Toward more sustainable tropical agriculture with cover crops: Soil microbiome responses to nitrogen management

Cover crops are a potential pathway for ecological cultivation in agricultural systems. In tropical no-till systems, the maintenance of residues on soil surface and addition nitrogen (N) benefit growth grain yield cash as well chemical physical properties soil. However, effects these management practices microbiota largely unknown. Here, we evaluated timing N application pulse disturbance different cover crop species before maize rotation properties, productivity, bacterial fungal community diversity composition. fertilizer was applied either live (palisade grass or ruzigrass), straw just seeding V 4 stage. Soils previously cultivated with palisade established similar microbial communities regardless timing, increases total bacteria, archaea, nutrients, C:N ratio. The alpha treatments did not vary whereas diversities ruzigrass decreased when to We conclude that is more suitable than ruzigrass, enhanced productivity timing. Ruzigrass could be used an alternative during phase. considering entire system (soil–plant–microbe), efficient crop–maize Palisade enhancing nutrient cycling, application. Additionally, this study demonstrates holistic approach valuable evaluating • Microbial changes dependent under no-till. enhances diversity. does affect crop. fosters maize-microbial competition low content. Soil-microbe-plant litter interaction agrosystem.