• Energy Research

Increasing climate change, through its impact on the economy, results in measures to reduce its negative effects. In agriculture, the expected positive effects may come from the implementation of practices with high carbon sequestration potential (e.g., straw incorporation). The idea of using straw as an energy feedstock requires an in-depth analysis of the impact of this practice on the organic carbon content of arable soils. Straw incorporation combined with the use of biopreparations can provide an attractive alternative to conventional fertilization and plant protection systems. This study aimed to assess the effect of straw, effective microorganisms preparation, and biostimulant on the physicochemical and biological soil parameters. The analyses included organic carbon, available P, K, and Mg, total and mineral nitrogen content, pH, bulk density, soil penetration resistance, and the number of soil-culturable heterotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria, and fungi determination. It was found that straw and EM addition resulted in the highest SOC content. Statistically lower values of bulk density and soil penetration resistance were also observed after straw incorporation. The results of our research revealed that, while the addition of straw beneficially affects soil quality, the impact of biopreparations application on soil parameters varies depending on the experimental combination used.

Properly selected tillage methods and management of the available organic matter resources are considered important measures to enable farming in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. Depending on the depth and intensity of cultivation, tillage practices affect soil chemical composition, structure and biological activity. The three-year experiment was performed on the soil under spring wheat (cv. Tybalt) short-time cultivation. The influence of different tillage systems and stubble management on the soil’s chemical and biological parameters was analyzed. Organic carbon content (OC); content of biologically available phosphorus (Pa), potassium (Ka), and magnesium (Mg); content of total nitrogen (TN), mineral nitrogen forms: N-NO3 and N-NH4 were determined in various soil samples. Moreover, the total number of microorganisms (TNM), bacteria (B), actinobacteria (A), fungi (F); soil respiratory activity (SR); and pH in 1 M KCl (pH) were also investigated. The results show that organic matter amendment is of greater influence on soil characteristics than the tillage system applied. Manure application, as well as leaving the straw in the field, resulted in higher amounts of organic carbon and biologically available potassium. A significant increase in the number of soil microorganisms was also observed in soil samples from the experimental plots including this procedure.