RZWQM simulated effects of crop rotation, tillage, and controlled drainage on crop yield and nitrate-N loss in drain flow

Accurate simulation of agricultural management effects on N loss in tile drainage is vitally important for understanding hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. An experimental study was initiated in 1978 at Nashua, Iowa of the USA to study long-term effects of tillage, crop rotation, and N management practices on subsurface drainage flow and associated N losses. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) was applied to evaluate various management effects in several previous studies. In this study, the simulation results were further analyzed for management effects (tillage, crop rotation, and controlled drainage) on crop production and N loss in drain flow. RZWQM simulated the observed increase in N concentration in drain flow with increasing tillage intensity from NT (no-till) to RT (ridge till) to CP (chisel plow) and to MP (moldboard plow). It also adequately simulated tillage effects on yearly drain flow and yearly N loss in drain flow. However, the model failed to simulate lower corn and soybean yields under NT than under MP, CP, and RT. On the other hand, RZWQM adequately simulated lower yearly drain flow and lower flow-weighted N concentration in drain flow under CS (corn-soybean) and SC (soybean-corn) than under CC (continuous corn). The model adequately simulated higher corn yield under CS and SC than under CC. Applying the newly suggested N management practice for the Midwest of controlled drainage, the model simulated a 30% reduction in drain flow and a 29% decrease in N losses in drain flow under controlled drainage (CD) compared to free drainage (FD). With most of the simulations in reasonably close agreement with observations, we concluded that RZWQM is a promising tool for quantifying the relative effects of tillage, crop rotation, and controlled drainage on N loss in drainage flow. Further improvements on simulated management effects on crop yield and N mineralization are needed, however.     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SOIL-WATER REGIMES IN A DRAINED CLAY SOIL

Details of soil-water profiles between drains and the associated drain-flow data are presented for the winter period on a clay soil of the Ragdale series, formed in drift over Lias clay in the Midlands of England. A conventional water-table is shown to exist and the rate of drain flow is shown to depend on whether the water-table is high enough to be within layers having a better hydraulic conductivity than the normal subsoil. Mole drainage is shown to modify the drainage performance considerably by providing a quicker disposal of water, and significantly lower water-table subject to much smaller fluctuations in level. Where drains have been laid in the natural subsoil, without this being disturbed by deep cultivations, the water-table level is frequently close to cultivation level and there appears to be little water movement in the subsoil. It is concluded that for effective drainage, soils of this type require deep cultivations to modify the subsoil and allow water movement at greater depth.     

高低畦种植模式下水氮耦合对冬小麦产量和水氮利用效率的影响

高低畦种植是在生产实践中摸索出的一套节水增产的冬小麦种植模式,尽管已被山东省列为农业主推技术,但由于建立时间尚短,其背后机理研究仍较薄弱,很大程度上制约了该模式的完善与推广应用。为探索高低畦冬小麦最佳的水氮管理制度,于2020—2022年开展田间试验,设置3个灌水定额(W1:120 mm、W2:90 mm、W3:60 mm)和3个施氮水平(N1:300 kg/hm²、N2:240 kg/hm²、N3:180 kg/hm²),以水氮充足的平作种植为对照(CK,灌水定额120 mm,施氮量300 kg/hm²),测定了不同生育期土壤含水率、成熟期地上部生物量和产量,并计算了麦田耗水量、水分利用效率、氮肥偏生产力和净利润等指标。结果表明：1)与平作种植相比,高低畦种植的麦田耗水量无明显差异,但冬小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥偏生产力和净利润分别提高14.8%～17.6%、15.9%～16.9%、14.8%～17.6%和58.9%～112.6%,说明高低畦种植模式具有增产与节水有机统一的良好潜力。2)灌水水平...     

The role of commission VI during the last 50 years

The work of Commission VI is primarily concerned with the principles of soil management on the farm itself. In the earlier years, interest was principally focussed on developing systems of farming that were better adapted to conserve soil and water than the existing systems, and on developing improved systems of field drainage. More recently, attention has shifted to developing improved systems of cultivation and of irrigation of land liable to salinity and alkalinity problems; and this has been accompanied by much greater attention being given to problems of root growth and functioning in the soil.Soil and water conservation was initially concerned with the reduction of s soil erosion, whether by water or by wind, and as a consequence improved methods for the control of water have been developed either by increasing the permeability of the surface soil or by allowing the safe shedding of surplus water off the soil surface. One of the central problems of soil cultivation research has been the development of methods that allow the optimum use to be made of the wide range of herbicides that are being introduced into farming practice. This work is closely linked to two other important problems, namely the reduction of soil compaction due to the passage of implements and tractors over the land, and the reduction of the number and cost of cultivations needed to prepare an adequate seedbed, to control weeds, and to maintain soil permeability.     

