Soil health in agricultural systems Kibblewhite, M.G; Ritz, K; Swift, M.J
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological sciences,
02/2008, Letnik:
363, Številka:
1492
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Soil health is presented as an integrative property that reflects the capacity of soil to respond to agricultural intervention, so that it continues to support both the agricultural production and ...the provision of other ecosystem services. The major challenge within sustainable soil management is to conserve ecosystem service delivery while optimizing agricultural yields. It is proposed that soil health is dependent on the maintenance of four major functions: carbon transformations; nutrient cycles; soil structure maintenance; and the regulation of pests and diseases. Each of these functions is manifested as an aggregate of a variety of biological processes provided by a diversity of interacting soil organisms under the influence of the abiotic soil environment. Analysis of current models of the soil community under the impact of agricultural interventions (particularly those entailing substitution of biological processes with fossil fuel-derived energy or inputs) confirms the highly integrative pattern of interactions within each of these functions and leads to the conclusion that measurement of individual groups of organisms, processes or soil properties does not suffice to indicate the state of the soil health. A further conclusion is that quantifying the flow of energy and carbon between functions is an essential but non-trivial task for the assessment and management of soil health.
Soil information is needed for environmental monitoring to address current concerns over food, water and energy securities, land degradation, and climate change. We developed the Soil Condition ...ANalysis System (SCANS) to help address these needs. It integrates an automated soil core sensing system (CSS) with statistical analytics and modeling to characterize soil at fine depth resolutions and across landscapes. The CSS’s sensors include a γ-ray attenuation densitometer to measure bulk density, digital cameras to image the measured soil, and a visible–near-infrared (vis–NIR) spectrometer to measure iron oxides and clay mineralogy. The spectra are also modeled to estimate total soil organic carbon (C), particulate, humus, and resistant organic C (POC, HOC, and ROC, respectively), clay content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, volumetric water content, available water capacity (AWC), and their uncertainties. Measurements of bulk density and organic C are combined to estimate C stocks. Kalman smoothing is used to derive complete soil property profiles with propagated uncertainties. The SCANS provides rapid, precise, quantitative, and spatially explicit information about the properties of soil profiles with a level of detail that is difficult to obtain with other approaches. The information gained effectively deepens our understanding of soil and calls attention to the central role soil plays in our environment.
Abstract Mycorrhiza, functioning as a biofertilizer, have the capacity to improve soil fertility, including Andisols which is cultivated by patchouli. This research objective to produce mycorrhizal ...as a biofertilizer to increase the growth of patchouli. Additionally, the effect of mycorrhizal types on the seedlings of patchouli in Andisols was studied. Propagation mycorrhizae carried out the exploration of mycorrhizae on Andisols Bener Meriah, and the carrier was Glomus mosseae, Gigaspora , and a mixture of Glomus mosseae and Gigaspora sp . and then the mycorrhizal biofertilizer was tested to patchouli seedling. The parameters observed in this study included the colonization of patchouli root, initial soil analysis, and patchouli seedling growth. The output in this study is a product in the form of a local specific strain of Bener Meriah biofertilizer. The results obtained have succeeded in the propagation mycorrhizal biofertilizers with the carrier Glomus mosseae, Gigaspora , and a mixture of Glomus mosseae and Gigaspora sp . The highest 90% mycorrhizal colonization was found in the mixed mycorrhizal carrier Glomus mosseae + Gigaspora sp . The growth of patchouli seedlings increased, and the highest patchouli growth was observed the combination of mycorrhizal Glomus mosseae and Gigaspora sp . application
Abstract Red chili the vegetable commodities with significant economic value. The supply of chili is often constrained, so it is necessary to increase the land. Land suitability evaluation is needed ...to determine the suitable of land in Mangunan, Bantul for cultivation of red chili. The objective of this study is to identify land characteristics for red chili to facilitate the expansion of cultivation areas. The study was done using a survey method The soil analysis is conducted in accordance with the methodology prescribed by the Indonesian Centre for Land Resources and Agriculture. The results showed that the actual land suitability at altitudes of 0-300 m asl is S3 with a limiting factor being P element. The height of 300-350 m asl is N with limiting factor slope of land. At altitudes of 350-400 and 400-450 m asl is S3 with limiting factors C- organic and P element. After evaluation and improvement efforts, the suitability of potential land at an altitude of 0-300, 350-400 and 400-450 m asl was S2 with improve the addition of organic matter or fertilization P. The altitude of 300-350 m asl was S3 with improve making bench terraces and parallel planting.
