Organic Farming Affects C and N in Soils Under Olive Groves in Mediterranean Areas

Under semiarid climatic conditions, intensive tillage increases soil organic matter losses, reduces soil quality, and contributes to climate change due to increased CO₂ emissions. There is a need for an agricultural management increasing soil organic matter. This paper presents the organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) stocks, C:N ratio and stratification ratios (SRs) of these properties for olive groves soils under long‐term organic farming (OF), and conventional tillage (CT) in Los Pedroches valley, southern Spain. The results show that OF increased C and N stocks. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was 73·6 Mg ha⁻¹ in OF and 54·4 Mg ha⁻¹ in CT; and the total nitrogen (TN) stock was 7·1 Mg ha⁻¹ and 5·8 Mg ha⁻¹ for OF and CT, respectively. In the surface horizon (A: 0–16·9 cm in OF and Ap: 0–21·8 cm in CT) and Bw horizon (16·9–49·6 cm in OF and 21·8–56 cm in CT), SOC and TN concentrations and C:N ratios were higher in OF than in CT. Soil properties stratification in depth, expressed as a ratio, indicates the soil quality under different soil management systems. The SR of SOC ranged from 2·2 to 3·1 in OF and from 2·1 to 2·2 in CT. However, only SR2 (defined by Ap‐A/C) showed significant differences between CT and OF. The SR of TN showed similar trends to that of the SR of SOC. Organic farming contributes to a better soil quality and to increased carbon sequestration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of Land Management on Different Forms of Soil Carbon in Olive Groves in Mediterranean Areas

This study analyses soil organic carbon (SOC) and hot‐water extractable carbon, both measures of soil quality, under different land management—(i) conventional tillage (CT); (ii) CT plus the addition of oil mill waste alperujo (A); (iii) CT plus the addition of oil mill waste olive leaves (L); (iv) no tillage with chipped pruned branches (NT₁); and (v) no tillage with chipped pruned branches and weeds (NT₂)—in a typical Mediterranean agricultural area: the olive groves of Andalusia, southern Spain. SOC values in CT, A, NT₁ and NT₂ decreased with depth, but in NT₂, the surface horizon (0–5 cm) had higher values than the other treatments, 47% more than the average values in the other three soils. In L, SOC also decreased with depth, although there was an increase of 88·5% from the first (0–10 cm) to the second horizon (10–16 cm). Total SOC stock values were very similar under A (101·9 Mg ha⁻¹), CT (101·7 Mg ha⁻¹), NT₁ (105·8 Mg ha⁻¹) and NT₂ (111·3 Mg ha⁻¹, if we consider the same depth of the others). However, SOC under L was significantly higher (p < 0·05) at 250·2 Mg ha⁻¹. Hot‐water extractable carbon decreased with depth in A, CT and NT₁. NT₂ and L followed the same pattern as the other management types but with a higher value in the surface horizon (2·3 and 4·9 mg g⁻¹, respectively). Overall, our results indicate that application of oil mill waste olive leaves under CT (L) is a good management practice to improve SOC and reduce waste. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pruning Residues as an Alternative to Traditional Tillage to Reduce Erosion and Pollutant Dispersion in Olive Groves

During the seasons 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06, a study was made of the evolution of runoff as well as soil and available P and K losses in the sediment carried away in a conventional till system—that most used at the present time—and in a no till system with added pruning remains in an olive grove of the picual variety located in Torredonjimeno (Jaén, Spain). A group of microplots for sediment collection in a randomized complete block design was established. The samples were collected in the field after each storm. In the study period, a total of 21 storms were recorded, with a precipitation of 450 mm in 2003/04, 179 mm in 2004/05 and 388 mm in 2005/06. The erosivity of the rainfall was characterized and the cover percentage in the plots throughout the time was determined. The establishment of pruning remains reduced soil loss with respect to conventional tillage (CT) in the 3 years (72%). Likewise, the available P loss greatly declined in the study (46.4%) under conservation agriculture. The reduction in available K loss (72.4%) was much greater than that of available P. The close relationship between both variables and sediment production also stands out. Runoff was the parameter on which the pruning remains had the least influence with only an 11% average reduction.     

