Evaluation of temporal, spatial, and tillage-induced variability for parameterization of soil infiltration

Model simulation of water and chemical transport requires information on soil hydraulic properties. Recently, independent parameterization methods have been developed to characterize soil type, tillage, temporal and spatial effects of soils. This study determines the relative magnitude of tillage-induced, temporal (yearly and seasonal), and spatial (within fields and between rows) variability in a combined analysis of soil infiltration in an agricultural field and evaluates the appropriateness of various parameterization scenarios. Infiltration measurements were obtained in the row and interrow position under plow-tilled and ridge-tilled corn (Zea mays L.) in four replicates on multiple dates in a wetter (1990) and dryer year (1991). Measurements exhibited significant temporal variability within a growing season, especially in a dry year under plow till when soil cracking resulted in higher infiltration. Position with respect to the row was the most significant source of variability under ridge till, but not under plow till. Row and interrow differences in a ridge-tilled soil are the result of dense soil and lack of disturbance in the interrow. Yearly variations and field variability were relatively low. Differences between tillage practices were primarily expressed in variable susceptibility to spatial and temporal variation. Adequate parameterization of soil infiltration on agricultural fields requires recognition of various sources of variability under different tillage management systems, weather and climatic conditions, and soil types. High intrinsic variability of soil infiltration must be accounted for through increased sampling (e.g. duplicate measurements) and the use of stochastic methods.     

Spatial and temporal variability of soil physical properties of norfolk loamy sand as affected by tillage

Physical properties of field soil vary both spatially and temporally. Because so little information is available concerning the changes in magnitude of soil physical properties as functions of soil depth, distance normal to a crop row, and time, they have largely been ignored in model development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the spatial and temporal variability imposed by several tillage operations on several soil physical properties. Three tillage treatments, replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design, were (1) conventionally-disked 3 times before planting, (2) full width strip chisel plowed to a 27-cm depth, and (3) in-row-subsoiled plus bedding. Soil physical properties measured were cone index (CI), weight percentage water (Pw), bulk density (Db), soil water characteristic curve, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and soil settling. These properties were measured 3 times: immediately after planting soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on 16 May; on 3 June; on 8 July 1977. Soil properties were measured at the 0–14, 14–28, and 28–41-cm soil depths at 3 positions relative to the row i.e., in the row, in the trafficked interrow, and in the non-trafficked interrow. Significant differences due to tillage treatment were found for Db, CI, and the soil water characteristic. The greatest spatial variation occurred in the 0–14-cm depth and decreased with depth. Significant differences for most variables were also found for the tillage by depth and tillage by position interactions. All properties exhibited significant temporal variation.     

耕作方式对土壤水动态变化及夏玉米产量的影响

一个连续２年的田间耕作试验在夏玉米生长期内完成,分析对比３种不同耕作方式对土壤水动态变化过程及对作物产量的影响。耕作扰动对土壤水动态变化的影响是明显的,夏玉米生长初期免耕下的表层土壤持有较高的水分,这归因于土壤非耕扰动、冬小麦残茬覆盖以及耕层土壤孔隙尺度分布的变化;另一方面,深松土壤受到耕作活动的强烈干扰,苗期耕层土壤蓄水明显小于传统耕作。耕作方式对土壤水差异的影响伴随着作物的生长发育过程显著减弱。深松耕作对作物根系生长发育状况及作物增产效果的作用是十分显见的。     

耕作对土壤生物碳动态变化的影响

本文讨论了耕作方法对作玉米地土壤生物碳动态变化的影响。实验证明，传统耕法、短期免耕和长期免耕处理中的不同点位，土壤生物碳量分布有系统的差异。     

A comparison between seasonal changes in soil water storage and penetration resistance under conventional and conservation tillage systems in Aragón

