Inter‐community and on‐farm asymmetric organic matter allocation patterns drive soil fertility gradients in a rural Andean landscape

Soil nutrients are essential nutrients provided by soil for plant growth. Most researchers focus on the coupling effect of nutrients with potato yield and quality. There are few studies on the evaluation of soil nutrients in potato fields. The purpose of this study is to investigate the soil nutrients of potato farmland and the soil vertical nutrient distributions, and then to provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the fertilizer management practices for potatoes in Loess Plateau. Eight physical and chemical soil indexes were selected in the study area, and 810 farmland soil samples from the potato agriculture product areas were analyzed in Northern Shaanxi. The paper established the minimum data set (MDS) for the quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland by principal component analysis (PCA), respectively, and furthermore, analyzed the soil nutrient characteristics of the cultivated layer adopted soil quality index (SQI). The results showed that the MDS on soil quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland soil included such indicators as the soil organic matter content, soil available potassium content, and soil available phosphorus content. The comprehensive index value of the soil quality was between 0.064 and 0.302. The SPSS average clustering process used to classify SQI was divided into three grades: class I (36.2%) was defined as suitable soil fertility (SQI < 0.122), class II (55.6%) was defined as moderate soil fertility (0.122 < SQI < 0.18), and class III (8.2%) was defined as poor soil fertility (SQI > 0.186). The comprehensive quality of the potato farmland soils was generally low. The proportion of soil nutrients in the SQI composition ranged from large to small as the soil available potassium content = soil available phosphorus content > soil organic matter content, which became the limiting factor of the soil organic matter content in this area. This study revolves around the 0 to 60 cm soil layer; the soil fertility decreased gradually with the soil depth, and had significant differences between the respective soil layers. In order to improve the soil nutrient accumulation and potato yield in potato farmland in northern Shaanxi, it is suggested to increase the fertilization depth (20 to 40 cm) and further study the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer.

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Soil fertility relates to fungal‐mediated decomposition and organic matter turnover in a temperate mountain forest

New Phytologist ◽

10.1111/nph.17421 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mathias Mayer ◽

Boris Rewald ◽

Bradley Matthews ◽

Hans Sandén ◽

Christoph Rosinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Mountain Forest ◽

Organic Matter Turnover

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Soil fertility status of some of the intensive crop growing areas under major agroecological zones of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.3329/bjar.v41i4.30705 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 735-757 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

NC Shil ◽

MA Saleque ◽

MR Islam ◽

M Jahiruddin

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Calcareous Soils ◽

Clay Content ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Exchangeable K ◽

Low Level ◽

Fertility Status ◽

Agroecological Zones ◽

High Level

Laboratory studies on soil fertility evaluation was carried out across major agroecological zones (AEZs) of Bangladesh to know the nutrient status of soils and to relate those with soil properties like pH, organic matter, CEC, and clay content. Thirty five composite soil samples were collected from intensive crop growing sites, which covered 17 AEZs of Bangladesh. After proper processing, the samples were analyzed for texture, pH, organic carbon, CEC, exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na), total N, available P and S following standard methods. The textural class of the soils collected from AEZ 12 and 13 appeared to be mostly clay. Clay loam soil was found in AEZ 4, 8, 9, 11, 25 and 28. Loamy soil was seen in AEZ 1 while AEZ 22, 23 and 29 were mostly sandy textured. The results revealed that 65.7% of the tested soil was acidic while 25.7% was alkaline in nature. All the tested soils showed lower pHKCl compared to pHH2O thus possessed negative charge. About 68.6% of the collected soils contained low (1.10-1.70%) level of organic matter, 25.7% soils retained it at medium level (1.71-2.40) and 5.7% soils at very low level (<1.0%). All the tested soils appeared to be deficient (< 0.12%) in nitrogen content. 68.6% soil samples had the low level of available P while only 8.6% retained it an optimum amount. About 80% of the tested soils contained low level of available S (7.9- 14.7 mg kg -1) although coastal regions soils hold higher amount of available S. High CEC (20-38 cmol kg-1) was found in clay rich soils of AEZ 10, 11, 12, and 13. Study revealed that 40% of the collected soils were very low, 31.4% were low, 8.6% each of medium and optimum, and 11.4% contained high level of exchangeable K. The calcareous soils (AEZ 10, 11, 12 and 13) contained very high level of Ca. Non calcareous soils also showed fairly good level of Ca content except AEZ 1, 3, 23 and 29. Sandy textured soils of greater Dinajpur, Rangpur, Moulvibazar showed lower level of exchangeable Mg. About 86% of the tested soils had the lower (< 2%) potassium saturation percentage (KSP), which needs K application for sustainable crop production. Estimate showed that 44% variability for CEC may be attributed by clay content and the relationship was significant (p = 0.05). Again, 50.4 and 65.6% variability in exchangeable K and Mg, respectively may be governed by clay content of the soils, while such relationship for Ca was non-significant. CEC may contribute 62.2, 92.3 and 83.9% variability for exchangeable K, Ca and Mg content in soils, respectively. The fertility status of most of the studied soils (except AEZ 10, 12, 13 and to some extent 11) appeared to be low to very low, which demand judicious management in order to achieve food security and to conserve the soil fertility.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 41(4): 735-757, December 2016

