scholarly journals Soil and Redosier Dogwood Response to Incorporated and Surface-applied Compost

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 2143-2150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Cogger ◽  
Rita Hummel ◽  
Jennifer Hart ◽  
Andy Bary
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Moisture Retention ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Surface Application ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Although compost can improve soil properties related to plant growth and water quality, the value of amending landscape beds for trees and shrubs has been questioned. This research assesses short and midterm effects of compost application and bark mulch on soils and plants in landscape beds and compares the effects of compost applied to the surface or incorporated. Trees and shrubs were established in 2001 in a replicated field experiment with the following treatments: 1) unamended control; 2) compost (7.6-cm depth) applied to the surface; 3) 7.6 cm compost incorporated by rototilling to a depth of 20 cm; 4) bark mulch (7.6 cm); 5) compost surface-applied (7.6 cm) + bark mulch (7.6 cm); and 6) compost incorporated + bark mulch. Soil measurements were made one or more times between 2001 and 2007, including bulk density, compaction, infiltration, aggregate stability, soil moisture tension, total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), nitrate-N, Bray-phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, and pH. Bark and compost mulch depths were determined three times and plant growth measured annually. Half the depth of surface-applied compost and 26% to 41% of the initial soil C increase from incorporated compost remained 5 years after application; and significant changes in bulk density, compaction, infiltration, and nutrients were apparent. Compost incorporation had a greater effect than surface application on soil C, N, and bulk density. Infiltration was similar in incorporated and surface treatments, and nutrient availability was similar except for N. Soil moisture retention was improved with surface-applied compost. Bark had similar effects as surface-applied compost on bulk density, soil moisture retention, and infiltration. During the first 4 years after transplanting, dogwoods in the compost incorporated + bark mulch treatment typically had larger shoot growth indices. By Year 5, treatment no longer influenced shoot growth. Plants in compost-treated plots had darker green leaves. Surface application of compost could provide significant benefits where incorporation is not feasible.

scholarly journals Urban Highway Roadside Soils and Shrub Plantings Enhanced by Surface-Applied and Incorporated Organic Amendments

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Bary ◽  
Rita Hummel ◽  
Craig Cogger
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Surface Application

Degraded, highly compacted soils along roadsides present an inhospitable environment for trees and shrubs and lead to the failure of urban landscapes. Developing and testing practices to ameliorate urban soils, thereby improving plant growth and survival, is essential. This research compared the effects of waste-derived soil amendments on woody landscape plants and soil properties on a compacted highway roadside in Tacoma, Washington, U.S., and compared surface application versus incorporation of amendments. Treatments included yard debris compost (surface-applied and incorporated), biosolids blend (surfaceapplied and incorporated), and worm castings (surface-applied only), plus a control with no amendments. Amendments were applied 8 cm deep, and incorporated to a 10–15 cm depth on the tilled plots. An 8-cm layer of bark mulch was blown onto all plots, including the control. Rhus aromatica, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, and Mahonia aquifolium were transplanted from 3.8 L containers in March 2007. One year later, soil under the mulch/amendments was analyzed for bulk density, total carbon, and nitrogen. Plant growth and survival was evaluated for three years. Incorporating soil amendments reduced bulk density by >50% and increased soil C and N tenfold in the incorporated zone. Soil properties within the surface and control treatments or within the incorporated treatments were not different. All amendments significantly improved plant growth in comparison to the bark mulch control, in the order worm castings ≥ biosolids blend ≥ yard debris compost. Neither plant growth nor plant survival was affected by surface application versus incorporation, and plant roots remained confined to the amended zone.

scholarly journals Soil moisture retention and rainfed wheat yield variations by the addition of gypsum and green manure

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-16
Author(s):  
Kausar Rahina ◽  
Imran Akram Muhammad ◽  
Iqbal Choudhary Muhammad ◽  
Malik Ayesha ◽  
Rashid Zahid Abdur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Moisture Retention ◽  
Rainfed Wheat ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention

Digital mapping of soil moisture retention properties using solely satellite-based data and data mining techniques

2020 ◽  
Vol 585 ◽  
pp. 124786
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Jeihouni ◽  
Seyed Kazem Alavipanah ◽  
Ara Toomanian ◽  
Ali Asghar Jafarzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Retention ◽  
Data Mining Techniques ◽  
Digital Mapping ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention

scholarly journals Investigations on effectiveness of wheat and rice straw mulches on moisture retention in potato crop (Solanum tuberosum L.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (S1) ◽  
pp. 345-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalit Goel ◽  
Vijay Shankar ◽  
R. K. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Rice Straw ◽  
Moisture Absorption ◽  
Potato Crop ◽  
Moisture Retention ◽  
Straw Mulch ◽  
Wheat Straw Mulch ◽  
Soil Moisture Retention ◽  
Scanning Electron

Abstract Purpose Mulching is a practice recommended for soil moisture conservation in potato. The wheat straw and rice straw obtained as major crop residues were used as mulching materials to compare their effectiveness for soil moisture retention in potato crop. Methods The field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice with three treatments viz. plots incorporated with wheat straw mulch, rice straw mulch at the rate of 10 tonnes per hectare each and no mulch serving as control. The soil moisture was determined using a soil moisture probe and data were recorded daily at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to investigate moisture retention characteristics of the mulch materials. Results Soil moisture retention varied as wheat straw mulch > rice straw mulch > no mulch at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm soil depths, respectively. Highest moisture retention in wheat straw mulch at 10 cm depth is attributed to better moisture absorption ability of wheat straw in comparison to rice straw. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope images indicated the presence of smaller sized micro tubes in wheat straw than rice straw, which resulted in more water retention, thereby substantiating the findings of the study. Conclusion Wheat straw mulch is more effective than rice straw mulch for shallow rooted crops like potato, due to better moisture absorption and retention in upper soil layer.

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