Sandy soil often has low soil organic matter (SOM) content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and water storage levels. Sandy soil requires specific management techniques to improve soil quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemical characteristics and microbial activity of sandy soil, as well as the effects of different rotation systems on crop yield in these environments. The treatments consisted of cultivation with cover crops in the off-season. The following cover crop treatments were used: fallow, a single grass species (SG), two grass species (G + G), mixture of three or more crop species (MIX), and a grass and legume combination (G + L). Corn and sorghum yields were highest with the fallow treatment. Cotton yield was highest with fallow and G + G treatments. Soybean yield was lowest with the SG treatment. The use of SG resulted in the highest SOM content in the 0–10 cm layer. Phosphorus (P) content was highest in treatments with the lowest biomass content (fallow and G + L); potassium content and CEC levels were highest in treatments with cover crops. The G + L resulted in levels of dehydrogenase and enzyme activity (DEA) that were 50% higher than the fallow. When compared with the fallow, the MIX increased microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) by 66 and 90%, respectively. The implementation of cover crop systems in sandy soil under no-till improved microbial soil activity even in the first year, but benefits to yield and soil chemistry occurred only after the third year of cultivation.

沙质土壤通常具有较低的土壤有机质（SOM）含量，阳离子交换容量（CEC）和储水量。沙质土壤需要特殊的管理技术来改善土壤质量。这项研究的目的是评估沙质土壤的化学特性和微生物活性，以及​​在这些环境中不同轮作系统对作物产量的影响。处理方法包括在淡季种植覆盖作物。使用了以下覆盖作物处理：休耕，单一草种（SG），两种草种（G + G），三种或更多种作物种的混合物（MIX）以及草和豆科植物的组合（G + L）。休耕处理的玉米和高粱产量最高。休耕和G + G处理的棉花单产最高。SG处理的大豆单产最低。SG的使用导致0-10 cm层中的SOM含量最高。磷（P）含量在生物质含量最低（休闲和G + L）的处理中最高；覆盖作物的处理中钾含量和CEC水平最高。G + L导致脱氢酶和酶活性（DEA）的水平比休耕期高50％。与休耕相比，MIX使微生物生物量碳（MBC）和氮（MBN）分别增加了66％和90％。免耕在沙质土壤上实施覆盖作物系统即使在第一年也能提高微生物土壤活性，但是对产量和土壤化学的好处直到耕种第三年才出现。覆盖作物的处理中钾含量和CEC水平最高。G + L导致脱氢酶和酶活性（DEA）的水平比休耕期高50％。与休耕相比，MIX使微生物生物量碳（MBC）和氮（MBN）分别增加了66％和90％。在免耕条件下在沙质土壤上实施覆盖作物系统即使在第一年也能提高微生物土壤活性，但是对产量和土壤化学的好处直到耕种第三年才出现。覆盖作物的处理中钾含量和CEC水平最高。G + L导致脱氢酶和酶活性（DEA）的水平比休耕期高50％。与休耕相比，MIX使微生物生物量碳（MBC）和氮（MBN）分别增加了66％和90％。免耕在沙质土壤上实施覆盖作物系统即使在第一年也能提高微生物土壤活性，但是对产量和土壤化学的好处直到耕种第三年才出现。