scholarly journals Evaluation of the short-term effect of tillage practices on soil hydro-physical properties

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Omid Bahmani

<p><strong> </strong>Tillage is one of the most important practices that have a significant influence on the soil hydro-physical properties. In this study, the impact of the type and number of input variables with five different methods of the Retc model to predicting the moisture retention curve and soil water content in three surfaces tillage NT (No-tillage), CP (Chisel Plough) and MP (Moldboard Plough) and the impact of tillage systems on soil hydro-physical properties were evaluated. According to results, when the field capacity and wilting point moisture was added to input data in Retc to predict the moisture curve model parameters, the EF was increased in MP (0.977, 0.95) and CP (0.891, 0.86) treatments compare the NT (0.665, 0.608). The Mualem–Van Genuchten model can describe satisfactorily the simulation of soil physical properties. The S-index, which was also affected by tillage, was greater than 0.066 in all tillage treatments, indicating good soil physical quality. Results indicated that NT had the highest and lowest values of bulk density (1.55 Mgr.m<sup>-3</sup>) and total available water (TAW) (0.038 m.m<sup>-1</sup>), respectively, and the differences between NT and MP in total porosity was significant. Overall, in most soil layers, tillage practices affected the porosity and total available water in the order MP &gt; CP &gt; NT. Water retention curves indicated that the water retention capacity was greater in tilled than in no-tilled and saturated hydraulic conductivity values were greater in tilled treatments than in NT soil.</p>

Author(s):  
Anthony S. R. Juo ◽  
Kathrin Franzluebbers

Allophanic soils are dark-colored young soils derived mainly from volcanic ash. These soils typically have a low bulk density (< 0.9 Mg/m3), a high water retention capacity (100% by weight at field capacity), and contain predominantly allophanes, imogolite, halloysite, and amorphous Al silicates in the clay fraction. These soils are found in small, restricted areas with volcanic activity. Worldwide, there are about 120 million ha of allophanic soils, which is about 1% of the Earth's ice-free land surface. In tropical regions, allophanic soils are among the most productive and intensively used agricultural soils. They occur in the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Caribbean and South Pacific islands, East Africa, Central America, and the Andean rim of South America. Allophanic soils are primarily Andisols and andic Inceptisols, Entisols, Mollisols, and Alfisols according to the Soil Taxonomy classification. Allophanic soils generally have a dark-colored surface soil, slippery or greasy consistency, a predominantly crumb and granular structure, and a low bulk density ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 Mg/m3. Although allophanic soils are apparently well-drained, they still have a very high water content many days after rain. When the soil is pressed between fingers, it gives a plastic, greasy, but non-sticky sensation of a silty or loamy texture. When dry, the soil loses its greasiness and becomes friable and powdery. The low bulk density of allophanic soils is closely related to the high soil porosity. For example, moderately weathered allophanic soils typically have a total porosity of 78%, with macro-, meso-, and micropores occupying 13%, 33%, and 32%, respectively. Water retained in the mesopores is readily available for plant uptake. Water retained in the micropores is held strongly by soil particles and is not readily available for plant use. The macropores provide soil aeration and facilitate water infiltration. The high water retention capacity is also associated with the high soil porosity. In allophanic soils formed under a humid climate, especially those containing large amounts of allophane, the moisture content at field capacity can be as high as 300%, calculated on a weight basis. Such extremely high values of water content seem misleading.


2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Akhter ◽  
K. Mahmood ◽  
K.A. Malik ◽  
A. Mardan ◽  
M. Ahmad ◽  
...  

The hydrogel amendments may improve seedling growth and establishment by increasing water retention capacity of soils and regulating the plants available water supplies, particularly under arid environments. The effects of different levels of a locally prepared hydrogel were studied on the moisture properties of sandy loam and loam soils (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Haplargids, USDA, Luvic Yermosol, FAO) and on growth response of three plant species, viz. barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Water absorption by gel was rapid and highest in distilled water and was inhibited by an increase in water salinity. The addition of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% hydrogel increased the moisture retention (&theta;r) at field capacity linearly (r = 0.988) and thus the amount of plant available water significantly in both sandy loam and loam soils compared to the untreated soils. Seed germination of wheat and barley was not affected but seedling growth of both species was improved by the gel amendment. In loam soil, seed germination of chickpea was higher with 0.2% gel and seedling growth increased with increase in gel level compared with control conditions. The hydrogel amendment caused a delay by 4&ndash;5 days in wilting of seedlings grown in both soils compared with control conditions. The hydrogel amendment was effective in improving soil moisture availability and thus increased plant establishment. However, the varied responses of plant species in sandy loam and loam soils warrant further studies on the behaviour of different soil types with gel amendments.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin Marín ◽  
Carlos Dahik ◽  
Giovanny Mosquera ◽  
Jan Feyen ◽  
Pedro Cisneros ◽  
...  

