The MARAS dataset, vegetation and soil characteristics of dryland rangelands across Patagonia

Abstract We present the MARAS (Environmental Monitoring of Arid and Semiarid Regions) dataset, which stores vegetation and soil data of 426 rangeland monitoring plots installed throughout Patagonia, a 624.500 km2 area of southern Argentina and Chile. Data for each monitoring plot includes basic climatic and landscape features, photographs, 500 point intercepts for vegetation cover, plant species list and biodiversity indexes, 50-m line-intercept transect for vegetation spatial pattern analysis, land function indexes drawn from 11 measures of soil surface characteristics and laboratory soil analysis (pH, conductivity, organic matter, N and texture). Monitoring plots were installed between 2007 and 2019, and are being reassessed at 5-year intervals (247 have been surveyed twice). The MARAS dataset provides a baseline from which to evaluate the impacts of climate change and changes in land use intensity in Patagonian ecosystems, which collectively constitute one of the world´s largest rangeland areas. This dataset will be of interest to scientists exploring key ecological questions such as biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, plant-soil interactions and climatic controls on ecosystem structure and functioning.

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Multitemporal analysis of hydrological soil surface characteristics using aerial photos: A case study on a Mediterranean vineyard

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation ◽

10.1016/j.jag.2012.03.009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 356-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Christina Corbane ◽

Frédéric Jacob ◽

Damien Raclot ◽

Jean Albergel ◽

Patrick Andrieux

Keyword(s):

Soil Surface ◽

Surface Characteristics ◽

Aerial Photos ◽

Multitemporal Analysis

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Monitoring of Khorasan (Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum) and Modern Kabot Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Varieties by UAV and Sensor Technologies under Different Soil Tillage

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11071348 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1348

Author(s):

Kristýna Balážová ◽

Jan Chyba ◽

Jitka Kumhálová ◽

Jiří Mašek ◽

Stanislav Petrásek

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Triticum Turgidum ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Low Cost ◽

Wheat Variety ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Thermal Cameras

Khorasan wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum (Jakubz.)) is an ancient tetraploid spring wheat variety originating from northeast parts of Central Asia. This variety can serve as a full-fledged alternative to modern wheat but has a lower yield than modern varieties. It is commonly known that wheat growth is influenced by soil tillage technology (among other things). However, it is not known how soil tillage technology affects ancient varieties. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different soil tillage technologies on the growth of the ancient Khorasan wheat variety in comparison to the modern Kabot spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) variety. The trial was arranged in six small plots, one half of which was sown by the Khorasan wheat variety and the other half of which was sown by the Kabot wheat variety. Three soil tillage methods were used for each cultivar: conventional tillage (CT) (20–25 cm), minimum tillage (MTC) with a coulter cultivator (15 cm), and minimization tillage (MTD) with a disc cultivator (12 cm). The soil surface of all of the variants were leveled after tillage (harrows & levelling bars). An unmanned aerial vehicle with multispectral and thermal cameras was used to monitor growth during the vegetation season. The flight missions were supplemented by measurements using the GreenSeeker hand-held sensor and plant and soil analysis. The results showed that the Khorasan ancient wheat was better suited the conditions of conventional tillage, with low values of bulk density and highvalues of total soil porosity, which generally increased the nutritional value of the yield in this experimental plot. At the same time, it was found that this ancient wheat does not deplete the soil. The results also showed that the trend of developmental growing curves derived from different sensors was very similar regardless of measurement method. The sensors used in this study can be good indicators of micronutrient content in the plant as well as in the grains. A low-cost RGB camera can provide relevant results, especially in cases where equipment that is more accurate is not available.

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Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition: Implications for Terrestrial Ecosystem Structure and Functioning

Acid in the Environment ◽

10.1007/978-0-387-37562-5_5 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 77-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Knute J. Nadelhoffer

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Deposition ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽

Ecosystem Structure ◽

Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition ◽

Atmospheric Nitrogen ◽

Ecosystem Structure And Functioning

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Study Of Rubber Growth Under Constraint of Pyrite In Tidal Swampy Area

Journal of Wetlands Environmental Management ◽

10.20527/jwem.v5i2.108 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charlos Togi Stevanus ◽

Umi Hidayati ◽

Thomas Wijaya ◽

Andi Nur Cahyo

Keyword(s):

Soil Analysis ◽

Shallow Groundwater ◽

Aerobic Condition ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Low Ph ◽

Survey Method ◽

Water Drainage ◽

Dry Land ◽

Nutrient Analysis ◽

Tidal Swamp

Muara Sugihan is one of the tidal swamp areas for rubber plant cultivation in South Sumatera. A preliminary survey of the land suitability in 2012 described that there are two main problems, the shallow groundwater problem and low pH (2,87-3,05) between 40-100 depth that indicates the presence of pyrite layers. In the prior of planting, the water drainage has been done to maintain the water table. However, the water drainage was excessive so that water table reach 66 cm from soil surface hence aerobic condition resulted in oxidation of pyrite layer. The method used in this study was survey method consist of measuring the girth of 2 years old rubber plants and sampling of soil, leaves, and water on the trench and the river which indicated the presence of pyrite layers on tidal swamp area, Muara Sugihan. The result showed that the growth of the rubber plants was inhibited, where the girth was 10 cm, while on optimal dry land they normally reached 18 cm. Leaf nutrient analysis showed there was deficient of P, K, and Zn, while on soil analysis showed a low P content. The pyrite was leach from the soil and accumulate into water drainage will lead to low pH of water. This problem can be solved by water management improvement.

