Maize growth responses to deep tillage, straw mulching and farmyard manure in coarse textured soils of N.W. India

Abstract. The effects of deep tillage, straw mulching and farmyard manure on maize growth in loamy sand and sandy loam soils were studied in experiments lasting three years. Treatments included all combinations of conventional tillage (10 cm deep) and deep tillage (35–40 cm deep), two farmyard manure rates (0 and 15 t/ha) and two mulch rates (0 and 6 t/ha), replicated three times in a randomixed block design.
Deep tillage decreased soil strength and caused deeper and denser rooting. Mulching decreased maximum soil temperature and kept the surface layers wetter resulting in better root growth. Farmyard manure also improved root growth, and the crop then extracted soil water more efficiently. All three treatments increased grain yield in the loamy sand, but in the sandy loam only tillage and farmyard manure increased yields significantly. Deep tillage and straw mulch effects varied with soil type and amount of rainfall in the growing season. In the loamy sand the mean responses to deep tillage and mulching were largest in a dry year. A tillage-mulch interaction was significant in the loamy sand.     

Nitrogen availability to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic sources on sandy and clayey soil surfaces in a greenhouse pot study

In a greenhouse pot study, we examined the availability of N to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic N sources. The treatments were¹⁵N-labeled clover residues, wheat residues, and fertilizer placed on a sandy clay loam and loamy sand soil surface for an 8-week period. Soil aggregates formed under each soil texture were measured after 8 weeks for each treatment. Significantly greater ¹⁵N was taken up and recovered by grain sorghum in sandy clay loam pots compared with loamy sand pots. Greater ¹⁵N recovery was consistently observed with the inorganic source than the organic sources regardless of soil texture or time. Microbial biomass C and N were significantly greater for sandy clay loam soil compared with the loamy sand. Microbial biomass ¹⁵N was also significantly greater in the sandy clay loam treatment compared to the loamy sand. The fertilizer treatment initially had the greatest pool of microbial biomass ¹⁵N but decreased with time. The crop residue treatments generally had less microbial biomass ¹⁵N with time. The crop residues and soil texture had a significant effect on the water-stable aggregates formed after 8 weeks of treatments. Significantly greater water-stable aggregates were formed in the sandy clay loam than the loamy sand. Approximately 20% greater water-stable aggregates were formed under the crop residue treatments compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Soil texture seemed to be one of the most important factors affecting the availability of N from organic or inorganic N sources in these soils.Contribution from the MissouriAgricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No.12131     

土壤紧实度对伴矿景天生长及镉锌吸收性的影响研究

采集黏土、壤黏土和砂质壤土,分别设置无压实、低紧实度及高紧实度3种处理,通过盆栽试验研究了土壤紧实度对Cd、Zn超积累植物伴矿景天生长和Cd、Zn吸收性的影响。结果表明,与无压实处理比较,砂质壤土、壤黏土和黏土中伴矿景天地上部生物量在低紧实度下显著下降66.8%~83.5%、59.9%~60.4%和57.9%~71.4%;高紧实度处理却显著提高了伴矿景天的根系活力(142%~241%)。高紧实度处理显著降低了壤黏土上伴矿景天地上部Cd和Zn含量,但低紧实度对砂质壤土和黏土上伴矿景天地上部Cd和Zn含量无显著影响。与无压实处理比较,低紧实度显著降低了砂质壤土、壤黏土和黏土上伴矿景天的Cd吸取量,分别下降50.4%~73.8%、61.4%~74.9%和43.4%~63.3%,Zn吸取量下降48.7%~79.5%、73.6%~79.0%和46.1%~63.5%;土壤紧实度对壤黏土上伴矿景天的镉锌吸取效率影响最明显。     

Physical resilience of soil to field compaction and the interactions with plant growth and microbial community structure

