Maintenance Of Soil Productivity Research Articles

Sustainability in land use and maintenance of soil productivity

It is known that a population growth in any country leads to a steady increase in demand for food and consumer goods. This demand can be met only by constantly increasing the production of agricultural products, improving their quality and increasing their variety. Therefore, in our opinion, if we take into account the limited land and water resources, which are the main means of production in agriculture, the only way to increase agricultural production will be the intensive development of this sector and its transition to an industrial basis.

Analysis of Irrigation Water Quality Indices for Chambal River at Kota, Rajasthan, India

Surface water is an essential natural resource for the survival of biotic components on Earth and plays a vital role in every country's domestic, commercial, agricultural, and industrial sectors. River water is a primary source of surface water, and its quality is very important for crop production, maintenance of soil productivity, and protection of the environment; hence, the assessment of river water quality for irrigation is essential. The present study assessed the Chambal River water quality for irrigation purposes in upstream and downstream of Kota Dam, Rajasthan (India). Various irrigation water quality indices (IWQIs), such as SAR, KR, TH, Na%, PI, MH, RSC, and RSBC are evaluated to define overall irrigation water quality. Four sampling sites are selected to define IWQIs with the help of seven water quality parameters, namely, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, carbonate, bicarbonate, and electrical conductivity. This study shows a significant variation in the values of different IWQIs for irrigation compared to 2019 in 2020. The values of IWQIs at Akelgarh indicate the water quality as "Good and Suitable" for irrigation purposes for both years. However, the scenario is different at Rangpur, SRRT, and Keshoraipatan sampling locations. The river water quality for irrigation is continuously deteriorating during the study period and presently has the status of "Moderately suitable" for irrigation. The research demonstrated the application of IWQI, which would be helpful to policymakers and stakeholders to provide large-scale management to control pollution in the Chambal River for economic and sustainable social development.

武夷山不同海拔梯度黄山松土壤有机氮解聚酶活性及其影响因素

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 武夷山不同海拔梯度黄山松土壤有机氮解聚酶活性及其影响因素 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202101210224 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 福建省自然科学基金项目（2019J05163，2020J01397，2020J01142） Soil organic nitrogen depolymerase activities and its influencing factors of Pinus taiwanensis at different altitude gradients in Wuyi Mountain Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(2019J05163；2020J01397；2020J01142) 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:土壤有机氮（SON）解聚酶对土壤大分子有机氮的解聚是土壤氮循环的限速步骤，对土壤氮循环至关重要。然而，目前亚热带森林中、高海拔梯度下SON解聚酶活性的动态及其影响因素尚不明确。在武夷山自然保护区海拔1200-2000 m的黄山松林，通过测定5个海拔梯度的土壤环境因子、理化性质和8种SON解聚酶活性的变化，探究了不同海拔梯度下SON解聚酶活性的分布规律及其影响因素。结果表明，除土壤DON含量外，其他测量的土壤环境因子和理化性质在不同海拔梯度下均存在显著的差异。SON解聚酶活性随海拔梯度呈现不同的分布规律：碱性蛋白酶（ALPT）、中性蛋白酶（NPT）、漆酶（Lac）和亮氨酸氨基肽酶（LAP）随海拔升高显著增加，酸性蛋白酶（ACPT）和几丁质酶（Chi）呈现先增后降的趋势，而锰过氧化物酶（Mnp）和谷氨酰胺酶（GLS）在海拔1800 m显著降低（P<0.05）。冗余分析表明，不同海拔梯度下SON解聚酶活性存在明显的聚类，土壤环境因子和理化性质对SON解聚酶活性的解释度高达88.18%。土壤温度（ST），含水率（SM），微生物生物量碳（MBC）和矿质氮（NH4+，NO3-）是不同海拔梯度下SON解聚酶活性变化的重要预测因子。相关分析表明，多数SON解聚酶活性与土壤ST呈显著负相关，与pH，SM，TN，MBC，NH4+和NO3-呈显著正相关。NH4+和NO3-含量动态随海拔梯度均呈现波浪式起伏变化，相比于上游的有机质底物，下游无机氮循环中的矿质氮对SON解聚酶活性产生更直接的影响。该研究有助于拓宽我们对亚热带森林中、高海拔土壤氮循环机理的认识，同时对土壤有效氮保持和生产力的维持具有重要意义。 Abstract:The depolymerization of soil organic nitrogen (SON) depolymerases on soil macromolecule organic nitrogen is the rate-limiting step of the soil nitrogen cycle, which plays a crucial role in the soil nitrogen cycle. However, the dynamics of SON depolymerase activities and their influencing factors in subtropical forests at middle and high altitudes are still unclear. In this study, the soil environmental factors, physicochemical properties and the activities of eight kinds of SON depolymerases were measured in the Pinus taiwanensis forest at the altitude of 1200-2000 m in Wuyishan Nature Reserve, and we investigated the distribution of SON depolymerase activities and their influencing factors at different altitude gradients. The results showed that the significant differences were found in all soil environmental factors and physicochemical properties measured at different altitudes except DON content. The activities of SON depolymerase displayed different distribution patterns with altitude gradient:alkaline protease (ALPT), neutral protease (NPT), laccase (Lac) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) increased significantly with altitude, and acid protease (ACPT), chitinase (Chi) exhibited a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, while manganese peroxidase (Mnp) and glutaminase (GLS) decreased significantly at altitude of 1800 m. Redundancy analysis showed that SON depolymerase activities were obviously clustered at different altitudes, and the explanation degree of soil environmental factors and physicochemical properties to them was as high as 88.18%. Soil temperature (ST), soil moisture (SM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and mineral nitrogen (NH4+, NO3-) are important predictors of SON depolymerase activities at different altitudes. Correlation analysis showed that most of SON depolymerase activities were negatively correlated with soil ST, while positively correlated with pH, SM, TN, MBC, NH4+ and NO3-. The dynamics of NH4+ and NO3- showed a wave-like fluctuation with altitude gradient. Compared with the upstream organic substrate, the mineral nitrogen in the downstream inorganic nitrogen cycle had a more direct impact on SON depolymerase activities. This study is helpful to broaden our understanding of the mechanism of soil nitrogen cycle in subtropical forests at middle and high altitudes, and is of great significance to the protection of soil available nitrogen and the maintenance of soil productivity. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Effects of Compost tea on Productivity of Green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

