Effects Of Soil Aeration Research Articles

Effect of Soil Aeration and Root Morphology on Yield under Aerated Irrigation

Soil compaction easily causes root hypoxia stress, resulting in poor root growth and the absorption of soil water and nutrients. We hypothesized that aerated irrigation (AI) could enhance nutrient uptake and utilization, thus unlocking the high yield potential by increasing soil aeration and root morphology indicators compared with that in the non-aeration treatment. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soil aeration and root morphology on the yield of greenhouse cucumbers. The dissolved oxygen (DO) in irrigation water at 10 mg L−1 (A1), 20 mg L−1 (A2), and non-aeration treatment (A0) were applied via a subsurface drip irrigation system. The soil respiration rates, DO in soil water, root morphology, and crop yield were measured. The results showed that AI could significantly improve the soil respiration rate, DO in soil water, and root morphology compared with non-aeration treatment. The A2 significantly increased soil respiration rate by 11.63% and 11.93%, respectively, compared with the A1 and A0 treatments. Under A1 and A2, the DO in soil water increased by 20.01% and 18.02%, respectively, compared with the A0. Moreover, during the flowering and fruit set, the mature, and the late stages, the root surface area, root volume, root tip number, root forks, and root dry weight in the A2 treatment significantly increased than that in the A0 treatment. The soil respiration rate, DO in soil water, root length, and root forks were the main indexes correlated to the yield, respectively. The DO in soil water and root forks number significantly influenced the yield. The cucumber yield and economic benefits in A2 peaked at 53.04 t ha−1 and 3.95 × 104 USD ha−1, increased by 7.86% and 7.30% compared with that in the A0 treatment, respectively (p < 0.05). The results could provide technical support and scientific knowledge for regulating greenhouse cucumbers under AI.

Effects of Soil Aeration and Fertilization Practices on Alleviating Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in “Huangguan” Pears Grafted onto Quince A in Calcareous Soils

In North China, the high-quality pear cultivar “Huangguan” (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. cv), which is grafted onto dwarf quince A (Cydonia oblonga Mill. cv) rootstock and grown in calcareous soil, experiences severe iron (Fe) deficiency; this deficiency greatly constrains tree growth as well as fruit yield and quality. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of six practices for alleviating chlorosis caused by Fe deficiency in “Huangguan” grafted onto quince A (HG-QA). The practices included ridging with landscape fabric mulching as a control, flattening with landscape fabric mulching (FM), ridging without landscape fabric mulching (R), flattening without landscape fabric mulching (F), Fe fertilizer application in soil (SFe), foliar Fe application (FFe), and manure application (M). The results showed that the leaf Fe concentration increased by 356% under FFe, compared to that under the control, but the practice failed to alleviate Fe deficiency chlorosis. In contrast, an increase in leaf Fe concentration and chlorosis alleviation were observed under F. F alleviated chlorosis mainly by increasing the root ferric-chelate reductase activity. These results indicate that Fe uptake and utilization in leaves are independent biochemical processes and soil aeration improvement have positive effect on increasing Fe uptake. M improved both the soil active Fe concentration and leaf Fe utilization. Thus, manure application should be the first choice for alleviating Fe deficiency chlorosis in HG-QA grown in calcareous soils. Combining manure application with other practices that increase Fe uptake would likely be an effective way to address the problem of Fe deficiency chlorosis.

