Significance of Macroporosity and Hydrology for Soil Management and Sustainability of Agricultural Production in a Humid-Tropical Environment

Arya, Lalit; Dierolf, Thomas S.; Sofyan, A.; Widjaja-Adhi, I. P. G.; Genuchten, M. Th. van

doi:10.1097/00010694-199908000-00006

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Soil under the plastic shelter was never excessively wet, whereas the open field soil experienced intermittent saturation and lack of aeration. Fertilizer nutrients applied to the soil under the plastic shelter were most likely also better conserved and utilized, whereas those in the open field were subject to rapid leaching (Dierolf et al, 1997;Arya et al, 1999). The plastic shelter probably also modified the light, air-temperature, and humidity factors.…”

Section: Growth Environment and Symptoms Of Plant Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil fertility is depleted rapidly after land clearing, and a variety of soil toxicity factors (especially low pH and excess accumulation of exchangeable aluminum) begin to develop (Arya et al, 1999). Maintenance of soil fertility is challenging.…”

Section: Economic Environmental and Natural Resource Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rapid disposal of rainfall via internal drainage is a common feature in highly weathered soils of the humid tropics (Uehara and Gilman, 1980;Dierolf, 1992;Arya et al, 1998;Arya et al, 1999). Soil erosion, therefore, is not a serious issue when adequate ground cover is present.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil erosion, therefore, is not a serious issue when adequate ground cover is present. However, internal drainage of large volumes of water also removes readily soluble nutrients (Dierolf et al, 1997;Arya et al, 1999). Depletion of base cations means not only poor fertility, but also increased acidity and aluminum toxicity (Wade et al, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Economic, Environmental, and Natural Resource Benefits of Plastic Shelters in Vegetable Production in a Humid Tropical Environment

Arya

Pulver

Genuchten

2001

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

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This paper reports the effectiveness of plastic shelters in overcoming soil-related and biotic constraints to vegetable production in Belize, Central America, where rainy-season tomatoes and sweet peppers are almost totally destroyed by geminiviruses. Use of pesticides is rampant, while rapid decline in soil productivity induces farmers to abandon previously used lands and clear new lands from virgin forests. We postulated that plants growing in the open-field environment are infected early by the soil-borne pathogens deposited on the plants from clouds of fine soil particles arising from the soil splash Lalit M. Arya and Edward L. Pulver are affiliated with the Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development, 38 Winrock Drive, Morrilton, AR 72110-9537. M. Th. van Genuchten is affiliated with the U.during high-intensity rainfall. The products of fungal and bacterial decay attract white flies (the vector for geminiviruses) and plants already weakened by the infection succumb easily to the viruses. A production system in which plant and soil surfaces are protected from direct rainfall using plastic shelters, was designed and field tested with tomatoes and sweet peppers. On average, plastic shelters increased tomato and sweet pepper yields by 169% and 96%, respectively, without any use of pesticides. Weed growth under the shelter was negligible, and plants maintained greenness and production well into the fourth month after transplanting. In contrast, open-field plots were infested with weeds, and plants were completely destroyed by the middle of the third month. The number of white flies visiting the plastic-shelter plants was only about 28% of that in the open-field. We conclude that total protection of soil and plant surfaces from rainfall is the most effective plant protection measure. The proposed system uses small land area on a continuous basis, provides stable production, requires little or no plant protection chemicals, and raises farmer income.

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Section: Growth Environment and Symptoms Of Plant Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Economic Environmental and Natural Resource Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Economic, Environmental, and Natural Resource Benefits of Plastic Shelters in Vegetable Production in a Humid Tropical Environment

Arya

Pulver

Genuchten

2001

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

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Rapid Water Flow and Transport of Inorganic and Organic Nitrogen in a Highly Aggregated Tropical Soil

Renck

Lehmann²

2004

Soil Science

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Deep Soil Water Dynamics and Depletion by Secondary Vegetation in the Eastern Amazon

Sommer

Fölster

Vielhauer

et al. 2003

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Secondary/fallow vegetation is found extensively in the Eastern Amazon. The role of this deep‐rooting vegetation in the hydrological cycle is unknown. We studied the water dynamics of this vegetation with emphasis on the deeper soil by means of a soil water model. The soil hydraulic properties were optimized in an inverse modeling procedure using the soil water model Hydrus‐1D providing rainfall, actual evapotranspiration (Ea) determined with the Bowen ratio energy balance method (BREB), rooting depth, and distribution, as well as the in situ control measurements of soil water pressure head and soil moisture. In 1997, Ea according to BREB measurements amounted to 1174 mm, in 1998 this was 1475 mm. Modeled drainage at a 10‐m depth in the 2 yr was 951 and 1016 mm, respectively. The model indicated that around 27% of the soil water was taken up below the 0.9‐m depth in the 2‐yr study period. During the severe 1997 dry season, according to the soil water model Ea was reduced drastically, as the soil water storage was depleted. According to micrometeorological measurements, however, Ea was not reduced as extremely. This difference might be due to general uncertainties of the soil water model as well as BREB measurements. On the other hand, formation and subsequent evaporation of early morning dew apparently contributed to Ea, which was not considered in the soil water model. In general, besides slightly lower interception, the water budget of a young secondary vegetation did not differ from that reported for Amazonian primary forest.

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Significance of Macroporosity and Hydrology for Soil Management and Sustainability of Agricultural Production in a Humid-Tropical Environment

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

Economic, Environmental, and Natural Resource Benefits of Plastic Shelters in Vegetable Production in a Humid Tropical Environment

Economic, Environmental, and Natural Resource Benefits of Plastic Shelters in Vegetable Production in a Humid Tropical Environment

Rapid Water Flow and Transport of Inorganic and Organic Nitrogen in a Highly Aggregated Tropical Soil

Deep Soil Water Dynamics and Depletion by Secondary Vegetation in the Eastern Amazon

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