Low and extremely variable precipitations limit dryland crop production in the semi-arid areas of Aragón (NE Spain). These areas are also affected by high annual rates of topsoil losses by both wind and water erosion. A long-term experiment to determine the feasibility of conservation tillage in the main winter barley production areas of Aragón was initiated in 1989 at four locations, three on loam to silt loam soils (Xerollic Calciorthid) and one on a silty clay loam (Fluventic Ustochrept), receiving between 300 and 600 mm of average annual rainfall. In this study, we compared, under both continuous cropping and cereal-fallow rotation, the effects of conventional tillage (mouldboard plough) and two conservation tillage systems, reduced tillage (chisel plough) and no-tillage, on soil water content and penetration resistance during the first two growing seasons. Whereas reduced and conventionally tilled treatments generally had similar soil water content during the experimental period, the effects of no-tillage were inconsistent. No-tilled plots had from 26% less to 17% more stored soil water (0–80 cm) than conventional tilled plots at the beginning of the growing season. In contrast to the conventional and reduced tillage treatments, penetration resistances were between 2 and 4 MPa after sowing in most of the plough layer (0–40 cm) under no-tillage at all sites. Fallow efficiencies in moisture storage in the cereal-fallow rotation, when compared with the continuous cropping system, ranged from −8.7 to 12%. The highest efficiencies were recorded when the rainfall in the months close to primary tillage exceeded 100 mm. Since this event is very unlikely, long fallowing (9–10 months) appears to be an inefficient practice for water conservation under both conventional and conservation management. Our results suggest that, up to now, only reduced tillage could replace conventional tillage without adverse effects on soil water content and penetration resistance in the dryland cereal-growing areas of Aragón.     

黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳含量对侵蚀坡面表层土壤含水量时空变化的影响

表层土壤含水量能敏感反映降雨、气温、侵蚀等环境要素的变化,明确表层土壤含水量时空变化特征可为农业生产及土壤环境效应评价等提供参考。以黄土丘陵区不同有机碳水平的侵蚀坡面为对象,连续监测了2016年11月至2018年3月0-5 cm土壤含水量的动态变化,结合降水资料,分析了不同土壤有机碳水平下侵蚀坡面沉积区、侵蚀区及对照区表层土壤含水量的变化特征。结果表明:(1)表层土壤含水量不同季节变化差异显著,夏季变幅最大,单日最大变幅可达14.3%,春、秋、冬季的单日最大变幅<8.0%。换言之,夏季是土壤水分变化的敏感期。(2)土壤有机碳水平、坡面部位、土壤温度对表层水分变异的影响程度因季节而异。(3)土壤侵蚀加剧了坡面表层土壤含水量变异,变异程度表现为沉积区>侵蚀区>对照(未侵蚀)区;侵蚀前后侵蚀区表层土壤含水量变化量与沉积区变化量的差值随有机碳水平升高从0.85%增加至9.81%。(4)侵蚀坡面表层土壤含水量的时空异质性随有机碳水平升高呈非线性变化趋势。     

Linking process capability analysis and least limiting water range for assessing soil physical quality

In the process of evaluating the physical quality of soil for crop production, measurable sources of stress that the soil imposes on growing crops must be identified. Approaches for monitoring or evaluating soil physical quality should then be based on properties or processes that relate to these stresses and must be measured against definable standards. We hypothesized that process capability analysis applied to measurements of soil water content and the least limiting water range (LLWR) would meet these requirements and could be used to evaluate the physical quality of soils for crop growth. Previously published data obtained over 3 years in a field with a variable landscape planted to corn under no-till were used to test the hypothesis. The temporal variability of soil water content was regarded as a process which aims to generate individual values for soil water content inside the limits specified by the LLWR. Process capability analysis successfully linked the temporal variability of soil water content in relation to the LLWR. The main process capability parameter, i.e. distance to nearest specification (DNS) varied by a factor of three across the landscape and was related to clay and organic carbon contents. Values of DNS were strongly correlated with shoot growth (R² = 0.97) suggesting that DNS effectively characterized the spatial variability in stresses imposed on plant growth by soil and described changes in the soil physical quality for crop growth across the site. The results supported our hypothesis.     

