10-Years Studies of the Soil Physical Condition after One-Time Biochar Application

The ten-year experiment on the soil physical properties of biochar-amended Podzol was studied. Biochar was applied to the soil in the following rates: treatment BC10—10 Mg × ha−1, treatment BC20—20 Mg × ha−1, treatment BC30—30 Mg × ha−1 and treatment BC0—Control (soil without the addition of biochar). Biochar was mixed the soil arable layer (0–20 cm). Soil samples were collected ten times, once a year—after harvest rye. They were taken from layers: 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, in six replicates, using 100 cm3 metal cylinders. The soil physical properties were determined: particle size distribution, particle density, bulk density, total porosity, air capacity and permeability (at −15.5 kPa), water content at sampling, field water capacity (at −15.5 kPa), available and unavailable water content, and the ratio of field water capacity and total porosity was calculated. It was found that biochar application causes changes in the soil physical condition. The soil density decreased, while the porosity, aeration and water retention increased; the ratio of field water capacity and total porosity was favorable. These changes cannot be considered as permanent. Most of the analyzed properties showed a durability of no more than 3–4 years. We found that biochar incorporation into soil is a good method for environmental management of waste biomass.

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Impacts of Water Erosion on Soil Physical Properties

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun201664051523 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (5) ◽

pp. 1523-1527 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jan Hladký ◽

Jaroslava Novotná ◽

Jakub Elbl ◽

Jindřich Kynický ◽

David Juřička ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Capillary Water ◽

Water Capacity ◽

The Third ◽

Air Capacity ◽

South Moravia

The aim of the paper is to determine the effect of water erosion on maximum capillary water capacity, bulk density, soil airiness, total porosity and minimal air capacity. For this purpose, 13 plots located in South Moravia were selected. Each plot was divided into three positions. The first one, eluvial, was located on the top of the slope. These were always flat and water erosion did not occur there. The second one was midslope position where soil was damaged by water erosion. Soil washed down from the midslope position was accumulated in the third one. It has been found that water erosion has a statistically significant effect on minimal air capacity of topsoil, and on bulk density and airiness of subsoil. Variance analysis showed less variance of values referring all characteristics beyond these: the minimal air capacity of the midslope position damaged by erosion regarding topsoil; and maximum capillary water capacity, soil airiness and porosity regarding the subsoil.

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USE OF SCALED SEMIVARIOGRAMS IN THE PLANNING SAMPLE OF SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN SOUTHERN AMAZONAS, BRAZIL

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo ◽

10.1590/01000683rbcs20150524 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 21-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Renato Eleotério de Aquino ◽

Milton César Costa Campos ◽

José Marques Junior ◽

Ivanildo Amorim de Oliveira ◽

Daniel De Bortoli Teixeira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Environmental Planning ◽

Particle Density ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Size Composition ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

The State ◽

Sample Density

There is a great lack of information from soil surveys in the southern part of the State of Amazonas, Brazil. The use of tools such as geostatistics may improve environmental planning, use and management. In this study, we aimed to use scaled semivariograms in sample design of soil physical properties of some environments in Amazonas. We selected five areas located in the south of the state of Amazonas, Brazil, with varied soil uses, such as forest, archaeological dark earth (ADE), pasture, sugarcane cropping, and agroforestry. Regular mesh grids were set up in these areas with 64 sample points spaced at 10 m from each other. At these points, we determined the particle size composition, soil resistance to penetration, moisture, soil bulk density and particle density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, and aggregate stability in water at a depth of 0.00-0.20 m. Descriptive and geostatistical analyses were performed. The sample density requirements were lower in the pasture area but higher in the forest. We concluded that managed-environments had differences in their soil physical properties compared to the natural forest; notably, the soil in the ADE environment is physically improved in relation to the others. The physical properties evaluated showed a structure of spatial dependence with a slight variability of the forest compared to the others. The use of the range parameter of the semivariogram analysis proved to be effective in determining an ideal sample density.

