scholarly journals Long-term field experiments in Germany: classification and spatial representation

SOIL ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 579-596
Author(s):  
Meike Grosse ◽  
Wilfried Hierold ◽  
Marlen C. Ahlborn ◽  
Hans-Peter Piepho ◽  
Katharina Helming
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Spatial Representation ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Very High ◽  
Term Field

Abstract. The collective analysis of long-term field experiments (LTFEs), here defined as agricultural experiments with a minimum duration of 20 years and research in the context of sustainable soil use and yield, can be used for detecting changes in soil properties and yield such as those induced by climate change. However, information about existing LTFEs is scattered, and the research data are not easily accessible. In this study, meta-information on LTFEs in Germany is compiled and their spatial representation is analyzed. The study is conducted within the framework of the BonaRes project, which, inter alia, has established a central access point for LTFE information and research data. A total of 205 LTFEs which fit to the definition above are identified. Of these, 140 LTFEs are ongoing. The land use in 168 LTFEs is arable field crops, in 34 trials grassland, in 2 trials vegetables and in 1 trial pomiculture. Field crop LTFEs are categorized into fertilization (n=158), tillage (n=38) and crop rotation (n=32; multiple nominations possible) experiments, while all grassland experiments (n=34) deal with fertilization. The spatial representation is analyzed according to the climatic water balance of the growing season (1 May to 31 October) (CWBg), the Müncheberg Soil Quality Rating (MSQR) and clay content. The results show that, in general, the LTFEs well represent the area shares of both the CWBg and the MSQR classes. Eighty-nine percent of the arable land and 65 % of the grassland in Germany are covered by the three driest CWBg classes, hosting 89 % and 71 % of the arable and grassland LTFEs, respectively. LTFEs cover all six MSQR classes but with a bias towards the high and very high soil quality classes. LTFEs on arable land are present in all clay content classes according to the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) but with a bias towards the clay content class 4. Grassland LTFEs show a bias towards the clay content classes 5, 6 and 7, while well representing the other clay content classes, except clay content class 3, where grassland LTFEs are completely missing. The results confirm the very high potential of LTFE data for spatially differentiated analyses and modeling. However, reuse is restricted by the difficult access to LTFE research data. The common database is an important step in overcoming this restriction.

scholarly journals Long-term Field Experiments in Germany: Classification and spatial Representation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meike Grosse ◽  
Wilfried Hierold ◽  
Marlen C. Ahlborn ◽  
Katharina Helming
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Spatial Representation ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Access Point ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Meta Information ◽  
Very High ◽  
Term Field

Abstract. The collective analysis of long-term field experiments (LTFE) can be used for detecting changes in soil properties and yield such as induced by climate change. However, information about existing LTFEs is scattered, and the research data are not easily accessible. In this study, meta-information on LTFEs in Germany is compiled and their spatial representation is analysed. The study is conducted within the framework of the BonaRes project, which, inter alia, has established a central access point for LTFE information and research data. A total of 205 LTFEs is identified with a minimum duration of twenty years and research in the context of soil and yield. Of these, 140 LTFEs are ongoing. LTFEs are categorized into fertilization, tillage, and crop rotation experiments. The spatial representation is analysed according to the climatic water balance (CWB) and the Müncheberger Soil Quality Rating (MSQR). The results show that, in general, the LTFEs well represent the area shares of both the CWB and the MSQR classes. 89 % of the arable land and 65 % of the grassland in Germany is covered by the three driest CWB classes, hosting 89 % and 71 % of the arable and grassland LTFE, respectively. LTFE cover all six MSQR classes, however with a bias towards the high and very high soil quality classes. The results confirm the very high potential of LTFE data for spatially differentiated analyses and modelling. However, reuse is restricted by the difficult access to LTFE research data. The common database is an important step in overcoming this restriction.