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Balanced harvesting is the bioeconomic equilibrium of a size-structured Beverton-Holt model

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsw161 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 112-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michael J. Plank

Keyword(s):

Single Species ◽

Size Spectrum ◽

Ecosystem Structure ◽

Fishing Mortality ◽

Biomass Transfer ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Relative Production ◽

Ecosystem Structure And Functioning ◽

Classical Size ◽

Spectrum Model

Balanced harvesting (BH) was introduced as an alternative strategy to size-at-entry fishing with the aim of maintaining ecosystem structure and functioning. BH has been criticized on a number of grounds, including that it would require an infeasible level of micromanagement and enforcement. Recent results from a size-spectrum model show that the distribution of fishing mortality across body sizes that emerges from the behaviour of a large number of fishing agents corresponds to BH in a single species. Size-spectrum models differ from classical size-structured models used in fisheries as they are based on a bookkeeping of biomass transfer from prey to predator rather than a von Bertalanffy growth model. Here we investigate a classical Beverton-Holt model coupled with the Gordon-Schaefer harvesting model extended to allow for differential fishing pressure at different body sizes. This models an open-access fishery in which individual fishing agents act to maximize their own economic return. We show that the equilibrium of the harvesting model produces an aggregate fishing mortality that is closely matched to the production at different body sizes, in other words BH of a single species. These results have significant implications because they show that the robustness of BH does not depend on arguments about the relative production levels of small versus large fish.

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Grazing system and stocking rate effects on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of alfalfa-grass pastures

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a96-122 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 669-676 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J. D. Popp ◽

W. P. McCaughey ◽

R. D. H. Cohen

Keyword(s):

Soil Surface ◽

Surface Characteristics ◽

Botanical Composition ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Forage Production ◽

Basal Cover ◽

Grazed Pastures ◽

Litter Cover ◽

Grazing System ◽

Stocking Rates

A 4-yr experiment was conducted (1991 to 1994) near Brandon, MB, to determine the effects of grazing system (continuous and rotational) and stocking rate [light (1.1 steers ha−1); heavy (2.2 steers ha−1)] on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; approximately 70%), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem & Schult.; 25%) and Russian wild ryegrass [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski; 5%] pasture. Grazing season length was shorter (P < 0.05) for cattle in continuously compared with rotationally stocked pastures in 1991, while in 1993 and 1994 it was shortest (P < 0.05) in heavily stocked continuously grazed pastures. Carrying capacity (steer days ha–1) was greater (P < 0.05) in heavily stocked rotationally grazed pastures compared with other treatments in 1991, 1993 and 1994. In 1992, it was greater (P < 0.05) in heavy than light stocking rate treatments for both rotationally and continuously grazed pastures. Cattle usually gained more (P < 0.05) per day (kg d−1) and during the season (kg hd−1) at light than at heavy stocking rates, while total liveweight production (kg ha−1) was greater (P < 0.05) at heavy than at light stocking rates. Forage production and disappearance did not differ (P > 0.05) within grazing systems and stocking rates from 1991 to 1993, but in 1994, production and disappearance were greater (P < 0.05) at heavy than at light stocking rates. Mean seasonal herbage mass available and carry-over were greater (P < 0.05) in lightly stocked pastures than heavily stocked pastures from 1991 to 1994. After the first year of grazing, the proportion of alfalfa increased (P < 0.05), while grasses declined (P < 0.05) within all grazing treatments. In subsequent years, a trend was observed, where alfalfa declined and grasses increased in all pastures, except those stocked heavily and grazed continuously, which by 1994 had the greatest (P < 0.05) percentage of alfalfa. As years progressed, increases (P < 0.05) in basal cover concurrent with declines in bare ground were recorded on all grazing treatments, while litter cover often did not differ (P > 0.05) within either grazing system or stocking rate, except in 1992, when basal cover was lowest (P < 0.05), while litter cover was greatest (P < 0.05) on lightly stocked continuously grazed pastures compared with other treatments. Stocking rates were a key factor to optimizing individual animal performance and/or gain per hectare on alfalfa grass pastures, however differences in the effect of continuous and rotational stocking on pasture productivity were minimal. Key words: Alfalfa, grazing, stocker cattle, production

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