ALBERT

Notizen: The Photogrammetric Society was formed in 1952. The Council of the Society considered that the twentieth anniversary was a good point at which to record the events which led to its formation and the significant occasions and decisions which have taken place since 1952. Consequently, Paul Lamboit was invited to compile this History. He has placed the birth and development of the Society within the national and international photogrammetric context and his record of the deliberations which took place between 1947 and 1952 will be of particular interest to historians of our subject.This account was first published in a limited edition in 1971. Sufficient interest has since been expressed to prompt a wider circulation through publication in the Photogrammetric Record.The author served the Society continuously in several official capacities from 1953 to 1969 and he was elected to Honorary Membership in 1969.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉RésuméLa Photogrammetric Society a été fondée en 1952. Excellente occasion pour faire le point qu'un vingtiéme anniversaire, a estimé le Conseil de la Société; pour rappeler les circonstances de sa naissance, les étapes de sa croissance et les décisions importantes prises depuis 1952. Ce qu'on invita Paul Lamboit à faire. Son exposé resitue la naissance et le développement de la Société dans le contexte national et international de la photogrammétrie; la relation qu'il fait des décisions prises entre 1947 et 1952 intéressera particulièrement ceux qui s'occupent d'histoire de la photogrammétrie.Ce rapport d'abord publié en édition limitée en 1971, a suscité un intérêt suffisant pour que l'on se presse en le publiant dans le Photogrammetric Record de le porter à la connaissance d'un plus large public.L'auteur a exercé différentes fonctions de 1953 à 1969 dans l'appareil de la Société. Il a étéélu membre honoraire en 1969.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Zusummenfussung1952 wurde die Britische Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie gegründet. Der Rat der Gesellschaft erwog, dass der zwanzigste Jahrestag eine günstige Gelegenheit sei, um die Ereignisse, die zur Gründung der Gesellschaft führten sowie die bedeutenden Veranstaltungen, die stattfanden und die Entscheidungen, die getroffen wurden, darzustellen. Aus diesem Grunde wurde Paul Lamboit eingeladen, diesen historischen Rückblick zu schreiben. Er hat dabei die Gründung und die Entwicklung der Gesellschaft in den nationalen und internationalen photogrammetrischen Zusammenhang gestellt nd sein Bericht über die zwischen 1947 und 1972 erfolgten Beratungen wird für an unserer Sache interessierte Historiker sehr aufschlussreich sein.Diese Zusammenstellung wurde erstmals in einer begrenzten Auflage im Jahre 1971 veröffentlicht. Genügend Interesse wurde inzwischen bekundet, um eine weitergehende Verteilung mit Hilfe des Photogrammetric Record zu veranlassen.Der Autor diente der Gesellschaft kontinuierlich in verschiedenen Ämtern von 1953 bis 1969, wo er aum Ehrenmitglied gewählt wurde.

Notizen: A scholarly account of the formative discussions, the founding and the first 20 years of the Photogrammetric Society was published in 1971 and republished in 1974. This present review concentrates on the latter years of the life of the Photogrammetric Society prior to its merger with the Remote Sensing Society in 2001.The authors joined the Photogrammetric Society in 1960 and were conspicuous in its affairs for many years. Although both occupied the Society's presidential chair, they also fulfilled several other roles in its efficient management. Atkinson's first contribution to the Photogrammetric Record was published in 1968 and Newton's in 1971.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉RésuméOn a publié en 1971 un compte-rendu détaillé des 20 premières années de la “Photogrammetric Society”, à commencer par les discussions qui présidèrent è sa fondation. Ce récit fut republié en 1974. On se focalise dans cet article sur les dernières années d'activité de la “Photogrammetric Society” qui aboutirent à sa fusion avec la “Remote Sensing Society” en 2001.Les deux auteurs adhérèrent à la “Photogrammetric Society” en 1960 et y furent d‘éminents animateurs pendant de nombreuses années. Tous deux occupèrent le poste de président de cette Association mais remplirent égulement plusieurs autres fonctions qui contribuèrent à une gestion efficace. La première intervention d'Atkinson dans le Photogrummetric Record remonte à 1968, et celle de Newton à 1971.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉ZusummenfussungEine wissenschaftliche Abhandlung über die Diskussionen zur Gründung, die Gründung selbst und die ersten 20 Jahre der Photogrammetrischen Gesellschaft wurde in 1971 publiziert und in 1974 wiederholt. Dieser aktulle Rückblick konzentriert sich auf die darauffolgenden Jahre der Photogrammetrischen Gesellschaft bis hin zur Vereinigung mit der Gesellschaft für Fernerkundung in Jahre 2001.Die Autoren wurden 1960 Mitglieder in der Photogrammetrischen Gesellschaft und trugen viele Jahre massgeblich zu deren Aktivitäsidenten der Gesellschaft auch verschiedene andere Aufgaben im Management wahrgenommen. Der erste Beitrag von Atkinson im Photogrammetric Record erschien 1968, der erste von Newton in 1971.

Notizen: The determination of the attitude, the position and the intrinsic geometric characteristics of the camera is recognised as the fundamental photogrammetric problem. It can be summarised as the determination of camera interior and exterior orientation parameters, as well as the determination of 3D coordinates of object points. The term “exterior orientation” of an image refers to its position and orientation related to an exterior (object space) coordinate system. Several methods can be applied to determine the parameters of the orientation of one, two or more photos. The orientation can be processed in steps (as relative and absolute orientation) but simultaneous methods (such as bundle adjustments) are now available in many software packages. Several methods have also been developed for the orientation of single images. They are based in general on geometric and topological characteristics of imaged objects.This paper presents a survey of classical and modern methods for the determination of the exterior parameters in photogrammetry, some of which are available as software packages (with practical examples) on the Internet. The methods presented are classified in three principal groups. In the first. a selection of approximate methods for applications that do not require great accuracy is presented. Such methods are also used to calculate values required for iterative processes. In the second group, standard point-bused methods derived from collinearity, coplanarity or coangularity conditions are briefly reviewed, followed by line-based approaches. The third group represents orientation methods based on constraints and on concepts of projective geometry, which are becoming of increasing interest for photogrammetrists. In the last section, the paper gives a summary of existing strategies for automatic exterior orientation in aerial photogrammetry.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉RésuméLa détermination de l'attitude, de la position et des caractéristiques intrinsèques de la chambre photographique constitue un problème fondamental en photogrammétrie. Il se résume à la détermination des paramètres de l'orientation de la chambre de prise de vue (paramètres des orientations externe et interne), ainsi qu'à la détermination des coordonnées 30 des points de l'objet. L'orientation externe se rapporte à la détermination de la position et de l'orientation d'une chambre par rapport à un système externe de coordonnées. Différentes méthodes peuvent être utilisées pour calculer les éléments dorientation externe d'une photo, d'un couple ou de plusieurs photos. Le calcul de l'orientation peut être réalisé par étapes (par exemple les orientations relative et absolue) mais les méthodes simultanées (la compensation par faisceaux par exemple) sont actuellement proposées dans la plupart des logiciels. Plusieurs méthodes ont aussi été développées pour l'orientation d'images isolées. Ells sont basées en général sur les caactéristiques géométriques et topologiques des objets photographiés.Dans cet article on présente un ensemble de méthodes classiques et modernes pour la détermination des paramètres de l'orientation externe, certaines d'entre elles étant téléchargeables sous la forme d'applications sur Internet. Les méthodes présentées sont classées en trois groupes principaux. Le premier groupe contient une sélection de méthodes approximatives utilisées d'habitude quand une grande précision n'est pas exigée, ou encore pour calculer des vuleurs approchées des paramètres extrinsèques requises pour les méthodes itératives rigoureuses. Dans le deuxième groupe, on rappelle brièvement les jondements des méthodes basées sur les conditions photogrammétriques fondamentales (la colinéarité, la coplanéité et la coangularité). Dans ce groupe, les méthodes basées sur l'extraction des points ou des lignes sont également abordées. Le troisième groupe traite des méthodes d'orientation basées sur les contraintes et les concepts de la géométrie projective, de plus en plus utilisées par les photogrammètres. Le dernier paragraphe se rapporte aux méthodes destinées à automatiser le calcul de l'orientation externe en photogrammétrie aérienne.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉ZusummenfussungDie Bestimmung der Neigung, der Position und den geometrischen parametern der Kamera wird als das fundamentale Problem der Photogrammetrie angesehen. Es kann zusammenfassend sowohl als die Bestimmung der Parameter der inneren und äusseren Orientierung der Kamera angesehen werden, als auch als die Bestimmung von 3D Koordinaten von Objektpunkten. Der Ausdruck “äussere Orientierung” eines Bildes bezieht sich auf die Lage und Orientierung bezogen auf ein äusseres (Objektraum-) Koordinatensystem. Es können verschiedene Methoden angewandt werden, um die Parameter von einem, zwei oder mehreren Bildern zu bestimmen. Die orientierung kann in Schritten erfolgen, was als Relative und Absolute Orientierung bezeichnet wird, aber auch simultane Methoden, wie die Bündelausgleichung, sind in vielen Softwarepaketen implementiert. Es wurden auch Methoden für die Orientierung von Einzelbildern entwickelt, die geometrische und topologische Eigenschaften der abgebildeten Objekte nutzen. In diesem Beitrag wird Beitrag wird eine Studie klassischer und moderner Methoden der Photogrammetrie zur Bestimmung der Parameter der äßeren Orientierung vorgestellt, wovon einige in Softwarepaketen zur Verfügung stehen, die von praktischen Beispielen im Internet ergänzt werden. Die untersuchten Methoden werden in drei Hauptgruppen eingeteilt. In einer ersten Gruppe werden Näherungslösungen vorgestellt, die für Anwendungen mit geringen Genauigkeitsanforderungen geeignet sind. Diese Methoden werden ansonsten für die Näherngswertberechunggen für iterative Prozesse verwendet. IN der zweiten Gruppe werden zuerst die punktbasierten Standardmethoden vorgestellt, die von Bedingungen zur Kollinearität. Koplanarität und Kowinkligkeit abgeletet sind. Danach folgen linienbasierte Ansätze. Die dritte Gruppe umfasst Orientierungsmethoden, die auf Zwangsbedingungen und auf Konzepte der projektiven Geometrie aufbauen, die für Photogrammeter von zunehmendem Interesse sind, Im letzten Abschnitt wird eine Zusammenfassung existierender Strategien für eine automatische äussere orientierung in der Luftbildphotogrammetrie gegeben.

