Effect of biochar application rate on soil physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam

Biochar is used as a soil amendment for improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration. In this study, a loamy sand soil was amended at different rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% v/v) of biochar, and its physical and hydraulic properties were analyzed, including particle density, bulk density, porosity, infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and volumetric water content. The wilting rate of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in soil amended with various levels of biochar was evaluated on a scale of 0–10. Statistical analyses were conducted using linear regression. The results showed that bulk density decreased linearly (R² = 0.997) from 1.325 to 0.363 g cm^?3 while the particle density decreased (R² = 0.915) from 2.65 to 1.60 g cm^?3 with increased biochar amendment, with porosity increasing (R² = 0.994) from 0.500 to 0.773 cm³ cm^?3. The mean volumetric water content ranged from 3.90 to 14.00 cm³ cm^?3, while the wilting rate of tomato ranged from 4.67 to 9.50, respectively, for the non-amended soil and 100% biochar-amended soil. These results strongly suggest positive improvement of soil physical and hydraulic properties following addition of biochar amendment.     

Potential Use of a Poultry Manure Digestate as a Biofertiliser: Evaluation of Soil Properties and Lactuca sativa Growth

Anaerobic digestion is a process that is widely used for the treatment of organic wastes. The digestate can be used as a soil amendment or crop fertiliser. The aims of our work were to evaluate 1) the physicochemical composition and pathogen content in a digestate from poultry manure, according to international regulations, and 2) the effect of its soil application on the major chemical and biological soil properties and on the growth of Lactuca sativa. The experiment consisted of two groups of pots(with and without crop). Treatments applied to each group were as follows: low and high doses of digestate and inorganic fertiliser, and no application(control)(low dose: 70 kg nitrogen(N) ha~(-1) and 21 kg phosphorus(P) ha~(-1); high dose: 210 kg N ha~(-1) and 63 kg P ha~(-1)). Soil samples were taken 7 and 34 d(harvest) after treatment applications. Heavy metal and pathogen contents in the digestate were below the upper limit values. Despite the high pH and electrical conductivity values of the digestate, both soil parameters presented acceptable values for crop growth. Although there were no initial increases in total inorganic N and available P in soil with digestate application, an increase in the fresh weight of crop was observed with the high dose application. This is probably associated with the slow nutrient release from the digestate during the development of the crop. Changes in the microbial community were temporary and occurred at the initial sampling stage of the experiment.     

Role of Soil Organic Matter in Maintaining Sustainability of Cropping Systems

Soil organic matter (SOM) has long been recognized as an important indicator of soil productivity. The SOM refers to the organic fraction of the soil exclusive of undecayed plant and animal residues. It plays a crucial role in maintaining sustainability of cropping systems by improving soil physical (texture, structure, bulk density, and water-holding capacity), chemical (nutrient availability, cation exchange capacity, reduced aluminum toxicity, and allelopathy), and biological (nitrogen mineralization bacteria, dinitrogen fixation, mycorrhizae fungi, and microbial biomass) properties. The preservation of SOM is crucial to ensure long-term sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. Improvement/preservation of soil organic matter can be achieved by adopting appropriate soil and crop management practices. These practices include conservation tillage, crop rotation, use of organic manures, increasing cropping intensity, use of adequate rate of chemical fertilizers, incorporation of crop residues, liming acidic soils, and keeping land under pasture. Organic matter can adsorb heavy metals in the soils, which reduce toxicity of these metals to plants and reduce their escape to ground water. Similarly, SOM also adsorbs herbicides, which may inhibit contamination of surface and ground water. Furthermore, SOM also functions as a sink to organic carbon and mitigates carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas escape to the environment. Globally, soil organic matter contains about three times as much carbon as found in the world's vegetation. Hence, organic matter plays a critical role in the global carbon balance that is thought to be the major factor affecting global warming. Overall, adequate amounts of soil organic matter maintain soil quality, preserve sustainability of cropping systems, and reduce environmental pollution.     

