Dataset on Soil Physio-Chemical Properties and Seasonal Moisture and Nutrient Dynamics in Temporary Stream Channels and Contributing Uplands in Arizona, USA

Author(s):  
Kathleen Lohse ◽  
Erika Gallo ◽  
Thomas Meixner
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Burgeon ◽  
Julien Fouché ◽  
Sarah Garré ◽  
Ramin Heidarian-Dehkordi ◽  
Gilles Colinet ◽  
...  

<p>The amendment of biochar to soils is often considered for its potential as a climate change mitigation and adaptation tool through agriculture. Its presence in tropical agroecosystems has been reported to positively impact soil productivity whilst successfully storing C on the short and long-term. In temperate systems, recent research showed limited to no effect on productivity following recent biochar addition to soils. Its long-term effects on productivity and nutrient cycling have, however, been overlooked yet are essential before the use of biochar can be generalized.</p><p>Our study was set up in a conventionally cropped field, containing relict charcoal kiln sites used as a model for century old biochar (CoBC, ~220 years old). These sites were compared to soils amended with recently pyrolyzed biochar (YBC) and biochar free soils (REF) to study nutrient dynamics in the soil-water-plant system. Our research focused on soil chemical properties, crop nutrient uptake and soil solution nutrient concentrations. Crop plant samples were collected over three consecutive land occupations (chicory, winter wheat and a cover crop) and soil solutions gathered through the use of suctions cups inserted in different horizons of the studied Luvisol throughout the field.</p><p>Our results showed that YBC mainly influenced the soil solution composition whereas CoBC mainly impacted the total and plant available soil nutrient content. In soils with YBC, our results showed lower nitrate and potassium concentrations in subsoil horizons, suggesting a decreased leaching, and higher phosphate concentrations in topsoil horizons. With time and the oxidation of biochar particles, our results reported higher total soil N, available K and Ca in the topsoil horizon when compared to REF, whereas available P was significantly smaller. Although significant changes occurred in terms of plant available nutrient contents and soil solution nutrient concentrations, this did not transcend in variations in crop productivity between soils for neither of the studied crops. Overall, our study highlights that young or aged biochar behave as two distinct products in terms of nutrient cycling in soils. As such the sustainability of these soils differ and their management must therefore evolve with time.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Fikeremareyam Chulo ◽  
Fanuel Laekemariam ◽  
Alemayehu Kiflu

Understanding the nutrient dynamics in acid soil is fundamental to carry out proper management. The study was conducted to investigate phosphorus (P) pools and selected properties under different rates of lime for acid nitisols of Farawocha, Southern Ethiopia. Four lime rates incubated for a month in three replications were tested. The lime rates were 0 t/ha (0%), 5.25 t/ha (50%), 10.5 t/ha (100%), and 15.75 t/ha (150%). Lime requirement (LR) for 100% was calculated targeting soil pH of 6.5. Data on the P pools such as soluble P (P-sol) and bounded forms of P with iron (Fe-P), aluminum (Al-P), calcium (Ca-P), organic part (Org-P), residual P (Res-P), and total of P fractions were measured. In addition, changes in soil chemical properties such as pH, exchangeable acidity, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), boron (B), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) were analyzed. The result showed that total P was 357.5 mg/kg. Compared to nontreated soil, liming at a rate of 15.75 t/ha significantly improved P-sol (34.2%, r2 = 0.88), Ca-P (61.6%, r2 = 0.92), and Res-P (195%, r2 = 0.94); however, it reduced Fe-P (58.5%, r2 = −0.83), Al-P (71%, r2 = −0.97), and Org-P (19.1%, r2 = 0.93). Overall, the P-associated fractions in the soil, regardless of the lime rates, were in the order of Org_P > Res_P > Fe_P > Ca_P > Al_P > P-sol. Liming raised soil pH by 2.1 units (4.5 to 6.6) over nonlimed soil, whereas it reduced exchangeable acidity from 4.18 to 0.23 meq/100 g soil. Available P, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Zn, and B contents were significantly improved with lime application. However, liming reduced Fe and Mn contents. In conclusion, these findings showed that liming facilitated the release of P from various pools, modified pH and exchangeable acidity, and resulted in beneficial changes for most of the soil chemical properties.


Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Ehsan Zare ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Tibet Khongnawang ◽  
Mohammad Farzamian ◽  
John Triantafilis

The clay alluvial plains of Namoi Valley have been intensively developed for irrigation. A condition of a license is water needs to be stored on the farm. However, the clay plain was developed from prior stream channels characterised by sandy clay loam textures that are permeable. Cheap methods of soil physical and chemical characterisations are required to map the supply channels used to move water on farms. Herein, we collect apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) from a DUALEM-421 along a 4-km section of a supply channel. We invert ECa to generate electromagnetic conductivity images (EMCI) using EM4Soil software and evaluate two-dimensional models of estimates of true electrical conductivity (σ—mS m−1) against physical (i.e., clay and sand—%) and chemical properties (i.e., electrical conductivity of saturated soil paste extract (ECe—dS m−1) and the cation exchange capacity (CEC, cmol(+) kg−1). Using a support vector machine (SVM), we predict these properties from the σ and depth. Leave-one-site-out cross-validation shows strong 1:1 agreement (Lin’s) between the σ and clay (0.85), sand (0.81), ECe (0.86) and CEC (0.83). Our interpretation of predicted properties suggests the approach can identify leakage areas (i.e., prior stream channels). We suggest that, with this calibration, the approach can be used to predict soil physical and chemical properties beneath supply channels across the rest of the valley. Future research should also explore whether similar calibrations can be developed to enable characterisations in other cotton-growing areas of Australia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 086-092
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ramírez-Iglesias ◽  
Rosa Mary Hernández-Hernandez ◽  
José Rubén Iglesias

