Spatial variability of short-term effect of tillage on soil penetration resistance

The effect of tillage on soil properties varies within field due to spatial variability of soils. Mapping changes of soil penetration resistance (PR) would be useful to understand and assess tillage practices to alleviate soil compaction. The objectives were to model the short-term effect of tillage on PR and its spatial structure, and to delineate homogeneous zones based on soil response in a Typic Argiudoll previously managed under no-till. A grid sampling for PR and soil water content (SWC) were performed before and after chiselling. Spatial analysis was performed on the effect of tillage on PR data by 10 cm layers and homogeneous zones were delineated by k-means cluster analysis. The effect of tillage was ?0.33 MPa in 10–20 and 20–30 cm layer. No differences of PR were found at 0–10 cm. Short range (5–7 m) spatial structure on the horizontal plane was observed in all layers. Only 45% of the field showed a marked effect of tillage on PR. Mapping the effect of tillage on PR would be a useful approach for evaluating the global and local response of soil to tillage, as well as for delineating of areas within field for site-specific tillage practices.     

Evaluating the long-term effects of tillage systems on soil structural quality using visual assessment and classical methods

Current agricultural practices and their impacts on the sustainability of crop production can be evaluated by simple and reliable soil structure assessment tools. The study was conducted to determine the effects of long-term (2006–2017) tillage systems on structural quality of a clayey soil using the visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) and classical field and laboratory measurements. A field experiment with seven tillage systems, representing both traditional and conservation tillage methods, was conducted on a clayey soil in the Cukurova region, Turkey. Soil samples from 0–10, 10–20 and 20–25 cm depths were analysed for mean weight diameter (MWD), porosity and organic carbon. Penetration resistance (PR) was determined in each treatment plot. The VESS scores (<2) of upper 0–5 cm indicated a good structural quality for all tillage systems. The VESS scores were positively related to PR and MWD and negatively to macroporosity (MaP) and total porosity. In reduced and no-till systems, poorer soil structures were observed in subsurface layers where firm platy and angular blocky structures were defined. Mean VESS score (3.29) in 20–25 cm depth where PR was 3.01 MPa under no-till indicated a deterioration of soil structural quality; thus, immediate physical interventions would be needed. Lower VESS scores and PR values under strategic tillage which was created by ploughing half of no-till plots in November 2015 indicated successful correction of compaction caused by long-term no-till. The results suggest that the VESS approach is sensitive and useful in distinguishing compacted layers within the topsoil.     

Geostatistical analysis of soil mechanical properties in Ardabil plain of Iran

This study was conducted to estimate the spatial distribution of penetration resistance (PR), Proctor maximum bulk density (MBD) and critical water content (CWC) as soil mechanical indices. Soil samples to determine sand, silt, clay, organic carbon (OC), CaCO₃, bulk and particle density, total porosity, field water content, MBD and CWC values were collected. Field measurements of PR at 0–10 cm depth were taken from 105 geo-referenced points with 3000 × 3000 m intervals in agricultural lands of Ardabil plain, Iran. Ordinary kriging (OK) and inverse distance weighting (IDW) methods were used to analyze spatial variability of PR, MBD and CWC. The strongest spatial dependences with the lowest ranges of influence were found for OC (7560 m) and MBD (8370 m). The models of fitted semivariograms were Gaussian for PR and MBD, and exponential for CWC. The moderate spatial dependences with the ranges of 13,300 and 40,100 m were found for CWC and PR, respectively. The best prediction according to Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient was obtained by OK for PR (0.48) and IDW for MBD (0.09) and CWC (0.03). These results can be applied in programming of optimum tillage operations for reducing soil compaction risk in the studied region.     

