Soil Quality Test Research Articles

Soil Quality Testing and Counseling Coastal Agricultural Communities in Taiwan

The Mailiao Town is a traditional agricultural community, located in the south-central region of Taiwan. In this region, the northeast monsoon is entrained with salt for seven months a year. Soil fertility test results between 2011 and 2021 showed that the tillage soil was alkaline and salinized. The content of total nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium in the soil were mostly excessive. In the region, open-air continuous farming with heavy fertilizer has been performed. Based on the 10 years of data from the test of soil fertility, we counseled farmers to understand the significance of the values in the reports and the impact on crop growth. We promoted rational fertilization with a series of agricultural counseling actions. The results of the continuous counseling showed that the dependence on nitrogenous fertilizer gradually decreased with the continuous increase of the application of organic fertilizers. The total nitrogen and exchangeable sodium content in soil decreased significantly, and the carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N) increased every year. The soil environment became close to equilibrium gradually. As a result, the yield and quality of local crops have gradually improved.

Automated Plant Watering and Fertilizing with Soil Quality Testing

India is mostly a farming nation. For most Indian households, agriculture is the most important line of work. It is essential to the growth of an agricultural nation. In India, agriculture accounts for 10% of total exports and roughly 16% of GDP. The primary resource for agriculture is water. Water can be supplied by irrigation, although there can sometimes be significant water waste. Consequently, in order to conserve time and water. Agriculture uses the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies a lot these days. As a result, this article discusses a project that is built on the Internet of Things (IoT) and focuses on the agricultural sector with the aim of reducing water usage in the sector. As a result, this essay discusses a project that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT), where all information can be accessed and managed at the touch of a finger, to reduce water consumption in the agricultural sector. We have an idea for a project called an Automated Plant Watering and Fertilizing with Soil Quality Testing. The proposed method makes use of a variety of sensors that sense the different aspects of the soil, such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture sensors, automatically irrigate the land by turning the motor on and off depending on the soil moisture value. Key Words: Sensors,PH Sensor,Arduino Board,Temp Humidity Sensor DHT-11,Soil Moisture Sensor,Water Motor, Internet of Things (IOT), Solenoid Valve

Pemberdayaan Kelompok Tani Sayuran melalui Intensifikasi Ekologi Menggunakan Eko-Teknologi Non-Mikroba di Sekitar Kebun Raya Kendari

Agricultural Innovation in the green revolution contains high ecological risk, so that eco-technology innovation is needed for the sustainability of agricultural productivity. Unfortunately, not all farmers know about of this innovation, including members of the Nanga-Nanga Makmur Farmers Group around the Kendari City Botanical Gardens. This Community Partnership Program aimed to: (i) increase the knowledge and skills of target farmers regarding the management of abundant organic waste around farmers' fields to be used as non-microbial biofertilizer products; and (ii) provide knowledge to target farmers about conducting soil quality testing as a reference for farmers to determine the dose of non-microbial biofertilizer on managed agricultural land by members of the farmer groups. The method applied to achieve this goal is to do incidental counseling through face-to-face activities, training activities through mentoring in plot demonstration actions. Data on the increasing knowledge and skills of farmers were recorded through photos during mentoring and pilot demonstrations and analyzed descriptively. The results of these activities have increased the knowledge and skills of farmers in evaluating soil fertility using KIT for soil analysis, and determining the need for organic matter and fertilizers. Partner farmers have been able and skilled to produce biochar, compost tea, and compost as non-microbial biofertilizer by utilizing liquid organic waste and organic solid waste. Farmers can to manage soil quality and plant health through the application of non-microbial biofertilizer to soil and plants. Farmers also have insight into pest/disease control through an eco-technology approach.

