Acid Brown Earth Research Articles

THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF GROWING SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS L. [LAM.]) IN POLISH SOIL AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS

The aim of this research was to determine the economic efficiency of sweet potato production in Polish conditions (49°49′ N, 21°50′ E). The study was based on the results of a 3-year (2017–2019) field experiment conducted in slightly acidic brown earth. The experiment used the random subblocks method, in which the main experimental factors were cultivation technologies: A) traditional, with no cover, B) with the use of PP spunbond nonwoven. Secondary factors included 5 cultivars of sweet potato of all earliness classes (Goldstar, Carmen Rubin, Satsumo Imo, Beauregard, White Triumph). Constant organic and mineral fertilization was used, and cultivation was carried out in accordance with normal agricultural practice. The propagating material included rooted cuttings of sweet potato from in vitro propagation, planted with 50 x 75 cm spacing. The economic effect of production was determined by all experimental factors. The profitability of production was increased by the use of PP spunbond nonwoven. The most beneficial economic factors were achieved when growing the Beauregard cultivar, and the least – when growing White Triumph. The largest cost of sweet potato commercial production were sweet potato cuttings, which amounted to 56%, and the smallest – plant protection products – 1% of direct costs per 1 ha of crops. Sweet potato production in Polish soil and climate conditions between 2017–2019 turned out to be cost-effective.

Hydrogeological characteristics influencing the occurrence of pesticides and pesticide metabolites in groundwater across the Republic of Ireland

Pesticide contamination of water is a potential environmental issue which may impact the quality of drinking water. The full extent of pesticide contamination is not fully understood due to complex fate pathways in the subsurface. Groundwater pesticide occurrence was investigated at seven agricultural sites in different hydrogeological settings to identify where pesticide occurrence dominated in temperate maritime climatic conditions. In Ireland, six cereal dominated sites in the South East and one grassland site in the West were investigated. Soil and subsoils varied from acid brown earths with high permeability to clay and silt rich tills with lower permeability. Over a 2year monitoring period, 730 samples were collected from a network of dedicated wells and springs across the seven sites. Multi-nested piezometers were installed in intergranular, fissured and karstic type aquifers to target shallow, transition and deeper groundwaters. Several springs were also sampled and the network included a confined aquifer. Groundwater was analysed for nine pesticide active ingredients and eight metabolites. Mecoprop and 2,4-D were the most frequently detected active ingredients above the instrument detection limit, accounting for 36% and 26% of the 730 samples collected and analysed. Phenoxyacetic acid was the most frequently detected and widespread metabolite found in 39% of samples collected at all seven sites. Where the European Union drinking water standard of 0.1μg/L was exceeded, metabolites accounted for the majority of exceedances with 3,5-dichlorobenzoic acid (DBA) and phenoxyacetic acid (PAC) dominating. Highest detections were encountered in sites with well drained soils underlain by gravel and limestone aquifers and within gravel lenses in lower permeability subsoil. Across the seven sites pesticide detections were mostly associated with metabolites and the environmental impact of many of these is unknown as they have received little attention in groundwater previously.

Applying urine collected from non-lactating dairy cows dosed with dicyandiamide to lysimeters and grass plots: effects on nitrous oxide emissions, nitrate leaching and herbage production

SUMMARYIn agricultural production systems, nitrogen (N) losses to the environment can occur through nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3−) leaching. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate: (1) if urine excreted by non-lactating dairy cows pulse-dosed with dicyandiamide (DCD) and applied to lysimeters reduced N2O-N emissions and NO3−-N leaching on two soil types; and (2) if urine + DCD would increase herbage production over winter. Lysimeters were used to measure N2O emissions and NO3-N leaching. The soils used were a free-draining acid brown earth of sandy loam to loam texture (termed free-draining) and a poorly drained silt loam gley (termed poorly drained). Grass plots were established on the free-draining soil to measure herbage production. The N loading rate of the urine + DCD was 508 kg N/ha and the urine without DCD (urine only) was 451 kg N/ha. Total NO3−-N leaching losses from the free-draining and poorly draining soils were reduced from 100 and 81 kg NO3−-N/ha on the urine-only treatment, respectively, to 9 and 11·6 kg NO3−-N/ha on the urine + DCD treatment, respectively. Total N2O-N emissions from the free-draining and poorly drained soils were reduced significantly from 13·6 and 12·1 kg N2O-N/ha on the urine-only treatment, respectively, to 2·23 and 5·24 kg N2O-N/ha on the urine + DCD treatment, respectively. Applying urine with DCD to pastures inhibited the nitrification process for up to 56 days after treatment application. In the current experiment, there was no significant effect on spring herbage production when urine + DCD was applied to grass plots. Therefore, feeding DCD to dairy cows to apply DCD directly in urine patches was shown to be an effective mitigation strategy to reduce NO3−-N leaching and N2O-N emissions but did not appear to increase spring herbage production.