添加矿化垃圾腐殖土对绿化土壤物理特性的影响

矿化垃圾腐殖土作为绿化基质使用可以增加土壤中有机质及养分质量分数,但同时可能会对土壤物理及水分特性造成影响。运用土壤物理及水动力学方法,通过不同矿化垃圾质量添加比(0%、25%、50%、75%)进行田间、室内对比试验,比较不同配比对土壤物理性质和水分特性的影响。结果表明:1)添加矿化垃圾腐殖土质量比为25%时,土壤物理性质(密度、孔隙度等)和水分特性均无明显变化,仅土壤砂粒体积分数增加;添加比为50%时,土壤密度、毛管孔隙度和饱和含水率均无显著变化,但土壤总孔隙度明显降低,土壤砂粒体积分数及饱和导水率显著升高;添加比为75%时,土壤物理性质和水分特性均影响显著,其中土壤砂粒体积分数升高约217%,土壤饱和含水量降低11%,毛管含水量降低26%,土壤饱和导水率增加约93%,土壤有效水含量减少24.9%;2)Gardner模型能较好地拟合不同处理土壤水分特征曲线;3)添加矿化垃圾腐殖土在作为绿化基质使用过程中,质量添加比为25%~50%较适宜。     

Change of soil hydrological properties of fens as a result of soil development

This study deals with the change and evaluation of hydrological properties of peat soils (Histosols) in the course of soil development. Ash content, volumetric water content, and dry bulk density, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention function, and wetting properties were measured for 84 fen sites in 19 fen regions of North‐Eastern Germany. Soil development resulted in porosity decrease. On the contrary, the macropore space and the capillary rise increased. With the start of consolidation processes and the development of segregation structure, a'noticeable reduction of the macropores and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were observed. In course of soil development and decreasing of aggregate size, these processes reversed. Both parameters increased from segregation structure horizon to earthyfied fen and weak moorshyfied fen horizon, until they partly exceeded the starting values of pedogenetic almost unchanged fen in strongly moorshyfied stadium. Differences in wetting properties of peat could not be explained by the changes of peat properties in the course of soil development.     

绿肥填闲种植对旱作冬小麦农田耕层土壤物理性质的影响

[目的]探讨绿肥填闲种植对旱作冬小麦农田耕层土壤物理性质的影响,为其在黄土高原旱作农业区的推广提供科学依据。[方法]基于4 a田间定位试验,研究了夏闲期种植长武怀豆、苏丹草、怀豆/苏丹草混播以及裸地休闲(CK)对旱作冬小麦收获期农田耕层(0—20 cm)土壤容重、孔隙度、持水量和团聚体的影响。[结果]在0—10 cm土层,与CK相比,苏丹草和混播处理显著降低了土壤容重,怀豆,苏丹草和混播处理显著提高了土壤毛管孔隙度、总孔隙度、饱和持水量、毛管持水量、大团聚体(>5 mm)所占比例和团聚体平均重量直径(MWD);在10—20 cm土层,苏丹草处理大团聚体所占比例和MWD均显著高于CK。土壤容重与土壤有机碳含量呈显著负相关,毛管孔隙度和团聚体平均重量与绿肥生物量呈显著正相关,而土壤总孔隙度、饱和持水量和毛管持水量与绿肥生物量和土壤有机碳均呈显著正相关。[结论]在黄土高原地区,夏闲期单播种植长武怀豆、苏丹草及混播均能显著改善耕层土壤物理性质,综合来看,苏丹草单播的效果优于长武怀豆单播和二者混播。     

不同种植模式下农田耕层土壤肥力现状比较——以皖南宣州区为例

选择宣城市宣州区20个烟稻轮作田块、20个单季稻田块、22个中药材田块、20个双季稻田块、20个稻油轮作田块和20个稻麦轮作田块,测定分析耕层土壤(0~20 cm)的pH,有机质、有效磷和速效钾含量,计算土壤综合肥力指数(IFI),旨在通过比较提出有益于提升土壤肥力的种植模式和施肥建议。结果表明:(1)烟稻轮作土壤pH最高,中药材土壤显著低于其他种植模式;双季稻土壤有机质含量最高,中药材土壤显著低于其他种植模式;中药材土壤有效磷含量显著高于其他种植模式,单季稻土壤显著低于其他种植模式;中药材和双季稻土壤速效钾含量显著高于稻油轮作土壤;各田块IFI指数为双季稻(0.880)烟稻轮作(0.821)单季稻(0.817)稻麦轮作(0.760)中药材(0.693)稻油轮作(0.645)。(2)综合分析比较土壤各指标、IFI值和净收益后,推荐双季稻和烟稻轮作种植模式。(3)稻麦轮作、单季稻和稻油轮作应注意增施磷钾肥和有机肥;但45%的烟稻轮作田块应注意改酸,15%和45%田块应增施有机肥和钾肥,10%和60%田块应削减有机肥和磷钾肥。     