Maintenance of soil productivity is one of the significant constraints affecting crop production in tropical region. Thus, field experiments were carried out in the 2018 rainy season at the Bayero University, Kano’s Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, and Federal College of Education, Katsina’s Teaching and Demonstration Farm. The study aimed to evaluate compost tea’s effect on the productivity of green bean varieties. The treatments comprised three compost tea rates (0, 50, and 100 l ha-1) and two green bean varieties (Bean Cora and Haricot Contender). The treatments were combined factorially and arranged in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Collected data from the field were subjected to an analysis of variance using Genstat statistical package. The results showed that use of compost tea at 100 l ha-1 significantly increased canopy height, number of branches plant-1, number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1, shoot dry matter, number of pods plant-1, pod length, pod weight plant-1, and green pods yield compared with the use of 50 l ha-1 and control. The results also indicated that varieties differed significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in most studied characters. Bean Cora recorded a considerably greater green pod yield than Haricot Contender. Based on the findings of this study, Bean Cora is a favourable variety in this location. However, it is also suggested that application compost tea at 100 l ha-1 be used as an organic source of nutrients for green bean production in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria.

Effects of intensive management practices on 10-year Douglas-fir growth, soil nutrient pools, and vegetation communities in the Pacific Northwest, USA

Intensive management practices are commonly used to increase fiber production from forests, but potential tradeoffs with maintenance of long-term productivity and early successional biodiversity have yet to be quantified. We assessed soil and vegetation responses in replicated manipulations of logging debris (LD; either retained or removed) and competing vegetation control (VC; either initial or sustained annually for 5years) for 10years at two Douglas-fir sites that contrasted strongly in availability of soil nutrients and water. We evaluated (1) survival and growth of Douglas-fir to determine short-term effectiveness for fiber production, (2) change in soil C and nutrient pools as an indicator of longer-term effects of treatments on soil quality and ecosystem production, and (3) vegetation composition and cover for treatment effects on early successional biodiversity. Annual VC caused large increases in Douglas-fir growth at both sites, but increased survival only at the lower-productivity site. In most instances and regardless of site or treatment, soil C and nutrient pools increased following harvesting, but the increases were generally larger with lower intensity practices (LD retained and initial VC). Effects of LD were small and inconsistent at the higher productivity site, but LD retained increased Douglas-fir survival and growth and soil nutrient pools at the lower productivity site. Species diversity was reduced at both sites with annual VC because of increased Douglas-fir cover, but the magnitude was greater and the timing was earlier at the higher quality site where plant communities in all treatments had converged by year 10. Annual VC can be used to increase growth of planted Douglas-fir while maintaining soil nutrient pools for sustained ecosystem productivity, but a concurrent decrease in early successional diversity will occur with impacts increasing with site quality. Logging debris retention can have positive benefits to Douglas-fir growth and soil nutrient pools, particularly at lower quality sites. Our results demonstrate a need for careful consideration of site quality to ensure that objectives are realized with regards to fiber production and maintenance of soil productivity and biodiversity with intensive forest management.