The effects of soil aeration prior to dairy manure application on edge-of-field hydrology and nutrient fluxes in cold climate hayland agroecosystems

Soil aeration is increasingly being used on haylands in the northeastern United States as a water quality best management practice to decrease runoff volumes and flow rates, and the associated export of the nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). However, there is a lack of data on the effects of soil aeration on field-scale hydrologic and nutrient fluxes in cold-climate regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil aeration prior to dairy manure application on edge-of-field hydrology, water quality, and P fluxes in haylands in Vermont, United States, during both precipitation and snowmelt-induced runoff events. Edge-of-field water quality monitoring techniques were used to continuously measure the losses of surface runoff and the associated export of sediment and nutrients year-round from 2012 to 2018. Additionally, passive-capillary lysimeter systems were used to measure the subsurface losses of P. Aeration reduced total suspended solids, total P, total N, and total dissolved N mean runoff-event concentrations by 22%, 32%, 25%, and 34%, respectively. Event mean surface runoff volume increased by 16% due to aeration, resulting in no significant reductions in nutrient load exports during nonwinter runoff events. However, total P and total dissolved P loads were significantly reduced during large winter thaw events, often occurring months after aeration took place. Potential increases in surface and subsurface hydrologic flows that accompany nutrient export reductions should be considered before implementation of soil aeration on haylands with high runoff producing soils in cold climate regions.

System for quasi‐continuous simultaneous measurement of oxygen diffusion rate and redox potential in soil

AbstractOxygen diffusion rate (ODR) and redox potential (EH) are quantitative indices representing oxygen availability and redox status in soils, which is valuable information for better understanding causes and effects of soil aeration. Because these indices are spatially and temporally highly variable, continuous measurements and adequate numbers of repetitions are essential for accurate in situ monitoring. Here, we present a new, fully automated recording system for in situ measurements where ODR and EH are measured at the same platinum electrode. The conflict between electrode polarization for ODR and the resulting biased EH readings is solved by reducing the polarization time and introducing a recovery interval between two consecutive measurement cycles. The shorter polarization time ensures accurate EH readings. It also results in moderately overestimated ODR readings, but this can be corrected before data analysis. The recovery interval restricts temporal resolution of the EH‐ODR data pairs to 8 h. We illustrate the use of the system with measurements in a field experiment in Zürich, Switzerland. ODR curves at different depths ran roughly parallel to the corresponding curves of O2 concentration in soil air but ODR was much more sensitive to precipitation. Low ODR was a necessary but not a sufficient condition for declining EH. EH ran parallel to O2 concentration in soil air rather than to ODR. The fully automated system allows for time series of replicate measurements in multifactorial field studies with reasonable labor requirements. It may be particularly suitable for studies examining the effects of soil tillage, compaction, and irrigation, where structure‐related soil properties such as porosity, gas permeability, and soil aeration play a dominant role.

Effect of soil aeration on root morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of potted tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) at different NaCl salinity levels

BackgroundSalt stress is one of the environmental factors that greatly limits crop production worldwide because high salt concentrations in the soil affect morphological responses and physiological and metabolic processes, including root morphology and photosynthetic characteristics. Soil aeration has been reported to accelerate the growth of plants and increase crop yield. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of 3 NaCl salinity levels (28, 74 and 120 mM) and 3 aeration volume levels (2.3, 4.6 and 7.0 L/pot) versus non-aeration and salinity treatments on the root morphology, photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll content of potted tomato plants.ResultsThe results showed that both aeration volume and salinity level affected the root parameters, photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll content of potted tomato plants. The total length, surface area and volume of roots increased with the increase in aeration volume under each NaCl stress level. The effect was more marked in the fine roots (especially in ≤1 mm diameter roots). Under each NaCl stress level, the photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content of tomato significantly increased in response to the aeration treatments. The net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll a and t content increased by 39.6, 26.9, and 17.9%, respectively, at 7.0 L/pot aeration volume compared with no aeration in the 28 mM NaCl treatment. We also found that aeration could reduce the death rate of potted tomato plants under high salinity stress conditions (120 mM NaCl).ConclusionsThe results suggest that the negative effect of NaCl stress can be offset by soil aeration. Soil aeration can promote root growth and increase the photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content, thus promoting plant growth and reducing the plant death rate under NaCl stress conditions.

