Persistent improvements in the structure and hydraulic conductivity of a Ferrosol due to liming

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Kirkham ◽  
B. A. Rowe ◽  
R. B. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Changes in the soil structure and hydraulic conductivity of an Acidic Red Ferrosol were measured in a long-term (1968–2003) fertiliser experiment on pasture in north-western Tasmania, Australia. Studies were initiated following observations of both softer soil surface and cracking on plots that had received 15 t/ha of ground agricultural limestone. Liming decreased penetration resistance and increased hydraulic conductivity. These structural improvements were associated with increased mean dry aggregate size, a small increase in wet aggregate stability, higher exchangeable calcium levels, and increased plant growth, but a 9% decrease in total soil organic carbon in the surface 50 mm. This decrease in organic carbon was not associated with deterioration in soil structure, as may have been anticipated. This was probably because total organic C was still 82 g/kg on unlimed plots. Decreases in soil penetration resistance due to liming increased the likelihood of pugging from livestock but may improve ease of tillage. This research demonstrates that liming can improve the structure of a well-aggregated Ferrosol as well as its previously reported effects of increasing soil pH and yields of pasture and barley despite decreasing organic C.

scholarly journals Tillage Intensity Effects on Soil Structure Indicators—A US Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio R. Nunes ◽  
Douglas L. Karlen ◽  
Thomas B. Moorman
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Tillage intensity affects soil structure in many ways but the magnitude and type (+/−) of change depends on site-specific (e.g., soil type) and experimental details (crop rotation, study length, sampling depth, etc.). This meta-analysis examines published effects of chisel plowing (CP), no-tillage (NT) and perennial cropping systems (PER) relative to moldboard plowing (MP) on three soil structure indicators: wet aggregate stability (AS), bulk density (BD) and soil penetration resistance (PR). The data represents four depth increments (from 0 to >40-cm) in 295 studies from throughout the continental U.S. Overall, converting from MP to CP did not affect those soil structure indicators but reducing tillage intensity from MP to NT increased AS in the surface (<15-cm) and slightly decreased BD and PR below 25-cm. The largest positive effect of NT on AS was observed within Inceptisols and Entisols after a minimum of three years. Compared to MP, NT had a minimal effect on soil compaction indicators (BD and PR) but as expected, converting from MP to PER systems improved soil structure at all soil depths (0 to >40-cm). Among those three soil structure indicators, AS was the most sensitive to management practices; thus, it should be used as a physical indicator for overall soil health assessment. In addition, based on this national meta-analysis, we conclude that reducing tillage intensity improves soil structure, thus offering producers assurance those practices are feasible for crop production and that they will also help sustain soil resources.

Tillage-induced changes to soil structure and organic carbon fractions in New Zealand soils

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Shepherd ◽  
S. Saggar ◽  
R. H. Newman ◽  
C. W. Ross ◽  
J. L. Dando
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Aggregate Size Distribution ◽  
Binding Agents ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
Humic Soil

The effects of increasing cropping and soil compaction on aggregate stability and dry-sieved aggregate-size distribution, and their relationship to total organic C (TOC) and the major functional groups of soil organic carbon, were investigated on 5 soils of contrasting mineralogy. All soils except the allophanic soil showed a significant decline in aggregate stability under medium- to long-term cropping. Mica-rich, fine-textured mineral and humic soils showed the greatest increase in the mean weight diameter (MWD) of dry aggregates, while the oxide-rich soils, and particularly the allophanic soils, showed only a slight increase in the MWD after long-term cropping. On conversion back to pasture, the aggregate stability of the mica-rich soils increased and the MWD of the aggregate-size distribution decreased, with the humic soil showing the greatest recovery. Aggregate stability and dry aggregate-size distribution patterns show that soil resistance to structural degradation and soil resilience increased from fine-textured to coarse-textured to humic mica-rich soils to oxide-rich soils to allophanic soils. Coarse- and fine-textured mica-rich and oxide-rich soils under pasture contained medium amounts of TOC, hot-water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), and acid hydrolysable carbohydrate (AHC), all of which declined significantly under cropping. The rate of decline varied with soil type in the initial years of cropping, but was similar under medium- and long-term cropping. TOC was high in the humic mica-rich and allophanic soils, and levels did not decline appreciably under medium- and long-term cropping. 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance evidence also indicates that all major functional groups of soil organic carbon declined under cropping, with O-alkyl C and alkyl C showing the fastest and slowest rate of decline, respectively. On conversion back to pasture, both WSC and AHC returned to levels originally present under long-term pasture. TOC recovered to original pasture levels in the humic soil, but recovered only to 60–70% of original levels in the coarse- and fine-textured soils. Aggregate stability was strongly correlated to TOC, WSC, and AHC (P < 0.001), while aggregate-size distribution was moderately correlated to aggregate stability (P < 0.01) and weakly correlated to AHC (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy indicated a loss of the binding agents around aggregates under cropping. The effect of the loss of these binding agents on soil structure was more pronounced in mica-rich soils than in oxide-rich and allophanic soils. The very high aggregate stabilities of the humic soil under pasture was attributed to the presence of a protective water-repellent lattice of long-chain polymethylene compounds around the soil aggregates.

