scholarly journals Influence of straw incorporation-to-planting interval on soil physical properties and maize performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imtiaz A. Dahri ◽  
Ahmed A. Tagar ◽  
Jan Adamowski ◽  
Naimatullah Leghari ◽  
Ali R. Shah ◽  
...  

Abstract Long-term soil disturbance due to regular tillage destroys the soil structure, particularly by reducing the soil organic matter content. This, in turn, can lead to declining crop yields. This study assessed the influence of wheat (Triticum æstivum L.) straw incorporation and timing prior to seeding at 6 Mg ha−1 (S+), relative to no straw (S−), on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield parameters, as well as on soil characteristics. There were four intervals between straw incorporation and maize seeding, i.e. 60, 45, 30 and 15 days before sowing. Compared to the S− (control), soil dry bulk density increased (p ≤ 0.05) under all S+ treatments. A significantly greater proportion of undesirable small aggregates (<0.5 mm), and a lesser proportion of desirable medium sized (0.5-8.0mm) aggregates, occurred under S− treatment, as compared to $S_{60}^ +$ treatment. A similar, but less pronounced, trend was observed under $S_{45}^ +$ treatment. This trend was also evident for the $S_{30}^ +$ and $S_{15}^ +$ treatments. Generally, incorporation of straw 60 days prior to sowing led to achieving the best soil structure in terms of aggregation. Compared to S−, the soil organic matter showed a weakly significant (0.05 ≤ p ≤ 0.06) increase under straw amendment. Seedling emergence, plant height, cob length, the number of grain rows per plant, the number of grains per cob, as well as 1000 grain weight and yield were the highest under $S_{60}^ +$ , and the lowest under S−. The present study suggests that more research is necessary over longer time periods between straw incorporation and seeding on different crops, and in different soil types, in order to study the effects on soil properties, and on the growth and yield of crops.

Author(s):  
Vito Ferro ◽  
Vincenzo Bagarello

Field plots are often used to obtain experimental data (soil loss values corresponding to different climate, soil, topographic, crop, and management conditions) for predicting and evaluating soil erosion and sediment yield. Plots are used to study physical phenomena affecting soil detachment and transport, and their sizes are determined according to the experimental objectives and the type of data to be obtained. Studies on interrill erosion due to rainfall impact and overland flow need small plot width (2–3 m) and length (< 10 m), while studies on rill erosion require plot lengths greater than 6–13 m. Sites must be selected to represent the range of uniform slopes prevailing in the farming area under consideration. Plots equipped to study interrill and rill erosion, like those used for developing the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), measure erosion from the top of a slope where runoff begins; they must be wide enough to minimize the edge or border effects and long enough to develop downslope rills. Experimental stations generally include bounded runoff plots of known rea, slope steepness, slope length, and soil type, from which both runoff and soil loss can be monitored. Once the boundaries defining the plot area are fixed, a collecting equipment must be used to catch the plot runoff. A conveyance system (H-flume or pipe) carries total runoff to a unit sampling the sediment and a storage system, such as a sequence of tanks, in which sediments are accumulated. Simple methods have been developed for estimating the mean sediment concentration of all runoff stored in a tank by using the vertical concentration profile measured on a side of the tank. When a large number of plots are equipped, the sampling of suspension and consequent oven-drying in the laboratory are highly time-consuming. For this purpose, a sampler that can extract a column of suspension, extending from the free surface to the bottom of the tank, can be used. For large plots, or where runoff volumes are high, a divisor that splits the flow into equal parts and passes one part in a storage tank as a sample can be used. Examples of these devices include the Geib multislot divisor and the Coshocton wheel. Specific equipment and procedures must be employed to detect the soil removed by rill and gully erosion. Because most of the soil organic matter is found close to the soil surface, erosion significantly decreases soil organic matter content. Several studies have demonstrated that the soil removed by erosion is 1.3–5 times richer in organic matter than the remaining soil. Soil organic matter facilitates the formation of soil aggregates, increases soil porosity, and improves soil structure, facilitating water infiltration. The removal of organic matter content can influence soil infiltration, soil structure, and soil erodibility.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. S. Cho ◽  
B. Z. Lee ◽  
Z. R. Choe ◽  
S. E. Ockerby

