Soil and crop responses to long-term potato production at a benchmark site in northwestern New Brunswick

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
H W Rees ◽  
T L Chow ◽  
E G Gregorich
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Solanum Tuberosum L ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

Concerns about deteriorating soil quality led to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada establishing a network of 23 soil quality monitoring benchmark sites with the objective of providing a baseline data set for assessing change in soil quality and biological productivity of representative Canadian farming systems. A site (22-NB) was established in 1990 in northwestern New Brunswick to monitor changes in Podzolic and Brunisolic soils developed on coarse loamy till on a rolling landscape under intensive potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production [potato-potato-barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) rotation] that was cultivated along the contour with variable grade diversions and a grassed waterway. Soil samples were collected in 1990 and again in 2000. Field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) at 10–20, 26–36 and 50–60 cm, earthworm counts and crop yield measurements were conducted annually. 137Cs data were collected in 1990 to estimate soil displacement at the site. Runoff and soil loss between May 01 and Nov. 30 were measured annually. The soil conservation system at site 22-NB has resulted in annual runoff and soil loss of only 9 mm and 311 kg ha-1, respectively. Measured values of 137Cs averaged 2114 Bq m-2 (70% of baseline). Changes in the Ap horizon properties between 1990 and 2000 included significant (P < 0.05) increases in available P (+ 86.7 mg kg-1) and K (+ 13.4 mg kg-1) and significant reductions in available Mg (−45.8 mg kg-1) and SOC (−0.51 g kg-1). The Kfs of 10- to 20-cm, 26- to 36-cm and 50- to 60-cm depths were 1.3, 1.0 and 1.0 cm h-1, respectively. Very few earthworms were present (0.05 worms m-2). The upper terrace was consistently the highest yielding in both potato and barley, while the lowest terrace was consistently the lowest yielding in both crops. Crop yields may have been affected by micro-climate and other soil differences as a result of site position.While the system of contour tillage with variable grade diversions and grassed waterway conserved both soil and water, the potato-potato-grain rotation did not maintain SOC levels or sustain earthworm populations. Associated heavy rates of fertilization also lead to increased levels of soil K and P. Key words: Soil quality, soil organic carbon, hydraulic conductivity, earthworms, runoff, water erosion

Seasonal distribution of runoff and soil loss under four tillage treatments in the upper St. John River valley New Brunswick, Canada

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Chow ◽  
H. W. Rees ◽  
J. Monteith
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Seasonal Distribution ◽  
Soil Erodibility ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Cropping Season ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Losses

The effect of four different tillage treatments on surface runoff and soil loss, their seasonal distribution and temporal variation in soil erodibility were examined using runoff-erosion plots (10 m wide × 30 m long), on a Holmesville gravelly loam soil, a major soil type used for potato production in New Brunswick. Fall moldboard plowing, fall chisel plowing, spring moldboard plowing and subsoiling followed by fall moldboard plowing were evaluated under barley and fallow conditions on 8 and 11% slopes between 1989 and 1993. With exception of one year, annual precipitation was lower than normal. However, due to higher rainfall during the cropping season, the calculated erosivities were higher than those typically used for conservation planning in this region. Runoff data revealed that fall moldboard plowing generated the highest runoff. Either performing subsoiling prior to fall moldboard plowing or delaying moldboard plowing until the next spring, reduced runoff by approximately 10%. Chisel plowing, which loosens the soil without inverting it and leaves a large amount of residues on the surface, provided by far the greatest benefit in reducing runoff (20% reduction over fall moldboard plowing). Soil loss from fall moldboard plowing on the 11% slope under fallow was 2.8 and 2.6 times greater than from spring moldboard plowing and fall chisel plowing, respectively. The majority of the difference in soil loss occurred during the summer months. The benefit of spring moldboard and fall chisel plowing was considerably less on the 8% slope in which soil loss from the fall moldboard plowing was only 24 and 19% higher than spring moldboard and fall chisel plowing, respectively, indicating that the benefits are slope dependent and increase with increasing slope from 8 to 11%. When the plots were planted in Chapais barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), soil losses were negligible. Tillage treatments, and particularly cropping practices, play a major role in seasonal distribution of runoff and soil loss. Under fallow, approximately 79% of runoff and 8.1% of soil loss occurred during the non-cropping season whereas 96% of runoff and 68% of soil loss were found when the plots were planted in barley. The soil erodibility factor was two to three times higher during March and April, which coincide with the winter-spring thaw period, than during the rest of the year. This seasonal variation must be considered when using event-based models to predict soil losses. Key words: Moldboard plow, chisel plow, subsoiling, erodibility, erosivity, universal soil loss equation, crop residue

Effects of two crop rotations on seasonal runoff and soil loss in the Peace River region

