scholarly journals Using zero tillage, fertilisers and legume rotations to maintain productivity and soil fertility in opportunity cropping systems on a shallow Vertosol

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Armstrong ◽  
G. Millar ◽  
N. V. Halpin ◽  
D. J. Reid ◽  
J. Standley
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Plant Available Water ◽  
Fertiliser Application

The effect of 2 tillage practices (zero v. conventional), fertiliser application (nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc), and pulse–cereal rotation on changes in soil mineral nitrogen, plant-available water in the soil, grain yield and protein, and key soil fertility parameters (total nitrogen, organic carbon) in the Central Highlands of Queensland were examined between 1991 and 1998. Four pasture treatments (perennial legume, perennial grass, annual legume and legume–grass mixes) were included in January 1995, following previously unsuccessful attempts to grow lucerne and annual medics. The experiment was conducted as an opportunity cropping system on an open downs soil at Gindie that is representative of a large proportion (70%) of soils in the Central Highlands. Tillage practice did not affect the amount of mineral nitrate or the plant-available water content of the soil at planting, except in 1991 and 1998 when plant-available water content was higher under conventional tillage than zero tillage. However, zero tillage improved grain yield in 2 of 4 years (wheat in 1992; sorghum in 1996), increased uptake of nitrogen in every crop and produced greater grain protein levels in both wheat crops grown than conventional tillage. There were grain responses to nitrogen + phosphorus fertilisers (wheat in 1991 and sorghum in 1997). Grain protein was increased with applications of nitrogen regardless of whether phosphorus was added in 3 of the 4 crops planted. Sowing a pulse did not significantly increase grain yields in the following crop although it did increase soil mineral nitrogen at planting. Soil nitrate remained low in control (P0N0) plots (<39 kg N/ha) when crops were planted each year but increased significantly (average 84 kg N/ha) following a long fallow of 3.5 years resulting from drought. Plant-available water content of the soil at sowing was lower where chickpeas had been grown the previous season than with wheat. Neither tillage practice nor fertiliser application affected soil organic carbon or soil total nitrogen concentrations in the topsoil. However, all pasture treatments improved soil total nitrogen compared with continuous cropping, and with the exception of annual pasture legumes, also improved soil organic carbon after only 2 seasons. Largest improvements in soil fertility (total nitrogen and organic carbon) occurred with perennial species. It was concluded that zero tillage practices can have beneficial impacts on grain yields as well as minimising environmental degradation such as soil erosion in this region. However, if soil fertility levels are to be maintained, or improved, perennial pasture rotations will need to be used as current levels of fertiliser application or rotations with pulses had no significant beneficial effect.

scholarly journals A Model to Predict Plant-available Water Content of Soils at Different Land Units in Bengkulu, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
Bandi Hermawan ◽  
Hasanudin Hasaanudin ◽  
Indra Agustian ◽  
Bambang Gonggo Murcitro
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Physical Property ◽  
Minimum Condition ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Plant Available Water

Soil water availability to the plants is a very important physical property of soil that controls water and nutrient absorption by the plant.  It is defined as the difference between the maximum amount of water the soil can hold and the minimum condition that the plant can no longer extract water from the soil.  However, soil factors that control the plant available water content (PAWC) in the soil have not been fully understood.  The present study aims to analyze the relations between particle-size distributions and organic carbon with the available water of the soil and to develop a model of predicting PAWC.  Five soil profiles at different land units were described up to the depth of 100 cm.  Ten undisturbed soil samples were taken using the stainless-made core sampler from 10 cm increments for the soil water holding capacity analysis.  A similar number of disturbed samples were also provided from the same depths for soil texture and organic carbon analysis.  Results showed that the variance in PAWC could be explained by sand and clay fractions (R2>0.35) but not by silt and organic carbon contents.  Therefore, we were able to develop a model for the prediction of available water content in the soil from the sand and clay parameters.  The model will help decision-makers be able to propose conservation and management strategies for PAWC in agricultural practices as well as for the soil moisture retention at civil works.

