scholarly journals Soil Health Beneath Amended Switchgrass: Effects of Biochar and Nitrogen on Active Carbon and Wet Aggregate Stability

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7176
Author(s):  
Priya Saini ◽  
Jason P. de Koff ◽  
Richard Link ◽  
Chris Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Active Carbon ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Perennial crops, like switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), are important for bioenergy production and long-term carbon sequestration. Biochar, a byproduct of certain bioenergy production processes, is also identified as a potential tool for carbon sequestration and soil quality improvements, especially in marginal soils. Despite the focus on switchgrass, soil health characteristics under switchgrass production for biomass are unclear. This study focused on identifying the effects of four N rates (0, 17, 34, and 67 kg N ha−1) and biochar application (0 and 9 Mg ha−1) in a 3-year switchgrass field study on a silt loam soil. Soil active carbon (AC) and wet aggregate stability (WAS) were the indicators used to assess soil health. Our results indicated a decline in both AC and WAS over the study period, similar to other studies. Wet aggregate stability declined from 32% in 2018 to 15% in 2019. There were some significant differences between treatments, but no defined trends were observed. A decline in AC from 301 mg C kg soil−1 to 267 mg C kg soil−1 was also observed over the three-year period. Nitrogen rate also affected AC in the last year of study. Several possible explanations for the observed changes are proposed; however, a definitive mechanism is still unknown, thus future research is essential to improve our understanding and provide wider acceptance.

scholarly journals Quantitative and qualitative comparison of three wet aggregate stability methods using a long-term tillage system and crop rotation experiment

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 738-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.L. Van Eerd ◽  
A.H. DeBruyn ◽  
L. Ouellette ◽  
D.C. Hooker ◽  
D.E. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Clay Loam Soil ◽  
Qualitative Comparison ◽  
No Till ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Automated wet-sieving is preferred for this clay loam soil due to better sensitivity and savings (time and disposables) despite a larger capital investment. Rotations with greater frequency of winter wheat and no-till compared with conventional plow system had greater wet aggregate stability values, indicating better surface soil quality.

scholarly journals Tillage Intensity Effects on Soil Structure Indicators—A US Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio R. Nunes ◽  
Douglas L. Karlen ◽  
Thomas B. Moorman
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Tillage intensity affects soil structure in many ways but the magnitude and type (+/−) of change depends on site-specific (e.g., soil type) and experimental details (crop rotation, study length, sampling depth, etc.). This meta-analysis examines published effects of chisel plowing (CP), no-tillage (NT) and perennial cropping systems (PER) relative to moldboard plowing (MP) on three soil structure indicators: wet aggregate stability (AS), bulk density (BD) and soil penetration resistance (PR). The data represents four depth increments (from 0 to >40-cm) in 295 studies from throughout the continental U.S. Overall, converting from MP to CP did not affect those soil structure indicators but reducing tillage intensity from MP to NT increased AS in the surface (<15-cm) and slightly decreased BD and PR below 25-cm. The largest positive effect of NT on AS was observed within Inceptisols and Entisols after a minimum of three years. Compared to MP, NT had a minimal effect on soil compaction indicators (BD and PR) but as expected, converting from MP to PER systems improved soil structure at all soil depths (0 to >40-cm). Among those three soil structure indicators, AS was the most sensitive to management practices; thus, it should be used as a physical indicator for overall soil health assessment. In addition, based on this national meta-analysis, we conclude that reducing tillage intensity improves soil structure, thus offering producers assurance those practices are feasible for crop production and that they will also help sustain soil resources.

scholarly journals Soil health indicators after 21 yr of no-tillage in south coastal British Columbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-225
Author(s):  
Ben W. Thomas ◽  
Derek Hunt ◽  
Shabtai Bittman ◽  
Kirsten D. Hannam ◽  
Aimé J. Messiga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Layer ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
No Till ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability ◽  
Fraser Valley

The lower Fraser Valley is one of the most intensively cropped regions in Canada. Yet, how soil health indicators respond to long-term intensive agricultural management is poorly documented in this region. Thus, we evaluated a suite of soil health indicators in response to 21 growing seasons of continuous silage corn (Zea mays L.) under conventional tillage or no-tillage (0–20 cm soil layer). Wet aggregate stability, available water capacity, active carbon (permanganate oxidizable, POXC), and extractable potassium and extractable magnesium were significantly greater with no-till than conventional tillage, whereas 8 of 13 indicators were similar. Soil health indicators responded more favourably to no-till than conventional tillage.

RELATIONS BETWEEN AGGREGATE STABILITY AND ORGANIC COMPONENTS FOR A SILT LOAM SOIL

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. PERFECT ◽  
B. D. KAY
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Rates Of Change ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Organic Carbon Pool ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability

Rates of change in wet-aggregate stability under different cropping systems have been reported. These data were used to infer rates of change in the amount of stabilizing materials present. Increases in wet-aggregate stability did not correlate with increases in total organic carbon content, suggesting that some components of the organic carbon pool are more actively involved in stabilizing aggregates than others. Assuming a linear relation between these active components and wet-aggregate stability, the amount of stabilizing materials present should increase exponentially with time when forages are introduced onto soil previously used for row crop production. Key words: Soil structure, wet-aggregate stability, organic matter, corn, forages

EFFECT OF ROOT EXUDATES FROM CORN AND BROMEGRASS ON SOIL STRUCTURAL STABILITY

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. POJASOK ◽  
B. D. KAY
Keyword(s):  
Structural Stability ◽  
Root Exudates ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Flash Evaporation ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Wet Aggregate Stability ◽  
Dispersible Clay

