Effects of cattle slurry and cultivation on air exchange in sandy and silty soils from northern Norway

T.K Haraldsen

doi:10.23986/afsci.5623

Abstract

Gas diffusivity and permeability, and air-filled porosity, were measured in undisturbed soil cores at four water potentials between -1.5 kPa and -60 kPa. Virgin (never ploughed) and cultivated sandy and silty soils from two sites in northern Norway were used in the investigation. The cultivated soils had lower air-filled porosity and gas diffusivity than the virgin ones. Application of slurry (50 Mg ha-1) decreased gas diffusivity and changed the relationship between relative diffusivity and air-filled porosity for both the virgin and cultivated sandy soils and the virgin silty soil. The gas permeability of both the virgin and cultivated silty soil was low, and the relative diffusivity at field capacity less than the limit below which plant growth is affected. ;

Highlights

Gas diffusivity and permeability, and air-filled porosity, were measured in undisturbed soil cores at four water potentials between –1.5 kPa and –60 kPa
According to Cassel and Nielsen (1986) an airfilled porosity of 0.1 m3 m-3 at field capacity is often quoted as a limit below which aeration is inadequate
There was no significant difference between aerated and fresh slurry on gas diffusion in the cultivated sandy soil and the virgin silty soil

Summary

Introduction

Air-filled porosity, were measured in undisturbed soil cores at four water potentials between –1.5 kPa and –60 kPa. Virgin (never ploughed) and cultivated sandy and silty soils from two sites in northern Norway were used in the investigation. The cultivated soils had lower air-filled porosity and gas diffusivity than the virgin ones. Decreased gas diffusivity and changed the relationship between relative diffusivity and air-filled porosity for both the virgin and cultivated sandy soils and the virgin silty soil. Slurry application to grassland may restrict soil aeration and cause evolution of methane, ethane, ethylene and propane. Only a few studies on the effect of slurry on soil aeration have been carried out. In studies with very high applications of slurry on grassland

Methods

Results

Conclusion