scholarly journals On-farm Assessments of Pasture Rejuvenation Methods on Soil Quality Indicators in Northern Alberta (Canada)

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akim Omokanye ◽  
Calvin Yoder ◽  
Lekshmi Sreekumar ◽  
Liisa Vihvelin ◽  
Monika Benoit
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Northern Alberta

The study was aimed at providing livestock producers with options on practical methods to improve soil quality of pastures for improved forage production and livestock carrying capacity. The study was carried out on-farm from 2015 to 2017 at two sites in northern Alberta, Canada. The methods of rejuvenation (treatments) evaluated were: sub-soiling, break & re-seed (pasture renewal), a combination of manure application plus subsoiling, pasture rest, inorganic fertilizer application, high stock density grazing and bale grazing. A check/control treatment was included for comparison. For break & re-seed, the forage mixture seeded (16.8 kg ha-1) consisted of 60% grasses and 40% legumes. Overall, bale grazing improved soil organic matter (SOM) by up to 3.80% over other methods including check. In terms of soil compaction penetration resistance, water infiltration rate, water content and nutrients particularly N, P and K, bale grazing system as a method of rejuvenating old pastures significantly showed higher values than check at both sites. Without having to break and re-seed old pastures, the first option that livestock producers would have success with in improving soil quality for better pasture productivity would be bale grazing. The next two methods or rejuvenation strategies with great potential for improving soil conditions for pastures would be a combination of manure application plus subsoil in fall and high stock density grazing. 

scholarly journals Forage Production and Economic Performance of Pasture Rejuvenation Methods in Northern Alberta, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akim Omokanye ◽  
Calvin Yoder ◽  
Lekshmi Sreekumar ◽  
Liisa Vihvelin ◽  
Monika Benoit
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Seeding Method ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
Direct Input ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Northern Alberta

Producing high quality forage and maintaining productive pastures is a major challenge that beef producers encounter, as rejuvenation is a complex and costly challenge. This is part of a series of papers looking at potential options and methods of rejuvenation to improve the productivity of older forage stands in northern Alberta. The methods of rejuvenation investigated were sub-soiling, break & re-seeding, a combination of manure application plus subsoiling, high stock density grazing, bale grazing, pasture rest, as well as direct seeding in spring and fall. In this series, forage dry matter (DM) yield, forage nutritive value and economic performance are presented and discussed. The top 5 forage DM yielders were bale grazing, manure + subsoil in fall, break & re-seeding, high stock density grazing and fertilizer application in that order. In both years, bale grazing consistently produced higher forage DM yield than other methods including control, with bale grazing giving up to 100% higher yield at site-1 and 219% at site- 2 for the 2-year total forage DM. Most forage nutritive value parameters measured were similar for the rejuvenation methods investigated. A simplified economic analysis done in this study showed that the direct input cost of rejuvenation an old forage stand was higher with the break & re-seeding method than other methods. However, for bale grazing, when the cost of hay bales used was factored in, then the cost of bale grazing far exceeded those of other methods including break & re-seeding. The implications of the results obtained in this study in relation to beef cattle production system are highlighted.

ROTATION IN CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS OF ZAMBIA: EFFECTS ON SOIL QUALITY AND WATER RELATIONS

2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. THIERFELDER ◽  
P. C. WALL
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Positive Effects

