PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOME PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND SOILS IN RELATION TO THEIR TILLAGE REQUIREMENT AND SUITABILITY FOR DIRECT DRILLING

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. CARTER
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Penetrometer Resistance ◽  
Direct Drilling

Successful reduced tillage systems depend on suitable soil types and the maintenance of optimum soil structure. Studies were conducted to assess the tillage requirement of some well-drained Podzolic and Luvisolic soils in Prince Edward Island and their suitability for direct drilling. Relatively high amounts of silt and fine sand indicated that the soils were structurally unstable with a propensity for compaction. Compactability was inversely related (r2 = 0.90) to concentrations of soil organic carbon over a range of 0.2–2.0%. In the Ap horizons, where organic carbon exceeded 1.6%, the level of macroporosity (equivalent pore diam. > 50 μm) was generally greater than 10%. The B horizon and lower level of the Ap horizon, generally, had low porosity and organic matter, although pore continuity was adequate. Macroporosity was closely related to soil bulk density (r2 = 0.81). Penetrometer resistance down the soil profile indicated a relatively shallow rooting depth potential of 25–40 cm. A 3-yr direct drilling study with spring cereals illustrated that some degree of soil loosening is required to maintain optimum soil structure. Soil limitations for direct drilling were mainly low resistance to compaction combined with low potential for regeneration of soil structure. The possible implications of the soil physical properties are discussed in relation to the use of direct drilling within the short-term rotational mixed farming systems of Prince Edward Island. Key words: Soil structure, macropores, Podzolic soils, Luvisolic soils

Sodium and Potassium Fertilizer in Relation to Soil Physical Properties and sugar-beet yield

1976 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Draycott ◽  
M. J. Durrant ◽  
D. B. Davies ◽  
L. V. Vaidyanathan
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Potassium Fertilizer ◽  
Visual Assessments

SummaryDespite much experimental evidence showing that sodium fertilizer increases sugar–beet yield and decreases need for potassium, there is resistance to its use on some soil types through fears of deterioration in soil structure. Twelve field experiments with sugar beet were made in Eastern England, testing all combinations of autumn and spring applications of 0, 150 and 300 kg Na/ha and 0, 83 and 333 kg K/ha. Fields were chosen with soils of loamy very fine sand, very fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam and clay loam textures. Micro–plot and controlled environment studies were also made with the same soils to examine effects of sodium on seedling emergence and growth.Visual assessments of soil physical state following sodium application revealed no effect in the year sugar beet was grown nor in the following spring when cereals were grown. Measurements of physical properties of soils treated with sodium suggested that applications of several times the recommended amounts of sodium fertilizer would not damage soil structure. However, sodium fertilizer increased the osmotic suction of soil solution which, under some circumstances, e.g. dry springs or giving the fertilizer close to the time of sowing, decreased germination and seedling growth. For this reason and not because it has a detrimental effect on soil physical condition, sodium fertilizer best given in the autumn or some weeks before sowing.

scholarly journals Effect of Farming Systems on the Spatial Variability of Soil Physical Properties and Soybean Yield

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Ligia Maria Lucas Videira ◽  
Paulo Ricardo Teodoro Silva ◽  
Diego dos Santos Pereira ◽  
Rafael Montanari ◽  
Alan Rodrigo Panosso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
High Soil Moisture

In no-tillage (NT) and minimum tillage (MT) areas, spatial variability of soil physical properties may affect crop yield. The aim of this study was to assess the spatial distribution of soil physical properties, as well as the yield components and grain yield of soybean (GY), based on the mapping of areas under soil conservation farming systems. We assessed yield components, GY and the physical properties of an Oxisol, under NT and MT using the t-student test, and geostatistics to assess spatial variability. The largest population of NT plants showed no spatial dependence and did not influence GY, but the components related to plant height and soil properties differed between systems. From a spatial standpoint, the kriging maps demonstrated that mass of one thousand grains (MOG), total porosity (TP) and soil bulk density (BD) influenced GY under NT, whereas TP1 exerted the most influence under high soil moisture conditions and MT. The maps make it possible to assess the spatial distribution of soil physical properties and the influence on GY, making them an important tool for more accurate production planning in soil conservation systems.

