Predicting Soil Properties from Organic Matter Content following Mechanical Site Preparation of Forest Soils

Land‐use change can have a major impact on soil properties, leading to long‐term changes in soilnutrient cycling rates and carbon storage. While a substantial amount of research has been conducted onland‐use change in tropical regions, empirical evidence of long‐term conversion of forested land toagricultural land in North America is lacking. Pervasive deforestation for the sake of agriculturethroughout much of North America is likely to have modified soil properties, with implications for theglobal climate. Here, we examined the response of physical, chemical and biological soil properties toconversion of forest to agricultural land (100 years ago) on Roebuck Farm near Perth, Ontario, Canada.Soil samples were collected at three sites from under forest and agricultural vegetative cover on bothhigh‐ and low‐lying topographic positions (12 locations in total; soil profile sampled to a depth of 40cm).Our results revealed that bulk density, pH, and nitrate concentrations were all higher in soils collectedfrom cultivate sites. In contrast, samples from forested sites exhibited greater water‐holding capacity,porosity, organic matter content, ammonia concentrations and cation exchange capacity. Many of these characteristics are linked to greater organic matter abundance and diversity in soils under forestvegetation as compared with agricultural soils. Microbial activity and Q10 values were also higher in theforest soils. While soil properties in the forest were fairly similar across topographic gradients, low‐lyingpositions under agricultural regions had higher bulk density and organic matter content than upslopepositions, suggesting significant movement of material along topographic gradients. Differences in soilproperties are attributed largely to increased compaction and loss of organic matter inputs in theagricultural system. Our results suggest that the conversion of forested land cover to agriculture landcover reduces soil quality and carbon storage, alters long‐term site productivity, and contributes toincreased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

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Log landings are methane emission hotspots in managed forests

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2021-0109 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Juliana Vantellingen ◽

Sean C. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Management Practices ◽

Emission Rate ◽

Woody Debris ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Growing Season ◽

Matter Content ◽

Emission Rates ◽

Managed Forests

Log landings are areas within managed forests used to process and store felled trees prior to transport. Through their construction and use soil is removed or redistributed, compacted, and organic matter contents may be increased by incorporation of wood fragments. The effects of these changes to soil properties on methane (CH4) flux is unclear and unstudied. We quantified CH4 flux rates from year-old landings in Ontario, Canada, and examined spatial variability and relationships to soil properties within these sites. Landings emitted CH4 throughout the growing season; the average CH4 emission rate from log landings was 69.2 ± 12.8 nmol m-2 s-1 (26.2 ± 4.8 g CH4 C m-2 y-1), a rate comparable to CH4-emitting wetlands. Emission rates were correlated to soil pH, organic matter content and quantities of buried woody debris. These properties led to strong CH4 emissions, or “hotspots”, in certain areas of landings, particularly where processing of logs occurred and incorporated woody debris into the soil. At the forest level, emissions from landings were estimated to offset ~12% of CH4 consumption from soils within the harvest area, although making up only ~0.5% of the harvest area. Management practices to avoid or remediate these emissions should be developed as a priority measure in “climate-smart” forestry.

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Relationship of soil properties to fractionation, bioavailability and mobility of lead and zinc in soil

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/2201-pse ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 53 (No. 5) ◽

pp. 225-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

N. Finžgar ◽

P. Tlustoš ◽

D. Leštan

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Clay Content ◽

Exchange Capacity ◽

Matter Content

Sequential extractions, metal uptake by Taraxacum officinale, Ruby’s physiologically based extraction test (PBET) and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), were used to assess the risk of Pb and Zn in contaminated soils, and to determine relationships among soil characteristics, heavy metals soil fractionation, bioavailability and leachability. Regression analysis using linear and 2nd order polynomial models indicated relationships between Pb and Zn contamination and soil properties, although of small significance (P < 0.05). Statistically highly significant correlations (P < 0.001) were obtained using multiple regression analysis. A correlation between soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil organic matter and clay content was expected. The proportion of Pb in the PBET intestinal phase correlated with total soil Pb and Pb bound to soil oxides and the organic matter fraction. The leachable Pb, extracted with TCLP, correlated with the Pb bound to carbonates and soil organic matter content (R2 = 69%). No highly significant correlations (P < 0.001) for Zn with soil properties or Zn fractionation were obtained using multiple regression.

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Relationship between soil composition and retention capacity of terbumeton onto chalky soils

Environmental Chemistry ◽

10.1071/en08105 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 245 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Achouak El Arfaoui ◽

Stéphanie Sayen ◽

Eric Marceau ◽

Lorenzo Stievano ◽

Emmanuel Guillon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Environmental Fate ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Calcareous Soils ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Composition ◽

Retention Capacity ◽

Wide Range ◽

Soil Components

Environmental context. The wide use of pesticides for pest and weed control contributes to their presence in underground and surface waters, which has led to a continuously growing interest in their environmental fate. Soils play a key role in the transfer of these compounds from the sprayer to the water as a result of their capacity to retain pesticides depending on the soil components. The knowledge of soil composition should enable one to predict pesticide behaviour in the environment. Abstract. Eight calcareous soils of Champagne vineyards (France) were studied to investigate the adsorption of the herbicide terbumeton (TER). A preliminary characterisation of the soil samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental and textural analyses, revealed a wide range of soil properties for the selected samples. The adsorption isotherms of TER were plotted for all samples. The determination of soil properties, which significantly correlated with the Kd distribution coefficient, allowed identification of organic matter and CaCO3 as the two main soil components that govern the retention of the herbicide. Organic matter was the predominant phase involved in the retention but its role was limited by the presence of calcite. Finally, the ratio of CaCO3 content to organic matter content was proposed as a useful parameter to predict the adsorption of terbumeton in chalky soils. The evolution of Kd as a function of this ratio was successfully described using an empirical model.

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Adsorption of Five Phenylurea Herbicides by Selected Soils of Czechoslovakia

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500069186 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 368-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Josef Kozak ◽

Jerome B. Weber

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Adsorption Isotherms ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Langmuir Equation ◽

Phenylurea Herbicides ◽

Soil Organic Matter Content ◽

Freundlich Equation

Adsorption of five phenylurea herbicides, metobromuron [3-(p-bromophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], monolinuron [3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1-methoxyl-1-methylurea], linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], chlorbromuron [3-(4-bromo-3-chlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], and CGA-15646 [3-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] by eight selected soils of Czechoslovakia were studied. Constants from Freundlich and Langmuir equations were calculated and correlated with the major soil properties. Freundlich K values ranged from 1.84 to 128, and the Freundlich equation was better fitted to the adsorption isotherms than was the Langmuir equation. Soil organic-matter content was the most important factor influencing the range of adsorption.

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Compaction of forest soils. A review

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr9800163 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 163 ◽

Cited By ~ 371

Author(s):

EL Greacen ◽

R Sands

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Forest Soils ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Water Regime ◽

Management Practices ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Predictive Tool ◽

Soil Water Regime ◽

Heavy Loads

The problem of soil compaction in forestry differs from that in agriculture because of differences in the nature of the crop, in particular the weight and size of the plant members and the length of time that they persist. The roots compact the soil as they increase in size, but they also transmit the weight of the tree and forces generated by the wind onto the soil. There are important differences in management practices; in forestry modern harvesting machines apply heavy loads and, for reasons of cost, tend to be kept in operation throughout the year. As a consequence the structure of the soil suffers some damage, often manifested as compaction. Compaction arising from such sources may reduce the growth of the current trees or trees subsequently planted on the site. But it is difficult to predict the extent of such reduction, if any, because of the complex of interactions involved. Important factors concerned, namely, the soil water regime and the organic matter content, are emphasized. A conceptual model is proposed as a predictive tool. The mechanics of soil compaction, the effects of compaction on the physical properties of the soil, and techniques for the prevention and amelioration of compaction of forest soils, are discussed.

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QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF TWO CLOSELY RELATED SOIL MAPPING UNITS

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss74-002 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 7-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

L. S. CROSSON ◽

R. PROTZ

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Mapping ◽

Probability Level ◽

Ap Horizon ◽

Modal Values ◽

True Measure ◽

Mapping Units

Many soil mapping units (MU) have not been adequately sampled to provide a true measure of their variability; therefore, their descriptions must be regarded as incomplete, and valid statistical comparisons cannot be made with other closely related MU. The number of samples required to detect the differences in means of 18 soil properties between Brantford and Beverly Silt Loam MU were calculated and they ranged from 4 at the 80% probability level (10 at the 95% probability level) for organic matter content of the Ap horizon to several thousand for pH of the Ap horizon. Calculation of required sample numbers indicated that sufficient samples had been collected to make valid statistical comparisons between seven of the soil properties. All seven properties were found to be significantly different between the two MU at the 95% probability level. However, only two of the properties, hue and organic matter content of the Ap horizon, had distinctly different modal values between the two MU and neither of these properties is easily measured in the field. Therefore, it was concluded that the 18 soil properties examined were impractical and unreliable criteria for separating the MU in the field. But, the MU separations can be readily and validly made on the basis of landscape position.

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WITHIN-PEDON VARIABILITY IN SOIL PROPERTIES

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss82-069 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 631-639 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. T. PATTERSON ◽

G. J. WALL

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Drainage ◽

Soil Material

Replicate soil samples (2–20) from the A, B and C horizons of 41 pedons were collected to measure within-pedon variability of particle size distribution, organic matter content, calcium carbonate equivalent and pH. Variability in soil properties was examined in relation to the mode of origin of the soil material, soil horizonation and soil drainage. Variance in particle size distribution was significantly influenced by mode of deposition as well as by soil horizons, while soil drainage had no significant influence on the variation in particle size distribution. Variance in calcium carbonate equivalent and organic matter content was not influenced by soil drainage or mode of deposition. The number of replicate samples required for statistically reliable evaluation of a pedon at given confidence limits was determined for the soil properties studied. The results of these calculations indicate the need for up to five replicate samples to achieve satisfactory levels of accuracy at the 95% confidence level for some of the soil properties studied.

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The impact of landscape evolution on soil physics: evolution of soil physical and hydraulic properties along two chronosequences of proglacial moraines

Earth System Science Data ◽

10.5194/essd-12-3189-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 3189-3204

Author(s):

Anne Hartmann ◽

Markus Weiler ◽

Theresa Blume

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Hydraulic Properties ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Matter Content ◽

Data Set ◽

Soil Chronosequence

Abstract. Soil physical properties highly influence soil hydraulic properties, which define the soil hydraulic behavior. Thus, changes within these properties affect water flow paths and the soil water and matter balance. Most often these soil physical properties are assumed to be constant in time, and little is known about their natural evolution. Therefore, we studied the evolution of physical and hydraulic soil properties along two soil chronosequences in proglacial forefields in the Central Alps, Switzerland: one soil chronosequence developed on silicate and the other on calcareous parent material. Each soil chronosequence consisted of four moraines with the ages of 30, 160, 3000, and 10 000 years at the silicate forefield and 110, 160, 4900, and 13 500 years at the calcareous forefield. We investigated bulk density, porosity, loss on ignition, and hydraulic properties in the form of retention curves and hydraulic conductivity curves as well as the content of clay, silt, sand, and gravel. Samples were taken at three depths (10, 30, 50 cm) at six sampling sites at each moraine. Soil physical and hydraulic properties changed considerably over the chronosequence. Particle size distribution showed a pronounced reduction in sand content and an increase in silt and clay content over time at both sites. Bulk density decreased, and porosity increased during the first 10 millennia of soil development. The trend was equally present at both parent materials, but the reduction in sand and increase in silt content were more pronounced at the calcareous site. The organic matter content increased, which was especially pronounced in the topsoil at the silicate site. With the change in physical soil properties and organic matter content, the hydraulic soil properties changed from fast-draining coarse-textured soils to slow-draining soils with high water-holding capacity, which was also more pronounced in the topsoil at the silicate site. The data set presented in this paper is available at the online repository of the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ; Hartmann et al., 2020b). The data set can be accessed via the DOI https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.4.4.2020.004.

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