scholarly journals Spatial and temporal trends in soil properties at a soil quality benchmark site in central Nova Scotia

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. T. Webb ◽  
C. Wang ◽  
T. Astatkie ◽  
D. R. Langille
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Quality Change ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Map ◽  
Soil Map Unit

In response to concerns over the widespread soil degradation occurring on Canada's agricultural lands, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada established a network of benchmark sites to assess soil quality change by monitoring agronomically important soil properties. The Nova Scotia site was established in 1989 on Queens (Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisols) and Debert (Gleyed Dystric Brunisols) soil series under a corn–forage rotation within the Annapolis–Minas Lowlands ecoregion. The objectives of the project were to quantify temporal changes in agronomically important soil properties and determine how the property values vary with the landscape and components of the soil map unit. A 20 × 25 m grid was used in 1990 and again in 1995 to sample soil from the Ap horizon and to locate saturated hydraulic conductivity and penetration resistance measurements. The samples were analyzed for pH, organic C, total N, and available P and K. The results indicate that over 5 yr, organic C, C:N ratio, available P, and saturated hydraulic conductivity declined by 7.9, 4.7, 12.5, and 53%, respectively. Significant differences in pH, organic C, total N, available K, penetration resistance and saturated hydraulic conductivity were associated with selected components of the soil map unit. Slope position had a minimal effect on soil properties except for available K where the highest levels were located on middle slope positions. Interactions between particle size and slope position were found, with soils with coarse-loamy sola on upper slope positions having the lowest pH. The results of this study also demonstrated the utility of the method for monitoring soil quality change and the importance of the soil map unit in interpreting the spatial and temporal differences in soil properties. Key words: Soil variability, soil monitoring, soil properties, soil map unit, spatial correlation

Temporal trends in soil properties at a soil quality benchmark site in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
E A Kenney ◽  
J W Hall ◽  
C. Wang
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Total N

A national soil quality monitoring program was established in 1990 to address concerns that the quality of Canada's agricultural soils was in decline. The British Columbia benchmark site (01-BC) was established in 1991 and is located on the Pelly soil series (Orthic Humic Gleysol) supporting a corn-forage-pasture rotation in the Lower Mainland ecoregion. The objectives of this study were to report on the differences in: (1) the measured soil properties for the 5-yr period between baseline data collection in 1991 and resampling in 1996 and (2) the properties measured annually as indicators of soil compaction. A 25-m (25-m grid was used at the site to locate sampling points for bulk density and collecting soil samples of the Ap, BCg, and Cg horizons, as well as the measurement locations for saturated hydraulic conductivity and penetration resistance. A 5-yr interval sampling regime was used to sample the Ap, BCg, and Cg horizons and bulk density. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and penetration resistance were sampled annually from 1992 to 1998. Between 1991 and 1996 in the A horizons, pH, available P, C:N ratio and bulk density increased by 4.6, 7.8, 2.5, and 8%, respectively, and available K, total C and total N decreased by 21, 16.5, and 18.3%, respectively. In the BCg horizon, pH, available P and C:N ratio increased by 5, 126, and 8%, respectively, and the available K and total N both decreased by 21%. Bulk density remained unchanged. The assumption that the soil chemical properties in the Cg horizon would remain stable during the study period did not hold. The trends detected for the Cg horizon were similar to those measured for the upper two horizons. However, only the reductions in available K and total N and increases in C:N were significant. The changes in the soil physical properties measured at this site indicate that some soil compaction has occurred. Both bulk density at 20 cm and penetration resistance increased at all depths between 1994 and 1998, which coincided with the time period that grazing was included in the crop rotation. Field saturated hydraulic conductivity at 25 cm (Ap2 horizon), although highly variable from year to year also tended to be lower during the pasture rotation. The penetration resistance measurements, which detected changes at all depths, appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of soil compaction than either bulk density or field saturated hydraulic conductivity. Key words: Soil quality, soil monitoring, soil properties, soil compaction, temporal change

scholarly journals The Influence of Slope Positions on the Recovery Response of Compacted Soil Properties and Enzyme Activity in an Oriental Beech Stand in the Hyrcanian Forests, Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghdad Jourgholami ◽  
Alireza Ramineh ◽  
Ghavamodin Zahedi Amiri ◽  
Eric Labelle
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Compacted Soil ◽  
Hyrcanian Forests ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Beech Stand ◽  
The Impact

