Effect of selected organic materials and inorganic fertilizer on the soil fertility of a Humic Nitisol in the central highlands of Kenya

The effect on soil fertility of applying particular organic resources to a humic Nitisol in the central highlands of Kenya was studied. The organic resources (Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena trichandra, Tithonia diversifolia, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca and cattle manure) were either applied solely or along with inorganic fertilizer in a cropping trial using maize as the experimental crop. After 4 years of continuous cultivation and manuring, soil fertility effects varied among treatments. Cattle manure proved to be the most effective and improved soil fertility by increasing pH, cations (Ca, K and Mg), and C. Calliandra, Leucaena, Tithonia and herbaceous legumes generally reduced soil pH, C and N but increased Ca, K and Mg. Cattle manure is therefore an important resource for maintaining soil organic matter (SOM) in the area and in other similar areas with arable‐livestock systems. Reduction of soil C and N by the high quality organic materials suggests that their role in maintaining SOM in the long‐term is limited in this area. A sound nutrient management system should strive to make a balance between maximizing crop production and sustaining soil quality.     

Effects of organic wastes on labile organic carbon in semiarid soil under plastic mulched drip irrigation

ABSTRACT

The objective of this work was to evaluate the variation in labile organic carbon fractions after the application of organic wastes (OWs) in semiarid soil under plastic mulched drip irrigation. The two-year experiment involved six treatments: chicken manure (CM), sheep manure (SM), mushroom residue (MR), maize straw (MS), fodder grass (FG), and tree leaves (TL), with an unamended soil (no OWs) as control. In 2015 and 2016, treatment with OWs led to increased levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, easily oxidized organic carbon, as well as higher carbon management indexes and yields and lower oxidation stability coefficients. Higher SOC contents (p <0.01) were achieved in both years for TL and MS compared to the other OWs. In particular, the SOC content in 2016 was higher (p <0.05) for TL than MS. Compared to the other OWs, the easily oxidized organic carbon levels and carbon management indexes in both years were higher (p <0.01) for CM, SM, and MS, whereas the oxidation stability coefficients were lower (p <0.01). In conclusion, among the studied treatments, the application of MS was the most effective for improving soil fertility and enhancing soil carbon sequestration.     

Short-term effects of tillage practices on soil aggregate fractions in a Chinese Mollisol

Abstract

Soil aggregate-size distribution and soil aggregate stability are used to characterize soil structure. Quantifying the changes of structural stability of soil is an important element in assessing soil and crop management practices. A 5-year tillage experiment consisting of no till (NT), moldboard plow (MP) and ridge tillage (RT), was used to study soil water-stable aggregate size distribution, aggregate stability and aggregate-associated soil organic carbon (SOC) at four soil depths (0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm) of a clay loam soil in northeast China. Nonlinear fractal dimension (D_m) was used to characterize soil aggregate stability. No tillage led to a significantly greater aggregation for >1 mm aggregate and significant SOC changes in this fraction at 0–5 cm depth. There were significant positive relationships between SOC and >1 mm aggregate, SOC in each aggregate fraction, but there was no relationship between soil aggregate parameters (the proportion of soil aggregates, aggregate-associated SOC and soil stability) and soil bulk density. After 5 years, there was no difference in D_m of soil aggregate size distribution among tillage treatments, which suggested that D_m could not be used as an indicator to assess short-term effects of tillage practices on soil aggregation. In the short term, > 1 mm soil aggregate was a better indicator to characterize the impacts of tillage practices on quality of a Chinese Mollisol, particularly in the near-surface layer of the soil.     

