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Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2020) | Viewed by 55467

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lisa Lobry de Bruyn

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Guest Editor

School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
Interests: soil health indicators; soil condition; soil biota and soil function; soil knowledge sharing; local soil knowledge; land assessment and governance; soil education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Year of Plant Health is 2020, and this Special Issue is taking a broad focus on the effects of agricultural management on soil properties and health for a sustainable and productive agricultural landscape. This Special Issue contributes to the wider agenda of SDGs[i]. Increasingly, sustainable soil management, and along with it plant health, is being threatened by a continued decline in the amount of arable land through deteriorating soil health or land-use change. Farmers and land managers around the world need practical and adoptable measures to improve this situation, and in ways they can largely control, such as good agricultural practices, monitoring soil properties and health, and system transformation. A number of studies into farmers’ practice suggest that their management of soil is influenced by observable features, and often, they are more focused on above-ground changes in plant growth and vigour than below-ground changes in soil properties, although they do appreciate that the two are strongly related and dependent on each other. In science, the examination of “best practice” for soil conservation, and improvements in soil health, have largely occurred in experimental and highly controlled situations. To fully understand the mechanisms of change, and to understand how the farming system can be managed sustainably, the unpredictable nature of a farmer’s field is often avoided in research. Nevertheless, farmers need to know the consequences of applying specific or groups of agricultural management practices on plant and soil health outcomes, and on the whole agricultural system. This Special Issue welcomes researchers from a wide disciplinary background to share their research into the effects of agricultural management on soil properties and health, and on the wider ramifications for a productive and sustainable agricultural landscape in an increasingly changing and disrupted world.

[i] 01. End poverty in all its forms everywhere; 02. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; 08. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss; 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Dr. Lisa Lobry de Bruyn
Guest Editor

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Keywords

sustainability
SDG
soil health
plant health
farmers perception
good agricultural practices
soil conservation
minimum tillage
regenerative agriculture
conservation agriculture
farmer adoption
soil carbon management

Published Papers (14 papers)

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17 pages, 3775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Variations of Soil Organic Carbon and pH at Landscape Scale and the Implications for Cropping Intensity in Rice-Based Cropping Systems

by Md. Noor E. Alam Siddique, Lisa Lobry de Bruyn, Chris N. Guppy and Yui Osanai

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 59; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11010059 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3233

Abstract

Landscape scale assessment of temporal variations in soil organic carbon (SOC) contents and soil pH and the implications for long-term agricultural sustainability was determined using legacy datasets collected over two periods separated by 20 years: the 1990s and 2010s. Soil data on SOC and pH were categorized according to the prevailing land types (based on inundation as highland (HL), medium highland (MHL), and medium lowland (MLL)), and physiographic types (i.e., Himalayan Piedmont plain, Tista Floodplain and Barind tract/Terrace) to determine which variable or combination of variables was more influential in spatial and temporal changes of these properties. SOC contents in the physiographic types were generally found to be low, varying between 8 to 12 g/kg. While, SOC contents were significantly higher in MHL and MLL compared with HL that experienced less inundation. The change in SOC contents over 20 years was significant with a 14.5% increase of SOC. There was a greater influence of land type compared with physiography on SOC contents over time. Inundation land types and associated cropping intensity were considered likely to influence SOC of soils under rice-based cropping systems. Furthermore, the levels of soil pH decreased by 0.5 units over 20 years with an approximately 50% increase in soils within a pH category of 4.6–5.5. The majority of soil pH results shift from slightly acidic to strongly acidic in the intervening 20-year period between samplings. Soil acidification is potentially a combination of inefficient and excess use of ammonium-based fertilizers with higher application rates and low input from residues. We conclude that acidification may continue with more intensive land use. However, trends in SOC contents over time under certain combinations of physiography and land type either increased slightly or showed a significant loss and in the latter, specifically, the role of land management is not clear. The legacy datasets would be useful for monitoring spatial and temporal soil quality trends at a regional scale, but has limited capacity to capture field level variations in soil properties as data on smallholder cropping practice and management were not collected. Therefore, future research examining the role of management in SOC and pH dynamics at the field-scale would guide the use of fertilizers, crop residue management, and amelioration of acidic soil, to improve the sustainability of rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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19 pages, 6925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Different Barley-Based Cropping Systems on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Barley Growth under Conventional and Conservation Tillage Systems

by Muhammad Naeem, Noman Mehboob, Muhammad Farooq, Shahid Farooq, Shahid Hussain, Hayssam M. Ali and Mubshar Hussain