Notizen: . Microtubule dynamics in Paramecium caudatum were investigated with an anti-α-tubulin antibody and a microinjection technique to determine the function of microtubules on micronuclear behavior during conjugation. After meiosis, all four haploid micronuclei were connected by microtubular filaments to the paroral region and moved close to this region. This nuclear movement was micronucleus-specific, because some small macronuclear fragments transplanted from exconjugants never moved to the region. Only one of the four germ nuclei moved into the paroral cone and was covered by microtubule assembly (the so-called first assembly of microtubules, AM-I). This nucleus survived there, while the other three not in this region degenerated. The movement of germ nucleus was inhibited by the injection of the anti-α-tubulin antibody. The surviving germ nucleus divided once and produced a migratory pronucleus and a stationary pronucleus. Prior to the reciprocal exchange of the migratory nuclei, microtubules assembled around the migratory pronuclei again (the so-called second assembly of microtubules, AM-II). Then, the migratory pronucleus moved into the partner cell and fused with the stationary pronucleus. Thus, microtubules appear to be indispensable for nuclear behavior: they enable migration of postmeiotic nuclei to the paroral region and they permit the survival of the nucleus at the paroral cone.

Notizen: . This work reports the characterization of an arginine kinase in the unicellular parasitic flagellate Trypanosoma brucei, the etiological agent of human sleeping sickness and Nagana in livestock. The arginine kinase activity, detected in the soluble fraction obtained from procyclic forms, had a specific activity similar to that observed in Trypanosoma cruzi, about 0.2 μmol min−1mg−1. Western blot analysis of T. brucei extracts revealed two bands of 40 and 45 kDa. The putative gene sequence of this enzyme had an open reading frame for a 356-amino acid polypeptide, one less than the equivalent enzyme of T. cruzi. The deduced amino acid sequence has an 82% identity with the arginine kinase of T. cruzi, and highest amino acid identities of both trypanosomatids sequences, about 70%, were with arginine kinases from the phylum Arthropoda. In addition, the amino acid sequence possesses the five arginine residues critical for interaction with ATP as well as two glutamic acids and one cysteine required for arginine binding. The finding in trypanosomatids of a new phosphagen biosynthetic pathway, which is not present in mammalian host tissues, suggests this enzyme as a possible target for chemotherapy.

Notizen: Abstract. This paper compares nitrate leaching losses from organic farms, which depended on legumes for their nitrogen inputs (66 site years) with those from conventional farms using fertilizers under similar cropping and climatic conditions (188 site years). The conventional farms were within Nitrate Sensitive Areas in England, but sites following special practices associated with that scheme were excluded. Nitrate losses during the organic ley phase (including the winter of ploughing out) were similar (45 kg N ha–1) to those from conventional long-term grass receiving fertilizer N inputs of less than 200 kg N ha–1 (44 kg N ha–1) and from the grass phase of conventional ley-arable rotations (50 kg N ha–1). Losses from conventional grass receiving higher N inputs were greater than from organic or less intensive grass. Nitrate losses following arable crops averaged 47 and 58 kg N ha–1 for the organic and conventional systems respectively, with part of the difference being due to the greater proportion of non-cereal break crops in the latter. Thus under similar cropping, losses from organic systems are similar to or slightly smaller than those from conventional farms following best practice.

Notizen: Abstract. In the Sahel, promising technologies for agricultural intensification include millet stover mulching and ridging. A four year on-farm experiment was set-up in order to assess the effect of various combinations of these two technologies on crop development and yield in a millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) - cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) intercropping system. Treatments included bare surface, ridging, a surface applied banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) and a banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) buried in ridges. The latter three treatments were implemented exclusively in the cowpea rows, with an annual rotation between the millet and cowpea rows. On bare and ridged plots, millet yields fell below 100 kg grain ha–1 after the first year. This was ascribed mainly to soil acidification and loss of soil organic matter rather than to soil physical constraints or water availability despite extensive surface crusting and high soil penetration resistance and bulk density. Compared to the bare plots, ridging increased cowpea hay production by 330% over the four years which was attributed to lower soil penetration resistance and bulk density but also to a reduction of 0.15 cmol+ kg–1 exchangeable acidity in the ridges. Except during the severe drought year of 1997, millet grain yield in the banded mulch treatment remained fairly stable over time at 526 ± 9 kg ha–1. However, a detailed analysis revealed yield compensation mechanisms between various yield components depending on the timing of occurrence of the abiotic stresses. Cowpea productivity was always higher in buried banded mulch plots than in surface applied banded mulch plots but the former treatment appeared unable to sustain millet yields. This decline was attributed to a greater nutrient uptake by cowpea and more rapid acidification in the buried mulch treatment compared to the banded mulch treatment.

Notizen: Abstract. Nutrient balance calculations have been advocated as indicators of the risk of nitrate loss from agricultural land. To explore this concept, a spatially distributed UK agricultural nitrogen balance was derived using annually updated statistics. The mean UK N surplus for 1995 was 115 kg N ha–1, made up of 51 kg ha–1for arable land, 140 kg ha–1 for agricultural grassland (excluding rough grazing) and an additional 14 kg N ha–1for agricultural land from pig and poultry units. Nitrogen surpluses were greater in lowland grassland (mainly in western, wetter areas) than in arable areas. However nitrate concentrations in rivers were generally greater in arable areas. The relationship between N balance and nitrate leaching was very different for grassland and arable systems, and was also sensitive to climate, level of inputs and management practices. Nitrogen surplus was therefore weakly or even negatively correlated with river nitrate concentrations or loads. A positive correlation was found only where the comparison was restricted to grassland-dominated catchments. Nitrogen surplus calculations identified areas of very high livestock densities, which would be associated with increased risk of pollution. However their use in isolation as indicators of N leaching, or of progress towards mitigation, could be misleading especially if comparing areas differing in land use, climate or soil type.

Notizen: Abstract. Dynamic simulation models are increasingly used in environmental and agricultural science. Here we present a method that allows models to be used to determine optimum timing of sampling for field trials. The model is used to decide when to concentrate sampling effort before the field trial begins. The model chosen to design sampling strategy should include an appropriately sensitive description of all processes that influence measurements significantly. The simulation is run, using predicted weather data, to generate the full time series before the trial begins. Every point in the simulation is considered initially to be a potential sampling point. The potential error due to not including a measurement at each point is calculated using the ‘dot-to-dot’ method of b10Smith et al. (2002) by omitting simulated values consecutively. The calculated potential error provides a measure of the priority that should be given to sampling at each point. Where the error introduced by omitting the simulated value exceeds an acceptable error, the value at the last discernible time step should be measured so that all statistically significant changes in the system can be observed. The output from the calculation is a plan of sampling times needed to capture all statistically significant events that are likely to occur over the course of the trial.

Notizen: Abstract. In grazed dairy pasture systems, a major source of NO3– leached and N2O emitted is the N returned in the urine from the grazing animal. The objective of this study was to use lysimeters to measure directly the effectiveness of a nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), in decreasing NO3– leaching and N2O emissions from urine patches in a grazed dairy pasture under irrigation. The soil was a free-draining Lismore stony silt loam (Udic Haplustept loamy skeletal) and the pasture was a mixture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). The use of DCD decreased NO3–-N leaching by 76% for the urine N applied in the autumn, and by 42% for urine N applied in the spring, giving an annual average reduction of 59%. This would reduce the NO3–-N leaching loss in a grazed paddock from 118 to 46 kg N ha–1 yr–1. The NO3–-N concentration in the drainage water would be reduced accordingly from 19.7 to 7.7 mg N L–1, with the latter being below the drinking water guideline of 11.3 mg N L–1. Total N2O emissions following two urine applications were reduced from 46 kg N2O-N ha–1 without DCD to 8.5 kg N2O-N with DCD, representing an 82% reduction. In addition to the environmental benefits, the use of DCD also increased herbage production by more than 30%, from 11 to 15 t ha–1 yr–1. The use of DCD therefore has the potential to make dairy farming more environmentally sustainable by reducing NO3– leaching and N2O emissions.

Notizen: Abstract. 15N labelled NH4NO3 (fertilizer N) was applied at a rate of 50 kg N ha–1 to an Ando-Humic Nitisol and two maize crops grown on it. About 20 months later, soil cores were taken to a depth of 2.5 m. Leached fertilizer N was found between 1.4 m and 1.8 m deep and was delayed relative to net drainage by between 4.2 and 4.9 pore volumes. Anion exchange capacity (AEC) increased ten-fold down the profile, up to 2.9 cmolckg–1. The delay to fertilizer N leaching was predicted to be between 4.1 and 5.3 pore volumes when calculated from the AEC and from an equation relating delay due to AEC in laboratory columns of repacked soil obtained by Wong et al. (1990b). It was concluded that the nitrate leaching delay equation was also valid in undisturbed field profiles. Two concentration maxima for mineral N were found, which did not usually coincide with the fertilizer N and were thought to result from mineralization of soil organic matter and plant residues at the end of each season. The delay equation overestimated their leaching delay but the results were considered close enough to support the hypothesis for their formation.

Notizen: Abstract. Regions in the Po Valley, Northern Italy, are characterized by intensive crop-livestock farming systems. A simulation model has been chosen for an inter-regional project, which should help in defining groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk on a regional scale, in relation to agricultural land use, by allowing the prediction of nitrate leaching under different climate, soil, crop and management scenarios. The model derives from the coupling of a hydrological model, MACRO, simulating water flow and solute transport in structured soils, with a model simulating soil N dynamics, SOILN. The aim of this work was to test the model's ability to simulate nitrate leaching through soil after land spreading of pig slurries. A dataset obtained from lysimeter experiments which had been carried out in the period 1976–1981 was used for this purpose. Four soil types were compared (silty clay, sandy loam, loam and sand) in factorial combination with four rates of pig slurry (0, 142, 284, 426 g of N m–2, accumulated values from 1976 to 1979) for a seven crop sequence. The efficiency of the MACRO model ranged from 0.96, in the sandy-loam soil, to 0.81, in the sand. Percolation was usually under-estimated, the relative error ranging from 0.7 to 14.6, depending on the soil. The low efficiency of the SOILN model in simulating nitrate leaching is attributed to the lack of knowledge of the mechanisms regulating N transformation processes and especially the mineralization of pig slurry N. This lack of knowledge hampers the correct setting of the N transformation parameter values. A remarkable improvement of the model's performance was obtained by changing a few coefficients which control the mineralization-immobilization turnover of the faeces-organic N. The model efficiency, following this recalibration, ranged from –0.62 to 0.84, and the relative error ranged from –56 to 35, depending on soil and treatment. N leaching was under-estimated at the low pig slurry N application rates and over-estimated at the high ones.

