scholarly journals Effects of agriculture and seasonality on the soil hydrophysical properties of high-Andean dry páramo grasslands

Author(s):  
Sebastián Patiño Gutiérrez ◽  
Isabel Domínguez Rivera ◽  
Martha Daza Torrez ◽  
Edgar Oviedo Ocaña ◽  
Edwin Rowe ◽  
...  

One of the most essential ecosystem services provided by high-Andean páramos is streamflow buffering. A combination of soil, vegetation and climate characteristics provides páramos with an exceptional ability to store, regulate and supply water, particularly in their natural state. However, páramo catchments are seldom pristine. Agriculture is one of the most widespread human activities in páramos and considerably affects their soil hydrophysical properties. This research assesses how soil properties are affected by the conversion from natural páramo vegetation to fallow, onion, or potato crops. We measured Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Bulk density (Bd), pH and electric conductivity (EC) at three depths (0–5, 10–15 and 20–25 cm), in a stratified random survey of different land uses in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. Samples were collected in wet and dry seasons. Agricultural use affects all the studied properties, increasing Bd (+0.11 g cm-3), decreasing SOM (-5.5%), and increasing pH (+1.3) and EC (+187 µS cm-1). Seasonality did not have a significant effect on the studied properties under natural vegetation; however, there were significant differences between wet season and dry season in agricultural soils in SOM (-7.2% and +5.7% in fallow and potato crop, respectively) and Bd (-0.22 gr cm-3 in crops). These changes show that agriculture in páramo grasslands leads to a significant decrease in soil porosity and water-holding capacity, which affects adversely the ecosystem hydrological regulation capacity. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of Andean páramos and provide crucial information to improve soil management, a key aspect for ensuring the sustainable provision of hydrological ecosystem services offered by Andean and other mountain ecosystems.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4928
Author(s):  
Alicia Vanessa Jeffary ◽  
Osumanu Haruna Ahmed ◽  
Roland Kueh Jui Heng ◽  
Liza Nuriati Lim Kim Choo ◽  
Latifah Omar ◽  
...  

Farming systems on peat soils are novel, considering the complexities of these organic soil. Since peat soils effectively capture greenhouse gases in their natural state, cultivating peat soils with annual or perennial crops such as pineapples necessitates the monitoring of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, especially from cultivated peat lands, due to a lack of data on N2O emissions. An on-farm experiment was carried out to determine the movement of N2O in pineapple production on peat soil. Additionally, the experiment was carried out to determine if the peat soil temperature and the N2O emissions were related. The chamber method was used to capture the N2O fluxes daily (for dry and wet seasons) after which gas chromatography was used to determine N2O followed by expressing the emission of this gas in t ha−1 yr−1. The movement of N2O horizontally (832 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the dry period was higher than in the wet period (599 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) because of C and N substrate in the peat soil, in addition to the fertilizer used in fertilizing the pineapple plants. The vertical movement of N2O (44 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) was higher in the dry season relative to N2O emission (38 t N2O ha−1 yr−1) during the wet season because of nitrification and denitrification of N fertilizer. The peat soil temperature did not affect the direction (horizontal and vertical) of the N2O emission, suggesting that these factors are not related. Therefore, it can be concluded that N2O movement in peat soils under pineapple cultivation on peat lands occurs horizontally and vertically, regardless of season, and there is a need to ensure minimum tilling of the cultivated peat soils to prevent them from being an N2O source instead of an N2O sink.


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Trifonov ◽  
Naftali Lazarovitch ◽  
Gilboa Arye

Narrow profit margins, resource conservation issues and environmental concerns are the main driving forces to improve fertilizer uptake, especially for potatoes. Potatoes are a high value crop with a shallow, inefficient root system and high fertilizer rate requirements. Of all essential nutrients, nitrogen (N) is often limiting to potato production. A major concern in potato production is to minimize N leaching from the root zone. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine the potato crop characteristics under drip irrigation with low-discharge (0.6 L h−1) and to determine the optimal combination of irrigation (40, 60, 80, and 100%) and fertigation (0, 50, and 100%) doses. In this study, the 80% (438.6 mm) irrigation dose and a 50% (50 mg N L−1) fertigation dose (W80%F50%) showed that these doses are sufficient for optimal potato yield (about 40 ton ha−1) in conjunction with water and fertilizer savings. Moreover, this treatment did not exhibit any qualitative changes in the potato tuber compared to the 100% treatments. When considering water productivity and yield, one may select a harsher irrigation regime if the available agricultural soils are not a limiting factor. Thus, higher yields can be obtained with lower irrigation and fertigation doses and a larger area.


