scholarly journals Effect of organic residues on soil properties of loamy topsoil of haplic Luvisol in Northern Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
Steffen Beck-Broichsitter ◽  
Heiner Fleige ◽  
Rainer Horn
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Air Permeability ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Organic Residues ◽  
Northern Germany ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Opposite Trend ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Air Capacity ◽  
Water Holding

SummaryThe application of organic residues should ensure a sufficient air capacity (AC) and plant available water capacity (AWC) to improve the soil aeration and water supply for plant roots, whereas the air permeability (ka) primarily depends on the number of functional and, therefore, connected pores. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of digestates derived from maize (Zea mays L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in ratios of 100%, 80%, and 20%, respectively; compost of shrub debris; and sewage sludge on AC, AWC, and ka values, including the pore continuity indices (c2, c3) of a loamy Ap horizon of a haplic Luvisol. The results indicate that AC values increase from 0.142 of up to 0.191 cm3 cm−3, but pore continuities and AWC values decrease from 0.143 down to 0.111 cm3 cm−3, except for wheat-containing digestate (20w80b), which shows an opposite trend. The application of organic residues can compensate low AC values but not the AWC values. The wheat-containing digestate should be preferred for improving the water-holding capacity and, therefore, the water supply for plant roots.

scholarly journals Compost quality and its function as a soil conditioner of recultivation layers – a critical review

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Beck-Broichsitter ◽  
Heiner Fleige ◽  
Rainer Horn
Keyword(s):  
Northern Germany ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Capacity ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Frequency Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Air Capacity ◽  
Positive Effect

AbstractDuring a period of 4 years, soil chemical and physical properties of the temporary capping system in Rastorf (Northern Germany) were estimated, whereby compost was partly used as soil improver in the upper recultivation layer. The air capacity and the available water capacity of soil samples were first determined in 2013 (without compost), and then in 2015 (with compost) under laboratory conditions. Herein, the addition of compost had a positive effect on: the air capacity up to 13.4 cm3cm−3; and the available water capacity up to 20.1 cm3cm−3in 2015, in the recultivation layer (0-20 cm). However, taking into account the in situ results of the tensiometer and frequency domain reflectometry measurements, the addition of compost had a negative effect. The soil-compost mixture led to restricted remoistening even after a normal summer drying period in autumn and induced more negative matric potentials in the recultivation layer. In summary, the soil-improving effect of the compost addition, in conjunction with an increased water storage capacity, is undeniable and was demonstrated in a combined field and laboratory study. Therefore, intensive hydrophobicity can inhibit the homogeneous remoistening of the soil, resulting in a decreased hydraulic effectiveness of the sealing system.

scholarly journals The influence of water-holding layer on the water supply of potatoes in loam-sandy soils of Oman

2014 ◽  
pp. 121-149
Author(s):  
N. A. Muromtsev ◽  
A. V. Shuravilin ◽  
N. A. Semenov ◽  
K. B. Anisimov ◽  
Musalem Tabuk
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Analysis And Evaluation ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
Favorable Conditions ◽  
Water Holding

The paper is devoted to the analysis and evaluation of peculiar features of the water regime in loam-sandy soils of Oman. The total water volume taken up by potatoes has been determined in different modes of pre-irrigation soil moisture (70, 80% of MWC and 70-80-70% of MWC) and in dependence on the water-holding layer consisting of natural materials. It is shown that the most favorable conditions for water supply of potatoes, taking into account the economical use of irrigation water, can be created by differentiation of pre-irrigation soil moisture in inter-phase periods at a level of 70-80-70% of minimum water capacity (MWC). At the same time, sapropel should be used as a water-holding layer, which increases the potatoes yield at least by 10%.

scholarly journals Mixed Cropping as Affected by Phosphorus and Water Supply

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1506
Author(s):  
Bettina Eichler-Löbermann ◽  
Stefanie Busch ◽  
Nicolai David Jablonowski ◽  
Mareike Kavka ◽  
Christine Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Biomass Yield ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Mixed Cropping ◽  
P Fractions ◽  
Pot Trials ◽  
Labile P ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
P Supply

In a future exposed to threats of climate change, sustainable biomass production will be crucial. Maize (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum sp.) are important crops for human and animal nutrition, as well as for bioenergy. The aim of this study was to investigate maize and sorghum in mixed cropping with soybean (Glycine max) and faba bean (Vicia faba) regarding biomass yield, drought tolerance, phosphorus (P) availability, and enzyme activity in soil as affected by the single and combined effects of water and P supply in two outdoor pot trials with rainout shelters. Maize had the highest biomass under sufficient water supply (80% water holding capacity, WHC), but a sharp decrease of its biomass of about 60% was measured when water was limited (30% WHC). In the mixtures, drought induced reduction of biomass was less than 40%. For mixed cropping usually higher contents of labile P fractions in soil than for sole cropped monocots were found. This was especially true for the combined stress of water and P deficit and can be partly explained by a higher activity of the acid phosphatase in the soil of the mixtures. A higher yield stability of the crop mixtures makes them a suitable agronomic alternative to sole cropped maize or sorghum under suboptimal conditions of water and P shortage.