Coupled Electro-Chemical-Soil Model to Evaluate the Influence of Soil Aeration on Underground Metal Pipe Corrosion

A mechanistic understanding of the process of underground corrosion is important for modeling pipeline deterioration. In this study, a time-dependent multiscale numerical model incorporating electrochemistry and soil hydrology is developed. The model realistically simulates soil moisture and aeration conditions and their influence on anodic/cathodic activity without prior definition. In this manner, both micro- and macrocell corrosion and their evolution with time are simulated along with the effects of differential aeration. The model was validated with low-alloy cast iron corrosion data from the United States National Bureau of Standards corrosion exposure study. The effect of soil aeration in controlling soil corrosiveness was simulated with suitable boundary conditions. It was demonstrated that macrocells arising due to differential aeration can lead to elevated levels of corrosion in pipelines, especially in fairly aerated soils.

Impact of post-infiltration soil aeration at different growth stages of sub-surface trickle-irrigated tomato plants

Abstract Sensitivity to low rhizosphere soil aeration may change over time and therefore plant response may also depend on different growth stages of a crop. This study quantified effects of soil aeration during 5 different periods, on growth and yield of trickle-irrigated potted single tomato plants. Irrigation levels were 0.6 to 0.7 (low level) or 0.7 to 0.8 (high level) of total water holding capacity of the pots. Soil was aerated by injecting 2.5 l of air into each pot through the drip tubing immediately after irrigation. Fresh fruit yield, above ground plant dry weight, plant height, and leaf area index response to these treatments were measured. For all these 4 response variables, means of post-infiltration aeration between 58 to 85 days after sowing were 13.4, 43.5, 13.7, and 37.7% higher than those for the non-aerated pots, respectively. The results indicated that: post-infiltration soil aeration can positively impact the yield and growth of sub-surface trickle-irrigated potted tomato plants; positive effects on plant growth can be obtained with aeration during the whole growth period or with aeration for partial periods; positive growth effects of partial periods of aeration appears to persist and result in yield benefit.

Effect of Soil Aeration and Phosphate Addition on the Microbial Bioavailability of Carbon-14-Glyphosate

The adsorption, desorption, degradation, and mineralization of C-glyphosate [-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] were examined in Catlin (a fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Oxyaquic Argiudoll), Flanagan (a fine, smectitic, mesic Aquic Argiudoll), and Drummer (a fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquoll) soils under oxic and anoxic soil conditions. With the exception of the Drummer soil, soil aeration did not significantly alter the adsorption pattern of C-glyphosate to soils. Herbicide desorption was generally enhanced with anaerobiosis in all the soil types. Anoxic soils demonstrated slower microbial degradation and mineralization kinetics of C-glyphosate than oxic soils in all the soil types studied. Phosphate additions significantly reduced the adsorption of C-glyphosate to soils irrespective of soil aeration and confirmed the well-established competitive adsorption theory. The addition of soil phosphate stimulated degradation only in anoxic soils. The results from this research highlight the importance of soil redox conditions as an important factor affecting the bioavailability and mobility of glyphosate in soils.

Soil aeration affects the degradation rate of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide

Dicyandiamide (DCD) is a nitrification inhibitor of variable efficacy. In soils, DCD biodegradation rate is known to be a function of temperature; however, microbial activity can also be affected by soil aeration and substrate availability. Studies determining the effects of soil aeration on DCD degradation are few. We tested the null hypothesis that the rate of degradation of DCD in soil would be the same under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Soils from two sites with different organic matter concentrations but the same parent material were sampled to the same depth, sieved, and repacked into tubes (‘soil cores’). These were saturated with a DCD solution (30 µg mL–1) and placed under controlled aeration conditions by imposing five levels of matric potential (0, –1, –3, –6, and –10 kPa) at a constant temperature (22°C). The relative O2 diffusivity (O2 diffusion coefficient in soil/O2 diffusion coefficient in air, Dp/Do) was measured, along with periodic destructive sampling of soil cores over 40 days, to assess the DCD concentrations. Fitting first-order exponential functions to plots of soil DCD concentration v. time showed that the DCD degradation rate was greater (P < 0.05) when the soil was aerobic (Dp/Do ≥ 0.01). Consequently, the null hypothesis was rejected. These results show that soil aeration determines the degradation rate of DCD.

