Effect of Tillage and Plant Residue Management Practices on Shrinkage of a Vertisol

A study was carried out to determine the effects of different tillage and plant residue management practices on different soil moisture and shrink-swell properties of a Vertisol (very fine, semctitic, thermic, chromic Haploxerert (with less than 1 % slope). The core samples were collected in July (after harvesting of lentil) and in November (after planting of wheat) 1993. The two tillage methods were moldboard (T1) and chisel (T2). The two plant residue incorporation dates were in August (R1) and in October (R2). Results indicated that T2 tends to give higher water holding capacity and available moisture than T1. Immediate incorporation of plant residue (R1) tends to increase the bulk density and to decrease soil specific volume and void ratio when compared to late incorporation treatment (R2). In general, the two tillage treatments tend to decrease moisture availability, shrinkage characteristics, soil specific volume, and void ratio. They also tend to increase the soil shrinkage (subsidence and cracks volume) and bulk density. Chisel plough is recommended in Vertisols, if it is to be used before the rainfall.     

粘土土壤孔隙大小分布及其与土壤有机质的相关性

Soil pore size distribution(PSD) directly influences soil physical,chemical,and biological properties,and further knowledge of soil PSD is very helpful for understanding soil functions and processes.In this study,PSD of three clayey soils collected from the topsoil(0-20 cm) of Vertisols in Northern China was analyzed using the N_2 adsorption(NA) and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP) methods.The effect of soil organic matter(SOM) on the PSD of clayey soils was also evaluated.The differential curves of pore volume of clayey soils by the NA method exhibited that the pores with diameter 0.01 μm accounted for more than 50%in the pore size range of 0.001 to 0.1 μm.The differential pore curves of clayey soils by the MIP method exhibited three distinct peaks in pore size range of 60 to 100,0.3 to 0.4 and 0.009 to 0.012 μm,respectively.In the three clayey soils,the ultramicropores(5-0.1μm) were determined to be the main pore class(on average 35.5%),followed by macropores( 75 μm,31.4%),cryptopores(0.1-0.007μm,16.0%),micropores(30-5 μm,9.7%) and mesopores(75-30 μm,7.3%).The SOM greatly affected the pore structure and PSD of aggregates in clayey soils.In particular,SOM removal reduced the volume and porosity of 5-100 μm pores while increased those of 5 μm pores in the 5-2 and 2-0.25 mm aggregates of clayey soils.The increase in the volume and porosity of 5 μm pores may be attributed to the disaggregation and partial emptying of small pores caused by the destruction of SOM.     

有机物料对砂姜黑土的改良效应及其机制

通过田间定位试验、温室培育试验和一系列物理、化学性质的测定 ,探讨了三种有机物料对淮北低产土壤—砂姜黑土的改良效果及机理。结果表明 ,有机物料回归土壤能增加土壤孔隙度 ,降低容重 ,改善土壤通透性和保水保肥性能 ,提高土壤的缓冲性。同时提供多种有效养分 ,培肥土壤 ,并表现为增加作物产量。其机理不仅在于所提供的腐殖质能降低砂姜黑土中含量过高的蒙脱石矿物的剪切应力 ,抑制其胀缩性 ,而且还在于它们能提供形成有机无机复合团聚体所必须的活性有机胶体 ,以及其有机酸能溶解土中原有的CaCO3成为活性的Ca2 离子 ,后者是形成复合团聚体的桥梁 ,从而改善了土壤的结构性能等。     

Influence of tillage practices and nutrient management on crack parameters in a Vertisol of central India

The frequency, size and rate of development of cracks influence the transport of water, nutrients and gases in the soil profile and plant growth processes in Vertisols. Despite their importance, studies on characterising cracks in Vertisols of India are limited. This study attempts to evaluate the influence of different tillage practices, nutrient management and cropping systems on cracking behaviour of a Vertisol in central India. The length, depth, width, area and volume of cracks were recorded after the harvest of the wet season crops, i.e. soybean (Glycine max L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) from three ongoing tillage experiments with three different cropping systems, i.e. soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean–linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and rice–wheat. The results revealed that all the crack parameters were significantly negatively correlated with the water content of the 0–15 cm soil layer and, crack width and crack volume were significantly positively correlated with the bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer. Gravimetric water content and bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer together explained 79% variation in the crack volume. The crack volume was significantly negatively correlated (r=0.86,P=0.01) with the root length density of the previous soybean crop. Rice grown under puddled condition significantly enhanced different crack parameters viz., length, depth, width, surface area and volume of the cracks over nonpuddled direct seeded rice. Sub-soiling practised in soybean under the soybean–linseed system significantly reduced the width, depth, length and surface area of cracks by 12.5, 10, 5 and 12%, respectively, over conventional tillage. No tillage practised in soybean under soybean–wheat system resulted in significant increase in width, depth and volume of the cracks but decrease in length and surface area of cracks over conventional tillage and mould board tillage practice. Application of manure reduced the magnitude of different crack parameters in soybean–linseed cropping system. Thus cracking in Vertisols can be favourably managed by the selection of proper tillage practice, cropping system and organic manure amendments.     

