scholarly journals Soil Cover Improves Soil Quality in a Young Walnut Forest in the Sichuan Basin, China

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Liehua Tie ◽  
Maosong Feng ◽  
Congde Huang ◽  
Josep Peñuelas ◽  
Jordi Sardans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Juglans Regia ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
The Sichuan Basin

The soil quality index (SQI) is based on several key indicators and is used to assess soil quality. More than 250,000 ha of walnut saplings (Juglans regia L.) were planted in previous cropland areas in the Sichuan Basin, China, using a range of soil cover types that may affect soil quality with effects that are unclear. We investigated the effects of white film (WF), black film (BF), shade netting (SN), and maize straw (MS) soil cover types and an uncovered control type (CK) on soil chemical and biological indicators and the SQI in the 0–15 cm soil layer in a young walnut forest in the Sichuan Basin over a 27-month study period. The results showed that all soil cover types increased the soil organic matter (SOM), total potassium (TK), and available potassium (AK) concentrations (p < 0.05), whereas the total nitrogen (TN) and available nitrogen (AN) concentrations were greater only in soils covered by MS than in CK (p < 0.05). The available phosphorus concentrations were 64.1 and 193.2% greater in soils covered by BF and MS treatments, respectively, than in the CK (p < 0.05). The numbers of soil faunal groups (N) were 45.7, 36.4, 37.2, and 101.5% higher in WF, BF, SN, and MS, respectively, than in CK (p < 0.05); the individual numbers (S) were 92.3, 36.2, 100.8, and 154.5% greater in WF, BF, SN, and MS, respectively, than in CK (p < 0.05). The microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was 15.5, 32.3, 45.0, and 77.1% greater in WF, BF, SN, and MS than in CK, respectively (p < 0.05). Redundancy discriminant analysis revealed strong positive interactions between biological indicators (MBC, N, and S) and SOM, AN, and AK concentrations. SOM, TN, AK, S, and MBC were the minimum required variables for the effective assessment of the SQI. All four soil cover types led to an improved SQI (p < 0.05), and MS had the greatest effect on SOM, TN, AN, AP, N, S, MBC, and SQI (p < 0.05). In conclusion, all four soil cover types increased the SOM levels, TK, AK, and MBC concentrations, soil faunal diversity, and SQI. The MS treatment was the most cost-effective and efficient measure to improve soil fertility, ecological function, and overall soil quality in the studied walnut forest.

scholarly journals Effects of pumice mining on soil quality

Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cruz-Ruíz ◽  
E. Cruz-Ruíz ◽  
R. Vaca ◽  
P. Del Aguila ◽  
J. Lugo
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract. Mexico is the world's fourth most important maize producer; hence, there is a need to maintain soil quality for sustainable production in the upcoming years. Pumice mining is a superficial operation that modifies large areas in central Mexico. The main aim was to assess the present state of agricultural soils differing in elapsed time since pumice mining (0–15 years) in a representative area of the Calimaya region in the State of Mexico. The study sites in 0, 1, 4, 10, and 15 year old reclaimed soils were compared with an adjacent undisturbed site. Our results indicate that gravimetric moisture content, water hold capacity, bulk density, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and phosphatase and urease activity were greatly impacted by disturbance. A general trend of recovery towards the undisturbed condition with reclamation age was found after disturbance, the recovery of soil total N being faster than soil organic C. The soil quality indicators were selected using principal component analysis (PCA), correlations and multiple linear regressions. The first three components gathered explain 76.4 % of the total variability. The obtained results revealed that the most appropriate indicators to diagnose the quality of the soils were urease, available phosphorus and bulk density and minor total nitrogen. According to linear score analysis and the additive index, the soils showed a recuperation starting from 4 years of pumice extraction.