水库防渗措施及坝后排水沟距离对周边农田地下水埋深的影响

干旱区平原水库渗漏对下游农田土壤的水盐动态变化影响较大,易造成土壤的次生盐渍化和沼泽化。水库常采用"上防下排"措施来降低坝后农田地下水埋深,但排水沟参数如何选择,与坝基防渗体如何联合使用,治理效果如何等都值得深入研究。该文基于非饱和土体渗流理论,以恰拉水库周边农田为研究对象,针对"上防下排"措施进行数值模拟,分析恰拉水库采用水平铺盖、悬挂式防渗墙或无防渗措施时,坝后农田地下水埋深与坝后排水沟位置及深度的关系,并针对下游坝坡稳定及坝后积水进行分析,并通过田间试验进行验证。研究表明:在不同的渗流控制方案下,农田地下水埋深均以排水沟中轴线为对称轴呈现"漏斗形"降落趋势,排水沟前地下水埋深逐渐增大,排水沟后的地下水位有一小幅度的减小,因此,"上防下排措施"从"源头"处减小渗水进入坝后农田,增大农田地下水埋深。3种方案对比显示,不同"上防下排"渗流控制方案在遏制水库渗漏和减小坝后农田地下水的效果不同。悬挂式防渗墙和无防渗体工况不能有效减小水库的渗漏量,联合排水沟使用效果较差。22倍水头的水平铺盖在渗流控制方面优于悬挂式防渗墙和无防渗体时的工况,联合坝后排水沟及时排水后,可有效的将地下水埋深控制在2.72 m左右,大于当地的地下水临界水位2.45,有效遏制坝后土壤的盐渍化趋势。排水沟设置的位置和深度对大坝稳定存在一定影响,计算实际工况(22倍水平铺盖)时下游坝坡抗滑安全系数为1.358,大于下游坝坡最小抗滑安全系数1.242,下游坝坡处于安全状态。排水沟设置后,坝趾至沟间的积水长度是产生坝后沼泽化的主要原因。计算和实测实际情况下的积水长度为0.27 m,沼泽化面积较小。此外,计算还发现避免农田沼泽化对应的排水沟最小深度为5.18 m,实际工程中排水沟深度为6 m,可见当前的防渗形式以及排水沟至坝趾的距离及深度是合理的。库水位变动、排水沟排水的及时性对坝后地下水埋深也有较大的影响,排水沟作为辅助措施应与农田排水沟(渠)、水库防渗体以及农田灌溉制度配合使用,才能更加有效的发挥作用。     

Effects of ploughless tillage and straw incorporation on evaporation

The effects of ploughness tillage (stubble cultivation with a disc tiller or a spring tine cultivator, or with both in combination, replacing mouldboard ploughing) on evaporation were investigated using undisturbed soil lysimeters (height = 350 mm, diameter = 300 mm) excavated after spring cultivation in May from field experiments in eastern Sweden. The evaporation process was measured on ploughed and unploughed soil lysimeters, both with or without precipitation and with or without a seedbed. The effects on evaporation of incorporating crop residues with or without precipitation into a ploughed seedbed were also measured. The results from a heavy clay and from a silty clay loam showed that both ploughless tillage and incorporated straw reduced cumulative evaporation. The water-conserving effect was greater in irrigated treatments. The positive effect on water conservation was also greater on the silty clay loam than on the heavy clay. The soil structural changes brought about by ploughless tillage in layers under the seedbed acted to reduce the rate of evaporation from soil.     

Traffic and tillage effects on soil conditions and crop growth on a swelling clay soil

