LONG-TERM SOIL MOISTURE STATUS IN SOUTHERN ALBERTA

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. CHANG ◽  
T. G. SOMMERFELDT ◽  
T. ENTZ ◽  
D. R. STALKER
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Available Soil Moisture ◽  
Fallow Field ◽  
Water Recharge ◽  
Soil Water Recharge

Nineteen years of soil moisture content data at Lethbridge and two locations near Turin (Turin 1 and Turin 2) in southern Alberta were examined to evaluate the efficiency of follow for conserving moisture, and to calculate the long-term mean amount of water recharge during growing and nongrowing seasons under a fallow-cereal, 2-yr rotation and a continuous cropping system. Soil samples were taken annually from 1969 to 1987 to a depth of 120 cm in 30-cm intervals in the spring (early May) and fall (late September). A method for testing differences of means between nonstandard data using localized uncertainty associated with sliding polynomial smoothing was used to test for differences in the soil moisture contents due to cultural practices. The available soil moisture content of the soil to 120-cm depth was at least 50% of available water-holding capacity (AWHC) of the profile for the fallow treatment at Lethbridge and Turin 2, and, except in some years, at Turin 1. At seeding time, there was an average of 69 mm more available water (AW) in the fallow field than in the continuous cropping field at Lethbridge and 30, 35 and 27 mm more AW in the fallow field than in the fresh stubble field of a fallow-cereal, 2-yr rotation for Lethbridge, Turin 1 and Turin 2, respectively. The overall mean precipitation conserved as soil moisture for the fallow-cereal rotation practice was 23, 29 and 23% for Lethbridge, Turin 1 and Turin 2, respectively. The significantly higher soil water content at the 90- to 120-cm depth for the fallow field than for other fields during various periods of time indicates that the soil water recharge from precipitation might be deeper in the fallow field than in continuous cropping and fresh stubble of fallow-cereal rotation fields. The deeper soil water recharge could increase the available soil moisture for crop production and it could also contribute to ground water recharge. Key words: Soil water, available water content, continuous cropping, summerfallow

Effect of Long-term Cropping Systems on Soil Hydrophobicity of a Clay Loam Soil Under Dryland Conditions in Southern Alberta

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim J. Miller ◽  
Mallory Owen ◽  
Ben Ellert ◽  
Xueming Yang ◽  
Craig F. Drury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Clay Loam Soil ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Organic Carbon Concentration ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity

The objective was to quantify the effect of crop rotations, crop type, life cycle, nitrogen fertilizer, manure application, and fallow on soil hydrophobicity (SH). The SH was measured for a long-term (16 yr) dryland field experiment on a Dark Brown clay loam soil in southern Alberta, Canada. Mean SH was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater in rotations with grass, perennial crops, manure application, and continuous cropping; whereas cereal-legume rotations and N fertilizer effects were undetectable. A strong, positive correlation occurred between SH and soil organic carbon concentration (r=0.73). Soil water repellency should be measured on these plots using water-based methods.

scholarly journals Soil Water Characteristics of Gleysols in the Bamenda (Cameroon) Wetlands and Implications for Agricultural Management Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Alice Mufur Magha ◽  
Primus Azinwi Tamfuh ◽  
Lionelle Estelle Mamdem ◽  
Marie Christy Shey Yefon ◽  
Bertrand Kenzong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Total Variance ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Available Water ◽  
High Soil ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Very High

Water budgeting in agriculture requires local soil moisture information as crops depend mainly on moisture available at root level. The present paper aims to evaluate the soil moisture characteristics of Gleysols in the Bamenda (Cameroon) wetlands and to evaluate the link between soil moisture content and selected soil characteristics affecting crop production. The work was conducted in the field and laboratory, and data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics. The main results showed that the soils had a silty clayey to clayey texture, high bulk density, high soil organic carbon content, and high soil organic carbon stocks. The big difference between moisture contents at wilting point and at field capacity testified to very high plant-available water content. Also, the soils displayed very high contents of readily available water and water storage contents. The soil moisture characteristics give sigmoid curves and enabled noting that the Gleysols attain their full water saturation at a range of 57.68 to 91.70% of dry soil. Clay and SOC contents show a significant positive correlation with most of the soil moisture characteristics, indicating that these soil properties are important for soil water retention. Particle density, coarse fragments, and sand contents correlated negatively with the soil moisture characteristics, suggesting that they decrease soil water-holding capacity. The principal component analysis (PCA) enabled reducing 17 variables described to only three principal components (PCs) explaining 73.73% of the total variance; the first PC alone expressed 45.12% of the total variance, associating clay, SOC, and six soil moisture characteristics, thus portraying a deep correlation between these eight variables. Construction of contoured ditches, deep tillage, and raised ridges management techniques during the rainy season while channeling water from nearby water bodies into the farmland, opportunity cropping, and usage of water cans and other irrigation strategies are used during the dry season to combat water constraints.

