Soil Restoration: Drought Resistance, Soil Health Improvement, Toxin Sequestration and Worms

ABSTRACT Conventional tillage and mineral fertilization (CTMF) jeopardize soil health in conventional vegetable production systems. Using a field experiment established in Uruguay in 2012, we aimed to compare the soil restoration potential of organic fertilization (compost and poultry manure) combined with conventional tillage and cover crop incorporated into the soil (CTOF) or with reduced tillage and the use of cover crop as mulch (RTOF). In 2017, table beet was cultivated under CTMF, CTOF and RTOF, and yields, soil aggregate composition and nutrients, as well as soil and table beet rhizosphere microbiota (here: bacteria and archaea) were evaluated. Microbiota was studied by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from total community DNA. RTOF exhibited higher soil aggregation, soil organic C, nutrient availability and microbial alpha-diversity than CTMF, and became more similar to an adjacent natural undisturbed site. The soil microbiota was strongly shaped by the fertilization source which was conveyed to the rhizosphere and resulted in differentially abundant taxa. However, 229 amplicon sequencing variants were found to form the core table beet rhizosphere microbiota shared among managements. In conclusion, our study shows that after only 5 years of implementation, RTOF improves soil health under intensive vegetable farming systems.

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By-products of insect rearing: insect residues as biofertilizers.

10.1079/9781789245929.0008 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 60-71

Author(s):

Adin Y. Bloukounon-Goubalan ◽

Aliou Saïdou ◽

Victor A. Clottey ◽

Kalifa Coulibaly ◽

Norbert Erokotan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

Insect Rearing ◽

True Value ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Organic And Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

By Products

Abstract The chapter highlights the potential benefits associated with the use of insect-rearing residues as biofertilizers while exploring the mechanisms by which chitin in insect frass might control common crop pathogens. The potential benefits for soil fertility derived from the use of insect frass, comparison of quality of insect-derived biofertilizers and common organic and inorganic fertilizers and insect frass and plant health improvement are discussed. While more research is essential to understand the true value of insect-derived biofertilizers for plant and soil health, preliminary findings suggest there are significant opportunities for beneficial impacts in agriculture and horticulture to be realized.

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The 3R Principles for Applying Biochar to Improve Soil Health

Soil Systems ◽

10.3390/soilsystems4010009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mingxin Guo

Keyword(s):

Soil Amendment ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Health ◽

High Water ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Application Rate ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Erosion Risk ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Biochar Amendment

Amending soil with biochar is a promising approach to persistently improve soil health and promote crop growth. The efficacy of soil biochar amendment, however, is soil specific, biochar dependent, and influenced by the biochar application programs. To maximize the benefits of biochar application, this paper proposes the 3R principles for applying biochar to soils: right biochar source, right application rate, and right placement in soil. The quality of biochar as a soil amendment varies significantly with the feedstock and the production conditions. Biochar products capable of everlastingly sustaining soil health are those with high stable organic carbon (OC) content and high water- and nutrient-holding capacities that are manufactured from uncontaminated biomass materials. Acidic, coarse-textured, highly leached soils respond remarkably more to biochar amendment than other types of soils. Soil amendment with particular biochars at as low as 0.1 mass% (equivalent to 2 Mg ha−1) may enhance the seasonal crop productivity. To achieve the evident, long-term soil health improvement effects, wood- and crop residue-derived biochars should be applied to soil at one time or cumulatively 2–5 mass% and manure-derived biochars at 1–3 mass% soil. Optimal amendment rates of particular biochar soil systems should be prescreened to ensure the pH of newly treated soils is less than 7.5 and the electrical conductivity (EC) below 2.7 dS m−1 (in 1:1 soil/water slurry). To maximize the soil health benefits while minimizing the erosion risk, biochar amendment should be implemented through broadcasting granular biochar in moistened conditions or in compost mixtures to cropland under low-wind weather followed by thorough and uniform incorporation into the 0–15 cm soil layer. Biochars are generally low in plant macronutrients and cannot serve as a major nutrient source (especially N) to plants. Combined chemical fertilization is necessary to realize the synergic beneficial effects of biochar amendment.

