PLANT ROOT EFFECTS ON SOIL ERODIBILITY, SPLASH DETACHMENT, SOIL STRENGTH, AND AGGREGATE STABILITY

1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ghidey ◽  
E. E. Alberts
Keyword(s):  
Plant Root ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Strength ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Root Effects

Advances in techniques to assess soil erodibility

2021 ◽  
pp. 175-214
Author(s):  
R. J. Rickson ◽  
◽  
E. Dowdeswell Downey ◽  
G. Alegbeleye ◽  
S. E. Cooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Soil Biology ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Soil Erosion By Water

Soil erodibility is the susceptibility of soil to the erosive forces of rainsplash, runoff and wind. It is a significant factor in determining present and future soil erosion rates. Focusing on soil erosion by water, this chapter shows that erodibility is determined by static and dynamic soil properties that control a range of sub-processes affecting soil erosion, but there is no standardised test procedure, making comparison of erodibility assessment techniques and their results challenging. Most researchers agree that aggregate stability is the best indicator of soil erodibility. Selection of techniques to measure aggregate stability need to consider the type of disruptive forces and breakdown processes to which field aggregates are subjected. New indices must incorporate spatial and temporal variabilities in erodibility; the different erosion processes operating; the impact of climate change; and the role of soil biology. New analytical techniques such as computer aided tomography show promise in considering soil erodibility as a dynamic continuum operating over 3 dimensions.

Temperature and moisture content influences aggregate stability: linking climate induced microbial change to aggregate (de)stabilisation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Dowdeswell-Downey ◽  
Robert Grabowski ◽  
Jane Rickson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Static Conditions ◽  
Microbial Change

<p>Soil is a critical resource that delivers numerous ecosystem services, yet this capacity is diminished by soil erosion and further threatened by the impacts of climate change. Soil erodibility is largely overlooked when considering soils’ response to climate change. Aggregate stability is widely recognised as a key indicator of soil erodibility and is influenced by multiple physical, chemical and biological mechanisms operating simultaneously. The microbial community has been reported to respond to changing climatic conditions, yet it remains unclear how microbial change influences microbially mediated aggregation and therefore aggregate stability. The microbial community in terms of composition, activity, and growth, can change over rapid timescales in response to climate conditions. The short timescale of such microbial shifts could rapidly impact microbially-mediated soil (de)stabilisation and aggregate stability.</p><p>The aim of this work is to experimentally test whether climatic conditions, in terms of temperature and moisture content, influence the microbial community and microbially-mediated soil (de)stabilisation, in turn influencing aggregate stability and soil erodibility. A series of laboratory-controlled experiments using environmental chambers and rainfall simulation examined the effects of temperature and moisture content in both static and fluctuating treatments on two surface soils (a sandy loam and a clay loam). Treatments were conducted with single layer aggregate microcosms and multi-layered soil trays to explore aggregate-scale mechanisms and the potential upscaling to run-off processes.        </p><p>Key findings from this research demonstrate that temperature and moisture content affect aggregate stability and the importance of climate induced microbial shifts influence on microbially mediated soil (de)stabilisation. Static temperature and moisture content conditions significantly affected aggregate stability, however the effects varied dependent on soil texture. Increasing temperature significantly increased aggregate stability in clay loam aggregates, while moisture content significantly decreased aggregate stability in sandy loam aggregates. Multiple regression analysis showed that aggregate stability was best predicted by soil moisture content, microbial biomass carbon, gram-negative bacterial abundance and fungal abundance in the sandy loam. Temperature was the sole significant predictor in the clay loam. Aggregate stability was significantly lower under fluctuating conditions and higher under static conditions. Aggregate stability was not significantly different between fluctuating climate treatments representing summer and winter cycles under future emission scenarios. Although, these treatments did significantly affect the microbial community. Our results have implications for our current understanding of microbial function in terms of soil stabilisation, and the relationship between climate, aggregate stability and soil erodibility.</p>

Impact of plant root functional traits and associated mycorrhizas on the aggregate stability of a tropical Ferralsol

