Effects of tillage systems on soil characteristics, glomalin and mycorrhizal propagules in a Chilean Ultisol

Tillage affects the soil physical and chemical environment in which soil microorganisms live, thereby affecting their number, diversity and activity. However, soil disturbance generally has the greatest impact on biological properties, including both free and symbiotic fungal populations. Interest in more ecologically sustainable agricultural systems is rising with increasing recognition that agricultural intensification can adversely affect environmental quality. This paper discusses the effect of tillage system on some soil characteristics, such as pH, C, N and S levels, total and Olsen-P contents including some P forms associated with organic matter, glomalin contents and arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) parameters, such as root colonization, spore number and total and active hyphal length. Measurements were in the sixth year of an on-going tillage-rotation experiment conducted on an Ultisol under no-till (NT), reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage with stubble mixed into the soil (CTS) or stubble burnt (CTB). Soil was sampled at two dates; after wheat (Triticum aestivum) harvest (autumn) and 6 months after subsequent grassland seeding (spring). Higher C, N, S, total P and fulvic acid-P concentrations and pH occurred under NT and RT than under CTS and CTB after wheat harvest. However, results at the second sampling were not consistent. AM spore number and active hyphal length were highest under NT having the greatest incidence on AM root colonization and P concentration in shoots of the pasture. Glomalin concentration was higher under NT and RT than under CTS and CTB but no differences in calculated glomalin to total C (ca. 5%) were found. It is concluded that a less disruptive effect of NT influences positively all soil characteristics and also increases P acquisition by the following crop in the rotation system.     

Effects of three soil tillage systems on some biological activities in an Ultisol from southern Chile

Intensive tillage for annual crop production may be affecting soil health and quality. However, tillage intensity effects on biological activities of volcanic-derived soils have not been systematically investigated. We evaluated the effects of three different tillage practices on some biological activities of an Ultisol from southern Chile during the third year of a wheat–lupin–wheat crop sequence. Treatments were: no tillage with stubble burning (NTB), no tillage without stubble burning (NT) and conventional tillage with disk-harrowing and stubble burning (CT). Biological activities were evaluated in winter and summer at 0–200 mm and at three soil depths (0–50, 50–100 and 100–200 mm) in winter. Total organic C and N were significantly higher under no-tillage systems than CT. In general, NT increased C and N of microbial biomass in comparison with CT, especially in winter. Microbial biomass C was closely associated with microbial biomass N (r = 0.986, P < 0.05); acid phosphomonoesterase (r = 0.999, P < 0.05); β-glucosidase (r = 0.978, P < 0.05), and others. Changes in biological activities occurred mainly in the upper soil layer (0–50 mm depth) in spite of the short duration of the experiment. Biological activities could be used as practical biological indicators to apply the more appropriate management systems for increasing soil sustainability or productivity.     

不同质地黑土净氮转化速率和温室气体排放规律研究

为探讨黑龙江省半干旱地区不同质地黑土的净氮转化速率和温室气体排放规律,以壤砂土和粉壤土为研究对象开展室内培养试验,对土壤净硝化速率和净矿化速率、N2O和CO2排放速率与累积排放量进行研究。结果表明:7d培养期间壤砂土的平均净矿化速率和CO2平均排放速率分别为0.49mgN kg-1 d-1和0.30mgCO2-C kg-1 h-1,显著低于粉壤土的平均净矿化速率(1.37 mgN kg-1 d-1)和CO2平均排放速率(0.47mgCO2-C kg-1 h-1)。壤砂土的平均净硝化速率和N2O平均排放速率分别为1.65mgN kg-1 d-1和212.6ngN2O-N kg-1 h-1,显著低于粉壤土的5.02mgN kg-1 d-1和521.3ngN2O-N kg-1 h-1。壤砂土和粉壤土的N2O排放比率分别为0.081%~0.301%和0.210%~0.254%。研究表明,土壤质地显著影响土壤净氮转化速率和温室气体排放,壤砂土较低的pH、有机碳和水溶性有机碳含量是导致其净硝化速率、净矿化速率以及N2O、CO2排放速率显著低于粉壤土的主要原因。     

保水剂对土壤持水特性的影响

利用张力计和恒温脱水动力学方法,研究了不同剂量保水剂（聚丙烯酰胺和水解淀粉）施入轻壤质潮土后土壤持水性质的变化,结果表明,在土壤低吸力段（０－８０ｋＰａ）,随保水剂用量的增加,土壤持水容量增大,从而增加了作物可利用的有效水;在相同含水量时,土壤水能保水剂量用量增大而降低;但在相同水分能态下,土壤含水量随保水剂的增加而明显增大、施用保水剂后,土壤可在较长时间内保持较高的水分含量;且随保水剂用量增加,     

气象因子和土壤质地影响下刺槐蒸腾对土壤水分有效性的响应

On the Loess Plateau of China, a dry soil layer may form due to excess transpiration, leading to degradation of black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia) stands. In order to better manage projects involving black locust, this study was intended to investigate the response of black locust transpiration rate to soil water availability as affected by meteorological factors using two representative soils(loamy clay and sandy loam) on the Loess Plateau. Four soil water contents were maintained for black locust seedlings grown in pots initially outdoors and then in a climate-controlled chamber, by either drying or irrigating the pots. In both environments, daily transpiration rates were related by a power function to air temperature and by a logistic function to reference evapotranspiration(ET0). Transpiration rates were more susceptible to changes in the meteorological conditions in the sandy loam than in the loamy clay soil. The transpiration rate in the well-watered treatment was greater for black locust grown in the sandy loam than in the loamy clay soil. Normalized transpiration rates were unaffected by ET0 until a critical value of soil water content(θc) was attained; the θc value decreased significantly for the loamy clay soil but increased significantly for the sandy loam soil when ET0 increased. These suggested that the effect of the meteorological condition on the transpiration characteristics of black locust was dependent on soil texture.     

