Comparison of aggregate stability indices for soil classification and assessment of soil management practices

The measurement of aggregate stability is an important indicator of soil quality and is widely used for monitoring soil condition. The SLAKES mobile app is an alternative tool to laboratory-based methods to measure soil aggregate stability. It provides aggregate stability measurements through Slaking Index (SI) with SI close to 0 suggesting high stability and values above 7 suggesting minimum stability. As the duration of this low-cost experiment is only 10 minutes, SLAKES is very attractive for scientists and no-scientists. SLAKES was implemented in Australia and has proven its efficiency in several studies.This study was conducted to determine whether the SLAKES mobile app could be adapted to French soils and then could be an alternative to the Mean Weight Diameter (MWD) method, normalized in France (ISO 10390). More specifically, the three main objectives were: (i) determining whether the aggregate stability measurements depend on the phones used for the experiment, (ii) estimating the number of measurements necessary to get reliable results, (iii) determining whether the app has the ability to detect the effect of contrasting soil managements previously shown using the MWD method.The study was performed on silty loam soils from EFELE (Effluents d&#8217;Elevage et Environnement) experimental site at le Rheu (Brittany, France) which is part of the French &#8220;Organic Residues&#8221; research observatory (SOERE PRO). The experimental design combines two different tillage practices (conventional tillage and shallow tillage) with two fertilizer treatments (mineral and organic (cattle manure)) randomly replicated three times. Soil samples were collected in March 2017 at both 0-15 cm and 15-25 cm depth from the 12 plots.&#160;The SI was measured on three aggregates simultaneously and this measurement was repeated 15 times for each sample which provided 45 SI per sample. Outliers above SI=11 were removed before statistical treatments. Four different phones of the same brand and generation were used to measure SI.An analysis of variance showed that the effect of the smartphone on SI measurements was not significant (p-value = 0.73, 0.88, 0.067 for 3 different samples).&#160;The SLAKES results showed comparable significant separation of means (p < 0.0001) between each soil management than the MWD method. According to the results of an analysis of variance, SI was significantly lower in reduced tillage than in conventional tillage condition (p-value = 2.10-16). These results indicate a higher soil stability in reduced tillage. Yet, the analysis of variance did not underline any effect of fertilization on the SI (p-value = 0.28), as previously found with the MWD method.This study proved that a relatively simple mobile app can detect the effect of soil management practices on aggregate stability with a similar performance than the MWD method. This conclusion was reinforced by the existing correlation between the SI and the MWD index (p-value = 0.00059, R2 = 0.39). We recommend to perform similar experiments on other sampling campaigns or in other pedological and soil management contexts taking at least 15 measures per sample.

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Chemistry of Variable Charge Soils

10.1093/oso/9780195097450.001.0001 ◽

1997 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Soil Pollution ◽

Management Practices ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Soil Management ◽

Soil Productivity ◽

Basic Difference ◽

The Past ◽

Variable Charge ◽

Constant Charge ◽

Variable Charge Soils

This book, based on research carried out at the Academia Sinica over the past 30 years, explains the basic difference between the variable charge soils of tropical and subtropical regions, and the constant charge soils of temperate regions. It will focus on the chemical properties of the variable charge soils--properties which have important bearing on soil management practices, including maximizing soil productivity and combating soil pollution.

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Earthworm Abundance Changes Depending on Soil Management Practices in Slovenian Vineyards

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061241 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1241

Author(s):

Stanko Vršič ◽

Marko Breznik ◽

Borut Pulko ◽

Jesús Rodrigo-Comino

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Human Impacts ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Management ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Soil Biodiversity ◽

