scholarly journals Soil quality indices following long-term conservation pasture management practices

2020 ◽  
Vol 301 ◽  
pp. 107060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen C.S. Amorim ◽  
Amanda J. Ashworth ◽  
Philip A. Moore ◽  
Brian J. Wienhold ◽  
Mary C. Savin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
Pasture Management

Soil quality indices for evaluation of long-term land use and soil management practices in semi-arid sub-tropical India

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 516-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Masto ◽  
P. K. Chhonkar ◽  
T. J. Purakayastha ◽  
A. K. Patra ◽  
D. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
Semi Arid

Evaluation of long-term soil management practices using key indicators and soil quality indices in a semi-arid tropical Alfisol

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Sharma ◽  
J. Kusuma Grace ◽  
Uttam Kumar Mandal ◽  
Pravin N. Gajbhiye ◽  
K. Srinivas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
Available N ◽  
Nutrient Use ◽  
Key Indicators ◽  
Semi Arid

Alfisol soils of rainfed semi-arid tropics (SAT) are degrading due to several physical, chemical, and biological constraints. Appropriate soil-nutrient management practices may help to check further soil degradation. A long-term experiment comprising tillage and conjunctive nutrient use treatments under a sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)–mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilkzec) system was conducted during 1998–05 on SAT Alfisols (Typic Haplustalf) at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad. The study evaluated soil and nutrient management treatments for their long-term influence on soil quality using key indicators and soil quality indices (SQI). Of the 21 soil quality parameters considered for study, easily oxidisable N (KMnO4 oxidisable-N), DTPA extractable Zn and Cu, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates, and hydraulic conductivity (HC) played a major role in influencing the soil quality and were designated as the key indicators of ‘soil quality’ for this system. The SQI obtained by the integration of key indicators varied from 0.66 (unamended control) to 0.83 (4 Mg compost + 20 kg N as urea) under conventional tillage (CT), and from 0.66 (control) to 0.89 (4 Mg compost + 2 Mg gliricidia loppings) under reduced tillage (RT). Tillage did not influence the SQI, whereas the conjunctive nutrient-use treatments had a significant effect. On an average, under both CT and RT, the sole organic treatment improved the soil quality by 31.8% over the control. The conjunctive nutrient-use treatments improved soil quality by 24.2–27.2%, and the sole inorganic treatment by 18.2% over the control. Statistically, the treatments improved soil quality in the following order: 4 Mg compost + 2 Mg gliricidia loppings > 2 Mg Gliricidia loppings + 20 kg N as urea = 4 Mg compost + 20 kg N as urea > 40 kg N as urea. The percentage contribution of the key indicators towards the SQI was: MBC (28.5%), available N (28.6%), DTPA-Zn (25.3%), DTPA-Cu (8.6%), HC (6.1%), and MWD (2.9%). The functions predicting the changes in yield and sustainability yield index with a given change in SQI were also determined.

scholarly journals Effects of Management and Hillside Position on Soil Organic Carbon Stratification in Mediterranean Centenary Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Jesús Aguilera-Huertas ◽  
Beatriz Lozano-García ◽  
Manuel González-Rosado ◽  
Luis Parras-Alcántara
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Olive Grove ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Degradation Degree

The short- and medium—long-term effects of management and hillside position on soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were studied in a centenary Mediterranean rainfed olive grove. One way to measure these changes is to analyze the soil quality, as it assesses soil degradation degree and attempts to identify management practices for sustainable soil use. In this context, the SOC stratification index (SR-COS) is one of the best indicators of soil quality to assess the degradation degree from SOC content without analyzing other soil properties. The SR-SOC was calculated in soil profiles (horizon-by-horizon) to identify the best soil management practices for sustainable use. The following time periods and soil management combinations were tested: (i) in the medium‒long-term (17 years) from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT), (ii) in the short-term (2 years) from CT to no-tillage with cover crops (NT-CC), and (iii) the effect in the short-term (from CT to NT-CC) of different topographic positions along a hillside. The results indicate that the SR-SOC increased with depth for all management practices. The SR-SOC ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in CT0, from 1.48 to 3.01 in CT1, from 1.15 to 2.48 in CT2, from 1.22 to 2.39 in NT-CC and from 0.98 to 4.16 in NT; therefore, the soil quality from the SR-SOC index was not directly linked to the increase or loss of SOC along the soil profile. This demonstrates the time-variability of SR-SOC and that NT improves soil quality in the long-term.

scholarly journals Tallgrass Prairie Responses to Management Practices and Disturbances: A Review

Agronomy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Wagle ◽  
Prasanna Gowda
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
The United States ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
The Impact

Adoption of better management practices is crucial to lessen the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on tallgrass prairie systems that contribute heavily for livestock production in several states of the United States. This article reviews the impacts of different common management practices and disturbances (e.g., fertilization, grazing, burning) and tallgrass prairie restoration on plant growth and development, plant species composition, water and nutrient cycles, and microbial activities in tallgrass prairie. Although nitrogen (N) fertilization increases aboveground productivity of prairie systems, several factors greatly influence the range of stimulation across sites. For example, response to N fertilization was more evident on frequently or annually burnt sites (N limiting) than infrequently burnt and unburnt sites (light limiting). Frequent burning increased density of C4 grasses and decreased plant species richness and diversity, while plant diversity was maximized under infrequent burning and grazing. Grazing increased diversity and richness of native plant species by reducing aboveground biomass of dominant grasses and increasing light availability for other species. Restored prairies showed lower levels of species richness and soil quality compared to native remnants. Infrequent burning, regular grazing, and additional inputs can promote species richness and soil quality in restored prairies. However, this literature review indicated that all prairie systems might not show similar responses to treatments as the response might be influenced by another treatment, timing of treatments, and duration of treatments (i.e., short-term vs. long-term). Thus, it is necessary to examine the long-term responses of tallgrass prairie systems to main and interacting effects of combination of management practices under diverse plant community and climatic conditions for a holistic assessment.

scholarly journals Variation and adaptation in limpograss (Hemarthria altissima)

1995 ◽  
pp. 49-53
Author(s):  
P.W. Woods ◽  
J.N. Couchman ◽  
H.A. Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Plant Survival ◽  
Hemarthria Altissima ◽  
Plant Morphological Traits ◽  
Cattle Systems ◽  
Future Work

Persistent and productive cultivars of limpograss (Hemarthriu altissima (Poir.) Stapf et C.E. Hubb.) are required if the species is to be useful in Northland cattle systems. A study was undertaken to investigate plant morphological traits, adaptation and persistence of 8 accessions. A series of abandoned research sites was revisited to determine long-term persistence and adaptation. Trials were established at 4 new sites throughout the northern North Island to assess morphological variation and plant survival. There was considerable variation in morphological traits assessed and plant survival, allowing scope for future selection. Bigalta used in earlier research trials had largely failed to persist under normal pasture management practices. Future work should use the cultivar Floralta. Keywords: adaptation, flowering, Hemarthria altissima, leaf, morphological variation, persistence, seed, stolon

scholarly journals Soil quality indices as affected by long‐term burning, irrigation, tillage, and fertility management

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen C.S. Amorim ◽  
Amanda J. Ashworth ◽  
Kristofor R. Brye ◽  
Brian J. Wienhold ◽  
Mary C. Savin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Indices ◽  
Fertility Management
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document