Influence of agricultural traffic and crop management on collembola and microbial biomass in arable soil

Collembola and microbial biomass C were investigated in a field experiment with controlled agricultural traffic and crop rotation over a period of 27 months. The wheel-induced compactive efforts were applied according to management practices within the crop rotation of sugar beet, winter wheat, and winter barley. Increasing wheel traffic produced increasing soil compaction, mainly due to a reduction in surface soil porosity. Increasing soil compaction was accompanied by a decrease in microbial biomass C and the density of collembola. The influence of soil compaction on microbial biomass C was smaller than that of the standing crop. However, for collembola, especially euedaphic species, a reduction in pore space appeared to be of more importance than the effects of a standing crop. Within the crop rotation, microbial biomass C and the density of collembola increased in the order sugar beet, winter wheat, and winter barley.     

耕作方式和秸秆还田对直播稻田土壤理化性质及其产量的影响

通过田间试验和土壤理化性质的分析,探讨秸秆还田和土壤耕作方式对直播稻田土壤理化性质和产量的影响。结果表明,秸秆还田使土壤的容重和坚实度降低,总孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度升高,同时提高土壤各层的有机质、全氮、速效磷、速效钾含量;深耕有利于培肥地力,增加土壤养分含量。不同土壤耕作深度和秸秆还田量对产量影响差异不显著,但农田的可持续发展能力得到了一定提高,同时,秸秆还田还能减少焚烧事件的发生,改善农村生态环境,实现农业清洁生产。     

Differences in the diversity of oribatid mite communities in forests and agrosystems lands

A field study was conducted in the province of Burgos (Castile, NW of Spain) to assess the role and influence of the different anthropic use of soil on the oribatid mite communities (Acari, Oribatida).Soil samples from 20 representative soil sites of the Castilian upland steppes, with cultured, pastureland or forest soil uses, were taken in spring and autumn 2000. Thereafter, soil samples were analysed in terms of their mesofaunal biodiversity, measured using the real and relative diversity of the oribatid mite communities.Collected individuals were identified to species level, being altogether 111 Oribatid species. Results from communities' ordination analysis showed clear gradients based on community variables. One of these was defined by plots with high values of diversity and species richness which correspond to the less anthropic natural soils, mainly oak forest. In contrast, the most anthropic agrosystems soils, including extensive cereal crops, most of them receiving only mineral fertilisation or having human management, were placed in opposite gradients. Differences in biodiversity between crop lands and natural soils were also confirmed by ANOVA. The seasonality, measured in terms of difference between spring and autumn plots, played a minimum role in explaining differences of diversity. Nevertheless autumn diversity values were slightly higher than those of spring, except for crops.     

激光平地改善土壤水盐分布并提高春小麦产量

为了促进激光平地技术的应用与推广,在河套灌区以普通畦田为对照,分期、分段测定了激光平地畦田0～80 cm土层土壤水分、土壤盐分及春小麦生长状况。结果表明,从渠口到畦尾,激光平地畦田不同地段的土壤水分在春小麦生长的不同时期无显著差异,但从拔节期开始,上层土壤盐分逐渐升高;普通畦田从三叶期开始,上层土壤水分、盐分逐渐提高,且显著或极显著高于激光平地。普通畦田从三叶期开始,激光平地从拔节期开始,从渠口到畦尾,春小麦的生长状况逐渐变差,千粒质量、产量均逐渐降低,但激光平地的春小麦千粒质量、产量高于普通畦田。激光平地改善了畦田的土壤水分、盐分分布,促进了畦田中后段的春小麦生长,提高了畦田中后段的水分利用率及产出率。     

Effect of improved fallow on crop productivity, soil fertility and climate-forcing gas emissions in semi-arid conditions

The impacts of fallow on soil fertility, crop production and climate-forcing gas emissions were determined in two contrasting legumes, Gliricidia sepium and Acacia colei, in comparison with traditional unamended fallow and continuous cultivation systems. After 2 years, the amount of foliar material produced did not differ between the two improved fallow species; however, grain yield was significantly elevated by 55% in the first and second cropping season after G. sepium compared with traditional fallow. By contrast, relative to the unamended fallow, a drop in grain yield was observed in the first cropping season after A. colei, followed by no improvement in the second. G. sepium had higher foliar N, K and Mg, while A. colei had lower foliar N but higher lignin and polyphenols. In the third year after fallow improvement, a simulated rainfall experiment was performed on soils to compare efflux of N₂O and CO₂. Improved fallow effects on soil nutrient composition and microbial activity were demonstrated through elevated N₂O and CO₂ efflux from soils in G. sepium fallows compared with other treatments. N₂O emissions were around six times higher from this nitrogen-fixing soil treatment, evolving 69.9 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ after a simulated rainfall event, compared with only 8.5 and 4.8 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ from soil under traditional fallow and continuous cultivation, respectively. The findings indicate that selection of improved fallows for short-term fertility enhancement has implications for regional N₂O emissions for dry land regions.     

Impacts of urbanization on topsoil nutrient balances—a case study at a provincial scale from Fujian,China

With increasing urbanization, the demands for high quality agricultural products induced changes in local cropping patterns. Although grain production still occupied a large portion in sown and planted areas, the share of sown areas declined from 67% to 44% for total grain crops, and 54% to 35% for rice between 1989 and 2002 in Fujian province. The change in crop spectrum and land use by urbanization has resulted in two extreme trends in topsoil — nutrient depletion in grain-dominated regions and nutrient overload in city suburbs. The positive correlation between nitrogen balance and local urban population in some years showed that urbanization affected nutrient balance in topsoil. The rapid changes in land use and crop spectrum caused by urbanization therefore created a challenge to the traditional soil nutrient management derived mainly from paddy fields and an urgent need for new management schemes in the province. The study provides valuable insights into nutrient management and soil sustainability in the context of rapid urbanization and population growth in Fujian.     