Soil physical and hydraulic properties in a rice-wheat cropping system in India: effects of rice-straw management

Abstract. The effects of rice-straw management (incorporation, burning or removal) on soil organic carbon content and physical and hydraulic properties were determined after five years of rice–wheat cropping in a sandy loam soil in northwest India. Soil organic carbon content was greater with straw incorporation and straw burning than with straw removal, and aggregation status, total porosity, pore-size distribution, bulk density, dispersion ratio and soil strength were correspondingly improved. The treatment effects were confined mainly to the 0–5 cm depth. Water retention was less with straw burning than straw removal, owing to increased water repellency of the soil surfaces. Cumulative infiltration and its rate after five hours were greater with straw incorporation than straw burning or removal. Air entry values were unaffected by straw management; however, the values were greater after rice harvest than after wheat harvest.     

Applications of S‐theory in the study of soil physical degradation and its consequences

The S‐theory for soil physical quality is introduced. It is shown how values of S can be determined from the water retention characteristic curve. It is also explained how, when experimental data are not available, pedotransfer functions can be used to obtain estimates of S. Although S was first introduced as an index of soil physical quality, it is being increasingly found that it is a useful numerical quantity that can be used in equations for prediction of a range of soil physical properties. Its use is illustrated with examples for hydraulic conductivity, friability, tillage, compaction, penetrometer resistance, plant‐available water, root growth and readily dispersible clay. The main merit of S derives from the fact that given values of S have the same meaning and consequences in different soils. It is described how S can be used to identify areas of land where physical degradation or amelioration are taking place, and to evaluate management practices that will give sustainable land use. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

土壤调节剂对土壤物理性质的改善

Effects of non-ionic polyacrylamide(PAM),anionic polyacrylamide(PHP),cationic polyacrylamide(PCAM),non-ionic polyvinylalcohol(PVA),anionic hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile(HPAN)and polyethleneoxide(PEO)on the physical properties of three different soil stpes were studied.content of water-stable aggregates larger than 0.25mm increased to varying extents for different soils and soil conditioners,Among the six kinds of condiftioners,non-ionic polyacrylamide(PAM) was the most effective for red soil while polyethyleneoxide(PEO)the least effective for Chao soil,red soil and yellow-brown soil.Water-stable aggregates with the molecular weight of PEO within a certain range.Only evaporation rate of Chao soil decreased after aplication of PAM and HPAN to Chao soil and red soil.     

重庆缙云山典型林分土壤结构分形特征

 为了解长江三峡库区森林土壤的物理性质,运用分形原理,研究重庆缙云山4种典型林分林地土壤分形特征,建立土壤结构分维与土壤性质预测模型,运用弹性分析与边际分析,探讨土壤结构分形变化与土壤性质变化的关系。研究表明:土壤机械组成分维、微团聚体组成分维和孔隙组成分维可作为评价土壤结构的指标。不同林分林地土壤颗粒机械组成分维值为2.7～2.9,土壤微团聚体组成分维为2.5～2.8,土壤孔隙组成分维为2.3～2.8。从质地、微团聚体组成和孔隙组成来看,常绿阔叶灌丛土壤结构要明显优于其他林地土壤,而楠竹林最差。不同林分及农地土壤的微团聚体组成、机械颗粒组成和孔隙组成分维与土壤性质存在较明显相关关系,相关系数都在0.5以上。由弹性系数和边际量可以看出,机械分维的影响要大于微团聚体分维和孔隙组分维。这对进一步探讨分形学在土壤结构与土壤性质的应用方面有重要的意义。     

Effect of Three Different Qualities of Biochar on Selected Soil Properties

An incubation study was conducted to determine how biochar interacts with a nitrogen fertilizer and how it reacts in the soil as well as to measure the effect of different biochars on soil chemical properties. Two Iowa soils, Nicollet surface soil (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Hapludoll) and Storden subsoil (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Eutrudept), were mixed with three different qualities of biochar and a nitrogen fertilizer (urea). The biochar was created from corn stover that was pyrolized with three different amounts of atmospheric air: 0% (biochar 1), 10% (biochar 2), and 25% (biochar 3). Soil tests for pH, total nitrogen (N), extractable phosphorus (P), extractable potassium (K), ammonium N, nitrate N, organic matter, and total carbon (C) were performed. The different biochars significantly affected the total N, total organic C, and pH in both soils at all rates of urea applied. The conditions during pyrolysis influenced how the biochar/fertilizer reacted with the soil.     