Mine soil health on surface mined lands reclaimed to grassland

Appalachian states of the USA have over 15,000 km2 of surface mined land. Many mine sites in northern Appalachia were reclaimed with salvaged topsoil to aid revegetation and few studies have measured soil health of reclaimed mine soils in this region of Appalachia with topsoil replaced and grassland established. The objective of this study was to assess soil quality by using six soil health indicators from two methodologies (NRCS Soil Quality Test Kit vs Standard laboratory/field methods) on four reclaimed mine sites. On these sites, three of the six soil health indicators gave similar results between methodologies: infiltration (INFIL) (NRCS: 0.117 vs Standard: 0.114 cm min−1), pH (6.6 vs 6.4), and soil respiration (RESP) (45 vs 57 kg CO2-C ha−1 day−1); but two were different: bulk density (BD) (1.30 vs 1.46 Mg m−3) and electrical conductivity (EC) (0.113 vs 0.226 dS m−1). Wet aggregate stability (WA) showed similar trends between methodologies but could not be statistically analyzed because of different measurement units. The four sites differed in age since reclamation which offered an opportunity to assess soil quality changes over time. BD decreased, and WA, INFIL, pH, EC and RESP increased with age. The results showed that soil health indicators determined with the NRCS Soil Quality Test Kit provided similar results and trends to Standard methodologies and can be used to evaluate soil quality of mine soils. Both methodologies verified that mine soil health indicators improve with time since reclamation.

Institutional support for tribal farmer interest groups in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, India

Globally small and marginal tribal farmers situation is worse because of poor marketing system and lack of quality input and technical services. This worse situation can be empowered through group approach like Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), Farmers Interest Group (FIG) and Self Help Group (SHG). FIG is a self-managed, independent group of farmers with a shared goal and interest. This is usually formed by 15-20 members. It is evidenced that the profitability in farming would be possible in groups rather than practising it individually. This is particularly the case where farmers organize themselves to respond to credit and input needs, marketing concerns, etc., as there are clear economic benefits of working in groups. The present study is aimed to investigate the level of institutional support for tribal Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) in Erode district. A cent per cent of the respondents (100.00%) admitted that they received support for getting information regarding input availability, subsidiary activities, various schemes of the state department of agriculture. The vast majority of the respondents received information on technical support on production aspects of crop production (98.00%) and received credit support whenever needed (98.00%). Institutions like NGOs, State Department of Agriculture played a major role in improving the standard of living of these tribal people. They received support from the institution from production to marketing and value addition. However, they did not get proper guidance for soil testing and quality testing of inputs. Because of remoteness, they received a medium level of institutional support.

Influence of natural crosslinker and fibre weightage on waste kibisu fibre reinforced wheatgluten biocomposite

In this era of green and sustainable manufacturing, natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites (NFPC) have been widely accepted as the potential alternatives for polymer matrix composites (PMC) or any other non-biodegradable composites. Despite the increasing need to replace plastic bottles, bags, disposable plastic plates and trays, seedling pots used in our day to day life, not many studies have been made in this direction. The current work aims at developing a hundred percent biodegradable composite by reinforcing waste Kibisu silk fibre into wheat gluten as a possible replacement of plastic disposables. The developed composites are made up of different mass fractions of Kibisu silk fibre reinforced into plasticised wheat gluten. The prepared composites have been characterised to obtain the best combination. The developed composites were found to have adequate tensile property, mass degradation at a considerably high temperature and most importantly, the outstanding rate of biodegradation under normal atmospheric conditions. The soil quality test before and after degradation also showed no significant changes in the quality of the soil. FTIR studies revealed improved interaction between wheat gluten, glycerol and Kibisu fibres upon addition of natural lemon extract as crosslinker. Overall results indicate that the developed biocomposites have the potential to substitute harmful plastic disposables like plastic seedling pots and plates, disposable hospital tray, dustbin, etc.

Impact of Lambusango Forest Damage on Environment

The Lambusango forest is located on the island of Buton which is the world’s lungs and is a tourist attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. The study aims to (1) Know the impact of Lambusango forest damage on the environment due to mining activities in Buton Regency (2) To know the effect for the community around Lambusango Forest. Judging from the purpose of research, this research is done by qualitative descriptive method [1]. Activities undertaken include conducting in-depth interviews to find out the impacts to some respondents and observations in the field. Implementation Phase Water and Soil Quality Test is a way to know if water and soil have been polluted by mining. Stages of preparation of research results conducted by evaluating and re-examination of data analysis results both secondary data and primary data. The expected results in this study are negative impacts caused by mining such as Pollution of water, barren land, mine hole openings that can disturb community mining area can be minimized.