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. P. Van Vliet ◽  
J. W. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Peace River ◽  
Residual Variation ◽  
River Region ◽  
Seasonal Runoff ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Losses

Four erosion plots were monitored from 1983 to 1989 (6 yr) to evaluate the effects of two crop rotations and their constituent crops on runoff and soil loss under natural precipitation near Fort St. John in the Peace River region of British Columbia. Rotation 1 consisted of two cycles of summerfallow — canola (Brassica rapa)-barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and Rotation 2 included summerfallow — canola-barley-barley underseed to red fescue (Festuca rubra L.)-fescue-fescue. Rainfall and snowmelt runoff were collected and sampled throughout the year to determine seasonal runoff and soil losses. Over the 6 yr, the cumulative runoff and soil losses were consistently greater under Rotation 1 than under Rotation 2. There was a greater than fourfold difference in total soil loss, and 33–35% more total runoff. Rainfall-induced runoff and soil losses were significantly higher for Rotation 1 than for Rotation 2. Snowmelt runoff accounted for 90 and 96% of the total annual runoff and for 39 and 80% of the total annual soil loss from Rotations 1 and 2, respectively. Two large rainfall events during 1983 and 1987, each causing a soil loss in excess of 2000 kg ha−1, accounted for between 85 and 91% of the 6-yr total rainfall-induced erosion from Rotation 1. No differences in runoff or soil loss were detected among crops but the comparisons were insensitive because of high residual variation. Key words: Runoff, soil loss, erosion plots, crop rotations

Changes in soil hydraulic conductivity, runoff, and soil loss due to irrigation with different types of saline–sodic water

Geoderma ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 144 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 509-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uttam Kumar Mandal ◽  
A.K. Bhardwaj ◽  
D.N. Warrington ◽  
Dina Goldstein ◽  
A. Bar Tal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Sodic Water ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Soil Hydraulic ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

scholarly journals Assessing the Influence of Soil Quality on Rainfed Wheat Yield

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 469
Author(s):  
Kamal Nabiollahi ◽  
Eskandari Heshmat ◽  
Amir Mosavi ◽  
Ruth Kerry ◽  
Mojtaba Zeraatpisheh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Soil Quality Assessment ◽  
Rainfed Wheat

Soil quality assessment based on crop yields and identification of key indicators of it can be used for better management of agricultural production. In the current research, the weighted additive soil quality index (SQIw), factor analysis (FA), and multiple linear regression (MLR) are used to assess the soil quality of rainfed winter wheat fields with two soil orders on 53.20 km2 of agricultural land in western Iran. A total of 18 soil quality indicators were determined for 100 soil samples (0–20 cm depth) from two soil orders (Inceptisols and Entisols). The soil properties measured were: pH, soil texture, organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), soil microbial respiration (SMR), carbonate calcium equivalent (CCE), soil porosity (SP), bulk density (BD), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), mean weight diameter (MWD), available potassium (AK), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), available Fe (AFe), available Zn (AZn), available Mn (AMn), and available Cu (ACu). Wheat grain yield for all of the 100 sampling sites was also gathered. The SQIw was calculated using two weighting methods (FA and MLR) and maps were created using a digital soil mapping framework. The soil indicators determined for the minimum data set (MDS) were AK, clay, CEC, AP, SMR, and sand. The correlation between the MLR weighting technique (SQIw-M) and the rainfed wheat yield (r = 0.62) was slightly larger than that the correlation of yield with the FA weighted technique (SQIw-F) (r = 0.58). Results showed that the means of both SQIw-M and SQIw-F and rainfed wheat yield for Inceptisols were higher than for Entisols, although these differences were not statistically significant. Both SQIw-M and SQIw-F showed that areas with Entisols had lower proportions of good soil quality grades (Grades I and II), and higher proportions of poor soil quality grades (Grades IV and V) compared to Inceptisols. Based on these results, soil type must be considered for soil quality assessment in future studies to maintain and enhance soil quality and sustainable production. The overall soil quality of the study region was of poor and moderate grades. To improve soil quality, it is therefore recommended that effective practices such as the implementation of scientifically integrated nutrient management involving the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers in rainfed wheat fields should be promoted.