Volatilization losses of surface-applied urea nitrogen from Vertisols in the Indian semi-arid tropics

The N loss from Vertisols was estimated by measuring the loss of ¹⁵N-labelled urea N under conditions that promote NH₃ volatilization. Urea granules were placed on the top of 150-mm deep soil columns (Vertisols) collected from three sites with a range in pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity. There were two contrasting moisture treatments, one near field capacity (wet) and another with intermittent wetting of the soil surface before allowing the columns to dry (moist-dry). The results indicated that losses were influenced markedly by pH and moisture treatment, being 29.5, 33.5, and 33% from the wet soils and 37, 42, and 40.5% from the moistdry soils with pH values of 7.7, 8.2, and 9.3, respectively. These observations clearly indicate that broadcasting of urea on the surface of Vertisols may cause substantial N losses.     

淮北变性土性状特点对其生产性能的影响及农业利用对策

本研究基于黄淮海平原多个变性土剖面分层土壤样品的土壤理化性状分析数据,对其肥力特征、生产性能以及培肥改良措施进行了系统研究。相关结果表明,机械组成中粘粒含量高、质地粘重、土壤结构和孔隙性差是变性土主要物理性状特征,受其影响,土壤表现出耕作性能差、蓄水能力弱、保水性能不强等特点;化学性状主要表现为有机质含量不高、质量差,土壤氮素水平仍较低,耕层土壤速效磷含量分异加大,土壤速效钾含量缓慢降低,土壤CEC含量较高,土壤保肥性能强,但供肥性能较差等特点。这些性状特点对土壤生产性能的影响主要表现在土壤适耕期短,易受旱、涝(渍)灾害的危害,土壤有效养分低、营养失调,钙质结核影响土壤蓄水能力和水分运行以及作物根系生长等方面。指出:(1)增加土壤有机质,改良土壤理化性质;(2)合理施肥,促进土壤养分平衡;(3)改进耕作、灌溉技术,调控土壤水分状况等是培育变性土肥力质量、提高土壤生产性能的关键性措施。     

Transformation of fertilizer P in a Vertisol amended with farmyard manure

Availability, fixation, and transformation of added P were studied in a 16-week incubation experiment with a Vertisol amended with farmyard manure in pots with 500 g soil each. P availability, as measured by Olsen P, decreased for up to 8 weeks with various rates of added P, when no manure was applied. In the presence of farmyard manure, P availability decreased during the first 6 weeks and then showed a considerable increase from the 8th week onwards. P fixation increased for up to 8 weeks with the rates of P in the absence of manure. With manure application, P fixation increased only during the first 6 weeks and thereafter decreased continuously. Thus the presence of farmyard manure shortened the period of P fixation and promoted its availability. After 16 weeks of incubation, when manure and fertilizer P were applied together, P was transformed into labile organic (NaHCO₃–P), moderately labile organic P (NaOH-P), and calcium-bound inorganic P (HCl-P). When manure was not applied. P accumulated predominantly as labile inorganic (NaHCO₃–P), moderately labile inorganic (NaOH-P), and inorganic HCl-P. The application of farmyard manure enriched long-term P fertility through NaHCO₃–P and NaOH–P and a shortterm P supply as HCl-P. All fractions except inorganic NaOH-P showed good relationships with Olsen P.     

Methane emission from two Indian soils planted with different rice cultivars

In a greenhouse study, methane emissions were measured from two diverse Indian rice-growing soils planted to five rice cultivars under similar water regimes, fertilizer applications and environmental conditions. Significant variations were observed in methane emitted from soils growing different cultivars. Total methane emission varied between 8.04 and 20.92gm^–2 from IARI soil (Inceptisol) and between 1.47 and 10.91gm^–2 from Raipur soil (Vertisol) planted to rice. In all the cultivars, emissions from IARI soil were higher than from Raipur soil. The first methane flux peak was noticed during the reproductive phase and the second peak coincided with the grain-ripening stage of the rice cultivars. Received: July 7, 1996     

Sulfur mineralization in two soils amended with organic manures,crop residues,and green manures

The mineralization of sulfur (S) was investigated in a Vertisol and an Inceptisol amended with organic manures, green manures, and crop residues. Field‐moist soils amended with 10 g kg^—1 of organic materials were mixed with glass beads, placed in pyrex leaching tubes, leached with 0.01 M CaCl₂ to remove the mineral S and incubated at 30 °C. The leachates were collected every fortnight for 16 weeks and analyzed for SO₄‐S. The amount of S mineralized in control and in manure‐amended soils was highest in the first week and decreased steadily thereafter. The total S mineralized in amended soils varied considerably depending on the type of organic materials incorporated and soil used. The cumulative amounts of S mineralized in amended soils ranged from 6.98 mg S (kg soil)^—1 in Inceptisol amended with wheat straw to 34.38 mg S (kg soil)^—1 in Vertisol amended with farmyard manure (FYM). Expressed as a percentage of the S added to soils, the S mineralized was higher in FYM treated soils (63.5 to 67.3 %) as compared to poultry manure amended soils (60.5 to 62.3 %). Similarly the percentage of S mineralization from subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) loppings was higher (53.6 to 55.5 %) than that from gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) loppings (50.3 to 51.1 %). Regression analysis clearly indicated the dependence of S mineralization on the C : S ratio of the organic materials added to soil. The addition of organic amendments resulted in net immobilization of S when the C : S ratio was above 290:1 in Vertisol and 349:1 in Inceptisol. The mineralizable S pool (S_o) and first‐order rate constant (k) varied considerably among the different types of organic materials added and soil. The S_o values of FYM treated soils were higher than in subabul, gliricidia, and poultry manure treated soils.