Long-Range Effects of Intensive Cultivation and Monoculture on the Quality of Southern Ontario Soils

Study on some soil quality changes obtained from long-term experiments

“…Lower aggregate stability at monoculture cereals practice was reported e.g. by Ketcheson (1980) who observed a negative influence of cereals grown as monoculture on soil structure. The individual trials significantly differed in soil pH (Figure 1b).…”

Alternative Management Practices Improve Soil Health Indices in Intensive Vegetable Cropping Systems: A Review

“…(Ketcheson, 1980;Saini and Grant, 1980;Mohr et al, 2011;Munkholm et al, 2013;Agneessens et al, 2014;McDaniel et al, 2014;Gaudin et al, 2015;Tiemann et al, 2015). Consequently, crop rotations have been consistently recommended as a best management practice to improve production and help conserve soil quality (Doran et al, 1996;Karlen et al, 1997;Doran and Zeiss, 2000;Tilman et al, 2002).…”

Influence of composts and liquid pig manure on CO2 and N2O emissions from a clay loam soil

“…Although Brookston clay loam is one of the major agricultural soils in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, its productivity is less than the climatic potential for the region because of inherently poor soil quality related to poor infiltration and drainage, poor aeration, high soil strength and high soil compactibility (Ketcheson 1980;McKeague et al 1987). In addition, a combination of warm soil temperatures, frequent moldboard plow tillage, and reduced residue inputs has resulted in substantial reductions in the near-surface organic C content of Brookston clay loam in its cultivated state relative to its origin state (Drury et al 1999).…”