Soil aggregate formation and stability induced by starch and cellulose

Soil aggregate (SA) can be formed and stabilized when soil organic matter (SOM) is decomposed in the soil. However, the relationships between the SA dynamics and SOM with different decomposition rates have not been clarified. Therefore, this study examined the effects of the addition of polysaccharides to soil on SA formation and stability. A Japanese tropical soil was incubated for 99 d at 30 °C in a dark environment following the addition of 0.5% (w/w) starch or cellulose. The decomposition rates of the amendments, and SA formation and stability were evaluated by measuring soil respiration rates, and distribution fractions of soil aggregate sizes and mean weight diameter (MWD) of SA, respectively. The cumulative soil respirations with all treatments rapidly increased until Day 12 of the incubation. The initial slope of the cumulative soil respiration in the soil with starch was significantly higher than that in the soil with cellulose. In either soil with starch or cellulose, the fractions of macro-aggregates (>1000 μm in diameter) significantly increased, respectively, compared with control soil. However, the fractions of meso-aggregates (250–1000 μm) and nano-aggregate (<20 μm) in the soil with starch significantly decreased, while those fractions in the soil with cellulose fluctuated until Day 6. The MWDs reached the maximum on Day 6, indicating the SA formation in the soils with starch or cellulose. The increasing rate of the SA formation in the starch-amended soil was greatly higher than that in the cellulose-amended soil. After Day 6, the MWDs in the soils with either polysaccharide decreased with similar trends with no significant differences between treatments, indicating similar stability of the SA in both treatments. This study showed that the different decomposability of the organic amendments might influence the SA formation differently, but not the SA stability.     

Temporal and seasonal change in microbial community structure of an undisturbed,disturbed, and carbon-amended pasture soil

Disturbance and change to C inputs can alter microbial community structure and impact ecosystem function. Particularly in temperate regions, seasonal change also has an effect on microbial communities both directly through climate and indirectly through plant function. The temporal change in microbial communities of an undisturbed pasture, disturbed pasture (similar to a single tillage event) and pasture soil amended with two forms of particulate carbon were monitored over eight consecutive seasons after grass was reestablished. The soil microbial community was assessed by a DNA fingerprinting technique (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, TRFLP) of bacterial, fungal and archaeal communities, and also from phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. The single disturbance had a significant effect on fungal microbial community structure (by TRFLP) and significantly decreased the fungal:bacterial ratio. Though the change was relatively small, it persisted throughout the sampling period. Nitrate was also higher on the disturbed treatment providing evidence for the theory that changes to fungal:bacterial ratios can alter nutrient cycling and retention. Fungal communities were the most altered by the C amendments, and while bacteria were also affected by the C amendments, seasonal change was a greater cause of variation. Correlation to soil and climatic variables explained more of the total variability for PLFA (78% for all treatments) than bacterial (50%), fungal (35%) and archaeal (14%) restriction fragments. Most climate and soil variables explained significant variation for seasonal patterns in the multivariate community structures but measurements of soil moisture were important for all communities while pH was relatively more important for bacteria, temperature for fungi, and soil C:N ratio for archaea. Autumn was particularly distinct from other seasons for bacteria (less so for the fungal community) and although there was seasonal change in pH suggesting pasture management was a factor, the significant correlation of other soil characteristics suggests that plant physiological changes (most probably root exudates) also played a significant role. The large change in the saprotrophic fungal community due to the particulate C addition but minor seasonal change would tend to suggest that the fungal community may be more responsive to changes in litter inputs rather than root exudates while the reverse is true for bacteria.     

