Читать книгу Approaches to Soil Health Analysis, Volume 1 - Группа авторов - Страница 19

It is well known that crop rotations are an important tool for managing plant pests (Altieri, 1991a, 1991b). What has been less appreciated until recently is that plants, primarily through their roots, affect the kinds and abundance of soil microorganisms, thus influencing soil biology and biological processes (Doran & Zeiss, 2000). Different plant species, and even cultivars, are typically associated with distinct soil microbial communities (Dick, 1997). In addition, since plant root architecture often differs among species, effects on soil function are also different (Brussaard et al., 2004). Above ground plant and animal diversity also encourages diversity in soil biology by increasing SOM levels, providing food and habitat for diverse soil communities, promoting greater aggregate stability, and helping alleviate compaction. Conservation practices that can be used to maximize biodiversity include Conservation Cover (327), Conservation Crop Rotation (328), Cover Crop (340), Forage & Biomass Planting (512), and Prescribed Grazing (528).