Characterisation of soil organic matter in a semi-arid fluvic Entisol fertilised with cattle manure and/or gliricidia by spectroscopic methods

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dário C. Primo ◽  
Rômulo S. C. Menezes ◽  
Wilson T. L. Silva ◽  
Fabio F. Oliveira ◽  
José C. B. D. Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Infrared Region ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis ◽  
Spectroscopic Techniques ◽  
Organic Fertiliser ◽  
Semi Arid

The stable fraction of soil organic matter (SOM) has received considerable attention due to concerns about the sustainability of agricultural systems. The main structural characteristics of the SOM of an Entisol in the semi-arid region of Paraíba state, Brazil, after 6 years of cultivation of annual crops with different organic fertiliser treatments, were determined. Six different treatments were evaluated, as follows: (1) gliricidia prunings (Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Walp) incorporated into the soil before planting (GI); (2) cattle manure incorporated before planting (MI); (3) gliricidia applied after planting (GS); (4) manure and gliricidia incorporated before planting (MI+GI); (5) manure incorporated before planting and gliricidia applied after planting (MI+GS); and (6) a control treatment. Spectroscopic techniques were used to analyse carbon in whole soil samples (0–20cm), as well as in fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA) extracts. Surface-applied gliricidia resulted in the highest SOM content. Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy showed that MI+GS contributed to increases in the degree of humification, whereas for the HA fraction, the highest degree of humification occurred with the GS treatment. The ultraviolet–visible absorbance spectra of FA fractions indicated the presence of fresh soluble SOM in all treatments except GS, and mid-infrared region spectra revealed no differences in the chemical structure of the HA fractions. Application of gliricidia prunings (GI and GS), which are nitrogen rich and highly labile, resulted in low HA transformations compared with the control based on nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Therefore, gliricidia, whether incorporated before planting or applied after planting, decreases the labile fractions of SOM, probably because of its higher decomposition rates.

scholarly journals Compost as an Option for Sustainable Crop Production at Low Stocking Rates in Organic Farming

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1078
Author(s):  
Christopher Brock ◽  
Meike Oltmanns ◽  
Christoph Matthes ◽  
Ben Schmehe ◽  
Harald Schaaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Potassium Sulfate ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Compost Application ◽  
Stocking Rates

Mixed-crop-livestock farms offer the best conditions for sustainable nutrient management in organic farming. However, if stocking rates are too low, sustainability might be threatened. Therefore, we studied the development of soil organic matter and nutrients as well as crop yields over the first course of a new long-term field experiment with a mimicked cattle stocking rate of 0.6 LU ha−1, which is the actual average stocking rate for organic farms in Germany. In the experiment, we tested the effects of additional compost application to improve organic matter supply to soils, and further, potassium sulfate fertilization for an improved nutrition of fodder legumes. Compost was made from internal resources of the farm (woody material from hedge-cutting). Soil organic matter and nutrient stocks decreased in the control treatment, even though yield levels, and thus nutrient exports, were comparably low. With compost application, soil organic matter and nutrient exports could be compensated for. At the same time, the yields increased but stayed at a moderate level. Potassium sulfate fertilization further improved N yields. We conclude that compost from internal resources is a viable solution to facilitate sustainable organic crop production at low stocking rates. However, we are aware that this option does not solve the basic problem of open nutrient cycles on the farm gate level.

scholarly journals Effect of soil coarseness on soil base cations and available micronutrients in a semi-arid sandy grassland

Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linyou Lü ◽  
Ruzhen Wang ◽  
Heyong Liu ◽  
Jinfei Yin ◽  
Jiangtao Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Soil Base ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Sandy Grassland

Abstract. Soil coarseness is the main process decreasing soil organic matter and threatening the productivity of sandy grasslands. Previous studies demonstrated negative effect of soil coarseness on soil carbon storage, but less is known about how soil base cations (exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Na) and available micronutrients (available Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) response to soil coarseness. In a semi-arid grassland of Northern China, a field experiment was initiated in 2011 to mimic the effect of soil coarseness on soil base cations and available micronutrients by mixing soil with different mass proportions of sand: 0 % coarse elements (C0), 10 % (C10), 30 % (C30), 50 % (C50), and 70 % (C70). Soil coarseness significantly increased soil pH in three soil depths of 0–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm with the highest pH values detected in C50 and C70 treatments. Soil fine particles (smaller than 0.25 mm) significantly decreased with the degree of soil coarseness. Exchangeable Ca and Mg concentrations significantly decreased with soil coarseness degree by up to 29.8 % (in C70) and 47.5 % (in C70), respectively, across three soil depths. Soil available Fe, Mn, and Cu significantly decreased with soil coarseness degree by 62.5, 45.4, and 44.4 %, respectively. As affected by soil coarseness, the increase of soil pH, decrease of soil fine particles (including clay), and decline in soil organic matter were the main driving factors for the decrease of exchangeable base cations (except K) and available micronutrients (except Zn) through soil profile. Developed under soil coarseness, the loss and redistribution of base cations and available micronutrients along soil depths might pose a threat to ecosystem productivity of this sandy grassland.

