Root production, soil organic matter, soil moisture, and sorghum yield in an alley-cropping system with Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. in the Hararghe Highlands, Eastern Ethiopia

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdu Abdelkadir
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Gliricidia Sepium ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Acacia Saligna ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia

scholarly journals Spatial variability of microbial biomass and organic matter labile pools in a haplic planosol soil

Bragantia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (suppl) ◽  
pp. 85-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Campana Loureiro ◽  
Helvécio De-Polli ◽  
Marcos Bacis Ceddia ◽  
Adriana Maria de Aquino
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Spatial Dependence ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
C And N

The objective of this work was to study the spatial variability of soil microbial biomass (SMB) and labile soil organic matter pools (labile SOM), under different management systems and plant cover. The experiment was conducted in a Haplic Planosol soil on an Integrated Agroecological Production System (SIPA), in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro. The evaluated management systems were: alley cropping, pasture, and bush garden, the late one was used as reference area. Three grids of regular spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 meters were used for sampling, consisting of 25 georeferenced points each, where soil samples were taken at 0-10 cm depth. The following labile constituents of soil organic matter were determined: free light fraction (FLF), water soluble C and N, C and N of SMB (SMB-C and SMB-N), and glomalin content. The textural fractions (sand, silt, and clay), pH in water, and chemical attributes (organic C, total N, Ca, Mg, Al, P, K, and CEC-cation exchange capacity) were also determined. The areas of alley cropping and pasture showed spatial dependence to the attributes of SOM. The occurrence of high spatial dependence for the attributes associated to microbial biomass in the alley cropping system (C, FLF, SMB-N and respiration), probably was due to external factors related to management, such as: intensive rotational cropping system, diversity of crops and different inputs of organic matter to soil such as pruning material and organic compost.

scholarly journals Soil Management by Cover Crops in Vineyards for Climate Change Adaptation

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Marqués ◽  
Bienes ◽  
Ruiz-Colmenero
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Rainfall Events

The wine captures grapes’ variety nature and vinification techniques, but other aspects of soil, climate and terrain are equally important for the terroir expression as a whole. Soil supplies moisture, nitrogen, and minerals. Particularly nitrogen obtained through mineralization of soil organic matter and water uptake are crucial for grape yield, berry sugar, anthocyanin and tannin concentration, hence grape quality and vineyard profitability. Different climatic conditions, which are predicted for the future, can significantly modify this relationship between vines and soils. New climatic conditions under global warming predict higher temperatures, erratic and extreme rainfall events, and drought spells. These circumstances are particularly worrisome for typical thin soils of the Mediterranean environment. This study reports the effect of permanent grass cover in vineyards to maintain or increase soil organic matter and soil moisture. The influence of natural and simulated rainfalls on soils was studied. A comparison between minimum tillage (MT) and permanent grass cover crop (GC) of the temperate grass Brachypodium distachyon was done. Water infiltration, water holding capacity, organic carbon sequestration and protection from extreme events, were considered in a sloping vineyard located in the south of Madrid, Spain. The MT is the most widely used cultivation method in the area. The tradition supports this management practice to capture and preserve water in soils. It creates small depressions that accumulate water and eventually improves water infiltration. This effect was acknowledged in summer after recent MT cultivation; however, it was only short-lived as surface roughness declined after rainfalls. Especially, intense rainfall events left the surface of bare soil sealed. Consequently, the effects depend on the season of the year. In autumn, a rainy season of the year, MT failed to enhance infiltration. On the contrary, B. distachyon acted as a physical barrier, produced more infiltration (22% increase) and fewer particles detachment, due to increased soil structure stability and soil organic matter (50% increase). The GC efficiently protected soil from high-intensity events (more than 2 mm min-1). Besides, soil moisture at 35 cm depth was enhanced with GC (9% more than tillage). On average, soil moisture in GC was not significantly different from MT. These effects of GC on soil conditions created local micro-environmental conditions that can be considered advantageous as a climate change adaptation strategy, because they improved water balance, maintained a sustainable level of soil organic matter, therefore organic nitrogen, all these factors crucial for improving wine quality.

scholarly journals Full Season Control of Japanese Beetle Grub Control with Merit, NH, 1994

1996 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 352-352
Author(s):  
Stanley R. Swier
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Golf Course ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Japanese Beetle