Notizen: Abstract. The effectiveness of contour grass strips in erosion control was investigated in a field experiment involving two grass treatments (Festuca ovina and Poa pratensis) and a bare soil control on an erodible sandy loam soil on a 5° slope using simulated rainstorms of 40 mm h–1 for 45 minutes duration. The grass strips resulted in significantly (P 〈 0.05) lower runoff and soil loss than the bare soil but there was no significant difference in the performance of the two grasses, despite their differences in density, height and leaf size. The effect of the lower density of the Poa pratensis was offset by its larger stem diameter so that the surface area facing the flow was similar for both grasses. Instead of acting as a filter with sedimentation occurring within the barrier, the grass strips operated by ponding water upslope of the barriers. Deposition then occurred in the ponded area above the barrier.

Notizen: Abstract. Since the 1980s, land use in rural areas of China has changed greatly as the result of political initiatives. These changes have caused soil nutrient changes which are examined in this paper for Zunhua County, northern China from 1980 to 1999. The areas of farmland, grassland, and paddy decreased greatly and were replaced by increases in forest and residential land. The soils under forest in 1999 transformed from farmland in 1980 increased in organic matter by 21%, total nitrogen by 18%, available nitrogen by 65%, available phosphorus by 17% and available potassium by 17%. Similarly, in the area which was converted from farmland in 1980 to grassland in 1999, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium increased by 38%, 37%, 71%, 2% and 28%, respectively. Changes from farmland to forest and grassland not only changed land cover but also improved soil fertility and probably reduced soil nutrient losses.

Notizen: Abstract. Much of the low-lying farmland around the coastline of south-east England was once inter-tidal salt marsh, which was subsequently reclaimed from the sea and converted to farmland. It is becoming increasingly uneconomic to maintain the embankments which protect this land from the sea. ‘Managed retreat’ involves relocating the embankments further inland and recreating inter-tidal habitat in front of them. Salt marsh not only provides a protective buffer for these sea walls by dissipating wave energy, but is also important as a habitat for birds and as a source of organic matter for fish and inter-tidal fauna. When ‘managed retreat’ takes place, the creation of inter-tidal habitat occurs on soils that have undergone physical and chemical changes, some of which are irreversible. However, the indications are that rapid sedimentation creates conditions in which salt marsh plants germinate and become established; soil salinity rises quickly to a level which restricts competition from terrestrial plants, and deposited sediment is relatively rich in available phosphorus. The physical properties of the old agricultural soil influence the subsequent development of creeks.

Notizen: Abstract. When the farmers of the Highlands of Tigray (northern Ethiopia) consider rock fragment cover in their fields to be excessive, they remove some of them. In addition, large amounts of rock fragments of all sizes are removed from fields for building stone bunds. Semi-structured interviews indicate that the farmers are often reluctant to take away the smaller rock fragments (i.e. 〈 5 cm across) from their fields, since they believe these benefit soil moisture conservation and protect topsoil from erosion. A field experiment was carried out on a Vertic Cambisol (average slope: 0.125 m m–1), 2 km east of Hagere Selam (subhumid climate). Rock fragments were totally, partially or not removed from the 12 runoff plots (5 m × 6 m) before the beginning of the 1999 cropping season, during which a local mixture of wheat varieties (Triticum spp.) was sown. After harvest, erosion rates were assessed by measuring deposited sediment volume in trenches at the lower side of each subplot, and grain and straw yields were assessed. We found a significant negative relationship between rock fragment cover and soil loss by water erosion. However, the resulting positive relationship between rock fragment cover and grain and straw yield was weak. This might be explained by the fact that the plot did not suffer from drought due to soil and climatic conditions. Detailed analysis showed that cover by medium and large rock fragments (〉 2 cm diameter) showed an optimum percentage cover above which crop yields decrease. A recommendation resulting from this study is to rely on the farmers’ experience: smaller rock fragments should never be removed from the surface of fields during soil and water conservation works; instead rock fragment rich soil can be used to top the stone bunds.

Notizen: Abstract. The fertilizer nitrogen requirement of winter wheat was assessed in sixteen experiments on marine silt soils in Eastern England. Eight experimental sites followed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), six vining peas (Pisum sativum) and two wheat (Triticum aestivum). The yield response to nitrogen fertilizer was much less following peas than potatoes or wheat, five sites following peas showed little response to more than 30 kg N ha–1. Previous crop explained some 79.7% of the variation in nitrogen optima. When autumn soil mineral nitrogen was also taken into account 81.9% of the variation in optimum nitrogen rate was explained (P〈0.001). The study revealed noticeably higher levels of autumn soil mineral nitrogen following vining peas on some sites than those found elsewhere in the UK and as assumed in the standard national fertilizer recommendation system.

Notizen: Abstract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of water submergence depth on radial oxygen loss (ROL), soil solution chemistry and rice growth performance in acid sulphate soils in southern Vietnam. ROL was measured in a solution culture. In a separate pot experiment the impact of water submergence depth on rice growth and soil solution chemistry was studied. Three submergence depths were used in the two experiments (5, 10 and 15 cm). ROL declined with submergence depth and was significantly greater in young roots (with no root hairs) than in older roots. In the pot experiment rice growth and soil solution chemistry were clearly affected by the submergence depth. During the first crop at 5 cm submergence, there was a significantly higher yield and a higher oxidation state (pe+pH) compared to 10 or 15 cm submergence. The Fe concentration was significantly greater at the 5 cm depth compared to the 10 or 15 cm depth. SO42– reduction was delayed at the 5 cm depth. Rice yield was c. 25% less at the 15 cm than at the 5 cm depth. During a second crop, there was a substantial SO42- reduction and H2S formation and almost no significant effects of submergence depth on either soil solution chemistry or crop yield. In a field experiment with a dry-season rice crop, yield and Fe, Al and SO42– concentrations were higher at a shallow submergence depth than at greater depths in the same field, showing similar depth trends to those found during the first crop in the pot experiment. Farmers should be advised to use a shallow submergence depth and, if possible, avoid deep-rooted rice varieties. A conceptual model is suggested, which summarizes the relationships between ROL and soil solution chemistry.

Notizen: Abstract. Tillage displaces large amounts of soil from upper slopes and deposits soil in lower landscape positions, greatly affecting productivity in these areas. The long-term effect of tillage on soil erosion was studied in four field sites growing mainly rainfed wheat. The soil loss from landscape positions with slopes, ranging from 3 to 28%, was estimated by: (a) comparing data of horizon thickness described at the same position at different times; and (b) using soil movement tracers added to the soil. Existing empirical relationships were used for estimating soil loss by tillage and runoff water, and loss in wheat biomass production. The experimental data showed soil losses of 0.4 to 1.4 cm yr–1 depending on slope gradient, plough depth, and tillage direction. In two of the sites, soil depth has been reduced by 24–30 cm in a period of 63 years. The mean soil displacement of the plough layer (30 cm thick), measured by soil movement tracers, ranged from 31 to 95 cm yr–1 depending mainly on slope gradient, corresponding to a rate of soil loss of 0.3 cm to 1.4 cm yr–1. Soil eroded from the upper slopes was deposited on the lower slopes increasing soil thickness by 0.4 cm to 1.4 cm yr–1. The application of empirical relationships, estimating soil loss by tillage and water runoff, showed that soil erosion at the field sites can be mainly attributed to tillage. The loss in wheat biomass production due to erosion was estimated at 26% on upper slopes for a period of 63 years, while a 14.5% increase in wheat production was estimated due to deposition of soil material in the lower landscape.

Notizen: Abstract. The most common way of assessing soil organic matter content is by loss on ignition, which is both simple and inexpensive. This method tends to overestimate organic matter content because additional weight losses occur during ignition. An alternative, more expensive and time-consuming method for determining soil organic matter content is by an acid dichromate oxidation. This paper compares the results of applying these methods to soil on different parent materials in two arable fields. Summary statistics and correlation coefficients showed that there were consistent relationships between the two sets of values: the stronger was for the sandy soil and the weaker was for the clay loam. This relationship can be used to improve the accuracy with which soil organic matter content is known while using fewer of the expensive measurements and more of the inexpensive ones. Two approaches to prediction were compared: the geostatistical method of cokriging, and simple linear regression. These were used to predict organic matter determined by an acid dichromate oxidation from the loss on ignition. The estimates from cokriging were more accurate but the method requires the spatial correlation to be modelled reliably. The regression results showed it to be a valuable and practical approach. Using the information from nine carefully selected sampling sites a regression line could be fitted that was representative of the full data.

Notizen: Abstract. In 1983, an annual Survey of Fertiliser Practice in England and Wales was extended to Scotland, to provide comprehensive information on inorganic fertilizer, lime and also organic manure use in mainland Britain. It was based on an annual sample of about 1500 farms, selected from the Agricultural Census and stratified by farm type and size. Results from the first fifteen years (1983–97) show that fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates on both tillage crops and grassland peaked at 157 and 132 kg ha–1, respectively, in the mid 1980s and subsequently decreased by c.10%. The majority of N was applied in straight form (without P or K) to tillage crops and in compound form (containing two or more nutrients e.g. NPK; NK) to grassland. Total N use on cereals showed little change but autumn-applied N decreased on both winter cereals and winter oilseed rape. Total N rates decreased on oilseed rape and, to a smaller extent, on maincrop potatoes and sugarbeet. Between 1983–87 and 1993–97, mean phosphate (P2O5) rates declined by almost 10% on both tillage crops (from 58 to 53 kg ha–1) and on grassland (from 25 to 23kg ha–1). The corresponding mean potash (K2O) rates decreased slightly on both tillage crops (from 64 to 62 kg ha–1), and on grassland (from 32 to 31 kg ha–1), although annual usage was more variable on grassland. Sulphur use increased appreciably on cereal and oilseed rape crops between 1993, when S data were first recorded in the survey, and 1997 when 13% and 30%, respectively, of these crop areas received S-fertilizer. However, on grassland, S use remained very low. Average lime use increased on both tillage crops and grassland between the mid 1980s and mid 1990s, from 10 to 12% and 4 to 7% of the total area, respectively. The proportion of land receiving organic manures remained at c. 16% for tillage cropping but increased slightly for grassland, from a mean of 40% in 1983–87 to 44% in 1993–97. Manures were applied throughout the year but about half the applications to tillage land, and a quarter of those to grassland, were made in autumn when the risk of subsequent nitrate leaching loss is greatest.

Notizen: Abstract. A two year field experiment was carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean area in order to evaluate, the effect on soil erosion of adding different urban organic wastes: a stabilized municipal waste (compost), an unstabilized municipal waste, and an aerobic sewage sludge. All the treatments significantly reduced soil erosion, compared to the control soil. The soil amended with compost was the most effective treatment, reducing soil loss by 94% and runoff by 54%.

