The solar corridor crop system (SCCS) is designed for improved crop productivity based on highly efficient use of solar radiation by integrating row crops with drilled or solid-seeded crops in broad strips (corridors) that also facilitate establishment of cover crops for year-round soil cover. The SCCS is an agroecosystem with diverse system structure that should inherently provide many features to build soil quality. Management strategies include reduced tillage, intercropping, and soil conservation through crop residue retention, which are associated with improved soil quality attributes of enhanced C and N content, effective nutrient cycling, and high microbial activity. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of SCCS in 76- and 152-cm (corridor) row widths on selected soil quality indicators as an assessment of soil quality during establishment of SCCS. Microbial activity, measured as soil glucosidase activity, was highest in rhizosphere soils planted to corn ( Zea mays L.) hybrids at 74,000 plants ha -1 regardless of row width. However, soil glucosidase activity was strongly correlated ( r2=0.72) with active carbon (AC), and showed trends for increased contents in rows bordering the corridor. This suggested that increased carbon fixation by plants at the wide row spacing due to greater exposure to solar radiation also increased carbon substrates released into the rhizosphere for microbial metabolism. The limited soil quality assessment conducted in this study demonstrated that an integrated cropping system represented by the SCCS offers an effective management system for maintaining crop production while promoting soil quality and soil conservation.
