Organic matter properties in cultivated versus set-aside arable soils

Masciandaro, Grazia; Ceccanti, B.; Gallardo, Juan F.

doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(97)00124-2

Cited by 76 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Traditional cultivation practices generally aggravate land degradation, decreasing SOC content due to disruption of the equilibrium between the competing processes of humus formation and mineralization (Masciandaro et al, 1998;Saviozzi et al, 2001). The regular use of organic manure tends to counterbalance these processes maintaining high levels of SOM (Wu et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enzyme activity as an indicator of soil quality changes in degraded cultivatedAcrisolsin the Mexican Trans‐volcanic Belt

et al. 2011

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Soils located at the Mexican Trans-Volcanic Belt (MTB) have a worrying degree of degradation due to inappropriate management practices. Early indicators of soil changes are very useful to alert about negative impacts of wrong managements on these volcanic soils. The aim of this work was to evaluate the short-term effects (4 years) of different agricultural practices on soil organic matter (SOM) quality and to validate the potential of the selected biochemical properties as optimal early indicators of soil quality in Mexican cultivated Acrisols. During 2002-2005 four agronomic management systems: conventional (Tc); improved conventional (Ti); organic (To) and fallow (Tf) were assayed in plots located at the MTB. An uncultivated soil under grass cover (Sg) was used as reference. Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm depth and were analysed chemically (soil organic C, total N, water-soluble C and humic C), and biochemically (total and extra-cellular enzyme activity). After 4 years, soil organic C, total N, water-soluble C, and dehydrogenase activity had higher values in To, followed by Ti treatment. A similar response pattern was observed in the extra-cellular enzyme activity. The highest total enzyme activity was found in Sg, followed by Ti and To treatments, and the lowest values appeared in Tc and Tf. To and Ti increased SOM contents of the degraded Acrisols studied, while Tc and Tf managements decreased the quality of these soils. The results showed that the assayed soil enzymes can be used as indicators of quality changes of these Mexican volcanic soils.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…INTF was measured spectrophotometrically at 490 nm (Masciandaro et al, 2000). The metabolic potential index (Masciandaro et al, 1998;Caravaca et al, 2002) was calculated as the ratio between the indicator of soil microbial activity (DHa) and the sources of energy for micro-organisms (WSC).…”

Section: Soil Physico-chemical and Biochemical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enzyme activity as an indicator of soil quality changes in degraded cultivatedAcrisolsin the Mexican Trans‐volcanic Belt

et al. 2011

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“…A ratio between dehydrogenase activity and WSC (DHase/WSC, defined "metabolic potential index") has been calculated to represent soil metabolic potential (Masciandaro et al 1998(Masciandaro et al , 2000. The higher values shown by the straw-mulch and no-till systems suggested a stimulation of soil metabolism induced by carbon-rich compounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enzyme activity and C and N pools in soil following application of mulches

Masciandaro¹,

Ceccanti²,

Benedicto³

et al. 2004

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of some mulching materials on soil biochemical properties that represent a component of soil quality and functionality. Wheat straw, dairy manure compost, and black polyethylene were used in the mulching experiments of a soil seeded with forage maize. Soil samples were taken from the surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface (10–20 cm) layers 1 and 4 mo after treatments were applied. Soil productivity, biochemical and chemical properties were determined. Compost treatment showed the highest agronomic yield due to the release of nutrients for plant nutrition and soil metabolism. Dehydrogenase activity was used as a measurement of overall microbial activity, whereas β-glucosidase and urease hydrolase activities were determined as an expression of C and N cycles. In addition, a ratio between dehydrogenase activity and water soluble carbon (defined as “metabolic potential index”) was calculated, in order to better represent soil metabolic potential. Compost-mulch treatment showed the lowest ratio values, while straw mulch had the highest value. A similar trend was found for β-glucosidase activity. The data confirmed the validity and sensitivity of the metabolic potential index and β-glucosidase enzyme in monitoring the change of soil biochemical properties and of soil quality during soil management practices. Key words: Soil enzyme activities, mulching practice, soil quality

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“…This leads to losses in soil organic carbon and nutrients, a decrease in the water storage capacity, a depletion in soil structure and a decrease in biological activity (Lobe et al, 2001;Zalibekov, 2002;Su et al, 2004). Land use can either help or hinder soil erosion, and thus land use is one of the main factors that impact physical, chemical and biological processes of soils (Garcia et al, 1994;Masciandaro et al, 1998;Caravaca et al, 2002). The influences of land use on soil are usually only evaluated through changes in just a few selected soil properties such as organic carbon, total nitrogen and moisture content (Caravaca et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%