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 8; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11010008 - 23 Dec 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3162

Abstract

This two-year study observed the influence of various barley-based cropping systems on soil physicochemical properties, allometric traits and biomass production of barley sown under different tillage systems. Barley was cultivated in different cropping systems (CS), i.e., fallow-barley (fallow-B), maize-barley (maize-B), cotton-barley (cotton-B), mungbean-barley (mungbean-B) and sorghum-barley (sorghum-B) under zero tillage (ZT), minimum tillage (MT), strip tillage (ST), conventional tillage (CT) and bed-sowing (BS). Interaction between different CS and tillage systems (TS) positively influenced soil bulk density (BD), total porosity, available phosphorus (P), ammonical and nitrate nitrogen (NH₄-N and NO₃-N), available potassium (K), allometric traits and biomass production of barley. The highest soil BD along with lower total porosity were noted in ZT leading to lesser leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), specific leaf area (SLA), crop growth rate (CGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) of barley. Nonetheless, bed-sown barley produced the highest biomass due to better crop allometry and soil physical conditions. The highest postharvest soil available P, NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and K were recorded for zero-tilled barley, while BS followed by CT recorded the lowest nutrient contents. Barley in mungbean-B CS with BS produced the highest biomass, while the lowest biomass production was recorded for barely sown in fallow-B cropping system with ZT. In conclusion, barley sown after mungbean (mungbean-B cropping system) with BS seems a pragmatic choice for improving soil fertility and subsequently soil health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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17 pages, 2246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Differentiated Nitrogen Fertilization on the Enzymatic Activity of the Soil for Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam.]) Cultivation

by Barbara Sawicka, Barbara Krochmal-Marczak, Piotr Pszczółkowski, Elżbieta Jolanta Bielińska, Anna Wójcikowska-Kapusta, Piotr Barbaś and Dominika Skiba

Agronomy 2020, 10(12), 1970; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10121970 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2706

Abstract

The experiment was conducted between 2015–2017 in the Research Station for Cultivar Testing in Uhnin (51°34′ N, 23°02′ E), in Luvisols developed from sandy loam soils. Soil samples for the tests of enzymatic activity were collected after the crop was harvested. The measurements included: the content of dehydrogenases, phosphatases, urease and protease, as well as total organic carbon, total nitrogen and mineral nitrogen in soil, based on standard methods. The research results point to changes in the enzymatic activity of light soil under the influence of varied nitrogen fertilization. In objects fertilized with this ingredient, the activity of the analysed enzymes was significantly higher than in the control soil, except for combinations fertilised with 150 kg ha⁻¹ N characterised by the highest accumulation of N-NO₃⁻ in soil. The activity of dehydrogenases, phosphatases and urease changed as the nitrogen dose increased. The polynomial regression analysis enabled a better understanding of those dependences. In the case of dehydrogenases, phosphatases and urease, a third-degree curvilinear relation of enzymatic activity to nitrogen fertilisation was observed (a fourth-degree relation was found, with a coefficient R² in those equations amounting to =0.958, 0.977, 0.979, respectively) and in the case of protease activity, a fourth-degree relation, with coefficient R² = 0.989. However, soil acidity did not have a significant influence on either the enzymatic activity or physico-chemical characteristics of soil under the cultivation of sweet potatoes. The C:N ratio turned out to be significantly negatively related to the content of the enzymes dehydrogenase (Adh), phosphatase (AF), urease (AU) and protease (AP) as well as the content of total nitrogen, especially its ammonium form (N-NH₄). The obtained results indicate the usefulness of research on enzymatic activity as an indicator of soil reaction to nitrogen fertilization and will enable maintenance of the optimal biological balance of cultivated soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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17 pages, 1414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of Soil Health through Residue Management and Conservation Tillage in Rice-Wheat Cropping System of Punjab, Pakistan

by Adnan Zahid, Sajid Ali, Mukhtar Ahmed and Nadeem Iqbal

Agronomy 2020, 10(12), 1844; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10121844 - 24 Nov 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5332

