187-4 Nutrient Cycling Enzymes and Microbial Community Shifts in An Organic Sod-Based Vegetable Rotation.

Poster Number 919

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
See more from this Session: General Organic Management Systems: I (includes graduate student competition)

Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Tampa Convention Center, East Exhibit Hall

Sheeja George1, Christine M. Bliss2, Denis Wafula3, Ashvini Chauhan3, Peter C. Andersen2, Cheryl L Mackowiak4, David L. Wright5, James J. Marois2 and Steve Olson2, (1)North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Quincy, FL
(2)North Florida Research & Education Center, University of Florida, Quincy, FL
(3)School of the Environment, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL
(4)North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Quincy, FL
(5)University of Florida, Quincy, FL
Poster Presentation
  • SSSA 2013-Org poster_Oct31.pdf (1.1 MB)
  • Abstract:
    An organically managed vegetable rotation comprising green beans, soybeans, and broccoli with oats/ryegrass as winter cover crop was introduced into plots that had previously been in either one, two, or three years of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluegge). Treatments also included two tillage types: conventional and strip till. We compared activity of nutrient cycling enzymes (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, beta glucosidase, beta glucosaminidase, and arylsulfatase) and microbial community shifts using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) in the various treatments to assess effect of crop management on these soil indicators. Tillage seemed to be a significant factor affecting enzyme activity as well as bacterial and fungal community shifts. The number of years that the plots had previously been in bahiagrass did not seem to affect these parameters significantly.

    See more from this Division: ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
    See more from this Session: General Organic Management Systems: I (includes graduate student competition)