Abstract. Trafficked and non-trafficked (12 m gantry) crop production systems, which had been maintained on an Evesham series 60% clay soil since 1986, were used again in 1993 during the cultivation and sowing of winter wheat. After a one year set-aside break, mouldboard ploughing, tine cultivation and rotary digging were compared. Measurements were made of tillage energy, soil tilth, cone penetration resistance, biological activity and crop performance, and on specific plots, soil density, seedbed tilth and water release characteristics. Despite the one year's set-aside break, the effect of the previously applied traffic treatments remained and resulted in a smaller specific plough resistance and tillage energy on the non-trafficked soil. Tine cultivator draught however was greater on the non-trafficked compared with the trafficked plots. The specific energy required for rotary digging on non-trafficked soil was similar to that required during the ploughing of similar plots. A measure of indefinite biotic activity indicated that this was apparently greater on the non-traffficked soil, while soil density was decreased by up to 18% in these conditions compared with the trafficked land. Average cone resistance over the depth range 0 to 0.5 m was 1.51 MPa on the trafficked, compared with 1.24 MPa on the non-trafficked soil. Cone resistance also tended to be greater after tine cultivation compared with that after ploughing. Water release curves were interpreted as showing more macropores within the topsoil of the non-trafficked compared with the trafficked plots. Tine cultivation on trafficked soil had more smaller pores than mouldboard plough cultivation. Winter wheat yield was increased by 25% (from 8 to 10 t/ha) on non-trafficked compared with trafficked soil.     

Factors affecting the cropping potential of reinstated soils

Abstract. Comparisons of crop production on recently reinstated soil in Northumberland have shown that the reduced yield potential of such soil may not be inevitable. Storage of soil in bunds did not greatly reduce subsequent crop yields, but failure to drain the land did. Provided an effective drainage scheme was installed, arable and grass crops could be grown successfully, responding very well to additions of nitrogen fertilizer and other normal good husbandry practices. To date it seems that neither deep cultivation nor the use of grass leys were as effective in the restoration process as had been expected.     

暗管与竖井排水工程改良新疆盐渍土的设计与效果评价

为探讨干旱区盐渍化农田水利改良措施的可行性,在新疆玛纳斯河流域安集海灌区进行了田间暗管与竖井排水工程试验,分别在距离暗管0.5 m（P1）、7.5 m（P2）,距离竖井0.5 m（S1）、30 m（S2）和60 m（S3）,以及未铺管区（CK）域设置7处观测区,评估农田排水措施在盐渍土改良期间的排水功能、土壤脱盐效果,同时监测棉花生长与地下水位动态。结果表明：5 a排水改良期间,0～80 cm深度土壤含盐量的总体降幅达到29.2 g/kg,棉花干物质量和籽棉产量年际增幅分别为22%和28%,浅层地下水位年际降幅1.16 m;改进的暗管与竖井协同排水相比单独应用暗管排水量与地下水位年际降幅分别增加了118%,进一步减少了盐分淋溶时期的深层渗漏量。研究结果可为干旱盐渍区的水土资源合理利用提供科学和理论依据。     

用溶质运移理论评价污水土地处理系统长期运行的处理效果

美国农业部自然资源保护局所推荐的田间水管理模型(DRAINMOD)在模拟分析污水土地处理系统水力负荷时,只从水力角度出发,根据土壤的入渗、蒸发和排水情况来计算污水灌溉量,对污水的处理效果未加考虑。该文利用溶质运移理论对DRAINMOD模型所模拟的水力过程进行排水出流浓度计算。以西安地区为例的模拟结果表明：随着排水间距减小,水力负荷逐渐增大,处理效果明显变差;该方法还可以用来确定污水土地处理系统达到不同水质标准所要求的污水预处理程度。     

Impeded drainage stimulates extracellular phenol oxidase activity in riparian peat cores

Peat drainage, a common land‐use practice in Europe, has been associated with habitat degradation and increased particulate and dissolved carbon release. In the UK, peatland drain blockage has been encouraged in recent years as a management practice to preserve peatland habitats and to reduce fluvial carbon loss and municipal water discoloration. Drain blockage has, however, been found to increase drain‐water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and coloration in the short term. In order to investigate the contribution of changes in extracellular phenol oxidase activity to the increase in water coloration following peatland drain blockage, cores collected from a riparian peatland in North Wales were incubated under impeded drainage conditions. Impeded drainage resulted in the stimulation of peat extracellular phenol oxidase activity and heightened soluble phenolic concentrations, suggesting that changes in extracellular phenol oxidase activity may be a key driver of increases in DOC and water coloration following peatland drain blockage. An increase in peat pH with impeded drainage was also observed that may have contributed to the heightened soluble phenolic concentrations – directly (through effects on solubility) and/or indirectly as a driver of the elevated extracellular phenol oxidase activity.     