Soil compaction has deleterious effects on soil physical properties, which can affect plant growth, but some soils are inherently resilient, whereby they may recover following removal of the stress. We explored aspects of soil physical resilience in a field‐based experiment. We subjected three soils of different texture, sown with winter wheat or remaining fallow, to a compaction event. We then monitored soil strength, as a key soil physical property, over the following 16 months. We were also interested in the associated interactions with crop growth and the microbial community. Compaction had a considerable and sustained effect in a sandy loam and a sandy clay loam soil, resulting in an increase in strength and decreased crop yields. By contrast compaction had little effect on a clay soil, perhaps due initially to the buoyancy effect of pore water pressure. Fallow clay soil did have a legacy of the compaction event at depth, however, suggesting that it was the actions of the crop, and rooting in particular, that maintained smaller strengths in the cropped clay soil rather than other physical processes. Compaction generally did not affect microbial communities, presumably because they occupy pores smaller than those affected by compaction. That the clay soil was able to supply the growing crop with sufficient water whilst remaining weak enough for root penetration was a key finding. The clay soil was therefore deemed to be much more resilient to the compaction stress than the sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils.     

Effects of conventional and deep tillage on mustard for efficient water and nitrogen use in coarse textured soils

Crops grown on coarse textured soils are prone to water and nutrient stresses owing to low water retention, poor inherent fertility, and rapid development of mechanical impedance to root growth. These stresses can be alleviated by enlarging rooting volume in the soil and/or by regulating the supply of water and nutrients. Field investigations were carried for 3 years to assess interactive effects of deep tillage, irrigation regime and nitrogen rate on root growth, dry matter accumulation, water use and yield of mustard in a loamy sand and a sandy loam soil. Treatments included combinations of two tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT) (one discing, two cultivations down to 10 cm depth, and a planking), and deep tillage (DT) (chiseling down to 35–40 cm followed by CT); three irrigation regimes: no irrigation (I₀), 7 cm water 28 days after seeding (DAS) (I₁), and two irrigations of 7 cm each at 28 DAS and at peak flowering (I₂); and four nitrogen rates: 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha⁻¹. The experiment was replicated three times in a split plot design with tillage and irrigation in main plots and nitrogen in sub-plots.

Deep tillage and early irrigation enhanced the rooting density and the rate of dry matter accumulation of mustard, and as a consequence, there was greater depletion of profile stored water and better plant water status, particularly in the low water retentive loamy sand. Tillage enhanced the synergistic effects of irrigation and nitrogen on crop water use. Interaction effects of the three variables on grain yield were significant in this soil. Regression models relating relative yield to water supply and nitrogen rates showed that, for a given yield, more water and nitrogen were required for CT than for DT in the loamy sand indicating that tillage enhanced the utilization of water and nutrients. The magnitude of tillage effects was much less in the sandy loam.     

Response of soil exchangeable and crop potassium concentrations to variable fertilizer and cropping regimes in long-term field experiments on different soil types

Annual potassium (K) balances have been calculated over a 40‐year period for five field experiments located on varying parent materials (from loamy sand to clay) in south and central Sweden. Each experiment consisted of a number of K fertilizer regimes and was divided into two crop rotations, mixed arable/livestock (I) and arable only (II). Annual calculations were based on data for K inputs through manure and fertilizer, and outputs in crop removal. Plots receiving no K fertilizer showed negative K balances which ranged from 30 to 65 kg ha^?1 year^?1 in rotation I, compared with 10–26 kg ha^?1 year^?1 for rotation II. On sandy loam and clay soils, the K yield of nil K plots (rotation I) increased significantly with time during the experimental period indicating increasing release of K from soil minerals, uptake from deeper soil horizons and/or depletion of exchangeable soil K (K_ex). Significant depletion of K_ex in the topsoil was only found in the loamy sand indicating a K supply from internal sources in the sandy loam and clay soils. On silty clay and clay soils, a grass/clover ley K concentration of ～2% (dry weight) was maintained during the 40‐year study period on the nil K plots, but on the sandy loam, loam and loamy sand, herbage concentrations were generally less than 2% K.     