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on spring and annual herbage production in urine patches when applied in late summer or early autumn

AbstractA cut plot experiment was undertaken at two sites in Ireland, one a free‐draining acid brown earth at Moorepark (MPK) and the other a fine loam soil with imperfect drainage at Johnstown Castle (JC). The effect of applying the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) at 10 kg ha−1 in July, August and September or not applying DCD to plots receiving synthetic urine or zero urine on spring and annual herbage production was examined. In the experiment, each site received 350 kg nitrogen (N) fertilizer ha−1 year−1. The application of DCD in August at a rate of 10 kg ha−1 significantly increased spring and annual herbage production by 14 and 15%, respectively, at MPK, when applied following urine application in year 1. There was no effect of DCD applied in year 1 on herbage production at JC. The application of DCD in August resulted in lower soil total oxidized N (TON) content up to sampling day 56 post‐urine application, at MPK in year 1, retaining higher N content in the soil. There was no effect of DCD on any of the parameters measured in year 2 at MPK or at JC. Urine application did not increase spring herbage production at either site. Urine application significantly increased annual herbage production at MPK only in year 1. Urine application increased annual herbage N uptake, herbage crude protein (CP) content and soil mineral N at both sites in both years.

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on herbage production when applied at different times and rates in the autumn and winter

The high rate of urine excreted during animal grazing in late autumn provides a source of nitrogen (N) to the growing sward and also provides the potential for losses of N over the winter months. This study was established to evaluate the potential of applying a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), to urine patches to increase N use efficiency in grassland. Four simulated grazing plot experiments were undertaken across two experimental sites, one a free-draining acid brown earth (Experiments 1 and 3) and the other a moderate to heavy brown earth soil (Experiments 2 and 4). Experiments 1 and 2 received no fertiliser N application, and Experiments 3 and 4 received a split application of 350kgN fertiliser ha−1year−1. The effect of applying the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) at 5 or 10kgDCDha−1 in autumn and winter to plots receiving synthetic urine or zero urine on spring and annual herbage production was examined in all experiments. The application of DCD did not increase spring herbage production in any of the experiments. Over the two years, the application of 5 or 10kgDCDha−1 increased annual herbage production in Experiment 1 when applied to October and November deposited urine patches. Urine application increased herbage production in spring and annually in Experiments 1 and 2, and increased herbage crude protein content and herbage N uptake in all experiments. The application of urine increased soil ammonium and TON content in the 0–100mm horizon at both sites. The application of 10kgDCDha−1 reduced surplus N in Experiment 1 when applied to October and November deposited urine. Overall the effects of DCD on herbage production, surplus N and other parameters in this study were not consistent.

Response of soil microbial biomass, activities, and community structure at a pine stand in northeastern Germany 5 years after thinning

A thinned and an unthinned treatment were compared in a 62-year-old pine stand located in northeastern Germany (Brandenburg, Ost-Prignitz, Revier Beerenbusch) (year of thinning: 1999, degree of canopy opening: 0.4). Samples of the organic layer (O) and the mineral horizon (Aeh) of an acid brown earth were collected along a transect at each treatment in November 2003 and April 2004. Substrate induced respiration, basal respiration, and a suite of enzymes involved in the degradation of lignocellulose (endocellulase, exocellulase, β-glucosidase, endoxylanase, exoxylanase, phenoloxidase, peroxidase) were assayed. Microbial community structure and relative biomass of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi were assayed by phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Five years after thinning, microbial biomass, basal respiration, and enzyme activities in both soil layers did not differ significantly between thinned and unthinned treatments. However, the analysis of soil microbial community structure revealed a significant difference between the thinned and unthinned treatment at both sampling dates. Thus, it was concluded that thinning had not yet resulted in any response in soil microbial activities at the site under study, but since early evidence of change in the microbial community was detected, long-term monitoring and additional studies on mineralization activities are required.

