Integrative biological indicators for detecting change in soil quality

AbstractTo promote agricultural sustainability, there is a growing interest in developing soil quality indicators that can be used as early indicators of changes in management practices by growers, agricultural professionals, and researchers. A study was conducted on four commercial growers' fields and two research stations in western Oregon with treatments that had been started from 1 to 7 years prior to initiating the investigation. The primary comparison at each site was a winter cover crop and winter fallow in rotation with summer vegetable crops. The effects of these treatments on microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mineralizable N, soil enzyme activity (arylsulfatase and β-glucosidase), and cotton strip decomposition were analyzed to monitor changes in soil quality over a 2-year period. The cotton strip method was tested because of its simplicity (buried in soil for short periods and then assessed for tensile strength or weight loss) and potential as a soil biological indicator. Results showed that cover cropping significantly affected MBCand soil enzyme activity. Mineralizable N and CO2respiration (laboratory incubation) did not respond to winter cover crop treatment. Cotton strip decomposition was relatively insensitive to field treatments. Because MBCand β-glucosidase activity responded quickly to field management treatment and were less variable than the other measurements, they showed the most potential as soil quality indicators. Total C (organic matter index) and extractable nutrients were not significantly affected by cover cropping (even after 7 years), indicating selected biological properties are superior to these chemical properties for detecting effects of soil management.

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Soil quality indicators as influenced by 5-year diversified and monoculture cropping systems

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859620000994 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

H. Feng ◽

G. O. Abagandura ◽

S. Senturklu ◽

D. G. Landblom ◽

L. Lai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enzyme Activity ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Hot Water ◽

Crop Diversity ◽

Quality Data ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Water Extractable

Abstract Increasing crop diversity has been highly recommended because of its environmental and economic benefits. However, the impacts of crop diversity on soil properties are not well documented. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the impacts of crop diversity on selected soil quality indicators. The cropping systems investigated here included wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown continuously for 5 years as mono-cropping (MC), and a 5-year cropping sequence [(wheat–cover crop (CC)–corn (Zea mays L.)–pea (Pisum sativum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)]. Each crop was present every year. This study was conducted in the northern Great Plains of North America, and soil quality data were collected for 2016 and 2017. Selected soil quality indicators that include: soil pH, organic carbon (SOC), cold water-extractable C (CWC) and N (CWN), hot water-extractable C (HWC) and N (HWN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), bulk density (BD), water retention (SWR), wet soil aggregate stability (WAS), and urease and β-glucoside enzyme activity were measured after the completion of 5-year rotation cycle and the following year. Crop diversity did not affect soil pH, CWC, CWN, HWC, HWN and SWR. Cropping systems that contained CC increased SOC at shallow depths compared to the systems that did not have CC. Crop diversity increased WAS, MBC, and urease and β-glucoside enzyme activity compared with the MC. Comparison of electrical conductivity (EC) measured in this study to the baseline values at the research site prior to the establishment of treatments revealed that crop rotation decreased EC over time. Results indicate that crop diversity can improve soil quality, thus promoting sustainable agriculture.

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Tillage System and Cover Crop Management Impacts on Soil Quality and Vegetable Crop Performance in Organically Managed Production in Tennessee

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.51.8.1038 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (8) ◽

pp. 1038-1044 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

David M. Butler ◽

Gary E. Bates ◽

Sarah E. Eichler Inwood

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Vegetable Crop ◽

Weed Density ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Organically Managed ◽