Straw Mulch ◽

Green Cover ◽

The Impact

Earthworms are key indicators of soil quality and health in vineyards, but research that considers different soil management systems, especially in Slovenian viticultural areas is scarce. In this investigation, the impact of different soil management practices such as permanent green cover, the use of herbicides in row and inter-row areas, use of straw mulch, and shallow soil tillage compared to meadow control for earthworm abundance, were assessed. The biomass and abundance of earthworms (m2) and distribution in various soil layers were quantified for three years. Monitoring and a survey covering 22 May 2014 to 5 October 2016 in seven different sampling dates, along with a soil profile at the depth from 0 to 60 cm, were carried out. Our results showed that the lowest mean abundance and biomass of earthworms in all sampling periods were registered along the herbicide strip (within the rows). The highest abundance was found in the straw mulch and permanent green cover treatments (higher than in the control). On the plots where the herbicide was applied to the complete inter-row area, the abundance of the earthworm community decreased from the beginning to the end of the monitoring period. In contrast, shallow tillage showed a similar trend of declining earthworm abundance, which could indicate a deterioration of soil biodiversity conditions. We concluded that different soil management practices greatly affect the soil’s environmental conditions (temperature and humidity), especially in the upper soil layer (up to 15 cm deep), which affects the abundance of the earthworm community. Our results demonstrated that these practices need to be adapted to the climate and weather conditions, and also to human impacts.

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Effect of Soil Management on Erosion in Mountain Vineyards (N-W Italy)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13041991 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1991

Author(s):

Silvia Stanchi ◽

Odoardo Zecca ◽

Csilla Hudek ◽

Emanuele Pintaldi ◽

Davide Viglietti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Buffer Strips ◽

Total N ◽

Organic C ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

Soil Ecosystem Services ◽

Erosion Mitigation ◽

Management Approaches

We studied the effects of three soil management approaches (permanent grassing, chemical weeding, and buffer strips), and the additional impact of tractor passage on soil erosion in a sloping vineyard located in the inner part of Aosta Valley (N-W Italian Alps). The vineyard rows were equipped with a sediment collection system with channels and barrel tanks. A total of 12 events with sediment production were observed across 6 years, and the collected sediments were weighted and analyzed. Average erosion rates ranged from negligible (mainly in grassed rows) to 1.1 t ha−1 per event (after weeding). The most erosive event occurred in July 2015, with a total rainfall of 32.2 mm, of which 20.1 were recorded in 1 h. Despite the limited number of erosive events observed, and the low measured erosion rates, permanent grassing reduced soil erosion considerably with respect to weeding; buffering had a comparable effect to grassing. The tractor passage, independent of the soil management approaches adopted, visibly accelerated the erosion process. The collected sediments were highly enriched in organic C, total N, and fine size fractions, indicating a potential loss of fertility over time. Despite the measured erosion rates being low over the experiment’s duration, more severe events are well documented in the recent past, and the number of intense storms is likely to increase due to climate change. Thus, the potential effects of erosion in the medium and long term need to be limited to a minimum rate of soil loss. Our experiment helped to compare soil losses by erosion under different soil management practices, including permanent grassing, i.e., a nature-based erosion mitigation measure. The results of the research can provide useful indications for planners and practitioners in similar regions, for sustainable, cross-sectoral soil management, and the enhancement of soil ecosystem services.

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The Mechanical Impact of Water Affected the Soil Physical Quality of a Loam Soil under Minimum Tillage and No-Tillage: An Assessment Using Beerkan Multi-Height Runs and BEST-Procedure

Land ◽

10.3390/land10020195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 195 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mirko Castellini ◽

Anna Maria Stellacci ◽

Danilo Sisto ◽

Massimo Iovino

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Retention ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Soil Water Retention ◽