Several studies emphasize the effects of slope position on divergences of soil properties in forest ecosystems, but limited data is available on the impact of slope position on recovery levels of soil, which were exposed to compaction due to machine traffic. This study examined the effects of slope position (i.e., S; summit, BS; backslope, and TS; toeslope) on recovery rate of soil properties and enzyme activity four years after ground-based harvesting operations were performed on machine operating trails, compared to the undisturbed areas (UND) in the Hyrcanian forests (north of Iran). Soil properties and enzyme activity of compacted soil in machine operating trails showed significant trend differences among the slope positions. A significantly lower soil bulk density, penetration resistance, soil moisture, aggregate stability, pH, sand, and C/N ratio were found in TS compared to the values recorded in the BS and S treatments. Conversely, total porosity, macroporosity, silt, clay, organic C, total N, available nutrients (i.e., P, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), fulvic and humic acid, earthworm density and dry mass as well as fine root biomass were higher in TS than in the BS and S treatments. Soil microbial respiration, MBC, NH4+, NO3−, N mineralization, and MBN were significantly higher in the UND areas followed by TS > BS > S treatment. The highest activity levels of enzymes (i.e., urease, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, invertase, and ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase) were detected in the UND areas, followed by TS > BS > S treatment. The highest recovery levels of all soil properties and enzyme activity were found in TS, followed by BS > S treatment. However, the full recovery of soil properties did not occur even after a 4-year period, compared to the UND areas. Our study results highlight the significance of the slope position in augmenting divergence in soil properties and enzyme activity after ground-based machine traffic.

Changes in soil properties after application of dairy factory effluent to New Zealand volcanic ash and pumice soils

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham P. Sparling ◽  
Louis A. Schipper ◽  
John M. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Microbial C ◽  
Dairy Factory Effluent ◽  
Changes In Soil Properties

In field studies, we assessed the effects of irrigation with dairy factory effluent on the surface (0–10 cm) properties of 3 rhyolytic tephra soils. Horotiu and Te Kowhai soils had been irrigated for 22 years and Taupo soil for 2 years. Soil properties measured were: total organic C, total N, pH, bulk density, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, moisture release characteristics, readily and totally available water, particle density, microbial C, soil respiration, mineralisable N, denitrification enzyme activity, and nitrification potential. Matched, non-irrigated areas were sampled for comparison. Average annual loadings (kg/ha) of C, N, and P since 1990 were 1120 kg N, 560 kg P, and 36 300 kg C onto Horotiu soil, and 760 kg N, 380 kg P, and 25 200 kg C onto the Te Kowhai soil. These post-1990 loadings were, on average, 23% less than pre-1990 values. Irrigation for 22 years onto the Horotiu and Te Kowhai soils caused no change, or a slight decrease, in total C and N in the topsoil, but microbial C and mineralisable N contents were more than doubled, and N cycling activity much increased. Soil pH was increased by up to 1.8 units. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was increased from 8.5 to 49.8 mm/h on the Horotiu soil, and from 6.5 to 29.0 mm/h on the Te Kowhai soil. Irrigation increased the volumetric water content between 10 and 100 kPa. Most of the changes in soil properties suggest current application rates and pasture production can be maintained or increased. The high loading and mineralisation of N in the irrigated soils raises concerns about potential leaching of nitrate; current management practices are targeted towards minimising N loadings from effluent.