Changes in soil chemical and physical properties following legumes and opportunity cropping on a cracking clay soil

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Armstrong ◽  
B. J. Kuskopf ◽  
G. Millar ◽  
A. M. Whitbread ◽  
J. Standley
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
The Other ◽  
Labile Carbon ◽  
Soil Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Penetrometer Resistance ◽  
Pasture Legumes

Incorporating legumes into the cropping system has been shown to significantly improve the nitrogen nutrition of cereal crops in Central Queensland. However, little is known about the effect of these legumes on the chemical and physical properties of soil. We examined changes in soil chemical (total nitrogen, organic carbon and pH) and physical (bulk density, cone penetrometer resistance and saturated hydraulic conductivity) properties following either continuous cropping (sorghum or mungbean) or pasture legumes (siratro, lucerne, lablab and desmanthus) over 4 years. Soil carbon was also fractionated using a KMnO4 oxidation procedure which classifies the soil carbon into either labile or non-labile pools. All pasture legumes except desmanthus increased soil total nitrogen in the topsoil (0–10 cm) after only 2 years compared with sorghum. Total nitrogen in the soil did not significantly change under mungbean. Soil organic carbon progressively increased under siratro, desmanthus and sorghum but remained unchanged under the other legumes. Before the experiment, the percentage of total soil carbon classified as labile (oxidised by 333 mmol KMnO4/L) ranged from 14 to 17%. The amount of labile carbon increased by 17% after 3 years of siratro, remained unchanged under desmanthus and sorghum, and decreased under the annual legumes and lucerne. Non-labile carbon remained either unchanged or increased under all legumes, whereas it tended to decrease after 3 consecutive sorghum crops. Soil pH was generally highest under sorghum and lowest under lablab. Soil after sorghum had higher bulk density and penetrometer resistance compared with the effect of legumes but these differences were comparatively small. Saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil was much higher on the soil surface than at 10 cm. On the surface, soil hydraulic conductivity (saturated) values were generally lower following siratro and higher after sorghum than the other species. At 10 cm depth, soil hydraulic conductivity (saturated) was generally lower in sorghum and, to a lesser extent, in mungbean plots reflecting the significantly lower density of macropores under these crops. It was concluded that although all legumes generally enhanced the chemical and physical properties of the cracking clay, perennial legumes such as siratro would have a greater beneficial effect in the longer term than annual legumes.

Modelling dynamic interactions between soil structure and soil organic matter

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Jarvis ◽  
Elsa Coucheney ◽  
Claire Chenu ◽  
Anke Herrmann ◽  
Thomas Keller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Organic Carbon Content

<p>The aggregated structure of soil is known to reduce rates of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and therefore influence the potential for long-term carbon sequestration. In turn, the storage and turnover of SOM strongly determines soil aggregation and thus the physical properties of soil. The two-way nature of these interactions has not yet been explicitly considered in soil organic matter models. In this study, we present and describe a new model of these dynamic feedbacks between SOM storage, soil pore structure and soil physical properties. We show the results of a test of the model against measurements made during 61 years in a field trial located near Uppsala (Sweden) in two treatments with different OM inputs (bare fallow, animal manure). The model was able to successfully reproduce long-term trends in soil bulk density and organic carbon content (SOC), as well as match limited data on soil pore size distribution and surface elevation. The results suggest that the model approach presented here could prove useful in analyses of the effects of soil and crop management practices and climate change on the long-term potential for soil organic carbon sequestration.</p>

scholarly journals Influence of ryegrass managements on the physical properties of a Haplohumox

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 952-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Vizioli ◽  
Karina Maria Vieira Cavalieri-Polizeli ◽  
Gabriel Barth
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Root Penetration ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
No Tillage

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) managements on the physical properties of a Haplohumox, and on the yields of corn and of ryegrass cultivated in succession to corn. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and three replicates, in which treatments were the different managements of ryegrass under no-tillage for silage, soil cover, and grazing. After nine years of management, samples were collected at 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30-m soil depths, to determine the following soil properties: texture, total organic carbon, soil bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, and resistance to root penetration. The index of structural stability was estimated from texture and total organic carbon data. Maximum soil bulk density and permanent wilting point were also estimated from pedotransfer functions. Corn and ryegrass dry matter yields were determined from plants harvested inside the plot area. Total organic carbon content increased as depth increased. The ryegrass managements in no-tillage system, in succession to corn, does not influence the soil physical properties of a Haplohumox, and maintains high corn and ryegrass yields.

