Seedling growth, root development and nutrient use efficiency of Cypress clones in response to calcium fertilizer

Background: Cypress (Cupressus funebris Endl.) is an important tree species in the subtropics of China, it is also a major tree species for afforestation and forest land restoration under infertile site conditions. Cypress is considered to be a calcicolous tree, whose there are growth and development can be promoted significantly by exchangeable Calcium (Ca2+) in the soil. However, most of the subtropical regions have infertile acidic soils, in which Ca2+ gradually becomes a limiting element for cypress growth. Results: In this study, different concentrations of Ca2+ fertilizer were added under fertile and infertile soil conditions. Cypress clones responded differently to Ca2+ addition in different soil conditions. In the infertile soil, the addition of 3 g•kg− 1 Ca2+ advanced and prolonged the fast-growing period of seedling height growth, increased plant height and dry biomass, promoted the development of fine roots ≤ 1.5 mm in diameter, and improved accumulation efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and Ca by the roots in cypress clones; however, the addition of 6 g•kg− 1 Ca2+ inhibited height growth and root development of cypress. In the fertile soil, Ca2+ addition delayed and shortened the fast-growing period for cypress height growth, but plant height and dry biomass did not differ significantly between treatments; Ca2+ addition also inhibited the development of fine roots. The clone with fast height growth had a larger proportion of roots with a diameter ≤ 1.5 mm and achieved higher N accumulation efficiency, while Ca accumulation efficiency showed genotypic differences only in the fertile soil. Conclusions: An appropriate level of Ca2+ can be added to infertile soil to promote cypress seedling growth, and clones with fast height growth and developed fine roots can be selected for cultivation and promotion in the fertile soil without Ca2+ application.

IOT and Data Analytics Solution for Smart Agriculture

This chapter gives the real-time solutions to the farmers by providing smart solutions for irrigation, disease monitoring, and decision supporting systems (which involves giving suggestions and solutions to the farmers by monitoring soil conditions, rain, weather, and overall quality of crop growth and the effect on the growth of the crop due to infertile soil or bad climatic conditions). These solutions are provided using the IOT and data analytics technology.

Ecosystem engineering by digging mammals: effects on soil fertility and condition in Tasmanian temperate woodland

Many small- and medium-sized mammals dig for their food. This activity potentially affects soil condition and fertility. Digging is well developed especially in Australian mammals, many of which have recently become rare or extinct. We measured the effects of digging by mammals on soil in a Tasmanian temperate dry sclerophyll forest with an intact mammal community. The density of diggings was 5812 ha −1 , affecting 11% of the forest floor. Diggings were created at a rate of around 3113 diggings ha −1 yr −1 , disturbing 6.5% of the forest floor and displacing 7.1 m 3 ha −1 of soil annually. Most diggings were made by eastern bettongs ( Bettongia gaimardi) and short-beaked echidnas ( Tachyglossus aculeatus ). Many (approx. 30%) fresh diggings consisted of re-excavations of old diggings. Novel diggings displaced 5 m 3 ha yr −1 of soil. Diggings acted as traps for organic matter and sites for the formation of new soil, which had higher fertility and moisture content and lower hardness than undisturbed topsoil. These effects on soil fertility and structure were strongest in habitats with dry and poor soil. Creation of fine-scaled heterogeneity by mammals, and amelioration of dry and infertile soil, is a valuable ecosystem service that could be restored by reintroduction of digging mammals to habitats from which they have declined or gone extinct.