Estimating Plant-Available Water Capacity for Claypan Landscapes Using Apparent Electrical Conductivity

2007 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1902-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pingping Jiang ◽  
Stephen H. Anderson ◽  
Newell R. Kitchen ◽  
Kenneth A. Sudduth ◽  
E. John Sadler
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Capacity ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Apparent Electrical Conductivity

Revisiting the wet and dry ends of soil integral water capacity using soil and plant properties

Soil Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Meskini-Vishkaee ◽  
Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Neyshabouri
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Physiological Properties ◽  
Physical Limitations ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Plant Properties

The integral water capacity (IWC) approach takes into account various soil physical limitations for calculating plant available water. However, the IWC approach cannot distinguish the differences in water uptake between various plants. Therefore, the objectives of this study were i) to modify the approach to include plant physiological properties to redefine the wet and dry ends of the IWC, called IWCplant and ii) to evaluate the performance of the IWCplant approach using experimental data. The restrictions imposed by poor soil aeration and rapid drainage flux were calculated using both soil and plant properties to modify the wet end of the IWC. The soil hydraulic resistance was considered to redefine the dry end of the IWCplant. Based on these approaches, physically meaningful weighting functions were developed for three proposed limiting factors at both ends of the wet and dry ranges of soil. Experimental data were obtained from a greenhouse trial with wheat and canola plants in two soil textures (sandy loam and clay loam) for 2 years. The IWCplant obtained values of 0.202 and 0.205 m3 m–3 for wheat and 0.189 and 0.194 m3 m–3 for canola in sandy loam and clay loam soils, respectively. These differences in the IWCplant between wheat and canola in the same soils demonstrate the importance of plant properties to estimate actual plant available water using IWC. These differences would be even more appreciable for root systems with a wider range of different properties.

scholarly journals Plant Available Moisture in Stone-soil Media for Use Under Pavement While Allowing Urban Tree Root Growth

2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 271-278
Author(s):  
Jason Grabosky ◽  
Edward Haffner ◽  
Nina Bassuk
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Irrigation Planning ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Initial Field ◽  
Urban Tree ◽  
System A ◽  
Soil Media ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Water Holding

Three avenues of experimental observation detail aspects of plant available water holding capacity in compacted stone-soil media designed for urban tree establishment in paved situations. The various compacted media provided an estimated plant available moisture content of 7%–11% by volume, comparable to a loamy sand. Changes in aggregate and of soil influenced initial field capacity moisture content, but high matric potential moisture content was consistent, presumably as a reflection of the aggregate content of the designed system. A large portion of plant available moisture was weakly held in large voids, consistent with related infiltration and permeability data, and could be an influence in water storage and irrigation planning to use layers of designed soils in a layered pavement section for urban vegetation.

scholarly journals Ecotone Dynamics and Stability from Soil Perspective: Forest-Agriculture Land Transition

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore Danso Marfo ◽  
Rahul Datta ◽  
Valerie Vranová ◽  
Adam Ekielski
Keyword(s):  
Ph Value ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Capillary Water ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Agriculture Land ◽  
Forest Region ◽  
Marked Decline ◽  
Air Capacity

Topographic and edaphic gradients usually arrange ecotonal boundaries. Although the interrelationships between vegetation and edaphic factors are relevant in most types of ecotones, they are not adequately documented. The clearly defined forest-agriculture land ecotone at the Proklest experimental site of the Training Forest Enterprise (T.F.E), Masaryk Forest Křtiny, Czech Republic presents an opportunity to investigate these inter-relationships. Our aim was to determine ecotone effects reflected by changes in soil reaction and other soil physical properties across this clearly defined forest-agriculture land ecotone. We selected eleven sampling spots: four in the forest zone, four in the agriculture land, and three in the ecotone zone between the forest and agriculture land. Every month from April to November, soil samples were collected at a depth of 5 cm. All the soil samples collected were examined for minimal air capacity, actual and potential soil reaction, and maximum capillary water capacity. The forest soil was slightly more acidic when compared to the agriculture soil, with the ecotone zone recording the lowest pH value. The maximum capillary water capacity was higher in the forest region than in the agriculture land with a sharp decline in the ecotone zone where the lowest value was recorded. The minimum air capacity was much higher in the forest region than in the agriculture land. There was a marked decline in the ecotone region where the lowest value was observed. Our results highlight the importance of soil as a factor affecting the distribution of plant communities along ecotones.

Estimation of the plant available water capacity of a soil profile

Soil Research ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Mullins
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Feature Model ◽  
Alternative Technique ◽  
Dryland Agriculture ◽  
Water Capacity ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Capacity ◽  
Conductivity Profile ◽  
Plant Available Water

The plant available water capacity (PAWC) was measured for a range of soils (black earths, grey, brown and red clays, krainozems, yellow earths and solodized solonetz/solodics) used for dryland agriculture in the uplands of th,- eastern Darling Downs of Queensland. Using these data, two one-parameter models - one based on the electrical conductivity profile and the other on observable profile features - were derived for estimating the PAWC of the soil profile. The electrical conductivity profile model reliably estimated the PAWC for black earths and grey, brown and red clays. In the case of the deep, black earths, it accounted for 90% of the variation. The observable profile feature model reliably estimated the PAWC for black earths and grey, brown and red clays and in the case of the grey, brown and red clays accounted for 88% of the variation. The models for the solodized solonetz/solodics were not significant. In addition the profile feature model provided estimates of PAWC for the krasnozems (grouped with black earths) and for the yellow earths and solodized solonetz/solodics as a group. An alternative technique for the estimation of PAWC for krasnozems and yellow earths is also presented. The techniques will provide a rapid first appraisal of the PAWC of a soil profile.

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