Ash alkalinity of animal and plant products

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ Slattery ◽  
AM Ridley ◽  
SM Windsor
Keyword(s):  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Plant Products ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
Ash Alkalinity ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Farm Produce ◽  
Excess Cations

The export of farm produce from farming systems results in the removal of excess cations over anions from the soil. This removal of bases from the soil will eventually cause an increase in the acidity of the soil. Ash alkalinity data for a range of farm products are presented in this paper and lime replacement values calculated. Of produce from mixed farming enterprises in north-eastern Victoria, hay required the greatest amount of lime (270-1260 kg CaCO3/ha.year) to replace lost alkali from the soil. By comparison, removal of cereal produce required much less lime (7-20 kg CaCO3/ha.year) to replace lost alkali, as did removal of wool and lamb (0.8 and 6.0 kg CaCO3/ha.year respectively). Management strategies that include a lime replacement value for exported farm produce should be considered in overall farm management strategies to reduce soil acidification.

A comparison of proton excretion of twelve pasture legumes grown in nutrient solution

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tang ◽  
L. Barton ◽  
C. D. A. McLay
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Solution Culture ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Ash Alkalinity ◽  
Proton Excretion ◽  
Excess Cations ◽  
Pasture Legume

Summary.The use of legumes to improve the productivity of pastures has usually been associated with an increase in soil acidification. The present study compared the acidification potential of 12 N2-fixing pasture legume species/genotypes using a solution culture assay. The legumes were chosen because of their use or potential use in farming systems in the mediterranean zones of southern Australia. The species grown were Trifolium subterraneum L. (vars. Dalkeith, Yarloop and Clare), Trifolium glomeratum L., Trifolium tomentosum L., Medicago murex Willd., Medicago polymorpha L., Medicago truncatulaGaertn., Ornithopus compressus L., Ornithopus sativusBrot., Trifolium vesiculosum and Trifolium balansae. Proton excretion was measured over a period of 21 days from days 40 to 61 after germination. The amount of protons excreted into solution varied between 143 and 265 cmol H+ /kg dry matter for the different species and genotypes. In general, T. tomentosum and T. glomeratum excreted greater amounts of protons per unit biomass than Medicago species and T. subterraneum, which, in turn, excreted more protons than Ornithopus species. The amount of proton excreted per kilogram biomass was well correlated with the concentrations of excess cations over anions and ash alkalinity in plants across all the species. Total acid production was highly correlated with accumulation of excess cations and ash alkalinity, total dry matter production and total nitrogen fixation during the study period. It is suggested that the potential proton excretion by new pasture legume species should be considered when they are introduced into farming systems.

Biomass harvesting leads to soil acidification: a study of mixed crop–livestock farming systems in Madagascar

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
M. L. Fanjaniaina ◽  
J. Larvy Delarivière ◽  
P. Salgado ◽  
E. Tillard ◽  
L. Rabeharisoa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rice Grain ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Fresh Matter ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
Ash Alkalinity ◽  
Mixed Crop ◽  
Biomass Removal

Soil acidification and declining fertility are widespread in sub‐Saharan Africa. Nutrient depletion is mainly related to nutrient mining driven by biomass removal without replenishment of nutrients through use of fertilisers. Concomitant acidification is due to the high ash alkalinity of harvested biomass. We determined the nutrient content and ash alkalinity of biomass of the main crops produced in smallholder mixed crop–livestock farming systems in the Malagasy Highlands of Madagascar and calculated the soil acidification/alkalinisation occurring through biomass transfer. Samples of rice and forage were collected from 70 rice plots and 91 cultivated forage plots, and 70 manure samples were collected from farms. Nutrient exports induced by crop harvesting resulted in annual losses of 57 kg nitrogen (N), 6 kg (phosphorus) P and 33 kg potassium (K) ha–1 for rice (grain + straw), and 31–51 kg N, 8–9 kg P and 29–57 kg K ha–1 for each forage cut (with three cuts per year on average). The ash alkalinity of samples, calculated as the difference between cation and anion contents, was 49–100 cmolc kg–1 for forage crops, 31 cmolc kg–1 for rice straw, and only 4 cmolc kg–1 for rice grains. Biomass removal caused a loss of nutrients and an increase in soil acidity. Owing to low nutrient retention efficiency during the handling and storage of manure, the traditional input of manure at 5 t fresh matter ha–1 is insufficient to balance nutrient and alkalinity losses in Malagasy mixed crop–livestock farming systems. Maintaining productive and sustainable mixed crop–livestock farming systems requires greater attention to ensuring a nutrient balance at both plot and farm levels.