基于RS和GIS技术的露天矿区土地利用变化分析

以安太堡大型露天煤矿为研究对象,以研究区4期Landsat TM卫星影像为数据源,将露天矿区土地利用类型按照剥离区、采挖区、复垦区和原地貌进行分类,采用监督分类与人机交互解译相结合的方法,获得研究区4个时期土地利用类型图,将不同时期土地利用类型图叠加,分析了露天矿区土地利用变化过程。结果表明,研究区原地貌15a间平均每年减少1km2左右,并由于近年来煤炭产量的逐步增加原地貌面积有加速减少的趋势,采挖区的面积基本保持在7km2左右,剥离区与复垦区面积有不断增长的趋势,但复垦区增长速度较剥离区增长速度快,预计在2015年复垦面积与剥离面积基本保持平衡;按照目前的采煤速度,研究区一期工程的原地貌到2008年将全部消失。运用RS和GIS技术对大型露天矿区土地利用变化分析,可快速准确地掌握露天矿区土地利用的时空结构、不同时期不同土地类型的转移情况及其发展趋势,为大型露天矿区土地复垦与生态重建规划提供决策支持。     

基于CT分析露天煤矿复垦年限对土壤有效孔隙数量和孔隙度的影响

露天煤矿排土场由于排土过程中大型机械压实等作用会对土壤的孔隙结构产生影响,重构适合于植被生长的土壤孔隙结构是排土场土地复垦的重要工作。为对排土场重构土壤孔隙结构进行定量分析,该文采用高精度无损计算机断层扫描技术(CT)对山西平朔矿区安太堡露天煤矿排土场平台全黄土母质覆盖的不同复垦年限(0、20、23 a)以及原地貌的土壤进行分层扫描成像,并利用Photoshop和Arcgis软件对扫描图像进行处理和统计分析,探讨了排土和复垦对土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度的影响,分析了排土场重构土壤大、中和小孔隙的变化。结果表明:原地貌土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度最大,其次是复垦23和20 a的土壤,排土后未复垦土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度最小。采矿和排土等活动由于大型机械压实作用降低了土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度,尤其是大孔隙数量和大孔隙度;土地复垦对增加土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度有一定的作用,但是过程比较缓慢。采矿和排土等活动对表层土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度的影响要高于底层土壤。该研究可为黄土区大型露天煤矿排土场重构土壤结构的优化与土地复垦措施选择提供依据。     

浅密式暗管排盐技术改良苏打盐碱地效应研究

为探索暗管排盐技术在苏打盐碱地治理中的适用性,选择大庆地区的苏打盐碱地进行田间试验,研究排盐暗管不同间距（5 m,10 m,15 m）与埋深（0.8 m,1 m,1.2 m）下的盐碱地土壤脱盐效果。结果表明:经3次灌溉淋洗,发现埋设暗管能显著降低耕作层土壤含盐量,暗管埋设间距、埋深越小,平均排水效率越高,排水矿化度越大,土壤脱盐效率越高,改土效果越好。间距5 m、埋深0.8 m的处理经淋洗后平均排水效率为2.08%,较其他处理至少提高了13.66%;土壤含盐量为0.16%,较其他处理至少降低了23.81%。由此建议大庆地区苏打盐碱土降渍脱盐的地下暗管工程最佳布设参数为间距5 m、埋深0.8 m,既可以有效排除土壤中盐分,又可以确保耕作层土壤脱盐均匀。     

Treatment of Acid Sulfate Soil Drainage using Limestone in a Closed Tank Reactor

The principles of limestone drain systems that are commonly used to passively remediate acid rock drainage have been adapted and modified for remediation of acidic and metal-rich drainage that is produced from broad scale agricultural land use of regions underlain by Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS). The acidic drainage water from sugar cane fields in an ASS catchment was collected from an open drain, filtered to reduce the transport of large particulates, and passed vertically through a polyethylene tank, which was filled with limestone aggregates (<75 mm). This Closed Tank Reactor (CTR) uses the principles of oxic and anoxic limestone drain systems that are designed to increase the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and thereby the alkalinity produced from the dissolution of limestone by metal-laden influent. During a non-continuous 70 day monitoring period, the discharge from the CTR had higher pH, lower acidity and lower metal concentrations compared to the inflow. Under average flow conditions (9 lpm), similar proportions of incoming dissolved aluminium and iron (61% and 56% respectively) were retained within the CTR. Two perforated pipes in the base of the CTR were used to flush precipitates from the system under rapid flow conditions (>50 lpm). The flushing was effective in removing approximately 10% of accumulated iron but only about 0.3% of accumulated aluminium from the CTR. Accumulation of aluminium inside the CTR is likely to present operational problems in attempts to apply such technology to many coastal acid sulfate soil drains.     

