Abstract This study investigated a low-external-input sustainable-agriculture (LEISA) rice production system in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) that applied ecological principles to create waterbird habitat and enhance soil fertility. Two production sites were selected for this study (LEISA and conventional). Each production site applied a flooded treatment and a fallow treatment to select fields during the non-growing season (November 2017- March 2018). Bird fecal matter inputs and soil microbial bacteria/activity and nutrient content were quantified and compared between fields. Significantly more % total nitrogen, % total carbon, microbial richness and activity (P > 13 %, while increasing soil organic carbon. This case study provides a foundation for future research into the agronomic benefits of creating bird habitat in rice fields, while documenting how conservation strategies support agronomic production and sustainability to foster conservation adoption.

中文翻译：

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低外部投入的可持续农业：稻田的冬季洪水增加了鸟类的使用、粪便物质和土壤健康，减少了肥料需求

摘要 本研究调查了密西西比冲积谷 (MAV) 的低外部投入可持续农业 (LEISA) 水稻生产系统，该系统应用生态学原理创造水鸟栖息地并提高土壤肥力。本研究选择了两个生产地点（LEISA 和传统）。每个生产基地在非生长季节（2017 年 11 月至 2018 年 3 月）对选择的田地进行了淹水处理和休耕处理。对鸟类粪便物质输入和土壤微生物细菌/活性和养分含量进行量化并在田间进行比较。显着更高的总氮百分比、总碳百分比、微生物丰富度和活性（P > 13 %，同时增加土壤有机碳。该案例研究为未来研究在稻田中创造鸟类栖息地的农艺效益奠定了基础，