Methodology adaptation and development to assess salt content dynamics and salt balance of soils under secondary salinization

The effect of irrigation with saline water (above 500 mg L-1) is considered a problem of small-scale farmers growing vegetable crops with high water demand in the hobby gardens characteristic of the Hungarian Great Plain. In order to simulate the circumstances of such hobby garden, we set up an experiment including five simple drainage lysimeters irrigated with saline water in the Research Institute of Karcag IAREF UD in 2019. We regularly measured the electric conductivity (EC) of the soil referring to its salt content and the soil moisture content with mobile sensors. Before and after the irrigation season, soil samples from the upper soil layer (0-0.6 m) were taken for laboratory analysis and the soil salt balance (SB) was calculated. The actual salt balance (SBact) was calculated of the upper soil layer (0-0.6 m) based on the salt content of the obtained soil samples. The theoretical salt balance (SBth) was calculated by the total soluble salt content of the irrigation water and leachates. During the irrigation season, we experienced fluctuating EC in the topsoil in close correlation with the soil moisture content. Based on the performed in-situ EC measurements, salts were leached from the upper soil layer resulting in a negative SB. Combining SBact and SBth of the soil columns of the lysimeters, we estimated the SB of the deeper (0.6-1.0 m) soil layer. We quantified 12% increase of the initial salt mass due to accumulation. We consider this methodology to be suitable for deeper understanding secondary salinization, which can contribute to mitigating its harmful effect. By repeating our measurements, we expect similar results proving that saline irrigation waters gained from the aquifers through drilled wells in Karcag are potentially suitable for irrigation if proper irrigation and soil management are applied.

Download Full-text

Aboveground Biomass of Reaumuria soongorica Shrub Effect on Soil Moisture and Nutrient Spatial Distribution in Arid and Semi-Arid Region

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.3803 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 3803-3806

Author(s):

Bing Ru Liu ◽

Jun Long Yang

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Desert Plant ◽

Important Species

In order to revel aboveground biomass of R. soongorica shrub effect on soil moisture and nutrients spatial distribution, and explore mechanism of the changes of soil moisture and nutrients, soil moisture content, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) at three soil layers (0-10cm,10-20cm, and 20-40cm) along five plant biomass gradients of R. soongorica were investigated. The results showed that soil moisture content increased with depth under the same plant biomass, and increased with plant biomass. Soil nutrient properties were evidently influenced with plant biomass, while decreased with depth. SOC and TN were highest in the top soil layer (0-10 cm), but TN of 10-20cm layer has no significant differences (P < 0.05). Moreover, soil nutrient contents were accumulated very slowly. These suggests that the requirement to soil organic matter is not so high and could be adapted well to the desert and barren soil, and the desert plant R. soongorica could be acted as an important species to restore vegetation and ameliorate the eco-environment.

Download Full-text

Draft Requirement of Two Animal - Drawn Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Weeders

Journal of Engineering Research and Reports ◽

10.9734/jerr/2020/v10i317039 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 14-20

Author(s):

Y. A. Unguwanrimi ◽

A. M. Sada ◽

G. N. Ugama ◽

H. S. Garuba ◽

A. Ugoani

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Experimental Plot ◽

Moisture Contents ◽

Loam Soil

Draft requirements of two animal – drawn (IAR) weeders operating on loam soil were determined in the study. The implements include a straddle row weeder and an emcot attached rotary weeder evaluated under the same soil conditions, using a pair of white Fulani breed of oxen. The animal draft requirement was first estimated from the animal ergonomics measurements. Using area of 0.054 hectare as experimental plot for each implement the draft requirement of each implement was investigated after taking soil samples for soil moisture content and bulk density determinations. The implements tested showed variation in their average draft requirement. The straddle row weeder had the highest value of 338.15 N respectively while the emcot attached rotary weeder had the lowest value of 188.12 N with 47.03%, respectively. The average soil moisture contents and bulk density were 13.0% and 1.46%/cm3, respectively.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Various Soil Moisture Sensors in Four Different Soil Types

Applied Engineering in Agriculture ◽

10.13031/aea.12712 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 963-971 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tonny José Araújo da Silva ◽

Edna Maria Bonfim-Silva ◽

Adriano Bicioni Pacheco ◽

Thiago Franco Duarte ◽

Helon Hébano de Freitas Sousa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Soil Types ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Drying Method ◽

