Impact of soil management systems on organic dwarf apple orchards and soil aggregate stability, bulk density, temperature and water content

With growing pressure to reduce pesticide use, fruit growers require an alternative to herbicidal control of weeds. One option is the use of mulches or permanent vegetative ground covers, which in turn may have advantages in promoting soil physical properties and improving growth. This study examined the short-term effects of ground cover management in two newly established dwarf apple orchards in Quebec. Effects of cultivation, composted manure mulch, straw mulch, grass cover crops, a cover crop mixture of lupin and wild carrot (mixed flora) and geotextile were determined, comparing soil aggregate stability, bulk density, temperature, volumetric water content and tree growth. Straw and geotextile mulches resulted in higher soil water contents and tree growth relative to soil under grass or mixed flora ground cover. Ground cover maintained soil aggregate stability. Soil temperatures were highest under cultivation and geotextile treatments in spring and summer months, and apple yields and growth rates were greater than for ground cover treatments. Straw mulch buffered soil from temperature variation. Little effect of mulch treatments on soil bulk density was observed. Given that soil water content was the primary factor related to optimum orchard production straw and geotextile mulches promoted soil water retention and could be considered superior management options for growers, depending on costs of establishment and maintenance of the mulches. Key words: Mulches, ground cover, bulk density, aggregate stability, soil temperature, volumetric water content

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Effects of Biochar Combined with Nitrogen Fertilizer Reduction on Rapeseed Yield and Soil Aggregate Stability in Upland of Purple Soils

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17010279 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 279

Author(s):

Xiaoqin Tian ◽

Zhuo Li ◽

Longchang Wang ◽

Yifan Wang ◽

Biao Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Purple Soil ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability ◽

Water Stable Aggregate ◽

Stable Aggregate

Reduction of soil fertility and production efficiency resulting from excessive application of chemical fertilizers is universal in rapeseed-growing fields. The main objective of our study was to assess the effects of biochar combined with nitrogen fertilizer reduction on soil aggregate stability and rapeseed yield and to identify the relationship between yield and soil aggregate stability. A two-factor field experiment (2017–2019) was conducted with biochar (0 (C0), 10 (C10), 20 (C20) and 40 t·ha−1 (C40)) and nitrogen fertilizer (180 (N100), 144 (N80) and 108 kg N·ha−1 (N60)). Experimental results indicated that under N100 and N80 treatments, C10 significantly increased the macro-aggregates (R0.25), mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of soil water stable aggregate by 14.28%–15.85%, 14.88%–17.08% and 36.26%–42.22%, respectively, compared with C0. Besides, the overall difference of the soil water-stable aggregate content in 2–5 mm size range among nitrogen treatments was significant under the application of C10, which increased by 17.04%–33.04% compared with C0. Total organic carbon (TOC) in R0.25 of soil mechanical-stable aggregates was basically all increased after biochar application, especially in 0.25–1 mm and 1–2 mm aggregates, and had an increasing trend with biochar increase. C10 significantly increased rapeseed yield by 22.08%–45.65% in 2019, compared with C0. However, the reduction of nitrogen fertilizer reduced the two-year average rapeseed yield, which decreased by 11.67%–31.67% compared with N100. The highest yield of rapeseed was obtained by N100C10 in two consecutive years, which had no statistical difference with N80C10. However, the two-year yields of N80C10 were all higher than those of N100C0 with increase rate of 16.11%, and which would reduce 35.43% nitrogen fertilizer in the case of small yield difference, compared with the highest yield (2.67 t·ha−1) calculated by multi-dimensional nonlinear regression models. The regression analysis indicated R0.25, MWD and GMD had the strong positive associations with rapeseed yield, whereas percentage of aggregate destruction (PAD0.25) had a significant negative correlation with rapeseed yield. This study suggests that the application of biochar into upland purple soil could improve soil structure, increase the content of TOC in macro-aggregates under nitrogen fertilizer reduction as well as replace part of nitrogen fertilizer to achieve relatively high rapeseed yield.

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Soil aggregate stability improves greatly in response to soil water dynamics under natural rains in long-term organic fertilization

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2018.08.008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 184 ◽

pp. 281-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yangbo He ◽

Cheng Xu ◽

Feng Gu ◽

Yao Wang ◽

Jiazhou Chen

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Water Dynamics ◽

Soil Water Dynamics ◽

Organic Fertilization ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability

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The Effect of Steel Slag and Bokashi of Husk to Soil Bulk Density, Soil Aggregate Stability, Soil Porosity and Plant Biomass Broccoli in Andisol Lembang

Agrikultura ◽

10.24198/agrikultura.v26i2.8463 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Henly Yulina ◽

Rina Devnita ◽

Rachmat Harryanto

Keyword(s):

Bulk Density ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Block Design ◽

Steel Slag ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Soil Porosity ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability ◽

