scholarly journals Técnicas de restauración de suelos basadas en el uso de residuos orgánicos: seis años de beneficios sobre las propiedades de un suelo forestal

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 675
Author(s):  
P. Hueso-González ◽  
J.M. Martínez-Murillo ◽  
J.D. Ruiz-Sinoga
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Restoring the native vegetation is one of the most effective way to regenerate forest soil health. The seeding and plant establishment stages are critical; but during these stages the beneficial effects of the vegetation may not be apparent, and the soil is highly susceptible to erosion and depletion of soil quality. In the initial months after afforestation, vegetation cover establishment and soil quality could be better sustained if the soil was amended with an external extra source of organic matter. The objective of this study is to analyze the benefits of using different organic amendments on some soil properties. The soil treatment selected were: (i) afforestation with straw mulching treatment; (ii) afforestation with mulch with chipped branches of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.); (iii) afforestation with cattle manure compost; (iv) sewage sludge and; (v) afforestation in unamended soils, control condition. The amendments were applied at the rate of 10 Mg ha-1. Six years after the amendment application, only the addition of straw and pine mulch have shown a significant increase in soil organic carbon regarding the afforestation under bare soil conditions. Besides, this increase was also directly related with the increase in microbiological activity and aggregate stability. On the other hand, the addition of sewage sludge or cattle manure is not an effective treatment to favor the edaphic structure regarding the afforestation under unamended soils.

Organic amendments influence nutrient availability and cotton productivity in irrigated Vertosols

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhadip Ghosh ◽  
Nilantha Hulugalle ◽  
Peter Lockwood ◽  
Kathleen King ◽  
Paul Kristiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Active Growth ◽  
Cotton Plants ◽  
Microbiological Properties

There is increasing interest in the use of organic amendments in the Australian cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) industry because of perceived benefits to soil health and the environment. A 2-year field experiment was conducted at the Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI), near Narrabri, NSW, using three locally available organic amendments applied at typical farmers’ rates to irrigated cotton. The amendments used were cattle manure (10 t/ha), composted cotton gin trash (7.5 t/ha), and a commercial liquefied vermicompost (50 L/ha), and their effects on soil quality characteristics were compared with those of control soil where no amendment was added. The soil (0–0.10 m) was sampled on six occasions and analysed for selected chemical and microbiological properties. The physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of mature cotton plants were also examined. The organic amendments did not have a significant effect on microbiological properties as measured by microbial biomass and respiration. Of the chemical properties measured, manure-amended plots showed higher nitrate-nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium (K) concentrations over 2 years. Exchangeable K was 28% higher where cattle manure was applied than in control plots during the active growth stage of cotton in the first year of experiment. Higher nutrient uptake by mature cotton plants and lower nutrient concentration in soil were observed in the second year. Cotton physiological properties and lint yield were not significantly affected by the application of organic amendments. Seasonal parameters had a strong effect. The results suggest that there are few short-term benefits to be gained in terms of soil quality from application of organic amendments to Vertosols at the rates used in these trials.

Restorative crops for the amelioration of degraded soil conditions in New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Francis ◽  
F. J. Tabley ◽  
K. M. White
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Degraded Soil ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Arable Crops ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Earthworm Populations

The effects of restorative crops on the amelioration of a degraded soil were investigated in a 6-year field experiment. Treatments included perennial pastures, annual pastures, and arable crops. Improvements in some aspects of chemical, biological, and physical fertility were related to the amount of herbage dry matter returned to the soil and root production. Beneficial effects associated with returned organic matter were partly negated by the degradative effect of tillage. Treatments that returned most organic material to the soil showed the greatest increase in aggregate stability and supported the largest earthworm populations, especially without annual tillage. Differences between treatments in soil organic C content were not generally significant until the sixth year. In contrast, differences between treatments in microbial biomass C were apparent by the third year. Compaction by sheep during grazing appeared to result in a loss of soil macroporosity. In the sixth year, soil macroporosity was greatest in the annually cultivated, ungrazed treatments. The grazed perennial ryegrass and ryegrass/white clover treatments were the most effective in ameliorating degraded soil conditions. The rate of soil amelioration declined with depth, and was mainly confined to the top 10 cm of soil. The rate of amelioration was relatively slow, with, for example, 3 years needed for most of the increase in aggregate stability at 0–5 cm depth.