Soil Moisture Sensors ◽

Calibration Equations

Abstract.Accurate measurements of soil moisture content can contribute to resource conservation in irrigated systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate various soil moisture sensors (a porous cup tensiometer, Diviner 2000, PR2, XH300, PM100, and ML3; the mention of model names does not constitute an implied endorsement) used in four different soil types. The experiment was conducted inside a greenhouse using a specially constructed box that contained the soil samples. The soil samples were first saturated and subsequently drained before starting the measurements. The soil moisture content was determined by the oven-drying method. Using the standard deviation of the sensor readings, regression analyses were performed, resulting in calibration equations and coefficient of determination (R2) values for each sensor and soil type combination. The porous cup tensiometer, Diviner 2000, PR2, and ML3 measurements resulted in excellent R2 values that exceeded 0.95 for the four soils. However, measurements with the XH300 and PM100 sensors resulted in R2 values of 0.37 to 0.86 and 0.61 to 0.94, respectively, limiting their scientific applicability for the studied soils. Therefore, the porous cup tensiometer, Diviner 2000, PR2, and ML3 estimated the soil moisture content with greater confidence than did the other sensors and with an error of less than 5%. Keywords: Calibration, Tensiometer, Volumetric water content.

Download Full-text

Effect of weather on maize yields and the efficiency of fertilization

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.53.2005.1.4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

L. Huzsvay ◽

J. Nagy

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Regression Line ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Nutrient Utilization ◽

Weather Data ◽

Water Supplies ◽

Daily Weather Data ◽

Maize Yields

The yield of maize is primarily influenced by sunlight, temperature, available plant nutrients and water supply. Since plants take up water through their roots, the most decisive factor is not precipitation but the quantity of water available in the soil. In this study, a simple, easy-to-reproduce, capacitive model was elaborated to determine the available moisture content for maize. During the calculations, based on the balance method, the available moisture content in the top 110 cm soil layer was determined, taking daily weather data into account. The examinations were carried out on a medium heavy chernozem soil with lime deposits, in a multifactorial experiment at the Látókép Experimental Station of the Center of Agricultural Sciences, Debrecen University, between 1990 and 2004. Annual yield fluctuation is primarily determined by the soil moisture content in the month of July and the water supplies in May, according to regression analysis. The maize yields in the past 15 years could be calculated with an accuracy of 570 kg/ha, an error limit of below 10% and an r value of 0.805, using a regression line and the data of monthly moisture supplies. However, the yields of fertilized plots can only be estimated with an accuracy of 1 t/ha on average. Fertilizer utilization is influenced by the moisture content of the soil, so it makes sense to include this in the analysis instead of the other environmental factors. Water is required for nutrient utilization. In years with poor or medium water supplies, moderate fertilizer rates are more effective, compared to higher rates in years with better water supplies. Efficient fertilization in maize production can only be achieved by harmonizing soil moisture content and the applied fertilizer rate.

Download Full-text

The influence of the initial soil moisture content on the degree of water stable aggregation as determined by wet sieving

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.71490 ◽

1959 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 233-239

Author(s):

Mikko Sillanpää

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Moisture Condition ◽

Initial Soil Moisture ◽

Initial Soil ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

A Minor ◽

Wet Sieving

The effect of the soil moisture content (varying from the field-moist to air-dry before re-wetting the muddy clay soil samples for aggregate analysis) on aggregation was studied. Two wetting procedures were used and compared: They were spraying samples with a fine mist and wetting them by immersion; aggregate analyses were made by wet sieving method. The results of the aggregate analyses proved to be practically independent of the initial moisture condition of the soil samples when the samples were wetted slowly with a spray. When wetting the samples by direct immersion the mean weight diameters of aggregates decrease with decreasing initial soil moisture content to values of less than half of those obtained from samples in their original field-moist condition (34.6—36.7 % dry wt.) or of those wetted with a spray. Air-drying seems to be a minor factor affecting the destruction of aggregates but the destruction effect of the sample pre-treatment may be very harmful if immersion wetting is used. This, however, can be eliminated almost completely if wetting with a fine mist is used.