Effects of an experimental drought on soil emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and nitric oxide in a moist tropical forest

AbstractChanges in precipitation in the Amazon Basin resulting from regional deforestation, global warming, and El Niño events may affect emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and nitric oxide (NO) from soils. Changes in soil emissions of radiatively important gases could have feedback implications for regional and global climates. Here we report results of a large‐scale (1 ha) throughfall exclusion experiment conducted in a mature evergreen forest near Santarém, Brazil. The exclusion manipulation lowered annual N2O emissions by >40% and increased rates of consumption of atmospheric CH4 by a factor of >4. No treatment effect has yet been detected for NO and CO2 fluxes. The responses of these microbial processes after three rainy seasons of the exclusion treatment are characteristic of a direct effect of soil aeration on denitrification, methanogenesis, and methanotrophy. An anticipated second phase response, in which drought‐induced plant mortality is followed by increased mineralization of C and N substrates from dead fine roots and by increased foraging of termites on dead coarse roots, has not yet been detected. Analyses of depth profiles of N2O and CO2 concentrations with a diffusivity model revealed that the top 25 cm soil is the site of most of the wet season production of N2O, whereas significant CO2 production occurs down to 100 cm in both seasons, and small production of CO2 occurs to at least 1100 cm depth. The diffusivity‐based estimates of CO2 production as a function of depth were strongly correlated with fine root biomass, indicating that trends in belowground C allocation may be inferred from monitoring and modeling profiles of H2O and CO2.

Denitrification enzyme activity is limited by soil aeration in a wastewater-irrigated forest soil

In land-based wastewater treatment systems (LTS), denitrification is an important nitrogen removal process. We investigated the factors limiting the denitrifying population in a forested LTS, by studying the individual and combined effects of soil aeration, water content, nitrate and carbon on denitrification enzyme activity (DEA). The size of the soil denitrifying population in the LTS appeared to be limited by soil aeration, and limiting oxygen availability increased the denitrifying population above that observed in the field. Furthermore, we found that wastewater irrigation altered the short-term response of denitrifiers to anaerobic soil conditions. Under low oxygen conditions, denitrifiers in the wastewater-irrigated soils produced enzymes sooner and at a greater rate than soils without a history of wastewater irrigation. We propose that the size of the denitrifying population cannot be expected to be large in free-draining, coarsely textured soils even when provided with additional nitrogen and water inputs.

Soil aeration for dairy manure spreading on forage: Effects on ammonia volatilisation and yield

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of performing soil aeration either before or after spreading liquid manure in forage production systems. The experiments included eight trials performed in 1996 using a non-interfering diffusion method to determine ammonia (NH3) flux emissions from both aerated and control plots. For all eight trials, the manure application rate was 75 355 L ha−1. The average NH3 loss for the aerated treatment was 67.3 kg ha−1 while the loss for the control plots was 63.0 kg ha−1. Although differences in the NH3 loss between treatments were low, substantial variations were observed between individual trials depending on the prevailing meteorological conditions.To further evaluate the effects of soil aeration, 11 trials were carried out on Nova Scotia dairy farms in 1996 and 1997 to identify yield effects. Manure application rates ranged from 18 000 to 64 000 L ha−1. The average forage yield on aerated treatments was 9.4% below control treatments (i.e., manure without aeration). Of the 11 trials, 9 resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) reduced yield with soil aeration. Key words: Liquid manure, ammonia volatilisation, soil aeration

Crop rotation and residue management effects on carbon sequestration, nitrogen cycling and productivity of irrigated rice systems

