Temporal Effects of Biochar and Dairy Manure on Physicochemical Properties of Podzol: Case from a Silage-Corn Production Trial in Boreal Climate

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar and dairy manure (DM) on physicochemical properties of podzolic soils, as well as to establish the relationships between selected physicochemical properties and soil electrical conductivity (EC) in a silage-corn production system. Nutrient requirements of the crop were met through different nutrient sources considering soil nutrient status, nutrient availability from DM (DM, DM + biochar) and regional crop nutrient recommendations. Experimental treatments included control, inorganic nitrogen (IN), IN + biochar, IN + DM, and IN + DM + biochar. DM was applied at 30,000 L ha−1, whereas biochar was applied at 20 Mg ha−1 and mixed within the top 20 cm of the soil. Disturbed soil samples as well as time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements were collected from treatment plots on four field days. Results showed no significant (p > 0.05) treatment effects on soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) within each field day. However, significant temporal effects were recorded for pH, EC, apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and electrical conductivity of the soil solution (ECw). Soil depth (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) had no significant effect on treatments. Significant positive correlations were recorded for EC with soil organic carbon and CEC (ECa, ECw 0–10 cm, & 10–20 cm, p = 0.000). Correlation results show that ECa measurements as a proxy to investigate the variability of key soil properties over large areas, but further investigation between ECa data and soil properties should be carried out to address uncertainties associated in predicting these properties.

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Evaluations of the effects of soil properties and electrical conductivity on the water content reflectometer calibration for landfill cover soils

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/158/2015-swr ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 10-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. Kim ◽

J. Sim ◽

T.-H. Kim

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Water Content ◽

Clay Content ◽

Liquid Limit ◽

Time Domain Reflectometry ◽

Volumetric Water Content ◽

Unit Weight ◽

Landfill Cover ◽

Dry Unit Weight

This study presents soil-moisture calibrations using low-frequency (15–40 MHz) time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe, referred to as water content reflectometer (WCR), for measuring the volumetric water content of landfill cover soils, developing calibrations for 28 different soils, and evaluating how WCR calibrations are affected by soil properties and electrical conductivity. A 150-mm-diameter PVC cell was used for the initial WCR calibration. Linear and polynomial calibrations were developed for each soil. Although the correlation coefficients (R<sup>2</sup>) for the polynomial calibration are slightly higher, the linear calibrations are accurate and pragmatic to use. The effects of soil electrical conductivity and index properties were investigated using the slopes of linear WCR calibrations. Soils with higher electrical conductivity had lower calibration slopes due to greater attenuation of the signal during transmission in the soil. Soils with higher electrical conductivity tended to have higher clay content, organic matter, liquid limit, and plasticity index. The effects of temperature and dry unit weight on WCR calibrations were assessed in clayey and silty soils. The sensor period was found to increase with the temperature and density increase, with greater sensitivity in fine-textured plastic soils. For typical variations in temperature, errors in volumetric water content on the order of 0.04 can be expected for wet soils and 0.01 for drier soils if temperature corrections are not applied. Errors on the order of 0.03 (clays) and 0.01 (silts) can be expected for typical variations in dry unit weight (± 2 kN/m<sup>3</sup>).

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Are researchers following best storage practices for measuring soil biochemical properties?

SOIL ◽

10.5194/soil-7-95-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 95-106

Author(s):

Jennifer M. Rhymes ◽

Irene Cordero ◽

Mathilde Chomel ◽

Jocelyn M. Lavallee ◽

Angela L. Straathof ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Best Practice ◽

Storage Temperature ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Inorganic Nitrogen ◽

Biochemical Properties ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Soil Extracts ◽

Organic C ◽

C And N

Abstract. It is widely accepted that the measurement of organic and inorganic forms of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soils should be performed on fresh extracts taken from fresh soil samples. However, this is often not possible, and it is common practice to store samples (soils and/or extracts), despite a lack of guidance on best practice. We utilised a case study on a temperate grassland soil taken from different depths to demonstrate how differences in soil and/or soil extract storage temperature (4 or −20 ∘C) and duration can influence sample integrity for the quantification of soil-dissolved organic C and N (DOC and DON), extractable inorganic nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-) and microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN). The appropriateness of different storage treatments varied between topsoils and subsoils, highlighting the need to consider appropriate storage methods based on soil depth and soil properties. In general, we found that storing soils and extracts by freezing at −20 ∘C was least effective at maintaining measured values of fresh material, whilst refrigerating (4 ∘C) soils for less than a week for DOC and DON and up to a year for MBC and MBN and refrigerating soil extracts for less than a week for NH4+ and NO3- did not jeopardise sample integrity. We discuss and provide the appropriate tools to ensure researchers consider best storage practice methods when designing and organising ecological research involving assessments of soil properties related to C and N cycling. We encourage researchers to use standardised methods where possible and to report their storage treatment (i.e. temperature, duration) when publishing findings on aspects of soil and ecosystem functioning. In the absence of published storage recommendations for a given soil type, we encourage researchers to conduct a pilot study and publish their findings.

