Soil Organic Matter and Soil Productivity: Searching for the Missing Link

1998 ◽  
pp. 543-556
Author(s):  
Felipe G. Sanchez
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Missing Link

scholarly journals The Soil Organic Matter in Connection with Soil Properties and Soil Inputs

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Václav Voltr ◽  
Ladislav Menšík ◽  
Lukáš Hlisnikovský ◽  
Martin Hruška ◽  
Eduard Pokorný ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Linear Regression Models

The content of organic matter in the soil, its labile (hot water extractable carbon–HWEC) and stable (soil organic carbon–SOC) form is a fundamental factor affecting soil productivity and health. The current research in soil organic matter (SOM) is focused on individual fragmented approaches and comprehensive evaluation of HWEC and SOC changes. The present state of the soil together with soil’s management practices are usually monitoring today but there has not been any common model for both that has been published. Our approach should help to assess the changes in HWEC and SOC content depending on the physico-chemical properties and soil´s management practices (e.g., digestate application, livestock and mineral fertilisers, post-harvest residues, etc.). The one- and multidimensional linear regressions were used. Data were obtained from the various soil´s climatic conditions (68 localities) of the Czech Republic. The Czech farms in operating conditions were observed during the period 2008–2018. The obtained results of ll monitored experimental sites showed increasing in the SOC content, while the HWEC content has decreased. Furthermore, a decline in pH and soil´s saturation was documented by regression modelling. Mainly digestate application was responsible for this negative consequence across all soils in studied climatic regions. The multivariate linear regression models (MLR) also showed that HWEC content is significantly affected by natural soil fertility (soil type), phosphorus content (−30%), digestate application (+29%), saturation of the soil sorption complex (SEBCT, 21%) and the dose of total nitrogen (N) applied into the soil (−20%). Here we report that the labile forms (HWEC) are affected by the application of digestate (15%), the soil saturation (37%), the application of mineral potassium (−7%), soil pH (−14%) and the overall condition of the soil (−27%). The stable components (SOM) are affected by the content of HWEC (17%), soil texture 0.01–0.001mm (10%), and input of organic matter and nutrients from animal production (10%). Results also showed that the mineral fertilization has a negative effect (−14%), together with the soil depth (−11%), and the soil texture 0.25–2 mm (−21%) on SOM. Using modern statistical procedures (MRLs) it was confirmed that SOM plays an important role in maintaining resp. improving soil physical, biochemical and biological properties, which is particularly important to ensure the productivity of agroecosystems (soil quality and health) and to future food security.

Soil organic matter in rainfed cropping systems of the Australian cereal belt

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Dalal ◽  
K. Y. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Eastern Australia

The Australian cereal belt stretches as an arc from north-eastern Australia to south-western Australia (24˚S–40˚S and 125˚E–147˚E), with mean annual temperatures from 14˚C (temperate) to 26˚C (subtropical), and with annual rainfall ranging from 250 mm to 1500 mm. The predominant soil types of the cereal belt include Chromosols, Kandosols, Sodosols, and Vertosols, with significant areas of Ferrosols, Kurosols, Podosols, and Dermosols, covering approximately 20 Mha of arable cropping and 21 Mha of ley pastures. Cultivation and cropping has led to a substantial loss of soil organic matter (SOM) from the Australian cereal belt; the long-term SOM loss often exceeds 60% from the top 0–0.1 m depth after 50 years of cereal cropping. Loss of labile components of SOM such as sand-size or particulate SOM, microbial biomass, and mineralisable nitrogen has been even higher, thus resulting in greater loss in soil productivity than that assessed from the loss of total SOM alone. Since SOM is heterogeneous in nature, the significance and functions of its various components are ambiguous. It is essential that the relationship between levels of total SOM or its identif iable components and the most affected soil properties be established and then quantif ied before the concentrations or amounts of SOM and/or its components can be used as a performance indicator. There is also a need for experimentally verifiable soil organic C pools in modelling the dynamics and management of SOM. Furthermore, the interaction of environmental pollutants added to soil, soil microbial biodiversity, and SOM is poorly understood and therefore requires further study. Biophysically appropriate and cost-effective management practices for cereal cropping lands are required for restoring and maintaining organic matter for sustainable agriculture and restoration of degraded lands. The additional benefit of SOM restoration will be an increase in the long-term greenhouse C sink, which has the potentialto reduce greenhouse emissions by about 50 Mt CO2 equivalents/year over a 20-year period, although current improved agricultural practices can only sequester an estimated 23% of the potential soil C sink.