scholarly journals Targeting the soil quality and soil health concepts when aiming for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Green Deal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonello Bonfante ◽  
Angelo Basile ◽  
Johan Bouma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil Series ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Health Concepts ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. The soil quality and soil health concepts are widely used as soils receive more attention in the worldwide policy arena. So far, however, the distinction between the two concepts is unclear and operational procedures for measurement are still being developed. A proposal is made to focus soil health on actual soil conditions, as determined by a limited set of indicators that reflect favourable rooting conditions. In addition, soil quality can express inherent soil conditions in a given soil type (genoform) reflecting the effects of past and present soil management (expressed by various phenoforms). Soils contribute to ecosystem services that, in turn, contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and, more recently, to the EU Green Deal. Relevant soil ecosystem services are biomass production (SDG2: zero hunger), providing clean water (SDG6); climate mitigation by carbon capture and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (SDG13: climate action) and biodiversity preservation (SDG15: life on land). The use of simulation models for the soil-water-atmosphere-plant system is proposed as a quantitative and reproducible procedure to derive single values for soil health and soil quality for current and future climate conditions. Crop production parameters from the international: yield-gap program are used combined with soil-specific parameters expressing the effects of phenoforms. These procedures focus on the ecosystem service: biomass production Other ecosystem services are determined by soil-specific management to be based on experiences obtained in similar soils elsewhere or by new research. A case study, covering three Italian soil series, illustrates the application of the proposed concepts, showing that soil types (soil series) acted significantly different to effects of management also in their reaction to climate change.

Restoring woody agroecosystems in Mediterranean drylands through regenerative agriculture

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Luján Soto ◽  
María Martínez-Mena ◽  
Mamen Cuéllar Padilla ◽  
Joris de Vente
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Total N ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Regenerative Agriculture

<p>Regenerative agriculture (RA) is gaining increasing recognition as a plausible solution to restore degraded agroecosystems. In Mediterranean drylands, RA has been limitedly adopted by farmers due to its initial state of development and lack of empirical evidence on its impacts. To support its large-scale adoption, we carried out a participatory monitoring and evaluation project in the high steppe plateau of Southeast Spain, involving local farmers applying RA in their almond farms. To assess the effect of RA, we studied 9 farms and selected in each farm one field with regenerative management and one nearby field with conventional management based on frequent tillage (CT). We clustered fields under regenerative management based on the different RA practices being applied and distinguished 4 types of RA treatments: 1) reduced tillage with green manure (GM), 2) reduced tillage with organic amendments (OA), 3) reduced tillage with green manure and organic amendments (GM&OA), and 4) no tillage with permanent natural covers and organic amendments (NT&OA). We used physical (bulk density and aggregate stability), chemical (pH, salinity, total N, P, K, available P, and exchangeable cations) and biological (SOC, POC, PON, microbial activity)  soil propertoes and the nutritional status of almond trees (leaf N, P and K) to evaluate the impacts of RA compared to CT. We found that GM treatment improved physical soil properties, presenting regenerative fields higher soil aggregate stability. Our results showed that OA improved most soil chemical and biological soil properties, however physical properties remained similar. RA treatments combining ground covers and organic amendments (GM&OA and NT&OA) exhibited greater overall soil quality restoration than individual practices, improving physical, chemical and biological soil properties. NT&OA stood out for presenting the highest soil quality improvements. All RA treatments maintained similar crop nutritional status compared to CT. We conclude that RA has strong potential to restore the physical, chemical and biological quality of soils of woody agroecosystems in Mediterranean drylands without compromising their nutritional status, thereby enhancing their resilience to climate change and long term sustainability.</p>

Impact of post-wildfire stabilization treatments on major and minor topsoil elements in a Mediterranean environment (Croatia): first-year study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domina Delač ◽  
Paulo Pereira ◽  
Ivica Kisić
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
First Year ◽  
Dominant Culture ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Burned Soil ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
In Fire