Measuring soil disturbance effects and assessing soil restoration success by examining distributions of soil properties

Successful restoration of an ecosystem following disturbance is typically assessed according to similarity between the restored site and a relatively undisturbed reference area. While most comparisons use the average or mean parameter to represent measured properties, other aspects of the distribution, including the variance of the properties may assist in a more robust assessment of site recovery. Our purpose was to compare soil properties in different ages of reclaimed soils with those in reference areas by incorporating the potentially different distributions according to areas. On two sampling dates, in consecutive years, we examined soil properties on a chronosequence of reclaimed natural gas pipelines spanning recovery ages of <1–54 years, obtaining data on soil moisture, organic carbon, nitrogen, electrical conductivity, pH, and microbial abundance. To make the comparisons, we analyzed our data with a Bayesian hierarchical linear mixed model and obtained posterior predictive distributions for the soil properties. This allowed us to probabilistically quantify the extent to which a soil property from a reclaimed treatment was similar to that from an undisturbed reference. We found that the posterior predictive variance of most soil properties was particularly sensitive to disturbance and reclamation, especially, within the first few years of recovery. Response of this variance to disturbance, reclamation, and recovery was not necessarily accompanied by a shift in the posterior predictive mean value of the property. Patterns for all soil properties changed over time, with posterior predictive distributions of soil properties generally becoming more similar to those of the undisturbed reference sites as recovery time increased. We suspect these trends in altered variability coincide with the degree of spatial heterogeneity in soil properties that results following disturbance and reclamation, which is also coupled to patterns of vegetation recovery.     

Mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms reduce antioxidant enzyme activities in maize and sunflower plants grown in Cd-polluted soils

Changes in plant antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) in response to cadmium (Cd) pollution are an important mechanism for plant growth and tolerance to Cd-induced stress. The main objective of this greenhouse study was to determine the combined influence of earthworm and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungal inoculation and their interactions with Cd on AOEs and proline accumulation in leaves of two major crops under Cd stress. Maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants were exposed to Cd stress (10 and 20 mg kg⁻¹ soil), inoculated with either earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus L.) or AM fungi (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae species) in a pot experiment for three months. Exposure to Cd decreased shoot dry weights, increased shoot Cd and P concentrations, leaf proline accumulation and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants and both in the presence and absence of earthworms. Inoculation of both model plants with earthworms and AM fungi decreased shoot Cd concentrations and the activity of all AOEs, except PPO. Although earthworm activity enhanced the proline content of sunflower in Cd-polluted soils, the proline level of both plants remained unaffected by AM fungi. AM fungi and earthworms may decrease the activity of AOEs through a decline in shoot Cd toxicity and concentration, confirming that plant inoculation with these soil organisms improves maize and sunflower tolerance and protection against Cd toxicity. Generally, the effect of AM fungal inoculation on plant responses to Cd addition was greater than that of earthworm activity. Nonetheless, the interactive effect of AM fungus and earthworm is of minor importance for most of the plant AOEs in Cd-polluted soils.     

The effect of different nitrogen sources on the symbiotic interaction between Sorghum bicolor and Glomus intraradices: Expression of plant and fungal genes involved in nitrogen assimilation

In the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, plants take up part of the nitrogen (N) through a mycorrhizal pathway. In this study, we assessed the effect of different N sources on the expression of genes coding for enzymes and transporters of the mycorrhizal N uptake pathway, using Sorghum bicolor and Glomus intraradices as a model. Some of the genes investigated were differentially regulated in the intraradical and in the extraradical mycelium depending on the N source. In AM roots, some fungal and plant genes were co-regulated, suggesting an interdependence of both partners in the mycorrhizal N uptake pathway. Mycorrhizal N transfer may have a preference for glycine (plant growth and N uptake stimulation).     

Components,drivers and temporal dynamics of ecosystem respiration in a Mediterranean pine forest