民勤绿洲区天然胡杨林生长季土壤水分动态

利用地统计学方法对民勤绿洲区天然胡杨林下土壤水分的空间结构特征及生长季期间的变化规律进行了研究。结果表明,研究区天然胡杨林下土壤水分含量范围为0.85%～4.80%。民勤县双茨科乡和苏武乡天然胡杨林下土壤含水量随土层深度的增加呈增大趋势,而夹河乡样区土壤水分含量随土层深度的增加呈现出先增大后减小的趋势。8月份各采样点表层土壤含水量均为最小值。土壤水分含量在胡杨的生长季期间总体表现为:春季>秋季>夏季。采样点土壤水分变异系数总体属于中强度变异性,表层土壤水分的变异系数略大。胸径大的胡杨树土壤含水量反而少,这主要与树龄及胡杨林根系发达程度有关。土壤水分异质性为中等程度的空间相关性,且苏武乡变异函数模型拟合效果最为理想。     

不同耕作模式对小麦—玉米轮作下潮土养分和作物产量的影响

通过分析裂区设计下的6个处理,即小麦季深耕和旋耕2个主处理×玉米季免耕播种、行间深松和行内深松3个副处理:(1)旋耕+免耕播种(RT—NT);(2)旋耕+行间深松(RT—SBR);(3)旋耕+行内深松(RT—SIR);(4)深耕+免耕播种(DT—NT);(5)深耕+行间深松(DT—SBR);(6)深耕+行内深松(DT—SIR),对土壤养分含量和作物产量影响,筛选适宜于小麦—玉米轮作体系的耕作模式。结果表明,各处理土壤养分含量在小麦、玉米两季中均随土层深度增加而降低。小麦季,旋耕处理0—10cm土层土壤全氮、碱解氮、有效磷含量、硝态氮含量显著高于深耕处理;但深耕增加当季30—40cm土层土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷、硝态氮、铵态氮含量。玉米季,DT—NT处理0—30cm土层有机质含量较RT—NT处理增加40.1%～64.3%。RT—SBR、RT—SIR处理显著提升土壤0—30cm全氮含量,其中RT—SBR处理0—10cm土层全氮含量最高,为1.4g/kg。RT—SIR处理显著增加0—20cm土壤碱解氮含量,较RT—NT显著增加15.0%～25.3%。在0—40cm土层,DT—SBR处理的有效磷含量最高,而RT—SBR处理的速效钾含量最高。DT—SIR处理显著提升20—50cm土层硝态氮和铵态氮含量,其中硝态氮含量为8.5～30.4mg/kg,铵态氮含量为2.6～8.9mg/kg。与小麦季相比,玉米季提升10—20cm土层有机质含量、0—50cm土层的碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量以及40—50cm土层的硝态氮、铵态氮含量。DT—SBR和DT—SIR处理穗长、百粒重、收获指数和产量显著高于其他处理,且二者产量较RT—NT处理显著增加6.4%～10.8%。玉米季DT—SIR处理的肥料偏利用率和经济效益最高。综上所述,深耕+行内深松处理有利于增加土壤养分含量,且增产效果较好,在本研究中最优。     

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.     

Scaling analysis of soil water storage with missing measurements using the second‐generation continuous wavelet transform

Information on the spatial variability of soil water storage (SWS) at different scales is important for understanding various hydrological, ecological and biogeochemical processes in the landscape. However, various obstructions such as roads or water bodies may result in missing measurements and create an irregular spatial series. The wavelet transform can quantify spatial variability at different scales and locations but is restricted to regular measurements. The objective of this study was to analyse the spatial variability of SWS with missing measurements using the second‐generation continuous wavelet transform (SGCWT). Soil water content (converted to SWS by multiplying with depth) was measured with a neutron probe and time‐domain reflectrometry along a transect of 128 points. Because there were missing measurements, I used SGCWT to partition the total variation into different scales and locations. Whilst there were some small‐scale variations (< 20 m) along the transect, the medium scale variations (20–70 m with an average of about 30–45 m) were mainly concentrated within the depressions along the transect. The strongest variations were observed at around 90–110 m scale, representing the variations resulting from alternating knolls and depressions. Similar spatial patterns at different scales were observed during different seasons, indicating temporal stability in the spatial pattern of SWS. Among the controlling factors, the wavelet spectra of relative elevation (RE) and organic carbon (OC) were very similar to that of SWS. The wavelet covariance was also large between SWS and RE and OC at all seasons. As the OC reflects the long‐term history of water availability and might be controlled by topographic setting or elevation, it can be concluded that elevation is an important controlling factor of SWS irrespective of seasons in this type of landscape. The SGCWT provides a new way of analysing the spatial variability of regularly measured soil properties or those with missing measurements.     

Scale- and location-dependent correlations of soil strength and the yield of wheat

The relationship between soil strength and crop yield may be summarized by a linear correlation coefficient (usually negative). It is likely, however, that this over-simplifies a complex situation in which the relationship between these variables depends on spatial scale and location. We used the wavelet transform to assess this scale- and location-dependence. We established a transect on an arable field in Eastern England, and studied the correlations of soil strength (top- and subsoil) with crop yield. The transect comprised 267 contiguous 0.72 m × 0.72 m plots. Measurements were taken during two consecutive growing seasons of winter wheat (harvest dates of August 2004 and 2005). Soil strength was measured with a penetrometer in the spring of each growing season. As expected, the overall correlation of soil strength with yield was negative but weak. Wavelet analysis revealed that, at fine spatial scales, topsoil and subsoil strength were correlated more or less equally with yield; however, at coarse spatial scales, topsoil strength had a stronger correlation with yield than did subsoil strength. The correlation of topsoil strength with yield at fine spatial scales (corresponding to about 1 m on the ground) was negative. A likely source of this fine-scale variation was the soil compaction associated with tractor wheelings. The correlation of topsoil strength with yield at the coarsest spatial scale (corresponding to about 50 m on the ground) was positive. This correlation was temporally stable, and might have reflected how soil strength can act as a proxy for other soil attributes. In the 2005 growing season, we found evidence that, at intermediate spatial scales, the correlation of soil strength with yield changed depending on the position on the transect. This was probably due to an interaction between the compaction associated with tractor wheelings and the local soil conditions. There was no evidence of such location-dependence in the correlation of soil strength with yield in the 2004 growing season. In summary, the effect of soil strength on crop yield was not expressed in a constant negative correlation across all spatial scales and locations: the negative correlation occurred mainly at fine spatial scales, and the correlation changed according to the position in the landscape and the prevailing local soil conditions.     

Root development of winter wheat in erosion‐affected soils depending on the position in a hummocky ground moraine soil landscape

Agricultural soil landscapes of hummocky ground moraines are characterized by 3D spatial patterns of soil types that result from profile modifications due to the combined effect of water and tillage erosion. We hypothesize that crops reflect such soil landscape patterns by increased or reduced plant and root growth. Root development may depend on the thickness and vertical sequence of soil horizons as well as on the structural development state of these horizons at different landscape positions. The hypotheses were tested using field data of the root density (RD) and the root lengths (RL) of winter wheat using the minirhizotron technique. We compared data from plots at the CarboZALF‐D site (NE Germany) that are representing a non‐eroded reference soil profile (Albic Luvisol) at a plateau position, a strongly eroded profile at steep slope (Calcaric Regosol), and a depositional profile at the footslope (Anocolluvic Regosol). At each of these plots, three Plexiglas access tubes were installed down to approx. 1.5 m soil depth. Root measurements were carried out during the growing season of winter wheat (September 2014–August 2015) on six dates. The root length density (RLD) and the root biomass density were derived from RD values assuming a mean specific root length of 100 m g^?1. Values of RD and RLD were highest for the Anocolluvic Regosol and lowest for the Calcaric Regosol. The maximum root penetration depth was lower in the Anocolluvic Regosol because of a relatively high and fluctuating water table at this landscape position. Results revealed positive relations between below‐ground (root) and above‐ground crop parameters (i.e., leaf area index, plant height, biomass, and yield) for the three soil types. Observed root densities and root lengths in soils at the three landscape positions corroborated the hypothesis that the root system was reflecting erosion‐induced soil profile modifications. Soil landscape position dependent root growth should be considered when attempting to quantify landscape scale water and element balances as well as agricultural productivity.     