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Comparison of the physical properties of soils belonging to different reference soil groups

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/31/2020-swr ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 29-38

Author(s):

Jan Vopravil ◽

Pavel Formánek ◽

Tomáš Khel

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Particle Density ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Capillary Water ◽

Water Capacity ◽

Available Water Capacity ◽

Permanent Wilting Point ◽

Wilting Point ◽

Soil Groups

Soil properties can be influenced by long-term agricultural management practices as described in pedological literature. In this study, selected physical properties (particle density and bulk density, total porosity, maximum capillary water capacity, minimum air capacity, field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water capacity) of topsoils from different reference soil groups (Cambisols, Luvisols, Fluvisols, Chernozems and Phaeozems, Leptosols, Stagnosols and Gleysols) were sampled and analysed in the years 2016–2017. The topsoil samples were taken from points of so-called S (specific) soil pits to be sampled from the General Soil Survey of Agricultural Soils (GSSAS) which was accomplished in the years 1961–1970. In addition, some of the properties were also compared with those measured during the GSSAS. Recognising the properties, only the particle density, the maximum capillary water capacity, the permanent wilting point and the available water capacity of the topsoil of the individual soil groups were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) different. A comparison of the physical properties with those analysed after more than 40 years was performed, the bulk density increased and the total porosity decreased in the topsoil of the major part of the studied soil groups.

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Effect of cutting regime on soil physical properties of wet thistle meadows

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/43/2008-swr ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 4 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 104-115

Author(s):

R. Duffková ◽

T. Kvítek

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Particle Density ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Water Retention Capacity ◽

Capillary Porosity ◽

Positive Dependence ◽

Retention Capacity ◽

Water Capacity ◽

Top Soil

Changes of selected soil physical properties (porosity P, soil organic matter SOM, bulk density ρd, particle density ρz, characteristics of water retention capacity – maximum capillary water capacity θCMC, and non-capillary porosity Pn) of permanent grassland (wet, non-fertilized, thistle meadows ass. Angelico-Cirsietum palustris, crystalline complex area, Czech Republic) in the top soil layer (3–10 cm) managed under three regimes (uncut UC; cut once a year C1; cut twice a year C2) were monitored for one undrained and two drained sites. There were no significant differences in selected soil physical properties among the test plots at the beginning of the study. As the intensity of utilisation decreased, the values of P, SOM, and Pn increased and ρd, ρz and θCMC decreased. Within 5–10 years of the beginning of the study, average values were: P at UC = 70, C1 = 69, C2 = 67%; SOM at UC = 10.7, C1 = 10.6, C2 = 10.0%; ρd at UC = 0.76, C1 = 0.79, C2 = 0.84 g/cm3; ρx at UC = 2.53, C1 = 2.55, C2 = 2.56 g/cm3; θCMC at UC = 50, C1 = 53, C2 = 51%; Pnat UC = 21, C1 and C2 = 16%. Moderate negative dependence of both ρx and ρd on SOM and of ρd on Pn and a moderate positive dependence of P on SOM was observed. θCMC changes did not show links to other soil physical properties. The greatest looseness of the top soil layer, expressed by a decrease in ρd, occurred with the UC regime in direct correlation with SOM, Pn and P.

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Effects of cattle treading on physical properties of three soils used for dairy farming in the Waikato, North Island, New Zealand

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr98101 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 37 (5) ◽

pp. 891 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

P. L. Singleton ◽

B. Addison

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Physical Condition ◽

Aggregate Size ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Dairy Farming ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Undisturbed Soil ◽

Allophanic Soil

A study of the physical condition of 3 soils used for intensive dairy farming in the Waikato Region was undertaken. The study was to determine the existing physical condition of the soil, the possible long-term changes from pugging damage, and the most appropriate measurements and depth for monitoring change in soil physical properties under dairying. Four dairy farms were selected on each of 3 soils (an Allophanic Soil and 2 Gley Soils). On each farm, 3 sites that corresponded to never trodden, usual (‘average’ paddock and pasture condition for the farm), and previously pugged (pugged >18 months ago) pasture histories were sampled. Undisturbed soil cores were collected at 50-mm depth increments to 250 mm for determination of bulk density, total porosity, saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, proportion of pores >30 and 60 µm, and aggregate size class. Results showed pugging was having a long-term effect on soil physical properties of all 3 soils, including the well-drained Allophanic Soil that rarely pugged. All measurements showed a decline in values for soil properties from never trodden to previously pugged. The greatest changes were in hydraulic conductivity, proportion of pores, and aggregate size (>60 and <20 mm). The most appropriate depth increment for measuring differences between treatments was found to be 50–100 mm. A comparison of previously pugged to never trodden at this depth showed that hydraulic conductivity had decreased by 80%, pore size by 46% (except for Allophanic Soil), and the proportion of aggregates >60 mm in diameter had increased at least 4-fold. Farming practices that minimise pugging damage, such as on/off grazing, need to be encouraged. It is possible that such programs may permit the soil to recover to a physical state similar to never trodden sites.