Kinetics and Adsorption-Desorption Behavior of AM Nitrification Inhibitor in Mollisols

Kinetics and adsorption-desorption behavior of a potent nitrification inhibitor, 2-amino 4-chloro 6-methyl pyrimidine (AM), was examined in Mollisol samples of different depths. Adsorption of AM was better accounted by pseudo-second order kinetics. Adsorption and desorption data of AM onto soil samples of different depths conformed to single surface Freundlich isotherm model. The values of ln K varied from ?0.1515 (0–15 cm) to 1.5171 (45–60 cm) and of 1/n from 0.9961 (45–60 cm) to 1.3237 (30–45 cm). Computed values of desorption capacity (ln K’) varied from 3.4734 (0–15 cm) to 4.0674 (45–60 cm) while that of 1/n´ from 0.0017 (45–60 cm) to 0.0367 (0–15 cm). Intensity of desorption (1/n´) had significant positive correlation with soil electrical conductance and clay content. The values of desorption index (n´/n) varied from 14.60 (0–15 cm) to 472.33 (30–45 cm) indicating high degree of irreversibility of adsorbed AM and hence poor leaching from these soils.     

Impact of manure application on forms and quantities of phosphorus in a Chinese Cambisol under different land use

Purpose

It is critical to understand the effect of manure application on the availability of phosphorus (P) and the potential environmental contamination by runoff and leaching. However, previous studies generally focused on cultivated soil layer in single cropping systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of manure application on soil P forms and quantities to the 200 cm depth in a Chinese alkaline Cambisol in different cropping systems and the potential environmental implications.

Materials and methods

The sampling site, Shunyi District, is located in the peri-urban area of Beijing in the North China Plain, where large quantities of manure generated from intensive animal operations have been applied to agricultural fields. A field survey was carried out before sampling to identify soil sampling sites with long-term manure application and an adjacent area receiving no manure used for the same crop production. Soil samples from three cropping systems (vegetables, cereals, and trees) were vertically collected to a depth of 200 cm with the following depth increments: 0–20, 20–60, 60–90, 90–120, 120–160 and 160–200 cm. Soil samples were analyzed for plant-available P (Olsen P) and various P fractions by sequential P fractionation. Degree of P saturation (DPS) was also determined.

Results and discussion

Soil calcium bound P was the most abundant P fraction, followed by the residual P. Organic P only accounted for less than 5 % of total P in most of the soils. Manure application increased the levels of inorganic P (Pi), with higher proportions of Pi in labile forms than stable forms. After manure application for 8–15 year, available P (Olsen P) and DPS values of the 0–20 cm layer in all sites exceeded the threshold for Olsen P (60 mg?kg^?1) and DPS (30 %) and the risk of P loss by runoff is expected to significantly increase. The DPS values were generally lower than 30 % below 20 cm, indicating a minimal risk of P loss via leaching from deeper soil.

Conclusions

The results indicated that in typical peri-urban areas of the North China Plain, the on-going practice of manure application not only increased the size of each of the labile and non-labile P pools, but also caused a shift in the relative sizes of the different pools, regardless of the cropping systems. However, contrary to what was expected, soil P loss through surface runoff would be a greater concern than leaching following long-term manure amendment.     

Biological P cycling is influenced by the form of P fertilizer in an Oxisol

Phosphate rock (PR) is an alternative fertilizer to increase the P content of P-deficient weathered soils. We evaluated the effects of fertilizer form on indicators of biological cycling of P using an on-farm trial on a Rhodic Kandiudox in western Kenya. Treatment plots were sampled after 13 cropping seasons of P applications as Minjingu phosphate rock (PR) or as triple super phosphate (?TSP) (50 kg P ha^?1 season^?1), as well as a P-unfertilized control (0 kg P ha^?1 season^?1). Soils (0–15 and 15–30 cm) were analyzed for microbial biomass P (P_mic), activities of acid phosphomonoesterase, alkaline phosphomonoesterase, and phosphodiesterase, and sequentially extractable P fractions. P additions as Minjingu PR yielded 299% greater P_mic than TSP at 0–15-cm depth despite similar labile P concentrations in the two P fertilization treatments and stimulated activities of acid phosphomonoesterase (+39%). When added in the soluble form of TSP, a greater percentage of total soil P was present in mineral-bound forms (+33% Fe- and Al-associated P). Higher soil pH under Minjingu PR (pH 5.35) versus TSP (pH 5.02) and the P-unfertilized treatment (pH 4.69) at 0–15-cm depth reflected a liming effect of Minjingu PR. The form of P fertilizer can influence biological P cycling in weathered soils, potentially improving P availability under Minjingu PR relative to TSP via enhanced microbial biomass P and enzymatic drivers of P cycling.     

