Soil water use from an apple orchard under various soil management systems

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (43) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
JDF Black ◽  
PD Mitchell

Commencing at field capacity, changes in soil moisture levels over fourteen-day drying periods were compared for mature apple trees under various soil management systems during spring and summer. In spring, the rate of loss under trees in a mown pasture was greater than under trees in cultivation or herbicide. In summer, the rate of loss under trees in uncontrolled summer weed growth after spring cultivation (trashy cultivation) was greater than under trees in mown pasture, clean cultivation or herbicide treatment, but the mown pasture did not differ from the bare land treatments. It is proposed that the influence of the tree on the microclimate at the soil surface is responsible for these effects. Differences in yield under the treatments were not statistically significant and there were no consistent differences in fruit growth rates over the whole season.

1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. HEENEY ◽  
V. WARREN ◽  
S. U. KHAN

Annual yields of mature Kinkead Red Spy apple trees were higher when growth under trees was controlled by a rotation of three herbicides, namely, simazine (2-chloro-4, 6 bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine), terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) and dichlobenil (2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile) compared to yields of trees in which sod was regularly mowed to control growth of weeds. While weed control with herbicide rotations was not as effective as with continuous usage of a single herbicide, it was commercially acceptable, and the problem of common vetch (Vicia cracca L.) as on escape weed, particularly with continuous simazine was largely avoided. Over the 6-yr period there was little effect on nutrient levels of the foliage. Use of a rotation of herbicides prevented the accumulation of residues in the soil and levels of all herbicides noted in year 1 of the rotation were reduced to negligible amounts 2 yr after a particular herbicide had been applied.


Weed Science ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 469-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. V. Parochetti ◽  
E. R. Hein

Vapor losses of trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine), benefin (N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-p-toluidine), and nitralin [4-(methylsulfonyl)-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropylaniline] were studied under controlled laboratory conditions using a Florisil vapor trap. No nitralin vapor losses were detected at 50 C from a Lakeland loamy sand at field capacity with an air flow rate of 0.04 m3/hr for 3 hr; whereas, 24.5% and 12.5% of trifluralin and benefin, respectively, were lost as vapors. Volatility of trifluralin and benefin increased with increasing temperatures of 30, 40, and 50 C and increasing soil moisture from air dryness to field capacity. Vapor losses from granular benefin were similar to the spray applications at 30 and 40 C. Volatilization of granular trifluralin was reduced when compared to the spray application at 40 C and 30 C but was similar for both formulations for benefin. No significant losses from photodecomposition were noted for trifluralin, benefin, or nitralin when comparing radiated and unradiated soil surface treated samples.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (69) ◽  
pp. 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Sitepu ◽  
HR Wallace

Soil round trees in an Adelaide apple orchard was sampled to assess the concentrations of Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., stylet-bearing nematodes, soil texture (per cent clay), soil moisture and pH. Correlations between these factors and the size of apple trees (trunk circumference) suggested that parasitic nematodes, Pythium spp. and pH might together be important factors inhibiting tree growth. On the basis of these results, a statement is made on the possible causes of retarded growth in the orchard, and how the problem might be overcome. The main purpose of the work was to devise a simple approach that would enable diagnoses to be made of the causes of retarded growth or poor yield in a crop where several factors seemed to be involved. Such an approach might be useful to extension workers who have to deal with many plant disease problems at the same time.


2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 258-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vršič

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of different vineyard soil management systems on soil erosion and earthworm (Lumbricidae) population. Three soil management systems were investigated: permanent green cover (control), straw-cover and periodic soil tillage. Inter-row periodic soil tillage was applied in 2002 and 2003 (May and August), and straw-cover in May 2002. Periodic soil tillage resulted in increased erosion, i.e. 1746 kg/ha of soil/per year, on average. The greater portion of erosive events occurred after tillage in summer (August 2002), which was accompanied by heavy rainfall and slow renewal of grass cover (slower than in spring). The lowest average amount of soil erosion was observed in the treatment with straw-cover (56 kg/ha per year). This management system provided better environment for earthworm populations, most of which were found close to the soil surface, especially in the dry year 2003. In periodical soil tillage, the majority of earthworms were found in the soil horizon not disturbed by the tillage, i.e. at the depth of 10&ndash;20 cm. The lowest number of earthworms (only 2 per m<sup>2</sup>) was recorded in the herbicide intra-row strip. &nbsp;


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Zubieta ◽  
Juan Larrasoaña ◽  
Rafael Giménez ◽  
Alaitz Aldaz ◽  
Javier Casalí