A no-tillage, direct-sown, unfertilised, wheat–rice relaying cropping system has major advantages over a conventional transplanted-rice system. For example, when rice is sown simultaneously with the wheat harvest, there are savings in labor and costs as a result of eliminating the tillage required to prepare the seedbed and for transplanting. A field experiment was conducted between 1996 and 1998 at Hadong, Korea. The experiment compared the soil microbial-N status, the soil physical and chemical characteristics, and rice growth and yield in a long-term conventional rice system with those in a no-tillage, unfertilised, direct-sown, wheat–rice, relay cropping system. The wheat–rice system was imposed for 2, 4 and 7 years to identify the time course of responses in the soil and crop. Agricultural chemicals including fertilisers were not applied in the wheat–rice cropping system. Rice crop yields after 2, 4 and 7 years of a direct-sown, wheat–rice cropping system were similar to those in the conventional rice system. Rice yields were high, ranging from 4.7 to 6.9 t/ha. Since 110 kg N/ha was applied to the conventional rice system, a large amount of N was mineralised during the wheat–rice system. The pattern of rice growth and yield formation, however, differed between the 2 systems. Rice in the wheat–rice system generally had more panicles, fewer spikelets per panicle and heavier grains. These responses reflected temporal changes in the N content and greenness of the rice leaf and were related to soluble N levels in the soil. Generally the soil was fertile with a high initial organic matter content. Organic matter increased by 30% during the 7 years of wheat–rice cropping. Other soil physical measures, bulk density and permeability to air and water, indicated that soil structure improved in response to wheat–rice cropping. Problems of pathogens and perennial weeds associated with new cultural practices in the wheat–rice cropping were minor; however, a higher rate of seeding was necessary to achieve satisfactory seedling establishment. Benefits to weed control and soil moisture conditions during crop establishment were derived from the increased level of crop mulch. The wheat–rice cropping system was found to be high yielding and sustainable over the 7-year period of experimentation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mataix-Solera ◽  
I. Gómez ◽  
J. Navarro-Pedreño ◽  
C. Guerrero ◽  
R. Moral

Three Mediterranean soils located in the north of the Province of Alicante (Spain) were studied for a year after a forest fire. The percentage of water-stable aggregates (between 0.2 and 4 mm) and organic matter content were measured. Microaggregates (< 0.2 mm) were observed using electron microscopy. The results showed the importance of type of forest fire on soil organic matter and aggregates. Soil structure was more affected by surface fire (which affects mainly brushwood and soil surface) than crown fire (which burns the tops of trees and some brushwood). Accumulation of organic matter from burnt trees and brushwood in areas affected by crown fire and alterations in organic matter content through the soil profile were observed. Surface forest fire affected soil structure more negatively than crown fire as observed using electron microscopy. Soils affected by surface fire may be more easily eroded and recovery of vegetation may be delayed because of effects on soil structure. Organic matter content through the soil profile comparing burnt and adjacent unburnt soil could be used to determine the type of fire.


2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 494-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Önemli

Seedling emergence is one of the most important factors in the establishment of optimum plant density for a maximum yield. Seed quality and seedbed conditions affect seedling emergence. Seedbed condition is affected by soil content, especially soil organic matter. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of soil organic matter on germination and seedling emergence of three hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars. This research was conducted in 2000 and2001 in field and glasshouse conditions. Perlite and 20 soils with different organic matter contents were used as seedbed conditions. Soil organic matter, environment, and soil organic matter &times; environment factors had significant effects on seedling emergence. Decreasing soil organic matter content resulted in a decrease of seedling emergence due to the decreases in water content of the soil. This effect was clearer in adverse environmental conditions, especially in the soils with less than 2% organic matter. &nbsp;


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-365
Author(s):  
J. Pijlman ◽  
G. Holshof ◽  
W. van den Berg ◽  
G. H. Ros ◽  
J. W. Erisman ◽  
...  

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1326
Author(s):  
Calvin F. Glaspie ◽  
Eric A. L. Jones ◽  
Donald Penner ◽  
John A. Pawlak ◽  
Wesley J. Everman