Characterizing the soil physical condition in reduced tillage systems for winter wheat on a fine sandy loam using small cores

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Physical Condition ◽  
Prince Edward Island ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Air Permeability ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Fine Sandy Loam ◽  
Direct Drilling

A tillage study was conducted in Prince Edward Island with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) over two seasons on a Gowanbrae light fine sandy loam, a Humo-Ferric Podzol. One-pass mouldboard ploughing, shallow tillage using a rotary harrow, and direct drilling were evaluated for their effects on crop productivity and soil physical properties. Direct drilling increased plant survival but not grain yield in the first year compared to the other tillage systems. Leaf diseases significantly reduced crop performance under shallow tillage and direct drilling in the second year. None of the tillage systems had adverse effects on soil strength at field capacity over the 0- to 350-mm soil profile depth, as penetrometer resistance values were < 1.5 MPa. Differences in soil macro-aggregation and organic carbon distribution between tillage systems were noted in the Ap horizon. Sequential measurements on soil cores equilibrated at 6 kPa tension for macropore volume, air permeability at low air pressure (0.25 kPa), oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) at 0.65 mV, and shear strength indicated that the soil physical condition was within the optimum range for root growth, over the 0- to 240-mm depth, in each tillage system. In addition, relative compaction was maintained at a low level in all systems. The quotient of air permeability and macropore volume, as an index of pore continuity, indicated that the relatively large macropore volumes under mouldboard ploughing were less efficient in conducting air than the macropores under direct drilling. These differences in pore continuity were most prevalent at the lower soil depth.Key words: Soil physical properties, soil compaction, Podzolic soil, winter cereals

scholarly journals Injection of liquid swine slurry and effects on properties of a Nitossolo Vermelho

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleber Rech ◽  
Jackson Adriano Albuquerque ◽  
Juliano Corulli Corrêa ◽  
Alvaro Luiz Mafra ◽  
Diego Bortolini
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Swine Slurry ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Liquid Slurry

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the superficial and injected applications of swine slurry and urea to the soil, regarding their effects on the physical properties of a Nitossolo Vermelho distroférrico under a no-tillage system. The treatments were: injected slurry into the groove with a liquid swine slurry injector (LSSI); slurry on surface, applied on the lines by the LSSI kept raised; urea injected by opening the groove with the LSSI and distributed manually; and corn, under no-tillage, as a control. Sowing and the injection of liquid slurry or urea do not modify the organic carbon content, pH, and aggregation, but alter the soil bulk density and porosity in the mobilized line, and increase the macropores.

Physical properties and organic carbon content of a Typic Hapludult soil fertilised with pig slurry and pig litter in a no-tillage system

Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jucinei José Comin ◽  
Arcângelo Loss ◽  
Milton da Veiga ◽  
Renato Guardini ◽  
Djalma Eugênio Schmitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Pig Slurry ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Tillage System

Applications of swine residues to the soil surface in a no-tillage system (NTS) may increase the organic carbon level and improve the physical properties of the soil. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the continuous application of pig slurry (PS) and pig litter (PL) on the total organic carbon (TOC) content and physical properties of soil under NTS in Southern Brazil. In March 2010, after 8 years of cultivation of black oats (Avena strigosa)–maize (Zea mays), soil samples were collected in the 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–20 cm layers. The treatments consisted of a control plot (without manure application), plots with PS applications equivalent to one and two times the recommended rate of nitrogen (N) for maize and black oats (PS1X and PS2X, respectively), and plots with PL equivalent to one and two times the recommended rate of N for maize and black oats (PL1X and PL2X, respectively). The TOC, soil bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), total porosity (TP), macro- and microporosity, distribution of pore diameters, and indices of aggregation and aggregate stability were evaluated. Differences were found between treatments for TOC, BD, macro- and microporosity, pore diameter, aggregation, and PR. Treatment with PL favoured the production of aggregates (diameter >4 mm) and increased the rates of aggregation and aggregate stability in the 10–15 and 15–20 cm layers and macroporosity in the 0–5 and 15–20 cm layers. Application of PL2X reduced PR by 34% and 20%, respectively, in the 5–10 and 10–15 cm layers. Eight years of adding PS to successive cultivations of black oats–maize soil managed under NTS produced no changes in the physical features or the TOC of the soil, whereas the application of PL produced improvements in physical attributes of the soil and increased soil TOC.