1980 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Allen ◽  
R. K. Scott

SummaryLinear relationships between both total and tuber dry-matter yields and the amount of radiation intercepted by potato crops are demonstrated. Their existence suggests that, in the absenceof disease and drought, the essential objective in the production of this crop is to maximize radiation interception. This paper critically assesses the influence of factors which the grower can control on light interception and estimates potential yields for specific environments. The implications of this analysis for growers, breeders, research and the whole industry are discussed.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meno ◽  
Escuredo ◽  
Rodríguez-Flores ◽  
Seijo

Potato early blight caused by Alternaria solani generates significant economic losses in crops worldwide. Forecasting the risk of infection on crops is indispensable for the management of the fungal disease, ensuring maximum economic benefit but with minimal environmental impact. This work aimed to calculate the interrupted wet periods (IWP) according to the climate conditions of A Limia (Northwest of Spain) to optimize the prediction against early blight in potatoes. The study was performed during nine crop cycles. The relative hourly humidity and Alternaria concentration in the crop environment were taken into account. Alternaria levels were monitored by aerobiological techniques using a LANZONI VPPS-2000 volumetric trap. The relationships between weather conditions and airborne Alternaria concentration were statistically analyzed using Spearman correlations. To establish the effectiveness of wetness periods, the first important Alternaria peak was taken into account in each crop cycle (with a concentration greater than 70 spores/m3). Considering the six interrupted wet periods of the system, it was possible to predict the first peak of Alternaria several days in advance (between 6 and 38 days), except in 2007 and 2018. Automated systems to predict the initiation of early blight in potato crop, such as interrupted wet periods, could be an effective basis for developing decision support systems. The incorporation of aerobiological data for the calculation of interrupted wet periods improved the results of this system.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Nicola Sasanelli ◽  
Ion Toderas ◽  
Pasqua Veronico ◽  
Elena Iurcu-Straistaru ◽  
Stefan Rusu ◽  
...  

The potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida is a major pest of the potato crop. Abamectin is a biological pesticide showing high nematicide activity, but its efficacy to control G. pallida has not been investigated to date. In this study, combination of different abamectin concentrations ranging from 1.125 to 36 µg/mL x exposure times from 24 to 384 h were tested on the nematode in a hatching test. Abamectin induced mortality with LD50 value in the range of 13.23 (after 24 h) to 2.90 µg/mL (after 384 h). A glasshouse experiment was also performed in pots filled with soil infected with G. pallida in the presence of sprouted potato tubers cultivar “Spunta”. Abamectin at 4.5, 9.0, 18.0 and 36.0 µg/mL was used in comparison with nematicide fosthiazate. The doses of 18 and 36 µg/mL significantly reduced number of eggs, juveniles, cyst/g soil and reproduction rate in comparison to both untreated control and fosthiazate treatment. Soil applications of abamectin provided significant G. pallida control with LD50 and LD99.9 of 14.4 and 131.3 µg/mL, respectively. These results indicate the efficacy of abamectin to control G. pallida on potato crops and its potential use in organic agriculture or in an integrated pest management program.


1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
GR Stirling ◽  
MF Wachtel

In south-eastern South Australia root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne hapla) caused losses to potato crops in fields that were sown once every 5- 15 years and were used for grazing in the intervening years. Although seed used by some growers was infested with M. hapla, the nematode also survived between potato crops on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), the dominant pasture species, and capeweed (Cryptostemma calendula). Subterranean clover was the most abundant alternate host. Nematodes invaded clover seedlings that established following rain in April and produced eggs about 12 weeks later. A second generation was produced in late winter and spring, so that a relatively high root-knot nematode population was present when potatoes were planted. The population increased rapidly on potatoes and numbers capable of causing severe root damage were observed 10- 15 weeks after planting. The growing of non-host crops, or the use of herbicides or cultivation to eliminate subterranean clover in the winter prior to the potato crop, should be investigated. In a nematicide trial, ethylene dibromide at 70 and 110 kg/ha increased yields of potato cv. Pontiac by about 90%.


2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhimin Yin ◽  
Mirosława Chrzanowska ◽  
Krystyna Michalak ◽  
Helena Zagórska ◽  
Ewa Zimnoch-Guzowska