Subsoil compaction effects on crops in Punjab, Pakistan:II. Root growth and nutrient uptake of wheat and sorghum

Crop yields can be reduced by soil compaction due to increased resistance to root growth, and decrease in water and nutrient use efficiencies. A field experiment was conducted during 1997–1998 and 1998–1999 on a sandy clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Haplargids, USDA; Luvic Yermosol, FAO) to study subsoil compaction effects on root growth, nutrient uptake and chemical composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Soil compaction was artificially created once at the start of the study. The 0.00–0.15 m soil was manually removed with a spade. The exposed layer was compacted with a mechanical compactor from 1.65 Mg m⁻³ (control plot) to a bulk density of 1.93 Mg m⁻³ (compacted plot). The topsoil was then again replaced above the compacted subsoil and levelled. Both compacted and control plots were hoed manually and levelled. Root length density, measured at flowering stage, decreased markedly with compaction during 1997–1998 but there was little effect during 1998–1999. The reduction in nutrient uptake by wheat due to compaction of the subsoil was 12–35% for N, 17–27% for P and up to 24% for K. The reduction in nutrient uptake in sorghum due to subsoil compaction was 23% for N, 16% for P, and 12% for K. Subsoil compaction increased N content in wheat grains in 1997–1998, but there was no effect on P and K contents of grains and N and P content of wheat straw or sorghum stover. During 1997–1998, K content of wheat straw was statistically higher in control treatment compared with compacted treatment. In 1998, P-content of sorghum leaves was higher in compacted treatment than uncompacted control. Root length density of wheat below 0.15 m depth was significantly reduced and was significantly and negatively correlated with soil bulk density. Therefore, appropriate measures such as periodic chiselling, controlled traffic, conservation tillage, and incorporating of crops with deep tap root system in rotation cycle is necessary to minimize the risks of subsoil compaction.     

Least limiting water range and crop yields as affected by crop rotations and tillage

Crop rotation and the maintenance of plant residues over the soil can increase soil water storage capacity. Root access to water and nutrients depends on soil physical characteristics that may be expressed in the Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) concept. In this work, the effects of crop rotation and chiselling on the soil LLWR to a depth of 0.1 m and crop yields under no‐till were studied on a tropical Alfisol in São Paulo state, Brazil, for 3 yr. Soybean and corn were grown in the summer in rotation with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum, Linneu, cv. ADR 300), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, L., Moench), congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Germain et Evrard) and castor bean (Ricinus comunis, Linneu) during fall/winter and spring, under no‐till or chiselling. The LLWR was determined right after the desiccation of the cover crops and before soybean planting. Soil physico‐hydraulic conditions were improved in the uppermost soil layers by crop rotations under zero tillage, without initial chiselling, from the second year and on, resulting in soil quality similar to that obtained with chiselling. In seasons without severe water shortage, crop yields were not limited by soil compaction, however, in a drier season, the rotation with congo grass alone or intercropped with castor resulted in the greatest cover crop dry matter yield. Soybean yields did not respond to modifications in the LLWR.     

Crop yield and SOC responses to biochar application were dependent on soil texture and crop type in southern Quebec,Canada

Changes to soil nutrient availability and increases for crop yield and soil organic C (SOC) concentration on biochar‐amended soil under temperate climate conditions have only been reported in a few publications. The objective of this work was to determine if biochar application rates up to 20 Mg ha^?1 affect nutrient availability in soil, SOC stocks and yield of corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) on two coarse‐textured soils (loamy sand, sandy clay loam) in S Quebec, Canada. Data were collected from field experiments for a 3‐y period following application of pine wood biochar at rates of 0, 10, and 20 Mg ha^?1. For corn plots, at harvest 3 y after biochar application, 20 Mg biochar ha^?1 resulted in 41.2% lower soil NH on the loamy sand; the same effect was not present on the sandy clay loam soil. On the loamy sand, 20 Mg biochar ha^?1 increased corn yields by 14.2% compared to the control 3 y after application; the same effect was not present on the sandy clay loam soil. Biochar did not alter yield or nutrient availability in soil on soybean or switchgrass plots on either soil type. After 3 y, SOC concentration was 83 and 258% greater after 10 and 20 Mg ha^?1 biochar applications, respectively, than the control in sandy clay loam soil under switchgrass production. The same effect was not present on the sandy clay loam soil. A 67% higher SOC concentration was noted with biochar application at 20 Mg ha^?1 to sandy clay loam soil under corn.     

Effect of Induced Soil Compaction on Changes in Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity under Sandy Loam and Sandy Clay Loam Soils: A Greenhouse Experiment

The continuous use of heavy machinery and vehicular traffic on agricultural land led to an increase in soil compaction, which reduces crop yield and deteriorates the physical conditions of the soil. A pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions to study the effects of induced soil compaction on growth and yield of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties grown under two different soil textures, sandy loam and sandy clay loam. Three compaction levels [C₀, C₁, and C₂ (0, 10 and 20 beatings)], two textural classes (sandy loam and sandy clay loam), and two genotypes of wheat were selected for the experiment. Results indicated that induced soil compaction adversely affected the bulk density (BD) and total porosity of soil in both sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils. Compaction progressively increased soil BD from 1.19 Mg m^?3 in the control to 1.27 Mg m^?3 in C₁ and 1.40 Mg m^?3 in C₂ in sandy loam soil while the corresponding increase in BD in sandy clay loam was 1.56 Mg m^?3 in C₁ and 1.73 Mg m^?3 in C₂ compared to 1.24 Mg m^?3 in the control. On the other hand, compaction tended to decrease total porosity of soil. In case of sandy loam, porosity declined by 5% and 17% in C₁ and C₂, respectively, and declined in sandy clay loam by 29% and 54%, respectively. Averaged over genotypes and textures, shoot length decreased by 15% and 26% at C₁ and C₂, respectively, and straw yield decreased by 21% and 61%, respectively. The compaction levels C₁ and C₂ significantly decreased grain yield by 12% and 41%, respectively, over the control. The deleterious effect of compaction was more pronounced on root elongation and root mass, and compaction levels C₁ and C₂ decreased root length by 47% and 95% and root mass by 41% and 114%, respectively, over the control. Response of soil texture to compaction was significant for almost all the parameters, and the detrimental effects of soil compaction were greater in sandy clay loam compared to sandy loam soil. The results from the experiment revealed that soil compaction adversely affected soil physical conditions, thereby restricting the root growth, which in turn may affect the whole plant growth and grain yield. Therefore, appropriate measures to avoid damaging effects of compaction on soil physical conditions should be practiced. These measures may include soil management by periodic chiseling, controlled traffic, conservation tillage, addition of organic manures, and incorporating crops with deep tap root systems in a rotation cycle.     

Soil structural indices' dependence on irrigation water quality and their association with chromophoric components in dissolved organic matter

Irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW) may affect soil structure and stability and the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) of the soil solution. The objectives of our study were (i) to evaluate the impact of TWW irrigation, as compared with fresh water (FW) irrigation, on aggregate stability and saturated hydraulic conductivity (indices of soil structure stability) and (ii) to determine whether these indices can be associated with the chromophoric indicators of water‐extractable DOM in TWW‐ and FW‐irrigated soils. We studied aggregate stability and soil hydraulic conductivity (HC) of four different soil types irrigated with either TWW (for at least 5 years) or FW. The results were linked to earlier published data on the concentration scores of fluorescent chromophoric DOM components (obtained from excitation‐emission matrices of flouorescence coupled with parallel factor analysis), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and absorbance at 254 nm (Abs254). These were all obtained from water extracts of the same soils as those used in the current study. Irrigation with TWW decreased aggregate stability, in comparison to irrigation with FW, in the sandy clay and clay soils, while in the loamy sand TWW increased aggregate stability. The apparent steady state HCs in the TWW‐irrigated samples in the loamy sand, sandy clay and clay soils were similar to, or significantly less than, those obtained in the FW‐irrigated samples. In the sandy loam the opposite trend was noted. Results of principal component and classification analyses showed that the aggregate stability indices were directly associated with soil organic matter and DOM attributes in the coarse‐textured soils, while in the fine‐textured soils inverse associations were noted. Only in the fine‐textured soils were the HC attributes associated (directly) with some of the DOM characteristics. Our results suggest that structural indices of fine‐textured soils are more sensitive than those of coarse‐textured soils to the composition of water extractable DOM.     

Straw incorporation and soil organic matter in macro-aggregates and particle size separates

Two field experiments in which straw has been removed or incorporated for 17 yr (loamy sand) and 10 yr (sandy clay loam) were sampled to examine the effect of straw on the C and N contents in whole soil samples, macro-aggregate fractions and primary particle-size separates. The particle size composition of the aggregate fractions was determined. Aggregates were isolated by dry sieving. Straw incorporation increased the number of 1–20 mm aggregates in the loamy sand but no effect was noted in the sandy clay loam. Straw had no effect on the particle size composition of the various aggregate fractions. After correction for loose sand that accumulated in the aggregate fractions during dry sieving, macro-aggregates appeared to be enriched in clay and silt compared with whole soil samples. Because of the possible detachment of sand particles from the exterior surface of aggregates during sieving operations, it was inferred that the particle size composition of macro-aggregates is similar to that of the bulk soil. The organic matter contents of the aggregate fractions were closely correlated with their clay + silt contents. Differences in the organic matter content of clay isolated from whole soil samples and aggregate fractions were generally small. This was also true for the silt-size separates. In both soils, straw incorporation increased the organic matter content of nearly all clay and silt separates; for silt this was generally twice that observed for clay. The amounts of soil C, derived from straw, left in the loamy sand and sandy clay loam at the time of sampling were 4.4 and 4.5 t ha^?1, corresponding to 12 and 21% of the straw C added. The C/N ratios of the straw-derived soil organic matter were 11 and 12 for the loamy sand and sandy clay loam, respectively.     

Light Gray Surface-Gleyed Loamy Sandy Soils of the Northern Part of Tambov Plain: Agroecology,Properties, and Diagnostics

Light gray soils of Tambov oblast mainly develop from sandy and loamy sandy parent materials; these are the least studied soils in this region. Despite their coarse texture, these soils are subjected to surface waterlogging. They are stronger affected by the agrogenic degradation in comparison with chernozems and dark gray soils. Morphology, major elements of water regime, physical properties, and productivity of loamy sandy light gray soils with different degrees of gleyzation have been studied in the northern part of Tambov Plain in order to substantiate the appropriate methods of their management. The texture of these soils changes at the depth of 70–100 cm. The upper part is enriched in silt particles (16–30%); in the lower part, the sand content reaches 80–85%. In the nongleyed variants, middle-profile horizons contain thin iron-cemented lamellae (pseudofibers); in surface-gleyed variants, iron nodules are present in the humus horizon. The removal of clay from the humus horizon and its accumulation at the lithological contact and in pseudofibers promote surface subsidence and formation of microlows in the years with moderate and intense winter precipitation. The low range of active moisture favors desiccation of the upper horizons to the wilting point in dry years. The yield of cereal crops reaches 3.5–4.5 t/ha in the years with high and moderate summer precipitation on nongleyed and slightly gleyed light gray soils and decreases by 20–50% on strongly gleyed light gray soils. On light gray soils without irrigation, crop yields are unstable, and productivity of pastures is low. High yields of cereals and vegetables can be obtained on irrigated soils. In this case, local drainage measures should be applied to microlows; liming can be recommended to improve soil productivity.     

Enzyme activities and microbial community structure in semiarid agricultural soils

This study investigated the effect of management on -glucosidase, -glucosaminidase, alkaline phosphatase, and arylsulfatase activities and the microbial community structure in semiarid soils from West Texas, USA. Surface samples (0–5 cm) were taken from a fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, and loam that were under continuous cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) or in cotton rotated with peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.), rye ( Secale cereale) or wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and had different water management (irrigated or dryland), and tillage (conservation or conventional). The enzyme activities were higher in the loam and sandy clay loam than in the fine sandy loam. Soil pH was not affected by management, but the soil organic C and total N contents were generally affected by the different crop rotations and tillage practices studied. The trends of the enzyme activities as affected by management depended on the soil, but in general crop rotations and conservation tillage increased the enzyme activities in comparison to continuous cotton and conventional tillage. The soil enzyme activities were significantly correlated with the soil organic C ( r -values up to 0.90, P< 0.001), and were correlated among each other ( r -values up to 0.90, P <0.001). There were differences in the fatty acid methyl ester profiles between the fine sandy loam and the sandy clay loam and loam, and they reflected the differences in the enzyme activities found among the soils. For example, a 15:0 ranged from 1.61±0.25% in cotton-peanut/irrigated/no-till in the fine sandy loam to 3.86±0.48% in cotton-sorghum/dryland/conservation tillage in the sandy clay loam. There were no differences due to management within the same soil.Trade names and company names are included for the benefit of the reader and do not infer any endorsement or preferential treatment of the product by USDA-ARS     

Decomposability of organic matter in particle size fractions from field soils with straw incorporation

Soils from two field experiments on straw disposal were fractionated according to particle size using ultrasonic dispersion and gravity-sedimentation in water. Samples of whole soils, clay. silt and sand-size fractions were held for 49 days at 20°C and the CO₂ evolution measured on 14 dates by gas chromatography.Recovery of soil solids. C and N was 99, 98 and 93%, respectively. Most of the soil C and N was in the clay (<2μm). (loamy sand, 50% C and 56% N; sandy loam. 65% C and 68% N), the silt (2–20 μm) having smaller proportions (loamy sand, 41% C and 38% N; sandy loam. 29% C and 27% N). The sand fraction (20–6000 μm) accounted for 4–7% of the organic matter, and 1–2% of the C was water soluble. Straw incorporation generally increased the C and N content of whole soils and size fractions.The decomposition rate constants were higher for the sandy loam than for the loamy sand soil. For both soils, the decomposability of the organic matter decreased in the order: sand > clay ⩾ whole soil > silt. Straw incorporation increased the decomposition rate of whole soil and sand organic matter. whereas the effect of straw on clay and silt respiration was small.Between 58 and 73% of the respiration was from clay, 21–25% from silt and 6–19% from the sand size fraction.     

生物炭对东北黑土持水特性的影响

为探究生物炭对东北黑土持水特性的影响,系统研究3种添加比例(2%、5%、10%)、3种粒径(0.25、0.5、1 mm)的杨木炭和竹炭对3种质地东北黑土(壤土、砂壤土、砂土)田间持水量和含水率的影响规律,构建添加生物炭黑土的水分特征曲线,并采用Van-Genuchten和Broods-Corey模型进行拟合。结果表明:生物炭能显著提高不同质地东北黑土的持水能力,黑土的田间持水量与生物炭的添加比例呈显著正相关,而与生物炭的粒径呈负相关,0.5 mm和1 mm粒径的生物炭对黑土田间持水量的影响差异不显著,杨木炭显著优于竹炭,0.25 mm、10%添加比例的杨木炭对东北黑土持水能力的提高效果最优,壤土、砂壤土、砂土3种质地黑土的田间持水量和饱和含水率分别可提高64.97%、66.42%、69.39%和47.60%、38.93%、31.18%;Van-Genuchten模型能更精确的模拟添加生物炭黑土的水分特征曲线,最佳离心时间为100 min,三次函数曲线能够较好的拟合添加生物炭黑土的体积含水率与离心吸力之间的多元动态关系,为生物炭对各种质地东北黑土水分运动规律的深入研究提供理论依据。     

美国堪萨斯州不同天气事件与土壤类型条件下作物产量预测

Computer simulation was used for predictive analysis of the effects of weather and soil type on crop yield in the U.S.crop insurance program.The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model was modified to include hail weather events,which completed the modifications necessary to simulate the four most frequent causes of crop yield loss (hail,excessive wet,excessive cold,and excessive dry) associated with soil type in Kansas,USA.At the region level,per hectare yields were simulated for corn,wheat,soybean,and sorghum.We concluded that it was possible to predict crop yields through computer simulation with greater than 93% accuracy.The hail damage model test indicated EPIC could predict hail-soil-induced yield losses reasonably well (R² > 0.6).The investigation of soil type influence on dryland sorghum and wheat production indicated that Wymore silty clay loam soil and Kenoma silt loam produced the highest sorghum yields statistically;Kuma silt loam,Roxbury silt loam,Crete silty clay loam,and Woodson silt soils produced the second highest sorghum yields statistically;and Richfiled silt loam,Wells loam,and Canadian sandy loam produced the lowest sorghum yields.By contrast,wheat production showed less sensitivity to soil type variation.The less sensitive response of wheat yields to the soil type could be largely due to the unconsidered small-scale variability of soil features.     

Soil physical properties and soybean (Glycine max, Merrill) root abundance in conventionally- and zero-tilled soils in the humid Pampas of Argentina

In the humid Pampas of Argentina soybean is cultivated in different soil types, which were changed from conventional- to zero tillage systems in the last decade. Little is known about the response of soybean roots to these different soil physical environments. Pasture, and conventionally- and zero-tilled field lots cropped to soybean (R1 and R2 ontogenic stages) were sampled in February–March 2001 in a sandy clay loam and two silty clay loam Mollisols, and in a clayey Vertisol. In the 0–0.05 m layer of conventionally- and zero-tilled lots soil organic carbon represented 53–72% of that in pasture lots, and showed an incipient recovery after 4–11 years of continuous zero tillage. Soil aggregate stability was 10.1–46.8% lower in conventionally-tilled than in pasture lots, and recovered completely in zero-tilled lots. Soil relative compaction ranged 60.8–83.6%, which was below the threshold limit for crop yields (>90%). In change, soil porosity >50 μm ranged 0.91–5.09% soil volume, well below the minimum critical limit for root aeration and elongation (>10%, v/v). The threshold of soil resistance (about 2–3 MPa) was only over passed in an induced plough pan in the conventionally-tilled Bragado soil (5.9 MPa), and in the conventionally- and zero-tilled Ramallo soils (3.7–4.2 MPa, respectively). However, neither the low macroporosity nor the high soil resistances impeded soybean roots growth in any site. According to a fitted polynomial function, root abundance was negatively related to clay content in the subsoil (R² = 0.84, P < 0.001). Soybean roots were only abundant in the subsoil of the sandy clay loam Mollisol, which had <350 g kg⁻¹ clay. Results show that subsoil properties, and not tillage systems, were the primary effect of root growth of soybean.     

Long-term impact of reduced tillage and residue management on soil carbon stabilization: Implications for conservation agriculture on contrasting soils

Residue retention and reduced tillage are both conservation agricultural management options that may enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization in tropical soils. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of long-term tillage and residue management on SOC dynamics in a Chromic Luvisol (red clay soil) and Areni-Gleyic Luvisol (sandy soil) in Zimbabwe. At the time of sampling the soils had been under conventional tillage (CT), mulch ripping (MR), clean ripping (CR) and tied ridging (TR) for 9 years. Soil was fully dispersed and separated into 212–2000 μm (coarse sand), 53–212 μm (fine sand), 20–53 μm (coarse silt), 5–20 μm (fine silt) and 0–5 μm (clay) size fractions. The whole soil and size fractions were analyzed for C content. Conventional tillage treatments had the least amount of SOC, with 14.9 mg C g⁻¹ soil and 4.2 mg C g⁻¹ soil for the red clay and sandy soils, respectively. The highest SOC content was 6.8 mg C g⁻¹ soil in the sandy soil under MR, whereas for the red clay soil, TR had the highest SOC content of 20.4 mg C g⁻¹ soil. Organic C in the size fractions increased with decreasing size of the fractions. In both soils, the smallest response to management was observed in the clay size fractions, confirming that this size fraction is the most stable. The coarse sand-size fraction was most responsive to management in the sandy soil where MR had 42% more organic C than CR, suggesting that SOC contents of this fraction are predominantly controlled by amounts of C input. In contrast, the fine sand fraction was the most responsive fraction in the red clay soil with a 66% greater C content in the TR than CT. This result suggests that tillage disturbance is the dominant factor reducing C stabilization in a clayey soil, probably by reducing C stabilization within microaggregates. In conclusion, developing viable conservation agriculture practices to optimize SOC contents and long-term agroecosystem sustainability should prioritize the maintenance of C inputs (e.g. residue retention) to coarse textured soils, but should focus on the reduction of SOC decomposition (e.g. through reduced tillage) in fine textured soils.     

黄淮海平原三种土壤中优势流现象的试验研究

在黄淮海平原选择三种不同质地类型的土壤（砂壤土、淤土、风沙土）,各设１．５ｍ×１．５ｍ两个小区,其中一个小区在试验开始前两癸灌水约５６ｋｇ,以获得不同的初始含水量。将１００ｍｍ含有染色剂亮蓝的水灌入小区,一天之后,开挖１ｍ×１ｍ的剖面拍照,进行图像分析处理,计算剖面中染色百分比随深度的变异,研究所形成的优势流的状况与土壤类型、土壤初始含水量的关系。结果表明：不同土壤发生优势流的程度不同,结构发育好