SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ORGANIC MATTER OF CHERNOZEMIC Ah HORIZONS TO BIOLOGICAL DECOMPOSITION

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. DORMAAR
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Black Soil ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Hydrothermal Conditions ◽  
Agropyron Smithii ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Chelex 100 ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Biological Decomposition

Samples of five Chernozemic Ah horizons from soils under prairie of predominantly single grass species were incubated at 30 C with moisture maintained at 300 mbars for 74 days with and without uniformly labelled 14C-glucose. The 14CO2 formed during decomposition was collected in NaOH and its activity measured by scintillation spectrometry. Within the Brown soil zone, soils covered by Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr. and Agropyron smithii Rydb. contained considerably more organic matter that was readily decomposable than a soil covered by Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag. when the cumulative CO2 evolved was expressed in terms of the C in the soil. In comparison with the three Brown soils, the organic matter of a Dark Brown soil covered by Stipa spartea var. curtiseta Hitchc. and a Black soil covered by Festuca scabrella Torr. was found to be very resistant to biological decomposition, as the percentage of C lost during incubation of the latter soils was less than half the percentage mineralized by any of the former soils. Between 80.4 and 91.4% of the added 14C was mineralized as 14CO2 in four of the soils and between 20 and 35% of the remaining 14C was extractable with Chelex-100. In the fifth soil, the Black Chernozemic soil covered by F. scabrella, only 50% of the added 14C was mineralized and only 8% of the remaining 14C was extractable with Chelex-100. The potential susceptibility to biological decomposition of the organic matter of various Chernozemic Ah horizons gave a measure of the proportion of the oxidizable component still present. It thereby helped with the interpretation of the genesis of the whole organic matter formed under different hydrothermal conditions in the field.

scholarly journals A Quantitative Analysis of Factors Influencing Organic Matter Concentration in the Topsoil of Black Soil in Northeast China Based on Spatial Heterogeneous Patterns

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Zhenbo Du ◽  
Bingbo Gao ◽  
Cong Ou ◽  
Zhenrong Du ◽  
Jianyu Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Black Soil ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Rainfed Farming ◽  
Study Results

Black soil is fertile, abundant with organic matter (OM) and is exceptional for farming. The black soil zone in northeast China is the third-largest black soil zone globally and produces a quarter of China’s commodity grain. However, the soil organic matter (SOM) in this zone is declining, and the quality of cultivated land is falling off rapidly due to overexploitation and unsustainable management practices. To help develop an integrated protection strategy for black soil, this study aimed to identify the primary factors contributing to SOM degradation. The geographic detector, which can detect both linear and nonlinear relationships and the interactions based on spatial heterogeneous patterns, was used to quantitatively analyze the natural and anthropogenic factors affecting SOM concentration in northeast China. In descending order, the nine factors affecting SOM are temperature, gross domestic product (GDP), elevation, population, soil type, precipitation, soil erosion, land use, and geomorphology. The influence of all factors is significant, and the interaction of any two factors enhances their impact. The SOM concentration decreases with increased temperature, population, soil erosion, elevation and terrain undulation. SOM rises with increased precipitation, initially decreases with increasing GDP but then increases, and varies by soil type and land use. Conclusions about detailed impacts are presented in this paper. For example, wind erosion has a more significant effect than water erosion, and irrigated land has a lower SOM content than dry land. Based on the study results, protection measures, including conservation tillage, farmland shelterbelts, cross-slope ridges, terraces, and rainfed farming are recommended. The conversion of high-quality farmland to non-farm uses should be prohibited.

Barley yield and nutrient uptake in rotation after perennial forages in the semiarid prairie region of Saskatchewan

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 809-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
R. Lemke ◽  
R. B. Muri
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Jefferson, P. G., Selles, F., Zentner, R. P., Lemke, R. and Muri, R. B. 2013. Barley yield and nutrient uptake in rotation after perennial forages in the semiarid prairie region of Saskatchewan. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 809–816. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most common perennial forage legume grown for hay and pasture in the semiarid Brown soil zone of the Canadian prairies. Perennial forages often are not recommended for inclusion in annual crop rotations due to lower grain yields and drier soils following forage stand termination, but this is based on research results from 50 yr ago. Three replicated experiments consisting of three grasses [slender wheatgrass (Elymus tracycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia), and Dahurian wildrye (Elymus dahuricus)] grown in monoculture and in mixture with two alfalfa varieties (cv. Beaver or cv. Nitro) were terminated and seeded to barley (Hordeum vulgare ‘Harrington’) for 2 consecutive crop years at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Soil water content was lower after the alfalfa–grass mixtures compared with the grass monocultures, even during a wet growing season. Barley yield and N concentration in the grain were significantly greater following Beaver alfalfa/grass mixture compared with grass monoculture in 3 and 4 of 6 site years, respectively. N uptake by the barley crop (grain and straw) was also significantly greater following Beaver alfalfa/grass mixture than following grass monoculture in all 6 yr. Both barley grain yield and N uptake after intermediate wheatgrass (grown in monoculture) were lower than after Dahurian wildrye or slender wheatgrass in 3 of 6 yr. The use of alfalfa and a short-lived grass species in hay and pasture mixtures in the Brown soil zone when grown in rotation with annual crops may indeed result in lower grain yields in the short term than continuous annual cropping systems, but the inclusion of alfalfa will provide a N benefit to the subsequent grain crop thereby enhancing yield and possibly its market value.