To investigate the climate impacts on the different components of ecosystem respiration, we combined soil efflux data from a tree-girdling experiment with eddy covariance CO₂ fluxes in a Mediterranean maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) forest in Central Italy. 73 trees were stem girdled to stop the flux of photosynthates from the canopy to the roots, and weekly soil respiration surveys were carried out for one year. Heterotrophic respiration (R_H) was estimated from the soil CO₂ flux measured in girdled plots, and rhizosphere respiration (R_Ab) was calculated as the difference between respiration from controls (R_S) and girdled plots (R_H).Results show that the R_S dynamics were clearly driven by R_H (average R_H/R_S ratio 0.74). R_H predictably responded to environmental variables, being predominantly controlled by soil water availability during the hot and dry growing season (May–October) and by soil temperature during the wetter and colder months (November–March). High R_S and R_H peaks were recorded after rain pulses greater than 10 mm on dry soil, indicating that large soil carbon emissions were driven by the rapid microbial oxidation of labile carbon compounds. We also observed a time-lag of one week between water pulses and R_Ab peaks, which might be due to the delay in the translocation of recently assimilated photosynthates from the canopy to the root system. At the ecosystem scale, total autotrophic respiration (R_At, i.e. the sum of carbon respired by the rhizosphere and aboveground biomass) amounted to 60% of ecosystem respiration. R_At was predominantly controlled by photosynthesis, and showed high temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) only during the wet periods. Despite the fact that the study coincided with an anomalous dry year and results might therefore not represent a general pattern, these data highlight the complex climatic control of the respiratory processes responsible for ecosystem CO₂ emissions.     

Soil erosion under simulated rainfall in relation to phenological stages of soybeans and tillage methods in Lages, SC, Brazil

Soil tillage may increase vulnerability to water erosion, whereas no tillage and other conservation cultivation techniques are viewed as strategies to control soil erosion. The objective of this research was to quantify runoff and soil losses by water erosion under different soil tillage systems at the Santa Catarina Highlands, southern Brazil. A field study was carried out using a rotating-boom rainfall simulator with 64 mm h⁻¹ rainfall intensity on a Typic Hapludox, between April 2003 and May 2004. Five rainfall tests were applied along successive cropstages. Surface cover was none (fallow) or soybean (Glycine max, L.). Five treatments were investigated, replicated twice. These treatments were conventional tillage on bare soil (BS) as a control treatment and the following treatments under soybean: conventional tillage (CT), no tillage over burnt crop residues on never before cultivated land (NT-B), no tillage over desiccated crop residues, also on never before cultivated land (NT-D) and traditional no tillage over desiccated crop residues on a soil tilled 4 years before this experiment (NT-PT). Water losses by surface runoff seemed to be more influenced by vegetative crop stadium than by tillage system and consequently a wide range of variation in surface runoff was found, following successive cropstages. The most efficient tillage system in reducing surface runoff and soil losses was no tillage, particularly the NT-PT treatment. Sediment losses were more influenced by tillage system than water losses. In the NT-B, NT-D and NT-PT treatments the rate of sediment losses along the crop vegetative cycle showed a tendency to increase from the first to the second cropstages and later to decrease from the third cropstage onwards. In the conventionally tilled treatment (CT) soil losses were greater than in any of the no tillage treatments (NT-D, NT-B and NT-PT) during the initial growth periods, but at the end of the vegetative period differences in sediment rates between tilled and non-tilled treatments tended to be smaller. In the BS control treatment, soil losses progressively increased following the vegetative growth season of soybean.     

冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植模式氮、磷、钾养分循环与产量可持续性特征

研究分析农业生态系统NPK养分循环和产量的可持续性,对实现养分资源优化管理和农业可持续发展具有重要意义。基于长期冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植定位试验,分析了2004—2017年冬闲-双季稻、马铃薯-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、黑麦草-双季稻、油菜-双季稻等轮作种植模式早、晚稻产量的可持续性与稳定性;采用投入产出法（Input-Output Analysis）分析不同轮作种植模式NPK养分循环与平衡状况。结果表明：1）黑麦草-双季稻模式早稻产量变异系数与可持续性指数分别为0.09和0.81,说明稻田冬种黑麦草有利于促进早稻产量稳定性和可持续性的提高;油菜-双季稻模式晚稻产量变异系数与可持续性指数分别为0.07和0.82,说明稻田冬种油菜有益于晚稻产量稳定性和可持续性的提高;2）长期冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植未影响水稻产量和糙米NPK养分含量（P>0.05）;3）在稻田轮作种植周年内目前的NPK投入水平下,黑麦草-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻、马铃薯-双季稻等模式均存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为375.70 kg（K）·hm^-2、279.98 kg（K）·hm^-2、363.71 kg（K）·hm^-2、93.74 kg（K）·hm^-2;黑麦草-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻等模式均在冬季作物种植季存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为240.07 kg（K）·hm^-2、89.57 kg（K）·hm^-2、140.08 kg（K）·hm^-2,但马铃薯-双季稻模式在马铃薯种植季K盈余为255.21 kg（K）·hm^-2;同时黑麦草-双季稻模式和紫云英-双季稻模式均存在冬季作物种植季存在N亏缺,N亏缺量分别为59.47 kg（N）·hm^-2和89.17 kg（N）·hm^-2;油菜-双季稻模式和马铃薯-双季稻模式在晚稻种植季均存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为45.93 kg（K）·hm^-2、124.33 kg（K）·hm^-2。冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植模式的养分循环是冬季作物和外部投入的NPK肥料共同驱动的养分循环,建议科学管理冬季作物和3季的NPK养分投入。     

热带农业生态系统土壤肥力与植物养分综合管理研究进展

The greatest challenge for tropical agriculture is land degradation and reduction in soil fertility for sustainable crop and livestock production.Associated problems include soil erosion,nutrient mining,competition for biomass for multiple uses,limited application of inorganic fertilizers,and limited capacity of farmers to recognize the decline in soil quality and its consequences on productivity.Integrated soil fertility management(ISFM) is an approach to improve crop yields,while preserving sustainable and long-term soil fertility through the combined judicious use of fertilizers,recycled organic resources,responsive crop varieties,and improved agronomic practices,which minimize nutrient losses and improve the nutrient-use efficiency of crops.Soil fertility and nutrient management studies in Ethiopia under on-station and on-farm conditions showed that the combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizers significantly increased crop yields compared to either alone in tropical agro-ecosystems.Yield benefits were more apparent when fertilizer application was accompanied by crop rotation,green manuring,or crop residue management.The combination of manure and NP fertilizer could increase wheat and faba bean grain yields by 50%–100%,whereas crop rotation with grain legumes could increase cereal grain yields by up to 200%.Although organic residues are key inputs for soil fertility management,about 85% of these residues is used for livestock feed and energy;thus,there is a need for increasing crop biomass.The main incentive for farmers to adopt ISFM practices is economic benefits.The success of ISFM also depends on research and development institutions to provide technical support,technology adoption,information dissemination,and creation of market incentives for farmers in tropical agro-ecosystems.     

