An evaluation of quantitative variations in the main taxonomic groups of the microbial community during long-term use of the direct seeding technology in Ismayilli Region, Azerbaijan, was the aim of this research. The assessment focused on the quantitative characteristics of the microbial community in agroсenoses using no-till and traditional plowing conducted for variants with various agricultural crops and with or without mineral fertilizer application. The abundance of ecotrophic microbial groups (nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonifiers, denitrifiers, amylolytics, and cellulolytics) received evaluation using the classical method of inoculation on selective media, while assessing the ribosomal genes of archaea, bacteria, and fungi used real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The traditional plowing displayed an enhanced abundance of cultivable aerobic ammonifiers, denitrifiers, aerobic cellulolytics, actinomycetes, and micromycetes. However, the direct sowing with no tillage occurred with numerous anaerobic cellulolytics and nitrogen fixers, aerobic diazotrophs, and amylolytics.
Bacteria, archaea, actinomycetes, micromycetes, traditional plowing, no tillage
Microbial parameters provided valuable information about soil health under different management practices, contributing to the development of effective sustainable land use strategies. Their ratio can also serve as bioindicators of agricultural greening during the transition from traditional plowing to no tillage.