scholarly journals The impact of revitalization treatments on biological activity of soil under afforestation on post-agricultural land

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 293-302
Author(s):  
Anna Augustyniuk-Kram ◽  
Karol J. Kram

In Poland, afforestation is usually carried out on the weakest soils, excluded from agricultural use and wasteland, i.e. post-agricultural land. A characteristic feature of such habitat is poor-quality soil, relatively high content of nutrients for trees, particularly nitrogen, as well as a low level of humus. This is important for the quality of microbiological processes occurring in post-agricultural soils. Restitution of the forest in such a habitat requires the use of various revitalisation treatments for improving soil quality and increasing biological activity and soil fertility. This article presents the results of a long-term experiment on the effectiveness of various revitalisation treatments (zoo- and phytomelioration) on afforested post-agricultural lands after more than 30 years from their application in pine forests in north-western Poland. These treatments consisted of introducing additional organic matter into the soil in the form of bark and sawdust, sowing lupine and introducing soil fauna. The comparative area for afforestation on post-agricultural soils in the presented experiment was the area of forest soils, located in the same habitat, in a pine stand, at the same time. Biological activity of soil was measured with the activity of soil enzymes dehydrogenases and acid phosphatase, the biomass of microorganisms was measured and the content of total dissolved carbon and nitrogen was also determined. 

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 148
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Kozak ◽  
Rafał Pudełko

Agricultural land abandonment is a process observed in most European countries. In Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it was initiated with the political transformation of the 1990s. Currently, in Poland, it concerns over 2 million ha of arable land. Such a large acreage constitutes a resource of land that can be directly restored to agricultural production or perform environmental functions. A new concept for management of fallow/abandoned areas is to start producing biomass for the bioeconomy purposes. Production of perennial crops, especially on poorer soils, requires an appropriate assessment of soil conditions. Therefore, it has become crucial to answer the question: What is the real impact of the fallowing process on soil, and is it possible to return it to production at all? For this purpose, on the selected fallowed land that met the marginality criteria defined under the project, physicochemical tests of soil properties were carried out, and subsequently, the results were compared with those of the neighboring agricultural land and with the soil valuation of the fallow land, which was conducted during its past agricultural use. The work was mainly aimed at analyzing the impact of long-term fallowing on soil pH, carbon sequestration and nutrient content, e.g., phosphorus and potassium. The result of the work is a positive assessment of the possibility of restoring fallowed land for agricultural production, including the production of biomass for non-agricultural purposes. Among the studied types of fallow plots, the fields where goldenrod (Solidago L.—invasive species) appeared were indicated as the areas most affected by soil degradation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2197-2208
Author(s):  
Carmen Otilia Rusanescu ◽  
Erol Murad ◽  
Cosmin Jinescu ◽  
Marin Rusanescu

In the present paper are presented the experimental results of biomass gasification, the biochair was produced from vineyards by controlled pyrolysis at 750 �C, in order to increase the fertility of soils, it was found the increase of the fertility produced by the development of the vegetables in the soil to which was added biochar. Soil was added to soil 4 g/dm3 biochar, 8 g/dm3 biochar, the soil had no high humidity, was taken at a time when it had not rained for at least one week, the soil pH was 8, in the soil with 8 g/dm3 biochar the plants increased compared to the soil with 4 g/dm3 and the soil without biochar. The biochar resulting from pyrolysis and gasification processes is a valuable amendment to agricultural soils and an efficient and economical way to seize carbon. Using biochar it is possible to increase the diversity of agricultural land in an environmentally sound way in areas with depleted soils, limited organic resources and insufficient water for development. Helps to soil carbon sequestration with negative CO2 balance, increases the productive potential of agricultural ecosystems.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
Jana Kodymová ◽  
Miroslav Kyncl ◽  
Hana Švehláková ◽  
Magdaléna Bártková

