Long-term effects of tillage, stubble, and nitrogen management on properties of a red-brown earth

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 923 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Fettell ◽  
HS Gill
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
N Management

Differences in soil organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and pH resulting from 14 and 15 years of different tillage, stubble, and fertiliser N management practices were measured for a red-brown earth at Condobolin in western New South Wales. The 5 main treatments comprised stubble burning or retention in factorial combination with cultivation and direct drilling, and stubble incorporation combined with cultivation. Two rates of N fertiliser (0 and 40 or 50 kg/ha) were applied annually, and wheat was grown each year. There were no significant differences between tillage and stubble treatments for soil organic C, total N, or pH. Fertiliser N application caused small but significant increases in organic C and total N but decreased the pH of the surface 2.5 cm of soil by 0.4-0.5 units compared with the nil fertiliser rate. The study indicates that direct drilling and stubble retention with continuous wheat have had little long-term effect on soil organic C and total N in this low rainfall environment.

Management of sugarcane harvest residues: consequences for soil carbon and nitrogen

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona A. Robertson ◽  
Peter J. Thorburn
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
C And N

The Australian sugar industry is moving away from the practice of burning the crop before harvest to a system of green cane trash blanketing (GCTB). Since the residues that would have been lost in the fire are returned to the soil, nutrients and organic matter may be accumulating under trash blanketing. There is a need to know if this is the case, to better manage fertiliser inputs and maintain soil fertility. The objective of this work was to determine whether conversion from a burning to a GCTB trash management system is likely to affect soil fertility in terms of C and N. Indicators of short- and long-term soil C and N cycling were measured in 5 field experiments in contrasting climatic conditions. The effects of GCTB varied among experiments. Experiments that had been running for 1–2 years (Harwood) showed no significant trash management effects. In experiments that had been running for 3–6 years (Mackay and Tully), soil organic C and total N were up to 21% greater under trash blanketing than under burning, to 0.10 or 0.25 m depth (most of this effect being in the top 50 mm). Soil microbial activity (CO2 production) and soil microbial biomass also increased under GCTB, presumably as a consequence of the improved C availability. Most of the trash C was respired by the microbial biomass and lost from the system as CO2. The stimulation of microbial activity in these relatively short-term GCTB systems was not accompanied by increased net mineralisation of soil N, probably because of the greatly increased net immobilisation of N. It was calculated that, with standard fertiliser applications, the entire trash blanket could be decomposed without compromising the supply of N to the crop. Calculations of possible long-term effects of converting from a burnt to a GCTB production system suggested that, at the sites studied, soil organic C could increase by 8–15%, total soil N could increase by 9–24%, and inorganic soil N could increase by 37 kg/ha.year, and that it would take 20–30 years for the soils to approach this new equilibrium. The results suggest that fertiliser N application should not be reduced in the first 6 years after adoption of GCTB, but small reductions may be possible in the longer term (>15 years).

Long term trends in total nitrogen of a vertisol subjected to zero-tillage, nitrogen application and stubble retention

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Dalal
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Apparent N Recovery

The effects of conservation practices, zero-tillage and stubble retention, on long-term trends in total N (0-0.1 m depth) of a Vertisol used mainly for wheat cropping were studied in a semi-arid subtropical environment (28�12'S. and 152�06' E.) in Queensland. Trends in total N content of a Vertisoi (65% clay, pH 7.2) were discerned during a 22-year period of management practices including: zero-tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT); stubble retention (SR) and stubble burning (SB); and fertilizer N application of nil (Nl), 23 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (N2) and 69 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (N3). Soil total N (0-0.1 m) declined under all treatments at an overall rate of 25f 2 kg N ha-1 yr-1 although after 22 years soil under ZT, SR and N3 treatments still contained higher soil total N than under CT, SB and N1 treatments. Apparent fertilizer N recovery in the soil-plant system was poor (34 64%) under CTSB, CTSR and ZTSB and ZTSR treatments, because N removed by the wheat crop was equivalent to less than 20% of fertilizer N in the first 12 years of management practices, due mainly to disease. Deep leaching losses of NO3-N was the likely factor for poor recovery of N. The ZTSR treatment showed better apparent N recovery than the CTSB treatment, most likely due to greater immobilization of fertilizer N, more N uptake in grain due to additional available soil water and hence less leaching losses of NO3-N. Under the current cultural practices, soil total N (0-0.1 m) may decline further to reach a steady state (about 1000 kg N ha-1). However, the apparent N recovery in the soil-plant system can be increased by disease control (for example, resistant cultivars and winter-summer crop rotations) and optimum utilisation of soil water (opportunity cropping) to minimize NO3-N leaching losses and to maximise production of crop biomass.

