(160) Seasonal Variations of Nutrient Status in Soil and Leaves, Soil Properties, and Tree Growth under Different Organic Apple Groundcover Management Production Systems

Seasonal variations of nutrient concentrations in soil and apple leaves, soil properties, weed density, and tree performance were observed for response to four groundcover managements systems: 1) mowed control; 2) plastic woven landscape fabric; 3) wood chip mulch; and 4) shredded commercial paper mulch. Soil sampled below the wood chip and shredded paper mulch treatments had higher NO3-N concentrations during the season. Soil below the shredded paper mulch had greater soil Ca, Na, and Zn than other treatments. Soil sampled below wood chip mulch had higher Mg and B. Leaf K was greater for trees grown with bark chip mulch than the other treatments. Overall, the seasonal patterns of N, P, and K decreased and had similar patterns as previously reported conventionally grown orchards. The leaf Ca and Mg increased during the season for all treatments. The concentration of other microelements had patterns similar among all treatments. Seasonal soil pH decreased during the season and was affected by treatments. During the season, water infiltration was faster into the soil covered with shredded paper mulch. The organic matter was greater in soil under the wood chip mulch at the 15-cm soil depth. Very little weed invasion occurred in the landscape fabric through August. Trees grown with shredded paper and wood chip mulch treatments had greater trunk cross-sectional area compared to trees grown under landscape fabric after 5 years; however, the latter treatment resulted in greater tree height, tree canopy spread, and fruit yield.

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Effect of soil texture on water infiltration in semiarid reclaimed land

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrjc.2015.025 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 33-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Wenmei Ma ◽

Xingchang Zhang ◽

Qing Zhen ◽

Yanjiang Zhang

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Texture ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Empirical Coefficient ◽

Reclaimed Land ◽

Essential Information ◽

Disturbed Land ◽

Cumulative Infiltration

The infiltration of water and its influencing factors in disturbed or reclaimed land are not well understood. A better understanding would provide essential information for assessing the hydrological processes in disturbed ecosystems. We measured the infiltration of water in soils from loamy and sandy reclaimed land. The relationships between infiltration and soil properties were analyzed based on three models: the Kostiakov, Philip, and Green–Ampt equations. Our objectives were to understand water infiltration in reclaimed land with a variety of soil textures and to establish the dependence of water infiltration on soil properties. Both the rate of infiltration and the cumulative infiltration were higher in sandy than in loamy soils. The rate of infiltration and the cumulative infiltration decreased with soil depth in undisturbed land. The sorptivity rate (S) from the Philip equation, empirical coefficient (K) from the Kostiakov equation, and the satiated hydraulic conductivity (Ksl) from the Green–Ampt equation were 22%, 16%, and 7.1% higher, respectively, in sandy than in loamy soils. The Ksl increased significantly with Ks (saturated hydraulic conductivity) in both sandy and loamy soils. These indicated that the Green–Ampt equation can be used to describe Ks and the characteristics of infiltration for soils on disturbed land.

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Growth and yield of clonal guavas in south-eastern Queensland

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9860619 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 619

Author(s):

KR Chapman ◽

B Paxton ◽

DH Maggs

Keyword(s):

Fruit Size ◽

Tree Height ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Tree Size ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

South Eastern ◽

Canopy Volume ◽

Highly Correlated

Five processing guava clones (GA6- 1, GA7- 12, GA8-30, GA9-35, GA11-56) were tested over 3 cropping years at Nambour, in coastal south-eastern Queensland. Mean marketable yield for the first crop at 2 years of age was 45 kg/tree or 36.23 t/ha at a density of 805 trees/ha. GA11-56, the most acceptable clone for processing, also gave the highest marketable yields of 627, 71.65 and 72.53 t/ha for the first 3 crops. Yield per unit cross sectional area of trunk was a more simple and useful index of yield efficiency than more complex parameters including a fruitfulness index and multiple regressions with yield of north-south canopy spread, number of primary branches and combinations of these and trunk girth. Similarly, trunk - - girth provided at least as good an estimate of tree size as the vigour index. Tree dimension measurements which included east-west canopy spread, north-south canopy spread, tree height, stem height, number of primary branches, crown height, crown radius, tree canopy volume, canopy surface area and an index of crown weight provided no consistent indication of tree size. They were not highly correlated with either accumulated or final yield of the guava. The GA11-56 clone because of its yield, fruit size and other desirable processing characteristics was the only clone that could be recommended for commercial plantings.