Randomized Block Design

ABSTRACTAndisol soil has very good soil physical characteristic, however it has problem with the Pretention. Giving ameliorant to reduce the P retention is expected to maintain, moreover toimprove some soil physical characteristics. The objective of this research was to find out theinteraction between steel slag and bokashi of husk to bulk density, aggregate stability, soil porosityand biomass of broccoli on Andisol Lembang. This study used a randomized block design factorialwith two factors. The first factor was steel slag and the second factor was bokashi of husk. Each ofthem consisted of 4 levels: 0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% with two replications. The result of thisresearch showed there was not interaction between steel slag and bokashi of husk to soil bulkdensity, soil aggregate stability, soil porosity and biomass of broccoli. The statistical results showedthat bokashi of husk influence independently to decreasing soil bulk density until 0.53 g cm-3,decreasing soil aggregate stability until 3.25 and increasing soil porosity until 80.22%, but theprovision of steel slag and bokashi of husk didn‟t influence to biomass of broccoli.Keywords : organik matter, silicate, bulk density, agreggate stability, broccoliABSTRAKAndisol mempunyai sifat fisika tanah yang baik, namun bermasalah dengan retensi P. Pemberianamelioran untuk mengurangi retensi P, diharapkan dapat mempertahankan, bahkan meningkatkanbeberapa parameter fisika tanah tersebut. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui interaksi terakbaja dengan bokashi sekam padi terhadap bobot isi, kemantapan agregat, porositas tanah danbiomassa tanaman brokoli pada Andisol Lembang. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan AcakKelompok Pola Faktorial dengan dua faktor. Faktor pertama terak baja dan faktor kedua bokashisekam padi masing-masing 4 taraf: 0%, 2,5%, 5,0% dan 7,5%, diulang dua kali. Hasil penelitianmenunjukkan bahwa tidak terjadi interaksi antara terak baja dengan bokashi sekam padi terhadapbobot isi, kemantapan agregat, porositas tanah dan biomassa tanaman brokoli. Hasil statistikmenunjukkan bahwa bokashi sekam padi berpengaruh mandiri untuk menurunkan bobot isi tanahsampai 0.53 g cm-3, menurunkan kemantapan agregat tanah sampai 3,25 dan meningkatkanporositas tanah sampai 80,22%, namun pemberian terak baja dan bokashi sekam padi tidakberpengaruh terhadap biomassa tanaman brokoli.Kata kunci : bahan organik, silikat, bobot isi, kemantapan agregat, brokoli

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Ecological impacts of apple orchards on China's Loess Plateau

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-5349 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Min Yang ◽

Shaofei Wang ◽

Xining Zhao ◽

Xiaodong Gao

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Black Locust ◽

Ecological Impact ◽

Arable Land ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Apple Orchard ◽

Apple Orchards ◽

Deep Soil ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability

Due to their great economic benefits, there are many apple orchards on the Loess Plateau and aggressive expansion is planned. However, little is known about their ecological impact in relation to the deep soil water, soil organic carbon and soil particle aggregation. An accurate evaluation of the ecological impact of apple orchards is crucial to ensure the establishment of sustainable ecosystems on the Loess Plateau. We, therefore, measured the soil water content variation in deep layers (WCAD) (200-800 cm), soil organic carbon (SOC) content and density (0-800 cm) and, soil aggregate stability (0-40 cm) in apple (Malus pumila) orchards and ecological plantations of black locust (Robinia pesudoacacia) and korshinsk peashrub (Caragana korshinskii). The results suggested that (1) the soil water in deep soil was generally lower under apple orchards (13.29%), black locust (12.4%) and korshinsk peashrub (13.46%) than under arable land (18.35%), both in the semiarid and semihumid regions. This finding implied that apple orchard, black locust and korshinsk peashrub plantations caused intense reductions in soil moisture compared with the arable land, leading to severe soil desiccation. (2) Apple orchards (1.85 to 5.49 g kg-1) had significantly (p <0.05) lower SOC density than ecological plantations (2.15 to 8.95 g kg-1), especially in 0-100 cm soil layer, in both semiarid and semihumid regions. This result suggests that apple orchards have no profitless for SOC sequestration over the long-term because their clean cultivation management increase the risk of SOC loss by soil erosion. (3) In semiarid and semihumid regions, soil aggregate stability (the mean weight diameter, MWD) in apple orchards (0.26-0.63 mm) was significantly (p <0.05) lower than under black locust (0.63-2.97 mm) and korshinsk peashrub (0.72-2.13 mm) plantations in 0-40 cm layers, and even lower than in arable land in the 0-20 cm layer in most regions, which means that apple orchards have low anti-erodibility. Our results suggest that continued expansion of apple orchards and ecological plantations both consumed much deep soil water, but the ecological effect (e.g., SOC sequestration, soil and water conservation) brought by apple orchard is much lower than that of ecological plantations. In the interest of sustainable development in the region, apple cultivation should be undertaken with caution, especially in semiarid regions.