Abstract

In South Asia, soil health degradation is affecting the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). Indeed, for the sustainability of the soil quality, new adaptive technologies, i.e., conservation tillage and straw management resource conservation, are promising options. This investigation was focused on the interaction of tillage and straw management practices and their effects on Aridisols, Yermosols soil quality, and nutrients dynamics with different soil profiles within RWCS. The long-term field experiment was started in 2014 with the scenarios (i) conventional tillage (SC₁), (ii) residue incorporation (SC₂), (iii) straw management practices (SC₃ and SC₄) and conservation tillage (SC₅). Conservation tillage practice (SC₅) showed significant impact on properties of soil and availability of nutrients in comparison with that of conventional farmers practice (SC₁) at the studied soil depths. The SC₅ showed significant results of gravitational water contents (25.34%), moderate pH (7.4), soil organic-matter (7.6 g kg⁻¹), total nitrogen (0.38 g kg⁻¹), available phosphate (7.4 mg kg⁻¹), available potassium (208 mg kg⁻¹) compared to SC₁ treatment at 0 to 15 cm soil depth. Whereas, DTPA-extractable-Cu, Mn, and Zn concentration were significantly higher, i.e., 1.12 mg kg⁻¹, 2.14 mg kg⁻¹, and 4.35 mg kg⁻¹, respectively under SC₅ than conventional farmer’s practices, while DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) extractable Fe (6.15 mg kg⁻¹) was more in straw management practices (SC₄) than conventional and conservation tillage. Therefore, conservation tillage (SC₅) can surge the sustainability of the region by improving soil assets and nutrients accessibility and has the potential to minimize inorganic fertilizers input in the long run. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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16 pages, 5929 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Modelling and Prediction of Organic Carbon Dynamics in Arable Soils Based on a 62-Year Field Experiment in the Voronezh Region, European Russia

by Ilshat Husniev, Vladimir Romanenkov, Olga Minakova and Pavel Krasilnikov

Agronomy 2020, 10(10), 1607; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10101607 - 20 Oct 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2838

Abstract

Organic carbon (OC) accumulation in soil mitigates greenhouse gases emission and improves soil health. We aimed to quantify the dynamics of OC stock in soils and to justify technologies that allow annual increasing OC stock in the arable soil layer by 4‰. We based the study on a field experiment established in 1936 in the 9-field crop rotation with a fallow on Chernozem in European Russia. The RothC version 26.3 was used for the reproducing and forecasting OC dynamics. In all fertilizer applications at FYM background, there was a decrease in the OC stock with preferable loss of active OC, except the period 1964–1971 with 2–5‰ annual OC increase. The model estimated the annual C input necessary to maintain OC stock as 1900 kg·ha⁻¹. For increasing OC stocks by 4‰ per year, one should raise input to 2400 kg·ha⁻¹. The simulation was made for 2016–2090 using climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Crop rotation without fallowing provided an initial increase of 3‰ and 6‰ of stocks in the RCP8.5 and RCP4.5 scenarios accordingly, followed by a loss in accumulated OC. Simulation demonstrates difficulties to increase OC concentration in Chernozems under intensive farming and potential capacity to rise OC stock through yield management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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16 pages, 1221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Properties after Eight Years of the Use of Strip-Till One-Pass Technology

by Iwona Jaskulska, Kestutis Romaneckas, Dariusz Jaskulski, Lech Gałęzewski, Barbara Breza-Boruta, Bożena Dębska and Joanna Lemanowicz

Agronomy 2020, 10(10), 1596; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10101596 - 18 Oct 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3414