Effect of straw management and nitrogen fertilizer on selected soil properties as potential soil quality indicators of an irrigated Dark Brown Chernozemic soil

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Dormaar ◽  
J. M. Carefoot
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Fertility Level ◽  
Soil Quality Indicators ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Straw Management

Cereals grown under irrigation in the Canadian prairies produce large amounts of residues. An experiment initiated at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, in the fall of 1986, to investigate five straw management treatments (1, chopped straw/fall tillage [straw incorporated]; 2, chopped straw/spring tillage [straw incorporated]; 3, straw baled/fall tillage; 4, straw baled/spring tillage; 5, straw baled/direct seeding) and three fertilizer N rates (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1) on crop yields under irrigation, was sampled in April 1995 to examine the effect of straw management and fertilizer additions on selected soil chemical characteristics as potential soil quality indicators. If yield is not used, can we evaluate soil quality from a soil genesis baseline or is it crop growth driven? Differences among straw management and fertility treatments have already supplied information on the effects of these treatments after 8 yr. The treatment in which the straw was baled and the land not tilled had the highest soil bulk density. Total soil organic C and N were highest for the straw baled/no tillage treatment and the 200 kg N ha−1 application. Total C was higher for the fall than spring tillage treatments, while total N was lower for the spring than for the fall tillage treatments when straw was incorporated. Light fraction (mg kg−1 C) was highest for the chopped straw and zero fertilizer additions. For several biologically related characteristics, e.g., mineralizable N, biomass C, biological index N, and hydrolysable N, there were significant interactions between straw management treatments and fertility levels. Monosaccharides at the zero fertility level were generally of microbial origin, while plant-origin monosaccharides were more prevalent as the fertility level increased. It is concluded that the present use does not lead to soil erosion, does not pollute groundwater, and does grow plants; with the help of outside resources, any one straw management treatment can be considered as valid in the anthropocentric sense of soil quality. Since the interpretation of significant effects of treatment on soil properties must be carefully considered depending on the crop selected, the concept of soil quality is thus open to question and debate. Key words: Soil quality, straw management, intrinsic value, tillage, labile organic matter

scholarly journals Maize Production and Soil Properties Change in Alley Cropping System at Different Nitrogen Levels

2010 ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Md Abiar Rahman ◽  
Md Giashuddin Miah ◽  
Hisashi Yahata
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Alley Cropping ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Nitrogen Levels

Productivity of maize and soil properties change under alley cropping system consisting of four woody species (Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Cajanus cajan and Senna siamea) at different nitrogen levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended rate) were studied in the floodplain ecosystem of Bangladesh. Comparative growth performance of four woody species after pruning showed that L. leucocephala attained the highest height, while C. cajan produced the maximum number of branches. Higher and almost similar amount of pruned materials (PM) were obtained from S. siamea, G. sepium and C. cajan species. In general, maize yield increased with the increase in N level irrespective of added PM. However, 100% N plus PM, 75% N plus PM and 100% N without PM (control) produced similar yields. The grain yield of maize obtained from G. sepium alley was 2.82, 4.13 and 5.81% higher over those of L. leucocephala, C. cajan and S. siamea, respectively. Across the alley, only one row of maize in the vicinity of the woody species was affected significantly. There was an increasing trend in soil properties in terms of organic C, total N and CEC in alley cropping treatments especially in G. sepium and L. leucocephala alleys compared to the initial and control soils. Therefore, one fourth chemical N fertilizer can be saved without significant yield loss in maize production in alley cropping system.

