There are few studies about the impact of sewage sludge on the biological properties in Alfisols of the Chilean Coastal Range drylands. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate its effect on the microbial respiration and enzymatic activities of a degraded Alfisol located in the Bío Bío Region (Chile) that was cropped with yellow serradela (Ornithopus compressus L.). Sludge was added to the soil at rates of 15, 30, and 60 t ha-1; he following treatments were defined: L15-P = 15 t ha-1 sludge + O. compressus; L30-P = 30 t ha-1 sludge + O. compressus; L60-P = 60 t ha-1 sludge + O. compressus; L15 = 15 t ha-1 sludge; L30 = 30 t ha-1 sludge; L60 = 60 t ha-1 sludge; CP = non-amended soil, cropped; and C = non-amended soil, no crop. Soil microorganism... |