scholarly journals Rooting Depth, Growth and Yield of Sorghum as Affected by Soil Water Availability in an Ultisol and an Oxisol

1969 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 329-335
Author(s):  
A. Wahab ◽  
H. Talleyrand ◽  
M. A. Lugo-López
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Grain Filling ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Weather Factors ◽  
Soil Water Tension ◽  
Available Soil Moisture ◽  
Water Tension

Grain and stover yields of RS 671 grain sorghum were measured at Barranquitas in an Oxisol and at Corozal in an Ultisol. Measurements were made of weather factors, soil moisture content and tension, plant growth, water deficits and rooting depths. At each site a plot was irrigated as often as necessary to maintain a soil water tension of less than 1 bar. Nonirrigated plots at Corozal were watered whenever necessary to prevent plants from wilting permanently. During a prolonged drought and at grain filling, sorghum extracted water in the Oxisol to a depth of 120 cm. Plants became water stressed after the soil water tension at a depth of 90 cm reached 15 bars. In the Ultisol, sorghum plants were unable to effectively extract available soil moisture at depths below 45 cm. Both plant growth and grain yield were greater in the Oxisol than in the Ultisol. The relative soil compaction of the Ultisol was greater than that of the Oxisol.

scholarly journals Soil water cycle and crop water use efficiency after long-term nitrogen fertilization in Loess Plateau

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wang ◽  
W. Liu ◽  
Q. Xue ◽  
T. Dang ◽  
C. Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Water Recharge ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Management

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) management on soil water recharge, available soil water at sowing (ASWS), soil water depletion, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and water use efficiency (WUE) after long-term fertilization. We collected data from 2 experiments in 2 growing seasons. Treatments varied from no fertilization (CK), single N or phosphorus (P), N and P (NP), to NP plus manure (NPM). Comparing to CK and single N or P treatments, NP and NPM reduced rainfall infiltration depth by 20–60 cm, increased water recharge by 16–21 mm, and decreased ASWS by 89–133 mm in 0–300 cm profile. However, crop yield and WUE continuously increased in NP and NPM treatments after 22 years of fertilization. Yield ranged from 3458 to 3782 kg/ha in NP or NPM but was 1246–1531 kg/ha in CK and single N or P. WUE in CK and single N or P treatments was < 6 kg/ha/mm but increased to 12.1 kg/ha/mm in a NP treatment. The NP and NPM fertilization provided benefits for increased yield and WUE but resulted in lower ASWS. Increasing ASWS may be important for sustainable yield after long-term fertilization.

Complex landslide dynamics: establishing a monitoring setup to investigate sub-surface properties and displacements of a slow moving landslide system

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita J. Stumvoll ◽  
Robert Fahrngruber ◽  
Thomas Glade
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Surface Properties ◽  
Groundwater Level ◽  
Direct Methods ◽  
Time Domain Reflectometry ◽  
Non Invasive

