Tillage, Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization Differentially Affects Soil Microbial Biomass, Microbial Populations and Bacterial Diversity in a Maize Cropping System

Determination of biologically active components the soil organic matter, such as microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) can be used indicators for variations in productivity due to changes management. Soil agronomic management practices bring about physical chemical properties soil, resulting diversity. The effects tillage, mulch inorganic fertilizers on C N, populations bacterial diversity were determined from treatment combinations which had been applied 5 years Central Kenyan Highlands. test crop was maize ( Zea mays L.). study involved conventional minimum tillage systems, mulching (120 kg N/ha). Tillage P < 0.001), fertilizer = 0.009) significantly affected N whereby increased N. Interestingly, recorded highest bacteria fungi CFUs compared fertilizers. Only 0.001) significant effect actinobacteria CFUs. Amplified ribosomal DNA analysis (ARDRA) showed that genetic distance 0.611 between treatments + no NPK fertilizer. results demonstrate are attractive since they increase agricultural soils.