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Characterizing Soil Physical Properties for Soil Moisture Monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology ◽

10.1175/jtech-d-11-00104.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 933-943 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Weinan Pan ◽

R. P. Boyles ◽

J. G. White ◽

J. L. Heitman

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

The North ◽

Wide Range ◽

Soil Moisture Monitoring

Abstract Soil moisture has important implications for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and agriculture. This has led to growing interest in development of in situ soil moisture monitoring networks. Measurement interpretation is severely limited without soil property data. In North Carolina, soil moisture has been monitored since 1999 as a routine parameter in the statewide Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet), but with little soils information available for ECONet sites. The objective of this paper is to provide soils data for ECONet development. The authors studied soil physical properties at 27 ECONet sites and generated a database with 13 soil physical parameters, including sand, silt, and clay contents; bulk density; total porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; air-dried water content; and water retention at six pressures. Soil properties were highly variable among individual ECONet sites [coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 12% to 80%]. This wide range of properties suggests very different behavior among sites with respect to soil moisture. A principal component analysis indicated parameter groupings associated primarily with soil texture, bulk density, and air-dried water content accounted for 80% of the total variance in the dataset. These results suggested that a few specific soil properties could be measured to provide an understanding of differences in sites with respect to major soil properties. The authors also illustrate how the measured soil properties have been used to develop new soil moisture products and data screening for the North Carolina ECONet. The methods, analysis, and results presented here have applications to North Carolina and for other regions with heterogeneous soils where soil moisture monitoring is valuable.

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perubahan sifat fisika tanah di lahan kering tanah ultisol dengan jenis tanaman dan mulsa jagung

Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Pertanian ◽

10.17969/jimfp.v3i2.7470 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 51-60

Author(s):

Muzakki Muzakki ◽

Manfarizah Manfarizah ◽

Hairul Basri

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Design Pattern ◽

Particle Density ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Stability Index ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Plant Type ◽

Dry Land ◽

Corn Crop ◽

Sloping Land

Abstrak :Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penggunaan mulsa jagung dan jenis tanaman dilahan kering tanah Ultisol terhadap beberapa sifat fisika tanah. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Petak Terpisah pola RAK 3 x 4 dengan 3 ulangan. Faktor yang diteliti yaitu jenis tanaman dan mulsa jagung. Faktor jenis tanaman terdiri dari 3 taraf yaitu ; jagung, kedelai dan kacang tanah. Faktor s mulsa jagung terdiri atas 4 taraf yaitu ; kontrol, tanpa mulsa, mulsa jagung 5 ton ha-1 dan mulsa jagung 10 ton ha-1 . Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan jenis tanaman memberikan pengaruh nayata terhadap indeks stabilitas agtregat. Terdapat pengaruh interaksi antara perlakuan jenis tanaman dan mulsa jagung terhadap partikel density. Changes of soil physical properties on Soil Sloping Land Ultisol with types of plants and Mulch on cornAbstract. This research aims to know the influence of the use of the mulching corn and plant type dilahan dry land of Ultisol against some physical properties of the soil. The research of using Separate Swath Design pattern SHELF 3 x 4 with 3 replicates. Factors examined, i.e. the type of mulch and plant corn. Crop factor consists of 3 levels namely; corn, soybeans and peanuts. Factor s mulching maize consists of 4 levels, namely; control, without mulch, mulch corn 5 ton ha-1 and mulching corn 10 ton ha-1. The results showed that the treatment plant type influence nayata against agtregat stability index. There is the influence of the interaction between the treatment plant and mulch in corn against particle density..

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Long-term effect of biochar on soil physical properties of agricultural soils with different textures

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-8588 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Zanutel ◽

Sarah Garré ◽

Charles Bielders

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Water Retention ◽

Particle Density ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Term Effect ◽