Relationship between land tenure and soil quality: Evidence from China’s soil fertility analysis

The paper analyzes the causal relationship between farmers’ renting behavior and arable land quality using unique farmland soil quality test data in China. The paper looks into land quality changes in different places at different time and investigates the robustness of the above relationship using Propensity Score Matching method. The paper finds that the phosphorus and potassium content in rented land is significantly lower than in self-owned land in Heilongjiang provinces, while the soil potassium content in rented land is significantly higher than self-owned land in Zhejiang province. The results show that there is a causal relationship between the increase in land transfer ratio and the change in soil quality. Such relation in turn depends on different investment incentives and extensive application of machinery.

Analisa Kualitas Tanah Pada Berbagai Penggunaan Lahan di Sub Sub DAS Cimanuk Hulu

Soil quality test is needed to find out the influence of landuse change due to soil quality dan characteristics. This research aims to comparing various land use that influence the physical, chemical and biological soil on Andisol and Inceptisol, obtain information of soil quality at various land uses on Andisol and Inceptisol, and study the relationship between soil quality and erosion at various land use The study was conducted in Sub Sub watershed Hulu Cimanuk with an area of 16.171 hectares. The study was conducted on four different types of land use namely forest land, agriculture land, tea garden and mixed garden. The study was conducted with survey methods, descriptive and comparative. Erosion calculation using the RUSLE formula.Analysis of soil quality is calculated based on criteria Mausbach & Seybold (1998) and modified in accordance with the conditions of the study area. The results showed that each land use has a different effect on soils quality nor with erosion. Soil quality on forest land has higher value than other land use and erosion that occurs most low at 0.2 tonnes / ha / year. The use of dry land has the lowest value of soil erosion begitupula highest of 387 tonnes / ha / year.Key words: erosion, landuse change, soil quality, and watershed.

Split-agar assay of antifungal soil microbial metabolites

Abstract Soil microorganisms suppress soil borne plant pathogenic fungi through various mechanisms. There is no appropriate, integrated method to easily quantify soil health in terms of disease control ability. A novel assay to quantify the ability of soil to inhibit fungal pathogens is described. The technique is easy to use routinely in soil biology investigations for soil quality testing as it offers an integrated expression of suppressiveness as actidione equivalents per gram of soil. Soil samples were inoculated into liquid growth medium and incubated; supernatants were filter sterilized and assayed in split agar against Macrophomina phaseolina to record colony radius. The antifungal activity of the soils varied widely ranging from 0.02 to 2.80 mg actidione equivalents g −1 soil, of which 81–98% was heat labile. The test will be a useful aid in decision support for reducing the use of chemical control agents and promote sustainable farming practices.

Seasonal Variations of Shallow Well Water Quality in Amuwo-Odofin and Ojo LGA’s of Lagos, Nigeria

Water from fifteen shallow wells used for irrigation was analysed during the wet and dry seasons of 2012 and 2013 respectively from Amuwo-Odofin and Ojo LGAs in Lagos-Nigeria. In situ parameters were measured for electrical conductivity, pH and total dissolved solids using portable metres. Bicarbonate, calcium, carbonate, and chloride were determined using a titrimetry method. Magnesium, potassium and sodium were determined with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer while sulphate was determined using a spectrophotometer. Total hardness was computed using Fournier equation. The study aimed at examining the seasonal variations of shallow well water for irrigation purpose in the study area. Data were analysed using tables, charts, descriptive inferential statistics and irrigation water quality indices. The results show that the mean values of all the parameters were higher in dry season compared to the wet season except for pH. The paired samples T-test indicate significant seasonal variations at p<0.05 for sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and sulphate. The Kelly ratio, magnesium ratio, residual sodium carbonate, percentage sodium and sodium adsorption ratio indices have revealed that the water quality is suitable for irrigation in both seasons. The spatial pattern of sodium and salinity hazard shows that all the samples are suitable for irrigation except for locations G12 and G14; and G9 in dry and wet seasons respectively. It was concluded that the shallow well water is suitable for irrigation. Routine monitoring, appropriate treatment and investigation of soil quality test are recommended for further study. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.68.2.5642