长期施肥对红壤旱地土壤活性有机碳和酶活性的影响

以江西进贤长期肥料定位试验为平台,研究了红壤旱地不同施肥措施对土壤微生物生物量、活性有机C、C库管理指数以及土壤酶活性的影响。研究结果表明:与不施肥和单施化肥土壤相比,施有机肥处理土壤的pH、CEC、有机C、全N、全P、无机N、速效P、速效K及土壤微生物生物量均显著增加,土壤活性有机C和C库管理指数也较试前土壤和其他处理土壤明显提高,此外,土壤的转化酶、脱氢酶、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性也较其他处理显著增加。土壤微生物生物量、活性有机C以及4种土壤酶活性之间的相关关系显著,且它们均与土壤有机C、全N、全P、无机N、速效P等土壤养分呈显著正相关。因此,红壤旱地通过长期施用有机肥或与无机肥配施,不仅能显著提高土壤有机质的数量和质量,而且能增加土壤微生物生物量和酶活性,从而显著提高土壤肥力和土壤持续生产力。     

Variation of intra‐aggregate organic carbon affects aggregate formation and stability during organic manure fertilization in a fluvo‐aquic soil

The aggregate formation and stability are controlled by the dynamics of soil organic matters (SOM), but how it is related to SOM chemical composition within different‐sized aggregates is largely unknown during manure fertilization. In this study, the variations of intra‐aggregate organic carbon (OC), including intra‐particulate organic matter (iPOM) and mineral‐associated organic matter, were quantitatively and qualitatively analysed, and then, their effects on aggregate formation and stability were assessed under four treatments: control (CK), mineral fertilizer (NPK), reduced manure (30%M) and manure fertilizers (M). Manure application (M) significantly increased macroaggregate proportion, mean weight diameter (MWD), and OC contents within different‐sized aggregates compared to CK, NPK, and 30%M. The OC accumulation of macroaggregate in M was attributed to OC content increase in silt plus clay subfraction rather than iPOM with more labile organic groups; oppositely, in microaggregate it was located in the relatively stable fine iPOM. The macroaggregate formation and stability were controlled by the fine iPOM within macroaggregates, whose abundant polysaccharide‐C and aliphatic‐C after manure fertilization advanced the microbial growth except for Gram‐positive bacteria, which further promoted macroaggregate formation and stability. The free silt plus clay fraction also affected macroaggregate formation and stability, and its polysaccharide‐C derived from microorganisms or decomposing SOM was positively associated with MWD and macroaggregate proportion. Because polysaccharide‐C can be easily associated with mineral particles, further improving micro‐ or macroaggregation. We conclude that continuous manure fertilization could increase labile SOM accumulation within aggregates and then facilitate microbial growth, which collectively are responsible for aggregate formation and stabilization.     

Effects of part and whole straw returning on soil carbon sequestration in C3–C4 rotation cropland

Long‐term no‐tillage management and crop residue amendments to soil were identified as an effective measure to increase soil organic carbon (SOC). The SOC content, SOC stock (SOCs), soil carbon sequestration rate (CSR), and carbon pool management index (CPMI) were measured. A stable isotopic approach was used to evaluate the contributions of wheat and maize residues to SOC at a long‐term experimental site. We hypothesized that under no‐tillage conditions, straw retention quantity would affect soil carbon sequestration differently in surface and deep soil, and the contribution of C3 and C4 crops to soil carbon sequestration would be different. This study involved four maize straw returning treatments, which included no maize straw returning (NT‐0), 0.5 m (from the soil surface) maize straw returning (NT‐0.5), 1 m maize straw returning (NT‐1), and whole maize straw returning (NT‐W). The results showed that in the 0–20 cm soil layer, the SOC content, SOCs, CSR and CPMI of the NT‐W were highest after 14 years of no‐tillage management, and there were obvious differences among the four treatments. However, the SOC, SOCs, and CSR of the NT‐0.5 and NT‐W were the highest and lowest in 20–100 cm, respectively. The value of δ¹³C showed an obviously vertical variability that ranged from –22.01‰ (NT‐1) in the 0–20 cm layer to –18.27‰ (NT‐0.5) in the 60–80 cm layer, with enriched δ¹³C in the 60–80 cm (NT‐0.5 and NT‐1) and 80–100 cm (NT‐0 and NT‐W) layers. The contributions of the wheat and maize‐derived SOC of the NT‐0.5, NT‐1 and NT‐W increased by 11.4, 29.5 and 56.3% and by 10.7, 15.1 and 40.1%, relative to those in the NT‐0 treatment in the 0–20 cm soil layer, respectively. In conclusion, there was no apparent difference in total SOC sequestration between the NT‐0.5, NT‐1, and NT‐W treatments in the 0–100 cm soil layer. The contribution of wheat‐derived SOC was higher than that of maize‐derived SOC.     