Polyethylene Mulch ◽

Crop Biomass

Research is lacking on the impact of alternative reduced tillage (RT) systems on vegetable crop performance and soil quality, especially in organic production systems, where weed control cannot rely on synthetic herbicides. A 2-year field study was implemented in Aug. 2010 in Knoxville, TN, to evaluate cover crop–based systems for organic vegetable production either with or without spring tillage. Treatments, all organically managed, included 1) Till (+ACC), spring tillage of a winter cover crop with aboveground cover crop biomass (ACC) retained and soil covered by polyethylene mulch; 2) Till (−ACC), spring tillage of a winter cover crop with aboveground cover crop biomass (ACC) removed before tillage and soil covered by polyethylene mulch; and 3) RT system with no spring tillage and mechanically terminated winter cover crop residue on the soil surface. Vegetable crops of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai] were planted in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Crop yield, cover crop biomass accumulation, soil N and C dynamics, and weed density were assessed. Marketable eggplant yield and marketable watermelon yield did not differ among treatments, but weed density was higher in the RT system. Measures of soil quality after 2 years of the study indicated that particulate organic matter-carbon (POM-C) and -nitrogen (POM-N) were highest in the RT treatment, a significant increase as compared with values at the beginning of the study. As a measure of the active fraction of soil organic matter, this indicates that the RT system may best maintain and improve soil quality in similar regional organic vegetable cropping systems. As indicated by measures of soil quality and crop yield, removal of aboveground cover crop biomass did not negatively impact the Till (−ACC) system as compared with the Till (+ACC).

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Soil quality indicators in response to long-term cover crop management in a Mediterranean organic olive system

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture ◽

10.1080/01448765.2017.1412836 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 1-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. F. Herencia

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Management ◽

Soil Quality Indicators

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Cover Crop and Liquid Manure Effects on Soil Quality Indicators in a Corn Silage System

Agronomy Journal ◽

10.2134/agronj2008.0191 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 101 (4) ◽

pp. 727-737 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

William E. Jokela ◽

John H. Grabber ◽

Douglas L. Karlen ◽

Teri C. Balser ◽

Debra E. Palmquist

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Liquid Manure ◽

Soil Quality Indicators

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EVALUATION OF SOIL QUALITY INDICATORS BY A PARTICIPATORY METHOD IN RURAL SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTHERN BAHIA, BRAZIL

Agrotrópica (Itabuna) ◽

10.21757/0103-3816.2015v27n3p219-232 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 219-232

Author(s):

Antônio W. O. Rocha Junior ◽

Guilherme A. H. A. Loureiro ◽

Quintino R. Araujo ◽

George A. Sodré ◽

Arlicélio Q. Paiva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Rural Settlements ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Southern Bahia ◽

Participatory Method

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Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Soil Quality Indicators: The Case of Geshy Subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia

Applied and Environmental Soil Science ◽

10.1155/2020/1868792 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melku Dagnachew ◽

Awdenegest Moges ◽

Asfaw Kebede ◽

Adane Abebe

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Land Resources ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Volumetric Soil Water Content ◽

River Catchment ◽

The Status ◽

Soil And Water

Land degradation is a global negative environmental process that causes the decline in the productivity of land resources’ capacity to perform their functions. Though soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies have been adopted in Geshy subcatchment, their effects on soil quality were limitedly studied. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects SWC measures on soil quality indicators in Geshy subcatchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia. A total of 54 soil samples (two treatments–farmlands with and without SWC measures ∗ three slope classes ∗ three terrace positions ∗ three replications) were collected at a depth of 20 cm. Statistical differences in soil quality indicators were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) following the general linear model procedure of SPSS Version 20.0 for Windows. Means that exhibited significant differences were compared using Tukey’s honest significance difference at 5% probability level. The studied soils are characterized by low bulk density, slightly acidic with clay and clay loam texture. The results revealed that farmlands with SWC measures had significantly improved soil physical (silt and clay fractions, and volumetric soil water content (VSWC)) and chemical (pH, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. phosphorus) quality indicators as compared with farmlands without SWC measures. The significantly higher VSWC, clay, SOC, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P at the bottom slope classes and terrace positions could be attributed to the erosion reduction and deposition effects of SWC measures. Generally, the status of the studied soils is low in SOC contents, TN, C : N ratio, and Av. P (deficient). Thus, integral use of both physical and biological SWC options and agronomic interventions would have paramount importance in improving soil quality for better agricultural production and productivity.

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