The effect of root exudates on structural stability and the hypothesis that the growing roots of corn (Zea mays L.) can destabilize soil structure by chelating Fe and Al involved in mineral-metal-organic matter linkages were investigated. Exudates were removed from 14C-labelled corn and bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) plants grown in sand using sequential leaching with water and acetone. The exudates were concentrated by flash evaporation and incubated with 1–2 mm aggregates of a calcareous silt loam soil for up to 240 h. Aggregates to which exudates from bromegrass were added had a higher wet aggregate stability (WAS) and lower dispersible clay content (DC) than aggregates to which exudates from corn were added. The greatest increase in stability occurred on addition of the water-extracted exudates (9.6% for WAS, 27.1% for DC). The increase in stability correlated positively with a release into solution of Ca and Mg from the soil solids. Addition of CaCl2 to the aggregates, to give corresponding amounts of Ca and Mg in solution, had similar effects on stability suggesting that the ions released by the exudates were not in a chelated form. The quantity of carbon added in the exudates and the mineralization of this carbon were positively and negatively correlated with stability, respectively. There was little evidence that corn exudates caused a destabilization of structure. Key words: Wet aggregate stability, dispersible clay, corn, bromegrass, flocculation, calcium

scholarly journals Management sensitivity, repeatability, and consistency of interpretation of soil health indicators on organic farms in southwestern Ontario

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 508-519
Author(s):  
Sarah K. Hargreaves ◽  
Paul DeJong ◽  
Ken Laing ◽  
Tony McQuail ◽  
Laura L. Van Eerd
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Active Carbon ◽  
Phospholipid Fatty Acid ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Commercial Farms

Assessment tools are needed to evaluate the effect of farming practices on soil health, as there is increasing interest from growers to improve the health of their soils. However, there is limited information on the efficacy of different soil health indicators on commercial farms and perhaps less so on organic farms. To assess efficacy, three organic growers in cooperation with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario’s Farmer-Led Research Program tested management sensitivity, measurement repeatability, and consistency of interpretation of different soil health indicators. On each farm, we compared permanganate-oxidizable carbon (active carbon), organic matter, wet aggregate stability, phospholipid fatty acid analysis, Haney soil health test, and Haney nutrient test on one field of grower-perceived high productivity, one field of grower-perceived low productivity, and one reference site (undisturbed, permanent cover). Our results were consistent with previous research that showed grower perception of productivity and soil health associated with management-sensitive soil health indicators. Of the indicators tested, active carbon was the only indicator that was sensitive, repeatable, and consistent across the three farms, and soil organic matter was highly repeatable and consistent to detect differences greater than 0.5% organic matter. This study highlights differences among soil health indicators on commercial farms, and it concludes that active carbon and organic matter were the most useful soil health indicators for these organic farms. Participating growers intend to use results to benchmark current soil status and to help guide land management decisions towards improved soil health.

scholarly journals Aggregate stability and associated C and N in a silty loam soil as affected by organic material inputs

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 774-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan LONG ◽  
Peng SUI ◽  
Wang-sheng GAO ◽  
Bin-bin WANG ◽  
Jian-xiong HUANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Material ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Silty Loam ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
C And N

scholarly journals Fire effects on soil system functioning: new insights and future challenges

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan H. Doerr ◽  
Artemi Cerdá
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Biomass Productivity ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Diverse Field

Fire affects entire ecosystems – their flora, fauna, the atmosphere and soil. Research on the effects of fire to date has focussed primarily on the former three, whereas effects on the soil system have seen less attention. Burning and resulting post-fire environmental conditions can alter the functioning of soils physically (e.g. aggregate stability, pore size, distribution, water repellency and runoff response), chemically (e.g. nutrient availability, mineralogy, pH and C : N ratios) and biologically (e.g. biomass productivity, microbial composition and carbon sequestration). These fire-induced alterations have typically been examined in isolation by researchers in separate disciplines despite the sometimes strong relationship between some of these physical, chemical and biological effects. This special issue brings together studies from diverse disciplines, focussing on a wide spectrum of fire effects on the soil system. Here we aim to summarise, evaluate and set into context some of the new insights arising from these studies. A case is made for enhanced cross-disciplinary collaboration and the use of multi-scale research approaches in order to meet existing and future research challenges in this diverse field.

scholarly journals Comparative Effects of Different Types of Biochar on Physical Properties of Soil And Growth of Maize

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD IQBAL ◽  
MUHAMMAD YASIR ◽  
ATIF JAVED ◽  
SARMAD TAUSIF
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Active Carbon ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Wood Bark ◽  
Shoot Mass ◽  
Properties Of Soil

The current pot trial was conducted to estimate the impacts of different types of biochar on the growth and nutrients availability of maize (Zea mays) and their effects on the properties of soil. Treatments including four different feedstock based biochar i.e wheat straw, rice husk, corn cob and wood bark were applied to the soil in 10 kg pots @ 1.5% w/w. The experiment was carried out using complete randomized design (CRD). The crop was harvested after the plants have completed their vegetative growth. Physiological parameters of the crop (plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content) were measured before harvesting while shoot mass (fresh and dry) and root mass (fresh and dry) were calculated after harvesting of the crop. The data showed a significant difference when compared with the control. Plant height was significantly increased from 140cm (control) to 159.9cm in T4 (wood bark biochar). Experimental soil was analyzed in the laboratory for NPK, water aggregate stability, organic matter and active carbon. Wet aggregate stability value of the soil was improved from 17.82% to 19.5%. Similarly soil active carbon was significantly improved from 259.33 ppm to 321.25 ppm. The data showed more significant results of wood bark biochar. Nutrient availability in the soil and plant nutrients uptake N (21.6%), P (31.25%) and K (45%) was increased as a results of biochar incorporation in the soil.

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