Repeated annual drought has minor long‐term influence on δ13C and alkane composition of plant and soil in model grassland and heathland ecosystems

As a result of global climate change the incidence of drought conditions in Europe is predicted to increase in the future, which also influences plant resistance. Lipids are important plant constituents that protect plants against drought stress and contribute to the intermediate stable carbon (C) pool in soil. However, the extent to which drought influences lipid cycling in the plant–soil system is unknown and, therefore, it remains questionable how the ecosystem recovers after drought. We focused on plant and soil samples from two different plant communities (temperate grassland and heathland) that had been exposed to 5 years of 4.5–6.0 weeks repeated annual drought. They were sampled one year after the last drought to check the recovery of the plant–soil system. Samples were analyzed for their bulk C, stable C and nitrogen (N) isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and lipid composition. Contrary to our expectation, no strong influence of five years of repeated annual drought was observed for above‐ground biomass, roots and soils in the model ecosystems with respect to elemental (C and N concentrations, C : N ratio) bulk isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) composition and the total extractable lipid concentration. Thus, plants did not sustain a significant change in their C and lipid concentration as well as their composition after five years of repeated annual drought. This might be related to the comparatively short drought period related to the overall growth season and provides evidence for recovery of the C and lipid dynamics in temperate grassland and heathland model ecosystems exposed to annual drought.     

Influence of soil water on stress–strain behaviour of a compacting soil in semi-arid Kenya

Depending on the top and subsoil textures, semi-arid soils exhibit cohesive and frictional properties that are associated with the relatively high soil strength, bulk density and penetration resistance. The objective of this study was to gain the knowledge of mechanical properties of the compacting chromic luvisols in order to improve the design of tillage tools. Therefore, we applied critical state soil mechanics to study the stress–strain behaviour of the luvisols using triaxial tests under laboratory conditions. Field investigations involved random collection of undisturbed soil samples which were subjected to triaxial testing first by isotropic consolidation and compression and then triaxial shearing. Plots of deviatoric stress against axial strain were made to determine the soil shear strengths at the critical states over different soil water levels and the two soil depths of 0–20 cm for the plough and 20–40 cm for the hard pan layers, respectively. An exponential model used to fit the deviatoric stress–axial strain test data accurately predicted the trends. Soil water significantly influenced the shear strength, cohesion (c′) and internal angle of friction (′) and hence the mechanical behaviour of the luvisols. The regression equations developed showed that c′ and ′ have quadratic relationships with soil water. The very high clay bonding strength in the subsoil (hard pan) layer resulted in high shear strength, bulk density and penetration resistance values for this soil layer. The increase in shear strength with decreasing water content affected the deviatoric stress–axial strain relationships between the upper and lower plastic limits of the sandy soil. Thus, as the soil dried, the soil ceased to behave in the plastic (ductile flow) manner and thus began to break apart and crumble. The crumbling was indicative of brittle failure. The transition stage from an increase to a decrease in c′ and ′ values with soil water occurred in the soil water content range of 6–10%. Knowledge of stress–strain behaviour of compacting soils is of practical significance in the design of appropriate tillage tools for the specific soil type.     