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Can Organic Sources of Nutrients Increase Crop Yields to Meet Global Food Demand?

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8100214 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 214 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Jagadish Timsina

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Food Demand ◽

Conventional Farming ◽

Chemical Fertilizers ◽

Organic Nutrients ◽

On Farm ◽

Global Food

Meeting global demand of safe and healthy food for the ever-increasing population now and into the future is currently a crucial challenge. Increasing crop production by preserving environment and mitigating climate change should thus be the main goal of today’s agriculture. Conventional farming is characterized by use of high-yielding varieties, irrigation water, chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides to increase yields. However, due to either over- or misuse of chemical fertilizers or pesticides in many agro-ecosystems, such farming is often blamed for land degradation and environmental pollution and for adversely affecting the health of humans, plants, animals and aquatic ecosystems. Of all inputs required for increased agricultural production, nutrients are considered to be the most important ones. Organic farming, with use of organic sources of nutrients, is proposed as a sustainable strategy for producing safe, healthy and cheaper food and for restoring soil fertility and mitigating climate change. However, there are several myths and controversies surrounding the use of organic versus inorganic sources of nutrients. The objectives of this paper are: (i) to clarify some of the myths or misconceptions about organic versus inorganic sources of nutrients and (ii) to propose alternative solutions to increase on-farm biomass production for use as organic inputs for improving soil fertility and increasing crop yields. Common myths identified by this review include that organic materials/fertilizers can: (i) supply all required macro- and micro-nutrients for plants; (ii) improve physical, chemical and microbiological properties of soils; (iii) be applied universally on all soils; (iv) always produce quality products; (v) be cheaper and affordable; and (vi) build-up of large amount of soil organic matter. Other related myths are: “legumes can use entire amount of N2 fixed from atmosphere” and “bio-fertilizers increase nutrient content of soil.” Common myths regarding chemical fertilizers are that they: (i) are not easily available and affordable, (ii) degrade land, (iii) pollute environment and (iv) adversely affect health of humans, animals and agro-ecosystems. The review reveals that, except in some cases where higher yields (and higher profits) can be found from organic farming, their yields are generally 20–50% lower than that from conventional farming. The paper demonstrates that considering the current organic sources of nutrients in the developing countries, organic nutrients alone are not enough to increase crop yields to meet global food demand and that nutrients from inorganic and organic sources should preferably be applied at 75:25 ratio. The review identifies a new and alternative concept of Evergreen Agriculture (an extension of Agroforestry System), which has potential to supply organic nutrients in much higher amounts, improve on-farm soil fertility and meet nutrient demand of high-yielding crops, sequester carbon and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, provide fodder for livestock and fuelwood for farmers and has potential to meet global food demand. Evergreen Agriculture has been widely adapted by tens of millions of farmers in several African countries and the review proposes for evaluation and scaling-up of such technology in Asian and Latin American countries too.

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Effect of Botanical Pesticides on Soil Fertility of Coffee-Orchards

Journal of Agriculture and Environment ◽

10.3126/aej.v9i0.2112 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 16-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bhanu B. Panthi ◽

Bhupendra Devkota ◽

Jyoti U. Devkota

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Nutrients ◽

Soil Texture ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Clay Content ◽

High Positive Correlation ◽

Botanical Pesticides ◽

Agriculture And Environment ◽

Commercial Crop

Coffee (Coffea arabica; Rubiaceae) is a potential and emerging commercial crop. Coffee is planted in the midhills of Nepal (800 to 1250 meter above mean sea level) in Gulmi and Lalitpur districts. To control the major insect pests of coffee plant, locally prepared ‘jaibik bishadi’ (botanical pesticides) are used as alternatives of the synthetic insecticides. This study was undertaken to see the contribution of ‘jaibik bishadi’ in the fertility of the coffee orchards soil, for which soil samples from botanicals used and not used coffee orchards were collected to see the level of soil characteristics and soil nutrients such as soil texture, organic matter, soil nutrients (phosphorous and potassium). There was some difference in the soil texture of topsoil, but no difference could be seen in sand, silt and clay content of the subsoils from botanical used and not used orchards. The pH was significantly different between botanical used and not used soils, but such difference could not be observed between the topsoil and subsoil from the same sites. Jaibik bishadi used to control the coffee pests significantly contributed in the soil fertility, which could be seen in high positive correlation (r=0.9886) between organic matter and nitrogen in the soil.Keywords: Coffee, jaibik bishadi, topsoil, subsoil, soil fertilityThe Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol:9, Jun.2008 page: 16-22