Andean ecosystems provide important ecosystem services including streamflow regulation and carbon sequestration, services that are controlled by the water retention properties of the soils. Even though these soils have been historically altered by pine afforestation and grazing, little research has been dedicated to the assessment of such impacts at local or regional scales. To partially fill this knowledge gap, we present an evaluation of the impacts of pine plantations and grazing on the soil hydro-physical properties and soil organic matter (SOM) of high montane forests and páramo in southern Ecuador, at elevations varying between 2705 and 3766 m a.s.l. In total, seven study sites were selected and each one was parceled into undisturbed and altered plots with pine plantation and grazing. Soil properties were characterized at two depths, 0–10 and 10–25 cm, and differences in soil parameters between undisturbed and disturbed plots were analyzed versus factors such as ecosystem type, sampling depth, soil type, elevation, and past/present land management. The main soil properties affected by land use change are the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), the water retention capacity (pF 0 to 2.52), and SOM. The impacts of pine afforestation are dependent on sampling depth, ecosystem type, plantation characteristics, and previous land use, while the impacts of grazing are primarily dependent on sampling depth and land use management (grazing intensity and tilling activities). The site-specific nature of the found relations suggests that extension of findings in response to changes in land use in montane Andean ecosystems is risky; therefore, future evaluations of the impact of land use change on soil parameters should take into consideration that responses are or can be site specific.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Fijałkowski ◽  
Rafał Rakoczy ◽  
Anna Żywicka ◽  
Radosław Drozd ◽  
Beata Zielińska ◽  
...  

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of rotating magnetic field (RMF) on the morphology, physicochemical properties, and the water holding capacity of bacterial cellulose (BC) synthetized by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. The cultures of G. xylinus were exposed to RMF of frequency that equals 50 Hz and magnetic induction 34 mT for 3, 5, and 7 days during cultivation at 28°C in the customized RMF exposure system. It was revealed that BC exposed for 3 days to RMF exhibited the highest water retention capacity as compared to the samples exposed for 5 and 7 days. The observation was confirmed for both the control and RMF exposed BC. It was proved that the BC exposed samples showed up to 26% higher water retention capacity as compared to the control samples. These samples also required the highest temperature to release the water molecules. Such findings agreed with the observation via SEM examination which revealed that the structure of BC synthesized for 7 days was more compacted than the sample exposed to RMF for 3 days. Furthermore, the analysis of 2D correlation of Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrated the impact of RMF exposure on the dynamics of BC microfibers crystallinity formation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-53
Author(s):  
Jana Šimečková ◽  
Jiří Jandák

Abstract Physical properties of soils are affected by many factors. These include the type of fertilizer used. An offer of fertilizers is currently extensive and new types are added, an example may be digestate, which is ranked among organic fertilizers according to Czech legislation. Changes in physical soil properties were monitored on a field trial, which were established on the place of Research grassland station Vatín (region Vysočina, the Czech Republic) in autumn 2013. The field trial comprised different variants of fertilization. Their effects were observed at different vegetation covers. In this paper, we focus on vegetation cover corn, fertilization variants: manure, mineral fertilizer (saltpetre ammonium with limestone) and digestate. The effect of fertilization was observed 3 times during the growing season 2014. It was in June, August and October. The results were obtained by the basic analysis of Kopecky rollers and it was from the depths of 0.05 m and 0.15 m (middle roller). The monitored soil properties were: bulk density, porosity, water retention capacity, maximum capillary water capacity and minimum air capacity. At all investigated physical soil properties there was a positive development during the growing season, with the exception of water retention capacity. The difference was found in the range of changes in various physical properties depending on the applied fertilizer.


2022 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Rustam Gakaev

Common areas of research needed to measure soil carbon include: (1) the impact of forest management, (2) the impact of climate change, and (3) the impact of increased carbon dioxide. The organic matter of the soil has a great influence on the productivity of the site due to its effect on the physical (bulk density, water retention capacity), biological (microbial populations) and chemical (cation exchange capacity) properties of soils. Recently, there have also been claims of the benefits of dead wood for forest ecosystems. However, as with all nutrients, too much carbon in the soil can have negative consequences, especially with regard to nitrogen immobilization.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2214
Author(s):  
Diego Rivera ◽  
Karen Gutierrez ◽  
Walter Valdivia-Cea ◽  
Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini ◽  
Alex Godoy-Faúndez ◽  
...  

