scholarly journals Soil structure after 18 years of long-term different tillage systems and fertilisation in Haplic Luvisol

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Šimanský Vladimír ◽  
Lukáč Martin
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Water Stable Aggregates

Soil structure is a key determinant of many soil environmental processes and is essential for supporting terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Management of arable soils plays a significant role in forming and maintaining their structure. Between 1994 and 2011, we studied the influence of soil tillage and fertilisation regimes on the stability of soil structure of loamy Haplic Luvisol in a replicated long-term field experiment in the Dolná Malanta locality (Slovakia). Soil samples were repeatedly collected from plots exposed to the following treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) combined with conventional (NPK) and crop residue-enhanced fertilisation (CR+NPK). MT resulted in an increase of critical soil organic matter content (St) by 7% in comparison with CT. Addition of crop residues and NPK fertilisers significantly increased St values (by 7%) in comparison with NPK-only treatments. Soil tillage and fertilisation did not have any significant impact on other parameters of soil structure such as dry sieving mean weight diameters (MWD), mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD<sub>WSA</sub>), vulnerability coefficient (Kv), stability index of water-stable aggregates (Sw), index of crusting (Ic), contents of water-stable macro- (WSA<sub>ma</sub>) and micro-aggregates (WSA<sub>mi</sub>). Ic was correlated with organic matter content in all combinations of treatments. Surprisingly, humus quality did not interact with soil management practices to affect soil structure parameters. Higher sums of base cations, CEC and base saturation (Bs) were linked to higher Sw values, however higher values of hydrolytic acidity (Ha) resulted in lower aggregate stability in CT treatments. Higher content of K<sup>+</sup> was responsible for higher values of MWD<sub>WSA </sub>and MWD in CT. In MT, contents of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> were significantly correlated with contents of WSA<sub>mi </sub>and WSA<sub>ma</sub>. Higher contents of Na<sup>+</sup> negatively affected St values and positive correlations were detected between Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> and Ic in NPK treatments.

scholarly journals Long Term Impact of Sludge Application in Maize Farm

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Adelcia Veiga ◽  
Carla Ferreira ◽  
Luís Pinto ◽  
Anne-Karine Boulet ◽  
Eunice Louro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Sludge Application ◽  
Composted Sludge

Intensification of agriculture worldwide has led to a growing awareness on their environmental impacts, namely on soil quality and long term impact on crop productivity. As a consequence, there is an increasing concern regarding best agricultural management practices and their impact on physical, chemical and biological soil properties. In the Centre region of Portugal, maize is one of the most important arable crops and represents more than 32% of the cultivated area. Maize fields have been intensively managed under conventional practices, but increasing land degradation is leading farmers to adopt improved management practices, such as the application of composted sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants. This study aims to assess the long term impact of composted sludge application as soil amendment in maize cropping fields. The study was performed in Baixo Mondego, in central region of Portugal, largely devoted to agriculture and where maize is one of the most relevant crops. The study was performed in two study sites with similar soil and weather characteristics - one managed under conventional practices, with intensive application of fertilizers, and another field where a significant part of mineral fertilizers is replaced by composted sludge. Both sites use these agricultural management practices for more than 5 years. In 2018, two soil sampling campaigns were performed to assess the physical (texture and bulk density) and chemical soil properties (organic matter content, total nitrogen, total and extractable phosphorus, exchangeable cation (K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn and Ni)). Results show that composted sludge improves soil organic matter content (1.2% vs. 2.2%), total (2747 mg kg-1 vs. 1134 mg kg-1) and available phosphorous (821.85 mg kg-1 vs. 98.44 mg kg-1) comparing with conventional management practices. Higher contents of heavy metals, specifically Cu, Zn, Cd and Cr, were found in the field with sludge application than in the conventional one, which may represent a long term risk for soil contamination. Information regarding the long term impacts of best management practices on soil quality is relevant and should guide farmers and policy makers to attain agricultural sustainability.

Comparison of the mineralogical effects of an experimental forest fire on a goethite/ferrihydrite soil with a topsoil that contains hematite, maghemite and goethite

Clay Minerals ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Nørnberg ◽  
A. L. Vendelboe ◽  
H. P. Gunnlaugsson ◽  
J. P. Merrison ◽  
K. Finster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Fe Mineralogy ◽  
Reducing Environment

AbstractA long-standing unresolved puzzle related to the Danish temperate humid climate is the presence of extended areas with large Fe contents, where goethite and ferrihydrite are present in the topsoil along with hematite and maghemite. Hematite and, particularly, maghemite would normally be interpreted as the result of high temperature as found after forest fires. However, a body of evidence argues against these sites having been exposed to fire. In an attempt to get closer to an explanation of this Fe mineralogy, an experimental forest fire was produced. The results showed a clear mineralogical zonation down to 10 cm depth. This was not observed at the natural sites, which contained a mixture of goethite/ferrihydrite, hematite and maghemite down to 20 cm depth. The experimental forest fire left charcoal and ashes at the topsoil, produced high pH and decreased organic matter content, all of which is in contrast to the natural sites. The conclusion from this work is that the mineralogy of these sites is not consistent with exposure to forest fire, but may instead result from long-term transformation in a reducing environment, possibly involving microbiology.