Development of biochemical properties in anthropic soil (the study at Třinec-Jahodná plot)

The properties of the anthropic soils formed at the sludge bed “Třinec-Jahodná”. The sludge bed came from a long-time depositing of fly-ash and slag layers. Therefore, the anthropic soil properties obtained their features by both a character of layered substrate and a management of the local land reclamation. The paper presented deals with the rate of an intensity of biological and biochemical soil processes in charge of the fulfilment of plant nourishment demands, and the time viewpoints focusing on the local soil development. The set of enzymatic and biological measurements were chosen for treatments of soil bodies sampled throughout 2007–2008. The study plots inside the sludge bed and the control plot were sampled; the properties of particular horizons were studied. The results proved that the twenty-year-development of soil bodies made the proper conditions for plant nutrition. The positive statement, nevertheless, is directly linked to the presence of trees and shrubs. The vegetation seems to be one of the very crucial factors for a status of the site and maintenance of soil productivity: it affects temperature amplitudes, sensitivity to erosion, a redistribution of soil water, and a humic compounds accumulation. The statistical analyses showed significantly differing results on the study plots with a shorter development and a lower rate of vegetational cover.

Evaluation of Environmental and Vulnerability Impact of Bush Burning in Southern Guinea Savanna of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Aims: To evaluate farmer’s perceptions about the environmental and vulnerability impact of bush burning. Study Design: Field survey. Place and Duration of Study: Southern Guinea savanna of Adamawa State, Nigeria, between 1995 and 2010. Methodology: The respondents interviewed were selected using a simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques proportional to the size of the areas studied. A sample of 120 respondents formed the sample size. Data were collected from hunters, farmers, herdsmen, foresters and civil servants in the study area. At the end of data collection only 100 questionnaires were correctly filled and returned. The remaining 20 were rejected owing to inconsistencies in their responses. Descriptive statistical analyses such as frequency and percentage were used to analyze the data obtained using statistical package for social science (SPSS 13). Results: The results obtained show that 96% of the respondents interviewed were males and 4% females. Most of them were aged between 31 to 40 years with 45% representing active part of the population. 30% of the respondents engaged in farming, 21% hunting, 20% pastoralists, 16% foresters and 13% civil servants. Almost all the respondents agreed that they practice bush burning in order to derive various benefits that include; 24% as a means of land clearing and 18% on maintenance of soil productivity. 23% were on the view that it promotes rapid growth of succulent vegetation for livestock. 18% said that it helps them in their hunting expedition and 14% looked at it as a means of conserving the natural vegetation. At the same time 27% of the respondents maintained that this practice leads to lack of pasture for livestock, 22% pointed out that it leads to destruction of wildlife habitat, others, 18% observed that it brings about reduction in soil fertility, promotes soil erosion Research Article

A Quantitative Methodology for Estimating Soil Loss Tolerance Limits for Three States of Northern India

Soil loss tolerance limit (SLTL) is the maximum amount of soil which can be removed annually before the long-term soil productivity is adversely affected. In many situations, the establishment of a SLTL is intended to provide basic information for the maintenance of soil productivity, which becomes one of the foci of the sustainability of agricultural land use. In India a default soil loss tolerance limit of 11.2 Mg ha−1 yr −1 is followed for planning soil conservation activities. The objective of this study is to provide a methodology to estimate quantitative SLTLs for suggesting suitable soil conservation measures. The assessment framework used follows three basic steps; viz. indicator selection, indicator interpretation and integration into a soil quality (SQ) index value. A quantitative model was used to integrate potential soil indicators such as saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, soil erodibility, organic carbon and pH to assess soil resistibility to erosion. Scaling functions were used to convert soil parameters to a unitless 0 to 1 scale. Normalized values of all these soil parameters were then multiplied by assigned weights based on relative importance and sensitivity analysis. Soils were grouped into 1, 2, and 3 depending on overall additive score. A general guideline developed by the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) was followed, with certain modifications in depth categories, for estimation of SLTLs. The model was tested on 14.86 Mha of land in northern India comprising of the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. SLTLs varied from 2.5 to 12.5 Mg ha−1 yr −1 compared to the single value applied earlier.