Effects of agricultural management on sodosols in northern Tasmania

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Cotching ◽  
J. Cooper ◽  
L. A. Sparrow ◽  
B. E. McCorkell ◽  
W. Rowley
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Attributes

Attributes of 25 Tasmanian sodosols were assessed using field and laboratory techniques to determine changes associated with 4 typical forms of agricultural management [long-term pasture, cropping with shallow tillage using discs and tines, cropping (including potatoes) with more rigorous and deeper tillage including deep ripping and powered implements, and cropping (including potatoes) where the potatoes were harvested when the soil was wet]. Soil organic carbon in the top 150 mm was 2.7% under long-term pasture compared with 1.8% in rigorously tilled cropping paddocks, and microbial biomass C values were 194 and 129 mg/kg, respectively. Readily oxidisable organic C concentrations were 1.8 mg/g and 1.3 mg/g, respectively. Infiltration rate was greater in paddocks with shallow tillage cropping than long-term pasture but was 43% less in paddocks which had grown potatoes and 70% less after a wet potato harvest. Dry aggregate-size showed no change under shallow tillage cropping compared with long-term pasture but decreased significantly in more rigorously tilled potato cropping paddocks. Aggregate stability in all cropped paddocks was nearly 50% less than in long-term pasture paddocks, with values in intensively tilled potato cropping paddocks approaching relatively low levels. Colwell extractable phosphorus (P) increased with all cropping, particularly after potatoes. Lower organic carbon and poorer physical properties were associated with paddocks which had grown potatoes, which adds weight to the view that cropping rotation and associated soil management practices are critical for sustainable management of Tasmanian sodosols. Farmers were surveyed about their views of the condition of their paddocks. They identified more healthy than unhealthy soil attributes under all management histories but reported more unhealthy soil attributes when potatoes were included in their rotation.

Effect of ground covers and tillage between raspberry rows on selected soil physical and chemical parameters and crop response

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Zebarth ◽  
S. Freyman ◽  
C. G. Kowalenko
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Rubus Idaeus ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

The use of inter-row ground covers has been suggested to reduce soil degradation in raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) production. The effect after 6 yr of consistent inter-row management of ground covers or roto-tillage in raspberry on soil wet aggregate stability (WAS), bulk density, organic C and total N, and mineralizable nitrogen in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia was studied. Management treatments included no cover crop or cover crops of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). A general pattern of perennial grasses > legume and barley > control was observed for soil WAS. Some quantitative and qualitative differences in the organic component of the soil profile to 30 cm were detected among management treatments. The differences were not statistically strong because the changes were small relative to the large pool present, but were relatively consistent overall. The white clover treatment tended to have more organic carbon, particularly in the subsurface, than the other treatments. The four treatments that included inter-row vegetation tended to have a greater amount of total and mineralizable N than the clean-tilled control. Crop vigour, as indicated by cane diameter, was reduced by the perennial grasses, but the inter-row management had only limited effects on berry yield. White clover appears to provide the best compromise between improving soil quality and minimizing competition with the berry crop. Key words: Wet aggregate stability, barley, sheep's fescue, perennial ryegrass, white clover

Effects of agricultural management on dermosols in northern Tasmania

Soil Research ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Cotching ◽  
J. Cooper ◽  
L. A. Sparrow ◽  
B. E. McCorkell ◽  
W. Rowley
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
Laboratory Techniques ◽  
Carbon Concentrations

Attributes of 15 Tasmanian dermosols were assessed using field and laboratory techniques to determine changes associated with 3 typical forms of agricultural management: long-term pasture, cropping with shallow tillage using discs and tines, and cropping (including potatoes) with more rigorous and deeper tillage including deep ripping and powered implements. Soil organic carbon in the surface 75 mm was 7.0&percnt; under long-term pasture compared with 4.3&percnt; and 4.2&percnt; in cropped paddocks. Microbial biomass carbon concentrations were 217 mg&sol;kg, 161 mg&sol;kg, and 139 mg&sol;kg, respectively. These differences were negatively correlated with the number of years cropped. Greater bulk densities were found in the surface layer of cropped paddocks but these were not associated with increased penetration resistance or decreased infiltration rate and are unlikely to impede root growth. Long-term pasture paddocks showed stronger structural development and had smaller clods than cropped paddocks. Vane shear strength and penetration resistance were lower in cropped paddocks than under long-term pasture. Many soil attributes showed no significant differences associated with management. Including potatoes in the rotation did not appear to affect these dermosols, which indicates a degree of robustness in these soils. clay loams, organic carbon, soil strength, aggregate stability, land management, cropping.