Comprehensive assessment of soil quality for landscape and urban management

Approaches to measuring air and water quality are well established, but soil quality assessment protocols to be used in landscape monitoring efforts are largely non-existent. The concept of soil quality represents the integration of the physical, biological, and chemical aspects of soils. Limited attention has been given to the holistic assessment of soil quality in landscape and urban planning, as it is typically addressed only through chemical analyses. We describe the process used for the selection of soil quality indicators that are being offered as part of the new Cornell Soil Health Test. Over 1500 samples were collected from agricultural landscapes, including controlled experiments, and analyzed for 39 potential soil quality indicators. Four physical and four biological soil indicators were selected based on sensitivity to management, relevance to functional soil processes, ease and cost of sampling, and cost of analysis. Seven chemical indicators were selected as they constitute the standard soil fertility test. For potentially contaminated sites, additional chemical indicators were considered through a total elemental analysis. Test reports were developed to allow for overall soil quality assessment and the identification of specific soil constraints that may be remedied through management practices. The use of the new soil quality test is exemplified for three landscape scenarios in New York State: a vegetable farm, a town park, and a vacant urban lot. The protocol provides a comprehensive assessment of the soil’s ability to perform critical environmental functions at a relatively modest cost, and it helps target management and remediation approaches.

Gene Expression Analysis of Collembola in Cadmium Containing Soil

Increasing concern about pollution of our environment calls for advanced and rapid methods to estimate ecological toxicity. The use of gene expression microarrays in environmental studies can potentially meet this challenge. We present a novel method to examine soil toxicity. We exposed the collembolan Folsomia candida to soil containing an ecologically relevant cadmium concentration, and found a cumulative total of 1586 differentially expressed transcripts across three exposure durations, including transcripts involved in stress response, detoxification, and hypoxia. Additional enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) terms revealed that antibiotic biosynthesis is important at all time points examined. Interestingly, genes involved in the "penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthesis pathway" have never been identified in animals before, but are expressed in F. candida's tissue. The synthesis of antibiotics can possibly be a response to increased cadmium-induced susceptibility to invading pathogens, which might be caused by repression of genes involved in the immune-system (C-type lectins and Toll receptor). This study presents a first global view on the environmental stress response of an arthropod species exposed to contaminated soil, and provides a mechanistic basis for the development of a gene expression soil quality test.

Qualidade do solo avaliada pelo "Soil Quality Kit Test" em dois experimentos de longa duração no Rio Grande do Sul

A avaliação da qualidade do solo (QS) é importante estratégia no planejamento agrícola, possibilitando a identificação e o aprimoramento de sistemas de manejo com características de alta produtividade e de preservação ambiental. O presente estudo foi realizado em dois experimentos de longa duração (10 e 15 anos) conduzidos no Sul do Brasil e teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito de sistemas de manejo na QS, utilizando um kit de análise expedita de qualidade de solo (KQS), desenvolvido pelo Instituto de Qualidade do Solo-USDA-ARS. A eficiência desse kit foi avaliada pela comparação com os métodos tradicionais utilizados na ciência do solo. Nas duas áreas experimentais investigou-se um total de 12 tratamentos, os quais englobaram sistemas de preparo com diferentes intensidades de revolvimento do solo (preparo convencional, preparo reduzido e plantio direto) e sistemas de culturas com ampla faixa de adição de resíduos vegetais ao solo, além da aplicação de doses anuais de N-uréia, variando de 0 a 144 kg ha-1. Em cada base experimental uma área sob campo natural foi avaliada, servindo como referência da condição do solo na ausência de interferência antrópica. Como indicadores de QS, foram avaliados infiltração de água, respiração do solo, densidade do solo, teor de nitrato+nitrito (N-NO3- + N-NO2-), estabilidade de agregados em água e pH. De maneira geral, os coeficientes de correlação entre os métodos do KQS e os métodos tradicionais foram elevados, sendo o mais alto para o indicador pH (r = 0,98) e o menor para o indicador infiltração de água no solo (r = 0,42). Os tratamentos selecionados foram teoricamente ordenados em ordem crescente de QS, a qual foi reproduzida de forma eficiente pelo índice de estoque de carbono (IEC), calculado pela razão entre o estoque de C orgânico do solo, na camada de 0-5 cm, de cada tratamento e o estoque de C orgânico no solo sob campo natural. Os indicadores estabilidade de agregados, N-NO3- + N-NO2- e respiração do solo foram os mais eficientes em discriminar a QS. O KQS foi eficiente em avaliar a QS dos tratamentos nas duas áreas experimentais. Os níveis mais elevados de QS foram alcançados nos tratamentos com plantio direto e consórcio de gramíneas e leguminosas tropicais, devido à cobertura do solo e às elevadas adições de C e N via resíduos culturais.