Long‐term effects of vehicular passages on soil carbon sequestration and carbon dioxide emission in a no‐till corn‐soybean rotation on a Crosby silt loam in Central Ohio,USA

Research information from a systematic planned study on the effects of vehicular passages and axle load on soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes and soil carbon (C) sequestration under long‐term NT farming is scanty. Therefore, the present study was conducted on an on‐going 20‐year experiment to assess the impacts of variable vehicular passages of a low axle load on soil CO₂ emission and soil C sequestration from a no‐till (NT) managed corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max Linneo) rotation in comparison with that a soil under woodlots (soils under natural wooded plantation). The experimental treatment consisted of an empty wagon [0 Mg load for compaction (C‐0; control)] compared with 2 (C‐2) and 4 (C‐4) passages of 2.5 Mg water wagon axle load, applied to the entire plot every year during April/May for 20 consecutive years. Soil samples were obtained in November 2016 to determine the effects of various vehicular passages on C and nitrogen (N) contents and CO₂ emissions. Soil CO₂ fluxes were measured from November 16, 2016, to May 30, 2017, on the bi‐weekly (November to December and April to May) and monthly (January to March) basis by using high‐density polyvinyl chloride static gas chambers. The soil CO₂ fluxes ranged from –1.05 to 9.03 g CO₂ m^?2 d^?1. The lowest soil CO₂ fluxes were observed in December coinciding with the minimum soil temperature. In general, daily soil CO₂ fluxes were higher under C‐0 than those under other treatments. Vehicular traffic and axle load reduced the cumulative emission of CO₂ by 22.6 and 29.8% under C‐2 and C‐4, respectively, compared with that under C‐0 (6.09 Mg ha^?1). Soil and air temperatures had a significant positive correlation with the diurnal fluxes of soil CO₂ in all the treatments except that under C‐4. Electrical conductivity, soil C and N contents and pools did not differ significantly among the treatments. Further, 2 to 4 passages of vehicles with 2.5 Mg of axle load decreased the soil CO₂ emission on Crosby silt loam under NT as compared to that under the control. Therefore, continuous cultivation of row crops with moderate trafficking under NT and residue retention is recommended, and it also reduces the potential of soil CO₂ emission while improving the soil organic C pools of well‐drained soils of Central Ohio.     

不同种植年限苜蓿地土壤理化特性研究

通过比较不同种植年限苜蓿地土壤理化性质,分析了不同种植年限苜蓿地土壤质量的变化,并分析了各苜蓿地土壤理化性质在耕层垂直分布上的变化。结果表明,苜蓿种植时间的长短对土壤理化性质影响程度不同,总体表现是苜蓿种植时间越长,对土壤理化性质影响越大。不同种植年限苜蓿地有机质和全量养分在耕层垂直分布均无差异,而速效养分和容重等特性随苜蓿种植时间的增长,层次之间的差距愈明显     

乡土树种改造豆科人工纯林对植物群落和土壤微生物学和化学属性的影响

在退化的人工林中种植乡土树种是将退化人工林恢复为多样性更高的植物群落的有效措施之一,但是此类林分改造对土壤属性的影响研究较少。以南亚热带退化的豆科树种人工林以及在退化的豆科树种人工林中种植乡土树种10 a后的混交人工林为研究对象,比较两者植物群落结构、土壤微生物学属性和化学属性的差异,旨在为该区域退化人工林改造提供依据。结果表明,种植乡土树种后的林分具有较高的植物多样性。与未种植乡土树种的马占相思（Acacia mangium;AM）林相比,种植乡土树种后的马占相思林（NM）土壤微生物量碳（MBC）、基础呼吸（BR）、呼吸熵（q_CO2）、土壤有机碳（TOC）和可溶性有机碳（DOC）显著下降;与未种植乡土树种的大叶相思（Acacia auriculiformis;AA）林相比,种植乡土树种的大叶相思林（NA）的土壤微生物学属性和化学属性无明显变化。种植乡土树种后,马占相思林和大叶相思林全氮（TN）和全磷（TP）无明显变化,但铵态氮和硝态氮均下降。这些结果表明,在退化的人工林中种植乡土树种对土壤微生物学和化学属性的影响取决于人工林类型,这一措施对土壤属性的影响仍需长期监测。     