Soil microbiological monitoring of a pine forest after partial thinning for stand regeneration with beech seedlings

A 62 year old pine stand located in northeastern Germany (Brandenburg, Ost-Prignitz, Revier Beerenbusch) was studied with respect to a thinned vs. an unthinned variant. Samples of the litter layer and the top mineral horizon of an acid brown earth were collected from five plots at each variant in April and November during 3 years (2000–2002), respectively. Soil microbial biomass (Cmic and basal CO2 respiration were assayed using an infrared gas analysis system. Soil organic carbon (Core) and total nitrogen (Nt) contents were determined using a C/N elemental analyzer. In addition, cellulose decomposition in soil was assayed using a mini-container system. The contents of Corg, Nt, Cmic and basal respiration activity in the humus layer and in the mineral soil horizon did not differ significantly during 3 years shortly after thinning. Furthermore, no difference was detected comparing spring and autumn samplings of 3 years under study. On the other hand, cellulose decomposition in soil was slightly but not yet significantly increased in the thinned variant. Thus, 3 years after thinning no significant actual impacts on soil ecological properties were detected, but first evidence for increased soil biochemical activities in the thinned variant was found. Long-term monitoring and spatially more detailed analyzes are required to reveal lasting impacts of thinning. Special emphasis needs to be directed on the composition of soil microbial communities and on specific activities related to soil organic matter transformation.

Effet du pH et de la Force Ionique sur la Liberation d'Ions Aluminium par des Sols Bruns Acides Limousins - Consequences Sur La Pollution Des Eaux Naturelles pH and Ionic Strength Effect on Release of Aluminium by Limousin Acidic Brown Earth Soils - Impact on Natural Water Pollution

Effet du pH et de la Force Ionique sur la Liberation d'Ions Aluminium par des Sols Bruns Acides Limousins - Consequences Sur La Pollution Des Eaux Naturelles pH and Ionic Strength Effect on Release of Aluminium by Limousin Acidic Brown Earth Soils - Impact on Natural Water Pollution

Radiocarbon Dating of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons A New Approach for Dating Passive‐Fraction Carbon in Soil Horizons

Aliphatic hydrocarbons isolated from three types of British upland soils at different depths were 14C‐dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and compared with 14C ages of total organic C (TOC) of bulk soils and acid‐hydrolyzed residues. In all cases, aliphatic hydrocarbons were significantly older than TOC but comparable with (in some cases older than) hydrolyzed residues, indicating that the 14C content of aliphatic hydrocarbons reflects the age of a passive‐fraction C. The age differences between the aliphatic hydrocarbons and TOC increase with the degree of mineralization: thus, up to a 10000 yr difference in age is observed for highly mineralized horizons in podzol and acid brown earth. The leaf‐wax n‐alkanes (C25 to C33) isolated from a peaty gley core show a virtually linear relationship between their ages and the depth. In contrast to bulk soil organic matter that contains younger C deposited by plant roots and by water leaching, leaf wax n‐alkanes are contributed at the soil surface by the leaves of dead plants and are of low mobility due to their extremely low water‐solubility. The low biodegradability of long‐chain n‐alkanes leads to their persistence in the soil horizons where they were originally deposited. Therefore, their ages are ideal as chronological indicators for soils and peats.