Abstract

Tillage is an agrotechnical practice that strongly affects the soil environment. Its effect on soil properties depends on the system and, more specifically, on the degree of soil inversion and loosening. Strip-till is a non-inversive method that loosens only narrow soil strips. In strip-till one-pass (ST-OP) technology, tillage is combined with a simultaneous application of fertilizers and seed sowing. In a static multi-year field experiment, the soil properties after application of ST-OP for 8 years were compared to those of soil under conventional tillage with the use of a moldboard plough to a depth of 20 cm (CT), and equally deep loosened and mixed reduced tillage (RT). A field experiment of these three treatments was performed since 2012 in sandy loam soil, Luvisol. A total of 44 features were examined that described the physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical soil properties in the 0–20 cm layer, and penetration resistance (PR), bulk density (BD), and soil moisture (SM) in the 25–30 cm layer. The influence of the ST-OP technology on the yield of crops was also determined. Multivariate analysis shows that the ST-OP method, in terms of affecting the soil properties, differs considerably from RT and CT treatments. The soil after the ST-OP method contained two- to four-fold more earthworms (En), with a mass (Em) 2- to 5-fold higher, than those in the soil following RT and CT, respectively. In the ST-OP soil the content of available phosphorus (Pa) and available potassium (Ka); the total count of bacteria (Bt), cellulolytic microorganisms (Bc), and fungi (Ff); and the activity of phosphatases (AlP, AcP) were significantly higher. Compared with CT, the content of total organic carbon (Ct) and its content in the fractions of organic matter were also higher, with the exception of humins (C_H). The yields of winter rapeseed and winter wheat using the ST-OP technology were marginally higher compared with those using the CT and RT technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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26 pages, 5364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Changes in Glomalin-Related Soil Proteins (GRSP) Content, Microbial Diversity and Physical Properties Depending on the Type of Soil as the Important Biotic Determinants of Soil Quality

by Anna Gałązka, Jacek Niedźwiecki, Jarosław Grządziel and Karolina Gawryjołek

Agronomy 2020, 10(9), 1279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10091279 - 29 Aug 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3810

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) content, microbial diversity and soil physical quality depending on the type of soil measures of soil improvement and changes in soil health. The study was based on a 100-year stationary field microplot experiment where the soil profiles were collected with preserving the natural soil horizons. The microplot experiment was carried out on eight different soil types: Brunic Arenosol (Dystric I), Rendzic Leptosol, Fluvic Cambisol, Haplic Cambisol (Eutric), Gleyic Phaeozem, Brunic Arenosol (Dystric II), Haplic Cambisol (Eutric II) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric). These soils are the most common types of agricultural soils in Poland. Relatively significant correlations with the soil quality, physical parameters and the glomalin-related soil proteins have been found. The study determined the total GRSP (T-GRSP) and easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) levels in soils as well as the soil physical quality index and soil’s microbial biodiversity. The GRSP depended on the type of soil and correlated with S-Index and also was responsible for the unique chemical and physical properties of soils. Soils characterized by the highest T-GRSP content belonged to the group of very good and good soil physical quality characterized also by high biological activity, for which there were strong correlations with such parameters as dehydrogenase activity (DHA), microbial biomass content (MBC), microbial nitrogen content (MBN) and total bacteria number (B). The highest T-GRSP content and higher microbial diversity were found in Gleyic Phaeozem, Rendzic Leptosol and Fluvic Cambisol. The T-GRSP and EE-GRSP content were additionally correlated with the number of AMF spores. Very poor and poor soil physical quality according to S-Index characterized Brunic Arenosol (Dystric I) and Haplic Cambisol (Dystric). This research indicates that a specific edaphone of soil microorganisms and GRSP content may be of great importance when assessing a soil’s quality and improvements in soil health. The abundance of glomalin-producing fungi significantly affects the quality of the soil. This effect is particularly important for agricultural soils are threatened by ongoing land degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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21 pages, 1925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of the Effects of Different Crop Production Systems on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Microbial Activity under Winter Wheat

by Anna Maria Gajda, Ewa Antonina Czyż and Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga

Agronomy 2020, 10(8), 1130; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10081130 - 03 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3572

