Responses of soil nutrients and microbial activity to the mill-mud application in a compaction-affected sugarcane field

Context Compaction removal and organic amendment application are commonly used to mitigate the compaction-induced declines in crop yield, soil carbon (C) health. However, response of microbial activities nutrient pools combination mill-mud amendments decompaction profile not fully understood. Aims A field trial was conducted at Burdekin, Australia, investigate effects different managements on cycling, associated biological sugarcane yield. Methods This experiment included four treatments: control (CK, without mill-mud), shallow furrow (MS), deep trenching (DT) (MD). Key results The MD treatment increased concentrations hot water extractable C by 30–70% total nitrogen (N) 30–90% depth. Soil biomass N were also higher applied layers. Mill-mud treatments plant cane yield 7% (MS treatment) 14% (MD compared CK. DT 11% Conclusion supply nutrients community within entire profile, enhanced cycling processes, improved environmental conditions health for growth thus productivity. Implications Further research should focus composition shifts further explore mechanisms responsible microorganism regulation farming systems.