Nutrient availability and cocoyam yield under different tillage practices

Research information on the effect of tillage systems on cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) growth, nutrient status and yield is lacking in Africa. The effects of zero tillage with mulch, zero tillage without mulch, manual mounding, manual ridging and conventional tillage on cocoyam yield, growth and nutrient availability were compared during 2 years on an Alfisol (Oxic Tropuldaf) at Owo in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The surface soil (0–20 cm) was chemically analyzed before and after crop harvest and selected soil physical properties were determined. Concentration of soil organic C, N, P, K and Mg and the leaf N, P and K were significantly influenced (p = 0.05) by tillage, with zero tillage with mulch being the most effective treatment in conserving the fertility of the surface soil (0–20 cm). Soil fertility, as indicated by organic C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg, declined significantly (p = 0.05) over time in all tillage systems, but this decline was more pronounced in the conventional tillage. Zero tillage with mulch, zero tillage without mulch, manual mounding, manual ridging and conventional tillage reduced the soil organic C concentration by 20, 23, 23, 24 and 33%, respectively over the 2-year period. The decreases in soil N concentration were 25, 31, 31, 38 and 56%, soil P concentration were 13, 15, 17, 16 and 26%, and soil K concentration were 16, 26, 31, 37 and 53%, respectively. Tillage did not affect corm and cormel yields in the first year. In the second year, due to the elimination of ploughing, significant differences were obtained in the cormel yield but not of corm yield. In 2005, zero tillage with mulch produced the highest cormel yield (13.5 mg ha⁻¹) of cocoyam followed by zero tillage without mulch (13.2 mg ha⁻¹), manual mounding (12.7 mg ha⁻¹) and manual ridging (12.5 mg ha⁻¹). The lowest cormel yield (9.5 mg ha⁻¹) of cocoyam was produced by conventional tillage. Soil water contents in zero tillage with mulch and zero tillage without mulch were significantly higher (p = 0.05) than in the other tillage systems. Soil bulk density ranging from 1.21 to 1.40 mg m⁻³ correlated positively with leaf nutrient concentration and yield. Cocoyam can be grown successfully on zero tillage, with mulch and without mulch or minimum tillage systems on an Alfisol of the humid tropics.     

Soil micromorphological and physical properties after application of composts with polyethylene and biocomponent-derived polymers added during composting

Composts are considered to be one of the best soil amendments. However, the effects of composts with added polymeric materials on soil physical,hydraulic, and micromorphological properties have not been widely discussed. Changes in soil physical properties influence the numerous services that soils provide. We studied the impacts of composts with the addition of three different polymers(F1–F3) produced from polyethylene and thermoplastic corn starch on the physical, hydraulic, and micromorphological properties of two soils, a Cambic Phaeozem and a Luvic Phaeozem. Applying composts with polymers had limited or no significant effect on soil bulk density and porosity, but increased the field water capacity by 18%–82% and 3%–6% and the plant-available water content by 15%–23% and 4%–17% for the Cambic Phaeozem and Luvic Phaeozem, respectively. The application of composts with polymers had a greater effect on the Cambic Phaeozem than on the Luvic Phaeozem. It was suggested that the use of modified composts led to changes in soil physical properties and micromorphological features and this effect was dependent on the compost application rate. Composts made with the addition of composite synthetic and natural material-derived polymers during composting were found to be a composite mixture that can be successfully used in agriculture.     

淮北平原砂姜黑土玉米产量与土壤性质的区域分析

以淮北平原作为调查区域,对砂姜黑土区48个样点的玉米产量及0～20 cm耕层土壤性质进行了分析.结果表明:在涡阳县东、西部,蒙城县南部和怀远县北部,玉米产量多在8.7 t/hm2以上,土壤容重较小;而在蒙城县北部,玉米产量多在7t/hm2以下,土壤容重最大,平均达到1.6 g/cm3以上.涡阳县土壤有机碳含量最高,平均...     