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Effect of altitude and seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) on soil properties in dry temperate region of Himachal Pradesh

Journal of Applied and Natural Science ◽

10.31018/jans.v9i4.1516 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 2228-2234 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abhay Sharma ◽

Virendra Singh

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Nutrients ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Himachal Pradesh ◽

Hippophae Rhamnoides ◽

Land Use Pattern ◽

Hippophaë Rhamnoides

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is an ecologically and economically important plant species used for the enhancement of soil fertility, prevention of soil erosion and production of food and medicinal products in mountain ecosystem. Altitude and landuse are the major factors which conditions the nutrient status of soil. In the study six different altitudes (3390 m, 3520 m, 3560 m, 3615 m, 3790 m and 4040 m) above sea level in dry temper-ate region of Himachal Pradesh and three land use pattern viz., (seabuckthorn forest, willow forest and wasteland) were selected for the study and their impact was investigated on soil fertility. Soil properties such (pH, organic car-bon, available macronutrients N, P, K, S and exchangeable cations Ca, Mg) were determined following the standard procedures. The values of soil available nutrients under seabuckthorn varied as pH (8.2 to 7.8), organic carbon (1.05 to 2.35 per cent) N (125 to 205 kg ha-1), P (15 to 31 kg ha-1), K (94 to 284 kg ha-1), S (28 to 53 kg ha-1), ex-changeable Ca (8.56 to 10.20 cmol (p+) kg-1) and Mg (2.3 to 3.6 cmol (p+) kg-1), respectively. The soil nutrients in seabuckthorn forest were found much higher than willow forest and wasteland, especially organic carbon and availa-ble N contents. Soil nutrients were found to increase with increasing altitude and decrease with increasing soil depth. The results concluded that Hippophae rhamnoides had significant effects (p < 0.05) on soil nutrient conditions. Hence our study indicates that seabuckthorn has a big potential for soil conservation, ecological sustainability and restoration of Himalayan ecosystem.

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Effect of soil properties and nutrient status on Eucalyptus tereticornis based agroforestry system in India.

10.31220/agrirxiv.2020.00008 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tarun Kumar ◽

K. K. Bhardwaj ◽

Prashant Kaushik

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Agroforestry System ◽

Eucalyptus Tereticornis ◽

Alkaline Ph ◽

Natural Substance

Abstract Here an investigation regarding soil characteristics under Eucalyptus tereticornis agroforestry at two depths (up to 30 cm and 30 to 60 cm), was carried out at Research Farm of the Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2019. Samples were gathered at a distance of 5, 10, 15, and 20 m from the E. tereticornis plantation. We analyzed the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), natural substance (OM), P, K and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn). With an alkaline pH, the organic matter was deficient in both depths. In micronutrients, Zn was inadequate at both depths, Cu was marginal at up to 30 cm, Fe was deficient at both depths; Mn was inadequate at up to 30 cm thirty cm as well as marginal at 60 cm depth.

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Effects of Poultry-Litter Biochar on Soil Properties and Growth of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10072536 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 2536 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chun-Hui Yu ◽

Shan-Li Wang ◽

Prapasiri Tongsiri ◽

Mei-Ping Cheng ◽

Hung-Yu Lai

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Inorganic Nitrogen ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Exchangeable Potassium ◽

Water Spinach ◽

Poultry Litter Biochar ◽

Calcium And Magnesium ◽

The One

Poultry-litter biochars (PLBs), which were prepared at two pyrolytic temperatures, were applied to the soils of croplands with four consecutive harvests of water spinach to assess the effects of PLBs on the soil properties and the growth of water spinach. The results show that PLB amendment resulted in an increase of soil pH. The electrical conductivity values, and the concentrations of extractable inorganic nitrogen, exchangeable potassium, and available phosphorus in the soils drastically increased in the 0.5% and 1% biochar-amended soils. However, most of the significant changes due to PLB amendment disappeared after four consecutive harvests of water spinach. The growth of water spinach was enhanced in the soils amended with PLBs, especially the one prepared at 350 °C. Nonetheless, the application of 1% PLBs to the soil resulted in an imbalance between calcium and magnesium in water spinach.

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Nutrient status and their relationship with soil properties of dalo (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) growing areas of Rewa district in Fiji

Indian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.18805/ijare.a-a-310 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

H.K. Sachan ◽

Deeksha Krishna

Keyword(s):

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Total Nitrogen ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Mean Value ◽

Colocasia Esculenta ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Saline Soils ◽

The Mean

This study was conducted in dalo (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) growing areas of Rewa district in Fiji to know nutrient status and their relationship with soil properties. Representative soil samples were collected to determine soil properties and nutrient status. The soils of the study area were found acidic in nature with the mean pH of 5.6. The electrical conductivity varied from 0.07-0.31 dSm-1with a mean 0.17 dSm-1. Organic carbon varied from 0.30 to 5.5 % with the mean value of 2.1%. Total nitrogen varied from 0.07-0.43 % with a mean of 0.19%. The values of available phosphorus (mg kg-1) varied from 1.0-44.0 mg kg-1 with a mean value 12.9 mg kg-1and that of potassium varied from 27.37-762.45 mg kg-1 with a mean of 169.56 mg kg-1. It was concluded that soils of the dalo growing areas of Rewa district are moderately acidic, having low electrical conductivity and are characterized as non-saline soils. Soils are high in organic carbon, medium in total nitrogen and low in available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium.

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