利于小麦—玉米轮作田土壤理化性状和作物产量的耕作方式研究

【目的】干旱缺水是陕西渭北旱塬粮食生产的主要矛盾。该区长期采用单一土壤耕作方法,造成土壤质地紧实,蓄水纳墒和提供营养的能力变差,直接影响粮食作物产量的提高。本文通过多年不同轮耕方式定位试验研究,旨在探讨免耕/深松、深松/翻耕和翻耕/免耕3种土壤轮耕模式对旱地冬小麦春玉米轮作田土壤理化性状和作物产量的影响。【方法】以平衡施肥（每公顷基施N 150 kg、P2O5 120 kg和K2O 90 kg）为主处理,免耕、深松和翻耕3种耕作方式组成免耕/深松、深松/翻耕和翻耕/免耕3种土壤轮耕模式为副处理,以连年免耕、连年深松和连年翻耕为对照,进行为期连续 4 年（2007~2011年）的土壤轮耕结合平衡施肥定位试验,详细探讨了不同土壤处理模式对土壤的理化性状和作物产量的影响。【结果】在四年试验中,免耕/深松、深松/翻耕和翻耕/免耕模式下的040 cm土壤容重较连年免耕分别降低4.50%、6.45%和3.57%,深松/翻耕较连年深松无差异,而较连年翻耕降低1.78%。深松/翻耕较对照组040 cm土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮和速效钾分别增加0.27%~15.60%、3.14%~8.61%、3.76%~24.32%、15.62%~25.17%、10.90%~14.43%、8.61%~15.53%,翻耕/免耕较连年翻耕仅有机质、全氮、碱解氮和速效钾含量提高。各处理的040 cm土壤0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量依次为连免免/深连深深/翻翻/免连翻,连免显著高于（P0.05）其他处理1.1~2.5倍。冬小麦和春玉米籽粒产量有3年表现为深松/翻耕＞免耕/深松＞翻耕/免耕,2009年在免耕/深松轮耕模式下春玉米产量显著高于深松/翻耕模式。其余免耕/深松较连年免耕增产12.05%（P0.05）,深松/翻耕较连年免耕增产18.15%（P0.05）、较连年深松增产4.55%（P0.05）,较连年翻耕增产11.22%（P0.05）,比免耕/深松和翻耕/免耕分别增产5.44%（P0.05）和14.57%（P0.05）;而翻耕/免耕则在各方面的效应下降,增产效果降低,较连年翻耕减产2.92%（P0.05）。总之,以免耕/深松和深松/翻耕轮耕模式可创造良好的土壤耕层结构,增加水稳性团聚体,降低耕层及耕层以下土壤容重,提高土壤养分,促进作物生长发育。其中以深松/翻耕轮耕模式的效果较为明显,增产效果更突出。【结论】在渭北旱塬干旱少雨的生态环境下,深松/翻耕土壤耕作模式可以显著改善土壤的理化性状,提高土壤水性团聚体,降低土壤容重,释放土壤养分,从而提高作物产量,是陕西省渭北旱塬及类似地区冬小麦、春玉米一年一熟制作物轮作模式最佳的土壤轮耕模式,其次是免耕/深松轮耕模式。     

长期水稻-大麦轮作体系土壤供氮能力与作物需氮量研究

通过18年稻麦轮作,7个施肥处理,研究了水稻-大麦轮作系统中土壤生产力、氮素自然供应能力、作物氮素内部利用率及氮肥表观利用率。结果表明,在水旱轮作下,土壤对大麦产量的地力贡献率平均为69%,水稻为75%～81%; 肥料的增产贡献率分别为31%和19%～25%,可维持每年生产大麦2.3 t/hm2、稻谷6～7 t/hm2。土壤氮素自然供给力在大麦上平均为75.9%,比水稻的低3.3%～7.2%。在一年三熟水旱轮作制中,土壤和环境年供氮118～299 kg/hm2; 在一年二熟轮作制中为86～199 kg/hm2。施氮肥条件下,大麦的氮素内部利用率为31.0～56.3 kg/kg; 水稻在23.6～50.2 kg/kg之间变动; 大麦的氮肥利用率变幅在27.5%～41.2%,水稻为14.6%～41.2%。在稻麦轮作系统中,如果想获得作物产量12 t/hm2（4 t大麦和8 t 单季稻）,需要每年施氮肥 N 226～337 kg/hm2。为获得更高的作物产量,在氮肥推荐时不但要考虑作物的目标产量,作物对氮素的需要量,还要充分考虑土壤和环境氮素供应能力。     

Effects of potato–grain rotations on soil erosion, carbon dynamics and properties of rangeland sandy soils