The Effects of Long‐Term Land‐Use Change on Soil Properties in Perth, Ontario Canada

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trina Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
North America ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Topographic Gradients

Land‐use change can have a major impact on soil properties, leading to long‐term changes in soilnutrient cycling rates and carbon storage. While a substantial amount of research has been conducted onland‐use change in tropical regions, empirical evidence of long‐term conversion of forested land toagricultural land in North America is lacking. Pervasive deforestation for the sake of agriculturethroughout much of North America is likely to have modified soil properties, with implications for theglobal climate. Here, we examined the response of physical, chemical and biological soil properties toconversion of forest to agricultural land (100 years ago) on Roebuck Farm near Perth, Ontario, Canada.Soil samples were collected at three sites from under forest and agricultural vegetative cover on bothhigh‐ and low‐lying topographic positions (12 locations in total; soil profile sampled to a depth of 40cm).Our results revealed that bulk density, pH, and nitrate concentrations were all higher in soils collectedfrom cultivate sites. In contrast, samples from forested sites exhibited greater water‐holding capacity,porosity, organic matter content, ammonia concentrations and cation exchange capacity. Many of these characteristics are linked to greater organic matter abundance and diversity in soils under forestvegetation as compared with agricultural soils. Microbial activity and Q10 values were also higher in theforest soils. While soil properties in the forest were fairly similar across topographic gradients, low‐lyingpositions under agricultural regions had higher bulk density and organic matter content than upslopepositions, suggesting significant movement of material along topographic gradients. Differences in soilproperties are attributed largely to increased compaction and loss of organic matter inputs in theagricultural system. Our results suggest that the conversion of forested land cover to agriculture landcover reduces soil quality and carbon storage, alters long‐term site productivity, and contributes toincreased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Log landings are methane emission hotspots in managed forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Vantellingen ◽  
Sean C. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Emission Rate ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Managed Forests

Log landings are areas within managed forests used to process and store felled trees prior to transport. Through their construction and use soil is removed or redistributed, compacted, and organic matter contents may be increased by incorporation of wood fragments. The effects of these changes to soil properties on methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) flux is unclear and unstudied. We quantified CH<sub>4</sub> flux rates from year-old landings in Ontario, Canada, and examined spatial variability and relationships to soil properties within these sites. Landings emitted CH<sub>4</sub> throughout the growing season; the average CH<sub>4</sub> emission rate from log landings was 69.2 ± 12.8 nmol m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> (26.2 ± 4.8 g CH<sub>4</sub> C m<sup>-2</sup> y<sup>-1</sup>), a rate comparable to CH<sub>4</sub>-emitting wetlands. Emission rates were correlated to soil pH, organic matter content and quantities of buried woody debris. These properties led to strong CH<sub>4</sub> emissions, or “hotspots”, in certain areas of landings, particularly where processing of logs occurred and incorporated woody debris into the soil. At the forest level, emissions from landings were estimated to offset ~12% of CH<sub>4</sub> consumption from soils within the harvest area, although making up only ~0.5% of the harvest area. Management practices to avoid or remediate these emissions should be developed as a priority measure in “climate-smart” forestry.

scholarly journals Sludge Treatment for Application in Agriculture Should be the Option Number One for Ukraine

2017 ◽  
pp. 356-362
Author(s):  
Lidiia Svirenko ◽  
Viktoriia Bondar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Climatic Zones

Ukraine is well-known in the world as a country with soil rich for humus. Approximately 68% of arable soils in Ukraine have been classificated as chernozem. For last decades decrease of organic matter content in soils of various agri-climatic zones has been surveyed in the country. The main reason of the mentioned process is enormous lack of organic fertilizer (manure) in agriculture connected with decrease in livestock (in 3 times since year 1992). Besides there is expansion of technical crops for biofuel production (like Brassica napus, Helianthus annuus), which are the provocateurs of soils exhaustion. At the same time such important source of organic matter for application in agriculture as sewage sludge (SS) from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is not used in Ukraine nowadays. To stop arable soils degradation in regions it is necessary to develop up-to-date management for fertilizer production on WWTPs. The base for the process has to be the acceptance of the goal-oriented National programme, corresponding governmental decrees and implementation of national standard for using sewage sludge as fertilizer.

scholarly journals Effects of different soil management practices on soil properties and microbial diversity