土壤容重对草甸土坡面养分流失特征的影响

通过室内模拟降雨试验对不同土壤容重的草甸土坡面养分流失特征进行研究。结果表明:土壤容重是坡面草甸土养分流失的重要影响因子,土壤容重不同,降雨引起的坡面表土养分流失的程度不同。硝态氮主要随径流流失,占总流失量的55%～79%,70%～84%的有效磷和速效钾随泥沙流失。不同形态的养分在流失泥沙中有富集现象,但富集比各不相同。土壤容重在0.8～1.2g/cm3之间变化时,随土壤容重增加,土壤孔隙度减小,入渗能力减弱,土壤养分在降雨侵蚀力作用下流失量不断增加。但随容重的继续增大,土壤抗蚀性增大,产沙量减小,养分流失量也有减小的趋势。在降雨、坡度等一定的条件下,土壤最容易被侵蚀而发生养分流失的容重范围为1.2～13g/cm3。     

Effects of Clear‐Cutting Alder Coppice on Surface Soil Properties and Aboveground Herbaceous Plant Biomass

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of clear‐cutting and skidding impacts on surface soils in an alder coppice and aboveground herbaceous biomass. For this purpose, experimental sites used in the study were a randomized complete block with four replications. Some soil properties were measured at 60 pits at 0 to 5 cm and 5 to 10 cm deep in control, normal harvest, and main skid trail sites. In the main skid trail site, as compared to the control and normal harvest site, the bulk density increased from 0.90 to 1.52g cm^?3, the soil organic‐matter content decreased from 4.77% to 1.65%, and saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased from 86.34 to 9.6 cm h^?1 at 0 to 5 cm deep. Optimization of harvesting time and rehabilitation of skid roads needed to be done to prevent and minimize negative impacts of the skid roads on soils.     

Tillage Depth Effects on Soil Physical Properties,Sugarbeet Yield,and Sugarbeet Quality

Tillage depth influences the soil–water–plant ecosystem, thereby affecting crop yield and quality. The effects of tillage depth on soil physical properties and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) yield and quality were evaluated. A field study composed of two tillage depths [10 cm, referred to as shallow (ST), and 20 cm, referred to as deep (DT)] was conducted on a Lihen sandy loam soil in spring 2007 at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) irrigated research farm near Williston, North Dakota. Soil bulk density (ρ_b), gravimetric water content (θ_w), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were measured three times during the growing season at four depth increments to 40 cm deep. Samples were taken approximately 0.5 m apart within the crop row of irrigated sugarbeet. Soil air-filled pore volume (ε_a) was calculated from soil bulk density and water content data. Soil penetration resistance (PR) was also measured in 2.5-cm increments to a depth of 35 cm. Roots were hand-harvested from each plot, and each sample consisted of the roots within an area consisting of two adjacent rows 1.5 m long. Soil ρ_b was greater in ST than in DT, whereas Ks was greater with DT than with ST. Soil PR was significantly greater in ST than in DT at the 0- to 20-cm depth. Soil θ_w and ε_a were slightly greater in DT than those under ST. Although tillage depth had no significant effect on sugarbeet population, root yield, or sucrose content, a small difference in sucrose yield between two depths of tillage may be attributed to reduced ρ_b, increased water intake, improved aeration, and increased response to nitrogen uptake under DT than under ST. It was concluded that tillage depth enhanced soil physical quality and had little effect on sugarbeet yield or quality.     

Spatial variability of total soil carbon and nitrogen stocks for some reclaimed minesoils of southeastern Ohio

Reclamation of drastically disturbed minesoils and subsequent planting of trees and/or grasses can result in a rapid build‐up of carbon (C) in the soil. However, the amount of C sequestered in reclaimed minesoils may vary with the amount of time since reclamation. In this study, we assessed total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations for reclaimed minesoils located in northeastern Ohio and characterized by distinct reclamation age chronosequences. Reclaimed minesoils studied were R78G, reclaimed in 1978 and immediately seeded to grass; R82GT, reclaimed in 1982 and immediately seeded to grass and trees were planted 5 years later; and R87G, reclaimed in 1987 and immediately seeded to grass. An unmined site, UMG, was also included as a reference. Our objectives were to evaluate the variability with respect to mean and the spatial variability of pH, bulk density (ρ_b), TC and TN concentrations, and stocks in each reclaimed minesoil. Thirty soil samples were collected at each of the 0–15, 15–30, and 30–50 cm depth. The coefficient of variation (CV) for ρ_b was least, <15 per cent at each site and depth. For TN concentration and stock, CV was moderate, 15–35 per cent, in each field except the UMG where it was high, >35 per cent at 0–15, and 15–30 cm depths. For TC concentration and stocks, CV was high, >35 per cent, across all minesoils and generally increased with depth. The C/N ratio followed the same tend as TC and TN stocks and ranged from 40 per cent to 123 per cent across minesoils. Geostatistical analysis also showed an increase in sample variance with increasing amount of time since reclamation for most soil properties under investigation. Sample variance for TC concentration and stocks also increased with depth in reclaimed minesoils. However, no definite relationship emerged between amount of time since reclamation and the spatial dependence of TC and TN concentrations and stocks. Overall this study showed that reclamation of drastically disturbed minesoils increased the soil C concentration and stocks and reclamation by initially seeding to grasses followed by planting trees was the best management option for speedy accretion of soil C and soil quality enhancement. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