<p>Quantitative data of the sub-surface properties and dynamics of recently active landslides spanning a temporal scale of more than a few years are still fairly rare. This is due to the fact that long-term landslide-monitoring setups are expensive regarding both financial and human resources as well as to install and maintain. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of potential landslide triggering thresholds is mandatory. <br>Apart from external triggers the internal hydrological, soil mechanical and geophysical properties of a hillslope determine its potential for displacement. The spatial distribution of groundwater levels and soil water contents as well as of the regolith material, resistance and depth define potential areas of activity. The internal structure of a landslide needs to be assessed in order to be able to evaluate magnitude and frequency as well as potential triggers of activity.</p><p>In this study, we present a long-term monitoring setup for the detection of sub-surface properties, structure and dynamics of the complex Hofermühle-landslide near Konradsheim in Lower Austria. A combination of direct (invasive) and indirect (non-invasive) methods is used. Direct methods include 1) dynamic probing to investigate sub-surface resistance and 2) the analysis of cores generated via drilling. Data analysis hereby focus on geotechnical parameters such as soil properties, regolith depth and resistance. To investigate hydrological properties data regarding 3) groundwater level using piezometers as well as 4) soil moisture using time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes are used. Data analysis focus on the spatio-temporal behaviour of soil moisture and groundwater level changes in order to assess sub-surface water pathways, water residence time and the connection to changes – regarding both input (precipitation) and output (evapotranspiration). Sub-surface movement rates and their position along vertical soil profiles are planned to be analysed using 5) inclinometer data. Direct methods are combined with non-invasive geophysical methods. As this monitoring setup will be maintained for a longer time period (>10a), the setup itself is assessed critically; challenges and issues of the installation, data transfer and analysis are discussed.</p><p>First results regarding the analysis of hydrological parameters indicate a heterogenic distribution of groundwater static level, soil water retention time after infiltration and flow paths. A first interpretation of the sediment core, dynamic probing as well as geophysical results support this heterogeneity. Sub-surface areas of potential activity could be presumed to be correlated with the spatial distribution of surface displacements as these also show a heterogenic distribution.</p>

scholarly journals Deep soil water recharge response to precipitation in Mu Us Sandy Land of China

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-ben Cheng ◽  
Hong-bin Zhan ◽  
Wen-bin Yang ◽  
Fang Bao
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Sandy Land ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Mu Us Sandy Land ◽  
Water Recharge ◽  
Soil Water Recharge

Improving SHAW long-term soil moisture prediction for continuous wheat rotations, Alberta, Canada

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wang ◽  
G N Flerchinger ◽  
R. Lemke ◽  
K. Brandt ◽  
T. Goddard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Support System ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
System Model ◽  
Surface Residue ◽  
Simultaneous Heat

The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer-Cropping System Model (DSSAT-CSM) is a widely used modeling package that often simulates wheat yield and biomass well. However, some previous studies reported that its simulation on soil moisture was not always satisfactory. On the other hand, the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model, a more sophisticated, hourly time step soil microclimate model, needs inputs of plant canopy development over time, which are difficult to measure in the field especially for a long-term period (longer than a year). The SHAW model also needs information on surface residue, but treats them as constants. In reality, however, surface residue changes continuously under the effect of tillage, rotation and environment. We therefore proposed to use DSSAT-CSM to simulate dynamics of plant growth and soil surface residue for input into SHAW, so as to predict soil water dynamics. This approach was tested using three conventionally tilled wheat rotations (continuous wheat, wheat-fallow and wheat-wheat-fallow) of a long-term cropping systems study located on a Thin Black Chernozemic clay loam near Three Hills, Alberta, Canada. Results showed that DSSAT-CSM often overestimated the drying of the surface layers in wheat rotations, but consistently overestimated soil moisture in the deep soil. This is likely due to the underestimation of root water extraction despite model predictions that the root system reached 80 cm. Among the eight growth/residue parameters simulated by DSSAT-CSM, root depth, leaf area index and residue thickness are the most influential characteristics on the simulation of soil moisture by SHAW. The SHAW model using DSSAT-CSM-simulated information significantly improved prediction of soil moisture at different depths and total soil water at 0-120 cm in all rotations with different phases compared with that simulated by DSSAT-CSM. Key words: Soil moisture, modeling, Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer-Cropping System Model, Simultaneous Heat and Water Model

Soil water recharge in a semi-arid temperate climate of the Central U.S. Great Plains

2010 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 1063-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricio Grassini ◽  
Jinsheng You ◽  
Kenneth G. Hubbard ◽  
Kenneth G. Cassman
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Water Recharge ◽  
Soil Water Recharge ◽  
Semi Arid
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