Abstract Waste from anaerobic digestion is considered as a mineral fertilizer and it is usually applied to agricultural land. The aim of our attempt was to enrich this waste from anaerobic digestion (digestate) with an organic component (in our case represented by haylage). For this purpose, we made different mixtures of digestate and haylage in different weight ratios. In the field trial, the effect of these mixtures on the soil, under standard agricultural conditions, was monitored. Selected accessible nutrients (P, K, Mg, Mn, Ca) and the amount of carbon and nitrogen in the soil were monitored. The results of the laboratory tests confirmed that the areas where the sowing and digestate mixtures were applied showed greater amounts of macro- and micronutrients in plant-accessible forms than the surface fertilized only with digestate or areas fertilized only with standard fertilizers.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 544
Author(s):  
Risely Ferraz de Almeida ◽  
Joseph Elias Rodrigues Mikhael ◽  
Fernando Oliveira Franco ◽  
Luna Monique Fonseca Santana ◽  
Beno Wendling

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen can be divided into labile and recalcitrant pools according to the time it takes to be cycled. The way in which carbon and nitrogen pools are cycled and distributed between labile and recalcitrant pools can directly relate to soil quality. This paper tested the hypothesis that labile and recalcitrant pools of carbon and nitrogen vary between agricultural soils with different species and fertilization management systems (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium need) under tropical conditions. This study aimed to examine the impact of land-uses on stocks and losses of carbon and nitrogen under tropical conditions. We explored labile (soil microbial biomass and labile carbon) and recalcitrant carbon pools (humin, humic acid, and fulvic acid) in forested and agricultural soils, defined as latosol (forest, fertilized pasture, and unfertilized pasture) and cambisol (forest, coast pasture, sugarcane, and silage corn). Forested soil was used as an appropriate use to soil conservation in tropical that presents levels adequate of carbon and nitrogen stocks and biological condition in soil. Results showed that pools of labile and recalcitrant carbon are different on soil layers and the use of soil. Forest use in cambisol and latosol promoted higher labile and recalcitrant pools of carbon and nitrogen due to the greater environmental stability without human intervention. On the other hand, human intervention occurred in fertilized pasture and coast pasture; however, both uses presented similar recalcitrant carbon and nitrogen pools when compared to forested soil on the soil surface due to fertilizer uses and the high volume of the grass root system. Overall, our findings reveal that under tropical conditions, agriculture and forested soil can present similar recalcitrant pools of carbon and nitrogen if agricultural soils are associated with the appropriate fertilizer management. Pasture with adequate fertilization management systems can be used as an alternative to recover degraded areas with low levels of recalcitrant carbon and nitrogen pools.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-408
Author(s):  
Salman Ata ◽  
Babar Shahbaz ◽  
Muhammad Arif Watto ◽  
Muhammad Tahir Siddiqui

Pakistan provides seasonal hunting permits to the rulers of Gulf countries for hunting of Asian Houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis macqueenii) in different parts of the country. This research deals with (transnational) seasonal land acquisition of different rangelands/deserts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. So far, no comprehensive research has been conducted in Pakistan on this issue. This research attempts to address the impact of seasonal land grabbing by the foreigners on livelihood assets of local stakeholders in South Punjab, Pakistan. Based on the idea of ‘control grabbing’, this research uses ‘sustainable livelihood framework’ as an analytical framework. Quantitative and qualitative data were acquired from three (out of a total nine) randomly selected hunting sanctuaries in the districts of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. The results revealed that natural assets of local population (agricultural land and rangeland) are adversely affected during the entire hunting season. Limited access to natural assets (especially livestock fodder) has long-term negative impacts on livelihood diversification of the locals as the number of livestock – one of the most important assets of respondents – is continuously decreasing in the case study area. We recommend that land enclosure should be restricted to a limited area for a limited time, and that the Government should develop an effective monitoring and evaluation system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 4689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Rodríguez ◽  
Marc Bascompta