密集烤房碳纤维增强水泥基复合材料供热设备的设计与试验

为优化密集烤房供热设备的结构和性能,采用碳纤维增强水泥基复合材料(CFRC)和回流区分级着火燃烧技术,设计了适用于密集烤房的一次性加煤隧道式炉体新材料火炉和由12根直径190mm散热管4-4-4三层横列构成的新材料散热器。检测结果表明,新材料火炉和散热器的导热系数分别是普通耐火材料的1.5倍和3.2倍,整体热效率比普通耐火材料高4.5%,散热管的耐腐蚀性能是金属材料(NS钢)的5.3倍,显著增强了密集烤房的供热性能,延长了供热设备的使用寿命。烟叶烘烤试验结果表明,新材料供热设备密集烤房的升温性能好,稳温性能强,烤后烟叶上等烟比例分别比普通耐火材料和金属材料供热设备密集烤房增加2.6%和2.3%,烟叶烘烤耗煤量分别减少8.5%和13.2%,节能降耗效果显著。     

黑土肥料长期定位试验冻土分割搬迁后土壤融合效果评价

为了明确黑土长期定位试验土壤搬迁后与新址的融合效果,以一个搬迁土块为研究对象,明确搬迁土块间的接缝处土壤与距接缝处不同距离的中心土壤在理化特性上的不同。结果表明,0~20 cm层次土体中心50 cm处的田间持水量比接缝处高5%,容重低4%,变异系数均明显高于其他层次;20~40 cm层次,土壤的固相率和容重高于其他层次,田间持水量降低,土块横切面各部位物理性质均无明显差别;剖面底部80~100 cm层次接缝处土壤松散缝处的固相率比30 cm和土体中心处低4.3%,液相率低3.1%,气相率高出7.6%,容重下降8.3%。0~40 cm土层的缝处、距缝30 cm和距缝50 cm处的孔隙率均低于40~100 cm层次,其中80~100 cm层次的孔隙率最大,20~40cm孔隙率最低为44.2%;土壤饱和导水率0~20 cm层次为35.3~38.0 cm/d,随着深度的加深呈下降趋势,均小于20cm/d;而80~100 cm层次缝处的饱和导水率值高达144.4 cm/d,是表层土壤的4倍。同一层次搬迁土块缝处与土块中心土壤速效养分无明显差别,缝处全氮含量均高于土块的其他位置,且与距缝30 cm和50 cm处的数值差异均达到显著水平(P0.05);pH随着土层的加深逐渐增大,碱解氮和土壤有机碳含量随着土层的加深而下降。长期定位土壤搬迁5 a后,深层土壤接缝处还处于疏松状态,下层土壤的融合要弱于上层土壤。     

Comparison of critical limits for crop plant growth based on different indicators for the state of soil compaction

Soil compaction affects physical soil condition, in particular aeration, soil strength, and water availability and has adverse effects on plant growth. Bulk density is the most frequently used indicator to describe the state of compaction of a soil. However, this parameter lacks a direct functional relationship with plant growth. Various indicators have been proposed to simultaneously characterize the state of compaction of agricultural soil and its suitability for plant growth. This paper examines and compares the critical limits for crop plant growth based on three of these indicators: packing density, least limiting water range, and S parameter (the latter is the slope of the soil water‐retention curve in the inflexion point). In a first step, we reviewed the literature for published optimum and limiting values of bulk density and found that these values were highly dependent on clay and silt content. Converting them into corresponding values of packing density (composite index of bulk density and clay content), a value of 1.70 was found to effectively distinguish between optimum and limiting soil conditions for plant growth. In a second step, the packing density of 59 soil horizons sampled in N Switzerland was compared with the least limiting water range and the S parameter of these soil horizons (both determined by means of pedotransfer functions taken from the literature). A linear relationship between the three parameters was found, which allowed for a comparison of the published critical limits for plant growth based on these parameters. The critical limits of the three indicators, which had been postulated independently of each other in the literature, were found to agree well with each other. This means that all of them could equally be used to describe the compaction state of a soil and its physical suitability for plant growth. However, the proposed critical limits of packing density, least limiting water range, and S parameter still need further validation by field studies relating plant growth to soil compaction.