The potential for wind erosion in South Central Colorado is greatest in the spring, especially after harvesting of crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) that leave small amounts of crop residue in the surface after harvest. Therefore it is important to implement best management practices that reduce potential wind erosion and that we understand how cropping systems are impacting soil erosion, carbon dynamics, and properties of rangeland sandy soils. We evaluate the effects of cropping systems on soil physical and chemical properties of rangeland sandy soils. The cropping system included a small grain–potato rotation. An uncultivated rangeland site and three fields that two decades ago were converted from rangeland into cultivated center-pivot-irrigation-sprinkler fields were also sampled. Plant and soil samples were collected in the rangeland area and the three adjacent cultivated sites. The soils at these sites were classified as a Gunbarrel loamy sand (Mixed, frigid Typic Psammaquent). We found that for the rangeland site, soil where brush species were growing exhibited C sequestration and increases in soil organic matter (SOM) while the bare soil areas of the rangeland are losing significant amounts of fine particles, nutrients and soil organic carbon (SOM-C) mainly due to wind erosion. When we compared the cultivated sites to the uncultivated rangeland, we found that the SOM-C and soil organic matter nitrogen (SOM-N) increased with increases in crop residue returned into the soils. Our results showed that even with potato crops, which are high intensity cultivated cropping systems, we can maintain the SOM-C with a rotation of two small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop, or potentially increase the average SOM-C with a rotation of four small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop. Erosion losses of fine silt and clay particles were reduced with the inclusion of small grains. Small grains have the potential to contribute to the conservation of SOM and/or sequester SOM-C and SOM-N for these rangeland systems that have very low C content and that are also losing C from their bare soils areas (40%). Cultivation of these rangelands using rotations with at least two small grain crops can reduce erosion and maintain SOM-C and increasing the number of small grain crops grown successfully in rotation above two will potentially contribute to C and N sequestration as SOM and to the sequestration of macro- and micro-nutrients.     

南方红壤区不同植被措施坡面的水土流失特征

植被是南方红壤区水土流失治理的主要措施,为了研究不同的植被措施对坡面产流产沙的影响,以及对坡面侵蚀的抑制效果,在福建省长汀县选择乔灌草、灌草、草本、农作物、乔灌、封山育林、经济林等各植被措施下的标准径流小区,通过观测各种植被措施坡面的产流产沙情况,分析比较各小区的水土流失特征。结果表明植被能较好地调控坡面地表径流和土壤侵蚀。不同植被措施下坡面产流产沙分异规律明显,相对裸地,盖度高的乔灌草、灌草、草本等措施的水土流失量最小,水土保持效果最为明显。在不同的降雨量条件下,不同植被措施的坡面水土流失情况也表现出显著的差异。因此,在未来南方红壤植被恢复与生态环境建设过程中,通过各种植被治理措施的逐步实施,对改善当地的生态环境和水土流失的防治具有重要的意义。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区旱作农业轮作模式综合评价

[目的]以不同轮作模式为研究对象,研究不同轮作模式对土壤容重、土壤含水量及作物产量的影响,优化兰州市旱地区作物种植制度。[方法]以马铃薯(P)、玉米(M)、蚕豆(B)为供试作物,开展9种年际间轮作模式试验,分别为:(P-P-P),(M-M-M),(B-B-B),(P-M-P),(P-B-P),(M-P-M),(M-B-P),(B-B-P),(M-M-B)。测定不同轮作模式下,土壤容重、土壤水分及作物产量,并进行经济效益分析。[结果]马铃薯轮作模式(P-M-P,P-B-P,M-P-M,M-B-P及B-B-P)能显著减少0—40cm土层的土壤容重,对40—60cm土层的土壤容重没有显著影响;不同作物轮作下土壤含水量、耗水量影响大小相似:玉米>马铃薯>蚕豆,水分利用效率受作物种类影响大小为:马铃薯>玉米>蚕豆,其中轮作模式以M-M-M下土壤含水量最低、耗水量最大,B-B-P下水分利用效率最高;同种作物轮作产量均高于连作产量,如2016年P-M-P,P-B-P,M-B-P,B-B-P较连作P-P-P产量分别提高了40.37%~79.28%,M-M-B蚕豆轮作较B-B-B连作增产23.56%,M-P-M轮作较M-M-M连作玉米产量提高10.51%;不同轮作模式经济收益大小与连作相比,轮作更利于产量与经济收益的提高。[结论]综合土壤容重、水分利用效率、产量及经济效益,P-B-P与P-M-P轮作模式,能改善土壤环境、提高产量与经济效益可作为主推轮作模式。M-B-P轮作模式经济效益次之,但水分利用效益较高,能作为协调水分利用的种植模式。     