The effects of soil aeration, N fertilizer, and crop residue management on crop performance, soil N supply, organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content were evaluated in two annual double-crop systems for a 2-year period (1994–1995). In the maize-rice (M-R) rotation, maize (Zea mays, L.) was grown in aerated soil in the dry season (DS) followed by rice (Oriza sativa, L.) grown in flooded soil in the wet season (WS). In the continuous rice system (R-R), rice was grown in flooded soil in both the DS and WS. Subplot treatments within cropping-system main plots were N fertilizer rates, including a control without applied N. In the second year, sub-subplot treatments with early or late crop residue incorporation were initiated after the 1995 DS maize or rice crop. Soil N supply and plant N uptake of 1995 WS rice were sensitive to the timing of residue incorporation. Early residue corporation improved the congruence between soil N supply and crop demand although the size of this effect was influenced by the amount and quality of incorporated residue. Grain yields were 13-20% greater with early compared to late residue incorporation in R-R treatments without applied N or with moderate rates of applied N. Although substitution of maize for rice in the DS greatly reduced the amount of time soils remained submerged, the direct effects of crop rotation on plant growth and N uptake in the WS rice crops were small. However, replacement of DS rice by maize caused a reduction in soil C and N sequestration due to a 33–41% increase in the estimated amount of mineralized C and less N input from biological N fixation during the DS maize crop. As a result, there was 11–12% more C sequestration and 5–12% more N accumulation in soils continuously cropped with rice than in the M-R rotation with the greater amounts sequestered in N-fertilized treatments. These results document the capacity of continuous, irrigated rice systems to sequester C and N during relatively short time periods.

The effect of soil aeration on superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde level, pigment content and stomatal diffusive resistance in maize seedlings

Deficient soil aeration that causes hypoxia of maize roots frequently decreases plant biomass production. Characterizing relationships among maize physiological responses to varying levels of root hypoxia is critical to predicting maize plant biomass production. Maize seedlings 12 days old were subjected to increasing root hypoxia over a 12 day period by increasing soil water content in 0.06–0.07 m3 m−3 intervals up to soil saturation. Soil hypoxia conditions were characterized by measuring air-filled porosity (Eg), oxygen diffusion rate (ODR), and redox potential (Eh). The objective of the study was to verify the hypothesis that some physiological parameters can be used to relate levels of soil hypoxia to biomass production. It was found that soil hypoxia caused a decrease of shoot and root biomass, and diminuished the content of leaf protein, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and malondialdehyde (MDA). An increase, due to hypoxia, was observed in the case of stomatal diffusive resistance (Rd) during the entire stress period and of leaf superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity after 8 and 12 days. The SOD activity in the roots increased after 2 and 8 days of hypoxia and decreased after 12 days. The results confirm the hypothesis that the shoot physiological parameters of maize plants can be used to relate varying levels of soil hypoxia to biomass production. The most promising seems to be Rd and SOD activity. The best indicator of the soil aeration status appeared to be ODR.

Effect of soil aeration on the occurrence of clubroot disease of crucifers

Abstract A clear difference in the occurrence of clubroot disease on cabbage was found in fields consisting of two different soils, i.e. high-humic Andisol and low-humic Andisol in Tsumagoi region in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. Soil physical properties and CO2 concentrations in the soil air of the two Andisols were studied in fields. The high-humic Andisol which was considered to promote the occurrence of clubroot disease displayed a low drainage ability and low gas diffusivity. The low-humic Andisol which was considered to inhibit the occurrence of the disease showed a high drainage ability and high gas diffusivity. The CO2 concentrations in the soil air of the high-humic Andisol were 2–4 times as high as those of the low-humic Andisol during the growing period of cabbage. Influence of CO2 concentration in the soil air on the occurrence of clubroot disease was examined in turnip in pot culture experiments under controlled soil water matric potential and CO2 concentration in the soil air. It was found that...

Effects of soil aeration on root demography in kiwifruit

Abstract Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa (A Chev.) C.P. Liang et A.R. Ferguson) vines are usually very sensitive to soil aeration stress in the laboratory and field. However, at some sites previously vigorous vines have shown no foliar symptoms of stress despite waterlogging for up to 7 days. This research attempted to explain such anomalies through intensive study of root demography and soil aeration using a rhizotron. One previously vigorous vine was waterlogged by continuous irrigation for 12 days, another was lightly irrigated twice over the same period. Both vines showed a marked turnover of feeder roots, but net losses were much greater on the waterlogged vine. Roots on the waterlogged vine were rapidly killed as soil aeration became impaired; c. 65% of the initial root length died. However, this vine showed no signs of stress above ground. Our results suggest some healthy kiwifruit vines have many more roots than necessary for water uptake under normal conditions. Such vines can survive waterlogging...

Effect of Soil Aeration on the Growth and Yield of Sugar Beets

Effect of Soil Aeration on the Growth and Yield of Sugar Beets

Effect of soil aeration on the growth of white clover in a glasshouse pot experiment

Abstract The possibility that growth might be limited when plants are grown in pots without holes in the base was investigated. The growth of white clover in either Wairakei sand or Wharekohe silt loam was measured, in pots with no holes, or 1, 5, or 13 holes. In the Wairakei sand varying the number of holes in the pots had no significant effect on dry matter yield In the Wharekohe soil, there was a gradual increase m total dry matter yields from four harvests with increasing number of holes in the pots; clover yields from pots with 5 or 13 holes were significantly higher than those from pots without holes.

Studies on the Effects of Soil Physical Conditions on the Growth and Yield of Crop Plants : VIII. Efects of aeration treatment on the nutrient absorption and tuberous root formation of sweet potato.

By managing so that a tuberous root forming place and a nutrient-absorbing place could be distinguished, the authors made these experiments to probe the effects of aeration treatment to each place and the amount of fertilizer (ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate) on the growth of the top parts and the thickening of tuberous root. The results obtained may by summarized as follows. 1) The authors investigated the effects of aeration treatment in the soil where nutrient-absorbing chiefly took place, the condition of the soil where tuberous root was fomed being equal. As a result, it was observed that the growth of the top parts and the thickening of tuberous root were checked by the poor of the soil aeration and the soil compaction of a nutrient-absorbing place. However, when air was injected and O2 concentration in soil air was increased, the growth of the top parts and the thickening of tuberous root were remarkably promoted. On the other hand, when N gas was injected in that place and O2 concentration in soil air was decreased, the growth of non-tuberous root was promoted and the weight of the top parts increased, although the thickening of tuberous root was hampered and its weight decreased. When the soil of a nutrient-absorbing place was loose and the soil aeration was kept to be excellent, both the growth of the top parts and the thickening of tuberous root were greatly promoted and-the weight of tuberous root could be increased. 2) The authors examined the effects of fertilizer treatment to a tuberous root-forming place and a nutrient-absorbing place on the thickening of tuberous root. As a result, it was found that to apply much nitrogenous fertilizer (ammonium sulfate) promoted the growth of the top parts remarkably but hampered the thickening of tuberous root to some extent. On the other hand, to apply a great deal of potash fertilizer (potassium sulfate) hardly affected the growth of the top parts. but promoted the thickening of tuberous root and increased its weight. 3) The authors examined the effects of soil aeration to tuberous root-forming place on the growth of the top parts and the thickening of tuberous root, the condition of a nutrient-absorbing place being equal (in water culture). When N gas was injected in the soil and of concentration in soil air was decreased, the growth of the top parts was not affected so much, but the thickening of tuberous root was checked and its weight was decreased considerably.

Effects of Soil Aeration and Compaction upon Yield, Nutrient Takeup and Variability in a Greenhouse Fertility Experiment1

SynopsisDry matter yield and nutrient accumulation of corn were little affected by aeration and compaction applied to potted soil. Variability among replicate determinations of biological indices was sharply increased by compaction of fertilized soil. Compaction lowered oxygen diffusion rates, increased bulk density, but did not affect root production and distribution.