Difference of microbiome and antibiotic resistome between earthworm gut and soil deciphered by a continental-scale survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Guan Zhu ◽  
Dong Zhu ◽  
Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo ◽  
Jian-Qiang Su ◽  
Jing Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Earthworm Gut ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Term Field

Abstract Background Earthworms are globally distributed and quite capable of redistributing compounds, as well as bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) throughout the soil profile. The spread of medically relevant ARGs in soils has become an emerging environmental and health issue globally. However, our understanding on earthworm gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome is still lacking, especially at the large scale, and little is known about the role of earthworm in the dispersal of ARGs. Methods We conducted a continental-scale survey, including samples (earthworm gut and soil) from 28 provinces across China, from both natural and agricultural ecosystems (arable land: 35 sites and forested land: 16 sites). The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and high throughput quantitative PCR were used to characterize the microbiome and antibiotic resistome, respectively. We further explored potential mechanisms behind changes in the abundance and diversity of ARGs in the earthworm gut. Then, the microcosm experiments and long-term field experiments with or without earthworms were employed to test the potential for earthworms to reduce the abundance of ARGs in soils. Results The diversity and structure of bacterial community were observably different between the earthworm gut and soil. Firmicutes (35.7%) and Proteobacteria (34.8%) were the dominant phyla in all earthworm gut samples. A significant correlation between bacterial community dissimilarity and spatial distance was identified in the earthworm gut. The earthworm gut consistently had a lower diversity and abundance of ARGs than in the surrounding soil. We further revealed that the change of ARGs in the earthworm gut was likely a consequence of the reduction in the abundance of mobile genetic elements and dominant bacterial phylotypes that are the likely hosts of ARGs. The microcosm study and long-term field experiments provided the experimental evidence that the presence of earthworms reduced the abundance and diversity of ARGs in soils. Conclusions Our findings highlight that earthworm gut and soil present the distinct microbiome and resistome at the continental scale, and earthworms may play an important role in the continental-scale mitigation of antibiotic resistance.

Critical plant phosphorus for winter wheat assessed from long-term field experiments

2021 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 126263
Author(s):  
Mario Fontana ◽  
Gilles Bélanger ◽  
Juliane Hirte ◽  
Noura Ziadi ◽  
Saïd Elfouki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Term Field

Long-term field experiments of the world

2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 465-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Debreczeni ◽  
Martin Körschens
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
The World ◽  
Term Field

Soil test phosphorus as affected by phosphorus budgets in two long-term field experiments in Germany

2018 ◽  
Vol 218 ◽  
pp. 158-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Zicker ◽  
Sabine von Tucher ◽  
Mareike Kavka ◽  
Bettina Eichler-Löbermann
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Phosphorus Budgets ◽  
Soil Test Phosphorus ◽  
Term Field

scholarly journals Local soil quality assessment of north-central Namibia: integrating farmers' and technical knowledge

SOIL ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brice Prudat ◽  
Lena Bloemertz ◽  
Nikolaus J. Kuhn
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Technical Knowledge ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
North Central ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Soil Units

Abstract. Soil degradation is a major threat for farmers of semi-arid north-central Namibia. Soil conservation practices can be promoted by the development of soil quality (SQ) evaluation toolboxes that provide ways to evaluate soil degradation. However, such toolboxes must be adapted to local conditions to reach farmers. Based on qualitative (interviews and soil descriptions) and quantitative (laboratory analyses) data, we developed a set of SQ indicators relevant for our study area that integrates farmers' field experiences (FFEs) and technical knowledge. We suggest using participatory mapping to delineate soil units (Oshikwanyama soil units, KwSUs) based on FFEs, which highlight mostly soil properties that integrate long-term productivity and soil hydrological characteristics (i.e. internal SQ). The actual SQ evaluation of a location depends on the KwSU described and is thereafter assessed by field soil texture (i.e. chemical fertility potential) and by soil colour shade (i.e. SOC status). This three-level information aims to reveal SQ improvement potential by comparing, for any location, (a) estimated clay content against median clay content (specific to KwSU) and (b) soil organic status against calculated optimal values (depends on clay content). The combination of farmers' and technical assessment cumulates advantages of both systems of knowledge, namely the integrated long-term knowledge of the farmers and a short- and medium-term SQ status assessment. The toolbox is a suggestion for evaluating SQ and aims to help farmers, rural development planners and researchers from all fields of studies understanding SQ issues in north-central Namibia. This suggested SQ toolbox is adapted to a restricted area of north-central Namibia, but similar tools could be developed in most areas where small-scale agriculture prevails.

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