Geoderma ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 312 ◽  
pp. 6-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Demenois ◽  
Fabian Carriconde ◽  
Pauline Bonaventure ◽  
Jean-Luc Maeght ◽  
Alexia Stokes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Root Functional Traits

scholarly journals Effects of Soil Aggregate Stability on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen under Land Use Change in an Erodible Region in Southwest China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 3809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Liu ◽  
Guilin Han ◽  
Qian Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Aggregate ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Agricultural Abandonment ◽  
Soil Aggregate Stability

Soil aggregate stability can indicate soil quality, and affects soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil organic nitrogen (SON) sequestration. However, for erodible soils, the effects of soil aggregate stability on SOC and SON under land use change are not well known. In this study, soil aggregate distribution, SOC and SON content, soil aggregate stability, and soil erodibility were determined in the soils at different depths along the stages following agricultural abandonment, including cropland, abandoned cropland, and native vegetation land in an erodible region of Southwest China. Soil aggregation, soil aggregate stability, and SOC and SON content in the 0–20 cm depth soils increased after agricultural abandonment, but soil texture and soil erodibility were not affected by land use change. Soil erodibility remained in a low level when SOC contents were over 20 g·kg−1, and it significantly increased with the loss of soil organic matter (SOM). The SOC and SON contents increased with soil aggregate stability. This study suggests that rapidly recovered soil aggregate stability after agricultural abandonment promotes SOM sequestration, whereas sufficient SOM can effectively maintain soil quality in karst ecological restoration.

scholarly journals Soil aggregation, erodibility, and erosion rates in mountain soils (NW Alps, Italy)

Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Stanchi ◽  
G. Falsone ◽  
E. Bonifacio
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Aggregation ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Erosion Rates

Abstract. Erosion is a relevant soil degradation factor in mountain agrosilvopastoral ecosystems that can be enhanced by the abandonment of agricultural land and pastures left to natural evolution. The on-site and off-site consequences of soil erosion at the catchment and landscape scale are particularly relevant and may affect settlements at the interface with mountain ecosystems. RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) estimates of soil erosion consider, among others, the soil erodibility factor (K), which depends on properties involved in structure and aggregation. A relationship between soil erodibility and aggregation should therefore be expected. However, erosion may limit the development of soil structure; hence aggregates should not only be related to erodibility but also partially mirror soil erosion rates. The aim of the research was to evaluate the agreement between aggregate stability and erosion-related variables and to discuss the possible reasons for discrepancies in the two kinds of land use considered (forest and pasture). Topsoil horizons were sampled in a mountain catchment under two vegetation covers (pasture vs. forest) and analyzed for total organic carbon, total extractable carbon, pH, and texture. Soil erodibility was computed, RUSLE erosion rate was estimated, and aggregate stability was determined by wet sieving. Aggregation and RUSLE-related parameters for the two vegetation covers were investigated through statistical tests such as ANOVA, correlation, and regression. Soil erodibility was in agreement with the aggregate stability parameters; i.e., the most erodible soils in terms of K values also displayed weaker aggregation. Despite this general observation, when estimating K from aggregate losses the ANOVA conducted on the regression residuals showed land-use-dependent trends (negative average residuals for forest soils, positive for pastures). Therefore, soil aggregation seemed to mirror the actual topsoil conditions better than soil erodibility. Several hypotheses for this behavior were discussed. A relevant effect of the physical protection of the organic matter by the aggregates that cannot be considered in $K$ computation was finally hypothesized in the case of pastures, while in forests soil erodibility seemed to keep trace of past erosion and depletion of finer particles. A good relationship between RUSLE soil erosion rates and aggregate stability occurred in pastures, while no relationship was visible in forests. Therefore, soil aggregation seemed to capture aspects of actual vulnerability that are not visible through the erodibility estimate. Considering the relevance and extension of agrosilvopastoral ecosystems partly left to natural colonization, further studies on litter and humus protective action might improve the understanding of the relationship among erosion, erodibility, and structure.

scholarly journals Can we manipulate root system architecture to control soil erosion?