与永久性草地相比长期裸露侵蚀对英国Bridgnorth砂壤的影响

 对位于英国东Shropshire的Hilton试验点中,已裸露12年的坡地侵蚀小区内的Bridg-north砂壤进行调查分析,并与小区相邻的自然草地作比较,结果显示,裸露砂壤土的有机质和大多数营养元素的含量显着低于草地;草地的有机质含量较裸地高2.15倍;草地含有较高比例的粗砂(0.355～2.0mm),尤以0.500～1.0mm部分较为突出,以及较少的粘粒(<0.002mm)和石砾(>2mm);说明,粗砂易于流失,Bridgnorth砂壤被长期侵蚀后,粗砂趋于减少,粘粒、石砾所占比例则逐渐增加.结果同时还指出,裸土的pH值不断降低,草地的粘粒和粉粒含量与坡度呈显着正相关,粗砂与坡度则负相关,这与福林等人研究的裸土的情形相似.以上结果表明,如果坡地被长期暴露,并且不投入任何营养物质,土壤肥力将迅速下降,质地发生变化,而种草可以保持和改善土地生产力,阻止土壤质地的变化.     

Restoring Properties of Artificially Degraded Ultisols and Oxisols and the Effect on Crop Yields under Tropical Conditions

Upland agriculture in Indonesia mainly relies on Ultisols and Oxisols, which have serious problems resulting from severe erosion and low organic‐matter content. The objectives of the study were (i) to assess the effect of long‐term rehabilitation techniques on soil organic carbon (SOC) and maize yields of a desurfaced Ultisol and (ii) to assess the effect of short‐term rehabilitation techniques on desurfaced Oxisol properties and soybean yields. A 7‐year field experiment was conducted on artificially desurfaced Ultisol grown with maize (Zea mays L.). The results showed that rehabilitation techniques using cattle manure, rice straw mulch or Mucuna sp. mulch were successful in restoring SOC content of degraded Ultisol to its initial natural state. All sources of organic‐matter rehabilitations significantly increased maize yields on an Ultisol. Rehabilitations of degraded Oxisol under glasshouse conditions using phosphorus (P) fertilizer, organic matter, basic slag, and lime could increase cation exchange capacity (CEC) and nutrient availability and suppress Al toxicity. At the same time, soybean yields increased 11–14, 2–10, 1–5, and 1–3 times, respectively.     

Ameliorating Effects of Fungus Chaff and Its Biochar on Soil Acidity

A biochar was generated from fungus chaff at 300 °C, and the ameliorating effects of fungus chaff and its biochar on an acidic Ultisol were compared using incubation experiments. Incorporation of fungus chaff and its biochar significantly increased soil pH and soil exchangeable base cations but decreased soil exchangeable acidity. The ameliorating effect was greater for the biochar than the fungus chaff, and thus the biochar was a better amendment for acidic soil than its feedstock of fungus chaff. The biochar ameliorated soil acidity mainly through the release of its contained alkaline substances, while fungus chaff increased pH of acidic soils through two mechanisms: release of alkaline substances and inhibition of soil nitrification. The incorporation of fungus chaff increased soil-available organic carbon and thus accelerated the microbial assimilation of inorganic nitrogen, while incorporation of fungus chaff biochar enhanced nitrification due to increased soil pH.     

Performance of biochar derived from Cymbopogon winterianus waste at two temperatures on soil properties and growth of Bacopa monneri

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of biochar derived from the distilled waste of Cymbopogon winterianus at two different pyrolysis temperatures (450°C and 850°C) on the chemical and biological properties of sandy loamy soil (SLS) and its subsequent impact on plant growth. Pot experiments utilizing Bacopa monnieri were performed in a greenhouse with four different application rates of biochar (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% (w/w)) for 120 days. Biochar induced alterations in soil properties (nutrients, enzymes, and microbes) and plant responses (yield, biocide and antioxidant content) to biochar addition were measured. Biochar application, notably improved the soil carbon, cation exchange capacity, and the availability of NH₄ ⁺ and phosphorus. Initially, biochar produced at the lower temperature had more effect on the available nitrogen, phosphorus, soil enzymatic properties, and plant biomass growth. After 120 days, the pyrolysis temperature had only a marginal influence on biochar-induced effects on soil pH, WHC, and soil enzymatic activities. Our results suggest that C. winterianus derived biochar amendment leads to an overall amelioration of soil fertility and plant growth improvement. In specific biochar produced at lower temperatures (450°C) was more effective for improvement of plant biomass and soil characteristics.     

Effects of Phosphorus Fertilization,Seed Source,and Soil Type on Growth of Acacia koa

ABSTRACT

The endemic tree Acacia koa is used to reforest abandoned agricultural lands in Hawaii. Growth may be constrained by soil infertility and toxic concentrations of aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) in acidic Oxisols and Ultisols. The effects of phosphorus (P) fertilization at time of planting, soil type, and seed source on koa growth were studied for three years. Phosphorus, applied as triple superphosphate and at rates of at least 300 kg P ha^?1, significantly increased height, basal stem diameter, crown volume, and aboveground wood biomass of trees from the local (Oahu) seed source, but not those from off island (Hawaii). Manganese toxicity in the Oxisol probably slowed growth of the off-site trees. The local seed source grew similarly in both soil types, but the survival rate was lower in the Ultisol, possibly due to its lower water-holding capacity. Increased growth due to fertilization suggested improved P status, but such improvement was not detected by foliar analysis.