Notizen: Abstract. Cashew soils of South Eastern Tanzania become acidified due to sulphur used for controlling powdery mildew disease (Oidium anacardii Noack). The buffering capacity of surface and subsurface horizons of 35 soil profiles of major cashew growing areas –- the Makonde plateau, its piedmont and inland plains –- was studied. The buffering capacity of surface and subsurface horizons was strongly correlated with clay content and weakly with organic carbon content. In addition, it was only weakly correlated with total exchangeable bases and available P of the surface horizon, but strongly with soil pH, base saturation and cation exchange capacity of the clay fraction of the subsurface horizon. Highly weathered sandy soils, dominant on the Makonde plateau and common on the Piedmont, had the lowest buffering capacity. Soils from the inland plains had better buffering capacities as they are generally more clayey or are less weathered. The risk of severe acidification and of a decline in productivity of cashew and of food crops is highest on the Makonde plateau. Further development and dissemination of methods which can reduce the use of sulphur are required.

Notizen: Abstract. Biomass productivity and soil microbial responses to long-term CO2 enrichment have been investigated in a Mediterranean natural forest ecosystem. Several biochemical parameters have been measured on soil samples taken from six open top chambers (OTCs), enclosing clumps of natural Mediterranean woody vegetation including: Quercus ilex L., Phillyrea angustifolia L., Pistacia lentiscus L. and Myrtus communis L. The CO2 concentration of the air inside the OTCs was either ambient or ambient plus 350 μmol mol–1 (c. 710 ppm as mean daily value). Microbial C biomass, microbial respiration, dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and protease activities, inorganic N and soluble P, were tested in order to evaluate soil microbial size and activity. Statistically correlated seasonal patterns have been identified in some biochemical parameters in response to climatic conditions, soil nutritional status and the physiology of the vegetative cover. In situ soil respiration and above- and below-ground productivity were also measured. Microbial responses to CO2 enrichment were observed only at the beginning of the study and a general progressive reduction of the CO2 effect was recorded as monitoring continued. These results are in agreement with data from literature regarding similar studies on natural complex communities.

Notizen: Abstract. The Century model was used for estimating soil carbon levels under grassland at the regional scale in the Pampean Region of Argentina. Predicted values were compared with observed soil carbon contents obtained from soil surveys and the differences considered to be the results of cropping on soil organic matter. The Pampean Region was divided into five major sub-regions and carbon in the top 20 cm of each estimated by Century using aggregated soil and climatic data. In four of the sub-regions small differences between predicted and observed carbon contents were obtained which suggested little land use effect on soils. In the Rolling Pampa, a northern portion of the Pampean Region, observed carbon content was about half of Century prediction. In this sub-region, the main agricultural area of the country, cropping intensity, rainfall and temperature are higher than in the rest of the Pampas. A degradation index constructed by a multiplicative approach, taking into account percentage of surface cropped, rainfall and temperature was 2–5 times higher in the Rolling Pampa than in the other pampean sub-region. The difference between predicted C and observed C in the Rolling Pampa was attributed to carbon losses by cropping in a warm and wet climate.

Notizen: Abstract. Recent developments in in situγ ray spectrometry offer a new approach to measuring the activity of radionuclides such as 137Cs and 40K in soils, and thus estimating erosion or deposition rates and field moist bulk density (ρm). Such estimates would be rapid and involve minimal site disturbance, especially important where archaeological remains are present. This paper presents the results of a pilot investigation of an eroded field in Scotland in which a portable hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector was used to measure γ ray spectra in situ. The gamma (γ) photon flux observed at the soil surface is a function of the 137Cs inventory, its depth distribution characteristics and ρm. A coefficient, QCs, derived from the forward scattering of 137Cs γ ray photons within the soil profile relative to the 137Cs full energy peak (662 keV), was used to correct the in situ calibration for changes in the 137Cs vertical distribution in the ploughed field, a function of tillage, soil accumulation and ρm. Based on only 8 measurements, the agreement between in situγ ray spectrometry and soil sample measurements of 137Cs inventories improved from a non significant r2=0.05 to a significant r2=0.62 (P〈0.05). Erosion and deposition rates calculated from the corrected in situ137Cs measurements had a similarly good agreement with those calculated from soil cores. Mean soil bulk density was also calculated using a separate coefficient, QK, derived from the forward scattering γ photons from 40K within the soil relative to the 40K full energy peak (1460 keV). Again there was good agreement with soil core measurements (r2=0.64; P〈0.05). The precision of the in situ137Cs measurement was limited by the precision with which QCs can be estimated, a function of the low 137Cs deposition levels associated with the weapons testing fallout and relatively low detector efficiency (35%). In contrast, the precision of the in situ ρm determination was only limited by the spatial variability associated with soil sampling.

Notizen: Books Reviewed in this Article: Fertiliser recommendations for agricultural and horticultural crops (RB209) Published with the permission of MAFF by HMSO, 7th edition 2000.

Notizen: Abstract. This paper describes a study of 37 farms in the Batinah region of Oman where fodder crops and date palms are grown using saline irrigation water. Soil water salinities (εs) range from 2 to 50 dS m–1. Soil water salinity depends on irrigation water quality and management factors such as the amount and frequency of irrigation and the area of the irrigation basin relative to the vegetation canopy. An irrigation management model for soil salinity control IMAGE has been developed, based on the salt balance of the profile assuming that the εs is in equilibrium with the irrigation water. The input parameters required to run the model include the annual water application, irrigation interval, soil textural class, potential evaporation, the ratio of crop canopy to irrigation basin area and the salinity of irrigation water. Verification of the model using rather uncertain data from a survey of the farms showed that this simple approach predicted εs to within 2.5 dS m–1 in 82% of cases. The model showed that εs was highly sensitive to the size of irrigation basin and the amount and scheduling of irrigation, and so provides a tool for optimizing salinity management.

Notizen: Abstract. There is increasing evidence that phosphorus (P) can be transferred to surface waters by leaching as well as by erosion and surface runoff. Recently it has been suggested that P soluble in 0.01 m CaCl2 may be a good indicator of the specific Olsen-P concentration (usually termed the ‘Change Point’) at which the rate of P leaching from soil suddenly increases and poses a greater threat of eutrophication to standing waters. We know that these ‘Change Points’ vary from soil to soil but, so far, we do not fully understand the mechanism(s) involved. Here, we combine methods for assessing isotopically exchangeable P and P sequential fractionation to gain an insight into the processes which cause this sudden increase in P solubilization. We suggest that Change-Points simply define the asymtote of rapid desorption isotherms relating to that P which is most readily isotopically exchangeable (i.e at 24 h –33P24) with the soil solution. This involves ligand exchange at hydroxyl sites associated with Fe and Al cations, which is kinetically governed by the concentration of surface complexes on soil minerals. Individual Change-Points reflect the mineralogy and surface chemistry of different soil types. Laboratory and field measurements of the Olsen-P Change-Point reflect these surface phenomena and are similar. Olsen-P extracts the portion of the exchangeable pool that most readily controls solution P, and the Olsen-P/33P24 ratio is linearly related to Olsen-P Change-Points. This may provide a method for estimating P Change-Points where gradients of soil P are not available.

Notizen: Abstract. Soil removed on sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) at harvest may be an important factor in soil degradation causing significant decline in soil productivity. This study evaluated soil losses on sugarbeet and estimated the cost of plant nutrients lost by this process. The losses were calculated using data from the agricultural reports published by the General Directorate of the Turkish Sugar Industry. Organic matter and plant available nutrient contents of soils removed from sugarbeet fields were determined. It was estimated that approximately 30 000 t of soil is lost annually in Erzurum, and 1.2 million t in the whole of Turkey. The cost of N, P and K losses is approximately 60 000 US$ annually for the study area.

Notizen: Abstract. Inputs and outputs of sulphur (S) were quantified over a three year period using field lysimeters containing undisturbed 60 cm deep soil monoliths of a sandy loam. There were four treatments, including a control (no S) and three forms of sulphur fertilizers: ammonium sulphate (AS); micronized elemental sulphur (MS0); and bentonite clay and elemental sulphur mixture (BS0). Sulphur was applied at the beginning of the experiment in autumn at 50 kg ha–1. Atmospheric deposition varied between 6.7 and 7.8 kg S ha–1 yr–1. Leaching losses of S ranged from 35 kg ha–1 in the control to 83 kg ha–1 in the AS treatment over three years, with dissolved organic S accounting for 6–10% of the S leached. In the first year, 7, 26 and 72% of the applied S was lost to drainage water in the BS0, MS0 and AS treatments, respectively, and the percentages increased to 33, 75 and 96% by the end of year 3. No significant differences in sulphur uptake by herbage were found in any of the harvests except a significant increase in the BS0 treatment in the second cut of the second year. Over three years, total S outputs exceeded total S inputs in all treatments, with the control and the AS treatments showing a larger S deficit (34–35 kg ha–1) than the MS0 (23 kg ha–1) and BS0 (7 kg ha–1) treatments. The deficits indicate a depletion of soil S, probably through net mineralization of organic S. The results confirm that sulphate was highly mobile and prone to leaching under the experimental conditions, whereas the slow release characteristics of elemental S, particularly BS0, led to smaller leaching losses and larger residual values.

Notizen: Nitrate and Man: Toxic, harmless or beneficial? By J. L ‘Hirondel and J-L L ‘Hirondel.

Notizen: Abstract. In general, agricultural management has focused on differences between fields or on the gross differences within them. Recent developments in agricultural technology, yield mapping, Global Positioning Systems and variable rate applications, have made it possible to consider managing the considerable variation in soil and other properties within fields. This system is known as precision agriculture. More precise management of fields depends on a better understanding of the factors that affect crop input decisions. This paper examines the spatial variation in crop yield, soil nutrient status and soil pH within two agricultural fields using geostatistics. The observed properties vary considerably within each field. The relation between yield and the measured soil properties appears to be weak in general. However, the range of spatial correlation for yield, shown by the variogram, is similar to that of the soil chemical properties. In addition the latter changed little over two years. This suggests that information on the scale of variation of soil chemical properties can be derived from yield maps, which can also be used as a guide to a suitable sampling interval for soil properties.

Notizen: Abstract. This study employed both natural and social sciences to examine the relationship between resources and economic development in the Red Soil Zone along the coast of South China. Based on the data collected by field investigation and laboratory analysis as well as from literature sources, the authors discuss the environmental problems and the main factors influencing them by using the case of Guangdong province. The results indicate that there are three important problems of Red Soil utilization: soil degradation and pollution, soil erosion and geological hazards. The main reasons for these problems involve the physical and chemical characteristics and mineral composition of the soil, climate and meteorological changes and human activities. The latter is currently the dominant factor influencing the change and deterioration of the Red Soils.