Silt Loam ◽

Long Term Effect

In the context of global soil degradation, biochar is being promoted as a potential solution to improve soil quality, besides its carbon sequestration potential. Burying biochar in soils is known to effect soil physical quality in the short-term (<5 years), and the intensity of these effects depends on soil texture. However, the long-term effects of biochar remain largely unknown yet and are important to quantify given biochar&#8217;s persistency in soils. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the long-term effect of biochar on soil physical properties as a function of soil texture and biochar concentration.&#160; For this purpose, soil physical properties (particle density, bulk density, porosity, water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves) were measured in the topsoil of three fields with former kiln sites containing charcoal more than 150 years old in Wallonia (southern Belgium).&#160; The fields had a silt loam, loam and sandy loam texture.&#160; Samples were collected along 3 transects in each field, from the center of the kiln sites outwards.&#160;Particle density and bulk density slightly decreased as a function of charcoal content. Because particle density and bulk density were affected to a similar extent by charcoal content, total porosity was not affected by the presence of century-old charcoal. Regarding the soil water retention curve, charcoal affected mostly water content in the mesopore range. This effect was strongest for the sandy loam. On the other hand, the presence of century-old charcoal increased significantly the hydraulic conductivity at pF between 1.5 and 2 for the silt loam, while no effect of charcoal was observed for the loamy soil.&#160; The study highlights a limited effect of century-old charcoal on the pore size distribution (at constant porosity) and on the resulting soil physical properties for the range of soils and charcoal concentrations investigated here.&#160; Further research may be needed to confirm the observed trends over a wider range of soil types.&#160;

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Effect of soil physical properties on the long-term performance of planted Scots pine in Finnish Lapland

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss08070 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 90 (3) ◽

pp. 451-465 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K. Mäkitalo ◽

V. Alenius ◽

J. Heiskanen ◽

K. Mikkola

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Water Content ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Height Growth ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Preparation Methods ◽

Finnish Lapland

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) forests dominate in Finnish Lapland. This study examined the long-term effects of soil physical properties and conditions measured in intact intermediate areas, as well as site preparation, on the survival and height growth of planted pine on eight experimental sites, 25-27 yr after reforestation. On the four originally spruce-dominated sites, pine survival was the highest on sites with a high soil air-filled porosity (AFP) near saturation (at -1 kPa), a high van Genuchten parameter, and a low soil water content (SWC) in situ, and height growth was the fastest on sites with a high soil AFP in situ and a high van Genuchten parameter n, and on sites reaching a soil AFP of ca. 0.20 m3 m-3 at a high matric potential after saturation. Survival, but not mean height, was enhanced on the spruce sites by intensive site preparation methods such as ploughing instead of lighter site preparation methods. On the four originally pine-dominated sites, site preparation affected the mean height but not survival. The use of SWC as a sole criterion for sites suitable for pine reforestation was tested and found to be uncertain. Key words: Boreal forest soils, soil water content, air-filled porosity, van Genuchten function, site preparation, reforestation, Scots pine

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Variations in selected soil physical properties with landforms and slope within an inland valley ecosystem in Ashanti region of Ghana

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/17/2010-swr ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 73-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S.E. Obalum ◽

J.C. Nwite ◽

J. Oppong ◽

C.A. Igwe ◽

T. Wakatsuki

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Site Selection ◽

Total Porosity ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Silt Fraction ◽

Inland Valley

One peculiar feature of the inland valleys abundant in West Africa is their site-specific hydrology, underlain mainly by the prevailing landforms and topography. Development and management of these land resources under the increasingly popular sawah (a system of bunded, puddled and levelled rice field with facilities for irrigation and drainage) technology is a promising opportunity for enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the region. Information on the variations in selected soil physical properties as influenced by the prevailing landforms may serve as a useful guide in site selection. This is of practical importance since majority of the inland valleys are potentially unsuitable for sawah development and most farmers in the region are of low technical level. Three landforms (river levee, elevated area and depressed area) were identified within a sawah field located in an inland valley at Ahafo Ano South District of Ghana. Each of these landforms was topsoil-sampled along on identified gradient (top, mid and bottom slope positions). Parameters determined included particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity and field moisture content. The soil is predominantly clayey. There were no variations in the particle size distribution among the slope positions in the river levee. Overall, the river levee had lower silt content than the elevated and the depressed landforms. The bulk density, total porosity, and gravimetric moisture content indicated relative improvements only in the depressed area in the order, bottom > mid > top slope. Irrespective of slope position, the three landforms differed in these parameters in the order, depressed > river levee > elevated. The sand fraction impacted negatively on the silt fraction and bulk density of the soil, both of which controlled the soil moisture status. Despite the fairly low silt content of the soil, the silt fraction strongly influenced the gravimetric moisture content (R2 = 0.80). So too did the soil bulk density on the gravimetric moisture content (R2 = 0.90). It is concluded that: (1) since the landforms more prominently influenced the measured parameters than the slope positions, the former should take pre-eminence over the latter in soil suitability judgment; (2) with respect to moisture retention, variations in silt fraction and bulk density of this and other clayey inland-valley soils should be used as guide in site selection for sawah development.

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