Sorption of hydrophobic pesticides to aliphatic components of soil organic matter

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benny Chefetz ◽  
Baoshan Xing
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Spectroscopic Techniques ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Hydrophobic Compounds ◽  
High Sorption ◽  
Sorption Mechanisms

Sorption of hydrophobic compounds to aliphatic components of soil organic matter (SOM) is poorly understood even though these aliphatic carbons are a major fraction of SOM. The main source of aliphatic compounds in SOM is above- and below-ground plant cuticular materials (cutin, cutan and suberin). As decomposition proceeds, these aliphatic moieties tend to accumulate in soils. Therefore, if we consider that cuticular material contributes significantly to SOM, we can hypothesize that the cuticular materials play an important role in the sorption processes of hydrophobic compounds (including pesticides) in soils, which has not yet been studied. The overall goal of this research was to illustrate the mechanism and significance of the refractory aliphatic structures of SOM in sorbing hydrophobic compounds (nonionic and weakly polar pesticides). The importance of this study is related to our ability to demonstrate the sorption relationship between key pesticides and an important fraction of SOM. The specific objectives of the project were: (1) To isolate and characterize cuticular fractions from selected plants; (2) To investigate the sorption mechanism of key hydrophobic pesticides and model compounds to cuticular plant materials; (3) To examine the sorption mechanisms at the molecular level using spectroscopic techniques; (4) To investigate the sorption of key hydrophobic pesticides to synthetic polymers; (5) To evaluate the content of cuticular materials in agricultural soils; and (6) To study the effect of incubation of plant cuticular materials in soils on their sorptive capabilities. This project demonstrates the markedly high sorption capacity of various plant cuticular fractions for hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) and polar organic pollutants. Both cutin (the main polymer of the cuticle) and cutan biopolymers exhibit high sorption capability even though both sorbents are highly aliphatic in nature. Sorption by plant cuticular matter occurs via hydrophobic interactions and H-bonding interactions with polar sorbates. The cutin biopolymer seems to facilitate reversible and noncompetitive sorption, probably due to its rubbery nature. On the other hand, the epicuticular waxes facilitate enhance desorption in a bi-solute system. These processes are possibly related to phase transition (melting) of the waxes that occur in the presence of high solute loading. Moreover, our data highlight the significance of polarity and accessibility of organic matter in the uptake of nonpolar and polar organic pollutants by regulating the compatibility of sorbate to sorbent. In summary, our data collected in the BARD project suggest that both cutin and cutan play important roles in the sorption of HOCs in soils; however, with decomposition the more condensed structure of the cutin and mainly the cutan biopolymer dominated sorption to the cuticle residues. Since cutin and cutan have been identified as part of SOM and humic substances, it is suggested that retention of HOCs in soils is also controlled by these aliphatic domains and not only by the aromaticrich fractions of SOM.

EFFECTS OF NITROGEN SOURCES AND ORGANIC MATTER ON NITROGEN FIXATION AND YIELD OF SOYBEANS

1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. JOHNSON ◽  
D. J. HUME
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Available N ◽  
Corn Cobs ◽  
Ground Corn

The effects of two sources of nitrogen and ground corn cobs, applied either alone or in combination, on nitrogen fixation and seed yield of Glycine max (L.) Merr. cult Altona were investigated in an area where control plants fixed only 7.5 kg N2/ha. Treatments were: N, 280 kg N/ha as NH4NO3; organic matter (O.M.), 14 T (dry wt)/ha of ground corn cobs as an organic matter source; N + O.M.; M1; 88 T/ha of liquid cattle manure; M1 + O.M.; M2, 176 T/ha of liquid cattle manure; M2 + O.M.; and C, control. Treatment effects on nitrogen fixation, measured as acetylene reduction rates, and seed yield were related to the levels of available N supplied to the plants. Nitrogen fixation was progressively increased by treatments M1, M2 + O.M., M1 + O.M., and O.M., with the latter two fixing seven times as much nitrogen as the control. Final seed yield, however, was increased by treatments supplying the highest levels of inorganic nitrogen to plants, with N and N + O.M. producing higher yields than the control plots.

Ten-year application of cattle manure contributes to the build-up of soil organic matter in eroded Mollisols

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 3035-3043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shujie Miao ◽  
Yunfa Qiao ◽  
Yunfeng Yin ◽  
Jian Jin ◽  
Burger Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Cattle Manure

Cover crops and tillage influence soil organic matter and nitrogen availability in a semi-arid vineyard

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (sup1) ◽  
pp. SS95-SS102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Peregrina ◽  
Eva Pilar Pérez-Álvarez ◽  
Mikel Colina ◽  
Enrique García-Escudero
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Semi Arid
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document