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Analisis Serapan Hara Nitrogen dan Fosfor Tanaman Kedelai

Jurnal Ecosolum ◽

10.20956/ecosolum.v7i1.5212 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 24

Author(s):

Asrijal Asrijal ◽

Ambo Upe

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Experimental Research ◽

Rice Field ◽

Treatment Level ◽

Field Sample ◽

Treatment Unit ◽

Morphology Characteristic ◽

Crop Type ◽

On Farm ◽

Soil Sciences

Experimental research will be executed on farm of rice field sample in BPP Palaguna at Wajo Regency. Obstetrical nutrients Analysis of crop and soil will be done in soil Fertility Laboratory, soil sciences department of Faperta Unhas. This Research aim to analyze the ability of nutrients absorption of soy and maize with the mulch application on rice field rainfed. Research will be done/conducted by using Factorial Device in Group ( RDG). First Factor that is crop type with three treatment level that is L1 = Soy; L2 = Maize; and L3 = Maize + Soy. Second Factor is with mulch (M1) and without mulch (M0). Every treatment unit repeated by 3 times, so there are 18 plot, added a plot which is not cultivated as control for the perception of dynamics of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) without palawija cultivation. Reason of the crop election for example because both types of the crop have their own system of root and different morphology characteristic which their possibility will influence the ability of conservation N. Result of analysis indicate that ability of absorption of N and P of maize and soy is better with the mulch application on rice field rainfed

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Fertilidade do solo como indicador do efeito de borda em fragmento florestal, Vitória da Conquista, Bahia

Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentável ◽

10.18378/rvads.v11i4.4081 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 185

Author(s):

Danilo Brito Novais ◽

Joilson Silva Ferreira ◽

Patrícia Anjos Bittencourt Barreto

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Edge Effect ◽

Base Saturation ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Chemical Attributes ◽

The One ◽

Composite Samples

Com a expansão da agricultura as florestas têm sido fragmentadas, modificando a dinâmica dos seus processos refletindo na fertilidade do solo. Esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de borda na fertilidade do solo em um fragmento florestal na região Sudoeste da Bahia. Para isso a área foi dividida em faixas verticais iniciando 50 metros após a borda, adentrando até 300 metros no fragmento. Em cada uma das faixas foram tomadas 3 amostras compostas nas profundidades de 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 cm. Analisando os atributos químico e calculando a soma de bases, CTC a pH7 e a saturação por bases (V%). Também foram quantificados os teores de carbono orgânico (COT) nas áreas de estudo. Foram observadas diferenças na fertilidade do solo da borda para o interior do fragmento. Verificou-se que os atributos Ca2+, H++Al3+, S, T, COT foram os mais sensíveis em relação ao efeito de borda. A área semi-interna (SI) distando 150-200 metros, de maneira geral foi a que apresentou os maiores valores de fertilidade do solo, possivelmente devido aos maiores teores de matéria orgânica acumulada. Soil fertility as edge effect indicator in a forest fragment, Vitória da Conquista, BahiaAbstract: With the expansion of agriculture forests have been fragmented, changing the dynamics of their processes reflecting soil fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the edge effect on soil fertility in a forest fragment in the Southwest Bahia region. For this area was divided into vertical strips starting 50 meters after the border, entering up to 300 meters in the fragment. In each of the tracks were taken 3 composite samples at depths of 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 cm. Analyzing the chemical attributes and calculating the sum of bases, CTC at pH 7 and base saturation (V%). Also the organic carbon levels were quantified (COT) in the study areas. Differences were observed at the edge of soil fertility into the fragment. It was found that attributes, Ca2+, H++Al3+, S, T, COT were the most sensitive in relation to the edge effect. The semi-internal area (SI) 150-200 meters distant in general was the one with the highest soil fertility values, possibly due to higher levels of accumulated organic matter.