免耕和秸秆还田对东北黑土区土壤团聚体组成及有机碳 含量的影响

为解决东北黑土区因不合理耕作导致的土壤结构性状变差及有机碳含量下降的问题,该研究于2015年开始,在黑龙江省哈尔滨市东北农业大学向阳试验基地开展。设置免耕+秸秆还田（NTS）、免耕（NT）、翻耕+秸秆还田（CTS）、翻耕（CT）4种处理,于2018、2019年采集土样,研究免耕措施及秸秆还田对东北薄层黑土区0～10、>10～20 cm土壤团聚体稳定性、土壤有机碳含量、各粒径团聚体内有机碳含量的影响。结果表明：2018和2019年0～10、>10～20 cm土层NTS处理>5 mm水稳性团聚体百分比含量及平均重量直径显著高于其他3种处理,NTS及NT处理土壤有机碳含量显著高于CTS及CT处理（P?<0.05）,4种处理各粒径水稳性团聚体有机碳含量峰值总体出现在1～2 mm处,NTS及NT处理>5、2～5、1～2 mm有机碳贡献率整体高于CTS及CT处理。研究表明,免耕与秸秆还田有利于薄层黑土坡耕地耕层土壤团聚体稳定性的提高和各粒级下团聚体有机碳的积累,与其他3种处理相比,免耕+秸秆还田效果更佳。     

Physical characterization of a soil amended with organic residues in a rice–wheat cropping system using a single value soil physical index

The effect of soil incorporations of lantana (Lantana spp.) biomass, an obnoxious weed, on physical environment of a silty clay loam soil (Typic Hapludalf) under rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping was studied in a long-term field experiment conducted in a wet temperate region of north India. Fresh lantana biomass was incorporated into the plough layer at 10, 20 and 30 Mg ha⁻¹ annually, 7–10 days before puddling. Plant-available water capacity (PAWC), non-limiting water range (NLWR) and NLWR:PAWC ratio were determined to characterize soil physical environment during wheat crop in the tenth cropping cycle.

Ten annual applications of lantana at 10, 20 and 30 Mg ha⁻¹, increased organic carbon (OC) content over control by 12.6, 17.6 and 27.9% in 0–15 cm soil layer, and 17.1, 26.3 and 39.5% in 15–30 cm soil layer, respectively. The OC content in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layer of control plots was 11.1 and 7.6 g kg⁻¹ soil. Bulk density decreased by 3–14% in 7.5–10.5 cm layer and 1–6% in 15–18 cm layer. Volumetric moisture contents at 10% air-filled porosity were 38.4, 40.0, 54.5 and 55.7% at 7.5–10.5 cm depth, and 31.4, 32.2, 33.9 and 34.6% at 15–18 cm depth corresponding to 0, 10, 20 and 30 Mg ha⁻¹ lantana treatment, respectively. At 15–18 cm soil depth, volumetric moisture contents at 2 MPa soil penetration resistance were 26.9, 24.8, 23.0 and 19.6% in zero, 10, 20 and 30 Mg ha⁻¹ lantana-treated plots, respectively. Lower soil water contents associated with 10% air-filled porosity and greater soil water contents associated with a limiting penetration resistance of 2 MPa resulted in a lower NLWR (4.3%) for control as compared to lantana-treated soil (7.4–15.1%). The PAWC showed slight increase from 12.9 to 13.4–14.9% due to lantana additions. The NLWR:PAWC ratio was also lower in control (0.33) as compared to lantana-treated soil (0.55–1.01). The NLWR was significantly and positively correlated with wheat grain yield (r=0.858^**).     

Improvements in soil quality and performance of mycorrhizal Cistus albidus L. seedlings resulting from addition of microbially treated sugar beet residue to a degraded semiarid Mediterranean soil

Abstract. A field experiment was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of a combined treatment, involving addition of Aspergillus niger -treated sugar beet (SB) residue in the presence of rock phosphate and mycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings with Pisolithus tinctorius . The aim was to improve the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of a degraded semiarid Mediterranean soil. Short-term effects of such improvements on the establishment of Cistus albidus L. seedlings were evaluated. Eight months after planting, macronutrients (NPK), total carbohydrates, water-soluble C, water-soluble carbohydrates, microbial biomass C and enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, urease, protease, acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase) measured in the rhizosphere soil of C. albidus were increased greatly by addition of fermented SB residue. Soil structural stability improved only with the fermented SB addition (about 79% higher in the amended soils than in the non-amended soils). The mycorrhizal inoculation was the most effective treatment in improving the growth of C. albidus plants, but only slightly improved soil quality. Growth of inoculated plants was about 33% greater than plants grown in the amended soil and about 131% greater than control plants. The combined benefit of mycorrhizal inoculation of seedlings and addition of fermented SB residue to soil on plant growth was similar to that of the treatments applied individually.     