Abstract

In many areas, organic crop production systems have been shown to contribute to maintaining good soil condition. The organic production system has been recommended as an alternative to conventional agriculture. However, in order to recommend this practice in new regions, it is necessary to obtain information about its effects and consequences in local environmental conditions. The research was completed during 2016–2018 in Osiny (Lublin region, Poland) on a field experiment established 26 years previously in a Haplic Luvisol soil. The research was aimed at comparing the effects of long-term use of tilled soil with organic (ORG) and conventional (CON) crop production systems with those in non-tilled soil under permanent grass (PRG) as a control. This comparison was done on the basis of changes in the values of soil properties as follows: Total porosity (TP), total organic matter (OM), particulate organic matter (POM), humic substances (HS), water-extractable carbon (WEC), microbial biomass carbon pool (MBC) and dehydrogenase activity (DH). Soil samples were collected from experimental fields (each treatment 1 ha) under winter wheat and permanent grass each year from 0–5, 5–10, 15–20 and 30–35 cm depths. Over the three year study period, it was found that permanent grass and the organic crop production system contributed to increased soil OM, POM, HS, WEC and MBC contents and DH activity compared to the CON system, especially in the top soil layer, 0–5 cm. To obtain a clearer picture of soil quality change our study examined for the first time the metabolic potential index (MPI) as a ratio of dehydrogenase activity to the soluble organic carbon content. The MPI values confirmed the increase of metabolism in ORG soil as a consequence of management practices compared with CON soil. The obtained correlations showed strong mutual relationships within properties of the heterogeneous soil complex. The results show the positive effects of the ORG management system causing soil condition improvement which is based on organic fertilization, enriching the soil with a large amount of plant residues in creating positive changes in the soil quality in contrast to the CON system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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26 pages, 1208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Rice Husk Biochar on Carbon Release and Nutrient Availability in Three Cultivation Age of Greenhouse Soils

by Chen-Chi Tsai and Yu-Fang Chang

Agronomy 2020, 10(7), 990; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10070990 - 10 Jul 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4145

Abstract

Greenhouse production can contribute to the accumulation of salt and heavy metals and nutrient imbalance, thus, increasingly degrading greenhouse soils. The potential of rice husk biochar to increase carbon sequestration, neutralize soil pH, increase nutrient retention, and change nutrient/heavy metal sorption/desorption in greenhouse soils is promising. Therefore, we investigated three greenhouse soils (red soil) with 3, 14, and 24 cultivation years (3S, 14S, and 24S) in northern Taiwan to test the effects of rice husk biochar (RHB) on carbon dynamics and nutrient availability. A 100-day incubation study was conducted in which poultry-livestock manure compost (2% by wt.) and six rice-husk-based, slow-pyrolysis biochars pyrolyzed at different temperatures were applied (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 4.0%, 10%, and 20% by wt.) to three red soils. The study results indicated that the RHB pyrolyzed at high temperatures, with relatively high pH and Ca content, could lead to a higher neutralizing effect when applied to the soil. In addition, the high temperatures pyrolyzed RHB had a higher capacity to reduce the concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the three soils, especially for the younger cultivation soil, which contributed to the higher pH and relatively high surface area of these RHB, and the relative lower soil pH of the younger soil. Furthermore, only adding 0.5% RHB could result in an evident change in soil characteristics for 3S and 24S soil, including cumulative C release, pH, EC, TC, and available K increase, but 4% RHB addition was needed for 14S soil. In the condition of co-application with 2% compost (by wt.), 4% RHB addition was necessary for carbon sequestration, at least 10% RHB addition was needed for 3S and 14S soil, but 1.0 to 4.0% would be sufficient for 24S. In conclusion, the RHB and compost co-application in greenhouse soil resulted in improved chemical properties, and the effect of the pyrolysis temperature, application rate, and cultivation age had varying improvements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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13 pages, 1138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Change of Soil Carbon on a Long-Term Experimental Site with Variable Crop Rotations and Tillage Systems

by Ahmed Laamrani, Paul R. Voroney, Aaron A. Berg, Adam W. Gillespie, Michael March, Bill Deen and Ralph C. Martin

Agronomy 2020, 10(6), 840; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10060840 - 12 Jun 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3327