Physical Quality ◽

Soil Physical Quality ◽

Loam Soil ◽

The Impact

The multi-height (low, L = 3 cm; intermediate, M = 100 cm; high, H = 200 cm) Beerkan run methodology was applied on both a minimum tilled (MT) (i.e., up to a depth of 30 cm) and a no-tilled (NT) bare loam soil, and the soil water retention curve was estimated by the BEST-steady algorithm. Three indicators of soil physical quality (SPQ), i.e., macroporosity (Pmac), air capacity (AC) and relative field capacity (RFC) were calculated to assess the impact of water pouring height under alternative soil management practices. Results showed that, compared to the reference low run, M and H runs affected both the estimated soil water retention curves and derived SPQ indicators. Generally, M–H runs significantly reduced the mean values of Pmac and AC and increased RFC for both MT and NT soil management practices. According to the guidelines for assessment of SPQ, the M and H runs: (i) worsened Pmac classification of both MT and NT soils; (ii) did not worsen AC classification, regardless of soil management parameters; (iii) worsened RFC classification of only NT soil, as a consequence of insufficient soil aeration. For both soil management techniques, a strong negative correlation was found between the Pmac and AC values and the gravitational potential energy, Ep, of the water used for the infiltration runs. A positive correlation was detected between RFC and Ep. The relationships were plausible from a soil physics point of view. NT soil has proven to be more resilient than MT. This study contributes toward testing simple and robust methods capable of quantifying soil degradation effects, due to intense rainfall events, under different soil management practices in the Mediterranean environment.

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

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11040650 ◽

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.

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Water use by winter wheat as affected by soil management

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600043458 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 189-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. J. Goss ◽

K. R. Howse ◽

Judith M. Vaughan-Williams ◽

M. A. Ward ◽

W. Jenkins

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Soil Water ◽

Water Deficit ◽

Water Use ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Maximum Depth ◽

Water Extraction ◽

Soil Water Deficit ◽

Potential Yield

SummaryIn each of the years from September 1977 to July 1982 winter wheat was grown on one or more of three clay soil sites (clay content 35–55%) in Oxfordshire where the climate is close to the average for the area of England growing winter cereals.The effects on crop water use of different soil management practices, including ploughing, direct drilling and subsoil drainage, are compared. Cultivation treatment had little effect on the maximum depth of water extraction, which on average in these clay soils was 1·54 m below the soil surface. Maximum soil water deficit was also little affected by cultivation; the maximum recorded value was 186±7·6 mm. Subsoil drainage increased the maximum depth of water extraction by approximately 15 cm and the maximum soil water deficit by about 17 mm.Generally soil management had little effect on either total water use by the crop which was found to be close to the potential evaporation estimated by the method of Penman, or water use efficiency which for these crops was about 52 kg/ha par mm water used.Results are discussed in relation to limitations to potential yield.

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Sustainable Soil Management Practices in Small Farms of Southern Nigeria: A Poultry-Food Crop Integrated Farming Approach

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture ◽

10.1300/j064v22n04_05 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 51-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. U. Agbonlahor ◽

A. B. Aromolaran ◽

V. I. Aiboni

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Small Farms ◽

Food Crop ◽

Integrated Farming ◽

Sustainable Soil Management ◽

Southern Nigeria

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SEVERAL SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INFLUENCING THE GROWTH AND RHIZOME DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps66-022 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 141-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Walter J. Kender ◽

Franklin P. Eggert

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Effective Means ◽

Soil Management ◽

Flower Buds ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Undisturbed Soil ◽

Rhizome Growth ◽

Lowbush Blueberry ◽

Rhizome Development

A field experiment using various soil management practices showed that the most effective means to increase blueberry plant spread was through the use of a surface mulch. Peat and sawdust were of equal suitability as a mulching material influencing vegetative growth, although sawdust did result in a reduction in the number of flower buds produced when compared with peat. Mulching was associated with a higher soil moisture content than non-mulched plots.Blueberry plants growing in nitrogen-treated plots had an increased flower bud number and rhizome growth in contrast with those growing in unfertilized plots. Nitrogen fertilization was of particular benefit when applied in association with surface organic mulches.Plants growing in an undisturbed soil were more vigorous than in a homogenized or tilled soil. Sawdust was found to be detrimental to the growth of lowbush blueberry plants when incorporated into a homogenized soil.

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