Soil rheology characterises the flow behaviour of soils at the particle-particle to aggregate scale.Amplitude sweep tests(ASTs)are often the method of choice for parameterizing soil flow properties,such as the shear s...Soil rheology characterises the flow behaviour of soils at the particle-particle to aggregate scale.Amplitude sweep tests(ASTs)are often the method of choice for parameterizing soil flow properties,such as the shear strain values at the end of the linear viscoelastic range(i.e.,the deformation is mainly elastic)and at the yield point(i.e.,elastic equals plastic deformation).Samples from seven soil profiles and five soil depths of Chernozems,collected in the Maidanetske study area,close to Uman City of Ukraine,were analysed to evaluate the effect of soil organic carbon(SOC)on the parameters related to soil microstructural stability derived from ASTs.Soil organic carbon was removed with H_(2)O_(2)to determine the soil texture-dependent values of soil rheological properties,which were compared to the values determined for samples with intact water-stable aggregates.The shear resistance-related parameters increased for aggregated soil samples compared to SOC-free soil samples,indicating an increase in soil stability due to SOC.In contrast,the values of the overall viscoelasticity and the shear strain were reduced for aggregated soil samples,indicating decreased soil stability.Pedotransfer functions were applied to predict the shear strain-dependent loss and storage moduli and shear stress values as a function of SOC depletion.Coarse particles(630–2000μm)and volumetric water content improved the models.We conclude that increased SOC content,through the gluing and cementing effects of SOC and altered aggregate shapes compared to SOC-free soil materials,contributes to higher microstructural strength.However,the increased water content in the SOC-containing soil samples reversed soil strengthening effect.This was due to the fact that a more rapid increase in positive water pressure under shear stress weakened the samples and the spherical aggregates began to rotate more easily,thus loosing energy,when compared to platy particles of the SOC-free soil materials.展开更多
Biochars are, amongst other available amendment materials, considered as an attractive tool in agriculture for carbon sequestration and improvement of soil functions. The latter is widely discussed as a consequence of...Biochars are, amongst other available amendment materials, considered as an attractive tool in agriculture for carbon sequestration and improvement of soil functions. The latter is widely discussed as a consequence of improved physical quality of the amended soil.However, the mechanisms for this improvement are still poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of woodchip biochar amendment on micro-structural development, micro-and macro-structural stability, and resilience of two differently textured soils,fine sand(FS) and sandy loam(SL). Test substrates were prepared by adding 50 or 100 g kg^(-1) biochar to FS or SL. Total porosity and plant available water were significantly increased in both soils. Moreover, compressive strength of the aggregates was significantly decreased when biochar amount was doubled. Mechanical resilience of the aggregates at both micro-and macro-scale was improved in the biochar-amended soils, impacting the cohesion and compressive behavior. A combination of these effects will result in an improved pore structure and aeration. Consequently, the physicochemical environment for plants and microbes is improved. Furthermore, the improved stability properties will result in better capacity of the biochar-amended soil to recover from the myriad of mechanical stresses imposed under arable systems, including vehicle traffic, to the weight of overburden soil. However, it was noted that doubling the amendment rate did not in any case offer any remarkable additional improvement in these properties, suggesting a further need to investigate the optimal amendment rate.展开更多
A well developed macropore network is advantageous in terms of transport processes regarding gas and water,as well as nutrient acquisition and root growth of crops.X-ray computed tomography provides a non-destructive ...A well developed macropore network is advantageous in terms of transport processes regarding gas and water,as well as nutrient acquisition and root growth of crops.X-ray computed tomography provides a non-destructive method to visualize and quantify three-dimensional pore networks.Geometrical and morphological parameters of the complex pore system such as connectivity,tortuosity,porosity and pore surface area would be very useful for modeling and simulation of transport and exchange processes by providing quantitative data on relevant soil structural features and their modification by soil management.The scope of this study was to analyze and quantify the development of soil structure in the subsoil depending on three different precrop species(alfalfa A,chicory C and fescue F),at three depths(45,60 and 75 cm)and cultivation periods(1,2 and 3 years).Furthermore,morphological(air-filled porosityθa,pore surface area)and geometrical(pore diameter,connectivity,continuity,tortuosityτ)parameters were gathered with X-ray CT and image analysis.From an experimental field trial(Germany)with a Haplic Luvisol as soil type samples were taken and investigated.Air-capacity(θa)was measured in the laboratory for the same cylinders and compared to the results derived by image analysis.Air-capacity was highest for alfalfa(3 years,75 cm).Tortuosity(τ)ranged between 1.3 and 4.38,while alfalfa(3 years)showed the highest value,which indicated structural development due to crack formation by enhanced root water uptake.Thus,an increase in accessible surface may improve water and nutrient supply for plants,whereas the highτvalues may assume that oxygen supply is limited.It was found that the interaction of gas-diffusivity and the calculated parameters should be further investigated in terms of limitations to plant growth.展开更多