SUMMARYConservation agriculture (CA) systems are based on minimal soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop rotation. Although the capacity of rotations to break pest and disease cycles is generally recognized, other benefits of crop rotations in CA systems are seldom acknowledged and little understood. We monitored different conventional and CA cropping systems over the period from 2005 to 2009 in a multi-seasonal trial in Monze, southern Zambia. Both monocropped maize and different maize rotations including cotton and the green manure cover crop sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) were compared under CA conditions, with the aim of elucidating the effects of crop rotations on soil quality, soil moisture relations and maize productivity. Infiltration, a sensitive indicator of soil quality, was significantly lower on conventionally ploughed plots in all cropping seasons compared to CA plots. Higher water infiltration rate led to greater soil moisture content in CA maize treatments seeded after cotton. Earthworm populations, total carbon and aggregate stability were also significantly higher on CA plots. Improvements in soil quality resulted in higher rainfall use efficiency and higher maize grain yield on CA plots especially those in a two- or three-year rotation. In the 2007/08 and 2008/2009 season, highest yields were obtained from direct-seeded maize after sunnhemp, which yielded 74% and 136% more than maize in the conventionally ploughed control treatment with a continuous maize crop. Even in a two-year rotation (maize-cotton), without a legume green manure cover crop, 47% and 38% higher maize yields were recorded compared to maize in the conventionally ploughed control in the two years, respectively. This suggests that there are positive effects from crop rotations even in the absence of disease and pest problems. The overall profitability of each system will, however, depend on markets and prices, which will guide the farmer's decision on which, if any, rotation to choose.

Evaluation of farmers' perceptions of soil quality indicators

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Liebig ◽  
John W. Doran
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil Quality Indicators ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Problem Soils ◽  
On Farm

AbstractUnderstanding farmers' knowledge of soil quality and health is essential to ensure transfer of appropriate technology for on-farm assessments. The objective of this study was to evaluate farmers' knowledge of soil quality by comparing their perceptions of soil conditions for “good” and “problem” soils on their farms with values of soil quality indicators as determined by established assessment protocol. Twenty-four conventional and organic farmers throughout eastern Nebraska were paired within regions of similar climate, topography, and soil type and their perceptions of soil quality indicators were queried using a written questionnaire. Questionnaire data were compared directly to values of soil quality indicators and perception accuracy indices were calculated. Overall, perception accuracy of soil quality indicators did not differ between conventional and organic farmers. Farmers' perceptions of soil quality indicators tended to be more accurate for “good” soils as compared to “problem” soils. Indicators that were incorrectly estimated at a frequency greater than 33% included available nitrogen and phosphorus, soil color, degree of compaction, and infiltration rate. Despite this, farmers' perceptions were correct or nearly-correct over 75% of the time for the majority of indicators evaluated in the study. Evaluation of social and managerial factors indicated that perception accuracy of soil quality indicators declined as the time of on-farm tenure increased. Results from this study indicate that agriculturists should seek out farmers' knowledge of soil characteristics as a first iteration to pointscale evaluation of soil quality.

scholarly journals BEYOND AVERAGES: NEW APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND HETEROGENEITY AND RISK OF TECHNOLOGY SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN SMALLHOLDER FARMING

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (S1) ◽  
pp. 84-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
BERNARD VANLAUWE ◽  
RIC COE ◽  
KEN E. GILLER
Keyword(s):  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Production Environment ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Production Risk ◽  
Input Control ◽  
Current Context ◽  
Treatment Responses ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
On Farm

SUMMARYIn recent years, many studies have demonstrated the heterogeneity of the smallholder production environment. Yet agronomic research for development (R4D) that aims to identify and test options for increasing productivity has not consistently adapted its approaches to such heterogeneous conditions. This paper describes the challenges facing research, highlighting the importance of variation in evaluating the performance of soil management recommendations, integrating aspects of production risk management within the formulation of recommendations, and proposing alternative approaches to implement agronomic R4D. Approaches are illustrated using two multi-locational on-farm paired trials, each having one no-input control treatment and a treatment with fertilizer application for maize in Western Kenya and for beans in Eastern Rwanda. The diversity of treatment responses should be embraced rather than avoided to gain a better understanding of current context and its relation with past management.

scholarly journals Grazing heights, stocking rate, soil structure, and water infiltration in a crop-livestock integration

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-136
Author(s):  
Jonez Fidalski ◽  
◽  
Ivan Bordin ◽  
Sérgio José Alves ◽  
Graziela Moraes de Cesare Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Soil Water Infiltration ◽  
Urochloa Brizantha