Effect of Continuous Monocropping of Tomato on Soil Microorganism and Microbial Biomass Carbon

Soil microorganisms play an important role in recycling and transformation of nutrients. Soil microbiological parameters and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) have been suggested as possible indicators of soil quality. Soil microorganisms and MBC in different continuous cropping soils were investigated. Results showed that bacterial population was the highest, followed by actinomycetes, and fungi were the lowest at 0–30 cm soil depth. The amount of soil microorganisms decreased with increasing soil depth (0–10 > 10–20 > 20–30 cm). Soil microbial ratios at different depths proved to be responsive to time (year) variations in continuous monocropping tomato, except those at 0–10 to 10–20 cm depth for fungi and 10–20 to 20–30 cm depth for bacteria. Soil MBC for 12 years of continuous cropping was significantly lower than those for 5, 8, and 10 years (P < 0.05). Continuous cropping years, soil depth, and the interaction of these two parameters significantly influenced soil fungal, bacterial, and actinomycetes populations and MBC. Bacterial population at the 0–10 cm soil layer was a sensitive indicator of continuous cropping of tomato. Soil fungal count increased with increasing monocropping time within 5–8 years.     

Organic carbon fractions and micronutrient status of soils under some plantation crops in southwestern Nigeria

The organic carbon (OC) fractions and micronutrient status of soil under cashew (Anacardium occidentale), plantain (Musa spp), oil-palm (Elaeis guineensis) and gmelina (Gmelina arborea) plantations were studied to determine their effectiveness for managing converted forest in the derived savanna ecology of southwestern Nigeria. The control secondary forest soil had statistically similar OC (2.11%) at 0–15 cm with gmelina but significantly higher than those of the remaining plantation crops. At deeper depths, however, the OC content of the control forest was lower than those of other plantation crops. Apart from gmelina, other plantation crops had carbon enrichment ratio (CER) <1 at 0–15 cm. Only gmelina sequestered as much non-hydrolysable carbon (NHC) as the control at 0–15 cm depth. Also it was observed that plantain plantation sequestered higher NHC than the control at 15–30 cm depth. At >30 cm depth, however, none of the plantation crops sequestered as much NHC as the control. Using the average NHC at all the soil depth as a quality index, gmelina has a better potential to sequester NHC than the other plantation crops used in this study.     

Environmental and site factors controlling the vertical distribution and radiocarbon ages of organic carbon in a sandy soil

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and radiocarbon concentration were measured in three particle-size fractions and charcoal fragments at four depths to bedrock in a sandy soil from SE Australia. SOC content declined with depth for all fractions. The enrichment factors of SOC showed that the finest particles are most important for SOC storage throughout the soil profile, and their importance for SOC storage increased with depth. In the topsoil, all particle-size fractions contained modern SOC. In contrast, charcoal from this depth gave radiocarbon ages of 85–165 years Before Present (BP). This difference was more pronounced at 30–60 cm, where the charcoal was dated at 2,540 years BP, over 12 times as old as the youngest fraction at that depth. These results confirm charcoal as a highly stable form of SOC. The radiocarbon data in the topsoil and near bedrock indicate that neither microaggregation nor mineral association is important for SOC stability in this soil. At intermediate sampling depths, the mid-sized fraction was the oldest. We believe that this is the result of charcoal accumulation in this fraction, inducing a shift in radiocarbon age. However, near bedrock (100–120 cm), radiocarbon concentration did not differ significantly between fractions, despite greater SOC retention in smaller fractions. In addition, radiocarbon ages at 100–120 cm indicate that charcoal is not present at this depth. We propose that environmental and soil conditions (substrate limitation, water and oxygen availability, and temperature) are responsible for the stabilization of SOC at this depth, where SOC concentrations were very low (0.1–0.3 %). Our results demonstrate that, although fine particles retain more SOC than coarse ones, they do not stabilize SOC in this sandy soil. Instead, environmental (bushfires and climate) and site factors (soil texture and soil mineralogy) control the distribution and stability of SOC throughout the soil profile.     

