Earthworms enhance the performance of organic amendments in improving rice growth and nutrition in poor Ferralsols

Abstract :

In the Highlands of Madagascar, providing organic amendments (OAs) is the main farmer fertilization practice in upland rainfed agrosystems dominated by nutrient-depleted Ferralsols. Therefore, enhancing the performance of OAs on plant functions is particularly important for improving both plant productivity and agrosystem sustainability. Earthworms are well-known ecosystem engineers involved in the decomposition of organic matter and play a critical role in nutrient turnover. Inoculating earthworms could be a promising approach to improve the fertilizer performance of… En savoir plus

Optimizing soil and plant functions: Combinatory design of fertilizing resources assemblage for rainfed rice in Madagascar

Abstract :

The lack of affordable mineral fertilizers and scarcity of organic materials cause decline in soil fertility for smallholder farmers and producers in the highlands of Madagascar, challenging crop productivity. To fulfill plant growth and nutrition, we explored the effect of 132 combinations of 17 different fertilizing resources, both organic and mineral, on rice growth and nutrition using a greenhouse experiment. Two clustering approaches were used to evaluate the effects of fertilizing resources: elemental clustering and functional clustering. Elemental clustering… En savoir plus

Multiple nutrient limitation of the soil micro-food web in a tropical grassland revealed by nutrient-omission fertilization.

Abstract :

Although involved in key functions of the terrestrial ecosystems, the activity and the diversity of soil microorganisms can be severely limited by energy and nutrients in weathered tropical soils. To optimize nutrient cycling for crop nutrition, assessing which nutrients limit the activity of the microbial food web is thus essential. This was our aim in this study carried out on a tropical ferrallitic soil from a natural grassland in Madagascar. For this purpose, we employed an innovative nutrient-omission approach in microcosms to test the distinct effects of omitting C… En savoir plus

Intensifying the soil ecological functions for sustainable agriculture: Acting with stakeholders

Abstract :

Soils are now recognized as key components in the design of sustainable agricultural practices within the agroecological framework. They are the place of many ecological functions achieved by living organisms interacting with each other and which support the sustainable provision of agrosystem services. In the context of the transformation of agriculture and to improve the sustainability and resilience of family farming, it becomes urgent to promote soil ecological functions, to intensify them by appropriate practices considering the socio-economic constraints, and… En savoir plus

Responses of soil nematodes to combined bio-organo-mineral fertilizers on upland rice cropping in the highlands of Madagascar

Abstract : 

Upland rainfed rice cropping in the highlands of Madagascar is strongly limited by poor Ferralsol mineral fertility. There is an urgent need to identify efficient and sustainable fertilization practices that improve soil fertility without inducing pest proliferation. For that purpose, using a field trial for 2 successive years, we tested the effect of 16 fertilization practices on the abundance and taxonomic diversity of soil active nematodes, which are known to be biological indicators of soil fertility. We tested both fertilization practices traditionally used by… En savoir plus

Chemical and biochemical quality of organic and/ or mineral fertilization resources - A dataset from the Highlands of Madagascar

Abstract :

A basic understanding of the fertilization resources (FR) char- acteristics is required to drive soil functions following the FR application, and to improve crop productivity. The datasets presented include the FR characteristics, i.e. their nutrient contents and biochemical quality, and their effects on soil in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. We selected nineteen FR from local farmers, from laboratory institution and from commercial producers. The soil used in experiment was sampled in Imerintsiatosika locality, located in the Cen- tral Highlands of Madagascar… En savoir plus

Agricultural practices modulate the beneficial activity of bacterial-feeding nematodes on plant growth and nutrition: evidence from an original intact soil core technique

Abstract :

Free-living nematodes have beneficial effects on plant growth and nutrition. Exploring how agricultural practices modulate these beneficial effects is still challenging. A study was conducted in Ferralsols from Madagascar from one unmanaged grassland and 16 upland rainfed rice fields, representative of different agricultural practices: rotation, agroforestry and monoculture. Intact soil cores in plastic cylinders were sampled in the field to assess the effects of agricultural practices on changes in plant growth and nutrition induced by the presence of bacterial-feeding… En savoir plus

Does rice breeding affect the ability of plants to interact with earthworms in nutrient-depleted Ferralsols

Abstract :

Agroecology is based on the optimization of ecological processes occurring in agrosystems, especially by improving beneficial interactions among organisms. Recent studies have provided evidence that the ability of plants to interact with free-living soil organisms can be influenced by plant breeding. The upland rice breeding programme in the Highlands of Madagascar aims to develop cultivars that are adapted to local climatic, soil fertility and pest constraints. However, it is still unknown whether this genetic improvement alters rice cultivar abilities to interact with… En savoir plus

Earthworm inoculation improves upland rice crop yield and other agrosystem services in Madagascar

Abstract: 

The effects of earthworm inoculation and cropping systems on upland rice systems were examined over a four-year period in the Highlands of Madagascar. Each year, endogeic earthworms Pontoscolex corethrurus (Rhinodrilidae) were inoculated (EW+) at a density of 75 ind m−2 or were not inoculated (EW0). Inoculation was tested in three cropping systems: conservation agriculture (CA) and traditional tillage with or without residues restitution. Soil and plant properties were measured during the first three years while soil biological properties were assessed at the fourth year… En savoir plus

Effects of the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus on rice P nutrition and plant-available soil P in a tropical Ferralsol

Abstract:

We conducted a greenhouse experiment in mesocosms for 28 days to assess the effects of the endogeic earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus on plant-available soil phosphorus (P) and rice (Oryza sativa) P nutrition in a Malagasy Ferralsol. To assess plant-available soil P, we determined the L-value by measuring the specific activity of P taken up from the soil by rice and by applying the isotopic dilution principle. Despite earthworm mortality, P. corethrurus significantly increased rice shoot biomass (+26%) and P nutrition (+65%), confirming that the soil used for the… En savoir plus