<p>In the Mediterranean part of Croatia, wildfires have increased in recent decades raising concerns about soil degradation. Post-wildfire stabilization treatments are used in fire affected areas due to their easy application and possible beneficial effects on soil quality. On 28 July 2019, a moderate to high severity wildfire affected about 900 ha in the central part of Mediterranean, Croatia (43°45'N 15°56'E; 105 m a.s.l.). Wildfire mostly affected abandoned grassing with a dominant culture Aleppo pine (<em>Pinus halepensis</em>), and olive groves (<em>Olea europaea</em>). The effects of wildfire (control (C); uncovered burned soil), and two post-wildfire stabilization treatments (mulches); pine needles (PM) and olive leaves (OM) were evaluated on soil samples (0–5 cm depth) taken during 5 sampling campaigns; 25 days after fire (DAF), 3 months after fire (MAF), 6 MAF, 9 MAF, and 12 MAF. One treatment covered 10 m<sup>2</sup>, and mulches were applied in 0.5 kg m<sup>-2</sup>. The non-destructive analytic method, X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), was used to determine the behavior of total concentrations of nutrients and pollutants in all soil samples. The results showed that Al and P were significantly lowest at PM 12 MAF compared to other dates. The P was also significantly lowest at C 3 MAF than other dates. The Ti was significantly lowest at PM 12 MAF then C treatment, while the Zn was significantly different between PM and OM treatments 12 MAF, with highest values at PM. The Si didn’t vary significantly under mulch treatments, but in C was significantly highest 12 MAF in regard to 25 DAF. The K was significantly highest at both mulch treatments 3 MAF, regard to other dates and C treatment. The Pb showed significant changes only in PM between 3 and 12 MAF, with highest concentrations 12 MAF. The S showed significant difference in C between 25 DAF and 12 MAF with the highest 25 DAF. The effects of fire and mulches during the first post-fire year didn’t show significant change of Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Th concentrations. These results show that PM had a more notable impact on the concentrations of major and minor topsoil elements in comparison to OM. However, it is concluded that more time is required to complete mulch decomposition and possible increment in soil quality.</p><p><strong>Acknowledgments:</strong> The work was supported by Croatian science foundation under the project “Influence of Summer Fire on Soil and Water Quality” (IP-2018-01-1645).</p>

scholarly journals Use of an integrative soil health test for evaluation of soil management impacts

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.J. Idowu ◽  
H.M. van Es ◽  
G.S. Abawi ◽  
D.W. Wolfe ◽  
R.R. Schindelbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Soil Quality Indicators ◽  
Corn Grain

AbstractUnderstanding the response of soil quality indicators to changes in management practices is essential for sustainable land management. Soil quality indicators were measured for 2 years under established experiments with varying management histories and durations at four locations in New York State. The Willsboro (clay loam) and Aurora (silt loam) experiments were established in 1992, comparing no-till (NT) to plow-till (PT) management under corn (Zea maysL.)–soybean (Glycine maxL.) rotation. The Chazy (silt loam) trial was established in 1973 as a factorial experiment comparing NT versus PT and the crop harvesting method (corn silage versus corn grain). The Geneva (silt loam) experiment was established in 2003 with vegetable rotations with and without intervening soil building crops, each under three tillage methods (NT, PT and zone-till (ZT)) and three cover cropping systems (none, rye and vetch). Physical indicators measured were wet aggregate stability (WAS), available water capacity (AWC) and surface hardness (SH) and subsurface hardness (SSH). Soil biological indicators included organic matter (OM), active carbon (AC), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) and root disease potential (RDP). Chemical indicators included pH, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn. Results from the Willsboro and Aurora sites showed significant tillage effects for several indicators including WAS, AWC, OM, AC, pH, P, K, Mg, Fe and Mn. Generally, the NT treatment had better indicator values than the PT treatments. At the Chazy site, WAS, AWC, OM, AC, pH, K and Mg showed significant differences for tillage and/or harvest method, also with NT showing better indicator values compared to PT and corn grain better than corn silage. Aggregate stability was on average 2.5 times higher in NT compared to PT treatments at Willsboro, Aurora and Chazy sites. OM was also 1.2, 1.1 and 1.5 times higher in NT compared to PT treatments at Willsboro, Aurora and Chazy sites, respectively. At the Geneva site WAS, SH, AC, PMN, pH, P, K and Zn showed significant tillage effects. The cover crop effect was only significant for SH and PMN measurements. Indicators that gave consistent performance across locations included WAS, OM and AC, while PMN and RDP were site and management dependent. The composite soil health index (CSHI) significantly differentiated between contrasting management practices. The CSHI for the Willsboro site was 71% for NT and 59% for PT, while at the Aurora site it was 61% for NT and 48% for PT after 15 years of tillage treatments.

scholarly journals Changes in Soil Health with Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils Using Two Different Remediation Technologies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10078
Author(s):  
Sang Hwan Lee ◽  
Jung Hyun Lee ◽  
Woo Chul Jung ◽  
Misun Park ◽  
Min Suk Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Thermal Desorption ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Accurate Estimation

For sustainable soil management, there is an increasing demand for soil quality, resilience, and health assessment. After remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-contaminated soils, changes in the physicochemical and ecological characteristics of the soil were investigated. Two kinds of remediation technologies were applied to contaminated soils: land farming (LF) and high temperature thermal desorption (HTTD). As a result of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), PHC-contaminated soils were efficiently remediated by LF and HTTD. The soil health could not be completely recovered after the removal of pollutants due to adverse changes in the soil properties, especially in soil enzyme activities. Therefore, monitoring is necessary for accurate estimation of soil ecotoxicity and effective remediation, and additional soil management, such as fertilizer application or organic amendments, is needed to restore soil heath. In the case of HTTD, soil ecological properties are severely changed during the remediation process. The decision to reuse or recycle remediated soils should reflect changes in soil quality. HTTD is a harsh remediation method that results in deterioration of soil fertility and ecological functions. Alternatives, such as low-temperature thermal desorption or additional soil management using fertilizer or organic amendments, for example, are needed.

