Understory living grass mulch improves soil fertility, fruit yield and quality
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Living grass mulch significantly boosts soil health by increasing organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and moisture. This sustainable practice also enhances microbial activity and improves fruit yield and quality.
Area Of Science
- Agricultural Science
- Soil Science
- Ecology
Background
- Bare soils are susceptible to degradation.
- Living grass mulch is a sustainable practice to maintain soil health.
- It also improves fruit yield and quality.
Purpose Of The Study
- To quantitatively assess the effects of living grass mulch on soil properties, microbial communities, enzyme activities, and fruit productivity through a meta-analysis.
- To investigate how managerial conditions influence these effects.
Main Methods
- Conducted a meta-analysis of 93 peer-reviewed publications.
- Quantitatively assessed impacts on soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, enzyme activities, and fruit productivity.
Main Results
- Living grass mulch increased soil organic matter (+24.11%), total nitrogen (+15.93%), available nitrogen (+16.22%), total phosphorus (+10.09%), available phosphorus (+12.92%), total potassium (+11.96%), and moisture content (+14.02%).
- Increased bacteria and fungi abundance, and phosphatase and sucrase activities (9.9%–36.37%).
- Improved fruit yield and quality, including plant yield, average fruit weight, and soluble sugar.
Conclusions
- Understory grass cover enhances soil nutrients and microbial diversity.
- Living grass mulch improves fruit yield and quality, supporting sustainable agriculture.
- This practice is beneficial for the ecological development of smallholder plantations.
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