Impacts of termites on selected soil physicochemical characteristics in the highlands of Southwest Ethiopia

Termites are reported to improve soil physicochemical properties thereby enhance soil fertility of their mound and foraging areas. Empirical study pertaining to these effects is missing in Southwest Ethiopia. For this study, soil samples affected by termite activities were collected at 1 m interval within 0–3 m distance from the base of six termite mounds on gently sloping and sloping land and analyzed for physicochemical parameters. The result of the analysis depicted that soil bulk density (1.38–1.15 g cm^?3) and moisture content (21.1–9.9%) decreased with increased distance from the mound base. While clay content decreased with increased distance from the mound base from72.0% to 45.5%, sand and silt contents increased from 8.0% to 21.3% and 19.3% to 28.5%, respectively. PH (6.23), organic carbon (3.85%), total nitrogen (0.4%), cation exchange capacity CEC (30.43 cmol kg^?1), exchangeable Ca (13.73 cmol kg^?1), Mg (3.15 cmol kg^?1), and PBS (56.8%) were higher on termite mounds. While, electrical conductivity (0.03 dS m^?1–0.06 dS m^?1), exchangeable K (0.52–0.93 cmol kg^?1) and Na (0.02–0.03 cmol kg^?1) showed increasing trend with the distance from the mound base. Our results indicated that termite mounds are important sinks of organic matter and mineral nutrients, and hence contribute to the enhancement of soil fertility. Thus, for subsistent farmers the uses of termite mounds as a fertilizer present an opportunity to improve agricultural production.     

土壤调理剂对土壤理化性质及甘蓝生理特性的影响

试验研究了土壤调理剂对土壤结构性质和甘蓝根系活力、光合指标的影响.结果表明,施用调理剂后,处理两次、处理一次分别使20 cm和30 cm土层的容重下降7.3%、1.9%和4.6%、1.3%,孔隙度分别提高9.3%、2.8%和5.9%、1.9%;与对照相比,处理两次后的阳离子交换量在0～27 cm、27～45 cm土层分别增加5.7%和10.9%;甘蓝的根系活力,处理与对照相比达到1%的显著差异水平;改变了Pn的光合日变化曲线,提高了甘蓝对光强的适应能力,光合能力加强.     

土壤性质与不同土壤Hg形态的关系

Correlation and path analysis methods were used to study the relationship between soil properties and the distribution of different soil Hg fractions with nine representative soils from Chongqing, China. Results showed that clay (< 2 m) could increase water-soluble Hg (r = 0.700*). Soil organic matter (OM) could enhance the increase of elemental Hg (r = 0.674*). The higher the base saturation percentage (BSP), the more the residual Hg (r = 0.684*). Organic Hg, the sum of acid-soluble organic Hg and alkali-soluble Hg, was positively affected by silt (2～20 μm) but negatively affected by pH, with the direct path coefficients amounting to 1.0487 and 0.5121, respectively. The positive effect of OM and negative effect of BSP on organic Hg were the most significant, with the direct path coefficients being 0.7614 and -0.8527, respectively. The indirect effect of clay (< 2 μm) via BSP (path coefficient = 0.4186) was the highest, showing that the real influencing factor in the effect of clay (< 2 μm) on acid-soluble organic Hg was BSP. Since the available Hg fraction, water-soluble Hg, was positively affected by soil clay content, and the quite immobile and not bioavailable residual Hg by soil BSP, suitable reduction of clay content and increase of BSP would be of much help to reduce the Hg availability and Hg activity in Hg-contaminated soils.     

我国主要类型土壤的有效态硒及其与某些土壤性质的关系

Forty-eight soil profiles were sampled from different ecological and pedogeochemical areas of China and their available selenium (Av-Se) contents were determined. Results showed that the content of Av-Se in the profiles of soils in China ranged within 2.49~18.10 μg kg^-1, with a mean value of 10.01 μg kg^-1, and was in the sequence of Ferralisols > Luvisols > Isohumisols > Aridisols. The correlation analysis between Av-Se and the soil physical-chemical properties revealed that the correlations between Av-Se and O.M., CEC, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, ignition loss, Co and Zn were positive at a highly significant level, but those between Av-Se and pH, base saturation, CaO, Ba and Sr were all negative at a highly significant level. The reason of some diseases related to the Se deficiency might be the leaching loss of selenium in some soils.