Dissolved and Soil Organic Carbon after Long‐Term Conventional and No‐Tillage Sorghum Cropping

Abstract

Distribution of dissolved (DOC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) with depth may indicate soil and crop‐management effects on subsurface soil C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to investigate impacts of conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), and cropping sequence on the depth distribution of DOC, SOC, and total nitrogen (N) for a silty clay loam soil after 20 years of continuous sorghum cropping. Conventional tillage consisted of disking, chiseling, ridging, and residue incorporation into soil, while residues remained on the soil surface for NT. Soil was sampled from six depth intervals ranging from 0 to 105 cm. Tillage effects on DOC and total N were primarily observed at 0–5 cm, whereas cropping sequence effects were observed to 55 cm. Soil organic carbon (C) was higher under NT than CT at 0–5 cm but higher under CT for subsurface soils. Dissolved organic C, SOC, and total N were 37, 36, and 66%, respectively, greater under NT than CT at 0–5 cm, and 171, 659, and 837% greater at 0–5 than 80–105 cm. The DOC decreased with each depth increment and averaged 18% higher under a sorghum–wheat–soybean rotation than a continuous sorghum monoculture. Both SOC and total N were higher for sorghum–wheat–soybean than continuous sorghum from 0–55 cm. Conventional tillage increased SOC and DOC in subsurface soils for intensive crop rotations, indicating that assessment of C in subsurface soils may be important for determining effects of tillage practices and crop rotations on soil C sequestration.     

Plastic film mulching on soil water and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in a ridge cultivation system on Loess Plateau of China

Plastic film mulching has commonly been used for adaptation to water scarcity and for increasing agricultural productivity on the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. However, the effect of plastic film mulching on cropland soil water and thermal regimes on the semiarid Loess Plateau of China is not well understood. This study simultaneously monitored the dynamics of the soil water content and the soil temperature with high resolution in a ridge cultivation system with plastic film mulching (RS) and a flat cultivation system without plastic film mulching (FS) during the maize (Zea mays L.)-growing season. We found that, in general, the soil temperature and soil water content were significantly different among the ridge under RS (RS-ridge), the furrow under RS (RS-furrow) and FS throughout the maize-growing season (P < 0.05). Plastic film mulching increased the near-surface soil temperature by approximately 1°C throughout the study period. RS significantly increased the soil water content during the dry period (May to June), especially within the middle soil layer (30–60 cm), compared to FS. The lowest monthly average soil water content was found at a depth of 30–60 cm layer in FS during the dry period (May and June). The water depletion was found within deeper (100–160 cm) soil layers in May but the water storage in the same layer of FS in June increased although it was the dry period, which differed from RS. The RS practices showed a longer period of water supply from the deeper soil layer (100–160 cm) in May and June for meeting maize water demands during the early growing stage rather than in only May for FS. During June (dry period), the water storage at a depth of 0–60 cm was greater in RS than in FS, and the reverse was true at a depth of 60–160 cm. The results indicate that the dry soil layer at a depth of 30–60 cm formed during June in FS likely reduced water movement from deeper layers to the topsoil layer, and hence constrained the availability of surface soil water for meeting maize water requirements during the early growing stage (dry period). Our study suggests that RS tends to significantly increase surface soil water availability by restraining the formation of a dry soil layer during the early maize-growth stage primarily under dry conditions, and thus enhances maize productivity in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China.     

Effects of Broiler Litter Management Practices on Phosphorus,Copper, Zinc,Manganese, and Arsenic Concentrations in Maryland Coastal Plain Soils

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the long‐term effects of broiler litter applications on soil phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and arsenic (As) concentrations in Chesapeake Bay watershed Coastal Plain soils. Litter and soil samples were collected from 10 farms with more than 40 years of broiler production and from wooded sites adjacent to fields and were analyzed for P and metal contents. Averaged over farms, total P and metal concentrations in the litter were 12.8 g kg^?1 P and 332, 350, 334, and 2.93 mg kg^?1 Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively. Surface (0–15 cm) soil pH values were greater than (5.7–6.4) the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth at wooded sites (3.5–4.3). Surface soil Bray 1 P values (149–796 mg kg^?1) in amended fields were greater than wooded sites (4.4–17 mg kg^?1). The 1N nitric acid (HNO₃)–extractable metal concentrations were higher in amended soils than in wooded areas and were 7.7–32, 5.7–26, 12.3–71, and 0.6–3.0 mg kg^?1 for Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively, compared to 0.76–14, 4.6–22, 1.6–70, and 0.14–0.59 mg kg^?1 for the same metals, respectively, in wooded areas. Results from this study demonstrated that long‐term broiler litter applications have altered the chemical properties of the Coastal Plain soils of the Maryland Eastern Shore. Metal concentrations were low in the surface layer of amended fields and typically decreased with depth. Phosphorus additions rather than metals are most likely to contribute to the degradation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.     