Andean headwater catchments are key components of the hydrological cycle, given that they capture moisture, store water and release it for Chilean cities, industry, agriculture, and cities in Chile. However, knowledge about within-Andean catchment processes is far from clear. Most soils in the Andes derive from volcanic ash Andosols and Arenosols presenting high organic matter, high-water retention capacity and fine pores; and are very dry during summer. Despite their importance, there is little research on the hillslope hydrology of Andosols. Environmental isotopes such as Deuterium and 18-O are direct tracers for water and useful on analyzing water-soil interactions. This work explores, for the first time, the efficiency of cryogenic vacuum extraction to remove water from two contrasting soil types (Arenosols, Andosols) at five soil water retention energies (from −1500 to −33 kPa). Two experiments were carried out to analyse the impact of extraction time, and initial water content on the amount of extracted water, while a third experiment tested whether the cryogenic vacuum extraction changed the isotopic ratios after extraction. Minimum extraction times to recover over 90% of water initially in the soil samples were 40–50 min and varied with soil texture. Minimum volume for very dry soils were 0.2 mL (loamy sand) and 1 mL (loam). After extraction, the difference between the isotope standard and the isotopic values after extraction was acceptable. Thus, we recommend this procedure for soils derived from volcanic ashes.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréia Patrícia Andrade ◽  
Álvaro Luiz Mafra ◽  
Gizele Rejane Baldo ◽  
Cristiano Dela Piccolla ◽  
Ildegardis Bertol ◽  
...  

Soil is the basis underlying the food production chain and it is fundamental to improve and conserve its productive capacity. Imbalanced exploitation can degrade agricultural areas physical, chemical and biologically. The objective of this study was to evaluate some soil physical properties and their relation with organic carbon contents of a Humic Dystrudept under conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT), for 12 years in rotation (r) and succession (s) cropping systems. The experiment was carried out in Lages, SC (latitude 27 º 49 ' S and longitude 50 º 20 ' W, 937 m asl), using crop sequences of bean-fallow-maize-fallow-soybean in conventional tillage rotation; maize-fallow in conventional tillage succession; bean-oat-maize-turnip-soybean-vetch in no-tillage rotation; and maize-vetch in no-tillage succession. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications. The soil samples were collected in the layers 0-2.5, 2.5-5, 5-10, and 10-20 cm. The following properties were analyzed: soil density, porosity, aggregate stability, degree of flocculation, water retention, infiltration, mechanical strength, and total organic carbon. Soil aggregation in the surface layer (0-5 cm) was better in the no-tillage than the conventional system, related to higher microporosity, organic carbon contents and water retention capacity, indicating that a periodical tillage of this soil is unnecessary. Infiltration was highest in no-tillage with crop succession.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Hsin-Fu Yeh ◽  
Tsien-Ting Huang ◽  
Jhe-Wei Lee

Rainfall infiltration is the primary triggering factor of slope instability. The process of rainfall infiltration leads to changes in the water content and internal stress of the slope soil, thereby affecting slope stability. The soil water retention curve (SWRC) was used to describe the relationship between soil water content, matric suction, and the water retention characteristics of the soil. This characteristic is essential for estimating the properties of unsaturated soils, such as unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function and shear strength. Thus, SWRC is regarded as important information for depicting the properties of unsaturated soil. The SWRC is primarily affected by the soil pore size distribution (PSD) and has unimodal and bimodal features. The bimodal SWRC is suitable for soils with structural or dual-porous media. This model can describe the structure of micropores and macropores in the soil and allow the hydraulic behavior at different pore scales to be understood. Therefore, this model is more consistent with the properties of onsite soil. Few studies have explored the differences in the impact of unimodal and bimodal models on unsaturated slopes. This study aims to consider unimodal and bimodal SWRC to evaluate the impact of unsaturated slope stability under actual rainfall conditions. A conceptual model of the slope was built based on field data to simulate changes in the hydraulic behavior of the slope. The results of seepage analysis show that the bimodal model has a better water retention capacity than the unimodal model, and therefore, its water storage performance is better. Under the same saturated hydraulic conductivity function, the wetting front of the bimodal model moves down faster. This results in changes in the pressure head, water content, and internal stress of the soil. The results show that the water content and suction stress changes of the bimodal model are higher than those of the unimodal model due to the difference in water retention capacity. Based on the stability of the slope, calculated using the seepage analysis, the results indicate that the potential failure depth of the bimodal model is deeper than that of the unimodal model.


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