Grazing intensity on palisade grass as a function of grazing height in a crop-livestock integration (CLI) system alters the structural soil quality and water infiltration. This study aimed to verify the magnitude of the stocking rate and shoot and root dry matter of palisade grass at the end of the fifth cattle grazing period of an experiment in the CLI system on the visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), soil-water infiltration rate, and basic infiltration rate (BIR) as a function of grazing heights on Urochloa brizantha cv. MG 5 Vitória in the northwestern Paraná State, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with three replications and 1-ha experimental plots on an Oxisol. Four treatments with grazing heights of 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm were used in the CLI system, controlled with variable stocking rates of Purunã cattle in the autumn/winter season on Urochloa brizantha cv. MG 5 Vitória in succession to soybean in the summer. The maximum soil water infiltration was stabilized at 30 cm of grazing height of the palisade grass under continuous grazing in the CLI system. The increase in the stocking rate decreased the shoot dry matter of palisade grass, soil water infiltration, and structural soil quality.

scholarly journals Techniques for controlling soil crusting and its effect on corn emergence and production

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Amezketa ◽  
R. Aragües ◽  
P. Pérez ◽  
A. Bercero
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Soil Crusting ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
Irrigated Soils

Soil crusting is a serious problem in numerous irrigated soils of Aragon. It reduces water infiltration rate, seedlingemergence and crop establishment, and enhances runoff and soil erosion. This paper analyses the efficiency ofsoil conservation practices (direct drilling and mulching) and chemical amendments (gypsum) on the control of soilcrusting, and its effect on seedling emergence and corn production. The experiments were carried out in Sierra deLuna (Zaragoza) in a soil prone to crusting. The experimental design was a randomised complete block with six treatmentsand three replications: T1 (sowing and several irrigations until emergence, a practice known as «aguacivera» in Aragon; considered as the control treatment), T2 (sowing and delayed irrigation until post-emergence), T3 (directdrilling over nearly bare soil), T4 (direct drilling over legumes), T5 (T1 + gypsum), and T6 (T2 + gypsum). Inall the treatments, except for T1 and T5, irrigation was delayed until post-emergence. Measurements were made onplant emergence, penetration resistance of the crust, final infiltration rate and corn production. All variables weresignificantly affected by the treatments. T6 was the most effective treatment in reducing soil crusting and enhancingwater infiltration into the soil, whereas both T6 and T2 were the most effective at enhancing seedling emergence andcorn production. The «aguacivera» treatments (T1 and T5) induced the highest crusting and emergence reductionand, together with T3, they were the least productive, whereas the direct drilling treatments (T3 and T4) followed anintermediate pattern. For crusting reduction, treatment T4 was more effective than treatment T3. The addition ofgypsum coupled to a delay in irrigation until corn emergence was thus the most effective treatment of those testedin this work to reduce soil crusting.

Isolasi dan Karakterisasi Bakteri Tanah Sawah di Kecamatan Medan Satria dan Bekasi Utara, Kota Bekasi, Jawa Barat

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arief Pambudi ◽  
Nita Noriko ◽  
Endah Permata Sari
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Soil Bacteria ◽  
Rice Field ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Nitrogen Fixation Activity ◽  
Growth Promoting