Intensive use of N fertilizers in modern agriculture is motivated by the economic value of high grain yields and is generally perceived to sequester soil organic C by increasing the input of crop ...residues. This perception is at odds with a century of soil organic C data reported herein for the Morrow Plots, the world's oldest experimental site under continuous corn (Zea mays L.). After 40 to 50 yr of synthetic fertilization that exceeded grain N removal by 60 to 190%, a net decline occurred in soil C despite increasingly massive residue C incorporation, the decline being more extensive for a corn–soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) or corn–oats (Avena sativa L.)–hay rotation than for continuous corn and of greater intensity for the profile (0–46 cm) than the surface soil. These findings implicate fertilizer N in promoting the decomposition of crop residues and soil organic matter and are consistent with data from numerous cropping experiments involving synthetic N fertilization in the USA Corn Belt and elsewhere, although not with the interpretation usually provided. There are important implications for soil C sequestration because the yield‐based input of fertilizer N has commonly exceeded grain N removal for corn production on fertile soils since the 1960s. To mitigate the ongoing consequences of soil deterioration, atmospheric CO2 enrichment, and NO3− pollution of ground and surface waters, N fertilization should be managed by site‐specific assessment of soil N availability. Current fertilizer N management practices, if combined with corn stover removal for bioenergy production, exacerbate soil C loss.
Contamination of soil interstitial waters by labile heavy metals such as Cu(II), Cd(II), and Ni(II) is of worldwide concern. Carbonaceous materials such as char and activated carbon have received ...considerable attention in recent years as soil amendment for both sequestering heavy metal contaminants and releasing essential nutrients like sulfur. Information is currently lacking in how aging impacts the integrity of biochars as soil amendment for both agricultural and environmental remediation purposes. Major contributors to biochar aging in soils are: sorption of environmental constituents, especially natural organic matter (NOM), and oxidation. To investigate the impact of NOM and organic fractions of chars, we employed broiler litter-derived chars and steam-activated carbons that underwent varying degrees of carbonization, in the presence and absence of NOM having known carboxyl contents. For aging by oxidation, we employed phosphoric acid activated carbons that underwent varying degrees of oxidation during activation. The results suggest that the organic fractions of biochars, and NOM having high carboxyl contents can mobilize Cu(II) retained by alkaline soil. Base treatment of broiler litter-derived char formed at low pyrolysis temperature (350°C) improved the immobilization of all heavy metals investigated, and the extent of immobilization was similar to, or slightly greater than pecan shell-derived phosphoric acid activated carbons. Portions of total sulfur were released in soluble form in soil amended with broiler litter-derived carbons, but not pecan shell-derived phosphoric acid activated carbons.
Abstract
The article presents data on the influence of various types of spherical disks on the discarding of soil in the horizontal and vertical planes during its processing. These studies were ...conducted in order to optimize the selection of working bodies of disk tillage machines in terms of resistance and processing quality. Three types of disks were used in the comparative analysis. Two types of discs with cutouts and one solid spherical disc. On one type of disk, the cutouts are made in the form of circular arcs, and on the other-in the form of arcs of a logarithmic spiral. The conducted studies have shown that within the working surface of the disk, the trajectories of movement of soil particles under the influence of the three types of disks under study differ little from each other. Although it can be noted that the steeper rise of the trajectory in the vertical plane provides a solid disk, and the smallest rise of the trajectory - at the disk with cutouts in the form of a logarithmic spiral. In the horizontal plane, the longitudinal movement of the soil mass is less in disks with cutouts, especially in a disk with cutouts along the arc of a logarithmic spiral. As a result of these studies, it was revealed that the disk working bodies with cutouts on the cutting edge in the form of arcs of a logarithmic spiral showed the best quality and energy indicators.