华北平原大气降水对土壤淋洗脱盐的影响

华北平原属季节性干旱半湿润太平洋季风气候区,降水量500-600 mm,年际和年内降水分布不均,旱涝盐碱灾害并存,成为农业生产可持续发展的主要制约因素。降水量74%集中在雨季,对土壤发生淋洗脱盐作用。一般在雨季7-8月份降水量超过300 mm,土体表现为脱盐。次降水量超过25 mm,根层土壤发生淋洗脱盐。海河平原自1964年逐年开挖骨干排水河道,使海河五大河流水系都有了自己的入海尾闾, 在排洪排涝的同时也排走了大量的盐分。20世纪60年代末,开始大规模开发利用地下水,井灌的同时降低了地下水位,起到井排作用,减少了潜水蒸发,增大了降雨入渗,加强了降雨淋洗脱盐作用,并引河水回灌补源,淡化了地下水。华北平原控制了灌区土壤次生盐碱化,而且大面积盐碱地得到改良。     

Effect of seedbed cultivation and soil macrostructure on the establishment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Soil physical properties affect the establishment of crops; these properties are influenced by cultivation incurred during seedbed preparation and vary greatly depending upon the intensity of applications. However, there is little quantified data concerning the influence of cultivation upon the precise soil structural arrangement and the effects of this on crop establishment. The dynamics of soil macrostructure properties on a range of seedbeds and how they relate to crop establishment are considered in this paper. Significant interactions between cultivation techniques, soil physical properties, the soil macropore structure of the seedbed and the interaction with crop establishment were identified. The relationship between soil structure and crop establishment was highly significant, with increased pore space reducing final establishment numbers. An improvement to a previously developed model (soil quality of establishment (SQE)) was developed following the addition of soil macrostructure properties, accounting for improved predictability of between ca. 6% and 19% of the variation accounted across soil types, environmental conditions.     

Nitrogen losses from the field: denitrification and leaching in intensive winter cereal production in relation to tillage method of a clay soil

Abstract. Losses of soil and fertilizer nitrogen by leaching and denitritication from a clay soil in southern England have been measured over four years. Nitrate losses in drainage water from direct-drilled land averaged 20–30 kg N ha 'a' with wide seasonal variation. Ploughing and conventional cultivations increased this loss. Denitritication from direct-drilled land averaged 5–10 kg N ha 'a' with wide seasonal variation. Ploughing and drainage both diminished denitritication losses but cultivation had the greater effect. These nitrogen losses occurred mainly in autumn and spring.
Nitrogen losses, in drainage water or by denitritication after spring fertilizer applications, were related to the rainfall in the 28 days following top dressing. Approximately 40 mm rain was needed to cause a loss of 10% of the nitrogen applied but in practice losses were quite variable.     

Using selected soil physical properties of seedbeds to predict crop establishment

Seedbed preparation can involve a wide range of tillage methods from intensive to reduced cultivation systems. The state or quality of the soil to which these tillage methods are applied for cereal crop management is not easily determined and excessive cultivations are often used. Seedbed preparation is crucial for crop establishment, growth and ultimately yield. A key aspect of the soil condition is the soil physical environment under which germination, growth and establishment occur. Crucially this affects factors such as temperature, water content, oxygen availability, soil strength and ultimately the performance of a seedbed. The dynamics of soil physical properties of a range of seedbeds and how they relate to crop establishment are considered in this paper. Significant interactions between cultivation techniques, physical properties of the seedbed in terms of penetration resistance, shear strength, volumetric water content and bulk density and the interaction with crop establishment were identified. A soil quality of establishment (SQE) model was developed for the prediction of crop establishment based upon soil bulk density and cultivation practices. The SQE significantly accounted for ca. 50% of the variation occurring and successfully predicted crop establishment to a standard error of around 20 plants per m⁻² across contrasting soil types and environmental conditions.     

Effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence. 4. Inhibitory effects of oxygen deficiency

Abstract

For studies of the effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence, experiments were carried out in shallow plastic boxes. In some experiments, it was examined whether rainfall after sowing could cause oxygen deficiency in the seedbed sufficiently severe to hamper emergence. Crops studied were barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera, L., Metzg.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.). For harmful oxygen deficiency to develop it appeared that rainfall would need to cause structural collapse of the surface layer followed by continuously wet weather accompanied by slow drainage and high oxygen consumption in the soil; in the experiments the latter was achieved by large amounts of easily decomposable organic matter. It was concluded that such conditions are rare in the field. Therefore, unless rainfall after sowing generates surface water for an extended period, the poor crop emergence often observed after such rainfall is nearly always caused not by oxygen deficiency, but by surface layer hardening when this layer dries.