Indexing soil quality: a new paradigm in soil science research

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teklu Erkossa ◽  
Fisseha Itanna ◽  
Karl Stahr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Quality Index ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Land Preparation

Soil quality indexing is a new approach in spatial and temporal evaluation of land management systems effects on soils’ capacity to function. A field experiment was conducted at Caffee Doonsa (2400 m a.s.l., 08°57′N, 39°06′E) for 6 years (1998–2003) to compare the effects of land preparation methods on soil quality (SQ) and to test the use of the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) in assessing SQ under the Ethiopian Central Highlands conditions. Four methods of land preparation [broad bed and furrows (BBF), green manure (GM), ridge and furrows (RF), and reduced tillage (RT)] were arranged in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications on permanent plots (22 m by 6 m). Physical, chemical, and biological SQ indicators were determined and scored, and a soil quality index (SQI) was developed using the SMAF procedures. Seven SQ indicators including microbial biomass carbon (MBC), bulk density, aggregate stability (AGG), soil organic carbon (Corg), pH, available water capacity (AWC), and available phosphorus were selected as a minimum dataset. The scored values of the indicators ranged from 0.21 for AGG and 0.97 for pH, both under BBF. Compared with RF (control), all the alternatives (GM, BBF, and RT) increased the scores of Corg and MBC. Moreover, BBF and GM increased the score values of AWC and AGG, respectively. Consequently, there was a non-significant increase in SQI due to the use of GM, BBF, and RT compared with the control. As a result, the land preparation methods may be preferred in a decreasing order GM ≥ BBF ≥ RT ≥ RF for the management goal of crop production. The study indicated that SMAF could be a robust tool to assess the performance of land management methods on soil quality in the study area, but some modifications may be required to fit to the prevailing cropping system and soil characteristics.

Effect of tillage erosion on the distribution of CaCO3, phosphorus and the ratio of CaCO3/available phosphorus in the slope landscape

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 630 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Z. Jia ◽  
J. H. Zhang ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
Z. H. Zhang ◽  
B. Li
Keyword(s):  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Mixing Effect ◽  
The Sichuan Basin ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Tillage Erosion ◽  
Topsoil Layer

Little is known about the effect of tillage erosion on the distribution of CaCO3, phosphorus and changes in the ratio of CaCO3/available phosphorus (AP) in the hillslope landscape. The aims of the present study were to elucidate the mechanisms underlying changes in CaCO3 and AP concentrations induced by tillage erosion along slope transects and to reconstruct the historical changes in CaCO3 in soil layers at different landscape positions. Two adjacent slopes were selected from the Sichuan Basin, China, one with downslope tillage (Slope 1) and the other with upslope tillage (Slope 2) for 29 years. Then, consecutive downslope tillage by hoeing was applied five and 20 times on Slope 1. Under normal tillage (both downslope and upslope) conditions, CaCO3 concentrations increased exponentially with soil depth. However, the mixing effect of consecutive tillage (five and 20 tills) changed the vertical CaCO3 distribution patterns. For downslope tillage, the topsoil layer CaCO3 concentration was significantly lower at the toeslope than at other slope positions, but there were no significant differences between toeslope and other slope positions for upslope tillage. Consecutive tillage with five and 20 tills increased CaCO3 concentrations in the topsoil layer by 27.7% and 30.8% respectively compared with downslope tillage, but AP concentrations decreased by 26.1% and 29.0% respectively. Under normal tillage, AP concentrations decreased with increasing CaCO3 concentrations due to the adsorption and precipitation of AP by CaCO3, but this relationship disappeared after consecutive tillage. After consecutive tillage with five and 20 tills, the mean CaCO3/AP ratios of the topsoil layer were 93.5% and 88.4% greater than those for downslope tillage respectively, whereas there were no significant differences between downslope and upslope tillage. In conclusion, tillage is a process of CaCO3 replenishment and AP dilution in the surface layer of soil derived from carbonate-rich bedrocks.

scholarly journals Effects of Management Practices and Land Use on Biological and Enzymatic Attributes of an Agricultural Area

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Luciana S. Barros ◽  
Valdinar F. Melo ◽  
Zachary N. Senwo ◽  
Ariane Evald ◽  
Raphael Henrique S. Siqueira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Land Conversion ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Soil Disturbances ◽  
Land Use And Management