Abstract A large-scale gas transmission pipeline project will pass through typical saline soil areas in Xinjiang, China, to find out the influence of the saline soil on the long-distance pipeline in ...this area, this paper investigates the corrosive behavior of X80 pipeline steel embedded in saline soil with multiple corrosion intensities. Firstly, NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , NaHCO 3 , and deionized water were used to simulate the saline soil with different corrosion intensities, and then the corrosion test of X80 steel was carried out. A scanning electron microscope was used to observe the X80 steel before and after corrosion. Finally, the weight loss method was used to calculate the corrosion rate, and the corrosive behavior of X80 pipeline steel in Xinjiang saline soil environment was analyzed. The results show that: (1) X80 steel is susceptible to pitting corrosion in the saline soil environment; (2) the rate and level of corrosion were mainly related to the content of Cl − and SO 4 2− . The greater the content, the stronger the pipeline is corroded; (3) the rate and level of corrosion were positively correlated with the corrosion intensities of saline soils.
Steroids are used as faecal markers in environmental and in archaeological studies, because they provide insights into ancient agricultural practices and the former presence of animals. Up to now, ...steroid analyses could only identify and distinguish between herbivore, pig, and human faecal matter and their residues in soils and sediments. We hypothesized that a finer differentiation between faeces of different livestock animals could be achieved when the analyses of several steroids is combined (Δ5-sterols, 5α-stanols, 5β-stanols, epi-5β-stanols, stanones, and bile acids). We therefore reviewed the existing literature on various faecal steroids from livestock and humans and analysed faeces from old livestock breed (cattle, horse, donkey, sheep, goat, goose, and pig) and humans. Additionally, we performed steroid analyses on soil material of four different archaeological periods (sites located in the Lower Rhine Basin, Western Germany, dating to the Linearbandkeramik, Urnfield Period / Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Age) with known or supposed faecal inputs. By means of already established and newly applied steroid ratios of the analysed faeces together with results from the literature, all considered livestock faeces, except sheep and cattle, could be distinguished on the basis of their steroid signatures. Most remarkably was the identification of horse faeces (via the ratio: epi-5β-stigmastanol: 5β-stigmastanol + epicoprostanol: coprostanol; together with the presence of chenodeoxycholic acid) and a successful differentiation between goat (with chenodeoxycholic acid) and sheep/cattle faeces (without chenodeoxycholic acid). The steroid analysis of archaeological soil material confirmed the supposed faecal inputs, even if these inputs had occurred several thousand years ago.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Rapid infrastructure development in Malaysia especially in Selangor causes drastic change in landscape and clearing of more vegetated areas. This has gradually lead to slope instability problems that ...causes enormous loss affecting human lives, destruction of property and environment. Thus, conservation practices by incorporating vegetation to enhance slope stability is much needed alternative to the conventional technique of stabilization. Limited studies had been done in discovering the effectiveness of vegetative covers in relation to slope and soil parameters. Hence, in this paper, a parametric study is carried out to discover the relationship between some of the various vegetation species and different soil types as well as slope angles. Conventional limit equilibrium methods are applied in the analysis considering the soil shear strength parameters, unit weight of soil, as well as slope geometry. Typical scenarios of cut-slope along highways in Selangor are simulated in order to obtain comparable results from the stability assessment by means of calculating the factor of safety. The modelling showed that shallow slip failure can be prevented when sufficient number of roots of a certain tensile force interact with the slip plane, increasing the overall factor of safety of the slope. The percentage of FOS increased due to the vegetation effects can reach up to 43% with slope angles ranging between 15° and 25°. Moreover, based on the parametric study, silty soils showed more significance in contributing to the increase in FOS when incorporating vegetation.
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