Mineral deficiencies in soil-plant-animal relations are linked to chemical properties and reproductive problems in grazing animals. The objective of this study was to determine the dynamics of K, Ca, and Mg in the green leaf biomass of two types of introduced forages, Brachiaria dyctioneura (Bd) and Centrosema macrocarpum (Cm), compared to the natural vegetation of the neotropical savannah (NS) in an agricultural ecosystem. The three types of vegetation, associated with the corn crop, served as livestock feed during the dry season. The soil’s nutrient content (0-15 cm depth), the production and nutritional dynamics of green leaf biomass, and leaf/stem relationships in the fields during the grazing period were determined. In the corn crop-livestock agroecosystem, K decreased (%) in concentration as the grazing period progressed, presenting the following trend: Bd>Cm>NS. The dynamics of Ca and Mg in green leaf biomass increased slightly (p<0.05) by the end of the grazing period for Bd and Cm, in contrast to a significant decrease in the natural vegetation of the savannah. The concentration of K in the soil did not reveal significant differences between ground cover and NS plants, and the soils under Cm evidenced the highest percentage of Ca. A higher percentage of Mg was observed in the soil planted with Cm. For the three types of vegetation, an improvement was observed in the nutritional quality of the forage and soil and in the yield (kg/ha). These findings are valuable contributions within the context of production in savannas and to forage quality for livestock.  


Author(s):  
Sumit Chakravarty ◽  
Prakash Rai ◽  
Vineeta ◽  
Nazir A. Pala ◽  
Gopal Shukla

Plant litter production and decomposition is a crucial ecosystem process that defines and governs the plant-soil relationships by regulating the nutrient turnover and the build-up of soil organic matter. Litter is the principal source of organic matter for soils in the forest ecosystem. The litter, upon decomposition, makes available essential nutrients for the growth and development of a forest stand. Different tree components contain different amounts of nutrients; and build up of soil organic matter. The amount of nutrients added through litter decomposition varies with forest types, species, stand attributes, and variation in seasonal environmental conditions. Nutrient return from organic matter is estimated by the physico-chemical properties of the litter. Moreover, the rate of decomposition and the nutrient releases are highly influenced by magnitude of litter produced, litter quality and nutrients release, as well as, by climatic conditions and existing microbial communities in the soil system. Ecological impact of carbon and nutrient dynamics in the litter layer is considerable in a forest ecosystem.


ZOO-Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Md. Akbal Husen ◽  
Ram P Dhakal ◽  
Agni P Nepal

Knowledge on nutrient dynamics of the lake provide basis for modality and extent of exploitation of fishery resources. Therefore, a long-term data of physico-chemical parameters was analyzed for the assessment of changing aquatic environment and its impact on aquatic biodiversity. The physical and chemical properties of water have been changed over 14 years (1994 to 2007). Increase in mean annual concentrations of dissolved oxygen in recent years (2002 to 2007) were recorded in the lake, which indicate improvement in water quality due to lake restoration. Annual mean pH levels were not consistent to produce specific trends. The pH of the water increased from 1994 to 2002, and then decreased continuously in later period. Water transparency increased with the decreased chlorophyll 'a' concentration during 1999 to 2002 due to degraded condition. The higher concentrations (0.010- 0.017 mgl-1) of soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP- PO4) were recorded during 1994 to 2000, later SRP concentration (0.003-0.012 mgl-1) tend to reduce. Effect of fluctuation in the physico-chemical properties on the lake productivity in terms of fish yield was assessed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e67331
Author(s):  
Rosina Magaña Ugarte ◽  
María Manuela Redondo ◽  
Daniel Sánchez-Mata