A series of anthropogenic approaches, including burning practices and soil disturbances as soil cover removal, plowing and harrowing were experimentally undertaken to mimic land conversion for agricultural production in northern Amazonia. These manipulations led to changes in soil biological and biochemical properties. To reduce knowledge gaps concerning land conversion in the Amazon, the study objective was to evaluate the influence of land use and management practices on the biological attributes and enzymatic activity of the soil in Tepequem, a settlement in north of the Amazon, Brazil. Tepequem was chosen for being highly representative in terms of land use and management patterns in the region. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil basal respiration (SBR), metabolic quotient (qCO2) and enzymatic activity were analyzed. Land use changes resulted in alterations to soil quality. The spontaneous plants found on degraded pasture ensured system diversification, protection and organic contribution, facilitating resumption of ecological balancing of the soil. Good soil quality in managed pasture was attributed to the maintenance of soil cover, provided by grasses, and the absence of soil rotation. Burning, soil disturbances and lack of cover negatively influenced the biological and enzymatic activity in sites that were preparation, deforested and burnt. Chemical attributes are significant factors influencing soil quality and health at subsistance plantation. MBC, qMIC and qCO2, acid phosphatase, Beta-glucosidase and urease were the most sensitive parameters of differentiation of sites in preparation from those of native vegetation and pastures.

scholarly journals Soil Quality Indicators After Sequential Applications of Poultry Litter

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 590
Author(s):  
Jackeline Vieira do Santos Laroca ◽  
Tatiane Andrea de Camargo ◽  
Camila Menezes Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
Juliana Mendes Andrade de Souza ◽  
Andressa Selestina Dalla Côrt São Miguel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Particulate Nitrogen ◽  
Structural And Functional Properties ◽  
Properties Of Soil ◽  
Physicochemical Properties Of Soils

Application of poultry litter may lead to major changes in the structural and functional properties of soil. Understanding these alterations is crucial for assessing the effect of organic wastes on the soil quality and attributes. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of use of poultry litter on increased organic matter, microbiological activity and physicochemical properties of soils in the Brazilian Cerrado and identify a group of expressive indicators of changes for the assessed attributes. The research was conducted in Fazenda Alvorada, a farm located in Portel&acirc;ndia/GO (Brazil), consisting of the following accumulated doses of turkey litter: T0 (without application); T1 (26.32 Mg ha-1); T2 (43.15 Mg ha-1); T3 (57.6 Mg ha-1). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks and four replications. Sequential applications of poultry litter provide increases in the variables related to organic matter, mainly in particulate nitrogen and total nitrogen stocks. Applications of lower doses resulted in increases of microbial biomass carbon and microbial quotient. Concerning soil physicochemical properties, available phosphorus, the sum of bases and base saturation were the variables that exhibited the most significant changes with increased doses of poultry litter. The metabolic quotient was the most expressive indicator to represent soil alterations resulting from application of poultry litter.

Biological indicators of soil quality in natural and cultivated subtropical systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-397
Author(s):  
Marcela Toledo ◽  
Silvia Ama Arzuaga ◽  
Stella Maris Contreras Leiva ◽  
Sara Vazquez
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
Superficial Layer ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Ilex Paraguariensis ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Forest Conversion ◽  
Yerba Mate ◽  
Acid Reaction

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of forest conversion at to agricultural production on some biological indicators to quantify their relationship in subtropical ecosystems. The experimental design was in romized complete blocks, with four treatments: subtropical rainforest (F), yerba mate crops (I) (Ilex paraguariensis SH.); citrus crops (C) (Citrus unshiu Marc.); tobacco crops (T) (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Soil samples were taken from 0-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30m deep. The variables measured were: APA, clay content, pH, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), respiration (RE) soil organic carbon (SOC). These soils showed an acid reaction clay content over 650 g.kg-1. SOC N content were higher in soils under subtropical rainforest, intermediate under citrus crops, lower under tobacco yerba mate crops. The highest APA was found under subtropical rainforest decreased in the three depths. In all treatments, APA was higher in the superficial layer; the 76% of APA variability was explained by N P. APA can indicate changes in soil quality, when comparing subtropical rainforest to agricultural systems. APA does not indicate effects between soils under different crops. Our data suggest that acid phosphatase activity is closely associated to soil nitrogen organic content as energy source. 