Abstract

The impacts of tillage practices and crop rotations are fundamental factors influencing changes in the soil carbon, and thus the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to compare soil carbon status and temporal changes in topsoil from different 4 year rotations and tillage treatments (i.e., no-till and conventional tillage). Rotation systems were primarily corn and soy-based and included cereal and alfalfa phases along with red clover cover crops. In 2018, soil samples were collected from a silty-loam topsoil (0–15 cm) from the 36 year long-term experiment site in southern Ontario, Canada. Total carbon (TC) contents of each sample were determined in the laboratory using combustion methods and comparisons were made between treatments using current and archived samples (i.e., 20 year and 9 year change, respectively) for selected crop rotations. Overall, TC concentrations were significantly higher for no-till compared with conventional tillage practices, regardless of the crop rotations employed. With regard to crop rotation, the highest TC concentrations were recorded in corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations with red clover cover crop in both cereal phases. TC contents were, in descending order, found in corn–corn–alfalfa–alfalfa (CCAA), corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) with 1 year of seeded red clover, and corn–corn–corn–corn (CCCC). The lowest TC concentrations were observed in the corn–corn–soybean–soybean (CCSS) and corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations without use of cover crops, and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We found that (i) crop rotation varieties that include two consecutive years of soybean had consistently lower TC concentrations compared with the remaining rotations; (ii) TC for all the investigated plots (no-till and/or tilled) increased over the 9 year and 20 year period; (iii) the no-tilled CCOB rotation with 2 years of cover crop showed the highest increase of TC content over the 20 year change period time; and (iv) interestingly, the no-till continuous corn (CCCC) rotation had higher TC than the soybean–soybean–corn–corn (SSCC) and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We concluded that conservation tillage (i.e., no-till) and incorporation of a cover crop into crop rotations had a positive effect in the accumulation of TC topsoil concentrations and could be suitable management practices to promote soil fertility and sustainability in our agricultural soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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13 pages, 255 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Tillage, Crop Rotation and Crop Residue Management Effects on Nutrient Availability in a Sweet Sorghum-Based Cropping System in Marginal Soils of South Africa

by Mashapa E. Malobane, Adornis D. Nciizah, Fhatuwani N. Mudau and Isaiah I.C Wakindiki

Agronomy 2020, 10(6), 776; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10060776 - 30 May 2020

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4603

Abstract

The low soil fertility status of South African marginal soils threatens sustainable production of biofuel feedstock in smallholder farmers. It is therefore imperative to development sustainable and optimal management practices that improve soil fertility. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tillage, rotation and crop residue management on nutrient availability in a bioenergy sweet sorghum-based cropping system in marginal soils. Two tillage levels, no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT); two crop rotations, sweet sorghum–grazing vetch–sweet sorghum (SVS) and sweet sorghum–fallow–sweet sorghum (SFS); and three crop residue retention levels, 0%, 15% and 30%, were tested. No-till enhanced total nitrogen, total organic nitrogen (TON), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) by 3.19% to 45% compared to CT. SVS rotation increased ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) and nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) by 3.42% to 5.98% compared to SFS. A 30% crop residue retention increased NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, available phosphorus (Available P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), calcium (Ca), Mg and potassium (K) by 3.58% to 31.94% compared to crop residue removal. In the short term, a 30% crop residue retention was the main treatment that enhanced soil fertility. The application of NT−30% was a better practice to enhance soil fertility. However, research on inclusion of crop diversity/intercropping can add more value to the NT–30% practice in enhancing soil fertility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

19 pages, 3246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Fertilization with Potassium Modifies Soil Biological Quality in K-Rich Soils

by Qiuyu Chen, Ying Xin and Zhanjun Liu

Agronomy 2020, 10(6), 771; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10060771 - 28 May 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3059

Abstract

Imbalanced fertilization without potassium (K) is a worldwide phenomenon in K-rich soils, but its long-term effects on soil quality are poorly understood. Here, in a wheat–fallow system with K-rich soil, soil nutrients and enzyme activities involved in C, N, P, and S cycling and microbial community composition were studied in a 27-year field study with three treatments: no fertilizer (CK); mineral N and P fertilizer (NP); and mineral N, P, and K fertilizer (NPK). Results revealed that long-term NP and NPK fertilization significantly increased soil quality index (SQI) scores and wheat grain yield by mediating soil fertility, which was characterized by a significant decline in soil pH and increase in soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, available N (AN), available P (AP), enzymatic activities, and the abundance of total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, when compared to CK. NP exhibited significantly higher SOC, AN, AP, microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, total bacteria, and fungi values compared to NPK; the opposite was true for soil pH and available K. Notably, the differences in wheat grain yield were not statistically significant, while SQI scores in NP (0.86 ± 0.02) were appreciably higher than NPK (0.79 ± 0.03), which was attributed to the differences in MBC, MBN, and microbial communities. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that SOC was the key variable affecting enzymatic activities and microbial community composition. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) revealed that fertilization-induced changes in SQI were primarily associated with soil microbiological properties (e.g., microbial community composition), while fertilization-driven increases in wheat grain yield were regulated by the soil nutrients. These results suggest that long-term NPK fertilization decreases soil biological quality in K-rich soils, and further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which K affects soil quality in agricultural systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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16 pages, 3679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxytetracycline and Monensin Uptake by Tifton 85 Bermudagrass from Dairy Manure-Applied Soil