Rainfall and Vegetation Effects on Temporal Variation of Topographic Thresholds for Gully Initiation in Mediterranean Cropland and Olive Groves

Topographical threshold conditions (s ≥ k a ^−b), expressed by local slope (s) and drainage area (a), have been widely used to predict gully incision locations. However, little attention has gone to the variation of the thresholds over time. Rainfall variability and changing land use or vegetation cover can potentially lead to important shifts in established thresholds. In this study, we determine topographic thresholds for gullies forming under olive groves and herbaceous crops between 1956 and 2013 in a catchment in Southern Spain. For ten different time periods, we then analysed the impact of rainfall, land use and vegetation cover on the variation of these thresholds. The results show similar topographic thresholds for olive groves and herbaceous crops. However, important variations were found over time. Rainfall indexes, in particular rainy day normal, were generally best correlated. Finally, although overall no effect of land use was obtained, the results did show a significant effect of vegetation cover, but mainly in those years where rainfall was low. This seems to indicate that during years with high rainfall, topographic thresholds are primarily controlled by rainfall, while vegetation cover seems to exert a secondary control. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Surface Runoff Prediction by AnnAGNPS Model in a Large Mediterranean Watershed Covered by Olive Groves

The distributed parameter and continuous simulation Annualized Agricultural Non‐Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model was implemented in the watershed Anzur (Spain) covered by olive groves, to assess its prediction capability of surface runoff at the large watershed scale in semi‐arid conditions. A 5‐year database reporting hydrological, geomorphological and land use characteristics of the watershed allowed model implementation. Almost 180 surface runoff events were modelled by AnnAGNPS and compared with the corresponding observations through statistical indexes and grouping the runoff events in order to evaluate the model at different temporal scales (event, monthly and seasonal). AnnAGNPS evaluation showed that, in general, runoff was estimated by the default model with low accuracy at all the investigated time scales, likely, as a result of a simple representation of spatial variability. Calibration (by reducing initial curve numbers (CN) of the olive groves) provided more accurate and satisfactory predictions of event, monthly and seasonal runoff volumes with a low effort in the parameterisation approach. The best model performance was achieved at the event scale. The runoff prediction reliability may be attributable to the AnnAGNPS inaccuracy in adjusting CN values during the continuous simulation of the soil moisture conditions, because estimations of daily evapotranspiration values are quite realistic. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

农业面源污染及其控制技术研究

水环境面源污染的严重性已受到国内外普遍关注,面源污染业已成为国际上水环境问题研究的活跃领域。从农业面源污染的发生机理和农业面源污染的特点出发,通过分析农业面源污染与水体环境之间的关系,探讨了农业面源污染对水环境的影响。对于面源污染的控制,最佳管理措施（BMPs）现已得到广泛应用。其中,人工湿地、前置库、缓冲带、水陆交错带、水土保持和农业生态工程等是目前研究和应用较多的农业面源污染控制技术。     

Use of Sulfur to Control pH in Composts Derived from Olive Processing By-products

Two composts were prepared from olive press cake (OPC) repeatedly turned and moistened with either olive mill wastewater (OPC+OMW) or water (OPC+W). When phytotoxicity was drastically reduced and the pH of the composts had reached 8.6 and 7.55 respectively, elemental sulfur was added at 0.9% of dry weight to the OPC+OMW compost and at five different doses (0.1 – 1.0% of dry wt) to the OPC+W compost. During the following six months, an exponential pH decline was observed in both compost materials. The pH reached a final value of 5.8 in the OPC+OMW compost whereas a pH decline related to the amount of added sulfur was observed in the OPC+W compost (final values from 6.8 to 4.3). Over 80% of the pH decline occurred during the first two months following the sulfur addition. Sulfur was applied following the stabilization of the material in the case of OPC+W. No phytotoxic effects of the final products were observed at sulfur application doses up to 0.5% of dry compost weight, but a significant germination index reduction was observed at the 1% dose, probably related to the increased conductivity of the compost leachate. Sulfur was applied before stabilization of the compost material, in the case of OPC+OMW, to also investigate the effects of sulfur addition on the composting process. A thermophilic phase similar to that observed after the last OMW application exceeding 50°C followed, and no effects on microbial activity profiles of the compost were observed. The results indicate that small amounts of elemental sulfur may efficiently control high pH values in the final compost products and could be safely applied at late composting stages or after composting. This may broaden the utilization of these composts in potting media and alkaline soils.     

Management of Nitrogen-Rich Legume Cover Crops as Mulch in Traditional Olive Orchards

A low-input agricultural system needs a natural source of nitrogen (N). Legume species can fix great amounts of N that can be subsequently used by a nonlegume crop. In this study three legume cover crops were grown in traditional olive orchards in northeastern Portugal from October 2009 to May 2010, and the aboveground biomass was mechanically destroyed and left on the ground as a mulch. In the following growing season, from October 2010 to May 2011, two nitrophilic plant species were grown in circular microplots of 154 mm surrounded by polyvinyl chloride rings to assess the soil N availability. The N fixed by the legume cover crops, estimated by the difference technique, was shown to vary from 79.7 to 187.5 kg N ha^?1. The nitrophilic plant species identified a small peak of soil available N in the autumn of 2010, probably resulting from the mineralization of the root system of the legume species. In the next spring, the increase of soil-available N in the plots where the legume cover crops had been grown, in comparison to the control plot, was residual. The great amounts of N present in the mulched materials seem to disappear without having entered the soil. Mulching with high-N content biomass may be troublesome due to the high risk of N losses probably by ammonia (NH₃) volatilization.     

