Influence of streambank fencing and river access for cattle on riparian zone soils adjacent to the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta, Canada

Miller, J. J., Curtis, T., Chanasyk, D. S. and Willms, W. D. 2014. Influence of streambank fencing and river access for cattle on riparian zone soils adjacent to the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta, Canada. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 209–222. Cattle grazing in riparian pastures adjacent to rivers may increase soil compaction and increase soil nutrients, such as N and P. We conducted a 4-yr study with sampling in 3 yr (2009, 2010, 2012) of riparian zone soils adjacent to fenced and unfenced reaches of the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta. We examined the effect of grazing, access of cattle to the river (access versus no-access), and distance (0.25, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 m) from the river on surface soil bulk density, volumetric water content, NH4-N, NO3, and soil test P. Penetration depth was also measured in 2012. The three grazing treatments consisted of one fenced reach (ungrazed treatment), one unfenced and grazed reach with high cattle impact (high-impact grazed treatment), and one unfenced and grazed reach with low cattle impact (low-impact grazed treatment). We hypothesized that soil compaction would be greater, soil nutrients would be enriched, and soil water content would be lower for grazed compared with ungrazed treatments, and that this same trend would occur for access compared with no-access locations. The soil properties in our study were generally significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by grazing, access, and distance from the riverbank. However, treatment effects were generally dependent on two- or three-way interactions with the other factors. Soil bulk density in 2009 and 2012 was 8 to 20% greater at access compared with no-access locations within 2 m of the riverbank, suggesting soil compaction by cattle was confined close to the wetter riverbank soils. Most soil properties generally supported our hypothesis of greater soil compaction and nutrient enrichment for unfenced compared with fenced reaches, as well as for access compared with no-access locations. The exceptions were soil water content and soil test P results that did not support the grazing hypothesis, and soil water content and NH4-N results that did not support the cattle-access hypothesis.

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ROOT VOLUME AND DRY MATTER OF PEANUT PLANTS AS A FUNCTION OF SOIL BULK DENSITY AND SOIL WATER STRESS.

Irriga ◽

10.15809/irriga.2008v13n2p170-181 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 170-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charles Duruoha ◽

Cassio Roberto Piffer ◽

Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva

Keyword(s):