Biochars improve aggregate stability,water retention,and pore‐space properties of clayey soil

The influence of biochar amendments on the physical quality of a clayey soil (Vertisol) was evaluated by aggregate‐size distribution and stability, water retention, and pore‐space structure of biochar‐amended soils. Clayey soil was treated with three kinds of biochars (straw biochar, woodchips biochar, and wastewater‐sludge biochar) at the rate of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g biochar (kg soil)^–1 and incubated for 180 d in glasshouse. The application of straw biochar (SB) and wastewater‐sludge biochar (WSB) significantly enhanced the formation of 5–2 and 0.25–0.5 mm macroaggregates in the clayey soil relative to the control treatment, while the < 0.25‐cm microaggregate decreased with biochar additions. However, woodchips biochar (WCB) had no obvious effect on the formation of macroaggregate. The application of SB and WSB increased the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of clayey soil, implying that biochar increased the aggregate stability. They improved the aggregate stability through an enhanced resistance to slaking and increased interparticular cohesion. The SB‐amended soils exhibited significant increases in the available water contents of soils. The application of SB significantly increased pore volume in the macropore (> 75 μm) and mesopore (30–75 μm) ranges, which may be the result of the reorganization of pore‐size distribution and aggregation processes induced by the addition of biochar. Results indicated that biochar had the potential to improve the physical quality and pore‐space status of clayey soil. It is suggested that biochar may be considered as a soil amendment for improving poor physical characteristics of clayey soil.     

Physical activation of biochar and its meaning for soil fertility and nutrient leaching – a greenhouse experiment

The slow alteration of the surface of charred biomass (biochar) over time may contribute to an improved nutrient retention and thus fertility of tropical soils. Here, we investigated soils from temperate climates and investigated whether a technical steam activation of biochar could accelerate its positive effects on nutrient retention and uptake by plants relative to nonactivated biochar. To this aim, we performed microcosm experiments with sandy or silty soil, mixed with 2.0, 7.5 and 15.0 g/kg soil of fine (<2 mm) or coarse‐sized (2–10 mm) biochar from beech wood (Fagus sp.). After initial fertilizer (NPK), ashes and excess nutrients were leached with water, and the microcosms were planted for 142 days with Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum). Thereafter, leachate, soil and plant samples were analysed for their nutrient contents. The results showed that biochar additions of ≤15 g/kg soil left elevated contents of available P and N in the surface soil but reduced their uptake into the plants. As a result, total biomass production was unchanged. Different particle size and application amounts influenced these findings only marginally. Nitrate leaching was enhanced in the sandy soil (+41% for nitrate, but reduced in the silty soil ?17%) and P was immobilized. Hence, the fertility of the temperate soils under study was only marginally affected by pure biochar amendments. Steam activation, however, almost doubled the positive effects of biochars in all instances, thus being an interesting option for future biochar applications.     