Notizen: Abstract. The dual porosity soil water and contaminant transport model MACRO was tested for its suitability to represent water flows and leaching of phosphorus (P) through field drains following spreading of slurry. These flows are characterized by very high loadings of P, including a high proportion in colloidally attached form, for about one week following winter spreading of slurry, followed by quite a rapid decline to the low background level. Use was made of the option in MACRO for representing colloid facilitated contaminant transport. The model simulates transport through macropores and soil matrix pores (micropores) of contaminant carrying colloids, as well as trapping of colloids by straining and filtration using an adaptation of standard filtration equations. Calibration involved selecting soil hydraulic parameters, colloid filtration coefficients and P sorption characteristics for two soils from measured and literature values. Both P in solution and P attached to colloids were represented in simulated outputs. Reasonable agreement was found between simulated and measured water and leached P flows. Work with the model suggests that macropore flow through the soil to field drains of colloidally transported P is an important component of water pollution associated with slurry spreading

Notizen: Abstract. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and their association with global climate change have led to several major international initiatives to reduce net CO2 emissions, including the promotion of bioenergy crops such as short rotation coppice (SRC) willow. Although the above-ground harvested bio-fuel is likely to be the major contributor to the CO2 mitigation potential of bioenergy crops, additional carbon may be sequestered through crop inputs into plantation soils.  Here, we describe a process-based model specifically designed to evaluate the potential for soil carbon sequestration in SRC willow plantations in the UK. According to the model predictions, we conclude that the potential for soil carbon sequestration in these plantations is comparable to, or even greater than, that of naturally regenerating woodland. Our preliminary, site-specific model output suggests that soil carbon sequestration may constitute about 5% of the overall carbon mitigation benefit arising from SRC plantations. Sensitivity analyses identified the following factors as the principal controls on rates and amounts of soil carbon sequestration under SRC: carbon inputs (net primary production), decomposition rates of the major soil carbon pools, initial soil carbon content (an inverse relationship with rates of soil carbon sequestration), crop/plantation management, and depth of soil being influenced by the bioenergy crop. Our results suggest that carbon sequestration potential is greatest in soils whose carbon content has been depleted to relatively low levels due to agricultural land use practices such as annual deep ploughing of agricultural soils.

Notizen: Abstract. Leaching of phosphorus (P) from agricultural land is the major cause of eutrophication of surface waters in Northern Ireland. However, soil testing using the Olsen method has shown that while soil P in some catchment areas of the Province is low, surface waters within these catchments are, nonetheless, every bit as eutrophic as other local catchments where soil P is high. Soil P measurements on over 6000 samples from Northern Ireland soils (A horizon only) have indicated that Olsen-P values of improved grassland on most parent materials are linearly related to animal intensification. Exceptions are soils derived from peat, marl and basalt. For each of the latter soils, the measured Olsen-P was shown to be around 10 mg L–1 lower than expected for farms with similar intensification on other parent materials. In particular, the mean Olsen-P values of samples from basaltic soils under grass with total Fe above 62 g kg–1 and total Mg above 16 g kg–1 were significantly lower than those from basaltic soils with low total Fe (〈37 g kg–1) and total Mg (〈8 g kg–1). As a result of the depressed Olsen-P value, excessive quantities of P may be applied to these soils to maintain a recommended soil P index thereby enhancing the potential for nutrient enrichment of adjacent surface waters. In such cases, coworkers have shown that acid ammonium oxalate may be a better extractant than bicarbonate as an indicator of plant-available P.

Notizen: Abstract. This paper reviews current understanding of soil structure, the role of soil organic matter (SOM) in soil structure and evidence for or against better soil physical condition under organic farming. It also includes new data from farm case studies in the UK. Young SOM is especially important for soil structural development, improving ephemeral stability through fungal hyphae, extracellular polysaccharides, etc. Thus, to achieve aggregate stability and the advantages that this conveys, frequent input of fresh organic matter is required. Practices that add organic material are routinely a feature of organically farmed soils and the literature generally shows that, comparing like with like, organic farms had at least as good and sometimes better soil structure than conventionally managed farms. Our case studies confirmed this. In the reviewed papers, SOM was generally larger on the biodynamic/organic farms because of the organic additions and/or leys in the rotation. We can therefore hypothesize that, because it is especially the light fraction of SOM that is involved in soil structural development, soil structure will improve in a soil to which fresh organic residues are added regularly. Thus, we argue it is not the farming system per se that is important in promoting better physical condition, but the amount and quality of organic matter returned to a soil.

Notizen: Abstract. Soil fertility is defined as the ability of a soil to provide the conditions required for plant growth. It is a result of the physical, chemical and biological processes that act together to provide nutrients, water, aeration and stability to the plant, as well as freedom from any substances that may inhibit growth. Within this definition, it is useful to distinguish between those components of fertility which change relatively slowly, perhaps over the course of a rotation, or in some cases, decades, and the more immediate contribution from materials such as fertilizers and manures. The term ‘inherent fertility’ is used to describe these more stable characteristics, while recognising that they are, to a large extent, products of soil management. We conclude that, although nutrient management in organically managed soils is fundamentally different to soils managed conventionally, the underlying processes supporting soil fertility are not. The same nutrient cycling processes operate in organically farmed soils as those that are farmed conventionally although their relative importance and rates may differ. Nutrient pools in organically farmed soils are also essentially the same as in conventionally managed soils but, in the absence of regular fertilizer inputs, nutrient reserves in less-available pools will be of greater significance.

Notizen: Abstract. In an exploratory study land use in 27 catchments covering most of England and Wales was assessed (using the land use classification devised by the then Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, now a part of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) and related to loads and concentrations of total nitrogen, phosphorus (mainly as orthophosphate (Op)) and some pesticides in river flows reaching the surrounding seas in the years 1990–1993. There are good correlations between seven land use types and the concentrations of total nitrogen (r=0.83) and Op (r=0.73) entering the seas. The correlations for individual land use types are best for arable land: total nitrogen, r=0.77; Op, r=0.65; and are positive. However, except for the mixed arable and grassland, the relationships between the other five land use types (improved grassland, upland grassland, upland moorland, upland mixed, and afforested and upland) and contaminant concentrations are negative. If data from the Mersey catchment are discarded, on the grounds that contaminant concentrations in the river seem unduly high, correlations between land use and contaminant concentrations reaching the seas are improved for all land uses: total nitrogen, r=0.89; Op, r=0.83; and atrazine, r=0.78. Loads and concentrations of pollutants in rivers entering the sea could be used to validate models of losses from catchments. Models may need to take greater account of runoff and transport of soil particles than they do presently.

Notizen: Abstract. Uptake in grass crops of ammonium acetate lactate extractable K (KAL) and reserve K (interlayer K + structural K) in soil was studied in 16 field experiments at different locations on a range of mineral soil types in Norway. The K uptake from soil, both from KAL and reserve K, was considerable, often even at the highest level of K fertilizer. During three years, only on the sandy soils with a low level of acid soluble K (KHNO3 minus KAL) was there a yield response to K fertilization. The KAL values declined rapidly and flattened off at a ‘minimum level’ which differed with soil type. This minimum level for KAL is a useful parameter in fertilizer planning, because the grass usually took up the K in excess of the minimum level over two years. The minimum value of KAL was significantly correlated with the content of clay + silt in soil. The decrease in KAL during the growing season was closely correlated to the KAL value in spring minus the minimum value and, therefore, the amount of K supplied to the grass from the KAL fraction can be calculated. Furthermore, the KAL value for the following spring may be estimated. The release from reserve K was partially related to acid soluble K.

Notizen: Abstract. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks are presented for Central and Eastern Europe. The study uses the soil geographic and attribute data held in a 1:2 500 000 scale Soil and Terrain (SOTER) database, covering Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation (west of the Urals), Slovakia, and Ukraine. Means and coefficients of variation for soil organic carbon and total nitrogen are presented for each major FAO soil grouping. The mean content of organic carbon, to a depth of 1 m, ranges from 3.9 kg C m–2 for coarse textured Arenosols to 72.9 kg C m–2 for poorly drained Histosols. Mean carbon content for the mineral soils, excluding Arenosols, is 15.8 kg C m–2. The top 1 m of soil holds 110 Pg C (Pg=1015 g), which corresponds to about 7% of the global stock of soil organic carbon. About 44% of this carbon pool is held in the top 0.3 m of the soil, the layer that is most prone to be changed by changes in soil use and management. About 166 million ha in Central and Eastern Europe have been degraded by compaction, erosion of topsoil, fertility decline and crusting. The achievable level of carbon sequestration for these soils, upon adoption of ‘best’ management practices or restorative measures, is estimated.

Notizen: Abstract. There is a lack of information about the influence of tillage and time of sowing on N2O and NO emission in cereal production. Both factors influence crop growth and soil conditions and thereby can affect trace gas emissions from soils. We measured fluxes of NO and N2O in a tillage experiment where grassland on clay loam soil was converted to arable by either direct drilling or ploughing to 30 cm depth. We made measurements in spring for 20 days after fertilizer application to spring-sown and to winter-sown barley. Both were the second barley crop after grass. Direct drilling enhanced N2O emission primarily as a result of restricted gas diffusivity causing poor aeration after rainfall. Deep ploughing enhanced NO emission, because of the large air-filled porosity in the topsoil. NO and N2O emissions were smaller from winter sown crops than from spring sown crops.  The three rates of N fertilizer application (40, 80 or 120 kg N ha–1) did not produce the expected linear response in either soil available N concentrations or in NO and N2O fluxes. We attributed this to the lack of rainfall in the ten-day period after fertilizer application and therefore very slow incorporation and movement of fertilizer into and through the soil.

Notizen: Abstract. Preferential flow may enhance phosphorus transport through the soil profile and thereby increase the risks for eutrophication of watercourses. Destruction of continuous macropores in topsoil by tillage provides the possibility for better contact between soil particles and P fertilizer. This is facilitated by incorporation rather than surface application of fertilizer, which should reduce the risk of rapid P transport from the soil surface through the unsaturated zone. To test this hypothesis, undisturbed soil monoliths (0.295 m in diameter and 1.2 m in length) were collected at a field site with a clay soil in which preferential flow is the dominant solute transport mechanism. After three years of observation, average total P loads reached 1.86, 1.59 and 1.25 kg ha–1for no-tillage, conventional tillage, and conventional tillage where the P fertilizer was incorporated, respectively. More than 80% of total losses were in the form of dissolved P. The tillage treatment had no significant effect on P leaching loads compared to no-tillage, but the improved contact between soil particles and P fertilizer resulting from fertilizer incorporation significantly reduced P loads during the first year after application of 100 kg P ha–1. However, after further application of 100 kg P ha–1 two years later, there were no significant differences between the treatments.