Water Stress ◽

Root Growth ◽

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Root Volume

ROOT VOLUME AND DRY MATTER OF PEANUT PLANTS AS A FUNCTION OF SOIL BULK DENSITY AND SOIL WATER STRESS. Charles Duruoha1; Cassio Roberto Piffer2; Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva21United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS), National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, Auburn, AL - U.S.A., [email protected] de Engenharia Rural, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo 1 ABSTRACT Soil compaction may be defined as the pressing of soil to make it denser. Soil compaction makes the soil denser, decreases permeability of gas and water exchange as well as alterations in thermal relations, and increases mechanical strength of the soil. Compacted soil can restrict normal root development. Simulations of the root restricting layers in a greenhouse are necessary to develop a mechanism to alleviate soil compaction problems in these soils. The selection of three distinct bulk densities based on the standard proctor test is also an important factor to determine which bulk density restricts the root layer. This experiment aimed to assess peanut (Arachis hypogea) root volume and root dry matter as a function of bulk density and water stress. Three levels of soil density (1.2, 1.4, and 1.6g cm-3), and two levels of the soil water content (70 and 90% of field capacity) were used. Treatments were arranged as completely randomized design, with four replications in a 3x2 factorial scheme. The result showed that peanut yield generally responded favorably to subsurface compaction in the presence of high mechanical impedance. This clearly indicates the ability of this root to penetrate the hardpan with less stress. Root volume was not affected by increase in soil bulk density and this mechanical impedance increased root volume when roots penetrated the barrier with less energy. Root growth below the compacted layer (hardpan), was impaired by the imposed barrier. This stress made it impossible for roots to grow well even in the presence of optimum soil water content. Generally soil water content of 70% field capacity (P<0.0001) enhanced greater root proliferation. Nonetheless, soil water content of 90% field capacity in some occasions proved better for root growth. Some of the discrepancies observed were that mechanical impedance is not a good indicator for measuring root growth restriction in greenhouse. Future research can be done using more levels of water to determine the lowest soil water level, which can inhibit plant growth. KEY WORDS: Soil compaction; water stress; soil bunk; root volume; root growth DURUOHA, C.; PIFFER, C. R.; SILVA, P. R. A. MATÉRIA SECA E VOLUME DE RAÍZES DE PLANTAS DE AMENDOIMEM FUNÇÃO DADENSIDADEE DO DÉFICIT DE ÁGUA DO SOLO. 2 RESUMO O conceito de compactação do solo não inclui apenas a redução do solo, mas também no resultante decréscimo em permeabilidade para trocas gasosas e água, assim como alterações em relação térmica e aumento na resistência mecânica do solo. Um solo compactado pode restringir o desenvolvimento radicular normal da planta. Simulações de camadas de restrição de raízes em casa de vegetação são necessárias para desenvolver mecanismos que reduzam problemas de compactação dos solos. A seleção de três diferentes densidades de solo, baseadas no ensaio de Proctor, é também um fator importante para determinar qual densidade restringe a penetração da raiz. O presente trabalho foi realizado para avaliar o volume e matéria seca radicular em função da densidade do solo e da disponibilidade hídrica em amendoim (Arachis hypogea). Foram utilizados três níveis de densidade do solo (1,2; 1,4 e1,6 gcm-3) e dois níveis de teor de água no solo (70 e 90% da capacidade de campo). Os tratamentos foram inteiramente casualizados com quatro repetições em arranjo fatorial (3 x 2). Os resultados sugerem que a produção de amendoim geralmente responde favoravelmente à compactação subsuperficial, na presença de impedância mecânica elevada. Este resultado claramente indica a habilidade da raiz em penetrar na camada de impedimento com menor densidade. O volume radicular não foi afetado pelo aumento da densidade do solo e esta impedância mecânica aumentou o volume radicular quando as raízes penetraram em barreiras com menor compactação. O crescimento radicular abaixo da camada compactada foi afetado pela barreira imposta. Esta compactação impossibilitou que as raízes crescessem mesmo na presença de teor de água ótimo. O teor de água de 70 % da capacidade de campo (P<0,0001) proporcionou maior proliferação radicular. Foi observado que a impedância mecânica não é um bom indicador para a avaliação da restrição de crescimento radicular no trabalho em casa de vegetação. UNITERMOS: compactação do solo, capacidade de campo e crescimento radicular.

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Soil penetration resistance in a rhodic eutrudox affected by machinery traffic and soil water content

Engenharia Agrícola ◽

10.1590/s0100-69162013000400014 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 748-757 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Moacir T. de Moraes ◽

Henrique Debiasi ◽

Julio C. Franchini ◽

Vanderlei R. da Silva

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Penetration Resistance ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Front Axle ◽

Undisturbed Soil ◽

Soil Penetration Resistance

Soil compaction caused by machinery traffic reduces crop yields. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intensive traffic, and the soil water content, on the soil penetration resistance (PR) of a Rhodic Eutrudox (Distroferric Red Latosol, Brazilian Classification), managed under no-tillage (NT). The experiment consisted of six treatments: NT with recent chiseling, NT without additional compaction, and NT with additional compaction by 4, 8, 10 and 20 passes of a harvester with a weight of 100 kN (70 kN on the front axle). Undisturbed soil samples were collected at 5.5-10.5 cm and 13.5-18.5 cm depth to quantify the soil bulk density (BD). The PR was assessed in four periods, using an impact penetrometer, inserted in the soil to a depth of 46 cm. The effect of traffic intensities on the PR was small when this variable was assessed with the soil in the plastic consistency. Differences in PR among treatments increased as the soil water content decreased. The increase in the values of PR and BD was higher in the first passes, but the increase in the number of traffics resulted in deeper soil compaction. The machinery traffic effects on PR are better characterized in the friable soil consistency.