<p><em>Abstrak -</em><strong> </strong><strong>Produksi padi di Indonesia setiap tahun mengalami peningkatan, namun peningkatan ini belum mampu memenuhi kebutuhan nasional sehingga impor masih harus dilakukan. Salah satu masalah dalam produksi beras adalah penggunaan pupuk berlebih yang tidak hanya meningkatkan biaya produksi, namun juga merusak kondisi tanah. Aplikasi bakteri tanah sebagai Plant <em>Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria</em> (PGPR) dapat menjadi salah satu solusi terhadap masalah ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengisolasi bakteri tanah dari 3 lokasi sawah daerah Bekasi, membandingkan keberadaan total bakteri pada ketiga lokasi tersebut,  dan melakukan karakterisasi isolat berdasarkan karakter yang dapat memicu pertumbuhan tanaman. Dari ketiga lokasi, diperoleh total 59 isolat dan 5 diantaranya berpotensi sebagai PGPR karena kemampuan fiksasi Nitrogen, melarutkan Fosfat, katalase positif, dan motil. Dari ketiga lokasi pengambilan sampel, BK1 memiliki jumlah total bakteri terendah karena aplikasi pemupukan dan pestisida berlebih yang ditandai tingginya kadar P total, serta tingginya residu klorpirifos, karbofuran, dan paration. Kondisi fisik tanah BK1 juga didominasi partikel liat yang menyebabkan tanah menjadi lebih padat. Peningkatan jumlah penggunaan pupuk tidak selalu diikuti peningkatan produktivitas tanaman.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Kata Kunci</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong>- <em>Bakteri tanah, Rhizosfer sawah, PGPR, Pupuk Hayati</em></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><em>Abstract</em><strong> - </strong><strong>Rice production in Indonesia has increased annually, but this increase has not reached national demand,so imports still done. </strong><strong>One of the problems in rice production is the use of excessive fertilizers that not only increase production costs, but also decreased the soil conditions. The application of soil bacteria as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be the one solution to face this problem. The objective of this study was isolate soil bacteria from 3 locations of rice field in Bekasi, compare the total bacteria in the three locations, and characterize isolates based on the character that can promote plant growth. From three locations, a total of 59 isolates were obtained and 5 of them were potential as a PGPRs due to its Nitrogen fixation activity, Phosphate solubilization, positive catalase, and motility. From three sampling sites, BK1 has the lowest TPC value because of excessive  fertilizers and pesticides application which indicated by high total P levels, and also high chlorpyrifos, carbofuran and paration residues. The physical condition of BK1 soil is also dominated by clay particles which causes the soil more solid. Increasing of fertilizer application is not always followed by increased plant productivity.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong> - <em>Biofertilizer, PGPR, Rice field rhizosphere, Soil Bacteria</em></p>

scholarly journals Calcium-Enriched Animal Manure Alleviates the Adverse Effects of Salt Stress on Growth, Physiology and Nutrients Homeostasis of Zea mays L.

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bushra Niamat ◽  
Muhammad Naveed ◽  
Zulfiqar Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Yaseen ◽  
Allah Ditta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Alkaline Soil ◽  
Sodic Soil ◽  
Growth Physiology

Soil salinity and sodicity are among the main problems for optimum crop production in areas where rainfall is not enough for leaching of salts out of the rooting zone. Application of organic and Ca-based amendments have the potential to increase crop yield and productivity under saline–alkaline soil environments. Based on this hypothesis, the present study was conducted to evaluate the potential of compost, Ca-based fertilizer industry waste (Ca-FW), and Ca-fortified compost (Ca-FC) to increase growth and yield of maize under saline–sodic soil conditions. Saline–sodic soil conditions with electrical conductivity (EC) levels (1.6, 5, and 10 dS m−1) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) = 15, were developed by spiking soil with a solution containing NaCl, Na2SO4, MgSO4, and CaCl2. Results showed that soil salinity and sodicity significantly reduced plant growth, yield, physiological, and nutrient uptake parameters. However, the application of Ca-FC caused a remarkable increase in the studied parameters of maize at EC levels of 1.6, 5, and 10 dS m−1 as compared to the control. In addition, Ca-FC caused the maximum decrease in Na+/K+ ratio in shoot up to 85.1%, 71.79%, and 70.37% at EC levels of 1.6, 5, and 10 dS m−1, respectively as compared to the control treatment. Moreover, nutrient uptake (NPK) was also significantly increased with the application of Ca-FC under normal as well as saline–sodic soil conditions. It is thus inferred that the application of Ca-FC could be an effective amendment to enhance growth, yield, physiology, and nutrient uptake in maize under saline–sodic soil conditions constituting the novelty of this work.

scholarly journals Exploring Suitable Biochar Application Rates with Compost to Improve Upland Field Environment

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1136
Author(s):  
Se-Won Kang ◽  
Jin-Ju Yun ◽  
Jae-Hyuk Park ◽  
Ju-Sik Cho
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Chinese Cabbage ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Treatment Area ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Upland Field