Soil Chemical and Biological Activities under Vegetable Intensive Colocasia-based Cropping System in Indian Sub-Himalayas

ABSTRACT

Lack of crop diversification with suitable vegetable-based cropping system is a major constraint in limiting the productivity and sustainability of north-western Indian sub-Himalayas. To find out a sustainable vegetable-based cropping system in this region, a three year colocasia-based vegetable intensive experiment was conducted at Hawalbagh, Almora, India in a sandy clay loam soil under sub-temperate climatic conditions. Seven colocasia-based vegetable cropping systems along with rice–wheat system were compared under recommended package and practices. The system productivity in terms of colocasia equivalent yield was highest under colocasia–onion–frenchbean (52.38 Mg ha^?1) system. Sustainable yield index was highest with colocasia–gardenpea–frenchbean system (0.86). After 3 years, total soil organic carbon (0–5%), available N (2–22%), P (–7% to 14%) and K (3–15%) concentrations were increased in all cropping systems except rice–wheat system, where negative balance of available P (7%) was observed over that of initial soil. Significantly higher soil microbial activity, soil carbohydrate, dehydrogenase, protease, acid and alkaline phosphatases activity were observed under colocasia–onion system. The results suggest that colocasia–onion–frenchbean system with higher productivity improves soil fertility and enhances enzymatic activities.     

Carbon mineralisation in soil adjacent to plant residues of contrasting biochemical quality

A fraction of the C of residues incorporated into soil diffuses into the adjacent soil where it is eventually mineralised by microorganisms. Our aim was to quantify the contribution of this adjacent soil to the overall mineralisation of residue-C. For this, we incorporated two different residues labelled with ¹³C, with contrasting biochemical characteristics, namely mature wheat straw and young rye leaves, in soil cores. When 15% mineralisation of residue-C was measured for both residues, we separated a particulate fraction (the residues), the adjacent soil (4-5 mm thick) and a distant soil fraction, and incubated them separately for 5 h. We found that 76% of the mineralised wheat straw-C came from the particulate fraction and 23% from the soil adjacent to the residues. For rye leaves, 67% of the evolved CO₂ came from the particulate fraction and 33% from the adjacent soil. It showed that the adjacent soil had a significant role in the mineralisation of carbon from the residues, even if the main source of residue-derived CO₂ was the particulate fraction itself. The functional importance of the soil adjacent to the residues increased with the amount of soluble organic compounds that had been leached from the residue into the adjacent soil, suggesting a strong interaction between the initial quality of the crop residue and the resulting spatial heterogeneity of the decomposing microorganisms and C within the soil.     

Do effects of soil compaction persist after ploughing? Results from 21 long-term field experiments in Sweden

The extent and persistence of the effect of soil compaction in a system with annual ploughing were investigated in 21 long-term field experiments in Sweden with a total of 259 location-years. Crop yield, soil physical properties and plant establishment were determined. All experiments had two common treatments: control (no extra traffic) and compacted (350 Mg km ha⁻¹ of experimental traffic in the autumn prior to ploughing), using a tractor and trailer with traditional wheel equipment and an axle load restricted to 4 Mg. During the rest of the year, both treatments were conventionally and equally tilled. The compaction was repeated each autumn for at least 7 years, and the yield was determined each year until 5 years after the termination of the compaction treatment.

Compaction decreased the porosity and the proportion of large pores and increased the tensile strength of dry aggregates. On clay and loam soils, it decreased the proportion of fine aggregates in the seedbed and the gravimetric soil water content in the seedbed.

The yield in the compacted treatment declined compared with the control during the first 4 years, after which it reached steady state. During this steady state, the compaction treatment caused a yield loss of 11.4%, averaged over 107 location-years. Within 4–5 years after the termination of the compaction treatment, the yield returned to the control level. The average yield loss at individual sites increased with increasing clay content.

Results from additional treatments indicated that yield loss was linearly correlated with the amount of traffic up to 300–400 Mg km ha⁻¹. With greater ground contact pressure or a greater soil water content at time of traffic, there was a greater yield loss.

Soil compaction effects on yield were similar for all spring-sown crops, and the percentage yield loss seemed to be independent of the yield. In a few location-years with winter wheat there was on average no yield decrease.

There were 5.1% less plants in the compacted treatment than in the control. The yield decrease was significantly correlated with the number of plants.

Between years results were highly variable, and no consistent correlations between yield loss and soil water content at the time of traffic or the weather conditions during the growing period were found. Soil compaction affected yield during years with good as well as poor conditions for crop growth.     

土壤杂草种子库与杂草综合管理

土壤杂草种子库是农田杂草发生危害的主要根源,种子库的动态变化规律对于杂草的综合管理具有非常重要的意义。目前研究表明,杂草种子库的密度和组成变化很大,与田间杂草群落具有密切的联系。杂草种子库时刻处于输入和输出的动态变化之中。耕作方式影响杂草种子在土壤中的垂直分布,从而间接影响种子库的密度和种类组成;作物轮作使杂草的生存环境趋于多样化,能够限制某些对单一种植系统有着良好适应性的杂草种类的生长,作物轮作对杂草种子库种类组成和丰富度的影响要大于耕作方式;杂草管理措施能够大大降低田间杂草的结实,从而减小杂草种子库的规模。随着人们对除草剂使用和环境安全问题的日益关注,发展基于生态规律的杂草管理措施越来越受到人们重视,结合近几年国内外的研究进展,作者提出了杂草种子库今后的一些新的研究发展方向。