Download or read book Effects of the Base Cation Saturation Ratio Approach to Soil Management on Weeds and Crop Yield and Improved Methodology for Measuring Soil Aggregate Stability written by Andrea S. Leiva Soto and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many Midwestern organic farmers in their focus on improving soil quality for crop production attempt to balance their soil’s calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) saturation levels by applying calcium-rich amendments. For most soils, this practice based on the base cation saturation ratio (BCSR) hypothesis, requires repeated applications of calcitic limestone and or gypsum to increase Ca to approximately 65% of a soil’s saturation capacity and reduce Mg saturation to less than 20%. Expected and claimed benefits of this practice of soil balancing include improved soil structure, decreases in weed pressure, and increases in crop yield. We applied various Ca and Mg rich minerals in a corn-soybean-small grain rotation in two Ohio soils over several years. Our treatments were designed to contrast the effects of different Ca to Mg ratios on the weed community and on soil properties. Our research is the first to provide evidence that Ca:Mg ratios in the soil can reduce density of weed seeds found in the soil. At the silt loam soil, broadleaf and grass seedbank densities were on average about 25% and 40% lower after the second year of gypsum applications, respectively, across crops. Weed emergence for the same soil showed a similar response. At the clay loam soil, grass seedbank densities were on average about 40% higher after the third year of epsom application across crops. Our experimental design enabled us to also investigate the claim of soil balancing proponents and farmers that the increases in crop yield they experienced were due to higher Ca:Mg ratios rather than pH correction. We examined crop yield in response to both pH and Ca and Mg saturation levels over 6 years and concluded that balancing the soil Ca and Mg levels did not impact corn or soybean yields but managing soil acidity did. Our results confirm that correcting excess acidity remains the fundamental reason to apply limestone as a tool to improve crop yields. Previously reported research from our project had failed to demonstrate improvement in soil structure resulting from the use of the BCSR approach. Nevertheless, validated and efficient methods to assess impacts on soil aggregation are a crucial need in research efforts to better understand aspects of soil resilience to environmental and man-made stresses. The wet sieving method is a common method used to measure aggregate stability. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding procedures used before, during, and after the wet sieving process. We evaluated various contrasting procedures on eight Ohio soils, having between 7 to 78% sand content, including pre-wetting vs not pre-wetting samples prior to wet sieving, using deionized water vs tap water for wet sieving, sand correcting water stable aggregates after wet sieving (not correcting for sand vs correcting for sand the same size as the aggregate vs correcting all sand), and pre-sieving vs not pre-sieving soil samples prior to wet sieving. Not pre-wetting soil samples prior to wet sieving increased aggregate slaking, while using deionized water or tap water had almost the same effect. Pre-sieving soils before wet-sieving resulted in more water stable aggregates compared to not pre-sieving soils, with less variability across soils. Sand correcting water stable aggregates using the same sieve used for the aggregate separation can lower the variability between soils and have better analytical precision than correcting for all sand sizes or not correcting for sand. Our study confirms observations by soil balancing practitioners on weeds dynamic as increases in soil calcium reduced weed seedbank density while increases in soil magnesium increased weed seedbank density. In contrast, our study shows that for corn, increases in yield were positively related to soil pH and not to changes in soil Ca:Mg ratio. For soil aggregate stability measured by wet sieving, both pre-sieving soil samples prior to wet sieving and sand correcting water stable aggregates with the same aggregate sieve, resulted in lower variability across soils and better analytical precision.

