scholarly journals Can cocoa agroforestry restore degraded soil structure following conversion from forest to agricultural use?

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 2261-2276
Author(s):  
Danny Dwi Saputra ◽  
Rika Ratna Sari ◽  
Kurniatun Hairiah ◽  
James M. Roshetko ◽  
Didik Suprayogo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Degraded Soil ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Soil Aggregate Stability ◽  
Fine Root Length ◽  
Cocoa Agroforestry

AbstractAlternating degradation and restoration phases of soil quality, as is common in crop-fallow systems, can be avoided if the restorative elements of trees and forests can be integrated into productive agroforestry systems. However, evidence for the hypothesis of ‘internal restoration’ in agroforestry is patchy and the effectiveness may depend on local context. We investigated to what extent cocoa (Theobroma cacao, L.) agroforestry can recover soil structure and infiltration in comparison to monoculture systems across the Konaweha Watershed, Southeast Sulawesi. We compared soil organic carbon, fine root length and weight, soil aggregate stability, macroporosity and infiltration from three soil layers at five land use systems: i.e. degraded forests, 9–14 years old of complex-cocoa agroforestry, simple-cocoa agroforestry, monoculture cocoa and 1–4 years old annual food crops, all with three replications. In general, roots were concentrated in the upper 40 cm of soil depth, contained of 70% and 86% of total fine root length and weight. Compared to simple agroforestry and cocoa monoculture, complex agroforestry had greater root length and weight in the topsoil, even though it attained only half the values found in degraded forests. Higher root density was positively correlated to soil organic carbon. In upper soil layers, complex agroforestry had slightly higher soil aggregate stability compared to other agricultural systems. However, no significant difference was found in deeper layers. Complex agroforestry had higher soil macroporosity than other agricultural systems, but not sufficient to mimic forests. Degraded forests had two times faster steady-state soil infiltration than agricultural systems tested (13.2 cm h−1 and 6 cm h−1, respectively), relevant during peak rainfall events. Compared to other agricultural systems, complex agroforestry improves soil structure of degraded soil resulting from forest conversion. However, a considerable gap remains with forest soil conditions.

scholarly journals Mixed and monospecific stands of eucalyptus and black-wattle: I - fine root length density

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 1818-1825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio Viera ◽  
Mauro Valdir Schumacher ◽  
Edenilson Liberalesso
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Length Density ◽  
Eucalyptus Grandis ◽  
Initial Growth ◽  
Tree Trunk ◽  
Acacia Mearnsii ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Fine Root Length

Fine root length density (FRLD) was evaluated in mixed and monospecific stands of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla and Acacia mearnsii in Southern Brazil. FRLD (≤2,0mm) at 8 and 18 months after planting in the treatments: 100E (100% of eucalyptus); 100A (100% of Acacia mearnsii); 50E:50A (50% of eucalyptus + 50% of Acacia mearnsii). The findings demonstrated that the FRLD at 8 months of age have the same distribution, in the two different species, in the distribution of the different soil layers, reaching the maximum projection of 125cm from the tree trunk. For the age of 18 months after planting, it was verified that the FRLD in the monospecific stand of Acacia mearnsii was higher than in the monoculture and mixed stand of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla. Therefore, no interaction, neither positive nor negative, between the root systems of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla and Acacia mearnsii during the 18 months after planting was found. The higher FRLD is found at the soil layers surface, next to the tree trunk and in the planting line, followed by the diagonal and planting rows. The initial growth in length of the root system of Acacia mearnsii is more dynamic with higher density than the eucalyptus, but without interfering directly in the global growth of fine roots in mixed stands.

scholarly journals Sludge amendment accelerating reclamation process of reconstructed mining substrates

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Li ◽  
Ningning Yin ◽  
Ruiwei Xu ◽  
Liping Wang ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Structure ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Aggregate ◽  
Soil Reclamation ◽  
Soil Restoration ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Soil Aggregate Stability ◽  
Mining Soil ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Reclamation Process

AbstractWe constructed a mining soil restoration system combining plant, complex substrate and microbe. Sludge was added to reconstructed mine substrates (RMS) to accelerate the reclamation process. The effect of sludge on plant growth, microbial activity, soil aggregate stability, and aggregation-associated soil characteristics was monitored during 10 years of reclamation. Results show that the height and total biomass of ryegrass increases with reclamation time. Sludge amendment increases the aggregate binding agent content and soil aggregate stability. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and light-fraction SOC (LFOC) in the RMS increase by 151% and 247% compared with those of the control, respectively. A similar trend was observed for the glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP). Stable soil aggregate indexes increase until the seventh year. In short, the variables of RMS determined after 3–7 years insignificantly differ from those of the untreated sample in the tenth-year. Furthermore, significant positive correlations between the GRSP and SOC and GRSP and soil structure-related variables were observed in RMS. Biological stimulation of the SOC and GRSP accelerates the recovery of the soil structure and ecosystem function. Consequently, the plant–complex substrate–microbe ecological restoration system can be used as an effective tool in early mining soil reclamation.