We performed a five-year assessment of the natural vegetation restoration capacity following the 2012 fires in Valdemaqueda (Madrid, Spain) via the characterization of the post-fire and residual vegetation and the analysis of soil physico-chemical characteristics. Six pilot-plots were established in the affected site. Forest species, representative of the potential natural vegetation of the area (Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. lagunae and Quercus rotundifolia woodlands) and broom shrubs (Cytisus scoparius, Retama sphaerocarpa) were planted to assess the relationship among the stages of ecological succession, competition, and soil restoration processes following devastating fire events. The fire-driven alteration of the soil’s physico-chemical properties was evident, given the increased pH and reduced C/N ratio in the first years of the study. However, we observed an increased soil enrichment in the last years of study, accompanied by the propagation of herbaceous species, su[1]pporting our seed bank findings, showing a clear difference in the sprouting rate between burnt and control plots (80% vs. 20%, respectively). The establishment of robust, pyrophyte shrub species (Cistus ladanifer, C. laurifolius, Rosmarinus officinalis) rather than natural succession evidenced the clear conversion of the vegetation in burnt areas. These findings in the pilot-plots allowed evidencing the high vulnerability of the natural vegetation to the settling of pyrophytes, given their low survival rate under the strong competitive pressure of these pyrophytic species. The proliferation of these pyrophytes could translate into changes in soil macro- and microbiota, nutrient dynamics, species diversity, and interaction, added to the alteration of fire regimes in the area. Overall, these results highlight the risk for soil impoverishment and possible erosion of the fire-affected sites. Moreover, they underline the importance of the establishment and regeneration of Genisteae species to outcompete pioneer pyrophytic species, favoring the restoration of the area’s potential natural vegetation


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1590-1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Corriveau ◽  
Patricia A. Chambers ◽  
Adam G. Yates ◽  
Joseph M. Culp

Small watersheds in the Canadian Prairies are characterized by seasonally disconnected hydrologic networks whereby stream channels are hydrologically connected during snowmelt but have disconnected reaches throughout the remainder of the year. Snowmelt is the most significant hydrological event in the Canadian Prairies, yet few studies have investigated the role of snowmelt in the nutrient budget of prairie streams. We quantified hydrologic and nutrient dynamics during snowmelt for ten agricultural subwatersheds distributed along a gradient of human activity in the Red River Valley, Canada, to evaluate the timing of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) export. Elevated concentrations of total P (TP) and total N (TN) were observed during the snowmelt peak, with maximum concentrations reaching 3.23 mg TP L−1 and 18.50 mg TN L−1. Dissolved P and N dominated the total nutrient pool throughout snowmelt, likely due to reduced erosion and sediment transport resulting from the combination of the flat topography, frozen soil and stream banks, and gradual snow cover melt. Significant correlations were observed between snowmelt N load (r = 0.91; p &lt; 0.05) and both agricultural land cover and fertilizer usage, with a weaker correlation between snowmelt P load (r = 0.81; p &lt; 0.05) and agricultural area. Our results showed that snowmelt plays a key role in nutrient export to prairie aquatic ecosystems and this may have serious impacts on downstream ecosystems. Land use management practices need to consider the snowmelt period to control nutrient loads to Lake Winnipeg and other waterbodies in the Great Plains.


Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cox ◽  
R. J. Whelan

An artificial soil mix made out of industry wastes and sewage sludge has been created for the revegetation of an industrial site. Physico-chemical properties were measured over time to examine soil formation in a chronosequence of 11 gardens aged 3–11 years, and in a 3-year longitudinal study of 8 replicate experimental plots. In the field plots, available nutrient content was initially high but declined quickly in 3 months. Particle weathering occurred, with an increase in the finer soil fractions after 1 year. pH was initially 7.62 and declined to 6.85 by 3 years. Native tree growth was exceptionally good over the 2 years monitored, with average trunk diameter increases of 144 mm for Corymbia maculata, 94 mm for Acacia floribunda, and 39 mm for Callistemon salignus. In the chronosequence study, there was a build- up of nutrients (C, N, and P) in the soil mix over 6–10 years, with a slight decrease by 11 years. This study has shown that soil development has occurred in the short and longer terms, with rapid changes seen in the first 12 months. High levels of N and P remaining after 11 years, and abundant organic C for microbial decomposition, indicate the potential for nutrient cycling


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ali Munawar ◽  
. Indarmawan ◽  
Hery Suhartoyo

Vegetation establishment is considered as a critical step of mined land rehabilitation. The growing plants do not only prevent soil erosion, but also play important roles in soil ecosystem development. Their litterfall is the main process of transferring organic matter and nutrients from aboveground tree biomass to soil. Thus, its quantification would aid in understanding biomass and nutrient dynamics of the ecosystem. This study was aimed to investigate the litter production and its decomposition rate in a reclaimed mined land using albizia and sesbania, and theireffects on some soil properties. The litter under each stand was biweekly collected for four months. At the same time litter samples were decomposed in mesh nylon bags in soils and the remaining litters were biweekly measured. Soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm depths from each stand for analyses of soil organic C, total N, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The results demonstrated that total litter production under albizia (10.58 t ha-1 yr-1) was almost twice as much as that under sesbania stands (5.43 t ha-1 yr-1). Albizia litter was dominated by leaf litter (49.26%) and least as understory vegetation (23.31%), whereas sesbania litter was more evenly distributed among litter types. Decomposition rates of all litters were fastest in the initial stage and then gradually decreased. Sesbania leaf litters decomposed fastest, while albizia twigs slowest. Differences in the litter production and decomposition rates of the two species had not sufficiently caused significant effects on organic-C, total N, and CEC of the soilsafter one year of revegetation.Keywords: Albizia (Paraserianthes falcataria), decomposition rates, litter, mined land, Sesbania grandiflora


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