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Tillage and crop rotation effects on soil carbon and selected soil physical properties in a Haplic Cambisol in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/176/2018-swr ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 47-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mxolisi Mtyobile ◽

Lindah Muzangwa ◽

Pearson Nyari Stephano Mnkeni

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Soil Porosity ◽

No Till

The effects of tillage and crop rotation on the soil carbon, the soil bulk density, the porosity and the soil water content were evaluated during the 6<sup>th</sup> season of an on-going field trial at the University of Fort Hare Farm (UFH), South Africa. Two tillage systems; conventional tillage (CT) and no-till and crop rotations; maize (Zea mays L.)-fallow-maize (MFM), maize-fallow-soybean (Glycine max L.) (MFS); maize-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize (MWM) and maize-wheat-soybean (MWS) were evaluated. The field experiment was a 2 × 4 factorial, laid out in a randomised complete design. The crop residues were retained for the no-till plots and incorporated for the CT plots, after each cropping season. No significant effects (P > 0.05) of the tillage and crop rotation on the bulk density were observed. However, the values ranged from 1.32 to1.37 g/cm<sup>3</sup>. Significant interaction effects of the tillage and crop rotation were observed on the soil porosity (P < 0.01) and the soil water content (P < 0.05). The porosity for the MFM and the MWS, was higher under the CT whereas for the MWM and the MWS, it was higher under the no-till. However, the greatest porosity was under the MWS. Whilst the no-till significantly increased (P < 0.05) the soil water content compared to the CT; the greatest soil water content was observed when the no-till was combined with the MWM rotations. The soil organic carbon (SOC) was increased more (P < 0.05) by the no-till than the CT, and the MFM consistently had the least SOC compared with the rest of the crop rotations, at all the sampling depths (0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm). The soil bulk density negatively correlated with the soil porosity and the soil water content, whereas the porosity positively correlated with the soil water content. The study concluded that the crop rotations, the MWM and the MWS under the no-till coupled with the residue retention improved the soil porosity and the soil water content levels the most.

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Effect of Biochar Application and Re-Application on Soil Bulk Density, Porosity, Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity, Water Content and Soil Water Availability in a Silty Loam Haplic Luvisol

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10071005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1005 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lucia Toková ◽

Dušan Igaz ◽

Ján Horák ◽

Elena Aydin

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Relative Increase ◽

Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Soil Drought ◽

Silty Loam

Due to climate change the productive agricultural sectors have started to face various challenges, such as soil drought. Biochar is studied as a promising soil amendment. We studied the effect of a former biochar application (in 2014) and re-application (in 2018) on bulk density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water content and selected soil water constants at the experimental site in Dolná Malanta (Slovakia) in 2019. Biochar was applied and re-applied at the rates of 0, 10 and 20 t ha−1. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied annually at application levels N0, N1 and N2. In 2019, these levels were represented by the doses of 0, 108 and 162 kg N ha−1, respectively. We found that biochar applied at 20 t ha−1 without fertilizer significantly reduced bulk density by 12% and increased porosity by 12%. During the dry period, a relative increase in soil water content was observed at all biochar treatments—the largest after re-application of biochar at a dose of 20 t ha−1 at all fertilization levels. The biochar application also significantly increased plant available water. We suppose that change in the soil structure following a biochar amendment was one of the main reasons of our observations.

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Application of Ground-Penetrating Radar and a Combined Penetrometer–Moisture Probe for Evaluating Spatial Distribution of Soil Moisture and Soil Hardness in Coastal and Inland Windbreaks

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences10060238 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 238

Author(s):

Kenta Iwasaki ◽

Makoto Tamura ◽

Hirokazu Sato ◽

Kazuhiko Masaka ◽

Daisuke Oka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Ground Penetrating Radar ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Soil Moisture Condition ◽