by Sheldon S. Hilaire, Barbara Bellows, Jeff A. Brady and James P. Muir

Agronomy 2020, 10(4), 468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10040468 - 27 Mar 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2879

Abstract

To address concerns regarding the potential impact of antibiotic use in animal husbandry on antibiotic resistance in humans, we conducted a greenhouse-based study examining uptake of the veterinary antibiotics oxytetracycline (OTC) and monensin (MON) by Tifton 85 Bermudagrass (T85), the most commonly grown forage grass in the southeastern U.S.A. Since oxytetracycline is used in both veterinary and human medicine, its accumulation in animal products could impact human resistance to this antibiotic. Monensin is not used in human medicine but has a high potential for accumulating in the environment. Our research examined antibiotic uptake by forage grass T85, the effect of dairy manure application on its uptake, and antibiotic retention in soil. We compared unspiked, wet dairy manure to wet dairy manure spiked with MON or OTC that was soil surface applied to pots or incorporated into soil. After 6 wk, plant stem/leaf and root tissue, as well as soil samples, were assessed for antibiotic residues using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results confirmed Tifton 85 MON and OTC uptake. Six weeks after adding the antibiotics, the greatest plant matter OTC and MON contents were 157.9 ± 70.6 and 234.4 ± 19.6 µg kg⁻¹, respectively, and 17.6 and 369.5 µg kg⁻¹, respectively, for soil. When spiked with OTC, manure incorporation led to decreased OTC uptake by T85 tissue. Bioaccumulation of these antimicrobials in livestock and in the environment is a potential concern for animal, environmental, and human health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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Review

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25 pages, 3134 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Soil Organic Carbon in Sandy Paddy Fields of Northeast Thailand: A Review

by Noppol Arunrat, Praeploy Kongsurakan, Sukanya Sereenonchai and Ryusuke Hatano

Agronomy 2020, 10(8), 1061; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy10081061 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 7593

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) improvement has become a sustainable strategy for enhancing soil resilience and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the rice cropping system. For tropical soils, the SOC accumulation was limited by the unfavorable environment, likely the sandy soil area in Northeast (NE) Thailand. This review aims to quantify and understand SOC in sandy paddy fields of NE Thailand. The existing research gap for alternative management practices is also highlighted to increase ecological and agronomic values. We review previous studies to determine the factors affecting SOC dynamics in sandy paddy fields, in order to enhance SOC and sustain rice yields. High sand content, up to 50% sand, was found in 70.7% of the observations. SOC content has ranged from 0.34 to 31.2 g kg⁻¹ for the past four decades in paddy rice soil of NE Thailand. The conventional and alternative practice managements were chosen based on either increasing rice crop yield or improving soil fertility. The lack of irrigation water during the mild dry season would physically affect carbon sequestration as the soil erosion accelerates. Meanwhile, soil chemical and microbial activity, which directly affect SOC accumulation, would be influenced by nutrient and crop residue management, including chemical fertilizer, manure and green manure, unburned rice straw, and biochar application. Increasing SOC content by 1 g kg⁻¹ can increase rice yield by 302 kg ha⁻¹. The predicted carbon saturation varied tremendously, from 4.1% to 140.6% (52% in average), indicating that the sandy soil in this region has the potential for greater SOC sequestration. Our review also suggests that broadening the research of rice production influenced by sandy soil is still required to implement adaptive management for sustainable agriculture and future food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Agricultural Management on Soil Properties and Health)

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