Collembase: a repository for springtail genomics and soil quality assessment

BackgroundEnvironmental quality assessment is traditionally based on responses of reproduction and survival of indicator organisms. For soil assessment the springtail Folsomia candida (Collembola) is an accepted standard test organism. We argue that environmental quality assessment using gene expression profiles of indicator organisms exposed to test substrates is more sensitive, more toxicant specific and significantly faster than current risk assessment methods. To apply this species as a genomic model for soil quality testing we conducted an EST sequencing project and developed an online database.DescriptionCollembase is a web-accessible database comprising springtail (F. candida) genomic data. Presently, the database contains information on 8686 ESTs that are assembled into 5952 unique gene objects. Of those gene objects ~40% showed homology to other protein sequences available in GenBank (blastx analysis; non-redundant (nr) database; expect-value < 10-5). Software was applied to infer protein sequences. The putative peptides, which had an average length of 115 amino-acids (ranging between 23 and 440) were annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) terms. In total 1025 peptides (~17% of the gene objects) were assigned at least one GO term (expect-value < 10-25). Within Collembase searches can be conducted based on BLAST and GO annotation, cluster name or using a BLAST server. The system furthermore enables easy sequence retrieval for functional genomic and Quantitative-PCR experiments. Sequences are submitted to GenBank (Accession numbers: EV473060 – EV481745).ConclusionCollembase is a resource of sequence data on the springtail F. candida. The information within the database will be linked to a custom made microarray, based on the Agilent platform, which can be applied for soil quality testing. In addition, Collembase supplies information that is valuable for related scientific disciplines such as molecular ecology, ecogenomics, molecular evolution and phylogenetics.

Soil microbial activity, aggregation and nutrient responses to straw pulping liquor in corn cropping

The cereal and grass seed cropping systems of the Pacific northwestern USA generate a valuable fiber source for papermaking. Pulping straw with KOH produces black liquor, an organic waste effluent with potential as a K source and soil amendment. The objectives of this study were to determine if black liquor from wheat straw pulping with KOH improves soil quality including soil aggregation, microbial biomass and microbial activity, and corn yield. A 2-year field trial with a randomized complete block design was conducted with black liquor or KCl applied at 168 and 336 kg K ha−1 at two sites, respectively, planted to corn in Central Washington. Black liquor applied at rates of 168 and 336 kg K ha−1 slightly increased soil pH by 0.2 to 1.4 units and electrical conductivity by 0.0 to 0.8 dS m−1 at both sites, and significantly increased soil test K compared to the nonamended control by 199 to 368 mg K kg−1 soil in the top 5 cm at Paterson and by 44 to 200 mg K kg−1 soil in the top 5 cm at Prosser. Corn had no yield response to the application of either K sources, black liquor, or KCl applied at both rates at both sites. Generally, black liquor applied at these rates increased soil dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, and arylsulfatase activities, microbial biomass C, and soil wet stable macroaggregates in the top 5-cm soil at both sites. The results of this study suggest that the organic-rich waste liquor from wheat straw pulping with KOH may improve soil quality and soil test K without reducing crop productivity.