Tillage effects on soil aggregation,organic carbon fractions and grain yield in Eum‐Orthic Anthrosol of a winter wheat–maize double‐cropping system,Northwest China

Conservation tillage has been applied in vast semi‐arid regions of the Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China. The tillage effects on soil aggregation, organic carbon (OC) stabilization and grain yield on this plain have not been fully elucidated. A 9‐year field experiment was established from 2002 on a silty clay loam soil (Eum‐Orthic Anthrosol) growing winter wheat–maize in a double‐cropping system. Six conservation tillage treatments were applied by different combinations of rotary tillage (RT), subsoiling (SS) and no‐till (NT), with or without finely chopped straw retention. Conventional tillage (CT) acted as the control. Results showed that in the surface (0–10 cm) soil, the proportion of water‐stable aggregates (WSA) <0.05 mm was 18% less while that for WSA >2 mm was 98% more under NT treatments compared with CT. Additionally, the oxidizable OC content in WSA 0.25–2 mm was 27% greater under NT treatments compared with CT. The OC stocks increased under SS by 17%, RT by 16% and NT by 15% relative to CT. Grain yield (wheat + maize) showed similar increasing trends in all the tillage treatments compared with CT. Both OC stocks and grain yield were larger in treatments with than without straw retentions. These results indicate that NT is beneficial for OC accumulation in WSA but is limited in its ability to improve soil structure in this region. SS plus straw retention (fine‐chopped or as a mulch) is an effective practice to improve soil structural stability, OC accumulation and soil productivity of Eum‐Orthic Anthrosols in Northwest China.     

敦煌绿洲天然胡杨林下土壤水盐空间变化特征研究

利用经典统计学与地统计学相结合的方法对甘肃敦煌绿洲天然胡杨林下土壤水盐的空间变化特征进行研究。结果表明:敦煌绿洲天然胡杨林土壤含水量变化趋势总体表现为随深度增加而增加的趋势;0~60 cm土壤含水量变化程度较大,再向下各层土壤含水量变化趋于平缓。土壤全盐含量变化具有表浅层较高,平均含盐量达9.24%;从40~60 cm以下各层土壤全盐含量的变化均随深度增加而逐渐减少。土壤水盐含量的变异性在不同土壤层有较明显的差异,土壤含水量的变异性均属于中强度变异,土层越深,其含水量变化程度越小;而土壤全盐含量的变异均属于中度变异性,其变异程度由表层向下各不相同。采用ArcGIS的反距离加权(Inverse Distance Weighted)插值法分析表明,研究区土壤水盐含量存在明显的空间差异和较强的相似性,即各层土壤水盐均表现为西南低、东北高的空间分布规律。     