Soil acidification under subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) pastures in north-eastern Victoria

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Ridley ◽  
KR Helyar ◽  
WJ Slattery
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Mineral Dissolution ◽  
Acid Addition ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Capacity Data

Eleven paired soil samples to 60 cm depth were collected from grazing properties in north-eastern Victoria. Soils were naturally acid and most were red or yellow podsolics. At each site unfertilised soils (unimproved) and soils which had received regular superphosphate applications (improved) were sampled from either side of a fenceline. The percentage of organic carbon was higher on improved sites but pH was usually lower. Using pH and pH buffering capacity data, the rate of soil acidification under improved pasture, relative to unimproved pasture, was estimated. The improved pastures, on average, required 39 kg CaCO3ka.year to balance the net acid accumulated. The estimated rates of acidification are much lower than those reported previously for similar environments and soil types in New South Wales. There was a relationship between initial profile pH and net acid addition, lower measured net acid addition being associated with low initial soil pH. This paper demonstrates the need for both standardisation of soil pH buffer capacity measurements, and more direct assessment of the role of soil mineral dissolution processes in buffering the pH of strongly acid soils. Until such data exists it will be very difficult to provide convincing information to primary producers regarding the long term alkali input requirements needed for sustainable farming systems.

Effect of short-term legume residue decomposition on soil acidity

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Sparling ◽  
C. D. A. McLay ◽  
C. Tang ◽  
C. Raphael
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Acidification ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Residue Decomposition ◽  
Ash Alkalinity ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Legume Residue ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Ph Buffer ◽  
Excess Cations

The accumulation of organic matter has been suggested to be one of the causes of soil acidification. We examined the effect of applying clover shoots, clover roots, and lupin leaves which differed in concentrations of N and excess cations/ash alkalinity on the pH of 2 acidic soils from Western Australia over a 28-day incubation period. Addition of the legume residues at rates of 1·54 and 3·08 g/kg soil increased soil pH by up to 0·6 units at Day 0 and 0·7 units at Day 28 after incubation. The increase in soil pH was the greatest with addition of lupin leaves, followed by clover shoots, and the least with clover roots. The increase in pH correlated well with the amounts of ash alkalinity added as plant materials. Ammonium concentrations were generally increased by addition of the plant materials, but with time the concentrations decreased in the Kojonup soil and increased in the Moora soil. Nitrate concentrations were similar between the treatments, and increased with time. Addition of legume residues slightly increased the pH buffer capacity of both soils at Day 0 but not at Day 28. After 28 days, 37–51% of clover shoots and 36–51% of lupin leaf had decomposed compared with 22-38% of clover roots. The results suggest that rapid changes in soil pH following application of plant materials are related to the concentration of excess cations and decomposition of the material and that the application of legume shoot residues, which usually have high concentrations of excess cations, is not the likely cause of soil acidification.

The management of risk in a dryland environment

2011 ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
D.I. Gray ◽  
J.I. Reid ◽  
D.J. Horne
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Market Risk ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Upside Risk

A group of 24 Hawke's Bay hill country farmers are working with service providers to improve the resilience of their farming systems. An important step in the process was to undertake an inventory of their risk management strategies. Farmers were interviewed about their farming systems and risk management strategies and the data was analysed using descriptive statistics. There was considerable variation in the strategies adopted by the farmers to cope with a dryland environment. Importantly, these strategies had to cope with three types of drought and also upside risk (better than expected conditions), and so flexibility was critical. Infra-structure was important in managing a dryland environment. Farmers chose between increased scale (increasing farm size) and geographic dispersion (owning a second property in another location) through to intensification (investing in subdivision, drainage, capital fertiliser, new pasture species). The study identified that there may be scope for further investment in infra-structural elements such as drainage, deeper rooting alternative pasture species and water harvesting, along with improved management of subterranean clover to improve flexibility. Many of the farmers used forage crops and idling capacity (reduced stocking rate) to improve flexibility; others argued that maintaining pasture quality and managing upside risk was a better strategy in a dryland environment. Supplementary feed was an important strategy for some farmers, but its use was limited by contour and machinery constraints. A surprisingly large proportion of farmers run breeding cows, a policy that is much less flexible than trading stock. However, several farmers had improved their flexibility by running a high proportion of trading cattle and buffer mobs of ewe hoggets and trade lambs. To manage market risk, the majority of farmers are selling a large proportion of their lambs prime. Similarly, cattle are either sold prime or store onto the grass market when prices are at a premium. However, market risk associated with the purchase of supplements and grazing was poorly managed.