Notizen: Abstract. The effect of land use on the water retention capacity of Umbric Andosols in south Ecuador was studied. The objective was to acquire a better insight into the hydrological processes of the ecosystem and the role of the soil, in order to assess the impact of changing soil properties due to land use change on the hydrology of the high Andes region. Field data on the water retention capacity at wilting point of Umbric Andosols were collected for both cultivated field conditions and original bush vegetation. The pH in water and in NaF, texture, organic matter content and dry bulk density were measured to show which physicochemical soil characteristics are responsible for the water retention of the Umbric Andosols and for the irreversible loss in water retention due to air drying. Organic matter content appears to be very important and certainly more important than allophane clay content. Water retention of the organic litter layer was calculated to be 16 mm, this would be lost when vegetation was cleared and the land cultivated.

Notizen: Abstract. The effects of time and temperature on the changes in Olsen P after phosphate application were studied in 13 calcareous soils from Pakistan, an Oxisol from Colombia and an Inceptisol from England. The phosphate sorption reactions were monitored in two stages. The short-term reaction (30 min shaking with added phosphate in the presence of the Olsen bicarbonate solution) showed that over this time the nature of the sorbing material and number of available sites for P adsorption were important but temperature was not. The extent of the short-term sorption was not related to the amount of calcium carbonate. In the long-term reaction (incubating the soils with phosphate at 10, 25 and 45 °C for one year) the amount of Olsen P decreased with time following a power relationship. Increased temperature increased the rate of reaction, following the Arrhenius principle i.e. Q10⊃ 3 (activation energy 83 kJ mol–1). The effects of time and temperature were well described by a modified power equation Y=a (1 +fTt)-b, where Y is the amount of Olsen P extracted after time t, a is the Olsen P value after the short-term reaction (the initial value), fT is the ratio of the rate constants at any two temperatures and b is a coefficient which represents the loss in extractability with time. On the basis of the initial Olsen P values and subsequent Olsen P values at different times and temperatures a unified decay curve Y/a= (1 +t)–0.20 was developed where the initial Olsen P values are normalized to 1. The parameters of this equation allow, with limitations, the prediction of changes in Olsen P in these soils if the initial Olsen P value of the soil is known.

Notizen: Abstract. This study investigated the effect of the same volume of leaching water applied consecutively in either equal amounts or increasing amounts or decreasing amounts on the hydraulic conductivity of a saline sodic soil in 30 cm plastic columns in the laboratory. Gypsum was mixed with the surface 2–3 cm of soil. After leaching, the hydraulic conductivity was measured in each 10 cm depth of soil. Hydraulic conductivity decreased strongly (P〈0.05) with depth and the most effective method of applying the water was in gradually increasing amounts.

Notizen: Abstract. The field experiment tested the effects of three management systems on nitrate leaching losses from a five crop rotation on the Lincolnshire Limestone in Eastern England. The Standard system was similar to farming practice in the area. The Protective system integrated individual practices which were expected to decrease nitrate losses (e.g. cover crops, cultivation delay in autumn and reduced intensity, manipulation of drilling dates and, during the first few years of the first rotation, straw incorporation). The Intermediate system was a compromise between the two extremes. All crops were grown at full and half recommended nitrogen rates. This paper reports data from the second full rotation (years 6–10), thus enabling the medium-term effects of continued management practices to be investigated. Average annual nitrogen leaching losses at 49, 35 and 25 kg N ha–1 for Standard, Intermediate and Protective systems, respectively, were significantly different. The respective flow-weighted average NO3 concentrations were 167, 131 and 96 mg l–1. Thus, adopting nitrate retentive practices through the rotation was able to substantially decrease losses. The Protective system was as effective as in the first full rotation, demonstrating that 10 years of such practices had not failed in the medium-term. However, continued minimal cultivation caused serious problems of weed build-up. The cost of weed control and yield loss caused by grass weeds made cereal production uneconomic in some years. Thus, rules for nitrate leaching control need to be tempered with practical and agronomic considerations. Also, few (if any) management techniques tested guaranteed that nitrate losses would be small in all years, as the interaction with winter weather, particularly rainfall, was of vital importance.

Notizen: Abstract. Soil management studies show that intensive arable agriculture can lead to a decline in both organic matter levels and the stability of the soil structure. It is a priority to understand how soil structure responds when fresh organic materials are added to poor quality degraded arable soils. This is of particular interest because of its implication for carbon sequestration. We investigate whether the addition of organic materials can form stable aggregates in a degraded soil. Grass or peat residues were added to samples of soil obtained from the continuous grassland and arable plots of the long-term experiment at highfield, IACR-Rothamsted (UK) and incubated at 2° and 24°C, for upto 8 weeks at -5 kPa. At 1 day and at 2, 4 and 8 weeks the soil was slaked in de-ionised water and the aggregate size distributions were measured. The data was used to calculate mean weight diameters (MWD). The treatments with added grass showed increased aggregated relative to the control; the treatments with added peat did not. At 24°C the value of MWD increased with the incubation period, but at 2°C there was no further aggregation beyond week two. Respiration measurements were made and the samples that released the most CO2 were also those which re-aggregated the most. This suggests that the process of aggregation is microbiologically mediated. The results are discussed within the broader context of the implications of soil organic matter content on soil management.

Notizen: Abstract. By comparing field measurements from 1989, 1997, and 1998, the differences between farmland (sloping farmland, sloping farmland with contour cultivation, terraced farmland) and orchard (terraced orchard, unterraced orchard), in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, were significant for runoff (P〈0.01), erosion (P〈0.05) and nutrient loss (P〈0.05). Taking into account economic costs and environmental influences, reasonable and sustainable land use on slopes of 25° in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area should be unterraced orchard.

Notizen: Abstract. Paper sludge composted or stored in static piles for six months was compared to raw and lime-stabilized sludge in a three-year pot experiment (loam) and a four-year field experiment (silt loam) at rates of up to 40 t DM ha-l. The original sludge contained equal amounts of fibre sludge and biological sludge, mixed with bark in 1:1 ratio to improve the structure. The N content in composted sludge (1.30%) was markedly lower than that of the uncomposted piles (1.98%), indicating significant loss during composting. The yield results were generally inversely proportionate to the C:N ratios of the sludges applied. Sludge from the uncomposted piles gave significant grain yield increases in the year following sludge application, while the other sludge types gave variable results. In the residual years there was, generally, a small but positive effect on yield from all the sludge types. The N and P content in grain generally increased with sludge application, but only the higher rates gave statistically significant increases. Sludge application also increased the Zn content in grain, while Mn, B and Cu was less affected. The increase in Cd content was very small. The 40 t ha-l sludge rate tended to increase the residual mineral N in soil at the field site and thus the risk of nitrate leaching.

Notizen: Abstract. An increasing number of breeding sows is kept outdoors in Europe. Outdoor pig production has benefits in terms of animalwelfare but may have hidden costs through nutrient losses. We investigated the distribution of nutrients in sow paddocks and the consequence for losses and utilization in the succeeding crop. Significant correlation between soil inorganicNand the distance to feeding sites was observed after the paddocks had been used by lactating sows for 6 months (P〈0.01). Near to feeders inorganic N levels became extremely high whereas 30–40m from feeders some patches hadN levels in the topsoil corresponding to the levels in the reference area without sows. In the following spring only a minor part of inorganic N was still present in the top 0–40 cm. Similarly, extractable P and exchangeable K in topsoil were significantly affected by distance to feeders with the highest values close to the feeders (P〈0.001). In addition there were significant effects of the distance to huts with increasing nutrient content closer to huts. Although huge variations in dry matter production and nutrient content occurred in the succeeding potato crop, these were only weakly related to the distribution of nutrients (N, P and K) in the previous year, which explained 17%of the total variation in dry matter production. To increase nutrient efficiency in outdoor pig production a uniformdistribution of nutrients should be obtained by manipulating the excretory behaviour of the sows and stocking densities must be adjusted to locally acceptable nutrient surpluses.

Notizen: Abstract. A survey of cattle manure management was undertaken in England and Wales, in 1997, by postal questionnaire sent out to a stratified sample (by unit size) of 1750 dairy and 1750 beef producers. The level of response obtained, with 471 dairy farmers (27%) and 515 beef farmers (29%) returning questionnaires, reflects well on the interest shown by the industry and on the survey design. The survey provided information on manure production and storage, when and how applied and nutrient value. Dairy farms are estimated to produce manures in the form of c. 65% slurry and 35% farmyard manures (FYM) and, beef units, 80%FYM and 20%slurry (based on survey response data, animal numbers and calculations of undiluted outputs of excreta). Slurry storage within both dairy and beef systems is typically up to 3–6 months capacity, although there is no storage for an estimated 16% of dairy and 25% of beef slurry. Autumn and winter spreading is common practice, with 40–50% of slurry and 50–60% of FYM applied at that time. Although some evidence suggests that farmers make little allowance for the nutrient content of manures in planning fertilizer inputs, the results of this survey suggest that many farmers do make some effort to utilize manure nutrients. However, they currently fail to be assured by the advice available to them or they lack confidence in manures as nutrient sources for a number of technical reasons. Information provided by the survey may be important to policy makers, researchers and consultants, as well as farmers.

Notizen: Abstract. Demand for water from catchments dominated by upland peat as a source of drinking water supplies in the UK is likely to increase in the future as demand per capita continues to rise (Thomsen 1990) and/or summer droughts increase in frequency (Arnell 1992). Concern has been expressed in recent years over rising colour levels (related to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and iron (Fe)) from such catchments (e.g. Kay et al. 1989) causing reduced drinking water quality. One of the major causes of increased DOC concentrations is rewetting following periods of relative drought (Mitchell & McDonald 1992). Experimental rewetting of a naturally drained wetland in Mid-Wales over four years was found to substantially increase the concentrations of DOC, and Fe in the pore-water, with peak values of 〉60 mg dm–3 (Fe) and 〉300 mg dm–3 (DOC) after rewetting, compared with typical values of 〈1 mgdm–3 (Fe) and 〈15 mg dm–3 (DOC) under the drained conditions. Seasonal peak concentrations of Fe and DOC have since remained at these higher levels. Rewetting produced a selective enrichment of the 〉5000 to 〈90 000 apparent molecular weight (AMW) material and this fraction was found to yield peak Fe concentrations. Two additional peaks of DOC were also found in the experimental wetland (not present in the control wetland), of 〉90 000 to 〈200 000 AMW and 〉200 000 AMW material. The AMW spectrum of DOC in the experimental wetland changed with season, and the 〉90 000 to 〈200 000 AMW fraction could only be seen in spring, representing a transient pool of carbon that is rapidly transformed in or transported from the wetland. These findings suggest that rewetting of peatland following drought (e.g. due to climate change) has the potential to reduce water quality. Moreover, recent interest in restoration (rewetting) of drained peatlands (Wheeler & Shaw 1995) could create an additional source of DOC rich water.

