# Effects on Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity Under Residual Agricultural Gypsum and Azospirillum brasilense in Cover Crops in a Consolidated No-Tillage System

## TL;DR

This study shows that using Azospirillum brasilense with cover crops in no-tillage systems improves soil fertility and crop yields in tropical soils.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the long-term benefits of inoculating cover crops with Azospirillum brasilense in no-tillage systems.

## Key findings

- Inoculated grasses increased yields of soybean, sorghum, and black oat.
- Inoculation improved soil fertility by increasing base sum and cation exchange capacity.
- Gypsum application enhanced soil conditioning and increased calcium levels after 40 months.

## Abstract

Most tropical soils, as in the case of Brazil, are highly weathered, with low fertility, high acidity, and toxic aluminum, which limits crop management. Promoting root development is essential to overcome these constraints, and agricultural gypsum has shown positive effects in no-tillage systems. This study evaluated the residual effects of five gypsum rates in an integrated crop–livestock system, with or without inoculation of rotation grasses with Azospirillum brasilense, on crop productivity and soil fertility over 40 months. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme. Inoculated grasses increased yields of soybean, sorghum intercropped with Paiaguás grass, and black oat, whereas non-inoculated areas had the highest corn yield, likely due to hybrid metabolism. Gypsum had limited effects on crop yields, with lower doses performing slightly better. Inoculation improved soil fertility, increasing base sum, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation up to 0.60 m depth at 18 and 40 months. After 40 months, gypsum enhanced soil conditioning and increased calcium, sun of bases, and base saturation. Overall, inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense in rotation grasses under long-term no-tillage systems enhanced crop productivity and contributed to improved soil fertility.