[Effect of winter cover crops on the soil microbiome: a systematic literature review]

Abstract

The inclusion of winter cover crops (WCC) in no-till (NT) systems in replacement of bare fallow is a promising alternative to improve soil health and consequently, contribute to environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of the use of WCC in rotation with summer cash crops under NT systems on the soil microbiome versus bare fallows. A systematic literature search was conducted to evaluate the impact of WCC on microbial parameters indicative of abundance, activity and diversity. Twenty-two papers were selected based on seven combined criteria. The results of this review show that enzyme activities in soil are enhanced with the inclusion of WCC in the rotation, particularly those that include legumes and mix of species. In general, more than half of the analyzed papers report higher microbial biomass in soils with WCC than in bare fallow. Interestingly, the effects of WCC on microbial parameters are independent of the duration of the experiments. However, more basic research is necessary to reduce the heterogeneity of the studies and to better understand the complexity of the interactions between WCC and the soil microbiome.

Keywords: Actividad microbiana; Agricultural soils; Biomasa microbiana; Cultivos de verano; Diversidad microbiana; Gramíneas; Grasses; Legumes; Leguminosas; Microbial activity; Microbial biomass; Microbial diversity; No-till; Siembra directa; Suelos agrícolas; Summer crops.