Characterization of Orchard Fields Based on Soil Fertility Index (SOFIX)

Soil samples from 139 agricultural orchard fields (apple, grape, tea, and others) were analyzed using the soil fertility index. From these samples, an orchard field database was constructed and the soil properties between orchard, upland, and paddy fields were compared. The average value of bacterial biomass in the orchard fields was 7.4 × 108 cells/g-soil, ranging from not detected (lower than 6.6 × 106 cells/g-soil) to 7.7 × 109 cells/g-soil. The average values of total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK), were 24,000 mg/kg (2670 to 128,100 mg/kg), 1460 mg/kg (133 to 6400 mg/kg), 1030 mg/kg (142 to 5362 mg/kg), and 5370 mg/kg (1214 to 18,155 mg/kg), respectively. The C/N and C/P ratios were 19 (3 to 85) and 27 (2 to 101), respectively. Soil properties of the orchard fields were compared with those of the upland and the paddy fields. The average value of bacterial biomass in the orchard fields was almost the same as that in the upland fields (8.0 × 108 cells/g-soil), but the number was lower than that in the paddy fields (12.9 × 108 cells/g-soil). The average values of TC and TN in the orchard fields fell between those in the upland fields (TC: 33,120 mg/kg, TN: 2010 mg/kg) and the paddy fields (TC: 15,420 mg/kg, TN: 1080 mg/kg). The relationship between the bacterial biomass and TC in the orchard fields resembled that in the upland fields. A suitable soil condition for the orchard fields was determined as TC: ≥25,000 mg/kg, TN: ≥1500 mg/kg, TP: ≥900 mg/kg and TK: 2500 - 10,000 mg/kg. These recommended values will be effective for the improvement of the soil quality in the orchard fields by enhancing the number and activities of microorganisms.

Evaluation of Soil Fertility Quality and Environmental Driving Factors in Different Soil Types of Artificial Forests

The aim was to clarify the environmental driving factors of soil fertility indicators in artificial forests of Guangxi and comprehensively evaluate the soil fertility level.By collecting data on the current status of soil in artificial forests,the spatial distribution of major soil fertility indicators was analyzed,and the distribution map of the fertility index of artificial forests in the entire region and the comprehensive fertility index of artificial forests of different soil types were obtained.Canonical correspondence analysis method was used to analyze soil fertility indicators and environmental factors,and the environmental driving factors of soil fertility indicators for artificial forests of the main soil types in Guangxi were obtained.The results showed that over 90%of the soil fertility index of artificial forests in the entire region was between 0.20 and 0.50.The order of soil fertility index of different soil types of artificial forests from high to low was yellow brown soil>yellow red soil>yellow soil>red soil>limestone soil>latosolic red soil>laterite.In artificial forests of latosolic red soil,the correlation between soil alkaline nitrogen and organic matter,annual average temperature was high,while the correlation between soil available phosphorus and organic matter,pH was high,and the correlation between soil available potassium and environmental factors such as slope,altitude,rainfall,accumulated temperature,and slope aspect was high.In artificial forests of red soil,the correlation between soil alkaline nitrogen and slope,altitude was high,while the correlation between soil available phosphorus and accumulated temperature,rainfall was high,and the correlation between soil available potassium and pH was high.In artificial forests of limestone soil,there was a high correlation between soil alkaline nitrogen and slope,organic matter,a high correlation between soil available phosphorus and accumulated temperature,rainfall,and a high correlation between soil available potassium and pH.

Drivers of the Chemical Quality of Market Gardening Soils in the Urban and Peri-Urban Environment of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso): Impact of Fertilizers Sources and Sites Location

Urban and peri-urban agriculture plays a key role by providing many goods and services. In particular, it provides diversified food and employment for vulnerable groups (youth and women). However, it often involves negative externalities due to non-conventional soils fertility management practices. This study aimed to investigate the chemical quality of soils over six (06) sites of the market gardening area of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) as affected by fertilizers uses and sites location. Thirty (30) representative market gardening farms, located in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, were randomly selected from a baseline survey database. Within each farm, composite soil samples made up of 3 individual cores were taken over the 0 - 15 cm soil depth for determining soils carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus contents and pH-water. These data were normalized and summarized to compute a synthetic Soil Fertility Index (SFI). The data processing was focused on a Principal Component Analysis and an Ascendant Hierarchical Classification in order to make a typology of the vegetable farms. Fertilizers management effects on soils quality were compared through Variance Analysis (ANOVA) following a GLM procedure in Rstudio software. As main results, soils chemical parameters, except for available K, were affected by the location of the sites. Soils in urban farms are less acidic (on average pH = 6.9), while semi-urban and rural sites (Samadeni, Nakaguana) have more acidic soils. However, the latter site had the highest values of C and N. Moreover, the long-term application of organic matter sources results in improving of the chemical quality of the market garden soil. The SFI is positively correlated with the rate of applied organic fertilizers, and the cultivation duration. On the other hand, soil quality tends to decrease with the expansion of the area, due to a dilution effect of the organic fertilizer doses. All these results suggest that there is a real scope to reinforce the position of the market garden as an opportunity for recycling organic wastes and sequestration of carbon by promoting relevant fertilization packages that strongly rely on organic matters sources (Compost, Biochar, etc.).