Recombinants of PVY Strains Predominate Among Isolates from Potato Crop in Poland 282 Potato virus Y (PVY) isolates collected from potato crops in northern and central Poland from 1995 to 2009 were characterized by serological and biological assays. From these, 112 isolates collected from 2006 to 2009 were additionally analyzed by one-step triplex Reverse Transcription-Polymeraze Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Recombinants of PVY strains predominate among the isolates tested. Using one-step triplex RT-PCR most PVYN-Wi isolates were classified as subgroup PVYNWi-P and most PVYN and/or PVYNTN isolates as the recombinant PVYNTN strain. A recombinant PVYNTN isolate (12/94) and two additional PVYN and/or PVYNTN isolates were not detected by one-step triplex RT-PCR. Twelve isolates were identified as the PVYO strain but PVYN, non-recombinant PVYNTN and PVYC strains were not found. Serological and biological assays of 144 isolates of PVYN-Wi strain showed that 100 isolates were the expected PVYO serotype with vein necrosis (VN) symptoms on tobacco. However, 10 isolates of the PVYNWi-P subgroup exhibited vein clearing (VCl) on tobacco and 2 isolates of the PVYNN242 subgroup unexpectedly exhibited as the PVYN serotype. All the isolates of PVYN-Wi strain induced severe local lesions (LL) on Chenopodium amaranticolor. Out of 126 isolates of PVYNTN strain tested, 76 were typical PVYN serotype with VN on tobacco, but their reactions on C. amaranticolor were different: 13 isolates did not show symptoms, 23 isolates induced weak, and 40 isolates induced severe LL. The remaining isolates of PVYN-Wi, PVYN and/or PVYNTN or PVYO were serologically PVYN and PVYO positive or exhibited unpredictable serological and biological reactions.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 892C-892
Author(s):  
S. Côté ◽  
C.J. Beauchamp ◽  
S. Yelle

In 1991, a project was initiated in collaboration with the Daishowa paper company to characterize de-inking residues resulting from paper recycling in detail and to determine the value of this organic residue as an amendment to agricultural soils. Our objective was to determine the effects of field applications of de-inking residues on potato crop culture. In 1992, 1993, and 1994, experimental plots were established and maintained at the Horticultural Experimental Farm of Laval Univ. A factorial design was composed of four replications of four doses of de-inking residues (0, 15, 30, and 45 t·ha–1) combined with four doses of N (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg·ha–1). Treatments were applied to a total of 64 plots. The results indicate the importance of adjusting the fertilization to prevent the immobilization of N by the residues. In 1992, as a result of adding de-inking residues, potato yields were increased significantly when sufficient N fertilizer was added. However, significant decreases in yield were noted when a high level of de-inking residues was applied without any adjustment of the C:N ratio. In 1993, potato yields were reduced in treatments having a second application of residue at the highest doses (30 and 45 t·ha–1), even when additional N was provide. Interestingly, harvested tubers gave no indication of toxicity effects due to heavy metals or other contaminants. Results also will be discussed in terms of overall potato quality and the incidence of disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brady ◽  
Hristov ◽  
Wilhelmsson ◽  
Hedlund

Agricultural soils contribute to human welfare through their generation of manifold ecosystem services such as food security, water quality and climate regulation, but these are degraded by common farming practices. We have developed a roadmap for evaluating the contribution of both private- and public-good ecosystem services generated by agricultural soils to societal welfare. The approach considers the needs of decision-makers at different levels, from farmers to policy-makers. This we achieve through combining production functions—to quantify the impacts of alternative management practices on agricultural productivity and soil ecosystem services—with non-market valuation of changes in public-good ecosystem services and benefit–cost analysis. The results show that the net present value to society of implementing soil-friendly measures are substantial, but negative for farmers in our study region. Although we apply our roadmap to an intensive farming region in Sweden, we believe our results have broad applicability, because farmers do not usually account for the value of public-good ecosystem services. We therefore conclude that market outcomes are not likely to be generating optimal levels of soil ecosystem services from society’s perspective. Innovative governance institutions are needed to resolve this market failure to safeguard the welfare of future generations.


Author(s):  
L. I. Petrova ◽  
Yu. I. Mitrofanov ◽  
N. K. Pervushina ◽  
V. N. Lapushkina

The article presents the results of studies in 2011-2019. to study the effect of various fertilizer norms, weather conditions on the yield and quality of potato products, soil water regime, photosynthetic activity, payment of 1 kg a.v. fertilizers with a crop increase in the conditions of the Tver region. The experiment is based on sod-podzolic light loamy drained soil with closed drainage. Potatoes were grown in 3 variants: without fertilizers, average norms and high norms. Weather conditions during the years of research (according to G.T. Selyaninov) are divided into groups: excessively humid, moist and arid. The moisture content of the arable layer of the soil under planting of potatoes, according to the gradations of these years, the average vegetation period was 73, 60, 39% of the lowest moisture capacity. A more favorable state of the water-air regime of the soil during the cultivation of potatoes according to the ridge technology during the growing season was formed in excessively wet years, in the wet years the plants experienced a lack of moisture in certain phases, especially during the period from tuberization  to ripening. In dry years, plants experienced a large lack of moisture throughout the growing season. On average, according to the experimental variants, a higher potato crop was formed in excessively wet years compared to wet years by 21%, and with dry ones by 68%. The use of fertilizers had a positive effect on the formation of potato crops and depended on weather conditions. A greater effect from the use of fertilizers was noted in excessively wet years, with average rates the yield increased by 32.2 t / ha, at high - by 41.5, in wet - by 10.3 and 14.9, respectively, in dry - by 11.0 and 16.8. The share of weather conditions in crop variability was 23%, fertilizers - 61%.


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