Modelling of soil nutrient budgets: an assessment of agricultural sustainability in Nepal

Abstract. Sustaining soil fertility under agricultural intensification and expansion onto marginal lands is a significant challenge in the Nepalese Middle Mountains. In a detailed watershed study it was shown that the overall soil fertility is poor, forest soils display the poorest conditions as a result of biomass removal, and sustaining agriculture is questionable due to the transformation from traditional to multiple cropping systems. Parent material is a significant factor influencing low phosphorus status while insufficient inputs create deficiencies in total carbon, nitrogen and bases. A nutrient budget model was developed to assess inputs, redistribution and losses relative to soil fertility. Yield, input and management data obtained from farm interviews, and soil analysis data were used in the calculation of nutrient budgets. Results from modelling indicate declining soil fertility under rainfed agriculture, forest and rangelands, and marginal conditions under irrigated agriculture subject to intensive cultivation. Nutrient deficits were relatively low for irrigated rice-wheat systems, which benefit from nutrient inputs via sediments and irrigation waters, but the introduction of triple cropping showed greater deficits. Nutrient balances were most critical under rainfed maize production where 94% of the farms were in deficit. Current shortages of organic matter make elimination of nutrient deficits problematic but improvement of composting, biological N-fixation and fertilizer efficiency and reducing erosion were found to be potential options.     

Effects of cropping systems,maize residues application and N fertilization on promiscuous soybean yields and diversity of native rhizobia in Central Kenya

Agriculture intensification has resulted in severe soil nutrient depletion in Africa. Alternative agricultural practices have been promoted to reduce the use of expensive mineral fertilizers and to restore and sustain soil fertility. The use of mineral fertilizer combined with organic inputs (such as crop residues) and different cropping systems (cereal–legume association or rotation) have been particularly promising. Impacts of these agricultural practices on soil communities have been widely studied, yet little is known on the effect on more specific groups such as rhizobia. A field trial was set up in Chuka (Kenya) to assess the impact of different cropping systems (maize and soybean in intercropping, rotation or monocropping) combined with N fertilization and residues application on the genetic diversity of promiscuous soybean rhizobia during two seasons. Soybean yields were severely reduced by moisture stress and the association with maize compared to mono-legume and rotation systems. Nodulation was generally low but was positively affected by residues application. Diversity of native rhizobia was very low (Shannon indices H′ < 0.8) across the experiment and was not affected by the treatments. Only 5 IGS profiles were obtained after RFLP analysis and all isolated rhizobia were identified as Bradyrhizobium elkanii. The distribution of the different IGS groups within the experiment was more affected by season and residues application than by cropping system and nitrogen fertilizer application. These results suggest a limited population and a low diversity of indigenous rhizobia, and emphasize the need of alternative managements to increase and sustain soybean yields in Central Kenya.     

Soil properties affect crop yield changes under conservation agriculture: A systematic analysis

Conservation agriculture (CA) has the potential to sustain soil productivity and benefit agroecosystems, yet it is not fully understood how yield responses of different cropping systems are affected by inherent soil characteristics, for example, texture and dynamic soil properties, such as aggregation, nutrients and erosion. In this study, we conducted a systematic review to compare crop yield from cropland with conventional management versus different CA practices, specifically reduced- or no-tillage, agroforestry, organic farming and cover crops. The data were first analysed for different climatic regions, soil textures and cash crop types. We then quantified how yield responses correlated with soil properties change under different CA practices. The results showed that CA practices were associated with an overall mean crop yield increase of 12%. This response was primarily driven by corn, which had a mean yield increase of almost 41% after CA implementation, whereas other cash crops did not have significant yield responses or showed slight decreases, as rotation with mixtures of multiple cash crops had a mean decrease of 6% when using CA. The increase in corn yield after CA may be related to the enhanced ability of that crop to absorb nutrient elements (e.g. nitrogen) and reduce nutrient leaching. Agroforestry increased crop yield by 66% and cover cropping increased yield by 11%, likely due to increases in soil water content and nutrient availability and decreases in erosion and surface runoff. However, other agricultural systems showed no significant increase after CA compared with conventional row cropping practices. Using CA practices had the greatest yield benefit in tropical climates and when farming in coarse-textured soils. In addition, legumes and grass-legume mixtures resulted in significant cash crop yield increases, possibly because legumes promoted the increase of soil nitrogen and depleted soil moisture less compared with other cover crops. The results provide new insight into how interactions between soil properties and CA practices affect crop yield and at the same time can help guide the development of practical, evidence-based guidelines for using conservation practices to improve yield in corn and other cash crops.     

