scholarly journals A holistic perspective on soil architecture is needed as a key to soil functions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans‐Jörg Vogel ◽  
Maria Balseiro‐Romero ◽  
Alexandra Kravchenko ◽  
Wilfred Otten ◽  
Valérie Pot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Functions ◽  
Holistic Perspective

Soil functions – Today’s situation and further development under climate change

Erdkunde ◽  
2012 ◽  
pp. 221-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Madena ◽  
Helge Bormann ◽  
Luise Giani
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Further Development

The Relevance of the Fair Value Measurement Hierarchy: A Holistic Perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Filip ◽  
Ahmad Hammami ◽  
Zhongwei Huang ◽  
Anne Jeny ◽  
Michel Magnan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fair Value ◽  
Holistic Perspective ◽  
Fair Value Measurement ◽  
Value Measurement

Towards evolutionary agroecology

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin L. Mercer
Keyword(s):  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Genetic Analyses ◽  
Holistic Perspective ◽  
Evolutionary Study ◽  
Quantitative Genetic ◽  
Field Evolution

Agroecology derives much of its strength from interactions between disciplines that produce a holistic perspective on agricultural systems and issues.  Although ongoing integration of social dynamics into agroecology has strengthened the field, evolution and genetics have not been embraced to the same degree, despite the fact that they have been are discussed in some common agroecology texts.  I argue that the field of agroecology could extend its reach and depth by embracing the evolutionary study of agroecosystems.  Areas of evolutionary inquiry with relevance to agriculture focus on long or short term processes, encompass a range of scales, incorporate molecular or quantitative genetic analyses, and explore ecological processes to differing degrees.

Biotic and abiotic treatments as a bet‐hedging approach to restoring plant communities and soil functions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey J. Rader ◽  
Lindsay P. Chiquoine ◽  
James F. Weigand ◽  
Judy L. Perkins ◽  
Seth M. Munson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Bet Hedging

scholarly journals Effects of glyphosate-based herbicides and their active ingredients on earthworms, water infiltration and glyphosate leaching are influenced by soil properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann G. Zaller ◽  
Maureen Weber ◽  
Michael Maderthaner ◽  
Edith Gruber ◽  
Eszter Takács ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Amaranthus Retroflexus ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Active Ingredients ◽  
Hand Weeding ◽  
Earthworm Activity

Abstract Background Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are among the most often used pesticides. The hundreds of GBHs used worldwide consist of the active ingredient (AI) glyphosate in form of different salts, possibly other AIs, and various mostly undisclosed co-formulants. Pesticide risk assessments are commonly performed using single AIs or GBHs at standard soil conditions without vegetation. In a greenhouse experiment, we established a weed population with common amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) to examine the effects of three GBHs (Roundup LB Plus, Roundup PowerFlex, Touchdown Quattro) and their corresponding AIs (salts of glyphosate isopropylammonium, potassium, diammonium) on the activity and physiological biomarkers (glutathione S-transferase, GST; acetylcholine esterase, AChE) of an ecologically relevant earthworm species (Lumbricus terrestris). GBHs and AIs were applied at recommended doses; hand weeding served as control. Experiments were established with two soil types differing in organic matter content (SOM; 3.0% vs. 4.1%) and other properties. Results Earthworm activity (casting and movement activity) decreased after application of glyphosate formulations or active ingredients compared to hand weeding. We found no consistent pattern that formulations had either higher or lower effects on earthworm activity than their active ingredients; rather, differences were substance-specific. Earthworm activity was little affected by soil organic matter levels. Biomarkers remained unaffected by weed control types; GST but not AChE was decreased under high SOM. Water infiltration after a simulated heavy rainfall was interactively affected by weed control types and SOM. Leachate amount was higher after application of formulations than active ingredients and was higher under low SOM. Glyphosate concentrations in soil and leachate were strongly affected by application of formulations or active ingredients and varied with SOM (significant weed control type x SOM interaction). Conclusions We found that both commercial formulations and pure active ingredients can influence earthworms with consequences on important soil functions. Glyphosate products showed increased, reduced or similar effects than pure glyphosate on particular soil functions; soil properties can substantially alter this. Especially at lower SOM, heavy rainfalls could lead to more glyphosate leaching into water bodies. A full disclosure of co-formulants would be necessary to further decipher their specific contributions to these inconsistent effects.

Participatory soil quality assessment: The case of smallholder farmers in Ethiopian highlands

Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teklu Erkossa ◽  
Karl Stahr ◽  
Thomas Gaiser
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Soil Functions ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Soil Quality Assessment

The study was conducted at Caffee Doonsa (08°88′N, 39°08′E; 2400 m asl), a small watershed in the central highlands of Ethiopia, in order to identify farmers’ goals of soil management and the indicators they use in selecting soils for a certain function, and to categorise the soils in different quality groups with respect to the major functions. Thirty-six male farmers of different age and wealth groups participated in a Participatory Rural Appraisal technique. They listed and prioritised 12 soil functions in the area and itemised the soil quality indicators (characteristics). Based on the indicators, the soils in the watershed were classified into 3 soil quality (SQ) groups (Abolse, Kooticha, and Carii). The SQ groups have been evaluated and ranked for the major soil functions. For crop production, Abolse was graded best, followed by Kooticha and Carii, respectively. The grain and straw yield data of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) taken from the SQ groups confirmed the farmers claim, in that Abolse gave the highest grain yield (4573 kg/ha), followed by 4411 and 3657 kg/ha for Kooticha and Carii, respectively. Local insights should be included in systematic soil quality assessment, and in planning and implementation of various soil management interventions.

A Holistic Perspective Is Needed To Ensure Success of Minamata Convention on Mercury

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 1070-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Lin ◽  
Shuxiao Wang ◽  
Eirik Hovland Steindal ◽  
Zuguang Wang ◽  
Hans Fredrik Veiteberg Braaten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Holistic Perspective ◽  
Minamata Convention On Mercury

Systemic soil modelling and the evaluation of functions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Weller ◽  
Sara König ◽  
Bibiana Betancur-Corredor ◽  
Birgit Lang ◽  
Mareike Ließ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Soil Processes ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Soil Functions

<p><span>We developed an integrated model of soil processes – the Bodium – that enables us to predict possible changes in soil functions under varying agricultural management and climatic change.</span></p><p><span>The model combines current knowledge on soil processes by integrating state-of-the-art modules on plant growth, root development, soil carbon and matter turnover with new concepts with respect to soil hydrology and soil structure dynamics. The model domain is at profile scale, with 1D nodes of variable thickness and weight. It is tested with long-term field experiments to ensure a consistent output of the combined modules. The model is site-specific and works with different soil types and climates (weather scenarios).</span></p><p><span>The output can be interpreted towards a broad spectrum of soil functions. Plant production and nutrient balances can be determined directly. The same is possible for water dynamics, with potential surface runoff (as infiltration surplus), storage and percolation together with travel time and groundwater recharge. In addition, nitrate losses are calculated, and the travel time distribution can help with the evaluation of pesticide percolation risk. To evaluate the habitat for biological activity, the activity is calculated in terms of carbon turnover, and the state variables carbon availability, water, air and temperature for the are accessible. Also, for macrofauna the earthworm activity is included. The comparison of scenario runs can be evaluated quantitatively in terms of potential developments of soil functions.</span></p><p><span>The model is work in progress. Further modules that will be implemented are pH dynamics, more explicit microbial activity, and a more complete set of effects of agricultural management on soil structure are integrated.</span></p>

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