Impact of soil organic matter on soil properties—a review with emphasis on Australian soils

Soil Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Soil Biology ◽  
Productive Capacity ◽  
Plant Materials

A review has been undertaken into how soil organic matter (SOM) affects a range of soil properties that are important for the productive capacity of soils. The potential effect of varying the amount of SOM in soil on a range of individual soil properties was investigated using a literature search of published information largely from Australia, but also including relevant information from overseas. The soil properties considered included aggregate stability, bulk density, water-holding capacity, soil erodibility, soil colour, soil strength, compaction characteristics, friability, nutrient cycling, cation exchange capacity, soil acidity and buffering capacity, capacity to form ligands and complexes, salinity, and the interaction of SOM with soil biology. Increases in SOM have the capacity to have strong influence only the physical properties of the surface soils, perhaps only the top 10 cm, or the top 20 cm at most. This limits the capacity of SOM to influence soil productivity. Even so, the top 20 cm is a critical zone for the soil. It is where seeds are sown, germinate and emerge. It is where a large proportion of plant materials are added to the soil for decomposition and recycling of nutrients and where rainfall either enters the soil or runs off. Therefore, the potential to improve soil condition in the top 0–20 cm is still critical for plant productivity. The SOM through nutrient cycling such as mineralisation of organic nitrogen to nitrate can have an influence on the soil profile.

scholarly journals Increasing Soil Organic Matter Enhances Inherent Soil Productivity while Offsetting Fertilization Effect under a Rice Cropping System

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Nan Zhao ◽  
Xin-Hua He ◽  
Xing-Cheng Huang ◽  
Yue-Qiang Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Jun Shi
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Fertilization Effect

scholarly journals Role of Earthworms in Soil Fertility Maintenance through the Production of Biogenic Structures

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tunira Bhadauria ◽  
Krishan Gopal Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Water Excretion ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Organic Matter Stabilization ◽  
Biogenic Structures

The soil biota benefits soil productivity and contributes to the sustainable function of all ecosystems. The cycling of nutrients is a critical function that is essential to life on earth. Earthworms (EWs) are a major component of soil fauna communities in most ecosystems and comprise a large proportion of macrofauna biomass. Their activity is beneficial because it can enhance soil nutrient cycling through the rapid incorporation of detritus into mineral soils. In addition to this mixing effect, mucus production associated with water excretion in earthworm guts also enhances the activity of other beneficial soil microorganisms. This is followed by the production of organic matter. So, in the short term, a more significant effect is the concentration of large quantities of nutrients (N, P, K, and Ca) that are easily assimilable by plants in fresh cast depositions. In addition, earthworms seem to accelerate the mineralization as well as the turnover of soil organic matter. Earthworms are known also to increase nitrogen mineralization, through direct and indirect effects on the microbial community. The increased transfer of organic C and N into soil aggregates indicates the potential for earthworms to facilitate soil organic matter stabilization and accumulation in agricultural systems, and that their influence depends greatly on differences in land management practices. This paper summarises information on published data on the described subjects.

scholarly journals Relationship between soil organic matter fractions and cover plants in Olive post planting

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Vieira Guimarães ◽  
Marx Leandro Naves Silva ◽  
Adnane Beiniach ◽  
Diêgo Faustolo Alves Bispo ◽  
Jéssica Gabriela Pimentel Contins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Olive Tree ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Spontaneous Vegetation ◽  
Carbon Management Index ◽  
Organic Matter Fractions ◽  
Soil And Sediment

Abstract Erosion is the main cause of soil degradation, compromising soil productivity and sustainability. As soil organic matter (SOM) is a key indicator of quality, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different olive tree managements on SOM and its soil fractions in soil (Inceptisol) and erosion sediments. Five treatments were installed: bare soil, olive cultivation in bare soil, olive tree intercropped with jack bean, olive tree intercropped with pearl millet, and olive tree cultivated with spontaneous vegetation; a contiguous area of native vegetation was used as reference. Carbon in soil and sediment were determined by wet oxidation with external heating, while the fractionation of SOM was performed based on granulometry. The Carbon Management Index (CMI) was determined by the proportions of SOM fractions. The results indicated that SOM associated with minerals is the most present in soil and sediment erosion, regardless of the adopted management. Results on CMI showed that the systems olive tree intercropped with pearl millet or with spontaneous vegetation are the most favorable to increase the carbon stock in the soil.

Methods for determination of labile soil organic matter: An overview

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduard Strosser
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Functional Characterisation ◽  
Labile Soil Organic Matter

Methods for determination of labile soil organic matter: An overviewSoil organic matter (SOM) can be divided into three main pools: labile, stable and inert. Research over recent years has focused on the labile fraction (LF), as it is considered a quickly reactive indicator of soil productivity and health, and important as a supply of energy for soil micro-organisms. A wide spectrum of analytical methods has been used to determine and/or evaluate LF, based on physical, chemical and biochemical principles. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are explored in this work, but none of the methods can determine LF sufficiently, either because a part of the LF is not involved or because further characterisation is missing. Although analytical methods are widely used to evaluate changes in soil management or organic carbon turnover, the practical question of the quantity and quality of SOM cannot be answered completely. It is also suggested that future research should focus on the interactions among SOM fractions and their better chemical and functional characterisation. It is possible to use a combination of the analytical methods reviewed here in order to accomplish this objective.

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