Assessment of Methods for Measuring Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon in Temperate Fruit Tree-Based Ecosystems

We investigated the potential of three methods of quantifying microbial biomass carbon (MBC), viz., chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) following organic C estimation through Vance method (CFE-V) and Snyder–Trofymow method (CFE-ST), and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) method in soils under various temperate fruit crops along with a control (no plantation) at 0–20 and 21–40 cm soil depths. CFE methods have shown significant (p < 0.05) increase in chloroform labile C in all orchards over the control in surface soil. The interaction between the fruit crops and methods, although significant (p < 0.01), indicated that CFE-ST and SIR methods were statistically at par with each other within the same fruit crop, except peach plantation (CEF-ST significantly lower than SIR) in 0–20 cm soil depth. The coefficient of variation recorded for chloroform labile organic C estimates by CFE-ST method makes it more precise than CFE-V method, especially in 0–20 cm soil depth. The very close agreement between the methods suggests that over this narrower range (i.e., smaller geographical area) all methods are appropriate for assessing MBC. However, SIR, being most sensitive to orchard plantations and strongly correlated with various soil chemical properties, could preferably be recommended for estimation of MBC in such soils. As an alternative to CFE-V method, CFE-ST may also be used for estimation of chloroform labile organic C in these soils.     

Soil Water Retention at Varying Matric Potentials following Repeated Wetting with Modestly Saline‐Sodic Water and Subsequent Air Drying

Abstract

Coal bed natural gas (CBNG) development in the Powder River (PR) Basin produces modestly saline, highly sodic wastewater. This study assessed impacts of wetting four textural groups [0–11%, 12–22%, 23–33%, and >33% clay [(g clay/100 g soil)×100%)] with simulated PR or CBNG water on water retention. Soils received the following treatments with each water quality: a single wetting event, five wetting and drying events, or five wetting and drying events followed by leaching with salt‐free water. Treated samples were then resaturated with the final treatment water and equilibrated to ?10, ?33, ?100, ?500, or ?1,500 kPa. At all potentials, soil water retention increased significantly with increasing clay content. Drought‐prone soils lost water‐holding capacity between saturation and field capacity with repeated wetting and drying, whereas finer textured soils withstood this treatment better and had increased water‐retention capacity at lower matric potentials.     

Land use and climate change impacts on soil organic carbon stocks in semi-arid Spain

Purpose

The sensitivity of soil organic carbon to global change drivers, according to the depth profile, is receiving increasing attention because of its importance in the global carbon cycle and its potential feedback to climate change. A better knowledge of the vertical distribution of SOC and its controlling factors—the aim of this study—will help scientists predict the consequences of global change.

Materials and methods

The study area was the Murcia Province (S.E. Spain) under semiarid Mediterranean conditions. The database used consists of 312 soil profiles collected in a systematic grid, each 12 km² covering a total area of 11,004 km². Statistical analysis to study the relationships between SOC concentration and control factors in different soil use scenarios was conducted at fixed depths of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 cm.

Results and discussion

SOC concentration in the top 40 cm ranged between 6.1 and 31.5 g?kg^?1, with significant differences according to land use, soil type and lithology, while below this depth, no differences were observed (SOC concentration 2.1–6.8 g?kg^?1). The ANOVA showed that land use was the most important factor controlling SOC concentration in the 0–40 cm depth. Significant differences were found in the relative importance of environmental and textural factors according to land use and soil depth. In forestland, mean annual precipitation and texture were the main predictors of SOC, while in cropland and shrubland, the main predictors were mean annual temperature and lithology. Total SOC stored in the top 1 m in the region was about 79 Tg with a low mean density of 7.18 kg?Cm^?3. The vertical distribution of SOC was shallower in forestland and deeper in cropland. A reduction in rainfall would lead to SOC decrease in forestland and shrubland, and an increase of mean annual temperature would adversely affect SOC in croplands and shrubland. With increasing depth, the relative importance of climatic factors decreases and texture becomes more important in controlling SOC in all land uses.