Root production, mortality and turnover in soil profiles as affected by clipping in a temperate grassland on the Loess Plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1072
Author(s):  
Lin Wei ◽  
Pengwei Yao ◽  
Guanghua Jing ◽  
Xiefeng Ye ◽  
Jimin Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Turnover Rate ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Root Production ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Root Mortality

Abstract Aims Clipping or mowing for hay, as a prevalent land-use practice, is considered to be an important component of global change. Root production and turnover in response to clipping have great implications for the plant survival strategy and grassland ecosystem carbon processes. However, our knowledge about the clipping effect on root dynamics is mainly based on root living biomass, and limited by the lack of spatial and temporal observations. The study aim was to investigate the effect of clipping on seasonal variations in root length production and mortality and their distribution patterns in different soil layers in semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau. Methods Clipping was performed once a year in June to mimic the local spring livestock grazing beginning from 2014. The minirhizotron technique was used to monitor the root production, mortality and turnover rate at various soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 and 30–50 cm) in 2014 (from 30 May to 29 October) and 2015 (from 22 April to 25 October). Soil temperature and moisture in different soil layers were also measured during the study period. Important Findings Our results showed that: (i) Clipping significantly decreased the cumulative root production (P < 0.05) and increased the cumulative root mortality and turnover rates of the 0–50 cm soil profile for both years. (ii) Clipping induced an immediate and sharp decrease in root length production and an increase in root length mortality in all soil layers. However, with plant regrowth, root production increased and root mortality decreased gradually, with the root production at a depth of 30–50 cm even exceeding the control in September–October 2014 and April–May 2015. (iii) Clipping mainly reduced root length production and increased root length mortality in the upper 0–20 cm soil profile with rapid root turnover. However, roots at deeper soil layers were either little influenced by clipping or exhibited an opposite trend with slower turnover rate compared with the upper soil profile, leading to the downward transport of root production and living root biomass. These findings indicate that roots in deeper soil layers tend to favour higher root biomass and longer fine root life spans to maximize the water absorption efficiency under environmental stress, and also suggest that short-term clipping would reduce the amount of carbon through fine root litter into the soil, especially in the shallow soil profile.

scholarly journals Increase soil aggregate stability can limit colloidal phosphorus loss potentials from agricultural systems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayong Li ◽  
Xinqiang Liang ◽  
Hua Li ◽  
Yingbin Jin ◽  
Junwei Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Soil Aggregate ◽  
Paddy Soils ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Soil Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Land Use Types

Abstract Background Colloid-facilitated phosphorus (P) transport is a recognized important pathway for soil P loss in agricultural systems, but limited information is available on the soil aggregate-associated colloidal P. To elucidate the effects of aggregate size on the loss potential of colloidal P (P coll ) in agricultural systems, soils (0-20 cm depth) from six land use types were sampled in Zhejiang province in the Yangtz river delta region, China. The aggregate size fractions (2–8 mm, 0.26–2 mm, 0.053–0.26 mm and <0.053 mm) separated by wet-sieving method were analyzed.Results Results showed that the 0.26–2 mm small macroaggregates had the highest total P (TP) content. For acidic soils, the highest P coll content was also found in the 0.26–2 mm aggregate size, while the lowest was found in the <0.053 mm (silt+clay)-sized particles, the opposite of that found in alkaline soils. Paddy soils contained less P coll than other land use types. The P coll in total dissolved P (TDP) was dominated by <0.053 mm (silt+clay)-sized particles. Aggregate size did strongly influence the loss potential of P coll in paddy soils, where P coll contributed up to 83% TDP in the silt+clay sized particles. The P coll content was positively correlated with TP, Al, Fe and mean weight diameter (MWD). Aggregate associated total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), C/P, and C/N had significant, but negative effects on the contribution of P coll to potential soil P losses. The P coll content of the aggregates was controlled by aggregate associated TP and Al content as well as soil pH value, with P coll loss potential from aggregates being controlled by its organic matter content.Conclusion Therefore, we conclude that management practices that increase soil aggregate stability or its organic carbon content will limit P coll loss from agricultural systems.

scholarly journals Effects of Soil-Applied Fungicides on Sugarcane Root and Shoot Growth, Rhizosphere Microbial Communities, and Nutrient Uptake

