Litter placement effects on microbial and organic matter dynamics in an agroecosystem.

Abstract

Two different agricultural tillage practices were used to study how changes in the structure of the soil-litter system affected litter decomposition rates, microbial community composition, and soil organic matter dynamics. Surface placement of straw in no-till agriculture allowed management of microclimate and microbial populations so that losses of soil organic matter and nutrients were minimized. -from Authors