Simulation of soil organic carbon and nitrogen changes in cereal and pasture systems of southern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 481 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Carter ◽  
WJ Parton ◽  
IC Rowland ◽  
JE Schultz ◽  
GR Steed
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C

Maintenance and improvement of soil organic matter levels is an important concern in dryland farming systems of temperate regions. The Century soil organic matter model was used to simulate changes in soil organic C and total N under long-term wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pasture rotations at five sites in southern Australia. Average declines in soil organic C and total N of 14 and 10%, respectively, in continuous and wheat-fallow systems over a 10 to 20 year period were closely simulated by the model at each site. Additions of N fertilizer (80 kg N ha-1), which prevented soil organic matter decline in continuous wheat systems, was also well represented by the model. Trends in soil organic matter under long-term legume pasture were not adequately simulated by the model, probably due to the 'annual' nature of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean L.) in dry seasons and subsequent changes in the ratio of live to dead plant biomass and shoot to root ratios. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of adequate total plant C production to prevent a decline in soil organic C.

Decline in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in relation to tillage, stubble management, and rotation

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 877 ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Heenan ◽  
WJ McGhie ◽  
FM Thomson ◽  
KY Chan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
C And N

The influence of rotation, tillage, stubble management, and nitrogen (N) fertiliser on soil organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) was studied between 1979 and 1993 in a field experiment at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, on a red earth. The rotations included lupin-wheat (LW), subterranean clover-wheat (SW), and continuous wheat (WW) with and without N fertiliser (100 kg N/ha). At the start of the experiment the soil organic C and N in the surface 10 cm were high following many years of subterranean clover based pasture. The trends in soil organic C varied considerably between treatments from near equilibrium levels for SW direct-drilled and stubble-retained to annual losses of 400 kg/ha for WW conventionally cultivated and stubble burnt. Similarly, total soil N content over time varied from equilibrium levels to highly significant declines of 53 kg/ha. year for WW conventionally cultivated and stubble burnt. Both direct drilling and stubble retention reduced the losses of organic C and N compared with conventional cultivation and burning, with greatest loss occurring when cultivation and stubble burning were combined. SW and LW produced a similar contribution of fixed N to total N product removal, but greater benefits to following wheat crops were provided by SW rotations. Where losses of organic C and N were recorded there was no evidence of equilibrium levels being reached after 14 years.

Sustaining productivity of a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland, with fertilisers, no-tillage, or legumes. 1. Organic matter status

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 903 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Dalal ◽  
WM Strong ◽  
EJ Weston ◽  
JE Cooper ◽  
KJ Lehane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Rhodes Grass ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Annual Medics

Management practices involving legume leys, grain legumes, and no-tillage and stubble retention, along with nitrogen (N) fertiliser application for wheat cropping, were examined for their effectiveness in increasing soil organic matter (0-10 cm depth) from 1986 to 1993 in a field experiment on a Vertisol at Warra, Queensland. The treatments were (i) grass + legume leys (purple pigeon grass, Setaria incrassata; Rhodes grass, Chloris gayana; lucerne, Medicago sativa; annual medics, M. scutellata and M. truncatula) of 4 years duration followed by continuous wheat; (ii) 2-year rotation of annual medics and wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Hartog); (iii) 2-year rotation of lucerne and wheat; (iv) 2-year rotation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum cv. Barwon) and wheat; (v) no-tillage (NT) wheat; and (vi) conventional tillage (CT) wheat. Fertiliser N as urea was applied to both NT wheat and CT wheat at 0,25, and 75 kg N/ha. year. The CT wheat also received N at 12.5 and 25kg N/ha. year. After 4 years, soil organic carbon (C) concentration under grass + legume leys increased by 20% (650 kg C/ha. year) relative to that under continuous CT wheat. Soil total N increased by 11, 18, and 22% after 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively, under grass + legume leys relative to continuous CT wheat. These increases in soil organic matter were mostly confined to the 0-2.5 cm layer. After the start of wheat cropping, organic C and total N levels declined steadily but were still higher than under CT wheat and higher than initial values in December 1985. Although 2-year rotations of lucerne-wheat and medic-wheat had a small effect on soil organic C, soil total N concentrations were higher than in the chickpea-wheat rotation and continuous CT wheat from November 1990 to November 1992. Soil under chickpea-wheat rotation had organic C and total N concentrations similar to continuous CT wheat, although from the former, about 70 kg/ha. year of extra N was removed in the grain from 1989 to 1993. No-tillage practice had a small effect on soil organic C, although total N concentration was higher than under CT wheat in November 1993. These effects were mainly confined to the surface 0-2.5 cm depth. The C to N ratio was only affected in soil under grass + legume leys, and no-tillage treatments. These data show that restoration of soil organic matter in Vertisol requires grass + legume leys, primarily due to increased root biomass, although soil total N can be enhanced by including legume leys for longer duration in cropping systems in the semi-arid and subtropical environment.

