Crop rotation systems (CRS) are vital for enhancing agricultural sustainability by conserving soil resources and improving crop yields. This study aimed to assess the effects of eight-year CRS combined with liming on soil physical properties and soybean yield, alongside the 22-year impacts of transitioning from a natural ecosystem to agricultural systems involving CRS. Data from a long-term experiment initiated in 1986 in Passo Fundo, Brazil, were analysed, focusing on soil samplings carried out in March 2008 and April 2016 to evaluate the impact of liming implemented in 2008. A split-plot design was used, with four soil management systems as main plots and three CRS as sub-plots. This study considered only the CRS: (I) permanent summer soybean and winter wheat; (II) alternating soybean with sorghum in summer and wheat with vetch in winter; and (III) alternating two consecutive summers of soybean with one summer of sorghum, and wheat with vetch and oats in winter. Soil bulk density (ρs; Mg m− 3) and total, micro, and macro porosities (φtotal, φmicro, and φmacro; m3 m− 3) were assessed in 2008 and 2016 in two soil layers (0‒2.5 and 10–12.5 cm). Soybean grain yield was measured over eight crop seasons (2008/09 to 2015/16). Results showed that the three CRS had similar long-term effects on soil physical properties, across the two soil layers, compared to undisturbed soil. Relative to this baseline, ρs increased by an average of 25.9%, while average decreases of 14.3%, 6.4%, and 30% were found for φtotal, φmicro, and φmacro, respectively. In 2008, no significant differences in soil physical properties were observed among the CRS. From 2008 to 2016, liming did not affect ρs and φtotal in either soil layer, nor φmicro and φmacro in the topsoil; however, in the subsurface layer, liming increased φmicro by 5.7% and decrease φmacro by 19.8% across all CRS treatments. Grain yield differences were observed in only two crop seasons: in 2010/11, CRS-II yielded 5.4% more than CRS-I, while in 2011/12, CRS-I yielded 10.6% more than CRS-II and CRS-III. Yield stability and adaptability were greatest in CRS-III, followed by CRS-II and CRS-I. In conclusion, liming combined with CRS can alter soil porosity by increasing φmicro and decreasing φmacro, though liming does not interact with CRS in affecting these soil properties. Furthermore, all CRS exhibit similar long-term impacts on ρs and soil porosity when compared to undisturbed soil.

Soil Physical Properties and Soybean Yield Influenced by Liming and Long-Term Crop Rotation Systems

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发表日期：

2025年8月1日

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Sérgio Ricardo Silva

摘要

Crop rotation systems (CRS) are vital for enhancing agricultural sustainability by conserving soil resources and improving crop yields. This study aimed to assess the effects of eight-year CRS combined with liming on soil physical properties and soybean yield, alongside the 22-year impacts of transitioning from a natural ecosystem to agricultural systems involving CRS. Data from a long-term experiment initiated in 1986 in Passo Fundo, Brazil, were analysed, focusing on soil samplings carried out in March 2008 and April 2016 to evaluate the impact of liming implemented in 2008. A split-plot design was used, with four soil management systems as main plots and three CRS as sub-plots. This study considered only the CRS: (I) permanent summer soybean and winter wheat; (II) alternating soybean with sorghum in summer and wheat with vetch in winter; and (III) alternating two consecutive summers of soybean with one summer of sorghum, and wheat with vetch and oats in winter. Soil bulk density (ρ_s; Mg m^− 3) and total, micro, and macro porosities (φ_total, φ_micro, and φ_macro; m³ m^− 3) were assessed in 2008 and 2016 in two soil layers (0‒2.5 and 10–12.5 cm). Soybean grain yield was measured over eight crop seasons (2008/09 to 2015/16). Results showed that the three CRS had similar long-term effects on soil physical properties, across the two soil layers, compared to undisturbed soil. Relative to this baseline, ρ_s increased by an average of 25.9%, while average decreases of 14.3%, 6.4%, and 30% were found for φ_total, φ_micro, and φ_macro, respectively. In 2008, no significant differences in soil physical properties were observed among the CRS. From 2008 to 2016, liming did not affect ρ_s and φ_total in either soil layer, nor φ_micro and φ_macro in the topsoil; however, in the subsurface layer, liming increased φ_micro by 5.7% and decrease φ_macro by 19.8% across all CRS treatments. Grain yield differences were observed in only two crop seasons: in 2010/11, CRS-II yielded 5.4% more than CRS-I, while in 2011/12, CRS-I yielded 10.6% more than CRS-II and CRS-III. Yield stability and adaptability were greatest in CRS-III, followed by CRS-II and CRS-I. In conclusion, liming combined with CRS can alter soil porosity by increasing φ_micro and decreasing φ_macro, though liming does not interact with CRS in affecting these soil properties. Furthermore, all CRS exhibit similar long-term impacts on ρ_s and soil porosity when compared to undisturbed soil.