Notizen: Abstract. The hierarchial concept of land use planning becomes less relevant in a society with continuous interactions between stakeholders, researchers, planners and politicians. In this context, land use negotiation rather than land use planning appears to be the most appropriate concept. In the negotiation process, good quality data about the land is important as land properties are, obviously, key elements to be considered. Case studies at farm and regional level have been analysed to explore answers to a number of questions. How can soil data be presented most effectively? What are the research needs? How can the large existing body of data be mobilized most effectively? Studies on regional land use in Costa Rica used methods in a logical sequence including projections, explorations and predictions of land use patterns. The work involved upscaling of data, obtained at farm level, to the regional level. Work at farm level focussed on prototyping procedures in which farming systems were ‘designed’ by close interaction between farmers and scientists, including applications of precision agriculture. Soil data demands were analysed, emphasizing the effects of using data with different degrees of detail together with the application of pedotransfer functions which effectively transform existing data into parameters that are difficult or expensive to measure directly. This not only facilitated interactions with stakeholders but also with colleague scientists in interdisciplinary teams. In addition, use of Geographical Information Systems allowed visual presentations of alternative geographical land use patterns that were associated with various scenarios, thereby facilitating the interaction processes. A plea is made to increase interaction of stakeholders and researchers by considering research programmes as vehicles for joint learning.

Notizen: Abstract. Topsoil (0–15 cm) bulk density, aggregate stability, soil dispersibility, water retention and infiltration were measured between 1989 and 1996 on an Alfisol under rehabilitation in southwestern Nigeria. The planted leguminous species were Pueraria phaseoloides, Senna siamea, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia leptocarpa and A. auriculiformis. Also, plots with natural fallow and maize/cassava intercropping were included. Level (minimum) and mound tillage with hoes was adopted for the cultivated areas under study after 4 and 6 year fallow periods. Under fallow, the soil bulk density decreased from1.56 to 1.11 t m73.The continuously cropped treatment (level tillage) had significantly higher bulk density than the fallowed subplots after 6 years. Mean soil penetrometer resistance ranged from 75 to 157 kPa for fallowed plots and from 192 to 295 kPa for the continuously cropped (level tillage) subplot. Surface soilwater contentswere similar for all the treatments during the soil strength measurements. Although soil aggregates were generally of low stability and not well formed, they were improved by fallowing.Soil structural improvement by planted fallows was similar to that by natural fallow, but the trees were more promising for long-term fallow (〉6 years) than the herbaceous P. phaseoloides. However, the improvement in soil structure after 4 or 6 year fallow could not be maintained in subsequent cropping. Furthermore, the significant improvement in soil bulk density caused by A. auriculiformis and natural fallow was more rapidly lost on the cultivated subplots compared with other fallow treatments. Thus, soil structure recovery under a fallow does not imply a sustained improvement when stress is applied to this soil. Post-fallow soil management options such as residue incorporation and tillage to ameliorate compaction or soil strength will be necessary to enhance the improvements by fallow species.

Notizen: Abstract. A field plot experiment was conducted to investigate P mobilization from fertilized rice fields during rainfall-flooding events. The experiment tested the effects of inorganic fertilizer P, at two rates, and P fertilizer plus manure, at one rate, on the amounts of P lost in drainage water when the plots were subjected to four artificially simulated storm-flooding/drainage events over an eight day period. During the first drainage event, two days after P application, the concentrations and loads of soluble reactive P (SRP) and particulate P (PP) in the drainage water were some three to five times lower than they had been just 24 hours earlier due to rapid sorption and sedimentation. At subsequent events, the concentrations and loads of SRP in drainage water were almost two orders of magnitude lower than at the first event, i.e. the equilibrium between P release from fertilizer and manure and P sorption/fixation by the soil mineral fraction had shifted strongly in favour of the latter processes. During the first drainage event, the concentrations and loads of SRP in drainage water from the low P fertilizer treatment were similar to those on the low P fertilizer plus manure treatment, whereas, 24 hours earlier they had been significantly greater. At subsequent events, though, the highest concentrations and loads of SRP occurred in drainage water from plots treated with equal amounts of P fertilizer and manure. It is suggested that extending the time period between P application and flooding events by applying fertilizer and manure outside the main rainy season should significantly reduce the risk of P loss from paddy rice fields.

Notizen: Abstract. Natural secondary succession, forest planting and agricultural practices after deforestation affect soil properties in many ways. During the last 50 years, land uses have greatly changed in the mountainous areas in southwestern China as the result of deforestation and cultivation. A study was initiated in Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan province to elucidate the complex relationships in a humid mountainous region. Soil properties under six typical land use types (natural forest, grassland, shrub, secondary forest, cultivated land and reforested land) were compared. Significant differences between land uses were found for soil bulk density (BD), total nitrogen (TN), soil organic carbon (SOC), available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK). Cultivated land had the lowest levels for most soil properties compared to other land uses and shrubland had a higher SOC, TN and available nitrogen (AN) than other land uses. Soils under grassland and shrub contained the greatest carbon mass (TC). Further studies on reforested land indicated that soil properties could be changed by length of reforestation. The SOC and TN in particular showed a linear relationship with years since reforestation. The results suggested that in an area of China where the climate favours secondary succession, ‘leave nature as it is’ is a better choice than the policy ‘change farmland to forest land ‘, especially for the mountainous regions where there is lack of labour and financial support.

Notizen: Abstract. Soil erosion and sediment delivery cause many environmental problems posing a substantial financial burden upon society. Policy makers therefore look for a strategy to minimize their impact. The spatial nature of soil erosion and sediment delivery, as well as the variety of possible soil conservation and sediment control measures, requires an integrated approach to catchment management. To evaluate such management, a spatially distributed soil erosion and sediment delivery model is necessary. Such a model (WaTEM/SEDEM) was applied to three agricultural catchments in Flanders (Belgium). The model was first used to identify where the measures to control soil loss should be taken. Secondly, a scenario analysis was used to select the most effective set of techniques. The findings showed that soil conservation measures taken in fields are not only effective in reducing on-site soil loss, but also in drastically reducing sediment yield. Off-site sediment control measures appear to be much less effective in reducing sediment yield than previously thought. The results also suggest that data from field experiments cannot be extrapolated to a catchment scale.

Notizen: Abstract. When over exploited and coupled with climatic conditions, tropical soils are subject to increased erosion and a loss of soil organic matter. Countermeasures include the incorporation of organic materials such as crop and animal residues. We studied the effect of adding crop residues and manure to soil, at five sites in Ethiopia, on carbohydrate properties, aggregate stability and the C and N distribution within water-stable aggregates. The effects of organic amendments varied between sites. The largest content of carbohydrates was obtained in the control treatment at Holeta, Ginchi (90 kg ha–1 mustard meal), Jimma (5 t ha–1 cow dung + 9 t ha–1 coffee husk), Awassa (forested soil), and Sirinka (soil alley-cropped with Leuceanae). The aggregate stability of these soils was highly correlated with the OM content but not with carbohydrates. The smaller aggregates (〈1.00 mm) accumulated more carbohydrates than the larger (〉1.00 mm), thereby suggesting a protecting effect within the finer soil fractions. A protecting role played by humified OM components was also indicated by the C and N distribution as well as the C:N ratios which showed preferential accumulation in small rather than in large aggregates. The isotopic 13C-OC values of carbohydrate extracts were generally low, suggesting that OM was from plants with C3 photosynthetic pathways. Soil treatments with maize alone or combined with coffee husks at Jimma decreased the δ13C‰ values slightly, revealing that maize contributed a share of the labile OM. Despite the improvement in the soil OM content, neither the carbohydrate content nor the aggregate stability were increased to the level of the forested sites, suggesting that the additions of crop residues and manure were not alone sufficient to restore the soil physical quality.

Notizen: Abstract. This paper reviews information from the literature and case studies to investigate whether productivity in organic systems is restricted by the supply of available N during the major phases of crop growth. Organic systems have the potential to supply adequate amounts of available N to meet crop demand through the incorporation of leys, N rich cash crop residues and uncomposted manures. However, this is seldom achieved because leys are only incorporated once every few years and organically produced crop residues and manures tend to have low N contents and slow mineralization rates. N availability could be improved by delaying ley incorporation until spring, applying uncomposted manures at the start of spring growth, transferring some manure applications from the ley phase to arable crops, preventing cover crops from reaching a wide C:N ratio and better matching crop type with the dynamics of N availability.

Notizen: Abstract. Previous studies of the microbial status of soils managed under ‘organic’ and ‘conventional’ regimes have produced conflicting evidence of whether there are distinct differences in the size, composition and activity of the soil microbial biomass which may be attributed to management practice. In the present study, we have compared the microbiology of organically- and conventionally-managed soils at (primarily) two farms in England, over a two year period. Differences in microbial communities in soils under different management practice were subtle rather than dramatic. Many of the parameters measured, including total C and microbial biomass C, often showed no consistently significant differences in soils under different management. In soils from one farm, concentrations of ATP in Ringers solution soil extracts were mostly found to be significantly greater in organically-managed than in comparable conventionally-managed soils. While indirect (plate) counts showed that there were similar numbers of cultivable microorganisms present in these soils, total counts of bacteria (via DAPI-staining) were found to parallel the trends found for readily-extractable ATP. Numbers of metabolically-active bacteria, determined by FISH analysis using a EUB338 probe to detect ribosome-rich cells, indicated that the percentage of metabolically-active bacteria present was not determined by management practice. Total and active fungi were also found to be more abundant in organically-managed soils. It was concluded that changes in soil microbiology may occur as a consequence of switching to organic land management, but these may not be detectable by methods used frequently to assess soil biomass. In particular, increased numbers of viable but non-culturable bacteria and fungi in organically-managed soils points to a greater physiological diversity of microorganisms in such situations.