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of soil organic matter content and soil pH on initial and residual weed control with flumioxazin by planting selected weed species in various lab-made and field soils. Initial control was determined by planting weed seeds into various lab-made and field soils treated with flumioxazin (71 g ha−1). Seeds of Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass), Setaria faberi (giant foxtail), Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed), and Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) were incorporated into the top 1.3 cm of each soil at a density of 100 seeds per pot, respectively. Emerged plants were counted and removed in both treated and non-treated pots two weeks after planting and each following week for six weeks. Flumioxazin control was evaluated by calculating percent emergence of weeds in treated soils compared to the emergence of weeds in non-treated soils. Clay content was not found to affect initial flumioxazin control of any tested weed species. Control of A. theophrasti, E. crus-galli, and S. faberi was reduced as soil organic matter content increased. The control of A. retroflexus was not affected by organic matter. Soil pH below 6 reduced flumioxazin control of A. theophrasti, and S. faberi but did not affect the control of A. retroflexus and E. crus-galli. Flumioxazin residual control was determined by planting selected weed species in various lab-made and field soils 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after treatment. Eight weeks after treatment, flumioxazin gave 0% control of A. theophrasti and S. faberi in all soils tested. Control of A. retroflexus and Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters) was 100% for the duration of the experiment, except when soil organic matter content was greater than 3% or the soil pH 7. Eight weeks after treatment, 0% control was only observed for common A. retroflexus and C. album in organic soil (soil organic matter > 80%) or when soil pH was above 7. Control of A. theophrasti and S. faberi decreased as soil organic matter content and soil pH increased. Similar results were observed when comparing lab-made soils to field soils; however, differences in control were observed between lab-made organic matter soils and field organic matter soils. Results indicate that flumioxazin can provide control ranging from 75–100% for two to six weeks on common weed species.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3957
Author(s):  
Yingying Xing ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Xiaoli Niu ◽  
Wenting Jiang ◽  
Xiukang Wang

Soil nutrients are essential nutrients provided by soil for plant growth. Most researchers focus on the coupling effect of nutrients with potato yield and quality. There are few studies on the evaluation of soil nutrients in potato fields. The purpose of this study is to investigate the soil nutrients of potato farmland and the soil vertical nutrient distributions, and then to provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the fertilizer management practices for potatoes in Loess Plateau. Eight physical and chemical soil indexes were selected in the study area, and 810 farmland soil samples from the potato agriculture product areas were analyzed in Northern Shaanxi. The paper established the minimum data set (MDS) for the quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland by principal component analysis (PCA), respectively, and furthermore, analyzed the soil nutrient characteristics of the cultivated layer adopted soil quality index (SQI). The results showed that the MDS on soil quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland soil included such indicators as the soil organic matter content, soil available potassium content, and soil available phosphorus content. The comprehensive index value of the soil quality was between 0.064 and 0.302. The SPSS average clustering process used to classify SQI was divided into three grades: class I (36.2%) was defined as suitable soil fertility (SQI < 0.122), class II (55.6%) was defined as moderate soil fertility (0.122 < SQI < 0.18), and class III (8.2%) was defined as poor soil fertility (SQI > 0.186). The comprehensive quality of the potato farmland soils was generally low. The proportion of soil nutrients in the SQI composition ranged from large to small as the soil available potassium content = soil available phosphorus content > soil organic matter content, which became the limiting factor of the soil organic matter content in this area. This study revolves around the 0 to 60 cm soil layer; the soil fertility decreased gradually with the soil depth, and had significant differences between the respective soil layers. In order to improve the soil nutrient accumulation and potato yield in potato farmland in northern Shaanxi, it is suggested to increase the fertilization depth (20 to 40 cm) and further study the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. 2178-2187 ◽  
Author(s):  
J C Neff ◽  
J W Harden ◽  
G Gleixner

Boreal ecosystems contain a substantial fraction of the earth's soil carbon stores and are prone to frequent and severe wildfires. In this study, we examine changes in element and organic matter stocks due to a 1999 wildfire in Alaska. One year after the wildfire, burned soils contained between 1071 and 1420 g/m2 less carbon than unburned soils. Burned soils had lower nitrogen than unburned soils, higher calcium, and nearly unchanged potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus stocks. Burned surface soils tended to have higher concentrations of noncombustible elements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus compared with unburned soils. Combustion losses of carbon were mostly limited to surface dead moss and fibric horizons, with no change in the underlying mineral horizons. Burning caused significant changes in soil organic matter structure, with a 12% higher ratio of carbon to combustible organic matter in surface burned horizons compared with unburned horizons. Pyrolysis gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy also shows preferential volatilization of polysaccharide-derived organic matter and enrichment of lignin- and lipid-derived compounds in surface soils. The chemistry of deeper soil layers in burned and unburned sites was similar, suggesting that immediate fire impacts were restricted to the surface soil horizon.


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