Influence of the nature of clay minerals on the fixation of radiocaesium traces in an acid brown earth–podzol weathering sequence

SummaryThe magnitude of radiocaesium fixation by micaceous clay minerals is affected by their transformation, which depends on weathering in soil. The net retention of radiocaesium traces was quantified by sorption–desorption experiments in the various horizons of four sandy soils forming an acid brown earth–podzol weathering sequence derived from sandy sediments and characterized by marked changes in mineral composition. The features of the 2:1 minerals of the four soils, resulting from an aluminization process in depth and a desaluminization process towards the surface, had a strong influence on Cs+ fixation. Beneath the desaluminization front, which deepens from the acid brown earth to the podzol, hydroxy interlayered vermiculite was dominant and the 137Cs+ fixation was the weakest. At the desaluminization front depth, vermiculite was responsible for the strongest 137Cs+ fixation. In the upper layers, smectite appeared in the podzolized soils and the 137Cs+ fixation decreased. The magnitude in Cs+ fixation therefore appeared as a tracer of the transformation process affecting the 2:1 clay minerals in the acid brown earth–podzol weathering sequence. This magnitude was positively correlated with the vermiculite content of the studied soil materials estimated by the rubidium saturation method.

The oribatid mite community (Acarina) of pure and mixed stands of beech ( Fagus sylvatica) and spruce ( Picea abies) of different age

In November 1994, the density of oribatid mite species was determined in litter and soil of pure and mixed stands of beech ( Fagus sylvatica) and spruce ( Picea abies) of an age of ca. 30 and 120 years. The study sites were located in the Solling, a plateau of red sandstone in northern Germany. The stands grow on acidic brown-earth with a moder humus form. The average oribatid mite density was 160 000 ind m −2 and a total of 68 species was present. The diversity and density of the two age classes did not differ significantly indicating little effect of stand age on the structure of oribatid mite communities. The diversity and density did not differ significantly between beech, spruce and mixed stands. However, more `endemic' species (species which only occurred in one of the three stands within one age class) occurred in the mixed stands presumably due to a more heterogeneous and patchy habitat structure. Some species of oribatid mites had higher densities in beech than in spruce ( Hypochthonius rufulus C.L. Koch, Nanhermannia coronata Berlese) while others ( Tectocepheus velatus (Michael), Adoristes ovatus/poppei C.L. Koch) were more common in spruce. Parallel to the distinct stratification of organic layers a strong decline of oribatid mite densities occurred from the L/F to the H/Ah and Bv horizon. Small-sized oribatid species like the Brachychthonioidea dominated in the deeper horizons (H/Ah and Bv).

Post-glacial variations in distributions, 13C and 14C contents of aliphatic hydrocarbons and bulk organic matter in three types of British acid upland soils

The post-glacial variations in distributions and 13C contents for individual aliphatic hydrocarbons and bulk organic matter down the profiles of three stratified organic upland soils (peaty gley, podzol and acid brown earth) in the U.K. were studied by a combination of conventional radiocarbon dating and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) characterisation of bulk and individual compounds. The reduction with depth of the total organic carbon content (TOC) of the soils was accompanied by concentration decreases in aliphatic hydrocarbons, attributed primarily to diagenetic degradation and, secondly, to changes in primary production since the last deglaciation. In contrast, the 13C content of TOC generally increased with depth and age in the soils, which was again paralleled by the 13C content of individual aliphatic hydrocarbons. CO 2 contributed by fossil fuel burning can only explain changes of about 1‰, with the additional (2–4‰) 13C enrichment for individual n-alkanes from horizons in the podzol (< 2000 yr BP) and acid brown earth (< 3000 yr BP) being attributed primarily to the contributions of isotopically heavier (relative to plants) n-alkanes by soil micro-organisms. The large 13C enrichment (5–7‰) for TOC, aliphatic hydrocarbon fractions and individual n-alkanes from a peaty gley horizon older than 10,000 yr BP was also attributed to the effects of environmental conditions on isotopic fractionation during photosynthesis. Compared with n-alkanes from higher plants, the hopanoids were enriched on average by 4–5‰ in 13C and showed little variation down the soil cores, suggesting a source of heterotrophic bacteria using carbohydrates/proteins as their major carbon source, and effecting little isotopic fractionation during hopanoid biosynthesis, and/or from soil cyanobacteria using dissolved CO 2 in water. The radiocarbon ages of the soil TOCs showed a nearly linear increase with depth, suggesting little bio-disturbance and consistent accumulation of organic C at this site. The 14C ages of the aliphatic hydrocarbon fractions isolated from peaty gley soil horizons (measured by AMS) increased linearly with depth and the age of the lower gleyed horizon was ca. 3000 yr older than that of the bulk soil organic matter. The presence of n-alkanes derived from higher-plant leaf waxes in the oldest horizons of peaty gley soil indicates a 3000 yr earlier development of vegetation since the last glaciation than that estimated simply by the age of TOC.