THE EFFECTS OF SLOPE POSITION AND CROPPING SEQUENCE ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
LINNELL M. EDWARDS
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Bottom Slope ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Freeze Thaw

Soil physical characteristics were examined at depth intervals of 0–15 and 15–30 cm over three slope positions (top-, mid-, and bottom-slope) for three cropping sequences (hay-barley, cereals-barley, and potato-barley). Hydraulic conductivity was a significant (P ≤ 0.05) 40–50% greater at top-slope than mid- or bottom-slope, and aggregate stability percentage was a significant 6–7% greater at bottom-slope than mid- or top-slope when the soil aggregates were pretreated by freezing and thawing (freeze/thaw). Under the potato-barley sequence shear strength, penetration resistance and bulk density were significantly greater than any other sequence by up to 29, 21 and 15%, respectively; while hydraulic conductivity and maximum penetration depth were, respectively, up to 65 and 28% lower than any other sequences. Under hay-barley, hydraulic conductivity and aggregate stability (freeze/thaw) were, respectively, up to a significant 82 and 10% greater than any other sequence. There was, therefore, significantly more compaction under potato-barley and more soil physical enhancement under hay-barley than other respective sequences. Disease severity was up to 55% greater at bottom-slope than at mid-slope or top-slope for Birka barley, which also showed a significant linear decrease (r2 = 0.89) in yield with increasing shear strength. Yield of Perth barley showed a significant linear increase with increasing soil depth (r2 = 0.92) and clay-silt content (r2 = 0.78). Key words: Aggregate stability (freeze/thaw), crop rotation, penetration resistance, shear strength, barley, potatoes, hay

Effects of heating on some soil physical properties related to its hydrological behaviour in two north-western Spanish soils

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. García-Corona ◽  
E. Benito ◽  
E. de Blas ◽  
M. E. Varela
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Aggregate Size ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Aggregate Size Distribution ◽  
Distribution Water

Two forest soils rich in organic matter but differing in texture (sandy loam and silty loam) were heated under controlled laboratory conditions in order to examine the consequences of the heating effect that accompanies the passage of a fire on the physical properties of soil. Three samples of both soils were heated for 30 min in a muffle furnace at temperatures of 25, 170, 220, 380 and 460°C. At each temperature, the following parameters were determined: dry aggregate size distribution, water aggregate stability, total porosity, pore size distribution, water repellency and hydraulic conductivity. Heating the soils at 170 and 220°C caused no significant changes in aggregate size distribution or total porosity but increased water aggregate stability and the volume of pores 0.2–30 μm. Also, increased water repellency and strongly decreased the hydraulic conductivity. All parameters underwent much more dramatic changes at 380 and 460°C that can be ascribed to the combustion of organic matter. At such temperatures, water repellency was destroyed and the low hydraulic conductivity can be attributed to the aggregate breakdown observed under dry and wet conditions.

Influence of long-term feedlot manure amendments on soil hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregates, and soil thermal properties during the growing season

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Miller ◽  
B.W. Beasley ◽  
C.F. Drury ◽  
F.J. Larney ◽  
X. Hao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Properties ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Soil Thermal Properties

Long-term application of feedlot manure to cropland may change the physical properties of soils. We measured selected soil (surface) physical properties of a Dark Brown Chernozemic clay loam where different amendments were annually applied for 15 (2013), 16 (2014), and 17 (2015) yr. The treatments were stockpiled (SM) or composted (CM) manure with either straw (ST) or wood-chip (WD) bedding applied at three rates (13, 39, and 77 Mg ha−1) and an unamended control. The effect of selected or all treatments on selected properties was determined in 2013–2015. These properties included field-saturated (Kfs) and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity or K(ψ), bulk density (BD), volumetric water content, soil temperature, soil thermal properties, and wet aggregate stability. The hypotheses that selected soil physical properties would improve more for treatments with greater total carbon in the amendments (SM > CM, WD > ST) was rejected. The exceptions were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower soil BD for SM than CM and WD than ST for certain dates, and lower soil thermal conductivity for WD than ST. Most soil physical properties generally had no response to 15–17 yr of annual applications of these feedlot amendments, but a few showed a positive response.

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