Download or read book The Effect of Soil Cation Balancing on Soil Properties and Weed Communities in an Organic Rotation written by Katie Jo Linder and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Organic farmers rely on many methods for weed control. While cultural practices are considered to be important, tillage, cultivation and hand weeding are paramount. Soil balancing is a cultural approach to weed management that is frequently discussed but poorly understood. Likewise organic-approved herbicides are of great interest to some farmers but of uncertain efficacy. Soil balancing is an approach to soil management based upon the “Basic Cation Saturation Ratio” (BCSR) hypothesis, which postulates that an ideal soil has a base saturation ratio of ~70% Ca, ~10% Mg, and ~5% K. The effects of soil balancing and the efficacy of approved natural-product herbicides on weeds have not been adequately investigated. A long-term field experiment was initiated to determine the effects of various soil balancing amendments, gypsum plus limestone, limestone only, and an amendment obtained from a local company (Green Field Farms Cooperative) on crop, weed, and soil parameters. Respecting organic herbicides, a greenhouse experiment was initiated to determine the efficacy of cinnamon oil, manuka oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, citric acid, acetic acid, and a mixture of citric acid and garlic oil on three broadleaf weeds and two grasses. In the soil balancing experiment, balanced levels of Ca, Mg, and K base saturation were not achieved following two years of amendment application, although changes in soil pH, Ca, Mg, P, and S were measured over the course of the experiment with the specific amendments applied. Soil amendment led to higher levels of K, Ca, S, Mo, Cu, and Mn in corn and soybean foliage in 2014, and S in 2015, there were no treatment effects on grain yield or quality. Conclusions about the effect of soil balancing on weed communities could not be made because balance was not achieved; moreover, there were not clear treatment effects on weeds. However, a rotational effect was observed. Clover plots had the fewest weeds in 2015 because fewer weed seedlings emerged under the nearly complete cover of the clover that had been established in the spring of 2014. The 2015 corn, planted in 2014’s clover/oat plots, had the greatest number of weeds, likely resulting from a heavy infestation in clover/oats plots in 2014. Regarding the natural-product herbicide experiment, essential oils generally performed better than acids. Of the species evaluated, hairy galinsoga was the most difficult to control. Manuka oil had the greatest efficacy across species and experiments. Cinnamon oil and lemongrass oil had similar efficacy to manuka oil on common purslane and common lambsquarters, but generally did not control weeds as well as manuka oil. Although most weeds recovered by 2 WAT, dry weights were reduced in comparison to untreated plants.

Download or read book Biological Abstracts written by and published by . This book was released on 1959 with total page 1944 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Guideline for Salinity Assessment Mitigation and Adaptation Using Nuclear and Related Techniques written by Mohammad Zaman and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-11-28 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book is an outcome of the collaboration between the Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria, and Dr. Shabbir A Shahid, Senior Salinity Management Expert, Freelancer based in United Arab Emirates.The objective of this book is to develop protocols for salinity and sodicity assessment and develop mitigation and adaptation measures to use saline and sodic soils sustainably. The focus is on important issues related to salinity and sodicity and to describe these in an easy and user friendly way. The information has been compiled from the latest published literature and from the authors’ publications specific to the subject matter. The book consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the terms salinity and sodicity and describes various salinity classification systems commonly used around the world. Chapter 2 reviews global distribution of salinization and socioeconomic aspects related to salinity and crop production. Chapters 3 covers comprehensively salinity and sodicity adaptation and mitigation options including physical, chemical, hydrological and biological methods. Chapter 4 discusses the efforts that have been made to demonstrate the development of soil salinity zones under different irrigation systems. Chapter 5 discusses the quality of irrigation water, boron toxicity and relative tolerance to boron, the effects of chlorides on crops. Chapter 6 introduces the role of nuclear techniques in saline agriculture.

Download or read book Some References Relating to the Effect of Soil Base Saturation and Cation Ratios on Plant Growth 1971 1958 written by Commonwealth bureau of soils, Harpenden, England and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page 6 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Building Soils for Better Crops written by Fred Magdoff and published by Sare. This book was released on 2009 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "'Published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, with funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture."

Download or read book Cornell Soil Health Assessment Training Manual written by Beth K. Gugino and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Use of Saline Waters for Crop Production written by J. D. Rhoades and published by Artabras. This book was released on 1992 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Closing the Crop yield Gap Through Better Soil and Better Management written by Arthur Wallace and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Properties and Management of Soils in the Tropics written by Pedro A. Sanchez and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-01-10 with total page 685 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long-awaited second edition of classic textbook, brought completely up to date, for courses on tropical soils, and reference for scientists and professionals.

Download or read book Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa written by Nteranya Sanginga and published by CIAT. This book was released on 2009 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forward. A call for integrated soil fertility management in Africa. Introduction. ISFM and the African farmer. Part I. The principles of ISFM: ISFM as a strategic goal, Fertilizer management within ISFM, Agro-minerals in ISFM, Organic resource management, ISFM, soil biota and soil health. Part II. ISFM practices: ISFM products and fields practices, ISFM practice in drylands, ISFM practice in savannas and woodlands, ISFM practice in the humid forest zone, Conservation Agriculture. Part III. The process of implementing ISFM: soil fertility diagnosis, soil fertility management advice, Dissemination of ISFM technologies, Designing an ISFM adoption project, ISFM at farm and landscape scales. Part IV. The social dimensions of ISFM: The role of ISFM in gender empowerment, ISFM and household nutrition, Capacity building in ISFM, ISFM in the policy arena, Marketing support for ISFM, Advancing ISFM in Africa. Appendices: Mineral nutrient contents of some common organic resources.