The influence of some parameters upon the aluminium leaching out by limousin soils through batch reactor

In order to evaluate the influence of an intensive forestry on the monomeric aluminium and organic matter release by the Limousin forest (France), an acidic brown earth soil planted with 3 different forests (centenary Douglas, young Douglas and Chesnuts) was selected. According to batch reactor experiments, the results show that all A horizons the most contaminated distilled water with monomeric aluminium and organic matter. The higher released concentrations of monomeric aluminium were obtained with the old Douglas upper soil horizon. When the soil was in contact with acidic solution, the more the pH was acidic, the more monomeric aluminium released concentration was important.

Effect of acid deposition on soil acidification and metal mobilisation

Simulated acid rain treatments of pH 5.6, 4.0 and 2.5 in the laboratory produced marked acidification and Al and Zn mobilisation in columns of an homogenised incipient podsolic soil. Exposure of monoliths of the same soil and an acid brown earth to ambient levels of acid deposition in the U.K. for 3 a, resulted in soil acidification at higher rainfall and slightly contaminated sites, whilst the drier but more contaminated sites exhibited a more variable response. Changes in DTPA-extractable Zn did not conform to any obvious pattern, although at 5 of the 6 sites the acid brown earth monoliths underwent a decrease in Zn concentration.

The influence of some parameters upon the aluminium leaching out by limousin soils through batch reactor

In order to evaluate the influence of an intensive forestry on the monomeric aluminium and organic matter release by the Limousin forest (France), an acidic brown earth soil planted with 3 different forests (centenary Douglas, young Douglas and Chesnuts) was selected. According to batch reactor experiments, the results show that all A horizons the most contaminated distilled water with monomeric aluminium and organic matter. The higher released concentrations of monomeric aluminium were obtained with the old Douglas upper soil horizon. When the soil was in contact with acidic solution, the more the pH was acidic, the more monomeric aluminium released concentration was important.

The effects of clear-cutting and liming on the soil macrofauna of a beech forest

The effect of clear-cutting and liming on abundance, dominance structure and trophic composition of the soil macrofauna (Lumbricidae, Diptera, Coleoptera and Chilopoda) was studied in a beech wood forest on an acidic brown-earth. Sampling methods were ground photo-eclectors and funnel extraction. The various taxa and nutritional groups of Diptera responded differently to the environmental changes caused by clear-cutting and liming. The same was true for the species and taxa of Coleoptera. Lumbricidae and Chilopoda were favoured by the liming treatment. The factors determining the change in population densities are discussed. Abiotic factors, especially soil moisture, and biotic factors, such as dead plant biomass and predation, are considered to be of prime importance. A change of moder soil into mull soil after liming is observed.

Potential use of plant residue wastes in forests of northwestern Germany

Increasing amounts of waste and limited space for its deposition require alternative waste management practices, such as the use of organic wastes for amelioration of forest soils. The effects of plant residue waste application to forest soils were assessed by laboratory incubation, and by field experimentation at two sites with contrasting soil properties. The wastes used were a fresh and shredded material and a mature compost, both from plant residues, and were nutrient rich with high contents of bases and low concentrations of heavy metals. Long-term laboratory incubation showed no difference in total N mineralization between fresh organic waste, mature organic compost and beech litter. The nitrification rates in the organic wastes were higher, however. Carbon dioxide evolution was higher from fresh organic waste, and lower from mature organic compost than for beech litter. Neither liming nor addition of different soils, which served as inocula, significantly influenced N or C mineralization in wastes. Of total potassium in fresh organic waste 80% was released during a 67 day incubation period. Seepage water samples from an acid brown earth and a Terra fusca-Rendzina site showed negligible differences between concentrations of most elements for waste application and control plots. However, in both soils potassium and chloride concentrations were highest under mature compost. After 21 months, the pH of humus and mineral soil below waste layers had not increased. The basicity of waste will deacidify acid forest soils in the long term. The flora which established after waste addition included many non-forest plants and indicated very good nitrogen supply in the soil. As a result of potential leaching of nitrate, waste applications to nutrient-rich or N saturated forest ecosystems may be an environmental risk.

