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.

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

Soil properties and carbon stocks in a grey Vertosol irrigated with treated sewage effluent

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 847
Author(s):  
N. R. Hulugalle ◽  
T. B. Weaver ◽  
L. A. Finlay ◽  
V. Heimoana
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Seasonal Rainfall ◽  
Sewage Effluent ◽  
Conservation Farming ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Treated Sewage ◽  
Treated Sewage Effluent

Treated sewage effluent may contain large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, and moderate to high amounts of salts. With good management, it can be used as a source of irrigation water and nutrients for a range of crops and soils under different climatic conditions and irrigation systems. However, there are few long-term studies of irrigation with treated sewage effluent in swelling soils such as Vertosols. This study was established in 2000 on a cotton farm near Narrabri, north-western New South Wales, to assess long-term (14-year) changes in soil salinity, sodicity and carbon storage in a self-mulching, medium-fine, grey Vertosol under conservation farming and furrow-irrigated with tertiary-treated sewage effluent and stored rainfall runoff. Experimental treatments in 2000–02 were gypsum applied at a rate of 2.5t/ha in June 2000 and an untreated control. In 2003–13, the gypsum-treated plots received a single pass with a combined AerWay cultivator and sweeps to ~0.15m depth before sowing cotton; in the control plots, wheat stubble was undisturbed. By retaining significant amounts of crop residues on the soil surface, both practices are recognised as conservation farming methods. Parameters for water sampled from the head-ditch during each irrigation included electrical conductivity (ECw), pHw, concentrations of cations potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and sodium (Na+), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Parameters for soil sampled to 0.6m depth before sowing cotton were pH (0.01M CaCl2), salinity (EC of 1:5 soil:water suspension), bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC), exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and electrochemical stability index (ESI). SOC storage (‘stocks’) in any one depth was estimated as the product of bulk density, sampling depth interval and SOC concentration. Management system had little or no effect on cotton lint yields and the soil properties measured. Major changes in soil properties were driven by a combination of irrigation water quality and seasonal variations in weather. The cultivated treatment did not degrade soil quality compared with the control and may be an option to control herbicide-resistant weeds or volunteer Roundup-Ready cotton. Irrigation water was alkaline (average pHw 8.9), moderately saline (average ECw 1.0dS/m) and potentially highly dispersive (average SAR 12.1). Long-term irrigation with tertiary-treated sewage effluent resulted in sodification (ESP > 6) at all depths, alkalinisation at 0–0.10 and 0.30–0.60m, and accumulation in the surface 0.10m of Ca and K. Average ESP at 0–0.6m depth increased from 3.8 during 2000 to 13.2 during 2013. Sodification occurred within a few years of applying the effluent. Exchangeable Ca at 0–0.10m depth increased from 19cmolc/kg during 2000 to 22cmolc/kg during 2013, and exchangeable K from 1.5cmolc/kg during 2000 to 2.1cmolc/kg during 2013. Drought conditions caused an increase in salt accumulation, alleviated by a subsequent period of heavy rainfall and flooding. The reduction in salinity was accompanied by a fall in exchangeable Mg concentrations. Salinity and exchangeable Mg concentration were strongly influenced by interactions between seasonal rainfall (i.e. floods and drought) and the quality of the effluent, whereas ESP and exchangeable K concentration were not affected by variations in seasonal rainfall. SOC stocks declined until the flooding events but increased thereafter.