scholarly journals Factors determining the soil available water during the last two decades (1997–2019) in southern Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Sillero-Medina ◽  
Jesús Rodrigo-Comino ◽  
José D. Ruiz-Sinoga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Hydrological Conditions ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAssessing soil hydrological conditions can provide essential information for understanding the environmental processes that affect ecosystem services and, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change. This is key in areas affected by water scarcity such as the Mediterranean belt. Therefore, the main goals of this research are (i) to assess the main rainfall dynamics and trends of some representative hotspots along with southern Spain and (ii) to determine the impact on the soil available water content (AWC) over the last two decades. An analysis of daily precipitation and soil hydrological conditions was combined with soil sampling (543) and laboratory analyses to evaluate the properties related to the soil infiltration and retention capacity. The results show that the organic factors control soil properties and their hydrodynamics in southern Spain. Furthermore, a general declining trend in soil water availability is observed over the last two decades. This is more extreme in arid and semi-arid areas, where there have been several years in the last decade with more than 200 days without the available water content. Moreover, in these areas, heavy rainfall during specific moments of the year is the key factor that manifests a greater incidence in areas with steeper slopes, which in turn, also conditions the biological factors and the hydrodynamics of the soil. In short, in the context of climate change, the analysis of soil hydrological dynamics could be used to identify biodiversity thresholds in the Mediterranean area and even to detect phenological changes in specific plant species.

scholarly journals Impacts of reindeer grazing on soil properties on Finnmarksvidda, northern Norway

Rangifer ◽  
2004 ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Uhlig ◽  
Tore E. Sveistrup ◽  
Ivar Schjelderup
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Northern Norway ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Lichen Cover ◽  
Plant Available Water

Numerous investigations have documented changes in vegetation due to reindeer grazing in Finnmark County, Northern Norway. However, rather few studies have focused on impacts of reindeer grazing on soil properties. The aim of this investigation was to identify possible changes in physical and chemical soil properties due to reindeer grazing. Furthermore, root distribution was detected. At four different locations on Finnmarksvidda three sample sites each were selected subjectively according to lichen and plant cover: A) ample, B) reduced, and C) poor lichen and plant cover. It was supposed that differences in lichen and plant cover were due to differences in reindeer grazing intensity. Results showed that the organic layer beneath ample lichen cover had an about 20% higher CEC and a 30—50% higher concentration of plant available Ca and Mg and total Mg compared to those beneath reduced ones. At sites with poor lichen and plant cover, an organic layer was mostly missing. The exposed mineral Eh-horizons at these sites had a significant (P<0.05) higher organic C content, higher CEC, concentrations of total P, Ca and K, and plant available K, when compared to E-horizons beneath better lichen covers. Rooting depth and amounts of plant available water in the rooting zone were lower at sites with reduced and poor lichen cover. A relation was found between soil organic C and CEC for all soil samples, indicating that soil organic matter is an essential key factor for soil fertility at the investigate sites on Finnmarksvidda. Assuming that differences in lichen and plant cover are related to differences in grazing intensity, results indicate that overgrazing by reindeers can cause a significant degradation of the organic layer, followed by significant losses of essential plant nutrients, a reduction in plant available water and consequently soil fertility.

scholarly journals Soil typologies in the wine-growing areas of Mallorca, with special emphasis on available water content.

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 01011
Author(s):  
Joan Rossello ◽  
José M. Escalona ◽  
Josep Cifre ◽  
Jaume Vadell ◽  
Hipólito Medrano
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Water Classification ◽  
Grape Varieties ◽  
Very High

Under the conditions of the semi-arid Mediterranean climate, soil depth and water retention capacity are the most important characteristics of the soil related to the quality of the wines. The availability of water will mark the development of the vines and the development and maturity of the grape. The characterization and agronomic evaluation of the soil has been carried out from the excavation of 38 soil pits in the main wine growing areas of Mallorca. Cambisols are the most predominant soil typology followed by Cambisols, Regosols and Luvisols. The water classification of the soils has been made according to the maximum water availability (useful water) in 2 m of soil (mm water / 2 m soil). The proposed levels are: very low (<120 mm), low (120-180 mm), Medium (180-240 mm), High (240-300 mm) and Very high> 300 (mm). The most abundant soil type we find that 47% have high soil water availability, 27% very high, 14% normal and 14% low. Establishing an area based on available water content is a tool that allows us to adjust the selection of the most suitable grape varieties in each soil, thus taking advantage more efficiently of the potential of each type of grape.

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