Topsoil removal and cultivation effects on structural and hydraulic properties

Udom, B. E.; Omovbude, S.; Abam, P. O.

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2018.01.029

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The observed low densification of the soils at higher moisture content is consistent with [29,30] that capillary effects due to the high moisture content yielded tension stress that opposed compaction. High SOM found in the Velvet tamarind and 5-year fallow soils may have led to the low densification compared to the cultivated soils [31,32]. This is also consistent with [11,27] that SOM usually create a high number of macro pores which could facilitate higher amounts of water holding capacity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Critical Moisture Content, Bulk Density Relationships and Compaction of Cultivated and Uncultivated Soils in the Humid Tropics

Udom¹,

Ehilegbu²

2018

ASRJ

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Soil compaction affects soil fertility through increasing bulk density and soil strength. It also decreases infiltration rate, total porosity and amount of water stored in the root zone for crop use. In this study, we evaluated the optimum moisture contents (OMC) in relation to maximum dry density (MDD) and compaction of cultivated and uncultivated soils. The study was carried out on four land use types viz: uncultivated: Velvet tamarind (Dialium quineese), rubber plantation (Hevea brasiliensis) and cultivated: 5-year fallow and 10-year continuous cultivated soil to maize crop. Proctor test for the maximum dry density-moisture content relationship was carried out, including some hydraulic and structural properties of the soil, and their effect soil compaction. Results showed that optimum moisture content (OMC) for compaction relate to the maximum dry density (MDD). In which case, dry density increased with water content to a maximum and decrease as moisture content increased above the optimum. Soil organic matter (SOM) content and particle size distribution highly affected the MDD and OMC. The MDD and OMC were: 1.92 g cm-3 and 10.4%, 1.95 g cm-3 and 11.2%, 1.91 g cm-3 and 12.3%, and 1.87 g cm-3 and 12.8% for velvet tamarind, 5-year fallow, CC and rubber plantation soils respectively, at 0-15 cm depth. Changes in field bulk densities at similar depths were in the order of velvet tamarind < rubber < 5-year fallow < CC. There were highly significant (p < 0.01) relationships between MDD, total porosity, Ksat and SOM and negative relationships between these parameters and OMC. Thus, continuous cultivation increased MDD and reduced OMC for compaction. Two- season fallow periods with legume could improve soil hydraulic properties and maintain the MDD of sandy soils at minimum.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Critical Moisture Content, Bulk Density Relationships and Compaction of Cultivated and Uncultivated Soils in the Humid Tropics

Udom¹,

Ehilegbu²

2018

ASRJ

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“…An average topsoil mining depth of 30 cm reported in studied brickfields can explain the strong reduction in SOC and SON and their stocks (Figure 8–15). Numerous other studies have also reported a decrease in organic matter due to topsoil removal and exposure of lower horizons (Geissen et al, 2013; Oyedele & Aina, 2006; Shrestha & Lal, 2011; Udom et al, 2018). The concentration of soil organic matter is consistently higher in the top 15 cm of the soil profile due to biomass production (Bauer & Black, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Impact of topsoil mining for unfired mudbricks on soil quality in eastern KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

Leshalagae

Buthelezi‐Dube

2022

Land Degrad Dev

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Topsoil mining associated with informal mud brick making is common in rural villages of South Africa. The impact of topsoil mining on soil quality, however has not been investigated. This study therefore assessed the impact of topsoil mining associated with unfired mud bricks on selected soil quality indicators in two villages of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. First, local miners were interviewed to ascertain information related to topsoil mining, brickfield site identification and soil suitability for mud bricks. Two brickfields per village mined for ≤5 and > 20 years, respectively were used in this study. Experiment consisted of three treatments, that is, unmined, mined and recovering lands replicated three times. Nine soil samples were collected (0-10 cm) from each site (three composite samples per treatment) with corresponding bulk density samples taken at 0-5 cm using core rings. The average topsoil mining depth was 30 cm. Interviews revealed that isidaka (poorly drained sandy clay) and isibomvu (red soil) are preferred over ubumba (clayey) soils. Topsoil mining increased silt fraction across all studied brickfields with an average of 45.2% in mined compared with 30.6% in unmined treatments. The response of clay fractions was variable across villages and mining time. Mining significantly decreased mean weight diameter, exchangeable bases, organic carbon, and nitrogen content and stocks and porosity while it increased bulk density. Results show that topsoil mining for mud brick making results in poor soil physical quality, nutrient availability and carbon storage with implications for land degradation in mud brickfields.

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“…According to the particle-size distribution, both the top- and subsoil have silty loam textural characteristics with slightly lower clay content in the topsoil (Table 1 ). Soil erosion probably resulted in losses of the fine soil particles from the soil surface, hence the clay content got slightly depleted in the topsoil over time (Biswas et al, 2018 ; Udom et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological risk and enrichment of potentially toxic elements in the soil and eroded sediment in an organic vineyard (Tokaj Nagy Hill, Hungary)

Pham

Babcsányi

Farsang

2021

Environ Geochem Health

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Potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Co, can accumulate in vineyard soils due to repeated uses of inorganic pesticides and chemical or organic fertilizers. In sloping vineyards, PTEs can also be moved by soil erosion resulting in their accumulation in low-energy zones within the landscape, adversely affecting the soil environment. Our study evaluated the ecological risk related to the pseudo-total and bioavailable PTE contents (Zn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cr, and Cu) in the soil and eroded sediment samples from an organic vineyard in Tokaj (NE Hungary). The contamination status and the ecological risk of target PTEs were assessed by calculating the contamination factor, the pollution load index, the ecological risk factor, and the ecological risk index. The median pollution load indices of 1.15, 1.81, and 1.10 for the topsoil, the sediments, and the subsoil, respectively, demonstrate a moderate multi-element contamination case in the organic vineyard. Target PTEs tented to show increased concentrations in eroded sediments with the highest enrichment ratio (3.36) observed for Cu (Cu in the sediment/Cu in the topsoil), revealing a preferential movement of Cu-rich soil particles by overland flow. Moreover, PTEs were present in the sediments in more bioavailable forms (except Ni, Cr), assessed by an extraction procedure with EDTA. The ecological risk index (< 90) based on the studied PTEs showed an overall low ecological risk in the vineyard. Copper was the predominant factor of the ecological risk. Moreover, the highest ecological risk factor (24.6) observed for the bioavailable Cu content in an eroded sediment sample (representing 82% of the total ecological risk) shows that Cu accumulation in sloping vineyards is an ecological risk, particularly in the sedimentation zones. The high proportions of bioavailable Cu in the vineyard’s soil represent an increasing ecological risk over time, related to repeated treatments of vine plants with Cu-based pesticides.

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Topsoil removal and cultivation effects on structural and hydraulic properties

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

Critical Moisture Content, Bulk Density Relationships and Compaction of Cultivated and Uncultivated Soils in the Humid Tropics

Critical Moisture Content, Bulk Density Relationships and Compaction of Cultivated and Uncultivated Soils in the Humid Tropics

Impact of topsoil mining for unfired mudbricks on soil quality in eastern KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa

Ecological risk and enrichment of potentially toxic elements in the soil and eroded sediment in an organic vineyard (Tokaj Nagy Hill, Hungary)

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