Soil quality as affected by amendments in bean-potato rotations

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Moulin ◽  
K. Buckley ◽  
K. Volkmar
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Water Soluble P ◽  
Pinto Bean ◽  
Soluble P ◽  
High Concentrations

Moulin, A. P., Buckley, K. E. and Volkmar, K. 2011. Soil quality as affected by amendments in pinto bean-potato rotations. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 533–542. The potential for adverse effects on soil quality and erosion in pinto bean–potato rotations is significant due to low levels of residue input to the soil following potatoes or beans, and the effect of tillage on soil structure, particularly in sandy-textured soils typical of the potato-growing area of Manitoba. Soil quality is reduced by low inputs of residue and carbon commensurate with an increase in the proportion of small and unstable aggregates susceptible to erosion. Furthermore N and P concentrations at the soil surface may be affected by various management options including fall cover crops, application of straw and the use of composted manure. In a study conducted at Carberry, MB, from 2000 to 2006, KCl-extractible NO3-N and Olsen P were determined in the fall prior to seeding in each year of the study. Water-soluble P, determined in the fall of 2005 for selected treatments, increased with application of compost. Soil organic C, total N and the proportion of erodible (<0.5-mm diameter) aggregates and stability of aggregates were measured in 2006 for treatments with fall-applied compost, cereal straw, and spring-applied anionic polyacrylamide (PAM). The proportion of erodible aggregates and aggregate stability were not consistently affected by treatment. Application of PAM did not affect stability of wet-sieved aggregates (1.3 to 2.0 mm), but decreased the proportion of small aggregates (<0.5 mm) in 2002. Soil C in the 0– to 5-cm depth increment increased with fall application of composted beef cattle manure. However, no effect was observed on the dry-sieved distribution of aggregates <0.5 mm in diameter. Soil quality, as indicated by an increase in soil organic C, can be improved by application of composted beef cattle manure, but levels of water-soluble P will increase, potentially increasing the risk of high concentrations of P in runoff. This research shows that the addition of compost and straw improves soil quality in terms of soil carbon and aggregate stability in bean–potato rotations. However, the proportion of erodible aggregates also increased, though not to levels that contribute significantly to soil erosion. Compost inputs must be monitored to reduce the potential for high concentrations and runoff of water-soluble P at the soil surface.

scholarly journals Assessment of irrigation water quality at the territory of Vojvodina Province (Serbia)

2021 ◽  
pp. 85-101
Author(s):  
Stanko Milic ◽  
Dusana Banjac ◽  
Jovica Vasin ◽  
Jordana Ninkov ◽  
Borivoj Pejic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Irrigation Water Quality ◽  
Quality Of Irrigation Water ◽  
Vojvodina Province

Intensive crop cultivation systems require continuous monitoring of irrigation water quality as well as the control of physical and chemical soil properties. In view of the ongoing climate change and a dramatic decrease in soil organic matter content, the use of low quality irrigation water and its adverse effects on soil, cultivated plants and irrigation equipment must not be overlooked. The aim of this paper was to evaluate general quality of irrigation water from the different water intake sources in the Vojvodina Province. The paper presents the results of irrigation water quality, collected during 2018 and 2019. The research included 140 irrigation water samples obtained from three different intake structures which collect water from wells, canals or reservoirs. Water quality was assessed using the following parameters: pH value, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), ionic balance, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) value. Water quality diagram given by the US Salinity Laboratory (USSL) and FAO guidelines for interpretation water quality for irrigation was used. Additionally, the Nejgebauer classification for irrigation water, developed specifically for the area of Vojvodina, was used as a third classification. Based on the results of mineralization of the irrigation water, the following values of the observed parameters were determined: average pH of the analyzed water samples were 7.89, ranged from 7.14 to 9.01, while electrical conductivity values ranged from 0.10 to 3.50 dS/m, with an average of 0.85 dS/m. TDS analysis resulted in a wide range of values, from 112 mg/l to 2,384 mg/l, with an average of 529,22 mg/l. SAR values varied between 0.04-16.52 with a satisfactory average of 1.97. The USSL water classification produced similar results as FAO classification and RSC index <0, indicating that 57% of investigating samples are without concerns for irrigation use, whereas Nejgebauers classification and RSC index 0-1.25 show that over 75% of analyzed samples are suitable and safe for irrigation and soil properties. Since the quality of irrigation water significantly affects plant productivity, as it determines the chemical and physical properties of agricultural land, monitoring of water quality for irrigation is of high importance.

scholarly journals Effect of cotton residues incorporation on soil properties, organic nitrogen fractions, and nitrogen-mineralizing enzyme activity under long-term continuous cotton cropping

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11053
Author(s):  
Fangxia Ma ◽  
Yiyun Wang ◽  
Peng Yan ◽  
Fei Wei ◽  
Zhiping Duan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Organic Nitrogen ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Cotton Field ◽  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C And N

The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of cotton residues incorporation on soil properties, soil organic nitrogen (N) fractions, and N-mineralizing enzyme (protease, and urease) activity in the 0–40 cm soil layer in the long-term continuous cotton field. In this experiment, seven treatments, including cotton residues incorporation for 5, 10, 15 and 20 years (marked as 5a, 10a, 15a, and 20a) and continuous cropping for 5, 10 and 20 years (marked as CK5, CK10 and CK20) were conducted. The results showed that the soil organic carbon (C) and N increased gradually with the increase in the duration of continuous cropping with cotton residues incorporation. Compared with CK20, the 20a treatments reduced the content of amino acid N (AAN), ammonium N (AN), amino sugar N (ASN), hydrolysable unidentified N (HUN), and acid insoluble N (AIN) significantly by 48.6, 32.2, 96.9, 48.3, and 38.7%, respectively (p < 0.05). The activity of protease and urease in 20a treatments significantly increased by 53.4 and 53.1% respectively as compared to CK20 (p < 0.05). Soil organic C and N-mineralizing enzyme activity decreased with the increase in cropping duration in the absence of cotton residues incorporation, while the organic N increased slightly. In conclusion, cotton residues returning can increase the storage of soil organic C and N in long-term continuous cropping cotton field, and improve the soil quality and soil fertility of continuous cropping cotton field.

Sowing wheat or field pea as rotation crops after irrigated cotton in a grey Vertosol

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Hulugalle ◽  
P. C. Entwistle ◽  
J. L. Cooper ◽  
S. J. Allen ◽  
F. Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Exchangeable Cations ◽  
Field Pea ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Rotation Crop ◽  
Gross Margins

The effects of green manured field pea (Pisum sativum L.), low-input (LI) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (seeding rate of 40 kg/ha and 85 kg/ha of diammonium phosphate), and high-input (HI) wheat (seeding rate of 100 kg/ha, 85 kg/ha of diammonium phosphate, and 180 kg/ha of urea) sown as rotation crops after cotton on soil quality; cotton growth, yield and nutrient uptake; and gross margins ($AU/ha and $AU/ML of irrigation water) were evaluated from 1993 to 1998 in an irrigated Vertosol in the central-west of New South Wales. Soil quality indicators monitored were aggregate stability (dispersion index), compaction (air-filled porosity), soil resilience to structural destruction (as geometric mean diameter of soil aggregates formed after puddling and drying of soil), exchangeable cations, calcium carbonate, nitrate-N, pH, organic C, development of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), and incidence of cotton root diseases (black root rot). In comparison with wheat, field pea increased soil nitrate-N levels during the early stages of the experiment and formed smaller aggregates after puddling and drying, but it was ineffective in ameliorating soil compaction. In contrast wheat was very effective in ameliorating soil compaction. Nitrate-N values under wheat–cotton rotations increased with time such that after 4 years they were similar to that under the field pea–cotton rotation. Soil chemical fertility indicators such as organic C, pH, EC, and exchangeable cations were not affected consistently by either wheat or field pea, whereas minimum tillage, retention of crop residues, and cropping phase (i.e. rotation crop or cotton) affected them more. A net decrease in organic C and an increase in EC was observed with time in all treatments. By sowing either field pea or wheat, the mycorrhizal colonisation of cotton roots was improved. Black root rot incidence was increased 3-fold by sowing field pea, but was not significantly affected by wheat. Cotton lint yield was unaffected by rotation crop, although profitability shown as gross margins/ha and gross margins/ML irrigation water were greater with wheat compared with field pea. Gross margins/ha were in the order HI wheat > LI wheat > field pea, and gross margins/ML irrigation water were in the order LI wheat > HI wheat > field pea. In terms of ameliorating soil compaction, minimising black root incidence, and maximising returns to the cotton grower, wheat is a better rotation crop than field pea. The decision to apply fertiliser and sow wheat at a higher seeding rate will depend on whether land or water is the major limiting factor.