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Preliminary Effects of Crop Residue Management on Soil Quality and Crop Production under Different Soil Management Regimes in Corn-Wheat Rotation Systems

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11020302 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 302

Author(s):

Morad Mirzaei ◽

Manouchehr Gorji Anari ◽

Ehsan Razavy-Toosi ◽

Hossein Asadi ◽

Ebrahim Moghiseh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Crop Residue ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Residue Management ◽

Ct System

Strategic management of crop residues is essential to enhance soil quality for sustainable agriculture. However, little is known about the specific amounts of crop residues needed to improve soil quality characteristics which are key to develop economic plans. In this study, we investigated the effects of applying crop residue at five rates, including 100% (R100), 75% (R75), 50% (R50), 25% (R25), and 0% (R0), on wheat yield and soil properties. Field experiments were conducted for two cropping seasons in a wheat-corn rotation under conventional (CT) and no-till (NT) systems to observe the first results obtained during short-term periods (one-year application). During the study, the wheat and corn fields were irrigated. Application of plant residue resulted in increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and available nutrients and improved soil physical properties, i.e., aggregates mean weight diameter in wet (MWDw) and dry (MWDd) conditions, water-stable aggregates (WSA), dry-stable aggregates, (DSA), soil water infiltration (SWI), soil available water (SAW), and yield of wheat and corn. The effects were stronger at higher residue application rates. In the CT system, compared to R0, R100 resulted in the highest increase equal to 38, 29, 23, 34, 35, 41, and 11% for SOC, MWDw, MWDd, WSA, DSA, SAW, and wheat grain yield, respectively. This was equivalent to 28, 19.5, 19, 37, 44, 52, and 6% for the NT system, respectively. Generally, the NT system resulted in a stratification of the soil properties within 0–10 cm compared to 10–20 cm soil depth, but a uniform distribution for both depths under CT system. Overall, these results show that crop residue application can improve soil quality and yield in cereal production systems under semi-arid conditions during the first year of application. It will be key to monitor these changes in along-term field studies.

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Study of Cattle Trampling and Its Effect on Soil Properties and Sorghum Productivity in Parts of Yobe State, Nigeria

Asian Plant Research Journal ◽

10.9734/aprj/2020/v4i430094 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 34-40

Author(s):

A. Ali ◽

M. Usman ◽

M. G. Nangere

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Soil Management ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Exchange Capacity ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Root Penetration ◽

Yield Parameters ◽

North Eastern

This study was carried out at three different locations in Yobe State (North Eastern Nigeria), to determine the effect of cattle trampling on soil properties and sorghum productivity. The study locations were Potiskum, Nangere and Fika Local Government Areas of the state. Soil depth (25-30 cm height and diameter) were collected from each location and analyzed for particle size distribution, pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus and exchangeable cations as well as cation exchange capacity (CEC), bulk density (BD), total porosity (Pt) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). Each sampling involved collection from cattle trampled and un-trampled areas with sorghum as the test crop. Effect of trampling on root mass, length and stover yields were also determined after sorghum cultivation in each of the location. Results indicated that there were significant effects of cattle trampling with respect to soil properties investigated. However, post planting results of the analysis revealed that trampled soils had significantly lower statistical values for all yield parameters of sorghum when compared with un-trampled soils in all the study locations. There is need to improve the structure of soils in all study locations through incorporation of organic matter and proper soil management for increased permeability, root penetration, aeration and water infiltration. Also, there is need for cattle routes demarcations to provide free movement of livestock across the locations without encroachment into farmlands.

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Patterns of change in soil organic matter, physical properties and crop productivity under tillage practices and cropping systems in Bangladesh

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859616000265 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 155 (2) ◽

pp. 216-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

MD. KHAIRUL ALAM ◽

N. SALAHIN ◽

S. ISLAM ◽

R. A. BEGUM ◽

M. HASANUZZAMAN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices

SUMMARYConservation agriculture (CA) is inadequately developed for rice-based cropping systems widely practiced in Bangladesh. The current drawback is the implementation of CA for all crops including rice (Oryza sativaL., ecotype ‘transplanted aman’ [T. aman]) to increase rice–wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) rotation productivity. It is important to identify the best combination of tillage types and cropping systems to achieve a high yield of component crops and improve soil health. Three tillage practices, assigned to main experimental plots [namely, zero tillage (ZT), conventional tillage using a rotary tiller (CT) and deep tillage using a chisel plough (DT)] and three different cropping systems, assigned to sub-plots [namely, WFT: wheat–fallow–T. aman, WMT: wheat–mungbean (Vigna radiataL. Wilczek)–T. aman and WDT: wheat–dhaincha (Sesbania rostrata)–T. aman], were tested. After 4 years, ZT under WDT and WMT significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) at 0–150 mm depth, and these replicates also held the highest levels of total organic carbon. Soil organic carbon (C) increased at a rate of 1.17 and 1.14 t/ha/y in ZT under WDT and WMT, respectively, while CT and DT under WFT were almost unchanged. After 4 years, SOM build-up by the three-crop system (WDT and WMT) under ZT helped conserve soil moisture and improve other soil properties, such as reduction in soil strength and bulk density and increase plant available water content, thus maintaining an optimum soil water infiltration rate. Zero tillage under WMT and WDT showed significant improvements in root mass density of rice and wheat at increased soil depth. The WDT and WMT plots under DT consistently gave the highest yield followed by WDT and WMT under CT, in contrast with ZT under WMT or WDT, which showed the highest improvement in crop yields over the years. In summary, minimum soil disturbance together with incorporation of a legume/green manure crop into the rice–wheat system as well as the retention of their residues increased soil C status, improved soil properties and maximized grain yields.

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Spray Volume, Canopy Density, and Other Factors Involved in Thinner Efficacy

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.553d ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 553d-553

Author(s):

C.R. Unrath

Keyword(s):

Tree Height ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Tree Size ◽

Water Volume ◽

Canopy Density ◽

The North ◽

Run Off ◽

Tree Canopies ◽

Average Water ◽

Water Volumes

Historically, most airblast chemical applications to apple orchards used a single “average” water volume, resulting in variability of coverage with tree size and also the greatest variable in chemical thinning. This coverage variability can be eliminated by properly quantifying the tree canopy, as tree row volume (TRV), and relating that volume to airblast water rate for adequate coverge. Maximum typical tree height, cross-row limb spread, and between-row spacing are used to quantify the TRV. Further refinement is achieved by adjusting the water volume for tree canopy density. The North Carolina TRV model allows a density adjustment from 0.7 gal/1000 ft3 of TRV for young, very open tree canopies to 1.0 gal/1000 ft3 of TRV for large, thick tree canopies to deliver a full dilute application for maximum water application (to the point of run-off). Most dilute pesticide applications use 70% of full dilute to approach the point of drip (pesticide dilute) to not waste chemicals and reduce non-target environmental exposure. From the “chemical load” (i.e., lb/acre) calculated for the pesticide dilute application, the proper chemical load for lower (concentrate) water volumes can be accurately determined. Another significant source of variability is thinner application response is spray distribution to various areas of the tree. This variability is related to tree configuration, light, levels, fruit set, and natural thinning vs. the need for chemical thinning. Required water delivery patterns are a function of tree size, form, spacing, and density, as well as sprayer design (no. of nozzles and fan size). The TRV model, density adjustments, and nozzle patterns to effectively hit the target for uniform crop load will be addressed.

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Nutrient Concentrations in Soil Solution in an Alfisol under Grapefruit Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.498d ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 498d-498

Author(s):

Z.L. He ◽

A.K. Alva ◽

D.V. Calvert ◽

D.J. Banks ◽

Y.C. Li

Keyword(s):

Soil Solution ◽

Fine Sand ◽

Drainage Water ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Sour Orange ◽

Parallel Study ◽

Ph Measurements ◽

The Mean ◽

N Rates

A field experiment was conducted in a Riviera fine sand (Alfisol) with 25-year-old `White Marsh' grapefruit trees on Sour orange rootstock to monitor the downward transport of nutrients from fertilization practices. Fertilizer was applied as either dry granular broadcast (three applications/year) or fertigation (15 applications/year) at N rates of 56, 112, 168, and 336 kg/ha per year using a N:P:K blend (1.0:0.17:1.0). Soil solution was sampled bi-weekly from suction lysimeters, installed under the tree canopy, about 120 cm from the tree trunk, at two depths representing above (120 cm) and below (180 cm) the hard pan. The concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg were greater at the 180- than at 120-cm depth, whereas, the converse was true with respect to the concentration of P in soil solution. Over a 2-year period, the mean concentrations of P and K varied from 0.031-0.976 and 150-250 mg·L–1, respectively. Increased rate of fertilization also appeared to increase the concentrations of Ca and Mg in the soil solution. This could be due to effects of slight acidification of the soil with increased rates of ammonium form of N. A parallel study on pH measurements has shown evidence of soil acidification, under the tree canopy, with increased rates of ammonium fertilization. In a bedded grove, the soil solution above the hard pan is likely to seep into the water furrow, which is discharged into the drainage water.

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Earthworms as an Ecological Indicator of Soil Recovery after Mechanized Logging Operations in Mixed Beech Forests

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

Hadi Sohrabi ◽

Meghdad Jourgholami ◽

Mohammad Jafari ◽

Farzam Tavankar ◽

Rachele Venanzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Ecological Indicator ◽

Traffic Intensity ◽

Soil Biological Properties ◽

Density And Biomass ◽

Soil Recovery ◽

The Impact

Soil damage caused by logging operations conducted to obtain and maximize economic benefits has been established as having long-term effects on forest soil quality and productivity. However, a comprehensive study of the impact of logging operations on earthworms as a criterion for soil recovery has never been conducted in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in soil biological properties (earthworm density and biomass) and its recovery process under the influence of traffic intensity, slope and soil depth in various intervals according to age after logging operations. Soil properties were compared among abandoned skid trails with different ages (i.e., 3, 10, 20, and 25 years) and an undisturbed area. The results showed that earthworm density and biomass in the high traffic intensity and slope class of 20–30% at the 10–20 cm depth of the soil had the lowest value compared to the other treatments. Twenty-five years after the logging operations, the earthworm density at soil depth of 0–10 and 10–20 cm was 28.4% (0.48 ind. m−2) and 38.6% (0.35 ind. m−2), which were less than those of the undisturbed area, respectively. Meanwhile, the earthworm biomass at a soil depth of 0–10 and 10–20 cm was 30.5% (2.05 mg m−2) and 40.5% (1.54 mg m−2) less than the values of the undisturbed area, respectively. The earthworm density and biomass were positively correlated with total porosity, organic carbon and nitrogen content, while negatively correlated with soil bulk density and C/N ratio. According to the results, 25 years after logging operations, the earthworm density and biomass on the skid trails were recovered, but they were significantly different with the undisturbed area. Therefore, full recovery of soil biological properties (i.e., earthworm density and biomass) takes more than 25 years. The conclusions of our study reveal that the effects of logging operations on soil properties are of great significance, and our understanding of the mechanism of soil change and recovery demand that harvesting operations be extensively and properly implemented.