Spatial and temporal variability in chemical properties of a podzolic B horizon of an old-growth maple forest

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Godbout ◽  
Jean-Louis Brown
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Soil Changes

A Podzolic soil from an old-growth maple hardwood forest in eastern Canada was systematically sampled from a 16.5-m-long trench in 1975. In 1986, the upper 10 cm of the B horizon was resampled from two sampling lines located on each side and parallel to the 1975 trench, one at a distance of 1 m downhill and the other at a distance of 4 m uphill. Total N, organic C, pH, and exchangeable Ca, Mg and K were measured. The objectives were to evaluate the change in the chemical status of the B horizon from 1975 to 1986 and to characterize the spatial variability of the horizon. No significant change was found in the soil chemical properties tested during this 11-yr period. No significant autocorrelation was observed between soil samples 60 cm apart, except for the downhill sampling line, which was located 1 m from the trench. For most properties, the magnitude of the difference between two soil sampling units was not proportional to the distance separating them over the range of 0.6–4.2 m. Except for pH, a difference in soil properties of more than 30% was observed in 37–56% of sample pairs 60 cm apart. Resampling near (1 m) an old soil pit may not be valid because of possible local modifications of soil properties created by the pit, even when it is filled in. Key words: Podzol, soil variability, acidic deposition, soil changes

scholarly journals Assessing Soil Quality for Sustainable Cropland Management Based on Factor Analysis and Fuzzy Sets: A Case Study in the Lhasa River Valley, Tibetan Plateau

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuqiang Dai ◽  
Zhiqiang Lv ◽  
Gangcai Liu
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Soil Quality Index ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Land Use Types

Ecologically fragile cropland soils and intensive agricultural production are characteristic of the valley area of the Tibetan Plateau. A systematic assessment of soil quality is necessary and important for improving sustainable cropland management in this area. This study aims to establish a minimum data set (MDS) for soil quality assessment and generate an integrated soil quality index for sustainable cropland management in the Tibetan Plateau. Soil samples were collected from the 0–20 cm depths of agricultural land in the middle and lower reaches of the Lhasa River. These samples were analyzed by routine laboratory methods. Significant differences were identified via statistical test between different soil types and land use types for each soil property. Principal component analysis was used to define a MDS of indicators that determine soil quality. Consequently, effective porosity, pH, total organic C, total N, available P, and catalase were identified as the final MDS. The soil quality index was obtained by the fuzzy-set membership function and the linear weighted additive method. The soil quality index differed significantly between the soil types and land use types. The soil quality can be ranked based on their indices in the following order: 1. Grain land with meadow soils, 2. Grain land with steppe soils, 3. Greenhouse vegetable land with fluvo-aquic soils, 4. Grain land with fluvo-aquic soils. The soils with higher soil quality indices exhibited better soil structure, higher nutrient contents, and superior resistance to water and nutrient loss. While the intensive tillage practices associated with vegetable production could reduce the values for effective porosity, pH and catalase, the application of appropriate fertilizers increased the values for total organic C, total N and available P. Therefore, the MDS method is an effective and useful tool to identify the key soil properties for assessing soil quality, and provides guidance on adaptive cropland management to a variety of soil types and land use types.

Spatial relationship between soil hydraulic and soil physical properties in a farm field

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Biswas ◽  
B C Si
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Shape Parameter ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Hydraulic Parameters ◽  
Curve Shape ◽  
Scaling Parameter

The relationship between soil properties may vary with their spatial separation. Understanding this relationship is important in predicting hydraulic parameters from other soil physical properties. The objective of this study was to identify spatially dependent relationships between hydraulic parameters and soil physical properties. Regularly spaced (3-m) undisturbed soil samples were collected along a 384 m transect from a farm field at Smeaton, Saskatchewan. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, the soil water retention curve, and soil physical properties were measured. The scaling parameter, van Genuchten scaling parameter α (VGα), and curve shape parameter, van Genuchten curve shape parameter n (VGn), were obtained by fitting the van Genuchten model to measured soil moisture retention data. Results showed that the semivariograms of soil properties exhibited two different spatial structures at spatial separations of 20 and 120 m, respectively. A strong spatial structure was observed in organic carbon, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), sand, and silt; whereas a weak structure was found for VGα and VGn. Correlation circle analysis showed strong spatially dependent relationships of Ks and VGα; with soil physical properties, but weak relationships of θs and VGn with soil physical properties. The spatially dependent relationships between soil physical and soil hydraulic parameters should be taken into consideration when developing pedotransfer functions. Key words: Spatial relationship, geostatistics, linear coregionalization model, principal component analysis, pedotransfer function