Land-use impacts on selected soil properties of the Yungas/Chaco transition forest of Jujuy province, northwestern Argentina: a preliminary study

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 679-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.W. Ripley ◽  
M. Krzic ◽  
G.E. Bradfield ◽  
A.A. Bomke
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Soil Organic C ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Northwestern Argentina ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance ◽  
Litter Cover

Grazing by domestic livestock, firewood cutting, and timber harvesting are the principal uses of the subtropical transition forest located between the humid Yungas and dry Chaco forests at the base of the Andes mountains in Jujuy province, northwestern Argentina. The objective of this study was to conduct a preliminary comparison of selected soil properties between two common land-use systems - deciduous forest rangeland (DFR) and open savanna anthropogenic rangeland (AR) - in the Yungas/Chaco transition forest. Soil organic C and N were measured at a depth of 0-10 cm, while soil penetration resistance was measured at 0-5 and 5-10 cm depths. Soil degradation in the AR was indicated by lower average values for litter cover (56%), soil organic C (28.1 g kg-1), and total N (2.93 g kg-1), and greater soil penetration resistance compared with the DFR (litter cover 94%; soil organic C 45.0 g kg-1, total N 4.45 g kg-1). This created potential for further soil losses from water erosion during monsoon rains and emphasized the need to establish sustainable grazing management practices.

scholarly journals Effect of Soil Management on Erosion in Mountain Vineyards (N-W Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1991
Author(s):  
Silvia Stanchi ◽  
Odoardo Zecca ◽  
Csilla Hudek ◽  
Emanuele Pintaldi ◽  
Davide Viglietti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Ecosystem Services ◽  
Erosion Mitigation ◽  
Management Approaches

We studied the effects of three soil management approaches (permanent grassing, chemical weeding, and buffer strips), and the additional impact of tractor passage on soil erosion in a sloping vineyard located in the inner part of Aosta Valley (N-W Italian Alps). The vineyard rows were equipped with a sediment collection system with channels and barrel tanks. A total of 12 events with sediment production were observed across 6 years, and the collected sediments were weighted and analyzed. Average erosion rates ranged from negligible (mainly in grassed rows) to 1.1 t ha−1 per event (after weeding). The most erosive event occurred in July 2015, with a total rainfall of 32.2 mm, of which 20.1 were recorded in 1 h. Despite the limited number of erosive events observed, and the low measured erosion rates, permanent grassing reduced soil erosion considerably with respect to weeding; buffering had a comparable effect to grassing. The tractor passage, independent of the soil management approaches adopted, visibly accelerated the erosion process. The collected sediments were highly enriched in organic C, total N, and fine size fractions, indicating a potential loss of fertility over time. Despite the measured erosion rates being low over the experiment’s duration, more severe events are well documented in the recent past, and the number of intense storms is likely to increase due to climate change. Thus, the potential effects of erosion in the medium and long term need to be limited to a minimum rate of soil loss. Our experiment helped to compare soil losses by erosion under different soil management practices, including permanent grassing, i.e., a nature-based erosion mitigation measure. The results of the research can provide useful indications for planners and practitioners in similar regions, for sustainable, cross-sectoral soil management, and the enhancement of soil ecosystem services.

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