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Effects of glyphosate-based herbicides and their active ingredients on earthworms, water infiltration and glyphosate leaching are influenced by soil properties

Environmental Sciences Europe ◽

10.1186/s12302-021-00492-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Johann G. Zaller ◽

Maureen Weber ◽

Michael Maderthaner ◽

Edith Gruber ◽

Eszter Takács ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Weed Control ◽

Amaranthus Retroflexus ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Soil Functions ◽

Active Ingredients ◽

Hand Weeding ◽

Earthworm Activity

Abstract Background Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are among the most often used pesticides. The hundreds of GBHs used worldwide consist of the active ingredient (AI) glyphosate in form of different salts, possibly other AIs, and various mostly undisclosed co-formulants. Pesticide risk assessments are commonly performed using single AIs or GBHs at standard soil conditions without vegetation. In a greenhouse experiment, we established a weed population with common amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) to examine the effects of three GBHs (Roundup LB Plus, Roundup PowerFlex, Touchdown Quattro) and their corresponding AIs (salts of glyphosate isopropylammonium, potassium, diammonium) on the activity and physiological biomarkers (glutathione S-transferase, GST; acetylcholine esterase, AChE) of an ecologically relevant earthworm species (Lumbricus terrestris). GBHs and AIs were applied at recommended doses; hand weeding served as control. Experiments were established with two soil types differing in organic matter content (SOM; 3.0% vs. 4.1%) and other properties. Results Earthworm activity (casting and movement activity) decreased after application of glyphosate formulations or active ingredients compared to hand weeding. We found no consistent pattern that formulations had either higher or lower effects on earthworm activity than their active ingredients; rather, differences were substance-specific. Earthworm activity was little affected by soil organic matter levels. Biomarkers remained unaffected by weed control types; GST but not AChE was decreased under high SOM. Water infiltration after a simulated heavy rainfall was interactively affected by weed control types and SOM. Leachate amount was higher after application of formulations than active ingredients and was higher under low SOM. Glyphosate concentrations in soil and leachate were strongly affected by application of formulations or active ingredients and varied with SOM (significant weed control type x SOM interaction). Conclusions We found that both commercial formulations and pure active ingredients can influence earthworms with consequences on important soil functions. Glyphosate products showed increased, reduced or similar effects than pure glyphosate on particular soil functions; soil properties can substantially alter this. Especially at lower SOM, heavy rainfalls could lead to more glyphosate leaching into water bodies. A full disclosure of co-formulants would be necessary to further decipher their specific contributions to these inconsistent effects.

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TRIPLOID APPLE VARIETIES OF SUMMER RIPENING SELECTION VNIISPK ON CLONAL ROOTSTOCK 54-118

Vestnik of the Russian agricultural science ◽

10.30850/vrsn/2021/6/34-36 ◽

1970 ◽

pp. 34-36

Author(s):

А. M. Galasheva ◽

Е. N. Sedov

Keyword(s):

Tree Height ◽

Projection Area ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Crown Width ◽

Crown Volume ◽

The World ◽

Apple Cultivars ◽

Crown Projection Area ◽

Academy Of Sciences ◽

First Time

For the first time in the world and in Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, breeder Evgeny Nikolaevich Sedov created a series of triploid apple cultivars from intervalent crosses 2х × 4х. Triploid apple cultivars bear fruit more regularly, have higher self-fruitfulness and have fruits of high marketability. The article presents data on the study of triploid apple cultivars of the summer ripening period of the VNIISPK breeding - Augusta, Daryona, Maslovskoye, Osipovskoye, Zhilinskoye, Spasskoye and Yablochny Spas as well as the control Canadian cultivar Melba on a semi-dwarf clone rootstock 54-118. Maslovskoye, Zhilinskoye, Spasskoye and Yablochny Spas have immunity to scab. The orchard was planted in 2014, the garden planting scheme was 5 x 2 m. The indicators of the growth force (tree height, crown width and stem diameter) and the yield of trees were studied. At the age of six, the trees of triploid cultivars reached a height of 2.2 m (Maslovskoye) to 3.0 m (Yablochny Spas) on a semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118. The highest indicators of crown volume (3.3-5.3 m3), crown projection area (4.2-5.3 m2) and the cross-sectional area of the stem (46.5-52.8 cm2) were in Osipovskoye, Yablochny Spas, Zhilinskoye and Spasskoye. The highest yield in an average of three years was given by triploid scab-immune apple cultivars on a semi-dwarf rootstock 54-118: Maslovskoye, Zhilinskoye, Spasskoye and Yablochny Spas.

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