长期施肥对红壤性水稻土团聚体稳定性及固碳特征的影响

施用有机肥是提高土壤有机碳(SOC)含量、促进土壤团聚体形成和改善土壤结构的重要措施。本研究旨在探讨长期作物残留和投入有机物料对水稻土团聚体分布及稳定性的影响,分析不同粒级团聚体的固碳特征及其与团聚体形成的相关性,以及土壤和不同粒级团聚体对累积碳投入的响应。长期定位施肥试验始于1986年,设不施肥(CK)、单施化肥(CF)、秸秆化肥混施(RS)、低量粪肥配施化肥(M1)和高量粪肥配施化肥(M2)5个处理。2009年采集0~10 cm土壤样品,测定总土以及大团聚体(LM,2 mm)、较大团聚体(SM,0.25~2 mm)、微团聚体(MA,0.25~0.053 mm)和黏粉粒(SC,0.053 mm)的质量比例及其SOC浓度,并分析闭蓄于SM内部的颗粒有机物(POM)、微团聚体(MA-SM)和黏粉粒(SC-SM)的质量含量和SOC浓度。结果表明,与CK和CF比较,有机肥混施化肥处理(RS、M1和M2)均显著提高了LM和SM的质量比例和平均当量直径(MWD),降低了SC质量含量;两个粪肥配施化肥处理(M1和M2)的效果优于秸秆化肥混施(RS),但是M1和M2间差异不显著;单施化肥则降低了稳定性团聚体的比例。团聚体的SOC浓度没有随粒级增大而增加,各处理均为LM和SM结合的SOC浓度最高,其次为SC,最小为MA。与CK比较,有机肥混施化肥处理均显著提高了各粒级团聚体的SOC浓度。总土SOC的增加主要取决于SM的SOC含量,而MA-SM组分决定了SM固持SOC的能力。总土、LM和SM的SOC含量以及从SM分离出的POM、MA-SM和SC-SM的SOC含量均与累积碳投入量呈显著正相关,但总土分离出的MA和SC的SOC含量对累积碳投入量反应不敏感,表现出碳饱和迹象。因此,尽管长期大量施用有机物料促进了红壤性水稻土大团聚体的形成和团聚体稳定性,增加了其SOC的固持,但有机质可能不是该土壤水稳性团聚体形成的最主要黏结剂。     

Influence of basin‐based conservation agriculture on selected soil quality parameters under smallholder farming in Zimbabwe

The research was carried out to determine the effect of basin‐based conservation agriculture (CA) on selected soil quality parameters. Paired plots (0.01 ha) of CA and conventional tillage based on the animal‐drawn mouldboard plough (CONV) were established between 2004 and 2007 on farm fields on soils with either low (12–18% – sandy loams and sandy clay loams) or high clay levels (>18–46% – sandy clays and clays) as part of an ongoing project promoting CA in six districts in the smallholder farming areas of Zimbabwe. We hypothesized that CA would improve soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, aggregate stability, soil moisture retention and infiltration rate. Soil samples for SOC and aggregate stability were taken from 0 to 15 cm depth and for bulk density and soil moisture retention from 0 to 5, 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 cm depths in 2011 from maize plots. Larger SOC contents, SOC stocks and improved aggregate stability, decreased bulk density, increased pore volume and moisture retention were observed in CA treatments. Results were consistent with the hypothesis, and we conclude that CA improves soil quality under smallholder farming. Benefits were, however, greater in high clay soils, which is relevant to the targeting of practices on smallholder farming areas of sub‐Saharan Africa.     

The effect of biochar with biogas digestate or mineral fertilizer on fertility,aggregation and organic carbon content of a sandy soil: Results of a temperate field experiment

Substitution of mineral fertilizers with organic soil amendments is postulated to improve productivity‐relevant soil properties such as aggregation and organic matter (OM) content. However, there is a lack of studies analyzing the effects of biochar and biogas digestate versus mineral fertilizer on soil aggregation and OM dynamics under temperate field conditions. To address this research gap, a field experiment was sampled four years after establishment on a sandy Cambisol in Germany where mineral fertilizer or liquid biogas digestate was applied with or without 3 or 40 Mg biochar ha^?1 (produced at 650°C). Soil samples were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC) content, pH, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, water‐holding capacity, microbial biomass, aggregate size class distribution, and the SOC content associated with these size classes. 40 Mg biochar ha^?1 significantly increased SOC content in all fractions, especially free particulate OM and the 2–0.25 mm fraction. The yield of small macroaggregates (2–0.25 mm) was increased by biochar, but cation exchange capacity, water‐holding capacity, and pH were not consistently improved. Thus, high‐temperature biochar applied to a sandy soil under temperate conditions is primarily recommended to increase SOC content, which could contribute to climate change mitigation if this C remains sequestered over the long‐term. Fertilizer type did not significantly affect SOC content or other measured properties of the sandy Cambisol, suggesting that replacement of mineral fertilizer with digestate has a neutral effect on soil fertility. Co‐application of biochar with digestate provided no advantages for soil properties compared to co‐application with mineral fertilizer. Thus, independent utilization of these organic amendments is equally suitable.     