Conclusions

Due to climate change, impacts will be much greater in surface SOC, the strategies for C sequestration should be focused on subsoil sequestration, which was hindered in forestland due to bedrock limitations to soil depth. In these conditions, sequestration in cropland through appropriate management practices is recommended.     

Bulk density and content,density and stock of carbon,nitrogen and heavy metals in vegetable patches and lawns of allotments gardens in the northwestern Ruhr area,Germany

Purpose

In view that soils are bodies and that processes such as storage and release of water, carbon, nutrients and pollutants, and aeration and rooting happen in these bodies, it is of interest to know the density of elements and compounds in soils. On the basis of soil bulk and element density of organic carbon (OC), N, and heavy metals in soils and of horizon thickness, stocks of these elements for garden soils were calculated.

Materials and methods

Fourteen gardens in four allotments of the northwestern part of the Ruhr area, Germany were investigated. The research included 14 vegetable patches, 13 lawns, 2 compost heaps, and 1 meadow. Volume samples were taken. The soil analysis included pH, soil bulk density, and OC, N, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Ni contents.

Results and discussion

The soils were from sandy loam to loamy sand. The pH was slightly acid and C/N ratio about 20. Soil bulk density was between 0.8 and 1.4 g cm^?3 and mean bulk density was 1.1 g cm^?3. Mean OC content was for compost 7.4 %, vegetable patches 5.2 % (0–30 cm depth), and lawns and meadow 5.8 and 5.2 % (0–5 cm depth). OC density for compost was 76 mg cm^?3, vegetable patches 56 mg cm^?3, and lawns 67 mg cm^?3 (0–5 cm). Mean OC stock in 0–30 cm soil depth in vegetable patches was 16.4 kg m^?2, lawns 15.5 kg m^?2, and meadow 11.1 kg m^?2. N contents were between 0.06 and 0.46 %. For compost, the mean was 0.39 %, vegetable patches 0.27 % (0–30 cm), lawn 0.28 %, and meadow 0.26 % (0–5 cm). Mean stock of N in 0–30 cm depth for vegetable patches was 0.84 kg m^?2, lawn 0.76 kg m^?2, and meadow 0.55 kg m^?2. For heavy metals in compost, vegetable patches, lawn and meadow, Cd contents were in the range of 1.7 to 3.0 mg kg^?1, Pb 49 to 152 mg kg^?1, and Zn 52 to 1830 mg kg^?1. The amounts stored per square meters in 30 cm depth were for Cd 0.6–1.1 g, Pb 15–52 g, Zn 41–440 g, Cu 4–39 g, and Ni 1–8 g.

Conclusions

Allotment gardens have a high capacity to store CO₂ as OC. Roughly, there will be 7–8 million tons of OC stored in the 1.3 million allotment gardens of Germany. The high amount of 8000 kg N ha^?1 could damage the groundwater when released by wrong soil management. Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Ni amounts of 7.8, 1000, 300, 135, and 30 kg ha^?1, respectively, are a lasting burden.

     

Application of an electronic micropenetrometer to assess mechanical stability of biological soil crusts

An in situ determination of biological soil‐crust stability was carried out in two study sites along a sharp rainfall gradient. Penetration resistance (PR) of the crusts was measured using a newly developed light‐weight needle‐type electronic micropenetrometer. The depth‐related PR data revealed two sections possessing different structures and stability. The topcrust (0–2 mm) had significantly higher amounts of N, organic C, carbonates, and salts as compared to the underlain subcrust. The mean PR of the topcrust was 0.68 MPa for the southern study site, Nizzana‐South (≈ 100 mm annual rainfall), and it increased significantly for the northern study site, Nizzana‐69 (≈ 170 mm annual rainfall), with a mean of 1.11 MPa. A subcrust (2–30 mm) was identified that was characterized by a high amount of carbonates and a PR > 2 MPa. The electronic micropenetrometer system is a promising device for identifying areas of changing crust stability in relation to biological soil‐crust properties. The overall stability of biological soil crusts depends on the topcrust and subcrust structure. This structure is linked to abiotic and biotic factors and likely in relation to the amount of annual precipitation.     