Agricultural Diffuse Nutrient Pollution Transport in a Mountain Wetland Complex

Wetlands in mountain environments provide critical ecosystem services but are increasingly threatened by agricultural land use intensification. This study evaluates agricultural nonpoint source nutrient pollution transport in a wetland–stream–lake complex in a mountain, tussock grassland catchment in the South Island, New Zealand. Flow and water-quality monitoring in the Lake Clearwater catchment during three flow events from May to August 2010 (autumn high flow, winter low flow, and winter high flow) showed high concentrations and exceedances of water quality guidelines for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in small ephemeral streams draining agricultural land during high flows. Concentrations were attenuated through the wetlands to below guidelines, with the exception of TN which still remained slightly higher. Most TN was in the organic form above and below the wetland, suggesting N sources from animal waste/agricultural land and organic material and vegetation within the wetland. Most TP was particulate associated with suspended solids during high flows. Dissolved forms of N and P generally were below guidelines. Flows and loads (instantaneous and daily) increased at the lake outlet during winter high flow, indicating unaccounted sources to the lake from groundwater, the wetlands, or the lake sediments, and seasonal N saturation. Infiltration losses to shallow groundwater along the main perennial tributary likely re-appear as discharge to the wetlands and lake downstream. Surface–groundwater interactions play a dominant role in N transport to the wetland complex due to highly permeable soils and glacial alluvial deposits. Loads and unit loads of TN and TP were also elevated in the ephemeral streams. Results show that TN and TP concentrations and unit loads during high flows in ephemeral streams in this mountain grassland catchment are similar to, or higher than, values for impacted lowland pasture catchments. Although impacts to the wetland ecosystem have not been observed to date, the lake is shifting toward a mesotrophic state, and further research is needed to elucidate impacts of nutrient loads and help meet conservation and restoration goals.     

Treated Olive Mill Wastewater Effects on Soil Properties and Plant Growth

Olive-oil production has a vital impact on the socioeconomic development in most Mediterranean countries, where 97.5 % of the world oil is produced. However, the olive-oil extraction process generates considerable quantities of an agro-industrial effluent, olive mill wastewater (OMW), which has negative impact on the environment and biological life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of OMW treated by different technologies in irrigation and determine its effect on the plant growth and soil quality parameters. Different technologies were used to treat the OMW, the resultant treated OMW was used to irrigate the maize planted in the pot experiment. The results indicated that UOMW increased soil salinity and reduced plant growth, while the treated OMW by different technologies improved plant growth and resulted in lower soil pH. The impact on other soil properties varied depending on the techniques used for treatments. Although treated OMW enhanced plant growth compared with the untreated, the plant growth remained lower than that obtained using the potable water with fertilizers, indicating lack of some essential plant nutrients.     

畜禽养殖非点源污染及其生态控制

畜禽养殖产生的非点源污染对水环境影响的严重性日益受到人们的重视。论述了畜禽养殖非点源污染的形成、危害及负荷计算综合非点源污染及其控制措施的研究进展,从区域合理布局、优化管理和生态工程技术3个方面提出畜禽养殖非点源污染控制的方法和关键问题。     

滇池流域典型城郊氮磷污染负荷定量研究

通过野外实地监测和室内分析相结合.系统分析了滇池流域典型城郊排放污水氮磷营养盐排放通量和污染负荷,并采用城市降雨径流污染负荷的计算方法,估算了降雨径流氮磷营养盐污染负荷.结果表明:滇池流域城郊排放污水人均通量总氮为1.33～1.39 kg/a.氮态氮为0.69～0.91 kg/a,硝态氮为0.04 kg/a,总磷为0.11kg/a;年均负荷总氮为987.83～1 400.35 kg/hm~2·a,氨态氮为649.43～731.00 kg/hm~2·a,硝态氮为29.50～41.23 kg/hm~2·a,总磷为80.17～112.96 kg/hm~2·a;滇池流域城郊降雨径流污染负荷总氮为59.85～101.03kg/hm~2·a,总磷为6.45～9.55 kg/hm~2·a.全年由降雨地表径流引起的总氮、氨态氮、硝态氮、总磷污染负荷分别占全年集水区总排放污染负荷的6.05%～6.40%,3.54%～6.93%,7.68%～10.03%,7.17%～7.98%.在当前的滇池流域城郊结合部,生活、生产排污引起的污染更严重.     