A soil carbon index to gauge soil health in England and Wales

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonah Prout ◽  
Keith Shepherd ◽  
Steve McGrath ◽  
Guy Kirk ◽  
Stephan Haefele
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
England And Wales

&lt;p&gt;Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil health, however, guideline values which indicate degradation and good status have been difficult to define. For soils in England and Wales, indicative management ranges were developed using ranges of SOC from the National Soil Inventory of England and Wales (NSI) for precipitation and clay content classes (Verheijen et al., 2005). Soils with higher clay content are often expected to have higher SOC content and this was evident in the management ranges. SOC interacts with clay particles through surface interactions and this, alongside occlusion in aggregates, is suggested to help protect SOC from decomposition and loss (Dungait et al., 2012). The management ranges, however, lacked a mechanistic perspective such that these might not be optimal ranges for soil physical properties and soil structure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We have used the NSI to investigate how thresholds of clay/SOC might be used to assess SOC status. A clay/SOC ratio of 10 was proposed as a clay-SOC association capacity derived from correlations with soil physical properties (Dexter et al., 2008) and a further two thresholds (clay/SOC = 8 and 13) were proposed to indicate very good and degraded soil structural quality alongside the original threshold (Johannes et al., 2017). Comparing the distribution of soils under different land uses with the clay/SOC threshold ranges gave an increasing quality trend of arable &lt;&lt; ley grassland &lt; permanent grassland &amp;#8776; forest. The results suggested that 37% of arable soils would be considered degraded compared with 6% for grassland soils.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We have used the thresholds to define an index on a scale where negative values indicate degraded soils, and positive values (up to 1) suggest increasing quality beyond which a soil is considered very good. Data from the Woburn ley-arable rotation experiment (Johnston et al., 2017) have also been evaluated with this index to see how the index value might change with time under different managements. As a quantitative metric for SOC, this could form a monitoring framework and feed into other soil health schemes to assess a soil with respect to a clay-interaction capacity and expected soil quality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;References&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dexter et al. (2008). Complexed organic matter controls soil physical properties. &lt;em&gt;Geoderma&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;144&lt;/em&gt;(3&amp;#8211;4), 620&amp;#8211;627.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dungait et al. (2012). Soil organic matter turnover is governed by accessibility not recalcitrance. &lt;em&gt;Global Change Biology&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;18&lt;/em&gt;, 1781&amp;#8211;1796.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Johannes et al. (2017). Optimal organic carbon values for soil structure quality of arable soils. Does clay content matter? &lt;em&gt;Geoderma&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;302&lt;/em&gt;, 111.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Johnston et al. (2017). Changes in soil organic matter over 70 years in continuous arable and ley-arable rotations on a sandy loam soil in England. &lt;em&gt;European Journal of Soil Science&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;68&lt;/em&gt;, 305-316.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Verheijen et el. (2005). Organic carbon ranges in arable soils of England and Wales. &lt;em&gt;Soil Use and Management&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;21&lt;/em&gt;, 2&amp;#8211;9.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Effect of Long-Term Soil Management Practices on Tree Growth, Yield and Soil Biodiversity in a High-Density Olive Agro-Ecosystem

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1036
Author(s):  
Sauro Simoni ◽  
Giovanni Caruso ◽  
Nadia Vignozzi ◽  
Riccardo Gucci ◽  
Giuseppe Valboa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Carbon Pools ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Canopy Effect ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Pools

Edaphic arthropod communities provide valuable information about the prevailing status of soil quality to improve the functionality and long-term sustainability of soil management. The study aimed at evaluating the effect of plant and grass cover on the functional biodiversity and soil characteristics in a mature olive orchard (Olea europaea L.) managed for ten years by two conservation soil managements: natural grass cover (NC) and conservation tillage (CT). The trees under CT grew and yielded more than those under NC during the period of increasing yields (years 4–7) but not when they reached full production. Soil management did not affect the tree root density. Collecting samples underneath the canopy (UC) and in the inter-row space (IR), the edaphic environment was characterized by soil structure, hydrological properties, the concentration and storage of soil organic carbon pools and the distribution of microarthropod communities. The soil organic carbon pools (total and humified) were negatively affected by minimum tillage in IR, but not UC, without a loss in fruit and oil yield. The assemblages of microarthropods benefited, firstly, from the grass cover, secondly, from the canopy effect, and thirdly, from a soil structure ensuring a high air capacity and water storage. Feeding functional groups—hemiedaphic macrosaprophages, polyphages and predators—resulted in selecting the ecotonal microenvironment between the surface and edaphic habitat.

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