A field experiment was carried out to investigate crop productivity, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and soil quality of an upland field treated with compost and varying rates of biochar (BC) derived from soybean stalks during crop growing periods in a corn and Chinese cabbage rotation system. Compost was supplemented with BC derived from soybean stalks at varying rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1 (BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20, respectively); the control (BC0) area was untreated. Our results reveal that crop productivity and emissions of CO2 and N2O varied significantly with the biochar application rate. Moreover, irrespective of the biochar application rate, crop productivity was improved after BC application as compared to the control treatment area, by 11.2–29.3% (average 17.0 ± 8.3%) for corn cultivation and 10.3–39.7% (average 27.8 ± 12.7%) for Chinese cabbage cultivation. Peak emissions of CO2 and N2O were mainly observed in the early period of crop cultivation, whereas low CO2 and N2O emissions were determined during the fallow period. Compared to the control area, significant differences were obtained for CO2 emissions produced by the different biochar application rates for both crops. During the two cropping periods, the overall N2O emission was significantly decreased with BC5, BC10, BC15, and BC20 applications as compared to the control, ranging from 11.1 to 13.6%, 8.7 to 15.4%, 23.1 to 26.0%, and 15.0 to 19.6%, respectively (average 16.9% decrease in the corn crop period and 16.3% in the Chinese cabbage crop period). Soil quality results after the final crop harvest show that bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were significantly improved by biochar application, as compared to the control. Taken together, our results indicate that compost application supplemented with biochar is potentially an appropriate strategy for achieving high crop productivity and improving soil quality in upland field conditions. In conclusion, appropriate application of biochar with compost has the concomitant advantages of enriching soil quality for long-term sustainable agriculture and reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers.

Effect of Tillage Systems on Soil Organic Carbon and Soil Quality in a Purple Paddy Soil

2011 ◽  
Vol 183-185 ◽  
pp. 1190-1194
Author(s):  
Jun Ke Zhang ◽  
Qing Ju Hao ◽  
Chang Sheng Jiang ◽  
Yan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Paddy Soil ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Purple Soil ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Field Station ◽  
No Till ◽  
The Impact

The impact of conservation tillage practices on carbon sequestration has been of great interest in recent years. This experiment analyzed the organic carbon status of soils sampled at depth increments from 0 to 60 cm after 20 years in a purple paddy soil. The tillage experiment was established in the Key Field Station for Monitoring of Eco-Environment of Purple Soil of the Ministry of Agriculture of China, located in the farm of Southwest University (30°26′N, 106°26′E), Chongqing. In this paper, five tillage treatments including conventional tillage with rice only system (DP), conventional tillage with rotation of rice and rape system (SL), no-till and ridge culture with rotation of rice and rape system (LM), no-till and plain culture with rotation of rice and rape system (XM) and tillage and ridge culture with rotation of rice and rape system (LF) were selected as research objectives to measure SOC storage and stratification ratio of SOC (CSR). The SOC storage under different tillage systems was calculated based on an equivalent soil mass. The CSR can be used as an indicator of soil quality because surface organic matter is essential to erosion control, water infiltration, and the conservation of nutrients. Results showed that in soil under no-till SOC was concentrated near the surface, while in tilled soil SOC decreased equably with the increase of soil depth. The difference of SOC contents between the five tillage systems was the largest in the top soil and the lowest in the bottom soil. The order of SOC storage was LM (158.52 Mg C•ha-1) >DP (106.74 Mg C•ha-1) >XM (100.11 Mg C•ha-1) >LF (93.11 Mg C•ha-1) >SL (88.59 Mg C•ha-1), LM treatment was significantly higher than the other treatments. The CSR of 0-10/50-60 cm was 2.65, 2.70 and 2.14 under LM, XM and LF treatments, while 1.54 and 1.92 under DP and SL treatments. We considered CSR>2 indicate an improvement in soil quality produced by changing from tillage to no-tillage, as well as changing from plane to ridge. Overall, long-term LM treatment is a valid strategy for increasing SOC storage and improving soil quality in a purple paddy soil in Southwest China.

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