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Connecting the Dots Between Sustainable Diets and Biocultural Systems in a Rural Indigenous Community of the Ecuadorian Andes (OR20-07-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz047.or20-07-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Andres Gallegos ◽

William Waters ◽

Amaya Carrasco ◽

Mabel Pintag ◽

Martha Caranqui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Soil Health ◽

Soil Restoration ◽

Seed Selection ◽

Sustainable Diets ◽

Control Seed ◽

Crossover Analysis ◽

Household Heads

Abstract Objectives Characterize the psychosocial and agroecological dimensions of sustainable diets and their roles in an Andean biocultural system. Methods A participatory mixed-methods design: 1) focus groups (n = 39) and key informant interviews (n = 7) were recorded, translated, transcribed, and analyzed using three-staged coding; 2) information was triangulated with participant observations, local records, and descriptive statistics from a survey to female household heads (n = 57); 3) rural appraisal activities for agronomic calendars and yields; 4) ten sites, purposively selected, prospected with local informants to obtain a Margelef-Shannon's K Diversity Index; 5) a subset of five sites for agroecological parameters with MO-Dirt methods for soil health and laboratory analysis; 6) a crossover analysis of agrobiodiversity, land-family size ratios and diet; and 7) four community-based system dynamics sessions to elucidate causal-loop diagrams. Results A psychosocial dimension was centered in indigenous identity, customary institutions, and agrarian knowledge. Identity was grounded in Mother Earth (Pachamama) and traditional foods. Customary institutions reinforce trust and reciprocity, mobilize labor-intensive tasks and food production and processing. Traditional knowledge includes agrarian calendars, pest control, seed selection, and soil restoration measures. An agroecological dimension is characterized by a pre-Hispanic system of terraces, trenches, and contention walls, as well as ecological richness. Combined analysis of both dimensions, including ethnographic testimonials, archeological research, and local records, reveal that the community is a remarkable biocultural space, which seems to promote sustainable crop yields through the generations. Conclusions This study suggests the viability of a reinforcement loop in indigenous-based agri-food systems, in which sustainable diets support a stable biocultural space and where the dynamic interaction between psychosocial and agroecological factors assure the stability of biocultural space. Research on biocultural systems represents an opportunity to elucidate ideas for present and future sustainability and food security challenges. Funding Sources Funded by the Brown School's International Dissertation Award.

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Organic amendments as ecosystem engineers: Microbial, biochemical and genomic evidence of soil health improvement in a tropical arid zone field site

Ecological Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.016 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. 268-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

K. Aparna ◽

M.A. Pasha ◽

D.L.N. Rao ◽

P.U. Krishnaraj

Keyword(s):

Arid Zone ◽

Soil Health ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Ecosystem Engineers ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Field Site ◽

Zone Field

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Adoption of Soil Health Improvement Strategies by Australian Farmers: II. Impediments and Incentives

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension ◽

10.1080/1389224x.2013.783494 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 107-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. McL. Bennett ◽

S. R. Cattle

Keyword(s):

Soil Health ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Improvement Strategies

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Carbon Mineralization Dynamics of Organic Materials and Their Usage in the Restoration of Degraded Tropical Tea-Growing Soil

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061191 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1191

Author(s):

Liyana Rallage Mahesh Chaminda Liyanage ◽

Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman ◽

Roslan Ismail ◽

Gamini Perera Gunaratne ◽

Randombage Saman Dharmakeerthi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Organic Materials ◽

Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽

Soil Health ◽

Carbon Mineralization ◽

Co2 Flux ◽

Soil Restoration ◽

Order Kinetic ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Tea Waste

Understanding carbon mineralization dynamics of organic amendments is essential to restore degraded lands. This study focused on the restoration potentials of tea-growing soils using organic materials available in tea ecosystems. The Selangor-Briah soil series association (Typic Endoaquepts) consisted of a high- (soil A) and a low-carbon (soil B) soils were incubated with different organic materials and released carbon dioxide (CO2) measured. Two kinetic models were applied to depict the mineralization process. Soil health parameters including microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, dehydrogenase and catalase activities were determined to assess the restoration potentials. The parallel first-order kinetic model fitted well for all amendments. Gliricidia markedly enhanced the net cumulative CO2 flux in both soils. Charged biochar, tea waste and Gliricidia improved the microbial biomass carbon by 79–84% in soil A and 82–93% in soil B, respectively. Microbial quotients and biomass nitrogen were increased over 50 and 70% in amended soils, respectively. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly accelerated over 80% by compost, charged biochar and tea waste. Charged biochar remarkably increased the soil catalase activity by 141%. Microbial biomass, dehydrogenase and catalase activities, and cumulative CO2 flux were positively correlated (r > 0.452) with one another. The studied amendments showed greater potential in improving the soil quality, while charged biochar, raw biochar and compost enrich the soil recalcitrant C pool ensuring the soil health in long term. Even though biochar sequesters carbon, it has to be charged with nutrients to achieve the soil restoration goals.

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Effects of different doses of organic and inorganic fertilizers on cauliflower yield and soil properties

Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources ◽

10.3126/janr.v4i2.33647 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 11-20

Author(s):

Sabina Devkota ◽

Kamana Rayamajhi ◽

Dil Raj Yadav ◽

Jiban Shrestha

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Block Design ◽

Soil Health ◽

Research Field ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Research Station ◽

Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

Half Dose ◽

Organic And Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

Different Doses

The experiment was conducted in research field of Agriculture Research Station at Belachapi, Dhanusha, Nepal from November, 2017 to February, 2018 to evaluate the effects of different doses of organic and inorganic fertilizers on Cauliflower yield parameters and soil properties. In the experiment, there were ten treatments consisting of different combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The cauliflower variety ‘Snow mystic’ was grown with these treatments laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The half dose of Organic manure (750 kg/ha) and half dose of farm yard manure (FYM) (20 t/ha) produced the highest curd yield (1019 g) and biomass (2046 g). The highest Nitrogen percent (0.10%), Organic matter percent (1.89%) and Phosphorus content (169.09 mg/kg) were obtained with the application of combined half dose of NPK (105:90:60 kg NPK/ha) and half FYM (20 t FYM/ha). The combined effect of application of Organic manures with inorganic fertilizers (NPK) was found to be better for crop growth and development as well as soil health improvement.

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Livestock integration in conservation agriculture.

10.1079/9781789245745.0012 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 215-229

Author(s):

Saidi Mkomwa ◽

Amir Kassam ◽

Sjoerd W. Duiker ◽

Nouhoun Zampaligre

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Health ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Plant Residues ◽

African Context ◽

Research And Education ◽

Crop Farmer ◽

Grazing Livestock

Abstract Grazing livestock have been presented as an unsurmountable obstacle for Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Africa, because they consume organic cover. But grazing livestock can also make positive contributions to CA, while, if properly managed, sufficient organic cover can be left for soil erosion control and soil health improvement. Urine and manure improve soil fertility and soil health, and increase the agronomic efficiency of fertilizer nutrients. Grazing livestock increase options for crop diversity, such as crop rotations with perennial forages, increased use of cover crops and tree-crop associations. Further, as crop yields improve through application of sustainable intensification methods, greater amounts of above-ground residue become available for livestock nutrition, while greater quantities of below- and above-ground plant residues can be left to improve soil health than are currently returned to the soil. At the same time, in areas where extensive systems are still common, greater amounts of crop residue can be left for soil function because alternative feed sources are available. More research and education on proper integration of livestock in CA in the African context, and successful models of pastoralist-crop farmer collaboration are needed, so both livestock and soil needs can be met.

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