scholarly journals Biological Quality Indicators of a Haplortox Soil Under Different Management Systems in Southern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
Macarius Cesar Di Lauro Moreira ◽  
Deonir Secco ◽  
Luiz Antônio Zanão Júnior ◽  
Luciene Kazue Tokura ◽  
Araceli Ciotti de Marins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
Basal Respiration ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Avena Strigosa

The research was looking for the quick response of soil's microbiota to soil changes caused by management systems, changes to which biological indicators of soil quality are sensitive. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the impacts of seven soil management systems, including in on hand covers of Pennisetum glaucum (PG), Avena strigosa (AS), Stizolobium aterrimum (SA), EF Pisum sativum (PS) + Avena strigosa (AS), and on the other hand, No soil tillage with gypsum application (NTSG), No soil tillage with scarification (NTSS) and No soil tillage (NTS), on soil quality bioindicators. The bioindicators recorded from top soil samples were collected from the first 10 cm at pre-planting, at pre-flowering and at post-harvest of the soybean, from July 2014 to March 2015 were Total organic carbon (TOC), Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), Soil basal respiration, Respiratory coefficient (qCO2), Microbial coefficient (qMIC), and its relationship with soybean yields. The seven treatments were arranged in the field according to a completely randomized experimental, Analysis of variance (Anova) for each of the bioindicators and comparison of treatment mean values using Tukey test at 5% probability were carried out. SA, the AS+PS consortium and the no-tillage system led to significant improvement of the biological attributes of the soil. The management systems did not change the yield of soybean grain.

scholarly journals Effects of vegetation restoration on soil quality in fragile karst ecosystems of southwest China

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9456
Author(s):  
Huiling Guan ◽  
Jiangwen Fan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Juglans Regia ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Vegetation Restoration ◽  
Pennisetum Purpureum ◽  
Toona Sinensis ◽  
Prunus Salicina ◽  
Karst Areas ◽  
Restoration Time ◽  
Karst Ecosystems

Soil quality assessment is important for karst ecosystems where soil erosion is significant. A large amount of vegetation restoration has been implemented since the early 21st century in degraded karst areas across southwestern China. However, the impacts on soil quality of different restoration types rarely have been compared systematically. In the current study, we investigated the soil quality after a number of vegetation restoration projects as well as their adjacent cropland by analyzing soil samples. Six vegetation restoration types were evaluated, including one natural restoration (natural shrubland, protected for 13 years), three economic forests (4 years Eucalyptus robusta, 4 years Prunus salicina and 6 years Zenia insignis) and two mixed forests (1 year Juglans regia–crop and 13 years Toona sinensis-Pennisetum purpureum ). We evaluated the benefits of different restoration types more accurately by setting each adjacent cropland as the control and setting the variation between the corresponding restored and control site as the evaluation object so that the background differences of six sites could be eliminated. The results indicated that natural shrubland, Toona sinensis-Pennisetum purpureum and Zenia insignis were effective in improving soil quality index (SQI) in degraded karst cropland largely due to their higher SOC and TN content. The variation of SQI (VSQI) of natural shrubland was significantly higher than that in Eucalyptus robusta, Prunus salicina and Juglans regia-crop in total soil layer (0–30 cm) (P < 0.05), indicating natural shrubland had better capacity to improve soil quality. The boosting regression tree model revealed that vegetation restoration type explained 73.49% and restoration time explained 10.30% of the variation in VSQI, which confirmed that vegetation restoration type and restoration time are critical for achieving soil reserves. Therefore, it is vital to select appropriate vegetation type in restoration projects and recovery for a long time in order to achieve better soil quality. The current study provides a theoretical basis on which to assess the effects of different vegetation restoration types on the heterogeneous degraded karst areas.

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