Download Full-text

Seasonal Performance and Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Salt Ions in a Semiarid Orchard of Northwest China

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.49.5.653 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 (5) ◽

pp. 653-661 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Quanen Guo ◽

Tianwen Guo ◽

Zhongming Ma ◽

Zongxian Che ◽

Lili Nan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Spatial Heterogeneity ◽

Soil Profile ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Temporal Dynamics ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Northwest China ◽

Salt Ions ◽

Soil Salt

The relationship between spatial and temporal dynamics of major salt ions and their toxicology is still unclear, particularly in perennial orchard fields. A seasonal soil sampling was conducted from Apr. to Oct. 2011 in a salinized orchard soil in semiarid northwest China. Soil moisture content and concentrations of total soluble salt and eight salt ions were measured every 2 weeks in the soil at 0 to 2, 2 to 5, 5 to 10, 10 to 15, 15 to 20, 20 to 25, 25 to 40, 40 to 60, 60 to 80, and 80 to 120 cm during the growing period of apple trees. Soil moisture content decreased early in the growth season (Period 1) but with increasing rainfall in the middle of growing season (Period 2 and Period 3) and reached a maximum at late season (Period 4) at all depths. Soil salt concentration increased along with soil profile, particularly in the 60- to 120-cm soil layer at all periods. The highest soil salt level was observed in Period 4. The contents of HCO3–, Ca2+, and Mg2+ were almost uniform in all soil layers, but the contents of Cl–, SO42–, and Na+ increased with soil layer. The content of K+ decreased from the upper to the deeper layers of soil profile. The distribution of CO32– had a high temporal and spatial heterogeneity with soil depths and season. Analysis of the charge balance on positive and negative salt ions indicated that the horizontal movement of ions and the transfer of soil water were likely the driving factors affecting soil salinization. The movement of Na+ and Mg2+ ions in the top soil may be responsible for rhizospheric ions composition and toxin effect to restrain apple tree growth in the early growth period.

Download Full-text

The Effect of Fertigation on Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) Grown in a Greenhouse

Water ◽

10.3390/w12041076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1076

Author(s):

Xianbing Wu ◽

Meijian Bai ◽

Yinong Li ◽

Taisheng Du ◽

Shaohui Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Brassica Oleracea ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Growth Stages ◽

N Application ◽

Upper Limits ◽

Brassica Oleracea L

Understanding the response of crop growth to water and fertilizer is helpful to improve their management and use efficiency. Three water and fertilizer coupling treatments were designed to carry out a two-season trial on two cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) cultivars in spring and autumn in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The irrigation timings of the three treatments were controlled by the soil moisture content of 0–20 cm soil layer. Treatment 1 (LWHF): when the soil moisture content was decreased to 75% of the field capacity (θf), irrigation was carried out (i.e., the lower limit of irrigation was 75%θf), the critical soil moisture content for stopping irrigation was 90%θf (upper limit of irrigation), and the nitrogen (N) application amount was 400 kg/ha; treatment 2 (HWLF): the lower and upper limits of irrigation were 85%θf and 100%θf, respectively, and the N application amount was 200 kg/ha; and treatment 3 (MWMF): the lower and upper limits of irrigation were 75%θf and 100%θf, respectively, and the N application amount was 300 kg/ha. The results showed that the yield and its related parameters of cabbage in spring were higher than those in autumn because of the use of different cultivars and seasons. The growth indices of HWLF and MWMF in the two seasons were larger than that of LWHF, and the yields of HWLF were the highest, 78.37 t/ha (spring) and 64.42 t/ha (autumn), respectively. The nitrogen use efficiencies (NUEs) of LWHF in spring and HWLF in autumn were the highest, 213.29 kg/kg and 391.83 kg/kg, respectively. In general, there were statistically significant differences in the cumulative increment in plant height, stem diameter and leaf area in the two-season trial, yield in autumn and NUE in spring among the three treatments. In addition, there was a significant positive linear correlation between almost all indices in different growth stages and the corresponding evapotranspiration (ETi). It is suggested that the application of drip irrigation under mulch should be approximately 114.7–125.0 mm, and the N fertilization should be about 200 kg/ha.

Download Full-text

Characteristics of the Soil and Vegetation along the Yulin–Jingbian Desert Expressway in China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11030606 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 606

Author(s):

Hao Chen ◽

Zhibao Dong ◽

Shaopeng Song ◽

Chao Li ◽

Xujia Cui

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Plant Root ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Moisture Distribution ◽

