The Influence of Short-Term Tillage, Compost, and Beneficial Microbes on Soil Properties and the Productivity of Wheat and Cowpea Crops

Tillage systems comprise physical, chemical, and biological modification processes that influence soil properties. Soil cultivation aims to create favorable conditions for the development growth of crops, as evident in their yields. Three growing seasons (winter 2019/2020 (wheat), summer 2020 (cowpea), winter 2020/2021 (wheat)) were studied field experiments Sidi Salem, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, investigate effects tillage application organic beneficial microbes on various biological, physical properties its productivity. replicates experimental treatments set up a split-plot design, which there four main plots: conventional (ST) treatment all three (ST1); first second (ST2); only season (ST3); no (ST4). However, subplots (soil additives) conditioned follows: without (control, T1); compost (C, T2); microorganisms (BM, T3); combination (C + BM, T4). The property results showed ST4T4 produced high levels microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes), well enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, urease, phosphatase), during seasons. numbers dry weights cowpea plants’ nodules. Additionally, changes chemical examined led significant increases electrical conductivity (ECe, dSm−1), bulk density (BD, kg m−3), infiltration rate (IR, cm h−1), following trend ST4 > ST3 ST2 ST1. In contrast, revealed decreases exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP, %), porosity (PO, aggregates (stable optimal-sized aggregates, penetration resistance (SPRa, Mpa). (ST4T4) provided best yields, with grain yields 4.991 5.325 tons ha−1 straw 5.214 5.338 third respectively. Cowpea plants same pattern season. Therefore, improvements enhancements help maintain productivity fertility through simplified reduce interference surface layer.