农业污染国内外研究进展及防控对策建议

农业污染具有原因复杂、影响滞后、发生随机、途径广泛等特征,已成为农产品质量下降以及食品源头污染的主要影响因素,国外发达国家在农业污染研究与控制方面已经积累了很多经验。通过对我国农业污染现状分析,依据我国农业污染研究成果和技术发展水平,借鉴国外经验,提出了有针对性的农业污染防控对策建议。     

Determinants of Woody Plant Species Richness in Abandoned Olive Grove Ecosystems and Maquis of Central Greece

The present study aimed to compare the woody plant species richness and cover (%) of five abandoned olive groves and five maquis ecosystems in central Greece and to describe the relationship between woody plant species richness and a set of environmental variables [soil pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic matter; air temperature and humidity; altitude; slope; type of ecosystem; and presence of leaf litter]. Although woody plants are abundant in the abandoned olive groves, the number of species and amount of cover (%) are significantly greater in maquis. According to principal component analysis, woody plant species richness was positively correlated with soil organic matter, plant litter, and soil P and K in maquis. Also, woody plant species richness was positively correlated with slope in the abandoned olive groves. Olive grove ecosystems abandoned for at least 12 years have developed species compositions similar to the corresponding features of neighboring maquis, although the number of species and amount of cover (%) are significantly greater in maquis.     

The Effect of Legume Species Grown as Cover Crops in Olive Orchards on Soil Phosphorus Bioavailability

Some legume species are able to utilize phosphorus (P) from sparingly soluble P sources benefiting companion crops or those following in the rotation. Lupinus albus, Vicia villosa, and a mixture of eleven annual pasture legumes were used in olive orchards as mulched cover crops as a means of increasing the soil P availability. By soil testing and growing bioindicator P plants in the next season, it was possible to detect a slight but consistent increase in soil P availability. The results indicated that the increase in soil P availability was mainly due to the mineralization of the high P content legume residues, rather than the direct effect in the rhizosphere of the living plants. The results also suggested that the good adaptation of white lupine to low P environments might be due to a high internal P use efficiency of this species, producing high dry matter yields with low P concentration in their tissues.     

农业活动非点源污染与地下水的污染与防治

农业活动造成的非点源污染与地下水污染的关系十分密切。污染的原因是多方面的，污染途径也各有不同，在详细分析由农业非点源污染造成地下水污染的原因与污染途径的基础上提出了地下水系统污染的防治措施。     

中国农田土壤重金属污染与其植物修复研究

通过对我国部分城市农田土壤及农作物重金属污染状况的调查,分析了我国农田土壤重金属污染的特点以及污染的来源,最后介绍了重金属污染土壤的植物修复技术以及该技术的优点和局限性.     

Changes in the Plant Cover and Biological Properties of Chernozems in the Postagrogenic Period

Eurasian Soil Science - Changes in the soil cover and biological properties of ordinary chernozems in the natural succession on fallow lands differing in their age have been studied in Rostov...     

中国四川间作地区作物高度、覆盖度和叶面积指数的时间变化

作物参数在模型模拟中具有非常重要的作用。但很多关于作物参数的研究是很久以前的,一般发表于20世纪中期或更早,并且这些结果都来自于净作作物。为了填补这个空缺,进行了该项研究。结果显示:作物的高度、覆盖度和叶面积指数随时间变化很大。玉米的最大高度是177 cm,间于已有的文献值范围内。玉米的最大覆盖度是花期的86%。玉米的最大叶面积指数是1.96,低于参考文献的2.1~10的范围,这是因为参考文献的研究集中于北美和欧洲,由于品种和耕作制度的不同而造成的。甘薯的最大和最小株高分别为22 cm和12 cm。甘薯的最大覆盖度为薯块膨大期的73%。甘薯的最大叶面积指数是1.79。当甘薯和玉米间作时,其所有的作物参数受玉米影响很大。在玉米-甘薯这个间作系统中,最危险的侵蚀期是玉米收获后至甘薯覆盖度最大期。     

闽江流域面源污染及控制对策

近年来，随着点源污染得到逐步治理，面源污染已成为闽江流域的主要污染源，本文对闽江流域面源污染进行分析研究，提出了控制面源污染、减轻其危害的对策。