Assessment Process ◽

Vegetation Diversity ◽

Α Diversity

Transportation infrastructure dramatically affects ecological processes. However, the environmental assessment process does not often consider how transportation impacts biodiversity, especially in ecologically fragile areas. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of the Yulin–Jingbian expressway on vegetative diversity and to discuss the reason for the differences in soil-moisture distribution and vegetation diversity along the expressway. Samples were collected from 60 quadrats, along 6 transects. The α diversity indices and soil-moisture content calculated for each layer were used to represent habitat heterogeneity within a quadrat. A total of 49 species representing 39 genera and 16 families were recorded. Perennial herbs (42.9%) and annual herbs (36.7%) were the dominant life form. Species richness, diversity, and evenness indices of the vegetation varied with the distance between sampling points along the expressway. The vegetation with high diversity and evenness were near the expressway and areas with low diversity were farther from the expressway. The soil-moisture content in the 0–20 cm soil layer was a driving factor for the α diversity indices, and soil-moisture content below 20 cm played an inhibitory role on the α diversity indices. The greatest impact of the expressway on vegetation diversity was its effect on surface runoff and the distribution of plant root systems in the top layer of soil.

Download Full-text

Retrieving Photometric Properties and Soil Moisture Content of Tidal Flats Using Bidirectional Spectral Reflectance

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13071402 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1402

Author(s):

Chen Gao ◽

Min Xu ◽

Hanzeyu Xu ◽

Wei Zhou

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Roughness Parameter ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Pso Algorithm ◽

Tidal Flats ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Asymmetry Factor ◽

Equivalent Water Thickness

Moisture content in tidal flats changes frequently and spatially on account of tidal fluctuations, which greatly influence the reflectance of the tidal flat surface. Precise prediction of the spatial-temporal variation of tidal flats’ moisture content is an important foundation of surface bio-geophysical information research by remote sensing. In this paper, we first measured the multi-angle reflectance of soil samples obtained from tidal flats in the northeastern Dongtai, Jiangsu Province, China, in the laboratory. Then, based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, we retrieved the photometric characteristics of the soil surface by employing the SOILSPECT bidirectional reflectance model. Finally, the soil moisture content was retrieved by introducing the equivalent water thickness of the soil. The results showed that: (i) A significant correlation existed between the retrieved equivalent water thickness and the measured soil moisture content. The SOILSPECT model is capable of estimating soil moisture with high precision by using multi-angle reflectance. (ii) Retrieved values of single scattering albedo (ω) were consistent with the variation of soil moisture content. The roughness parameter (h) and the asymmetry factor (Θ) were consistent with the structure and particle composition of the soil surface in dry soil samples. (iii) When the soil samples were soaked with water, the roughness parameter (h) and the type of scattering on the soil surface both showed irregular changes. These results support the importance of using the measured soil particle size as one of the parameters for the retrieval of soil moisture content, which is a method that should be used cautiously, especially in tidal flats.

Download Full-text

Persisting effects of ligneous organic soil amendments on CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions in relation to moisture content in northern agricultural clay soil

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-7464 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kenneth Peltokangas ◽

Jimi Havisalmi ◽

Jussi Heinonsalo ◽

Kristiina Karhu ◽

Liisa Kulmala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Soil Amendments ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Organic Soil ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Climate Effect ◽

Organic Soil Amendments

In agriculture, organic soil amendments are envisioned to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. However, the full impact of the organic amendments on soil physico-chemical dynamics is still poorly understood. We conducted a laboratory incubation to assess the net climate effect of four ligneous organic amendments: two biochars (willow and spruce) and two fiber byproducts of paper and pulp industry. Soil samples were collected from a soil-amendment field experiment at Qvidja farm, South-West of Finland. Soil samples were sieved, air-dried and adjusted to 30%, 50%, 80% and 110% of water holding capacity (WHC), and incubated for 32 days in standard laboratory conditions. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were measured after 1, 5, 12, 20 and 33 days.&#160;The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were highest at 80% WHC, and lowest at severely water stressed conditions at 30% WHC. The organic amendments did not have an observable effect on CO2 dynamics. The CO2 emissions correlated linearly with soil moisture and microbial biomass nitrogen. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were systematically lower in the amended soils compared to the control soil, and independent of soil nitrate concentrations. Without organic amendments, N2O emissions increased exponentially with soil moisture content. Methane (CH4) emissions fluctuated throughout the incubation, exhibiting mostly negative values. Consequently, CH4 emissions played only a minor role in the GHG budget.CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions, calculated as&#160;CO2 equivalent,&#160;exhibited a&#160;linear correlation with the moisture gradient. CO2 dominated the GHG budget up to a moisture of 80% WHC, but was superseded by N2O emissions at 110% WHC. The results indicate that soil moisture content is critically affecting the GHG emissions and that while organic soil amendments may have persisting effects on GHG exchange, they primarily occur through N2O dynamics.

Download Full-text