Physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters of soil under different tillage types.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect on the chemical, physical and biological properties of soils under minimum tillage and conservation tillage in different locations in Sinaloa.

Design/methodology/approach: The treatments were evaluated using a completely randomized experimental design, with a total of eight treatments or sampling sites, where five samples per site were collected at a depth of 30 cm. A total of 40 samples were obtained, which were preserved in a thermal box and were transferred to the microbiology laboratory of the Faculty of Agronomy (UAS). The variables evaluated included the quantification of bacteria on plates, where the number of total bacterial colonies (TB), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NF) and indole-promoting bacteria (IPB) were determined. In addition, organic matter, electrical conductivity and pH were determined.

Results: Soils under minimum tillage modality significantly promoted higher percentage of organic matter, a greater number of bacterial colonies and higher electrical conductivity compared to soils with conventional tillage modality.

Limitations on study/implications:

Findings/conclusions: Agricultural tillage intervenes in the physical, chemical and microbiological properties of soils, as the sampling sites where minimum tillage is practiced show a higher concentration of organic matter and therefore leads to greater microbiology and electrical conductivity in those evaluated soils.