Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.5, 261-269 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 263 2.3 Soil health benefits of triticale cultivation Triticale cultivation offers several benefits for soil health. Its robust root system helps in alleviating soil compaction, which is crucial for maintaining soil structure and promoting water infiltration and root penetration (Calonego and Rosolem, 2010). The inclusion of triticale in crop rotations has been shown to reduce soil salinity and improve soil microbial diversity, which are essential for maintaining soil fertility and health. Moreover, triticale's role in crop rotations can lead to increased soil organic matter and nutrient cycling, thereby enhancing soil fertility. For instance, integrating triticale with cover crops such as millet and sorghum can improve soil nitrogen levels and reduce nitrogen leaching, which is beneficial for subsequent crops like soybean. The use of triticale in organic farming systems has also demonstrated positive residual effects on soil nutrient status and crop yields, further underscoring its value in sustainable agriculture (Kayser et al., 2010). Triticale's agronomic characteristics and its positive impact on soil health make it a valuable crop for rotation systems aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Its ability to thrive in diverse environmental conditions and improve soil fertility highlights its potential as a key component in modern agricultural practices. 3 Environmental Impacts of Triticale Cultivation 3.1 Impact on soil structure and composition Triticale cultivation has been shown to influence soil structure and composition significantly. Studies indicate that crop rotations involving triticale can affect soil air-water properties, particularly macroporosity. For instance, rotations with triticale and other crops like sugar beet and faba bean have been observed to alter the soil moisture characteristic curve, impacting water retention and macropore volume. The highest macropore volume was noted under sugar beet, which increased the volume of regular, irregular, and elongated macropores compared to triticale (Głąb et al., 2013). Additionally, triticale followed by sunn hemp in a no-till system improved soil aggregation and increased total organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations, suggesting that triticale can enhance soil structure when used in appropriate rotations (Rigon et al., 2020). 3.2 Effects on soil microbial activity Triticale cultivation positively impacts soil microbial activity, especially when integrated into crop rotations. A study on the rotation of triticale and sweet sorghum in saline-alkali soils demonstrated a significant increase in soil microbial communities, including bacteria and Actinomycetes, which are crucial for soil health (Zhang et al., 2022). Moreover, crop rotations that include triticale have been shown to enhance soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen pools, which are essential for nutrient cycling and soil fertility. This is particularly evident when triticale is part of a diverse crop rotation system, which can increase microbial biomass by over 20%. 3.3 Contribution to soil organic matter Triticale plays a vital role in contributing to soil organic matter, especially when used in crop rotations. Research indicates that rotations involving triticale can increase total soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations. For example, triticale in rotation with other crops like sunn hemp has been shown to enhance soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions, contributing to improved soil quality. Additionally, crop rotations that include triticale can increase soil organic matter by incorporating high-quality organic inputs, which are crucial for maintaining soil health and productivity (McDaniel et al., 2014). 3.4 Implications for soil erosion control Triticale cultivation can also aid in soil erosion control. Organic farming practices, which often include crop rotations with triticale, have been shown to enhance soil microbial abundance and activity, contributing to better soil structure and reduced erosion (Lori et al., 2017). Furthermore, the inclusion of triticale in crop rotations can improve soil cover and reduce soil salinity, which are critical factors in preventing soil erosion. For instance, high-density planting of triticale in saline soils has been associated with decreased soil salt contents and improved soil structure, thereby reducing the risk of erosion.
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