SOIL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 603-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ola ◽  
I. C. Dodd ◽  
J. N. Quinton
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Root System ◽  
System Architecture ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Root System Architecture ◽  
Water Erosion ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Root Proliferation ◽  
Control Erosion

Abstract. Soil erosion is a major threat to soil functioning. The use of vegetation to control erosion has long been a topic for research. Much of this research has focused on the above-ground properties of plants, demonstrating the important role that canopy structure and cover plays in the reduction of water erosion processes. Less attention has been paid to plant roots. Plant roots are a crucial yet under-researched factor for reducing water erosion through their ability to alter soil properties, such as aggregate stability, hydraulic function and shear strength. However, there have been few attempts to specifically manipulate plant root system properties to reduce soil erosion. Therefore, this review aims to explore the effects that plant roots have on soil erosion and hydrological processes, and how plant root architecture might be manipulated to enhance its erosion control properties. We demonstrate the importance of root system architecture for the control of soil erosion. We also show that some plant species respond to nutrient-enriched patches by increasing lateral root proliferation. The erosional response to root proliferation will depend upon its location: at the soil surface dense mats of roots may reduce soil erodibility but block soil pores thereby limiting infiltration, enhancing runoff. Additionally, in nutrient-deprived regions, root hair development may be stimulated and larger amounts of root exudates released, thereby improving aggregate stability and decreasing erodibility. Utilizing nutrient placement at specific depths may represent a potentially new, easily implemented, management strategy on nutrient-poor agricultural land or constructed slopes to control erosion, and further research in this area is needed.

scholarly journals Soil aggregation, erodibility and erosion rates in mountain soils (NW-Alps, Italy)

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-212
Author(s):  
S. Stanchi ◽  
G. Falsone ◽  
E. Bonifacio
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Erosion Rate ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Stability Parameters ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Relevant Effect ◽  
Soil Erosion Rates ◽  
Aggregate Loss

Abstract. Erosion is a relevant soil degradation factor in mountain agrosilvopastoral ecosystems, and can be enhanced by the abandonment of agricultural land and pastures, then left to natural evolution. The on-site and off-site consequences of soil erosion at the catchment and landscape scale are particularly relevant and may affect settlements at the interface with mountain ecosystems. RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) estimates of soil erosion consider, among others, the soil erodibility factor (K), which depends on properties involved in structure and aggregation. A relationship between soil erodibility and aggregation is therefore expected. Erosion is however expected to limit the development of soil structure, hence aggregates should not only be related to erodibility but also mirror soil erosion rates. We investigated the relationships between aggregate stability and the RUSLE erodibility and erosion rate in a mountain watershed at the interface with settlements, characterized by two different land use types (pasture and forest). Soil erodibility was in agreement with the aggregate stability parameters, i.e. the most erodible soils in terms of K values also displayed weaker aggregation. However, estimating K from aggregate loss showed that forest soils always had negative residuals, while the opposite happened for pastures. A good relationship between RUSLE soil erosion rates and aggregate stability occurred in pastures, while no relationship was visible in forests. Several hypotheses for this behavior were discussed. A relevant effect of the physical protection of the organic matter by the aggregates that cannot be considered in K computation was finally hypothesized in the case of pastures, while in forests soil erodibility seemed to keep trace of past erosion and depletion of finer particles. In addition, in forests, the erosion rate estimate was particularly problematic likely because of a high spatial variability of litter properties. Considering the relevance and extension of agrosilvopastoral ecosystems partly left to natural colonization, further studies might improve the understanding of the relationship among erosion, erodibility and structure.

Relationship between soil erodibility and topsoil aggregate stability or carbon content in a cultivated mediterranean highland (Aveyron, France)

1999 ◽  
Vol 30 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 1929-1938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Barthès ◽  
Alain Albrecht ◽  
Jean Asseline ◽  
Georges De Noni ◽  
Eric Roose
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Content ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Erodibility
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document