Impact of erosion and tillage on the productivity and quality of selected semiarid soils of Iran

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mehdizade ◽  
H. Asadi ◽  
M. Shabanpour ◽  
H. Ghadiri
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Total N ◽  
Tillage Erosion

Abstract This greenhouse research was carried out to study the effects of water and tillage erosion on agricultural productivity and soil quality in soil samples from a semiarid region of Iran. A factorial experiment of complete randomized block design was used to compare the effects of soil erosion (eroded and non-eroded soils), slope position, water stress and fertilizer (N-P-K) on yield and yield components of wheat as soil productivity index. The results showed that erosion ie water and tillage erosion has a significant effect (p<0.01) in decreasing soil productivity due to its negative impact on soil organic matter, nutrients (N and K) and hydraulic conductivity. Complete N-P-K fertilization and water stress had significant effects on increasing and decreasing of wheat yield, respectively. The effect of water stress in particular was so high that it could eclipse the erosion impact on yield reduction. Wheat dry matter and grain mass on foot and mid slopes were significantly higher than that on upslope positions where total N and available K were the lowest and equivalent calcium carbonate the highest. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and total nitrogen were found to be the most important soil properties as far as their correlations to wheat yield are concerned.

Cotton-based rotation systems on a sodic Vertosol under irrigation: effects on soil quality and profitability

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Hulugalle ◽  
P. C. Entwistle ◽  
T. B. Weaver ◽  
F. Scott ◽  
L. A. Finlay
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Gross Margins

An experiment was established in 1993 on a sodic Vertosol (Vertisol, Typic Haplustert) at Merah North, north–western New South Wales, to evaluate the sustainability of selected irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–rotation crop sequences. Crop sequences were selected following discussions with local cotton growers. The indices used to evaluate sustainability included soil quality, microbiology, yield and profitability. This paper presents data on soil properties [soil organic C, structure as air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na, pH, electrical conductivity (EC1:5) and EC1:5/exchangeable Na in the 0–0.6 m depth], lint yield and profitability (as gross margins/ha and gross margins/ML of irrigation water). The 6 cropping systems sown after minimum tillage were: continuous cotton (R1), long–fallow cotton (R2), cotton–green manured faba bean (Vicia faba L.) (R3), cotton–dolichos (Lablab purpureus L.)–green manured faba bean in the first year followed by cotton–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (R4), cotton–dolichos (R5), cotton–fertilised dolichos (with P and K removed by cotton replaced as fertiliser) (R6). In 1996, air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil was highest with R4 at the surface but lowest with R1 in the 0.15–0.30 m depth. In subsequent years, air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil was higher with R2 and R4 in the deeper depths, although differences between cropping sequences were small. Air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil increased between 1996 and 1998 in all treatments, and was probably caused by the change from intensive to minimum tillage in 1993, irrigation with moderately saline water and application of gypsum resulting in an increase in EC1:5/exchangeable Na. In general, differences in soil properties such as soil organic C, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na, pH, electrical conductivity (EC1:5) and EC1:5/exchangeable Na between cropping sequences were far less than those which occurred with time. The key changes were decreases in pH, exchangeable sodium percentage, exchangeable cations and organic C between 1994 and 1996, and increases in air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil, EC1:5 and EC1:5/exchangeable Na between 1996 and 1998. A decrease in air–filled porosity of oven–dried soil occurred between 1998 and 1999 as a consequence of preparing land and sowing cotton under very wet conditions. R1 had the highest cumulative gross margin/ha and R3 had the lowest. R2 had the highest cumulative gross margin/ML of irrigation water and R3 again the lowest. Among crop sequences, R2 and R4 gave the best returns with respect to both land and water resources.

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