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Organik Matter: It’s Role in Sustainable Farming of Sugarcane

Perspektif ◽

10.21082/p.v14n1.2015.61-71 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Djajadi Djajadi

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Green Manure ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Soil Health ◽

High Yield ◽

Cane Yield ◽

Sustainable Farming

ABSTRACTOrganik matter has an important role in determining soil health of sugarcane, i.e. soil capacity to support sugarcane to produce sustainable high yield. Soil organic matter influences soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, so that a consequence of declining soil organic matter is poorer soil fertility and lower yield. This paper has an objective to elucidate the important role of organic matter on sustainable farming of sugarcane. The important role of organic matter in soil fertility has been known for a long time before Green Revolution concept was introduced. With more intensity in sugarcane farming and more increasing of sugar demand, application of organic fertilizer started to be substituted by chemical fertilizer. Using green manure and/or biofertilizer has a chance to be spread out to the farmers due to more practical and more efficient than solid organik fertilizer, such as dung manure or compost. Future research should be focusing on the efectivity of green manure and or biofertilzer sources in improving soil fertility and cane yield, minimizing soil pathogen, reducing soil erosion of sugar cane land monoculture, and improving awareness of farmers about soil degradation as consequences of sugarcane monoculture planting for years.Keywords: Organic matter, sugarcane, soil health sustainable farming Bahan Organik: Peranannya dalam Budidaya Tebu BerkelanjutanABSTRAKBahan organik tanah berperan penting dalam menentukan kesehatan tanah tebu, yaitu kapasitas tanah yang dapat mendukung produksi tebu yang tinggi secara berkelanjutan. Kadar bahan organik tanah mempengaruhi sifat fisik, kimia dan biologi tanah. Paper ini bertujuan untuk menguraikan tentang peranan bahan organik dalam memperbaiki sifat fisik, kimia dan biologi tanah pertanaman tebu. Pentingnya peran bahan oganik tersebut sudah disadari dari dulu, sehingga sebelum revolusi hijau penggunaan pupuk organik sudah umum dilakukan petani. Dengan semakin intensifnya budidaya tebu dan semakin meningkatnya kebutuhan gula, pemanfaatan pupuk organik sudah jarang dilakukan. Diperlukan usaha untuk meningkatkan dan mempertahankan kadar bahan organik pada lahan tebu, antara lain berupa gerakan masal dalam bentuk gerakan nasional melalui program aplikasi bahan organik. Pemanfaatan pupuk hijau dan/atau pupuk hayati berpeluang untuk diterapkan karena lebih praktis dan efisien daripada penambahan pupuk organik padat. Penelitian ke depan perlu difokuskan untuk mengkaji jenis-jenis pupuk organik dan pupuk hayati yang efektif memperbaiki kesuburan, dalam menekan serangan penyakit, meminimalkan erosi pada lahan-lahan tebu monokultur, dan meningkatkan kesadaran petani tebu tentang terjadinya degradasi lahan akibat penanaman tebu yang terus menerus.Kata kunci: Bahan organik, tebu, kesehatan tanah, budidaya berkelanjutan

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The status of phosphorus and other fertility parameters in soils of Puerto Rico

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v90i3-4.1003 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 90 (3-4) ◽

pp. 145-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

David Sotomayor-Ramírez ◽

Gustavo A. Martínez

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Puerto Rico ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Tropical Soils ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Test ◽

Commercial Laboratory ◽

Soil Fertility Status

There is a need to quantitatively assess the soil fertility status of tropical soils. Descriptive summaries help describe the effectiveness of liming programs, nutritional limitation in soils and the relative risk of off-field nutrient transport. A database of 1,168 soil test results collected from 1989 to 1999 from nearly 400 cultivated farms in Puerto Rico was used. Samples were analyzed for pH, organic matter (Walkley-Black method), extractable phosphorus (P) (Olsen and Bray 1), and exchangeable bases (NH4Oac method) by a commercial laboratory. Thirty-six percent of the samples had acidity problems (pH <5.5). Twenty-three percent of the samples had low organic matter content (<20 g/kg), and 16% had high category (>40 g/kg) values. Fifty-three and 56% of the samples showed a need to fertilize with magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K), respectively, because they had values below the suggested critical levels of 2.5 cmolc/kg for soil exchangeable Mg and of 0.4 cmolc/kg for K. On the basis of current soil fertility criteria, P fertilization would be required in 69% of the samples with pH less than 7.3, but only in 28% of the samples with pH greater than or equal to 7.3. Although the soils grouped with pH >7.3 had a greater proportion of samples in the "extremely high" soil test P category, the potential environmental impact may be lessened because the climatic and topographic conditions where these soils occur favor less runoff. Follow-up studies are needed to assess the spatial variability and the temporal dynamics of the nutritional status of soils of Puerto Rico.

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