol under various crop management and fertilization regimes. Microbial respiration rate, biomass carbon (MBC) and soil bacteria’s number were assessed samples taken at 0 - 20 cm depth. The continuous cropping sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) (S/S) rotation between cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (S/C), while the fertilization regimes were: 1) Control (te); 2) Low rate mineral fertilizer (fm); 3) mineral fertilizer + straw restitution (fmr); 4) fertilizer + low manure (fmo); 5) High (FM); vii) High high (FMO). is applied every second year. results indicate that sorghum/cowpea rotation significantly increase MBC bacteria as compared continuous sorghum cropping. ranged from 335.5 54.85 μg C g−1 soil with S/S 457.5 86.6 S/C. Application level increase microbial MBC. highest was observed with FMO and the lowest control. In general, metabolic quotient (qCO2) was negatively impacted by rotation. For S/S rotation, qCO2 control 1.5 2 times the treatments (fmr, fmo fm) 3 of the (FM FMO). With S/C rotation, fmr, FM 0.8 fmo and fm. Soil fmr 63.6 12.4 the S/S rotations, respectively. sum, combined application and mineral is best practices to improve sustainable way activities tropical soil.