Carbon mineralization in response to nitrogen and litter addition in surface and subsoils in an agroecosystem

More than 50% of global soil organic carbon stocks are stored below 20 cm of soil depth capable of massively altering global C cycle and climate. However, subsoil C dynamics are largely overlooked implicitly assuming that surface and subsoil C dynamics are similar. Here, we compared the soil C dynamics in surface and subsurface soil layers in response to nitrogen and maize leaf litter additions. Soils, sampled from 0 to 5, 15 to 35, 35 to 55 and 55 to 75 cm depths, were incubated at 25°C after adding litter, nitrogen (NH₄NO₃) or litter plus nitrogen. Soil respiration (C mineralization) was measured throughout the incubation period. Litter addition significantly increased C mineralization in all the soil layers. However, the soil CO₂ release relative to control was more than twofold higher in 15–35 and 35–55 cm soil layers than the surface layer. Nitrogen additions significantly decreased C mineralization in 0–15 cm soil, increased in 35–55 cm and had minimal effects in the 15–35 and 55–75 cm layers. Different soil C dynamics in surface and subsurface soil layers found in our study contradict the general assumption that soil C dynamics may be treated similarly along different soil depths.     

Effect of Greenhouse Subsurface Irrigation on Soil Phosphatase Activity

Abstract

In this study, tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse and were subjected to five subsurface irrigation treatments with maximum allowable depletion (MAD) of ?10, ?16, ?25, ?40, and ?63 kPa in soil water potentials, respectively. The long‐term effect of subsurface irrigation schedules on soil neutral phosphatase activities at five soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–60 cm) were investigated in 2004. Results showed that subsurface irrigation could enhance soil neutral phosphatase activity in the treatment with higher irrigation maximum allowable depletion. Neutral phosphatase acitivties were higher at topsoil than subsoil, with heightened phosphatase activities at the depth of 10–20 cm in the soil profile in subsurface irrigation. Neutral phosphatase activity presented significantly positive liner relationships with available phosphorus (P) and contributed to the increase of available P in soil. Phosphatase activity could be an effective indicator to assess the plant‐available P under greenhouse subsurface irrigation. Irrigation management could be applied to adjust phosphatase activity and maximum allowable depletion of ?10 to ?16 kPa is an advisable subsurface irrigation schedule to heighten phosphatase activity, thereby contributing to higher P availability in soil.     

Spatial and vertical distribution of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in soils in the erosive area of southeastern Serbia (Pčinja and South Morava River Basins)

Purpose

The area of southeastern Serbia, the P?inja and South Morava River Basins, is under the influence of very strong erosion, and the aim of this study was to investigate the vertical and spatial distribution of the ¹³⁷Cs in the eroded soils of this area.

Materials and methods

Vertical soil profiles were collected with 5-cm increments from the uppermost layer down to 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 cm of depth, depending on the thickness of the soil layers, i.e., down to the underlying parent rocks. Measurements of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration were performed by using the HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer ORTEC-AMETEK (34 % relative efficiency and high resolution 1.65 keV at 1.33 MeV for ⁶⁰Co), from its gamma-ray line at 661.2 keV.

Results and discussion

The mean ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration across all 18 soil profiles (for all soil layers) was found to be 20 Bq kg^?1. In the greatest number of soil profiles, the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was generally highest in the first soil layer (0–5 cm) and decreased with soil depth, while in a few soil profiles, the peak of either the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration occurred in the second soil layer (5–10 cm) or the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was almost equal throughout the entire soil profile. The mean ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in the first soil layer (0–5 cm) was found to be 61 Bq kg^?1, and the high coefficient of variation of 92 % pointed out high spatial variability and large range of the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in the study area.

Conclusions

The obtained results indicate that in the greatest number of soil profiles, ¹³⁷Cs is present in the upper layers, with concentration decreasing with depth, as is typical in uncultivated soil. Its spatial distribution was very uneven among the surface soil layers of the investigated sites. One of the main reasons for such pattern of ¹³⁷Cs in the study area may be soil erosion. Additional investigations which would support this hypothesis are required.