Long-term cultivation impacts on selected soil properties in the northern Great Plains

Tripathi

2006

Environ Monit Assess

A study was performed selecting one protected forest and an adjacent degraded forest ecosystem to quantify the impact of forest degradation on soil inorganic nitrogen, fine root production, nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial biomass N. There were marked seasonal variations of all the parameters in the upper 0-10 and lower 10-20 cm depths. The seasonal trend of net nitrification and net N-mineralization was reverse of that for inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass N. Net nitrification, net N-mineralization and fine root biomass values were highest in both forests during rainy season. On contrary, inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass N were highest during summer season.There was a marked impact of forest degradation on inorganic nitrogen, fine root production nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial biomass observed. Soil properties also varied with soil depth. Fine root biomass, nitrification, N-mineralization and microbial biomass N decreased significantly in higher soil depth. Degradation causes decline in mean seasonal fine root biomass in upper layer and in lower depth by 37% and 27%, respectively. The mean seasonal net nitrification and N-mineralization in upper depth decreased by 42% and 37%, respectively and in lower depth by 42.21% and 39% respectively. Similarly microbial biomass N also decreased by 31.16% in upper layer 33.19% in lower layer.

Section: Total N Organic Carbon and Oc/n Ratiosupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Total N Organic Carbon and Oc/n Ratiosupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Total N Organic Carbon and Oc/n Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Total N Organic Carbon and Oc/n Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of degradation on nitrogen transformation in a forest ecosystem of India

Tripathi

2006

Environ Monit Assess

“…This pattern of variability in soil pH suggested the increase in bases with increase in depth that could be attributed to the downward movement of solutes by leaching within a profile (Mohammed et al, 2005). Malo et al (2005) also reported that the increase in pH with soil depth could be associated with enhanced carbonate levels and less weathering rates.…”

Section: Soil Chemical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of Different Land Use Systems on Selected Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils in Northwestern Ethiopia

Selassie¹,

Ayanna²

2013

JAS

Information about effects of different land use systems on soil physico-chemical properties is crucial for best land management practices. This study was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the same on Nitosols of Achefer District, Northwestern Ethiopia. The landuse systems studied included grassland, cultivated land, plantation forest and natural forest. The research was superimposed on land use systems that were located nearby on similar soil, contour line and slope classes. Undisturbed core and disturbed composite soil samples were collected randomly from two sites with three replications for each landuse system at two varying depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm). The undisturbed soil samples were analysed for bulk density, particle density, porosity and moisture content at different pressures; while the composite soil samples were analyzed for pH, organic carbon, total N and available P. Results of the study indicated that the lowest bulk and particle densities, the highest total porosity, and higher moisture content at both field capacity and permanent wilting percentage were found under natural forest land use system. In contrast, the highest bulk and particle densities, the lowest total porosity and lower water contents at both field capacity and permanent wilting percentage were obtained under the cultivated landuse system. Soil pH was moderately acidic under all landuse systems. The lowest organic carbon, total N, and C:N ratio were recorded under cultivated land; whereas the highest values of the same parameters were found under natural forest. In all landuse systems, organic carbon and total N decreased with soil depth. The highest and lowest available P contents were recorded under natural forest and grassland, respectively. From the results of the study it was possible to conclude that conversion of forest lands to cultivated and grasslands had detrimental effects on the soil physico-chemical properties under subsistance farming systems of the study area. It is, therefore, recommended that appropriate and integrated land management options for different land use syetems are required to sustain agricultural productivity while protecting the environment.

Effects of straw returning and potassium fertilizer application on root characteristics and yield of spring maize in China inner Mongolia

et al. 2021

Exploring the effects of straw return (ST) and potassium fertilizer on soil structure, spring maize (Zea mays L.) root growth, K-absorption efficiency and yield is essential for devising optimized straw return and potassium fertilizer management practices to increase grain yield for food security. In this study, two straw return levels used were straw return , no straw return and two potassium application levels used were 6K (90 kg/ha potassium application), no potassium (0K). Analyzed the effects of the above four treatments on soil structure, spring maize root indicators, K-absorption efficiency and yield in three ecological regions in two years. The results showed that the effect of straw return on soil structure and root growth was better than that of applying potassium fertilizer. The effect of potassium fertilizer application on maize grain yield and K-absorption efficiency was better than that of straw return. The impact of the interaction was better than straw return or the application potassium fertilizer alone. Straw return improved the effects of potassium fertilizer on soil bulk density, soil porosity, spring maize root length, root surface area, root volume, maize grain K-absorption efficiency and yield by 3.99%-7.27%, 3.89%-7.40%, 1.35%-71.01%, 19.16%-42.45%, 10.49%-22.73%, 13.57%-19.67% and 4.43%-7.05%, respectively. Therefore, the interaction of straw return and potassium fertilizer was the best measure to maintain high and stable maize yield, increasing K-absorption efficiency and improving the nutrient resource management of straw and potassium fertilizer, which was appropriate for spring maize planting. INTRODUCTIONMaize (Zea mays L.) is the largest grain crop in China and contributes more than 80% of China's grain production, which is the main force and the key to guarantee food security (Zheng, 2012). The production of maize in northwestern China was