福建黄泥田肥力质量特征与最小数据集

黄泥田为福建省主要中低产田类型之一,约占水稻土面积的30%。为解析关键限制因子及开展黄泥田肥力质量评价,进而实施针对性的改良措施,采用配对采样方法,采集福建省20对典型黄泥田与邻近同一微地貌单元内高产灰泥田表层土壤,分析了两种土壤类型28项属性因子指标差异及其原因,并采用主成分分析等方法构建福建省黄泥田肥力质量评价因子最小数据集,通过加权指数法分别计算最小数据集土壤肥力质量指数与差异显著因子构成的重要数据集土壤肥力质量指数。结果表明,与灰泥田相比,黄泥田的有机质含量低19.1%,全氮、全磷、全钾含量分别低14.8%、29.9%和25.4%,碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾含量分别低17.8%、56.7%和39.3%,CEC、交换性钙、交换性镁含量分别低12.9%、50.6%和30.8%,有效铁、有效硼和有效锌含量分别低25.6%、33.3%和44.1%。黄泥田的物理性黏粒、0.001 mm黏粒和容重分别较灰泥田高20.8%、25.6%和12.3%,而孔隙度低19.3%。黄泥田过氧化氢酶活性较灰泥田高20.4%,脲酶活性较灰泥田低40.4%。用主成分分析方法从上述19项有显著差异的因子构成的重要数据集中归纳出累计贡献率达76.22%并能反映黄泥田综合肥力特征的6个主成分,建立了由CEC、全钾、有效磷、有效硼和孔隙度5项因子组成的黄泥田肥力评价最小数据集,相应的黄泥田最小数据集土壤肥力质量指数仅相当于灰泥田的69.5%,通过与重要数据集的土壤肥力质量指数相关分析比较,最小数据集可代替重要数据集对福建省黄泥田土壤肥力质量进行正确评价。     

Changes in soil hydraulic conductivity, runoff, and soil loss due to irrigation with different types of saline–sodic water

Irrigation with saline–sodic water causes sodic conditions in the soil which reduces soil productivity. We evaluated the changes in a number of important indices related to soil structural stability when treated wastewater (TWW), albeit with higher loads of organic matter and suspended solids, was used instead of more saline–sodic irrigation water, under different degrees of aggregate slaking. We studied soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC) using disturbed samples packed in columns, and soil infiltration rate, runoff and erosion under simulated rainfall. Aggregate slaking was manipulated by wetting the samples prior to all tests at either a slow (1–2 mm h^− 1) or a fast (50 mm h^− 1) rate. Samples of a calcareous silty clay (Typic Calciorthids) from the Bet She'an Valley, Israel, were taken from plots irrigated for three years with either TWW, saline–sodic Jordan River water (JRW), or moderately saline–sodic spring water (SPW), and also from a non-cultivated area (control). With little or no aggregate slaking (use of slow wetting), higher HC values and lower amounts of total runoff and soil loss were measured compared to when more severe aggregate slaking was induced (use of fast wetting). The HC values for the TWW treatment were similar to, or lower than, those for the control and significantly higher than those for the JRW treatment. For the runoff and soil loss data, differences among the water quality treatments were, generally, more pronounced when aggregate slaking was substantially reduced, and were related to soil sodicity. Under the latter condition, runoff and soil loss from the TWW treatment were comparable with those from the control and significantly lower than those from the JRW treatment. Our results suggested that replacing saline–sodic irrigation water with TWW could have favorable effects on soil structural stability, especially under conditions where aggregate slaking can be reduced (e.g., in regions with low to moderate rain intensities; and/or use of low intensity irrigation systems).