The individual and combined effects of biochar(B)and inorganic fertiliser(F)have all been widely proofed to improve soil fertility and enhance crop growth and yield under irrigation(I)and rain fed conditions.However,t...The individual and combined effects of biochar(B)and inorganic fertiliser(F)have all been widely proofed to improve soil fertility and enhance crop growth and yield under irrigation(I)and rain fed conditions.However,the strength of their individual and combined effects on crop productivity has been scarcely reported.In addition,few studies have assessed their individual and co-application effects on economic returns.Therefore,a 2-year field experiment which consisted of factorial combination of irrigation(I)[100%full irrigation(FI),80%FI and 60%FI],biochar(0 and 20 t/ha)and fertiliser(0 and 300 kg/ha)was conducted.According to the results,irrigation was the dominant factor that influences maize grain yield,followed by inorganic fertiliser and biochar,and they were all significant in their main effects.The strength of interaction effects among,I,F and B on maize grain yield follow the sequence F×I>B×F>B×I.The economic analysis showed that the ternary combination of B,F and I was more economical than the binary combination of B plus I,and F plus I(in that order),when compared with the standalone application of I at maximum production in the field experiment.In addition,combined applications of biochar and fertiliser improved soil nutrients,nutrient uptake in all irrigation treatments,compared to the standalone applications of biochar or fertiliser.Further research is,therefore,recommended for long-term evaluation of the economic viability of integrating biochar with fertiliser under irrigation.展开更多
Soil is one of the most critical life-supporting components of the biosphere. Soil provides many ecosystem services,such as a habitat for biodiversity, water and nutrients, food, feed, fiber and energy, but also serve...Soil is one of the most critical life-supporting components of the biosphere. Soil provides many ecosystem services,such as a habitat for biodiversity, water and nutrients, food, feed, fiber and energy, but also serves as archaeologicalrepositories. In addition to natural changes in pedological properties and functions over the course of time (soilgenesis), their properties also undergo intense and irreversible changes due to a non-site adjusted landmanagement and improper application of machinery, sealing and techniques as well as chemical impacts includingacidity from acid rain, heavy metals pollution and salinity.展开更多
文摘Soil rheology characterises the flow behaviour of soils at the particle-particle to aggregate scale.Amplitude sweep tests(ASTs)are often the method of choice for parameterizing soil flow properties,such as the shear strain values at the end of the linear viscoelastic range(i.e.,the deformation is mainly elastic)and at the yield point(i.e.,elastic equals plastic deformation).Samples from seven soil profiles and five soil depths of Chernozems,collected in the Maidanetske study area,close to Uman City of Ukraine,were analysed to evaluate the effect of soil organic carbon(SOC)on the parameters related to soil microstructural stability derived from ASTs.Soil organic carbon was removed with H_(2)O_(2)to determine the soil texture-dependent values of soil rheological properties,which were compared to the values determined for samples with intact water-stable aggregates.The shear resistance-related parameters increased for aggregated soil samples compared to SOC-free soil samples,indicating an increase in soil stability due to SOC.In contrast,the values of the overall viscoelasticity and the shear strain were reduced for aggregated soil samples,indicating decreased soil stability.Pedotransfer functions were applied to predict the shear strain-dependent loss and storage moduli and shear stress values as a function of SOC depletion.Coarse particles(630–2000μm)and volumetric water content improved the models.We conclude that increased SOC content,through the gluing and cementing effects of SOC and altered aggregate shapes compared to SOC-free soil materials,contributes to higher microstructural strength.However,the increased water content in the SOC-containing soil samples reversed soil strengthening effect.This was due to the fact that a more rapid increase in positive water pressure under shear stress weakened the samples and the spherical aggregates began to rotate more easily,thus loosing energy,when compared to platy particles of the SOC-free soil materials.
基金the George Foster Research Fellowship provided by Alexander yon Humboldt Fellowship of Germany.