Abstract The trial was conducted 10 May on a golf course rough, Amherst, NH. Plots were 10 X 10 ft, replicated 4 times, in a RCB design. Merit WP was applied in 4 gal water/1000 ft2 with a watering, can. Merit G granules were applied with a homemade salt shaker. Treatments were irrigated with 0.5 inch water after application. Plots were rated 30 Sep by counting the number of live grubs per 1 ft2. Conditions at the time of treatment were: air temperature 70°F; wind, 3 MPH; sky, clear; soil temperature, 1 inch, 60°F; thatch depth, 0.5 inch soil pH, 5.4; slope 0%; soil texture, silt loam, 47% sand, 50% silt, 3% clay; soil organic matter, 6.9%; soil moisture, 21.8%.

Using active fractions of soil organic matter as indicators of the sustainability of Ferrosol farming systems

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Bell ◽  
P. W. Moody ◽  
S. A. Yo ◽  
R. D. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Critical Concentrations ◽  
Aggregate Breakdown ◽  
Eastern Australia

Chemical and physical degradation of Red Ferrosols in eastern Australia is a major issue necessitating the development of more sustainable cropping systems. This paper derives critical concentrations of the active (permanganate-oxidisable) fraction of soil organic matter (C1) which maximise soil water recharge and minimise the likelihood of surface runoff in these soils. Ferrosol soils were collected from commercial properties in both north and south Queensland, while additional data were made available from a similar collection of Tasmanian Ferrosols. Sites represented a range of management histories, from grazed and ungrazed grass pastures to continuously cropped soil under various tillage systems. The concentration of both total carbon (C) and C1 varied among regions and farming systems. C1 was the primary factor controlling aggregate breakdown, measured by the percentage of aggregates <0·125 mm (P125) in the surface crust after simulated rainfall. The rates of change in P125 per unit change in C1 were not significantly different (P < 0·05) for soils from the different localities. However, soils from the coastal Burnett (south-east Queensland) always produced lower P125 (i.e. less aggregate breakdown) than did soils from the inland Burnett and north Queensland locations given the same concentration of C1. This difference was not associated with a particular land use. The ‘critical’ concentrations of C1 for each region were taken as the C1 concentrations that would allow an infiltration rate greater than or equal to the intensity of a 1 in 1 or 1 in 10 year frequency rainfall event of 30 min duration. This analysis also provided an indication of the risk associated with the concentrations of C1 currently characterising each farming system in each rainfall environment. None of the conventionally tilled Queensland Ferrosols contained sufficient C1 to cope with rainfall events expected to occur with a 1 in 10 frequency, while in many situations the C1 concentration was sufficiently low that runoff events would be expected on an annual basis. Our data suggest that management practices designed both to maximise C inputs and to maintain a high proportion of active C should be seen as essential steps towards developing a more sustainable cropping system.

scholarly journals Biodynamic preparations, greater root growth and health, stress resistance, and soil organic matter increases are linked

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-202
Author(s):  
Walter A. Goldstein ◽  
Herbert H. Koepf ◽  
Chris J. Koopmans
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Stress Condition ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Biodynamic Preparations ◽  
Root Health ◽  
Enhanced Yield

AbstractThe effects of biodynamic preparations were tested in the context of comparisons of conventional, organic, and biodynamic systems and diverse crop rotations in Washington and Wisconsin, USA. Wisconsin research also entailed testing a new nettle-and-manure-based field spray preparation (NCP). Focus was on winter wheat and maize and on soil quality. In Washington, preparations increased root growth of winter wheat, microbial biomass, and soil organic matter. In Wisconsin, applying a combination of preparations that included NCP increased root growth of maize, root health, and particulate organic matter in the soil. Relative to the organic treatments, root dry matter increases associated with the use of preparations varied from 12% to 39% and root length differences varied from 10% to 37% depending on the experiment, crop, year, and preparation application. The biodynamic + NCP treatment also induced substantial, positive yield compensatory effects for maize and wheat under stress condition years. The response slopes were practically identical for wheat and maize, indicating that the effect is of the same magnitude for both crops. Results were higher average grain yields and gross financial returns than for organic grain. The greater root production and root health stimulated by preparations is probably linked to greater vegetative growth, enhanced yield under stress conditions, and increased soil quality and carbon in soils.

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