Soil Hardness ◽

Ground Penetrating

The development of a method to easily investigate the spatial distribution of soil moisture and soil hardness in tree windbreaks is necessary because these windbreaks often decline due to inappropriate soil moisture condition and soil compaction. This research examined the applicability of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and a combined penetrometer–moisture probe (CPMP) for evaluating the spatial distribution of soil moisture and soil hardness in four windbreaks with different soil characteristics. A GPR-reflecting interface was observed at a less permeable layer in a coastal windbreak and at a depth affected by soil compaction in an inland windbreak with andosol. The spatial distribution of the groundwater table could also be evaluated by examining the attenuation of GPR reflection in a coastal windbreak. In contrast, GPR was not applicable in an inland windbreak with peat because of high soil water content near the soil surface. The CPMP could detect vertical distributions of soil hardness and soil water content regardless of soil type. The CPMP was useful for interpreting GPR profiles, and GPR was useful for interpolating the information about the horizontal distribution of soil moisture and soil hardness between survey points made with the CPMP. Thus, the combination of GPR and a CPMP is ideal for examining the two-dimensional spatial distribution of soil moisture and soil hardness at windbreaks with soils for which both methods are applicable.

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Laboratory and field evaluation of five soil water sensors

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s03-097 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 431-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Q. Huang ◽

O. O. Akinremi ◽

R. Sri Rajan ◽

P. Bullock

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Field Evaluation ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Laboratory Evaluation ◽

Engineering Sciences ◽

Probe Calibration

Accurate in situ determination of soil water content is important in many fields of agricultural, environmental, hydrological, and engineering sciences. As numerous soil water content sensors are available on the market today, the knowledge of their performance will aid users in the selection of appropriate sensors. The objectives of this study were to evaluate five soil water sensors in the laboratory and to determine if laboratory calibration is appropriate for the field. In this study, the performances of five sensors, including the Profile Probe™ (PP), ThetaProbe™ , Watermark™, Aqua-Tel™, and Aquaterr™ were compared in the laboratory. The PP and ThetaProbe™ were more accurate than the other soil water sensors, reproducing soil water content using factory recommended parameters. However, when PP was installed on a loamy sand in the field, the same soil that was used for the laboratory evaluation, it overestimated field soil water, especially at depth. Another laboratory experiment showed that soil water content readings from the PP were strongly influenced by soil bulk density. The higher the soil bulk density, the greater was the overestimation of soil water content. Two regression parameters, a0 and a1, which are used to convert the apparent dielectric constant to volumetric water content, were found to increase linearly with the soil bulk density in the range of 1.2 to 1.6 Mg m-3. Finally, the PP was calibrated in the field and a good calibration function was obtained with an r2 of 0.87 and RMSE of 2.7%. The values of a0 and a1 obtained in the field were different from factory recommended parameters (a0 = 2.4 versus 1.6 while a1 = 12.5 versus 8.4) and were independent of soil depth, bulk density, and texture. As such, individual field calibration will be necessary to obtain precise and accurate measurement of soil water content with this instrument. Key words: Soil water content, Profile Probe, calibration, soil water content sensor

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Improve the prediction of soil bulk density by cokriging with predicted soil water content as auxiliary variable

Journal of Soils and Sediments ◽

10.1007/s11368-015-1193-4 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 77-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Qiyong Yang ◽

Weiqun Luo ◽

Zhongcheng Jiang ◽

Wenjun Li ◽

Daoxian Yuan

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Auxiliary Variable

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The effects of soil water content and bulk density on the compactibility and soil penetration resistance of some Western Australian sandy soils

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr9880391 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 391 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

C Henderson ◽

A Levett ◽

D Lisle

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Penetration Resistance ◽

Coarse Sand ◽

Soil Penetration Resistance ◽

Compactive Effort

Quantitative models to predict the effects of soil compaction on wheat yields are being developed for the northern sandplains of Western Australia. An understanding of the relationships between soil water content (W), bulk density (p), compactibility and soil penetration resistance (P) is required. Thirteen subsoils from W.A. sandplain soils were tested for compactibility. As the amounts of very coarse sand or clay in the soil increased, the maximum density (�max.) achieved with a standard compactive effort also increased, while the critical soil water content (Wcrit,.) for maximum compactibility declined. The effects of p and W on P were investigated for five of the soils. The value of P was only slightly affected as W was reduced to less than 70% of the field capacity water content. As the soils were dried further, P increased exponentially. At all water contents, an increase in p was found to markedly increase P. Particle size distribution could be used to predict �max. and Wcrit., but could not be related to the effects of changes in p and W on P. The implications for the measurement and effects of soil compaction in the field are discussed.

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