Monitoring the impact of farm practices on water quality in the Otago and Southland deer focus farms

Research on the soil and water quality of deer farms is minimal. However, the perception is that many deer operations may be detrimental to soil and water quality. To address this problem two deer focus farms (DFF, 1 each in Otago and Southland) were established to showcase how productivity and environmental objectives can coincide. Managements implemented by the farmers included a sedimentation pond, fencing off waterways and retiring land under a QEII covenant. A detailed soil and water quality testing regime occurred for each farm: data were collected at the Southland DFF for three tributaries (one fenced off, one partially fenced and one unfenced) which fed into a stream and through a tussock covered area retired from grazing. Water quality in the unfenced and partially fenced tributaries was poor with no water quality parameters meeting ANZECC guidelines, whereas water quality in the fenced-off and planted tributary was better. Water exiting the retired area met ANZECC guidelines. Although water quality on parts of both deer farms did not meet ANZECC guidelines, when management practices such as fencing off and the creation of a pond were used water quality improved. More importantly, an area retired from grazing and further development on the Southland DFF showed that water quality could be significantly improved and could be better than that entering the farm. Keywords: fencing-off, QEII covenant, sedimentation pond, water quality

Soil quality: why and how?

The soil quality concept evolved throughout the 1990s in response to increased global emphasis on sustainable land use and with a holistic focus emphasizing that sustainable soil management requires more than soil erosion control. The concept includes two areas of emphasis—education and assessment—both based soundly on principles of soil science. Soil quality test kits, farmer-based scorecards, visual assessment procedures, fact sheets, and video presentations were developed as educational materials because many people have no basis to recognize, understand or appreciate the complexity of soil resources. Assessment tools for indexing soil quality at various scales were pursued to show the multiple functions (e.g. nutrient and water cycling, filtering and buffering of contaminants, decomposition of crop residues and other organic matter sources, and recycling of essential plant nutrients) that soils provide as the foundation for sustainable land management. Worldwide research and technology transfer efforts have increased awareness that soil resources have both inherent characteristics determined by their basic soil formation factors and dynamic characteristics influenced by human decisions and management practices. Soil quality assessment and education are intended to provide a better understanding and awareness that soil resources are truly living bodies with biological, chemical, and physical properties and processes performing essential ecosystem services.

On-Farm Tests Indicate Effects of Long-Term Tillage Systems on Soil Quality

ABSTRACT To sustain productivity and environmental quality, an awareness of the impacts our management systems are having on soil quality is needed. The soil quality test kit is an on-farm tool that has been developed for conservationists and farmers to track changes in soil quality. The use of the kit was demonstrated by comparing soil quality on long-term no-till versus conventional tillage systems on a silt loam soil in Tennessee. The no-till management system had significantly improved surface soil properties over the conventionally tilled management system at this site. The no-till management system had higher infiltration rates, more stable aggregates, a lower soil respiration rate, a greater resistance to slaking, greater earthworm numbers, and a greater water content in the 0–7.6 cm soil depth. The soil quality test kit was able to distinguish differences in soil properties on this long-term management comparison. The kit is a good on-farm tool for use in comparison of relative differences in surface soil properties.

Soil Quality Field Tools

The mission of the Soil Quality Institute (SQI) of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is to develop and disseminate tools for soil quality assessment. In keeping with this mission, the SQI, through partnerships, has developed two assessment tools for use by farmers and field staff. We review these efforts here. The first, the Soil Quality Card Design Guide, provides a nine‐step process for conducting workshops to guide farmers in the development of locally adapted soil quality assessment cards. The second, the Soil Quality Test Kit Guide, provides instructions and interpretations for 11 field tests representing physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. In this paper, we present a summary of soil quality cards developed in seven states. An important strength of the soil quality card design process lies with the active participation of farmers to design the cards themselves as part of locally lead conservation activities. We also present results from soil quality test kit training workshops showing that the test kit provides an excellent framework for teaching soil quality concepts in the field. Regular use to compare effects of management systems or monitor changes over time will likely be limited to farmers with fairly high skill levels, specialists, and agricultural consultants.