&lt;p&gt;In gully erosion, the soil detached by the action of the erosive flow can be transported over long distances along the drainage network of the watershed. In this long way, the eroded material can be redistributed and/or deposited on the soil surface, and then eventually buried by eroded material from subsequent erosion events. Likewise, the variability of the soil (i.e., in texture and moisture content) over which this material moves can be considerable. The presence of the eroded material could be detected through magnetic tracers attached/mixed with the eroded soil. In this experiment, the degree to which the magnetic signal of the magnetite is conditioned by (i) the burying tracer depth, (ii) the texture and moisture content of the soil covering the tracer and (iii) the tracer concentration was evaluated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The study was carried out in the lab in different containers (0.5 x 0.5 x 0.3 m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;). Each container was filled with a given soil. In the filling process, a 0.5-cm layer of a soil-magnetite mixture of a certain concentration was interspersed in the soil profile at a certain depth. Overall, 3 different soil:tracer concentrations (1000:1, 200:1, 100:1), 4 tracer burying depths (0 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm and 10 cm from soil surface), and &amp;#160;2 contrasting soils (silty clay and sandy clay loam) were used. In each case, the magnetic susceptibility was measured with a magnetometer (MS3 by Bartington Instruments). Experiments were repeated with different soil moisture contents (from field capacity to dry soil).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the tracer is located under the soil surface a minimum soil:tracer concentration of 200:1 is required for its correct &amp;#160;detection from the surface using a magnetometer. The intensity of the magnetic signal decreases dramatically with the vertical distance &amp;#160;of the tracer from the soil&amp;#160; surface (burying depth). The maximum detection depth of the tracer magnetic signal is strongly dependent on the natural magnetic susceptibility of the soil which hides the own tracer signal. Variation in soil moisture content does not significantly affect the magnetic signal. For extensive field studies the soil-tracer volume to be handled would be very high. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new tracer application techniques.&lt;/p&gt;


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Mohebi

Mulch is a type of protective covering placed on or spread over the soil surface that helps to conserve soil moisture, suppress weed growth and enrich the soil. The paper mulch is the most complete mulch and has numerous beneficial effects upon the soil and plants. This mulch which is produced from office waste paper, newspaper and wrapping papers, conserves soil moisture, is effective at suppressing and inhibiting weed growth, enhances agro-ecosystem health by improving the air and water movement through the soil; providing moist conditions thereby promoting micro-organisms and worm populations; promoting plant growth and product, promoting leaf litter build up and helping to improve the pH balance in the soil.


HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 482a-482
Author(s):  
Ian Merwin

Eight groundcover management systems (GMS) have been studied since 1986 in an apple orchard replant site. Tree-row GMS consisted of post-emergence “killed sods” and pre-emergence herbicide strips, a crownvetch “living mulch,” hay-straw mulch, clean cultivation, a close-mowed sod, and an unmowed but chemically growth-regulated sodgrass. Trees initially grew best in the straw-mulch treatment, but nearly 40% have succumbed to Phytophthora crown rot since 1988, apparently due to excessive soil moisture. Meadow vole populations have been higher, and vole injury to lower trunks has been more frequent and severe on trees in crownvetch and straw-mulch GMS, despite routine rodenticide baiting. Cumulative yields per tree have been highest in straw-mulched trees, but yields per acre have been much lower, because of the increased tree mortality in this treatment.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Jingyuan Su

The number of mixed cropland—apple orchard system has gradually increased in the Changwu Tableland region of the Loess Plateau, China. However, the soil water content (SWC) is not sufficient to maintain the sustainable development of apple trees in this agroforestry system. It is unclear whether the growing fruit trees would compete with crops for soil water. To systematically analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of soil moisture and to understand the effect of orchard hydrology in that cropland, the SWC was measured at different depths at different locations on cropland and in an apple orchard. The results show that: (1) The SWC of each soil layer in the cropland (0–20, 20–60, 60–100, 100–200, 200–300 cm) is higher than that of the orchard. The soil moisture changes dramatically in the 0–200 cm soil layer. (2) As the soil moisture monitoring distance from the apple orchard increases, the SWC gradually increases, the loss of soil water storage gradually decreases, and the drying effect gradually disappears. This is related to the different distribution ranges of the roots of apple trees and crops. Therefore, the government should control the proportion of the orchard and cropland, and then adjust the planting period of the orchard in the appropriate range to keep the green use of water in the region.


Plant Disease ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 723-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Cox ◽  
H. Scherm

Pseudosclerotia (infected, mummified fruit) on the orchard floor act as oversummering and overwintering structures and the sole source of primary inoculum of Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, the causal agent of mummy berry disease of blueberry. Survival of pseudosclerotia may be affected by their maturity (degree of stromatization), which can vary considerably at the time of fruit abscission in early summer, and by variations in the soil surface environment. From July through October in 2 years, survival of pseudosclerotia of varying initial maturity (expressed as the proportion of fruit containing mature, melanized entostromata; immature, nonmelanized entostromata; or undifferentiated mycelia) was investigated in the laboratory relative to soil surface temperature and soil moisture content and in the field in relation to shading (full sun versus 50% shade) and ground cover (bare soil versus grass). In the laboratory, oversummer survival, expressed as the percentage of intact pseudosclerotia at the end of the experiment, was higher for cool soil temperatures (approximately 15°C), soils drier than field capacity, and pseudosclerotia containing mature entostromata. In the field, survival was related solely to initial maturity of pseudosclerotia and was highest for pseudosclerotia containing mature entostromata. Shading or grass ground cover did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect oversummer survival, presumably because they did not greatly modify soil temperature or soil moisture. When individual, intact pseudosclerotia were tested for viability using fluorescein diacetate staining, a linear relationship (r = 0.982, P < 0.0001, n = 90) between viable and intact pseudosclerotia was observed, supporting the use of the percentage of intact pseudosclerotia as a measure of oversummer survival.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
A. Melnyk ◽  
◽  
M. Tereshchenko ◽  
O. Sharapaniuk ◽  
◽  
...  

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