Legume Cover Crops are More Beneficial than Natural Fallows in Minimally Tilled Ugandan Soils

It is important to establish the various effects of legume cover crops on soil physicochemical properties because they have been considered for use as improved fallows (with shorter rest periods) to enhance development and maintenance of soil productivity. Our objectives were to assess: (i) aboveground dry matter yields of legume cover crops; and (ii) cover crop effects on weed infestation and soil physicochemical properties in a minimum tillage management system. Trials were conducted for 2 yr at Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute and on farmers' fields in Mbale and Pallisa districts, eastern Uganda. The experiment layout was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split‐plot arrangement with four replications. Natural and improved fallows were established in the second cropping season of 2004. Cover crops used in the improved fallows included mucuna [Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.var. utiliz], Dolichos lablab (Lablab vulgaris Savi cv. Rongai), canavalia [Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.], and crotalaria (Crotalaria paulina Schrank). The fallows were reestablished in the same plots in the second cropping season of 2005 after maize (Zea mays L.). Canavalia yielded significantly more dry matter than the other fallows regardless of year or site. With an average yield of 169 kg N ha−1 canavalia accumulated significantly more N than the other fallows; all improved fallows produced significantly more N than the natural fallow. Canavalia also accumulated significantly more P than the other fallows; all improved fallows, with the exception of crotalaria, accumulated more P than the natural fallow. There was no significant change in soil physicochemical properties by the improved fallows. All effects considered, improved fallows were more beneficial than natural fallow. A significant improvement in soil physicochemical properties using legume cover crops might be possible, though it may require more than the two cropping cycles used in this study of degraded soils.

Monitoring the effects of forest practices on soil productivity and hydrologic function

In British Columbia and elsewhere, governments are evaluating the sustainability of forest practices. This requires the development of sensitive and reliable indicators and their monitoring over time. Conserving soil productivity and hydrologic function is a key aspect of forest ecosystem sustainability. British Columbia's Forest and Range Evaluation Program (FREP) has recently developed a protocol describing indicators and methods for collecting the data necessary to evaluate forest practices. We present five indicators for describing the status of soils on recently harvested areas in British Columbia, along with a brief scientific rationale for including them in the evaluation system, and a description of their intended use for monitoring sustainability. For three of the indicators, we also provide preliminary thresholds to help in determining whether current forest practices are consistent with the maintenance of soil productivity and hydrologic function.

Cost–benefit analysis of the Zonal Program of Castro Verde (Portugal): Highlighting the trade-off between biodiversity and soil conservation

We address the effects of erosion on the environmental services provided by the soil and explore possibilities for integrating soil erosion impacts in cost–benefit analyses of agri-environmental policies. As a case study, we considered the continued soil erosion caused by the traditional cereal farming system which is financially supported by the Zonal Program of Castro Verde. This case study illustrated the conflict between the preservation of biodiversity habitat requirements and the maintenance of soil productivity. We conclude that soil erosion is currently a major threat to the long-term sustainability of the Cereal Steppe of Castro Verde and largely reduced the cost-efficiency of public expenditure in local biodiversity conservation. Although replacement cost has proven to be a suitable method to determine the cost of soil productivity loss from erosion, we argue that there is a need to frame the erosion cost estimate obtained within more integrative approaches of assessing erosion costs.

Role of Vegetation in Mitigating Soil Quality Impacted by Forest Harvesting

The initial growth response of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) to competition control is well documented. However, the benefits of competing vegetation to soil quality have not been thoroughly investigated. A study was conducted: (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of bedding site preparation in recovering soil processes and productivity following disturbance; and (ii) to determine if different levels of vegetation control have differential effects on soil processes that aid in the recovery and maintenance of soil productivity. Study plots were established on a wet pine flat on South Carolina's Coastal Plain. Treatments included a range of three disturbance classes (undisturbed, compression tracked, and churned), two site preparation treatments (flat planted and bedded), and a gradient of vegetation control (no vegetation control, operational level weed control, and complete weed control). Compacted soils generally increased in bulk density (14%) and decreased in macroporosity (25%) and hydraulic conductivity (69%) compared with undisturbed treatments. Churning had no significant net effect on the soil physical properties measured; however, it did increase net N mineralization by over 100% on flat‐planted treatment plots. Bedding fully ameliorated the effects of soil compaction based on the physical properties measured. Trends suggest some improvements in soil quality with increasing levels of non‐crop vegetation biomass; however, during 2 yr of operational vegetation control, the beneficial effects of the non‐crop vegetation were marginal.