不同耕作方式下秸秆还田对晋中玉米田水分时空分布及产量的影响

为探讨保护性耕作和秸秆还田有机结合对春玉米休闲期蓄水保墒效果、生育期土壤水分时空变化、贮水量季节变化、产量及水分利用效率的影响,设置不同耕作方式(免耕、深松、翻耕)结合秸秆还田(100%秸秆还田、秸秆不还田)6个处理组合,2016-2018年在山西晋中连续2年进行定位试验研究。结果表明:(1)春玉米冬闲期不同耕作处理下土壤贮水量差异显著,且随着时间推移贮水量都有降低趋势,免耕和深松处理分别较翻耕土壤贮水量平均增加10.4,9.3 mm。在玉米的整个生育时期,免耕和深松处理土壤贮水量分别比翻耕提高4.8%,1.2%。(2)平均2年土壤含水量大小顺序为免耕>深松>翻耕,各处理平均土壤含水量分别为23.0%,21.8%,21.5%。丰水年不同耕作方式土壤含水量垂直变化在各生育时期差异较大,干旱年其变化的差异较小。(3)免耕与100%秸秆还田组合下玉米产量和水分利用效率最高,2年平均产量和WUE(水分利用效率)分别为12 679.9 kg/hm²和25.8 kg/(hm²·mm),翻耕与100%秸秆还田处理组合最低。无论是否秸秆还田,免耕和深松处理在春玉米冬闲期土壤蓄水保墒效果、生育期土壤水分状况、产量与水分利用效率均优于翻耕处理;在秸秆还田下免耕和深松耕作方式对玉米田水分的集蓄保用有良好的效果,以免耕秸秆还田效果最佳,可在晋中地区春玉米生产中推广应用。     

Effects of tractor traffic on spatial variability of soil strength and water content in grass covered and cultivated sloping vineyard

Frequent machinery traffic on sloping vineyard influences spatial distribution of soil physical properties. Our objective was to assess the effects of crawler tractor traffic across the slope (20%) on spatial distribution of soil strength and water content of silt loam soil under controlled grass cover and conventionally cultivated vineyard. The experiment was situated on hillside vineyard (NW, Italy) arranged with rows crosswise the slope. The grass covered treatment included periodical mowing and chopping of herbs and the cultivated treatment—autumn ploughing (18 cm) and spring and summer rotary-hoeing in the vineyard inter-rows (2.7 m). A crawler tractor (2.82 Mg) was used at the same locations across the slope for all tillage and chemical operations. The measurements of soil bulk density, penetration resistance and volumetric water content were done in autumn (after vintage) within the sloping inter-row. The results were analyzed using classic statistics and geostatistics with and without trend. The highest variability was obtained for penetration resistance (CV 56.6%) and the lowest for bulk density (9.6%). In most cases, the semivariograms of the soil parameters were well described by spherical models. The semivariance parameters of all properties measured were influenced by trend. Three-dimensional (3D) maps well identified areas with the highest soil strength in lower crawler ruts being positioned in the upper side of vine row and successively lower strength in upper ruts situated on other side of the same row and inter-rut area. Higher strength in lower than upper ruts was induced by tractor's tilt and resulting higher ground contact pressure. Soil water content in both treatments was the lowest below the upper rut and increased in inter-rut and lower rut areas. The differences in the soil properties between the places within the inter-row were more pronounced in grass covered than in cultivated soil.     

Modeling spatial variation in productivity due to tillage and water erosion

The advent of precision farming practices has heightened interest in managing field variability to optimize profitability. The large variation in yields across many producer fields demonstrated by yield–monitor–equipped combines has generated concern about management-induced causes of spatial variation in soil productivity. Soil translocation from erosion processes may result in variation in soil properties across field landscape positions that produce long-term changes in soil productivity. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between soil redistribution caused by tillage and water erosion and the resulting spatial variability of soil productivity in a soil catena in eastern South Dakota. An empirical model developed to estimate tillage erosion was used to evaluate changes expected in the soil profile over a 50-year period on a typical toposequence found in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. Changes in the soil profile due to water erosion over a 50-year period were evaluated using the WEPP hillslope model. The tillage erosion model and the WEPP hillslope model were run concurrently for a 50-year period to evaluate the combined effect of the two processes. The resulting changes in soil properties of the root zone were evaluated for changes in productivity using a productivity index model. Tillage erosion resulted in soil loss in the shoulder position, while soil loss from water erosion occurred primarily in the mid to lower backslope position. The decline in soil productivity was greater when both processes were combined compared to either process acting alone. Water erosion contributed to nearly all the decline in soil productivity in the backslope position when both tillage and water erosion processes were combined. The net effect of soil translocation from the combined effects of tillage and water erosion is an increase in spatial variability of crop yields and a likely decline in overall soil productivity.     

