Management of soil organic matter in the farming systems of the low land humid tropics of West Africa: a review

1991 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Ayanlaja ◽  
J.O. Sanwo
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Humid Tropics

Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of the sustainability of Ferrosol farming systems

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Bell ◽  
P. W. Moody ◽  
S. A. Yo ◽  
R. D. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Critical Concentrations ◽  
Aggregate Breakdown ◽  
Eastern Australia

Chemical and physical degradation of Red Ferrosols in eastern Australia is a major issue necessitating the development of more sustainable cropping systems. This paper derives critical concentrations of the active (permanganate-oxidisable) fraction of soil organic matter (C1) which maximise soil water recharge and minimise the likelihood of surface runoff in these soils. Ferrosol soils were collected from commercial properties in both north and south Queensland, while additional data were made available from a similar collection of Tasmanian Ferrosols. Sites represented a range of management histories, from grazed and ungrazed grass pastures to continuously cropped soil under various tillage systems. The concentration of both total carbon (C) and C1 varied among regions and farming systems. C1 was the primary factor controlling aggregate breakdown, measured by the percentage of aggregates <0·125 mm (P125) in the surface crust after simulated rainfall. The rates of change in P125 per unit change in C1 were not significantly different (P < 0·05) for soils from the different localities. However, soils from the coastal Burnett (south-east Queensland) always produced lower P125 (i.e. less aggregate breakdown) than did soils from the inland Burnett and north Queensland locations given the same concentration of C1. This difference was not associated with a particular land use. The ‘critical’ concentrations of C1 for each region were taken as the C1 concentrations that would allow an infiltration rate greater than or equal to the intensity of a 1 in 1 or 1 in 10 year frequency rainfall event of 30 min duration. This analysis also provided an indication of the risk associated with the concentrations of C1 currently characterising each farming system in each rainfall environment. None of the conventionally tilled Queensland Ferrosols contained sufficient C1 to cope with rainfall events expected to occur with a 1 in 10 frequency, while in many situations the C1 concentration was sufficiently low that runoff events would be expected on an annual basis. Our data suggest that management practices designed both to maximise C inputs and to maintain a high proportion of active C should be seen as essential steps towards developing a more sustainable cropping system.

Relation between soil organic matter and yield levels of nonlegume crops in organic and conventional farming systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 174 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Brock ◽  
Andreas Fließbach ◽  
Hans-Rudolf Oberholzer ◽  
Franz Schulz ◽  
Klaus Wiesinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Organic And Conventional Farming

Tillage and fertility management effects on soil organic matter and sorghum yield in semi-arid West Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisée Ouédraogo ◽  
Abdoulaye Mando ◽  
Lijbert Brussaard ◽  
Leo Stroosnijder
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Arid West ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Management Effects

Simulation of soil organic carbon and nitrogen changes in cereal and pasture systems of southern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 481 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Carter ◽  
WJ Parton ◽  
IC Rowland ◽  
JE Schultz ◽  
GR Steed
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C

Maintenance and improvement of soil organic matter levels is an important concern in dryland farming systems of temperate regions. The Century soil organic matter model was used to simulate changes in soil organic C and total N under long-term wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pasture rotations at five sites in southern Australia. Average declines in soil organic C and total N of 14 and 10%, respectively, in continuous and wheat-fallow systems over a 10 to 20 year period were closely simulated by the model at each site. Additions of N fertilizer (80 kg N ha-1), which prevented soil organic matter decline in continuous wheat systems, was also well represented by the model. Trends in soil organic matter under long-term legume pasture were not adequately simulated by the model, probably due to the 'annual' nature of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.) in dry seasons and subsequent changes in the ratio of live to dead plant biomass and shoot to root ratios. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of adequate total plant C production to prevent a decline in soil organic C.

Impact of agricultural management practices on the nutrient supply potential of soil organic matter under long-term farming systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 71-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jharna Rani Sarker ◽  
Bhupinder Pal Singh ◽  
Warwick J. Dougherty ◽  
Yunying Fang ◽  
Warwick Badgery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Supply Potential

scholarly journals Soil carbon and plant diversity distribution at the farm level in the savannah region of Northern Togo (West Africa)

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 4107-4127 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.-T. Sebastià ◽  
E. Marks ◽  
R. M. Poch
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Vegetation Composition

Abstract. In western Africa, soil organic matter is a source of fertility for food provision and a tool for climate mitigation. In the Savannah region, strong soil degradation linked to an increase in population threatens organic matter conservation and agricultural yield. Soil degradation is also expected to impact biodiversity and, with it, increase the vulnerability of ecosystem goods and services, including the storage of soil organic carbon. Studies of land use, plant species composition and soil fertility were conducted for a conservation project at a demonstration farm in Northern Togo (West Africa), host to various management regimes. Results showed a low organic matter content of the surface soil horizons, often around 0.5%. The highest values were found in a sacred forest within the farm (2.2%). Among crops, rice had the highest soil organic matter, around 1%. In a survey of grasslands, pastures showed the highest organic matter content, with vegetation composition differing from grazed fallows and abandoned grasslands. Plant species richness showed a positive relationship with soil organic matter (R2adj=41.2%), but only by the end of the wet season, when species richness was also highest. Sampling date had a strong effect on vegetation composition. Results showed a strong influence of human activity on soil formation and distribution, and also on plant diversity. The soil characteristics found under the permanent forest suggest a high potential of the soils of the region for improvement of both agricultural yields and as a potential carbon sink relevant to global change policies.

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