Biological Challenges for Certification of Tropical Timber

Ecological certification of forest products is a rapidly developing market-based incentive for better forest management. Improved forest management can be an important component of tropical conservation and development strategies. To provide a solid biophysical basis for certification programs, however, research is needed on the ecological and silvicultural consequences of different forest management practices. The current criteria for certification are generally based on sustainability of timber harvest volumes, protection of hydrological functions, maintenance of soil productivity and forest structure, and minimization of the deleterious impacts of forest management on non-commercial plants and animals. Some criteria and the field indicators used in their assessment apply equally well to most forests, whereas others are only appropriate for certain forest types, stands, or species. Tropical biologists can contribute to the processes of refining eco-certification criteria and selecting ecologically meaningful indicators of good forest management that can be readily assessed and monitored. Participation of tropical biologists in the design of ecological certification protocols will improve credibility of the process and promote better forest stewardship.

INFLUENCE OF A CHANGE FROM TALL FESCUE TO PEARL MILLET OR CRABGRASS ON THE MYCORRHIZAL FUNGAL COMMUNITY

Crop rotation is a major factor in maintenance of soil productivity in cropping systems, but the role of mycorrhizal fungi has been little considered. A tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) sod heavily infected with the Acremonium coenophialum endophyte was plowed, and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum Leeke) or crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.) was grown. Pearl millet produced more shoot dry matter and was more heavily colonized than crabgrass, and soil populations of mycorrhizal fungi were usually higher with pearl millet. Associated with the production of pearl millet and crabgrass were radical changes in the mycorrhizal fungal community. Populations of eight of 19 species decreased, four of them not detected at the end of the season. Populations of nine increased, five of them not detected at the beginning of the season. Field host and time affected species richness, dominance, and diversity; but only time affected equitability. This study suggests that crop rotation may be used to manage the mycorrhizal fungal community. Managing these fungi may be important if individual species or biotypes are found to be pathogenic or mutualistic.

Control of Pathogenic Mycorrhizal Fungi in Maintenance of Soil Productivity by Crop Rotation

Pathogenic mycorrhizal fungi may be a major reason crops must be rotated to maintain soil productivity. We studied the role such fungi may have in the maintenance of productivity of soil for tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by rotation with tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb). Tall fescue Kentucky 31' and continuous tobacco plots were established on a central Kentucky field previously shown to be infested with the mycoorhizal fungus Glomus macrocarpum Tul and Tul., the cause of a stunt disease of tobacco. Fumigation with 67% methyl bromide-33% chloropicrin (MBC, trichloronitromethane) covered with plastic was used as a control (...)

Animals and soil sustainability

Domestic livestock animals and soils must be considered together as part of an agroecosystem which includes plants. Soil sustainability may be simply defined as the maintenance of soil productivity for future generations. There are both positive and negative aspects concerning the role of animals in soil sustainability. In a positive sense, agroecosystems which include ruminant animals often also include hay forage-or pasture-based crops in the humid regions. Such crops stabilize the soil by decreasing erosion, improving soil structure and usually require fewer chemical inputs. Monogastric animal culture is based on an agroecosystem consisting of mainly grain crops. These crops can result in the soil being exposed to water and wind erosion although soil conservation practices that significantly reduce soil losses may be followed. The management of animal manures is not always compatible with soil conservation practices. Careful management of the nutrients in manure is absolutely necessary to avoid nitrate contamination of ground water or phosphorus loading of streams and lakes. In a negative sense, increases in animal livestock populations in association with human population growth are promoting desertification in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The key component for a fully compatible and acceptable association between domestic animals and soil productivity is proper management. Careful management of the components of an animal-based agroecosystem is required if soil productivity and environmental quality are to be maintained. Although we have much to learn, technologies are available to move a considerable way towards this ideal state.

Soil Conservation and the Maintenance of Soil Productivity

A CCORDING to the basic laws of conservation, matter and energy can neither be created nor destroyed. These principles apply to the material of which soils are made, as well as to the rest of the earth. The soil, as an individual entity, can be destroyed partly or completely. The matter in it can be transformed into a myriad different compounds and dispersed throughout the globe, but it cannot be destroyed. It will still exist somewhere and be available at some time for use in an-

The Maintenance of Soil Productivity in Sukumaland and Adjacent Areas, Tanganyika

The Maintenance of Soil Productivity in Sukumaland and Adjacent Areas, Tanganyika