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CHANGES IN SOIL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SOIL CRUST PROCESS THROUGH THE USE OF CHICKEN MANURE AND POLYACRYLE AMIDE UNDER INTENSE RAINFALL

Jurnal Ilmu Tanah dan Lingkungan ◽

10.29244/jitl.11.2.71-75 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 71-75

Author(s):

Oteng Haridjaja

Keyword(s):

Bulk Density ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Physical Characteristics ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Soil Crust ◽

Soil Permeability ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Physical Characteristics ◽

Permeability Rate

Soil crust is a soil suface layer which is more compact, harder, and brittle when it is drier than underlaying material. The soil physical characteristics such as aggregate stability, bulk density and soil permeability rate are closely related to this soil crust process. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of chicken manure doses and certain chicken manure with PAM (Polyacrile Amide) to soil aggregate, bulk density and soil permeability rate. The result of this research, were: 1) An incremental addition of chicken manure into soil increased soil aggregation percentage, soil stability and soil permeability rate, and 2) The combined incremental additions of chicken manure with PAM were found to be more effective than only an incremental additions of chicken manure, increasing the aggregation percentage, soil aggregate stability, from the soil one day drainage process, but another case in decreasing the bulk density permeability rate from the soil with the same process.

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Dynamics of soil aggregate stability as induced by potassium in a soil-plant system

Soil Science & Plant Nutrition ◽

10.1080/00380768.2021.1939151 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Surachet Aramrak ◽

Natthapol Chittamart ◽

Worachart Wisawapipat ◽

Wutthida Rattanapichai ◽

Mutchima Phun-Iam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability ◽

Plant System

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Dynamics of Soil Organic Carbon and Labile Carbon Fractions in Soil Aggregates Affected by Different Tillage Managements

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031541 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1541

Author(s):

Xiaolin Shen ◽

Lili Wang ◽

Qichen Yang ◽

Weiming Xiu ◽

Gang Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Aggregates ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

No Tillage ◽

Labile Carbon ◽

Carbon Fractions ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability ◽

Positive Effects

Our study aimed to provide a scientific basis for an appropriate tillage management of wheat-maize rotation system, which is beneficial to the sustainable development of agriculture in the fluvo-aquic soil areas in China. Four tillage treatments were investigated after maize harvest, including rotary tillage with straw returning (RT), deep ploughing with straw returning (DP), subsoiling with straw returning (SS), and no tillage with straw mulching (NT). We evaluated soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and particulate organic carbon (POC) in bulk soil and soil aggregates with five particle sizes (>5 mm, 5–2 mm, 2–1 mm, 1–0.25 mm, and <0.25 mm) under different tillage managements. Results showed that compared with RT treatment, NT treatment not only increased soil aggregate stability, but also enhanced SOC, DOC, and POC contents, especially those in large size macroaggregates. DP treatment also showed positive effects on soil aggregate stability and labile carbon fractions (DOC and POXC). Consequently, we suggest that no tillage or deep ploughing, rather than rotary tillage, could be better tillage management considering carbon storage. Meanwhile, we implied that mass fractal dimension (Dm) and POXC could be effective indicators of soil quality, as affected by tillage managements.

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Sludge amendment accelerating reclamation process of reconstructed mining substrates

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81703-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dan Li ◽

Ningning Yin ◽

Ruiwei Xu ◽

Liping Wang ◽

Zhen Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Structure ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Soil Reclamation ◽

Soil Restoration ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability ◽

Mining Soil ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Reclamation Process

AbstractWe constructed a mining soil restoration system combining plant, complex substrate and microbe. Sludge was added to reconstructed mine substrates (RMS) to accelerate the reclamation process. The effect of sludge on plant growth, microbial activity, soil aggregate stability, and aggregation-associated soil characteristics was monitored during 10 years of reclamation. Results show that the height and total biomass of ryegrass increases with reclamation time. Sludge amendment increases the aggregate binding agent content and soil aggregate stability. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and light-fraction SOC (LFOC) in the RMS increase by 151% and 247% compared with those of the control, respectively. A similar trend was observed for the glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP). Stable soil aggregate indexes increase until the seventh year. In short, the variables of RMS determined after 3–7 years insignificantly differ from those of the untreated sample in the tenth-year. Furthermore, significant positive correlations between the GRSP and SOC and GRSP and soil structure-related variables were observed in RMS. Biological stimulation of the SOC and GRSP accelerates the recovery of the soil structure and ecosystem function. Consequently, the plant–complex substrate–microbe ecological restoration system can be used as an effective tool in early mining soil reclamation.

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