Soil erosion and changes in the physical properties of Lithuanian Eutric Albeluvisols under different land use systems

Abstract

The investigations aimed to: 1) evaluate water erosion rates on undulating slopes in Lithuania under different land use systems; 2) study changes in soil physical properties on the differently eroded slopes; and 3) better understand relationships between soil physical properties and soil erodibility. Research data were obtained on loamy sand and clay loam Eutric Albeluvisols located on the undulating hilly relief of the ?emai?iai Uplands of Western Lithuania. The results of 18 years of water erosion investigations under different land use systems on slopes of varying steepness are presented. Attention is focused on changes in soil physical properties in relation to soil erosion severity. Measured water erosion rates in the field experiments were: 3.2–8.6 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 under winter rye, 9.0–27.1 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 under spring barley and 24.2–87.1 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 under potatoes. Perennial grasses completely prevented water erosion, while erosion-preventive grass-grain crop rotations (67% grasses, 33% cereal grains) decreased soil losses by 75–80% compared to the field crop rotation, containing 17% tillage crops (potatoes), 33% grasses and 50% cereal grains. The grain-grass crop rotation (33% grasses and 67% cereal grains) decreased soil erosion rates by 23–24%. The percentage of clay-silt and clay fractions of arable soil horizons increased, while the total soil porosity and moisture retention capacity decreased with increased soil erosion. Phytocenoses, including sod-forming perennial grasses and grass-grain crop rotations, led to changes in the physical properties of eroded soils; soil bulk density decreased and percentage total porosity and moisture retention capacity increased. The grass-grain crop rotations increased the water-stable soil structure (measured as water-stable soil aggregates) by 11.03 per cent units and sod-forming perennial grasses increased aggregate stability by 9.86 per cent units compared with the grain-grass crop rotation on the 10–14° slope. Therefore, grass-grain crop rotations and sod-forming perennial grasses decreased soil erodibility and thus could assist both erosion control and the ecological stability of the vulnerable hilly-undulating landscape.     

Changes in soil properties under high- and low-input cropping systems in Lithuania

Abstract. To determine the effects of low-input agriculture on soil properties, we compared several forms of arable land management in a rotation experiment lasting 8 years on a Cambisol in Lithuania. Conventional arable cropping with applications of inorganic fertilizers increased the potassium (K) status of the soil, but resulted in losses of nitrogen (N) from the soil by mineralization and leaching. With ley–arable integrated cropping, a similar fertilizer regime based on farmyard manure (FYM) augmented with inorganic fertilizers increased the phosphorus (P), K, organic matter and N in the soil, as well as increasing N loss by leaching. These two high-input regimes were compared to three systems with less or no input. A reference treatment with no input, which produced small crop yields, maintained its nutrient status and organic matter. An organic regime receiving FYM and green manure lost only P, but maintained its K and N status, while a second organic regime in which the FYM was replaced by composted sewage maintained its fertility. The microbial activity varied somewhat from treatment to treatment, with the largest numbers of almost all groups of microorganisms in the reference treatment. All treatments led to decreases in fulvic acid, and the soil managed conventionally lost humic acid, too. The content of humic acid increased in the treatments where FYM was applied and in the reference soil, and the fraction bound to calcium increased in the integrated and the first organic treatments. The soil structures under the integrated cropping and second organic regime were the most stable. Of the low-input systems, the second organic regime seemed the most sustainable.