Impact of incorporated hay mulch on selected physical, chemical and microbiological properties of a loam soil in Atlantic Canada after five years of continuous potato production

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Rees ◽  
T. L. Chow
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Solanum Tuberosum L ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Productivity

Maintenance of soil quality and crop productivity is a major concern under intensive potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. The effects of four consecutive annual applications of 0.00, 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 wet hay on growing season soil moisture and thermal regimes, soil quality and yield were evaluated on a loamy Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzol between 1995 and 1999. Hay mulching increased soil moisture at the beginning of the growing season by 6.5 to 12.7%, with increases significant until June 24, September 07 and September 20 for the 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 treatments, respectively. Growing season soil temperature of the 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 treatments were lower than control, but only by −0.2 and −0.8°C, respectively. Hay mulching increased soil organic carbon (SOC) of the plow layer (0–25 cm), which increased biological activity resulting in better soil aggregation with more macropores, faster saturated hydraulic conductivity and reduced bulk density. Soil air CO2 concentration was significantly correlated to SOC content, aggregation, porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Hay mulching at 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 increased total potato yield over that of the unmulched control by 11–14%, but was insufficient to maintain soil productivity. Hay mulching at 9.00 t ha-1 may have been excessive in terms of crop yield as it showed no total yield benefits. Key words: Organic carbon, CO2 concentration, aggregates, porosity

Hay mulching to reduce runoff and soil loss under intensive potato production in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
H W Rees ◽  
T L Chow ◽  
P J Loro ◽  
J. Lavoie ◽  
J O Monteith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Available P ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
The Impact

Soil erosion by water associated with potato production in northwestern New Brunswick has been identified as one of the most severe soil degradation problems affecting soil quality in Canada. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of applying various rates of hay mulch following potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) harvest in reducing runoff and soil loss rates under northwestern New Brunswick climatic and soil conditions and to determine the impact of the various hay mulch application rates on potato yield. Wischmeier-like runoff-erosion plots (10 m wide by 30 m long) on a Holmesville gravelly loam soil were used. Annual hay mulch application rates of 0.00, 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 wet mass were evaluated under continuous up-and-down-slope potato production on 8 and 11% slopes between October 1995 and October 1999. During the study period, annual precipitation was lower than normal. Calculated rainfall erosivities were 102, 66, 73 and 133% of the value typically used for conservation planning in this region (1276 MJ mm ha-1h-1). Seventy-three percent of the average annual erosivity for the 4-yr period was associated with storms occurring in June, July, August and September. Hay mulching at rates of 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 conserved on average 13, 18 and 28 mm of June to September precipitation, respectively. Mean annual soil losses were reduced to 14, 7 and 2% of the control (5.6 t ha-1) by the 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 treatments, respectively, on the 11% slope and to 43 and 24% of the control (2.0 t ha-1) on the 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 treatments, respectively, on the 8% slope. Eroded sediment silt, clay and organic matter (OM) contents were 1.6, 1.9 and 2.3 times the content of the surface soil at the experimental site. Mulching at rates as low as 2.25 t ha-1 reduced nutrient losses of NO3-N and available P, K, Ca and Mg to 26, 18, 28, 20 and 24% of control, respectively, on the 11% slope, and to 81, 50, 82, 66 and 77% of control, respectively, on the 8% slope. However, levels of nutrient losses from the controls were low to begin with (2.0, 0.4, 2.8, 10.9 and 1.6 kg ha-1 of NO3-N, and available P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively). Both total and marketable potato crop yields from all 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 treatments were in excess of 5% greater than their controls; however, only the increases in total yields from the 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 treatments and marketable yield from the 4.50 t ha-1 treatment on the 8% slope were significantly greater at P< 0.05. Yield of potato on the 9.00 t ha-1 treatment showed a consistent increase in total yield over the 4-yr period, going from 80% of control in 1996 to 127% of control in 1999, indicating a possible improvement in soil productivity. Hay mulching at rates up to 9.00 t ha-1 did not increase the incidence of disease or other defects. Hay mulching was found to be an effective tool for reducing soil loss while maintaining, and in some cases enhancing, potato yield. Key words: Hay mulching, soil loss, water erosion, organic residues, sediment composition, nutrient loss, erosivity

scholarly journals Degradation of soil quality by the waste leachate in a Mediterranean semi-arid ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sh. Yeilagi ◽  
Salar Rezapour ◽  
F. Asadzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Soil Quality Index ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Total N ◽  
Quality Degradation ◽  
Waste Leachate

AbstractThe assessment of soil quality indices in waste leachate-affected soils is vital to understand the threats of land quality degradation and how to control it. In this respect, a study was conducted on the effects of uncontrolled landfill leachate on soil quality index (SQI) in calcareous agricultural lands using 28 soil variables. Using the total data set (TDS) and minimum data set (MDS) approaches, the SQI was compared between leachate-affected soils (LAS) and control soils by the integrated quality index (IQI) and nemoro quality index (NQI) methods. The results revealed that LAS were significantly enriched by soil salinity-sodicity indices including electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), fertility indices including total N, available P and K, organic carbon, and cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), the available and total fractions of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni). After the leachate got its way into the soil, the values of IQI and NQI were dropped ranging 5–16% and 6.5–13% for the TDS approach and 5–15.2% and 7.5–12.2 for the MDS approach, respectively. Clearly, the data showed that soil quality degradation was encouraged and stimulated by the leachate. Among the different models of SQI applied in the present study, IQI determined by MDS was the optimal model to estimate soil quality and predict crop yields given the analysis of the correlations among the SQI models, the correlations between the SQI models and wheat yield, and sensitivity index values.