scholarly journals Soil properties as influenced by use of water having variable salinity and sodicity

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
R.D. Meghwal ◽  
J.V. Polara
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
College Of Agriculture ◽  
Available N ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Agricultural Chemistry ◽  
Science College ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Different Levels

A pot experiment was conducted during summer season of 2018 at Net House, Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh to study the influence of different levels of saline and sodic irrigation water on soil properties. The treatment consists of four levels each of salinity (2, 4, 6 and 8 dS m-1) and sodicity (5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0 SAR) of irrigation water by adopting factorial CRD with three replications. The available macronutrients (N, P2O5 and K2O) and organic carbon of soil after harvest of the crop were found maximum with EC-2 dS m-1 and SAR-5.0 level of irrigation water. The water soluble and exchangeable Ca, Mg and Na and soil properties like EC2.5, ECe, pH2.5, pHs, CEC and ESP was found maximum with EC-8 dS m-1 while water soluble and exchangeable K was found maximum with EC-2 dS m-1. The water soluble and exchangeable Na was found maximum with SAR-20.0, whereas water soluble and exchangeable Ca, Mg and K were found minimum with SAR- 20.0. The soil properties like ECe, pH2.5, pHs and ESP of the soil was found maximum with SAR- 20.0, but CEC was found maximum with SAR-5.0. The combined effect of saline and sodic irrigation water was found significant on available N and water soluble cations Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, exchangeable Na+, ESP, ECe and pH2.5 of soil after harvest of groundnut.

Effect of tillage and crop rotations on the light fraction organic carbon and carbon mineralization in Chernozemic soils of Saskatchewan

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Liang ◽  
B. G. McConkey ◽  
J. Schoenau ◽  
D. Curtin ◽  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Light Fraction ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Chernozemic Soil ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
The Impact

Light fraction of soil organic C (LFOC) represents a major portion of labile soil organic C (SOC) and is a key attribute of soil quality. Soil respiration (Cmin) is an important index depicting the potential activity of the labile SOC. Six field experiments, varying in duration (8 to 25 yr), in location (Brown, Dark Brown and Black Chernozemic soil zones of Saskatchewan) and soil texture, were conducted to evaluate the impact of tillage and crop rotations on crop production and soil quality. We sampled the 0-7.5-cm depth of soil in these experiments to determine the treatment effects on LFOC, the proportion of LFOC in the SOC (LFOC/SOC) and Cmin. Increasing the frequency of summer fallow in cropping systems decreased the LFOC in all soil zones; it also decreased the proportion of LFOC in SOC and Cmin. Tillage had little impact on LFOC in the Brown and Dark Brown Chernozemic soil zones, although it significantly decreased LFOC in the Black Chernozemic soil zone. Thus, crop rotation had a greater impact on LFOC than tillage. Tillage did not influence Cmin in any soil zone. Because adoption of no-till management increased SOC in all soil zones, we concluded that LFOC was not a sensitive indicator of the impact of tillage on this soil quality attribute for these Chernozemic soils in Saskatchewan. We also found that LFOC/SOC is directly proportional to sand content. This relationship may assist us in partitioning SOC pools with differing turnover times when modeling SOC dynamics. Key words: Soil organic C, light fraction organic C, tillage, crop rotations, texture, mineralizable C

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