Spatial Distribution of Surface Soil Acidity,Electrical Conductivity,Soil Organic Carbon Content and Exchangeable Potassium,Calcium and Magnesium in Some Cropped Acid Soils of India

Land degradation is a global problem. Best management of degraded land can be done by evaluating the spatial variability of soil properties including chemical properties of degraded land and mapping such variations. Since, a significant portion of arable land in India is chemically degraded due to soil acidity; the present study was conducted to study the spatial variability of soil acidity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (OC) content, exchangeable potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) contents in some cropped acid soils of India. A total of four hundred (one hundred from each series) representative surface (0–0.15 m depth) soil samples were collected from arable soils representing four soil series namely Hariharapur, Debatoli, Rajpora and Neeleswaram situated in Orissa, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala states of India, respectively, and were analyzed. Soil acidity (pH between 3.90 and 6.45) showed a low variability, in contrast to other soil properties, which showed moderate variability. The coefficients of variation varied from 32.4 to 74.3, 31.2 to 50.9, 45.6 to 100, 71.9 to 93.0 and 59.0 to 79.8% for EC (mean between 0.05 and 0.09 dS m⁻¹), OC (mean between 0.29 to 1.86%), exchangeable K⁺ (mean between 39.1 and 77.7 mg kg⁻¹), Ca²⁺ (mean between 148 and 293 mg kg⁻¹) and Mg²⁺ (mean between 111 and 191 mg kg⁻¹), respectively. Soil pH and OC content were positively and significantly correlated with exchangeable K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ content. Geostatistical analysis revealed that the best fit models were gaussian, exponential and spherical for different soil properties with moderate to strong spatial dependency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of soil profiles in a landscape affected by long-term tillage

Soil movement by tillage redistributes soil within the profile and throughout the landscape, resulting in soil removal from convex slope positions and soil accumulation in concave slope positions. Previous investigations of the spatial variability in surface soil properties and crop yield in a glacial till landscape in west central Minnesota indicated that wheat (Triticum aestivum) yields were decreased in upper hillslope positions affected by high soil erosion loss. In the present study, soil cores were collected and characterized to indicate the effects of long-term intensive tillage on soil properties as a function of depth and tillage erosion. This study provides quantitative measures of the chemical and physical properties of soil profiles in a landscape subject to prolonged tillage erosion, and compares the properties of soil profiles in areas of differing rates of tillage erosion and an uncultivated hillslope. These comparisons emphasize the influence of soil translocation within the landscape by tillage on soil profile characteristics. Soil profiles in areas subject to soil loss by tillage erosion >20 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ were characterized by truncated profiles, a shallow depth to the C horizon (mean upper boundary 75 cm from the soil surface), a calcic subsoil and a tilled layer containing 19 g kg⁻¹ of inorganic carbon. In contrast, profiles in areas of soil accumulation by tillage >10 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ exhibited thick sola with low inorganic carbon content (mean 3 g kg⁻¹) and a large depth to the C horizon (usually >1.5 m below the soil surface). When compared to areas of soil accumulation, organic carbon, total nitrogen and Olsen-extractable phosphorus contents measured lower, whereas inorganic carbon content, pH and soil strength measured higher throughout the profile in eroded landscape positions because of the reduced soil organic matter content and the influence of calcic subsoil material. The mean surface soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents in cultivated areas (regardless of erosion status) were less than half that measured in an uncultivated area, indicating that intensive tillage and cropping has significantly depleted the surface soil organic matter in this landscape. Prolonged intensive tillage and cropping at this site has effectively removed at least 20 cm of soil from the upper hillslope positions.