TIME OF APPLICATION AND SOURCE OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON YIELD, QUALITY, NITROGEN RECOVERY, AND NET RETURNS FOR DRYLAND FORAGE GRASSES

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 915-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. CAMPBELL ◽  
A. J. LEYSHON ◽  
R. P. ZENTNER ◽  
H. UKRAINETZ
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Time Of Application ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Forage Yields

Studies were conducted in Saskatchewan for 4 yr at Swift Current (Brown soil zone) and 3 yr at Scott (Dark Brown soil zone) to assess the effect of time of application and source of N fertilizer on grass forage yields and N and P content, fertilizer N recovery and net returns. A single rate of N, 50 kg ha−1 was applied to established forage stands at three dates during the late fall to early winter period and one or two dates during the early spring period. Six grass species were grown at Swift Current and one at Scott. At Swift Current there were significant differences in dry matter yields between grass species but no species × fertilizer interactions. Fertilizer applied in April generally gave the highest forage yields and N concentration, N recovery, and net returns, but sometimes October and/or November applications provided as good or better results. At Swift Current relative yields (averaged over grass species and source of N) for the different application dates were: April, 158; late October, 154; late November, 145; and late December, 137; with the unfertilized control given a value of 100. At Scott, a similar rating of yields gave: mid-April, 225; mid-October, 219; mid-November, 216; mid-December, 213; and mid-March, 192. Nitrogen concentration in forages averaged 2.06% at Swift Current and 1.53% at Scott, and was mainly affected (increased) by the April fertilizer application date. Yields were 11–13% greater when ammonium nitrate was used compared to when urea was used. Because the N was broadcast and yields were small, recoveries of N by the crop were low, variable due to weather, and averaged 21% at both sites. In most years N fertilizer increased yields, but net returns varied depending on the occurrence of early spring precipitation and on whether the forage was sold for hay or fed on the farm. Fertilization was profitable in the wetter years, but in dry years money was lost irrespective of the N source or site. Net returns favored the ammonium nitrate source of N.Key words: Grass species, grass yield, urea, ammonium nitrate, net returns

PERFORMANCE OF SOME GRASS–ALFALFA MIXTURES IN SOUTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN DURING DROUGHT YEARS

1966 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Kilcher ◽  
D. H. Heinrichs
Keyword(s):  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Soil Zone

Six perennial grass–alfalfa mixtures were studied at three locations in the Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan during successive drought years 1956 to 1962. Account was taken of comparative yields, persistence, drought tolerance, and component compatibility. Differences in competition and suppression are discussed. Crested wheatgrass or intermediate wheatgrass with alfalfa gave highest yields. Russian wild ryegrass was the most competitive grass species. Russian wild ryegrass and bromegrass were the two grasses which reduced the alfalfa component the most, resulting in lower yields of the mixtures.

scholarly journals The riverine bioreactor: An integrative perspective on biological decomposition of organic matter across riverine habitats

2021 ◽  
Vol 772 ◽  
pp. 145494
Author(s):  
Ignacio Peralta-Maraver ◽  
Rachel Stubbington ◽  
Shai Arnon ◽  
Pavel Kratina ◽  
Stefan Krause ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽  
Riverine Habitats ◽  
Biological Decomposition

Crop and soil nitrogen status of tilled and no-tillage systems in semiarid regions of Saskatchewan

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
B G McConkey ◽  
D. Curtin ◽  
C A Campbell ◽  
S A Brandt ◽  
F. Selles
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Grain Protein Concentration ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Semiarid Regions ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Loam Soil

We examined 1990-1996 crop and soil N data for no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems from four long-term tillage studies in semiarid regions of Saskatchewan for evidence that the N status was affected by tillage system. On a silt loam and clay soil in the Brown soil zone, spring what (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and protein concentration were lower for NT compared with tilled (CT or MT) systems for a fallow-wheat (F-WM) rotation. Grain protein concentration for continuous wheat (Cont W) was also lower for NT than for MT. For a sandy loam soil in the Brown soil zone, durum (Triticum durum L.) grain protein concentration was similar for MT and NT for both Cont W and F-W, but NT had higher grain yield than MT (P < 0.05 for F-W only). For a loam soil in the Dark Brown soil zone, wheat grain yield for NT was increased by about 7% for fallow-oilseed-wheat (F-O-W) and wheat-oilseed-wheat (W-O-W) rotations. The higher grain yields for NT reduced grain protein concentration by dilution effect as indicated by similar grain N yield. However, at this site, about 23 kg ha-1 more fertilizer N was required for NT than for CT. Elimination of tillage increased total organic N in the upper 7.5 cm of soil and N in surface residues. Our results suggest that a contributing factor to decreased availability of soil N in medium- and fine-textured soils under NT was a slower rate of net N mineralization from organic matter. Soil nitrates to 2.4 m depth did not indicate that nitrate leaching was affected by tillage system. Current fertilizer N recommendations developed for tilled systems may be inadequate for optimum production of wheat with acceptable grain protein under NT is semiarid regions of Saskatchewan. Key words: Tillage intensity, N availability, soil N fractions, N mineralization, crop residue decomposition, grain protein

Economics of rotation and tillage systems for the Dark Brown soil zone of the Canadian Prairies

1992 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.P. Zentner ◽  
S.A. Brandt ◽  
K.J. Kirkland ◽  
C.A. Campbell ◽  
G.J. Sonntag
Keyword(s):  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Soil Zone
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