scholarly journals Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Jean-Christophe Castella ◽  
Sonnasack Phaipasith
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Rural Roads ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Hybrid Maize ◽  
The Impact

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked the integration of swidden-based farming systems into the market economy in Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered the landscape and livelihood structures by allowing the penetration of boom crops such as hybrid maize in remote territories. In this article, we investigate the impact of rural road developments on livelihoods in northern Laos through a longitudinal study conducted over a period of 15 years in a forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies of local stakeholders through the combination of individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping and remote-sensing approaches. The study revealed the short-term benefits of the maize feeder roads on poverty alleviation and rural development, but also the negative long-term effects on agroecosystem health and agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about the mechanisms of agricultural intensification helped understanding the constraints faced by external interventions promoting sustainable land management practices. When negotiated by local communities for their own interest, roads may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities through access to external resources, rather than undermining them.

scholarly journals Community seed network in an era of climate change: dynamics of maize diversity in Yucatán, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Fenzi ◽  
Paul Rogé ◽  
Angel Cruz-Estrada ◽  
John Tuxill ◽  
Devra Jarvis
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Maize Diversity ◽  
Climatic Period ◽  
Small Holder Farmers

AbstractLocal seed systems remain the fundamental source of seeds for many crops in developing countries. Climate resilience for small holder farmers continues to depend largely on locally available seeds of traditional crop varieties. High rainfall events can have as significant an impact on crop production as increased temperatures and drought. This article analyzes the dynamics of maize diversity over 3 years in a farming community of Yucatán state, Mexico, where elevated levels of precipitation forced farmers in 2012 to reduce maize diversity in their plots. We study how farmers maintained their agroecosystem resilience through seed networks, examining the drivers influencing maize diversity and seed provisioning in the year preceding and following the 2012 climatic disturbance (2011–2013). We found that, under these challenging circumstances, farmers focused their efforts on their most reliable landraces, disregarding hybrids. We show that farmers were able to recover and restore the diversity usually cultivated in the community in the year following the critical climate event. The maize dynamic assessed in this study demonstrates the importance of community level conservation of crop diversity. Understanding farmer management strategies of agrobiodiversity, especially during a challenging climatic period, is necessary to promote a more tailored response to climate change in traditional farming systems.

scholarly journals Nanotechnology and Reproductive Management of Farm Animals: Challenges and Advances

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1932
Author(s):  
Nesrein M. Hashem ◽  
Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Biological Molecules ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Reproductive Management ◽  
Livestock Farming Systems ◽  
Reproductive Disease ◽  
Nutritional Strategies

Reproductive efficiency of farm animals has central consequences on productivity and profitability of livestock farming systems. Optimal reproductive management is based on applying different strategies, including biological, hormonal, nutritional strategies, as well as reproductive disease control. These strategies should not only guarantee sufficient reproductive outcomes but should also comply with practical and ethical aspects. For example, the efficiency of the biological- and hormonal-based reproductive strategies is mainly related to several biological factors and physiological status of animals, and of nutritional strategies, additional factors, such as digestion and absorption, can contribute. In addition, the management of reproductive-related diseases is challenged by the concerns regarding the intensive use of antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial resistant strains. The emergence of nanotechnology applications in livestock farming systems may present innovative and new solutions for overcoming reproductive management challenges. Many drugs (hormones and antibiotics), biological molecules, and nutrients can acquire novel physicochemical properties using nanotechnology; the main ones are improved bioavailability, higher cellular uptake, controlled sustained release, and lower toxicity compared with ordinary forms. In this review, we illustrate advances in the most common reproductive management strategies by applying nanotechnology, considering the current challenges of each strategy.

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