Agronomy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murali Vuyyuru ◽  
Hardev Sandhu ◽  
James McCray ◽  
Richard Raid
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Soil Application ◽  
Yield Decline ◽  
Fine Root Length ◽  
Root And Shoot Growth

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) successive planting (also called monoculture) causes serious yield losses and its management is not well studied in Histosols. Based on very few studies in other sugarcane regions, root colonization by harmful soil fungi is considered as a major cause of this yield decline, but there is lack of knowledge on its management in Histosols. A two-year greenhouse study was conducted with soil-drench application of mancozeb, mefenoxam, and azoxystrobin fungicides to determine their effects on early root and shoot growth, soil microbial communities, and nutrient uptake by plants. The study indicated that mancozeb soil application improved sugarcane-shoot and -root dry matter by 3–4 times and shoot-root length, fine-root length, and root surface area by 2–3 times compared to untreated soil. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses of sugarcane rhizosphere soil showed significant reduction in fungal-biomarker abundance with mancozeb and azoxystrobin in comparison to the untreated check or mefenoxam treatments. Bacterial functional-group abundance was reduced by mancozeb and mefenoxam. All fungicides significantly reduced mycorrhizal colonization but not mycorrhizal spore counts. There was a functional relationship between fine-root systems and higher tissue concentration of nitrogen and silicon. The study indicated that application of fungicides to the soil may improve early root and shoot growth and plant-cane establishment that can potentially reduce the yield decline in successively planted sugarcane in histosols. Additional field research is needed in the future to determine the fungicide soil application method, sugarcane growth response in whole crop cycles, and any environmental effects.

scholarly journals Quantity and distribution of fine root biomass in the intermediate stage of beech virgin forest Badínsky prales

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 502-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jaloviar ◽  
L. Bakošová ◽  
S. Kucbel ◽  
J. Vencurik
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Intermediate Stage ◽  
Fine Root Biomass ◽  
Virgin Forest ◽  
Fine Root Length

The fine root biomass represents 3,372 kg/ha in the intermediate stage of the beech virgin forest with different admixture of goat willow, where the vast majority of this biomass is located in the uppermost mineral soil layer 0–10 cm. The variability of the fine root biomass calculated from 35 sample points represents approximately 90% of the mean value and reaches the highest value within the humus layer. The total fine root length investigated in 10 cm thick soil layers decreases with increasing soil depth. A significant linear relationship between the fine root length (calculated per 1 cm thick soil layer and 1 m<sup>2</sup> of stand area) and the soil depth was confirmed, although the correlation is rather weak. The number of root tips decreases with increasing soil depth faster than the root length. As the number of tips per 1 cm of root length remains in the finest diameter class without significant changes, the reason is above all a decreased proportion of the finest root class (diameter up to 0.5 mm) from the total fine root length within the particular soil layer.

Distributions of fine root length and mass with soil depth in natural ecosystems of southwestern Siberia

2015 ◽  
Vol 400 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 315-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félix Brédoire ◽  
Polina Nikitich ◽  
Pavel A. Barsukov ◽  
Delphine Derrien ◽  
Anton Litvinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Length ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Fine Root Length ◽  
Southwestern Siberia

scholarly journals RAINFALL REGIME ON FINE ROOT GROWTH IN A SEASONALLY DRY TROPICAL FOREST

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 458-469
Author(s):  
EUNICE MAIA DE ANDRADE ◽  
GILBERTO QUEVEDO ROSA ◽  
ALDENIA MENDES MASCENA DE ALMEIDA ◽  
ANTONIO GIVANILSON RODRIGUES DA SILVA ◽  
MARIA GINA TORRES SENA
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Fine Roots ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Fine Root Biomass ◽  
Rainfall Regime ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Fine Root Length ◽  
Fine Root Growth

ABSTRACT Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) usually present dry seasons of eight or more months. Considering the concerns about the resilience of SDTF to climate changes, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the rainfall regime on fine root growth in a SDTF. The experiment started at the end of the wet season (July 2015), when fine roots were evaluated and ingrowth cores were implemented. The temporal growth of fine roots in the 0-30 cm soil layer was monitored, considering the 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm sublayers, through six samplings from November 2015 to July 2017. The characteristics evaluated were fine root biomass, fine root length, fine root specific length, and fine root mean diameter. The significances of the root growths over time and space were tested by the Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). Fine roots (Ø<2 mm) were separated and dried in an oven (65 °C) until constant weight. The root length was determined using the Giaroots software. The fine root biomass in July 2015 was 7.7±5.0 Mg ha-1 and the length was 5.0±3.2 km m-2. Fine root growth in SDTF is strongly limited by dry periods, occurring decreases in biomass and length of fine roots in all layers evaluated. Fine root growth occurs predominantly in rainy seasons, with fast response of the root system to rainfall events, mainly in root length.

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