The potential affection of any construction, and especially historical sites, is of great concern for their long-term maintenance and stability. This study has determined the vibration behavior in poor-quality rock mass conditions generated by some of the most typical equipment used in construction: excavator, ripper, ripper vibrator, hydraulic hammer, bulldozer and vibrating roller. Several empirical expressions are proposed to know the maximum velocity at different distances for each type of equipment, taking into account the intensity of the vibration generated and its pattern. A general equation has also been defined to determine the vibration propagation along the distance at a construction site, based on the impact generated by all the possible vibration elements, exogenous and endogenous, including machinery working individually or in any possible combination and number. On the other hand, the maximum allowable velocity in the case study is also discussed and compared to international standards, stating some recommendations. It would be very important to have a clear legislation in this regard due to the high density of sensitive constructions in Spain and the economic implications of applying too high or too low standard values.


Soil Systems ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Murray B. McBride

The impact of repeated application of alkaline biosolids (sewage sludge) products over more than a decade on soil concentrations of nutrients and trace metals, and potential for uptake of these elements by crops was investigated by analyzing soils from farm fields near Oklahoma City. Total, extractable (by the Modified Morgan test), and water-soluble elements, including macronutrients and trace metals, were measured in biosolids-amended soils and, for comparison, in soils that had received little or no biosolids. Soil testing showed that the biosolids-amended soils had higher pH and contained greater concentrations of organic carbon, N, S, P, and Ca than the control soils. Soil extractable P concentrations in the biosolids-amended soils averaged at least 10 times the recommended upper limit for agricultural soils, with P in the amended soils more labile and soluble than the P in control soils. Several trace elements (most notably Zn, Cu, and Mo) had higher total and extractable concentrations in the amended soils compared to the controls. A radish plant assay revealed greater phytoavailability of Zn, P, Mo, and S (but not Cu) in the amended soils. The excess extractable and soluble P in these biosolids-amended soils has created a long-term source of slow-release P that may contribute to the eutrophication of adjacent surface waters and contamination of groundwater. While the beneficial effects of increased soil organic carbon on measures of “soil health” have been emphasized in past studies of long-term biosolids application, the present study reveals that these benefits may be offset by negative impacts on soils, crops, and the environment from excessive nutrient loading.


Author(s):  
D. P. Sidarenko ◽  

Purpose: to study the indicators of melt water runoff from arable land of various compaction and to assess its quantitative and qualitative characteristics based on long-term data. Materials and methods. Studies of the intensity of melt water runoff were carried out in the Azov zone of Rostov region in the period 1964–2018 by a number of researchers, including the author of the article. Results. The runoff indicators for a 55-year period are characterized by significant fluctuations. Analysis of long-term data revealed that the indicator of melt water runoff rate from loose arable land for the period 1964–2018 averaged 9.0 mm/year and on compacted arable land averaged 17.5 mm/year. On loose arable land, the maximum runoff rate for a 55-year period is 25.3 mm, on compacted arable land it is 47.3 mm. As a result of the analysis of the data, it was revealed that the average water reserve in snow on the surface of the fall-plowed land is 43.7 mm, and 48.7 mm on the winter wheat sowing. In general, for two agrophonies, the runoff indicator for the period 1964–2018 was most often characterized as weak and very weak only on loose arable land. Calculations of statistical indicators of runoff data revealed that they are not uniform, for example, the coefficient of runoff variation from loose arable land was 115.4 %, and from compacted arable land 70.4 %, with a coefficient of variation above 33 %, the aggregate is considered heterogeneous. Rostov region, having a large agricultural potential, is experiencing significant problems from the impact of negative natural processes, among which one of the first places belongs to erosion processes. Conclusions. In the course of generalization of long-term data on melt water runoff from arable land of varying degrees of compaction, indicators that made it possible to plot the flow availability curves were obtained. The use of the results obtained makes it possible to predict the occurrence of runoff of various intensities and thereby prevent its negative impact on agricultural land with the minimal material costs.


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