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Gajda ◽  
Ewa A. Czyż ◽  
Anthony R. Dexter ◽  
Karolina M. Furtak ◽  
Jarosław Grządziel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Soil Microbial Activity ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Reduced Tillage

AbstractThe effects of different tillage systems on the properties and microbial diversity of an agricultural soil was investigated. In doing so, soil physical, chemical and biological properties were analysed in 2013-2015, on a long-term field experiment on a loamy sand at the IUNG-PIB Experimental Station in Grabów, Poland. Winter wheat was grown under two tillage treatments: conventional tillage using a mouldboard plough and traditional soil tillage equipment, and reduced tillage based on soil crushing-loosening equipment and a rigid-tine cultivator. Chopped wheat straw was used as a mulch on both treatments. Reduced tillage resulted in increased water content throughout the whole soil profile, in comparison with conventional tillage. Under reduced tillage, the content of readily dispersible clay was also reduced, and, therefore, soil stability was increased in the toplayers, compared with conventional tillage. In addition, the beneficial effects of reduced tillage were reflected in higher soil microbial activity as measured with dehydrogenases and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate, compared with conventional tillage. Moreover, the polimerase chain reaction – denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed that soil under reduced till-age had greater diversity of microbial communities, compared with conventionally-tilled soil. Finally, reduced tillage increased organic matter content, stability in water and microbial diversity in the top layer of the soil.

Measuring Soil Loss and Subsequent Nutrient and Organic Matter Loss on Farmland

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vito Ferro ◽  
Vincenzo Bagarello
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
Rill Erosion

Field plots are often used to obtain experimental data (soil loss values corresponding to different climate, soil, topographic, crop, and management conditions) for predicting and evaluating soil erosion and sediment yield. Plots are used to study physical phenomena affecting soil detachment and transport, and their sizes are determined according to the experimental objectives and the type of data to be obtained. Studies on interrill erosion due to rainfall impact and overland flow need small plot width (2–3 m) and length (< 10 m), while studies on rill erosion require plot lengths greater than 6–13 m. Sites must be selected to represent the range of uniform slopes prevailing in the farming area under consideration. Plots equipped to study interrill and rill erosion, like those used for developing the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), measure erosion from the top of a slope where runoff begins; they must be wide enough to minimize the edge or border effects and long enough to develop downslope rills. Experimental stations generally include bounded runoff plots of known rea, slope steepness, slope length, and soil type, from which both runoff and soil loss can be monitored. Once the boundaries defining the plot area are fixed, a collecting equipment must be used to catch the plot runoff. A conveyance system (H-flume or pipe) carries total runoff to a unit sampling the sediment and a storage system, such as a sequence of tanks, in which sediments are accumulated. Simple methods have been developed for estimating the mean sediment concentration of all runoff stored in a tank by using the vertical concentration profile measured on a side of the tank. When a large number of plots are equipped, the sampling of suspension and consequent oven-drying in the laboratory are highly time-consuming. For this purpose, a sampler that can extract a column of suspension, extending from the free surface to the bottom of the tank, can be used. For large plots, or where runoff volumes are high, a divisor that splits the flow into equal parts and passes one part in a storage tank as a sample can be used. Examples of these devices include the Geib multislot divisor and the Coshocton wheel. Specific equipment and procedures must be employed to detect the soil removed by rill and gully erosion. Because most of the soil organic matter is found close to the soil surface, erosion significantly decreases soil organic matter content. Several studies have demonstrated that the soil removed by erosion is 1.3–5 times richer in organic matter than the remaining soil. Soil organic matter facilitates the formation of soil aggregates, increases soil porosity, and improves soil structure, facilitating water infiltration. The removal of organic matter content can influence soil infiltration, soil structure, and soil erodibility.

Compaction of forest soils. A review

Soil Research ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
EL Greacen ◽  
R Sands
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Soils ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Water Regime ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Predictive Tool ◽  
Soil Water Regime ◽  
Heavy Loads

The problem of soil compaction in forestry differs from that in agriculture because of differences in the nature of the crop, in particular the weight and size of the plant members and the length of time that they persist. The roots compact the soil as they increase in size, but they also transmit the weight of the tree and forces generated by the wind onto the soil. There are important differences in management practices; in forestry modern harvesting machines apply heavy loads and, for reasons of cost, tend to be kept in operation throughout the year. As a consequence the structure of the soil suffers some damage, often manifested as compaction. Compaction arising from such sources may reduce the growth of the current trees or trees subsequently planted on the site. But it is difficult to predict the extent of such reduction, if any, because of the complex of interactions involved. Important factors concerned, namely, the soil water regime and the organic matter content, are emphasized. A conceptual model is proposed as a predictive tool. The mechanics of soil compaction, the effects of compaction on the physical properties of the soil, and techniques for the prevention and amelioration of compaction of forest soils, are discussed.

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