Micro-plate colourimetric assay for Endo -acting cellulase, xylanase, chitinase, 1,3-β-glucanase and amylase extracted from forest soil horizons

A new approach, based on the application of soluble, dye-labelled and acid-precipitable polysaccharide derivatives, is introduced for the sensitive assay of polysaccharide endo-hydrolases extracted from soil.An extraction procedure involving sodium acetate-acetic acid buffer (pH 5, 0.5M; 5ml g−1 soil) and an assay system adapted to microtitre plates were developed for routine determinations of endo -acting cellulase, xylanase, chitinase, 1,3-β-glucanase and amylase activities. An Acid Brown Earth under a mature beech forest (Fagus sylvatica L., humusform: typical Moder) was studied with respect to distinct, clearly-developed soil horizons (L, F, H, Ahh, Aeh).Enzymes purified by (NH4)2SO4-precipitation and dialysis were assayed for pH and temperature activity profiles. pH optima were determined in the range of 4.5–5.5, temperature optima were in the range of 40–55°C, revealing stable and fairly similar characteristics of these enzymes in the horizons under study.In routine investigations, highest enzyme activities were determined in the L and F horizons. Significantly decreasing activities with increasing soil depth and decreasing organic matter content were determined in the H, Ahh and Aeh horizons, respectively.Cellulase, xylanase and chitinase activities were highly correlated with total-C content of the soil horizons under study 0.871 ⩽r2⩽ 0.954).

Importance of natural soil processes relative to atmospheric deposition in the mobility of aluminium in forested watersheds of the Black Forest

The dynamics of aqueous aluminium in the ARINUS experimental watersheds at Schluchsee (granite) and Villingen (quartz sandstone), Black Forest (South-west Germany), were studied in order to detect the processes and factors controlling its mobility. Aluminium speciation was performed in the seepage of typical soils (podsol, acidic brown earth, stagnogley) at 3 depths (organic layer, 30 cm and 80 cm of the mineral soil) as well as in streamwater. The studies concentrated on the variability in time and space of inorganic monomeric Al (Al i), and organic monomeric Al (Al o). Furthermore, the equilibrium speciation model WATEQF was used to calculate the distribution of inorganic Al species. Natural soil properties and processes, such as DOC mobilization and excess mineralization of NO 3 2− and SO 4 2−, appeared to have great influence and outweigh the deposition effects upon Al mobilization in these systems which receive only low to moderate loads of acidic deposition.

Radiocaesium in upland herbage in Cumbria, UK: A three year field study

Between April 1987 and November 1989, the uptake of radiocaesium by herbaceous vegetation growing on a variety of upland soils contaminated in May 1986 by Chernobyl fallout was measured and found to be related to soil type. The uptake on peat was found to be an order of magnitude greater than on acid brown earth. The levels of radiocaesium in all the soils reflected both pre-Chernobyl and Chernobyl deposition, but levels in vegetation arose almost entirely from the Chernobyl fallout. Soil profiles showed all the radiocaesium to be within the rooting zone of the vegetation but uptake of Chernobyl radiocaesium was up to an order of magnitude greater than that of radiocaesium deposited 20–30 years earlier. The rate of uptake of the Chernobyl radiocaesium is therefore also expected to decrease markedly over a period of decades. On a shorter timescale, from the measurements reported here, soil-to-plant transfer on brown earth fell by about 77% in three years but on soils with an organic matter content of 88% the decrease was only about 17%. The levels of radiocaesium in the vegetation showed a seasonal pattern.