scholarly journals Beneficios de los acolchados de paja y poda como prácticas para la gestión forestal de los montes mediterráneos

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Hueso-González ◽  
J.F. Martínez-Murillo ◽  
J.D. Ruiz-Sinoga
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Minimal Environmental Impact

In semiarid conditions, re-vegetation programs are associated with a high level of sapling mortality. For the proper management of Mediterranean forest environments, alternative low cost afforestation methods that ensure the survival of seedlings and have minimal environmental impact are needed. One way to improve soil conditions is to apply organic amendments to the soil. This study assessed the effects of two types of organic mulching on the afforestation success of a degraded Mediterranean semiarid area. The soil treatments tested were: i) afforestation in soil amended with straw mulch (10 Mg ha-1); ii) afforestation in soil amended with mulch containing chipped branches of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) (10 Mg ha-1); iii) control plots with no amendments were used and considered as afforested in natural conditions. The afforestation plan was performed following the same species and pattern of plantation in each plot. We hypothesized that in the context of dry-Mediterranean climatic conditions the use of organic amendments would enhance plant establishment and ensure successful afforestation. The results showed that afforestation success increased when soils were amended with straw and pine tree mulch. The amendments had no effect on soil organic carbon. However, both treatments showed an increase in the average soil water content respect to the control conditions. Thus, the available water content in soils amended with mulch was higher than in the control during most of the duration of the experiment, and, consequently, there was less water stress following afforestation. This was well related with the increment in sapling survival rates founded in straw and pine mulch treatments.

scholarly journals Potential Benefits and Risks for Soil Health Derived From the Use of Organic Amendments in Agriculture

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urra ◽  
Alkorta ◽  
Garbisu
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Emerging Pollutants ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Human Pathogens

The use of organic amendments in agriculture is a common practice due to their potential to increase crop productivity and enhance soil health. Indeed, organic amendments of different origin and composition (e.g., animal slurry, manure, compost, sewage sludge, etc.) can supply valuable nutrients to the soil, as well as increase its organic matter content, with concomitant benefits for soil health. However, the application of organic amendments to agricultural soil entails a variety of risks for environmental and human health. Organic amendments often contain a range of pollutants, including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, potential human pathogens, and emerging pollutants. Regarding emerging pollutants, the presence of antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic-resistance genes in agricultural amendments is currently a matter of much concern, due to the concomitant risks for human health. Similarly, currently, the introduction of microplastics to agricultural soil, via the application of organic amendments (mainly, sewage sludge), is a topic of much relevance, owing to its magnitude and potential adverse effects for environmental health. There is, currently, much interest in the development of efficient strategies to mitigate the risks associated to the application of organic amendments to agricultural soil, while benefiting from their numerous advantages.

scholarly journals Targeting the soil quality and soil health concepts when aiming for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Green Deal

SOIL ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonello Bonfante ◽  
Angelo Basile ◽  
Johan Bouma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil Series ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. The concepts of soil quality and soil health are widely used as soils receive more attention in the worldwide policy arena. So far, however, the distinction between the two concepts is unclear, and operational procedures for measurement are still being developed. A proposal is made to focus soil health on actual soil conditions, as determined by a limited set of indicators that reflect favourable rooting conditions. In addition, soil quality can express inherent soil conditions in a given soil type (genoform), reflecting the effects of past and present soil management (expressed by various phenoforms). Soils contribute to ecosystem services that, in turn, contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, more recently, to the EU Green Deal. Relevant soil ecosystem services are biomass production (SDG 2 – zero hunger), providing clean water (SDG 6), climate mitigation by carbon capture and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (SDG 13 – climate action), and biodiversity preservation (SDG 15 – life on land). The use of simulation models for the soil–water–atmosphere–plant system is proposed as a quantitative and reproducible procedure to derive single values for soil health and soil quality for current and future climate conditions. Crop production parameters from the international yield gap programme are used in combination with soil-specific parameters expressing the effects of phenoforms. These procedures focus on the ecosystem service, namely biomass production. Other ecosystem services are determined by soil-specific management and are to be based on experiences obtained in similar soils elsewhere or by new research. A case study, covering three Italian soil series, illustrates the application of the proposed concepts, showing that soil types (soil series) acted significantly differently to the effects of management and also in terms of their reaction to climate change.

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