Download or read book Biochar Application written by T. Komang Ralebitso-Senior and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2016-05-07 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biochar Application: Essential Soil Microbial Ecology outlines the cutting-edge research on the interactions of complex microbial populations and their functional, structural, and compositional dynamics, as well as the microbial ecology of biochar application to soil, the use of different phyto-chemical analyses, possibilities for future research, and recommendations for climate change policy. Biochar, or charcoal produced from plant matter and applied to soil, has become increasingly recognized as having the potential to address multiple contemporary concerns, such as agricultural productivity and contaminated ecosystem amelioration, primarily by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improving soil functions. Biochar Application is the first reference to offer a complete assessment of the various impacts of biochar on soil and ecosystems, and includes chapters analyzing all aspects of biochar technology and application to soil, from ecogenomic analyses and application ratios to nutrient cycling and next generation sequencing. Written by a team of international authors with interdisciplinary knowledge of biochar, this reference will provide a platform where collaborating teams can find a common resource to establish outcomes and identify future research needs throughout the world. - Includes multiple tables and figures per chapter to aid in analysis and understanding - Includes a comprehensive table of the methods used within the contents, ecosystems, contaminants, future research, and application opportunities explored in the book - Includes knowledge gaps and directions of future research to stimulate further discussion in the field and in climate change policy - Outlines the latest research on the interactions of complex microbial populations and their functional, structural, and compositional dynamics - Offers an assessment of the impacts of biochar on soil and ecosystems

Download or read book Biochar for Environmental Management written by Dr. Johannes Lehmann and published by Earthscan. This book was released on 2009 with total page 449 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Biochar is the carbon-rich product when biomass (such as wood, manure, or crop residues) is heated in a closed container with little or no available air. It can be used to improve agriculture and the environment in several ways, and its stability in soil and superior nutrient-retention properties make it an ideal soil amendment to increase crop yields. In addition to this, biochar sequestration, in combination with sustainable biomass production, can be carbon-negative and therefore used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with major implications for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process.This book is the first to synthesize the expanding research literature on this topic. The book's interdisciplinary approach, which covers engineering, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, economics and policy, is a vital tool at this stage of biochar technology development. This comprehensive overview of current knowledge will be of interest to advanced students, researchers and professionals in a wide range of disciplines"--Provided by publisher.

Download or read book Precision in Crop Farming written by Hermann J. Heege and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-07-03 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: High yields and environmental control in crop farming call for precise adaptations to local growing conditions. Treating large fields in a uniform way by high capacity machinery cannot be regarded as a sustainable method for many situations. Because differences existing within single fields must be considered. The transition from former field work carried out manually or by small implements to present-day high-capacity machinery caused that the farmers lost the immediate and close contact with soils and crops. However, modern sensing and controlling technology can make up for this deficit. High tech methods that include proximal sensing and signals from satellites can provide for controls that allow adjusting farming operations to small fractions of one ha and sometimes even down to some m2, hence in a site-specific mode. This applies to operations for soil cultivation, sowing, fertilizing and plant protection. This book deals with site-specific concepts, applications and results.

Download or read book Building Soils for Better Crops written by Fred Magdoff and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Importance of Soil Organic Matter written by Alexandra Bot and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2005 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil organic matter - the product of on-site biological decomposition - affects the chemical and physical properties of the soil and its overall health. Its composition and breakdown rate affect: the soil structure and porosity; the water infiltration rate and moisture holding capacity of soils; the diversity and biological activity of soil organisms; and plant nutrient availability. This document concentrates on the organic matter dynamics of cropping soils and discusses the circumstances that deplete organic matter and their negative outcomes. It then moves on to more proactive solutions. It reviews a "basket" of practices in order to show how they can increase organic matter content and discusses the land and cropping benefits that then accrue.--Publisher's description.

Download or read book The Albrecht Papers written by William Albert Albrecht and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: