scholarly journals Fungal Contributions to Soil Aggregation and Soil Quality

Author(s):  
Neal S. Eash ◽  
Douglas L. Karlen ◽  
Timothy B. Parkin
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Alberto da Silva Rodrigues Pinto ◽  
Sandra Santana de Lima ◽  
Cristiane Figueira da Silva ◽  
Rafael Gomes da Mota Gonçalves ◽  
Igor de Sousa Morais ◽  
...  

Abstract Conventional and conservation tillage systems can alter soil aggregation and total and labile soil organic matter (SOM) contents. This study aimed to determine the degree of soil aggregation, quantify total carbon (TC), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), light organic matter (LOM), and potentially mineralizable carbon (CO2-C) contents in soils aggregates, and assess soil quality indices at sites under conventional and conservation tillage in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Four experimental areas were analyzed: a area under conventional tillage for 20 years, a area under no-till for 6 years, a area under no-till for 18 years, and a reference area of undisturbed Cerrado vegetation. Soil aggregates retained on 8.0 to 4.0 mm sieves were evaluated for size class distribution and mean weight diameter. TC, POXC, LOM, daily and total CO2-C emissions were also analyzed. These data were used to calculate the C/N ratio and sensitivity, carbon pool, and lability indices. The results of SOM compartments were in agreement with those obtained for the soil aggregation status. Environmental conditions at no-till areas promoted macroaggregate formation and preserved TC and LOM contents, resulting in a high degree of aggregate stability. Soil quality indices were sensitive to identify changes between the reference area and managed areas. Soil aggregates from no-till areas had higher CO2-C emissions and accumulations than those from the conventional tillage area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Řezáčová ◽  
Alena Czakó ◽  
Martin Stehlík ◽  
Markéta Mayerová ◽  
Tomáš Šimon ◽  
...  

AbstractAn important goal of sustainable agriculture is to maintain soil quality. Soil aggregation, which can serve as a measure of soil quality, plays an important role in maintaining soil structure, fertility, and stability. The process of soil aggregation can be affected through impacts on biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we tested whether soil management involving application of organic and mineral fertilizers could significantly improve soil aggregation and if variation among differently fertilized soils could be specifically attributed to a particular biotic and/or abiotic soil parameter. In a field experiment within Central Europe, we assessed stability of 1–2 mm soil aggregates together with other parameters of soil samples from differently fertilized soils. Application of compost and digestates increased stability of soil aggregates. Most of the variation in soil aggregation caused by different fertilizers was associated with soil organic carbon lability, occurrence of aromatic functional groups, and variations in abundance of eubacteria, total glomalins, concentrations of total S, N, C, and hot water extractable C. In summary, we have shown that application of compost and digestates improves stability of soil aggregates and that this is accompanied by increased soil fertility, decomposition resistance, and abundance of total glomalins and eubacteria. These probably play significant roles in increasing stability of soil aggregates.


Author(s):  
S.M. Thomas ◽  
M.H.Beare C.D. Ford ◽  
V. Rietveld

Humping/hollowing and flipping are land development practices widely used on the West Coast to overcome waterlogging constraints to pasture production. However, there is very limited information about how the resulting "new" soils function and how their properties change over time following these extreme modifications. We hypothesised that soil quality will improve in response to organic matter inputs from plants and excreta, which will in turn increase nutrient availability. We tested this hypothesis by quantifying the soil organic matter and nutrient content of soils at different stages of development after modification. We observed improvements in soil quality with increasing time following soil modification under both land development practices. Total soil C and N values were very low following flipping, but over 8 years these values had increased nearly five-fold. Other indicators of organic matter quality such as hot water extractable C (HWC) and anaerobically mineralisable N (AMN) showed similar increases. With large capital applications of superphosphate fertiliser to flipped soils in the first year and regular applications of maintenance fertiliser, Olsen P levels also increased from values


Author(s):  
Amita M Watkar ◽  

Soil, itself means Soul of Infinite Life. Soil is the naturally occurring unconsolidated or loose covering on the earth’s surface. Physical properties depend upon the amount, size, shape, arrangement, and mineral composition of soil particles. It also depends on the organic matter content and pore spaces. Chemical properties depend on the Inorganic and organic matter present in the soil. Soils are the essential components of the environment and foundation resources for nearly all types of land use, besides being the most important component of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, assessment of soil quality and its direction of change with time is an ideal and primary indicator of sustainable agricultural land management. Soil quality indicators refer to measurable soil attributes that influence the capacity of a soil to function, within the limits imposed by the ecosystem, to preserve biological productivity and environmental quality and promote plant, animal and human health. The present study is to assess these soil attributes such as physical and chemical properties season-wise.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt D. Busse ◽  
Ken R. Hubbert ◽  
Emily E. Y. Moghaddas
Keyword(s):  

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