Effectiveness of artificial zeolite amendment in improving the physicochemical properties of saline-sodic soils characterised by different clay mineralogies

Soil Research ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 470 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Moritani ◽  
T. Yamamoto ◽  
H. Andry ◽  
M. Inoue ◽  
A. Yuya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Sodic Soils ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Sodic Soil

The use of artificial zeolite (AZ) derived from recycled material as a soil amendment has recently received much attention. The effectiveness of AZ in controlling soil loss, sediment concentration, and runoff water quality in artificial sodic soils is discussed in this study. Soils containing 3 different types of clay mineralogies (kaolinitic, smectic, and allophanic) were tested. Aggregate fractions with sizes >2000 μm and saturated hydraulic conductivity were considerably decreased due to aggregate dispersion after soil sodification, although the sodic KS soil was most stable. The addition of 10% AZ to sodic soil improved the mean weight diameter (MWD) and saturated hydraulic conductivity due to a decrease in exchangeable sodium percentage, resulting in a reduction in soil aggregate dispersion. This improvement of sodic soil with AZ had a beneficial effect on erodibility (soil loss and runoff water). This is attributed to the increment in soil infiltration as a result of the suppression of seal formation on the soil surface. The suppression of erodibility effectively controlled the salt concentration of runoff water. A beneficial effect of MWD and AZ contents on sediment concentration was observed, and a negative influence of electrical conductivity. These findings complement the role of AZ in controlling soil erosion.

scholarly journals Characterization of Surface Runoff, Soil Erosion, Nutrient Loss and their Relationship for Agricultural Plots in India

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 593-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohan Lal ◽  
Surendra Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Fallow Land ◽  
Runoff Water ◽  
Monsoon Period ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss

The present study was carried out to explore the existence of relationship among rainfall, runoff, soil loss and nutrient losses from the agricultural plots located at Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India. The natural rainfall generated runoff and soil loss from the 12 agricultural runoff plots (with four land uses namely sugarcane, maize, black gram and fallow land and having slope 5%, 3% and 1% for each land use) were recorded during monsoon period (June 2013 to September 2013). The highest grade plot was found to yield the highest magnitude of runoff (i.e. runoff coefficient) for a given land use and soil type. The soil loss from the experimental plots of various characteristics shown that for given rainfall input, on average, the plots with sugarcane land use were found to produce high amount of soil loss followed by Maize, fallow land and Blackgram. The nutrients losses were very low in the sediment as compared to the dissolved losses. Nutrients concentrations in sediment and runoff water were found to be more during the critical period. The higher limit of seasonal sediment yield obtained from the present study is lower than soil loss tolerance limit of 2.5 to 12.5 t/ha /yr for Indian subcontinent.

Effects of three tillage treatments on seasonal runoff and soil loss in the Peace River region

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. P. van Vliet ◽  
R. Kline ◽  
J. W. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Soil Loss ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Peace River ◽  
River Region ◽  
Seasonal Runoff ◽  
Tillage Treatment ◽  
Runoff And Soil Loss ◽  
Soil Losses

Three tillage treatments were evaluated over a 4-yr period for their effects on runoff and soil loss under natural precipitation on a Donnelly silt loam soil (Solonetzic Gray Luvisol) near Dawson Creek in the Peace River region of British Columbia. Conventional-tilled (CT) plots (spring or fall cultivation) received twice the amount of tillage as the reduced-tilled (RT) plots, while the zero-tilled (ZT) plots were only disturbed at seeding once a year. The plots were seeded to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Rainfall and snowmelt runoff were collected throughout the year to determine seasonal runoff and soil losses. The effects of the tillage treatments on runoff and soil loss depended on the season (whether caused by rainfall or snowmelt) and the crop year. Mean snowmelt runoff was ZT > CT > RT. Conventional tillage had significantly higher rainfall runoff and soil loss from snowmelt than the other two tillage treatments, with no significant differences between RT and ZT. Mean rainfall-induced soil loss was significantly different for each tillage treatment, with CT > RT > ZT. Soil losses from snowmelt were low, less than 30% of those from rainfall, since snowfall was 45% below normal. Soil losses from rainfall were consistently higher than from snowmelt for each tillage treatment in each of the four crop years and provided over 75% of the 4-yr total annual soil loss. Tillage effects were more pronounced in years with low runoff and soil loss than in years with high runoff and soil loss. Zero tillage and RT are effective in reducing average annual soil losses by 81 and 53%, respectively, of those observed under conventional tillage. Key words: Runoff, soil loss, erosion plots, seasons, tillage

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