Microorganisms and nitrogen turnover in the soil dried by ridged plowing

Cultivation of spring grain crops in the Non-Chernozem Area of the Russian Federation is based on flat plowing. Moreover, flat plowing on sod-podzol drainage soils is done to the whole topsoil depth. However, ridged plowing (in the system of autumn plowing) provides a shorter time and higher quality of fieldwork, faster and more even spring soil drying up to its tilth, creates favorable conditions for biological events therein. This paper presents results of studies conducted in All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands that suggest an effect of autumn ridged plowing on the crop-producing power of spring fodder-grain crops, soil microorganisms, soil nitrogen turnover in conditions of draining. Field tests for the ridged plowing studies were carried out on two cereals: oats and barley. Our experiments showed that the ridged plowing – without any additional expenditures – raised the productivity of the spring cereals by 16.9-17.5 % compared to the ordinary plowing. The ridged plowing provided more favorable conditions for soil nitrogen transformations, enhanced nitrification, improved nitrogen nutrition for the plants, promoted a total increase in the number of soil microorganisms including actinomycetes, autochthonous and nitrogen assimilating ones – but simultaneously lowered the number of the microscopic fungi, vascular wilt causing microorganisms and denitrifiers.