Effects of planting Italian ryegrass in winter fallow fields on soil fertility and microorganisms

Soil physical properties are important indicators of the potential for agricultural production, and different tillage methods affect the richness and numbers of soil microorganisms. The experiment was carried out to study the effects of a ryegrass-rice rotation on soil fertility and microorganisms. When Italian ryegrass was planted in a winter fallow rice field, the content of soil organic matter was increased by 8.5% and the amount of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil were increased by 8.22%, 7.58%, and 14.96%, respectively. The populations of aerobic bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in the soil were increased by 13.03%, 3.22%, and 4.16%, respectively. Therefore, a ryegrass-rice rotation can not only provide large quantity of animal feed, but also improve soil features and increase crop yields.