Harnessing the Power of Organic Amendments: Enhancing Soil Microbiota and Functions in the Rhizosphere of Maize

Soil degradation and declining fertility are pressing concerns in modern agriculture, compromising soil health and ecosystem services. This five-year field study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of soil amendments on soil microbiota and functions in the rhizosphere of maize plants, addressing the need for sustainable agricultural practices that promote soil health and ecosystem services. A 5-year field trial was setup in the monomodal rainforest agro-ecology in Littoral region of Cameroon, using a split plot design. Four soil fertility management options were evaluated with four replications, including chemical inputs, organic inputs (poultry droppings, cow dung, and mucuna green manure), combined chemical and organic inputs, and a virgin forest as a control. Results showed that organic inputs significantly ( P  < 0.001) enhanced soil microbial biomass (1293 mg ^− 1 kg ^− 1 soil) and enzyme activities, including acid phosphatase (43.98 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil), alkaline phosphatase 16.23 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil), urease (57.17 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil), β-glucosidase (6.54 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil), and arylamidase (2.49 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil), compared to chemical inputs (742 mg ^− 1 kg ^− 1 soil, 21.66 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil, 3.81 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil, 46.79 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil, 2.61 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil, and 0.86 mU ^− 1 g ^− 1 soil, respectively). Organic inputs also modulated soil pH (6.23), increased organic matter content (7.53%), and improved nutrient availability. The combined treatment showed intermediate effects, while chemical inputs alone resulted in reduced soil pH, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities. The study highlights the benefits of integrating organic amendments into agricultural practices to promote soil health, fertility, and ecosystem services. These findings have significant implications for developing eco-friendly and sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize soil health and ecosystem functioning.