文摘Biochars are, amongst other available amendment materials, considered as an attractive tool in agriculture for carbon sequestration and improvement of soil functions. The latter is widely discussed as a consequence of improved physical quality of the amended soil.However, the mechanisms for this improvement are still poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of woodchip biochar amendment on micro-structural development, micro-and macro-structural stability, and resilience of two differently textured soils,fine sand(FS) and sandy loam(SL). Test substrates were prepared by adding 50 or 100 g kg^(-1) biochar to FS or SL. Total porosity and plant available water were significantly increased in both soils. Moreover, compressive strength of the aggregates was significantly decreased when biochar amount was doubled. Mechanical resilience of the aggregates at both micro-and macro-scale was improved in the biochar-amended soils, impacting the cohesion and compressive behavior. A combination of these effects will result in an improved pore structure and aeration. Consequently, the physicochemical environment for plants and microbes is improved. Furthermore, the improved stability properties will result in better capacity of the biochar-amended soil to recover from the myriad of mechanical stresses imposed under arable systems, including vehicle traffic, to the weight of overburden soil. However, it was noted that doubling the amendment rate did not in any case offer any remarkable additional improvement in these properties, suggesting a further need to investigate the optimal amendment rate.
基金supported by the German Research Foundation(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG)within the framework of the research unit DFG‐FOR 1320.
文摘A well developed macropore network is advantageous in terms of transport processes regarding gas and water,as well as nutrient acquisition and root growth of crops.X-ray computed tomography provides a non-destructive method to visualize and quantify three-dimensional pore networks.Geometrical and morphological parameters of the complex pore system such as connectivity,tortuosity,porosity and pore surface area would be very useful for modeling and simulation of transport and exchange processes by providing quantitative data on relevant soil structural features and their modification by soil management.The scope of this study was to analyze and quantify the development of soil structure in the subsoil depending on three different precrop species(alfalfa A,chicory C and fescue F),at three depths(45,60 and 75 cm)and cultivation periods(1,2 and 3 years).Furthermore,morphological(air-filled porosityθa,pore surface area)and geometrical(pore diameter,connectivity,continuity,tortuosityτ)parameters were gathered with X-ray CT and image analysis.From an experimental field trial(Germany)with a Haplic Luvisol as soil type samples were taken and investigated.Air-capacity(θa)was measured in the laboratory for the same cylinders and compared to the results derived by image analysis.Air-capacity was highest for alfalfa(3 years,75 cm).Tortuosity(τ)ranged between 1.3 and 4.38,while alfalfa(3 years)showed the highest value,which indicated structural development due to crack formation by enhanced root water uptake.Thus,an increase in accessible surface may improve water and nutrient supply for plants,whereas the highτvalues may assume that oxygen supply is limited.It was found that the interaction of gas-diffusivity and the calculated parameters should be further investigated in terms of limitations to plant growth.
基金We appreciate the research grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND)Nigeria,which was used to fund part of this research.
文摘The individual and combined effects of biochar(B)and inorganic fertiliser(F)have all been widely proofed to improve soil fertility and enhance crop growth and yield under irrigation(I)and rain fed conditions.However,the strength of their individual and combined effects on crop productivity has been scarcely reported.In addition,few studies have assessed their individual and co-application effects on economic returns.Therefore,a 2-year field experiment which consisted of factorial combination of irrigation(I)[100%full irrigation(FI),80%FI and 60%FI],biochar(0 and 20 t/ha)and fertiliser(0 and 300 kg/ha)was conducted.According to the results,irrigation was the dominant factor that influences maize grain yield,followed by inorganic fertiliser and biochar,and they were all significant in their main effects.The strength of interaction effects among,I,F and B on maize grain yield follow the sequence F×I>B×F>B×I.The economic analysis showed that the ternary combination of B,F and I was more economical than the binary combination of B plus I,and F plus I(in that order),when compared with the standalone application of I at maximum production in the field experiment.In addition,combined applications of biochar and fertiliser improved soil nutrients,nutrient uptake in all irrigation treatments,compared to the standalone applications of biochar or fertiliser.Further research is,therefore,recommended for long-term evaluation of the economic viability of integrating biochar with fertiliser under irrigation.
文摘Soil is one of the most critical life-supporting components of the biosphere. Soil provides many ecosystem services,such as a habitat for biodiversity, water and nutrients, food, feed, fiber and energy, but also serves as archaeologicalrepositories. In addition to natural changes in pedological properties and functions over the course of time (soilgenesis), their properties also undergo intense and irreversible changes due to a non-site adjusted landmanagement and improper application of machinery, sealing and techniques as well as chemical impacts includingacidity from acid rain, heavy metals pollution and salinity.