Notizen: Abstract. Under a UK Government consultation procedure announced in 2001, it was proposed that measures agreed within already designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ ‘s) would be extended to include a considerably increased area of England, Wales and Scotland. Since existing NVZ ‘s in the UK have included relatively little grassland, it is important to examine how nitrate losses from grassland areas, especially from animal manures, one of the major potential sources of nitrate loss, can be minimized. Experiments were carried out on freely draining grassland soils at four sites (Devon, Hampshire, Shropshire and N Yorkshire) representative of a wide range of climatic and farming conditions across lowland England, over a four year period, 1990/91 to 1993/94. Slurry was applied to experimental plots over a range of times (including June and then monthly, from September to January) at a target rate of 200 kg N ha–1. Nitrogen leaching over the four years ranged from 0 to 〉50% of applied slurry N, with the largest losses occurring following applications in the September to November period. The use of a nitrification inhibitor with slurry applied in November failed to provide consistent reduction in nitrate leaching.A strategy to reduce the risk of N leaching from manures applied to freely draining grassland soils must take account of the characteristics of the manure, in particular its N content, the application rate and the amount of excess rainfall following application. The experimental results suggest that slurry applications to freely draining grassland, in September, October and November should generally be avoided, the rationale for this being dependent on the amount of excess rainfall subsequent to application. Farmyard manure represents a lower risk and does not justify the restrictions on application timing that appear to be necessary with slurry.

Notizen: Abstract. A numerical model that incorporates the spatial variability of infiltration, surface storage and resistance to overland flow was developed, calibrated and validated for olive orchards. The model reproduced accurately amounts of runoff used in validation, and predicted runoff in olive orchards managed in different ways, in line with published results. The model was used to analyse the runoff generation in a virtual, 180 m length, 5% steep, olive grove, using 54 different scenarios which combined three different soil types, two tree canopy sizes and nine soil management techniques (four tillage scenarios: freshly or degraded tillage with and without a compacted plough layer; no-till, and four cover crops in strips differing in width and plant density). The results of the numerical experiment showed that no-till had the highest runoff coefficient, while a dense cover crop had the lowest. Recently tilled soils also exhibited some of the lowest runoff coefficients. The effects of increasing soil cover due to a greater tree canopy on runoff were significant and caused by the greater area of high infiltration beneath the canopy. Effects of tree canopy size were less important than the impact of soil management practices on runoff.

Notizen: Abstract. In the Sahel, promising technologies for agricultural intensification include millet stover mulching and ridging. A four year on-farm experiment was set-up in order to assess the effect of various combinations of these two technologies on soil chemical and physical quality in a millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) –- cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) relay intercropping system. Treatments included bare surface, ridging, a surface applied banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) and a banded millet stover mulch (2 t ha–1) buried in ridges. The latter three treatments were implemented exclusively in the cowpea rows, with an annual rotation between the millet and cowpea rows. Both the bare and ridge plots experienced a rapid loss of organic carbon, acidification and the development of extensive surface crusts but no increase in bulk density or penetration resistance. In the year of application, mulching improved soil quality in the cowpea row with respect to pH, organic carbon and exchangeable K+ and Mg++ content, penetration resistance and bulk density, and it reduced the decline in exchangeable Ca++ and total N content. In the year following mulch application, a general decline in soil chemical quality was observed in the millet row, except for organic carbon content, and a positive residual effect was observed on penetration resistance and bulk density. As a rule, the effects of mulching in the year of application tended to be stronger in the ridged treatment with buried residue than in the banded surface mulch. In the year following application, this tendency was reversed. For the purpose of reducing soil degradation by nutrient mining and wind erosion, a banded surface mulch therefore appeared more effective than buried mulch.

Notizen: Abstract. Slurry from farm animals may contaminate water supplies, rivers and bathing waters with faecal coliforms, such as Escherichia coli. Where animals harbour the O157 strain the hazard to human health is particularly high, but both the hazard level, and the low incidence and sporadic nature of the excretion of E. coli O157 make it difficult to study this strain under field conditions. The survival of total E. coli and of E. coli O157 were compared in the laboratory for two soils under controlled temperature and moisture. E. coli O157 die-off rate was the same as or quicker than for total E. coli. This result meant that field experiments studying the fate of total E. coli should give a satisfactory evaluation of the risk of water contamination by the O157 strain. In four field experiments at three sites, slurry containing total E. coli numbers of 2.2 × 104 to 5.7 × 105 colony forming units per mL (c.f.u. mL–1) was applied to drained field plots. Field die-off was faster than expected from laboratory experiments, especially in one experiment where two weeks dry weather followed application. In all but this experiment, the first drain flow events after slurry application led to very high E. coli concentrations in the drains (103 to 104 c.f.u. mL–1). E. coli O157 was present in the slurry used for two of the experiments (33 c.f.u. per 100 mL in each case). However the proportion of E.coli O157 was very low (about 1 in 105) and it was not detected in the drainage water. After the first week E. coli drainage water numbers decreased rapidly but they were 1–10 c.f.u. mL–1 for much of the sampling period after slurry application (1–3 months).

Notizen: Abstract. Predictive, regional use of soil organic matter (SOM) models requires evaluation of the performance of models with datasets from long-term experiments relevant to the scenarios of interest to the regional scale study, and relevant to the climate of the study region. Datasets from six long-term experiments were used to evaluate the performance of RothC and CENTURY, two of the most widely used and tested SOM models. Three types of model run were completed for each site: (1) CENTURY model alone; (2) RothC model run to fit measured SOC values, by iteratively adjusting C inputs to soil; and (3) RothC model run using C inputs derived from CENTURY runs. In general, the performance of both models was good across all datasets. The runs using RothC (iteratively changing C inputs to fit measured SOC values) tended to have the best fit to model data, since this method involved direct fitting to observed data. Carbon inputs estimated by RothC were, in general, lower than those estimated by CENTURY, since SOC in CENTURY tends to turn over faster than SOC in RothC. The runs using RothC with CENTURY C inputs tended to have the poorest fit of all, since CENTURY predicted greater C inputs than were required by RothC to maintain the same SOC content. A plausible model fit to measured SOC data may be obtained with widely differing C input values, due to differences in predicted decomposition rates between models. It remains unclear which, if either, modelling approach most closely represents reality since both C inputs to soil and decomposition rates for bulk SOM are difficult to determine experimentally. Further progress in SOM modelling can only be the result of research leading to better process understanding, both of net C inputs to soil and of SOM decomposition rates.  The use of default methods for estimating initial SOC pools in RothC and CENTURY may not always be appropriate and may require adjustment for specific sites. The simulations presented here also suggest details of SOC dynamics not shown by available measured data, especially trends between sampling intervals, and this emphasizes the importance of archived soil samples in long-term experiments.

Notizen: Abstract. Efforts to assess the role of soil structure in soil and water processes have been limited by data based on two dimensional geometry or disturbed samples. Computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive technique that allows for the three dimensional, non-destructive examination of heterogeneous materials. X-ray CT scanning was used to acquire serial images of contrasting soil types that could be used to render, and hence, quantify important soil constituents in three dimensions. By repeating the scanning techniques after an infiltration period, it was also possible to examine the nature of water movement in real time. Macropore architecture between different soil types was highly variable and generally appeared as unconnected pore segments at the resolution examined. As expected, water flow characteristics were similar to macropore structure, with wetting patterns resembling both Darcian and preferential flow identified in different soils. From this, it was found that in the sandy clay soil c. 90% of macropore space was active following infiltration, compared with c. 50% for the sandy loam soil. In addition, it was possible to visualize the three dimensional distribution of stones and other mineral material. The results illustrated the benefits of computed tomography over more conventional analyses of soil structure, and its potential as a tool for examining dynamic soil processes. However, problems associated with accessibility, resolution and artefacts still provide limitations of the technique.

Notizen: Abstract. Continuous cultivation of soils of the semiarid tropics has led to significant land degradation. Soil erosion and nutrient loss caused by high runoff volumes have reduced crop yields and contributed to offsite damage. We compared a number of soil management practices (tillage, mulch and perennial/annual rotational based systems) for their potential to improve crop production and land resource protection in an Alfisol of the semiarid tropics of India. Runoff and soil erosion were monitored and surface soil and sediment were analysed for nitrogen and carbon to determine enrichment ratios. Amelioration of soils with organic additions (farmyard manure, rice straw) or rotating perennial pasture with annual crops increased soil carbon and nitrogen contents and reduced runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss. Soil erosion totalled less than 7 t ha–1, but enrichment ratios were often greater than 2 resulting in up to 27 kg N ha–1 and 178 kg C ha–1 being lost in sediment. Up to an extra 250 mm of water per year infiltrated the soil with organic additions and was available for crop water use or percolation to groundwater. The results show that there are good opportunities for reducing degradation and increasing productivity on farms.

Notizen: Abstract. Native woodland restoration is a conservation priority within the UK and there is an increasing awareness that a long-term strategy is required to guide this process. A GIS-based modelling approach has been developed, which links site conditions as expressed in an integrated soil and land cover dataset with the site requirements for different woodland types. There are three important aspects to the model – the parameter weightings, the added value of the integrated dataset, and the woodland categories which are described and predicted. The initial quantitative and qualitative validation has been encouraging although more is required and planned. The results indicate that for broad strategic planning purposes, predictions of woodland potential are not improved significantly when climatic factors are incorporated. The concept that soil acts as an integrator of other environmental variables is discussed alongside the practical application of the model by a range of users.

Notizen: Abstract. Spate irrigation is a system used for wetting land prior to planting. Use is made of seasonal rivers (wadis) producing flash floods in the uplands, which are directed by structures to irrigate fields in the lowlands. A land suitability system for spate irrigation schemes in Eritrea was studied in the Sheeb area of Eritrea with and without land improvements. The availability of floods and soil moisture were the major land use requirements for spate-irrigated sorghum and maize, while salinity hazard has only a minor effect in spate irrigation systems. The suitable land for spate irrigation in the Sheeb area is distributed as follows: 16% is highly to moderately suitable, 24% is moderately suitable and 17% is marginally suitable. About 40% of the study area was found to be currently unsuitable for spate irrigation mainly due to a lack of floodwater and poor soils. With improvements to the spate irrigation system, such as construction of permanent flood diversion structures, the area of land suitable for spate irrigation will expand. The land suitability system presented in this study could be applied in other spate irrigation schemes of Eritrea and perhaps in other countries also.

Notizen: Abstract. Forest soil sustainability and future crop productivity is at risk if mechanised harvesting operations cause soil damage. In UK upland forestry, soil protection is usually provided by placing harvesting residues (brash) over areas where machinery traffic is required. In this study, various thicknesses of brash mat were tested for their ability to reduce compaction of a surface water gley soil at Kielder Forest, Northumberland. Changes in penetration resistance and dry soil bulk density were studied after passes by forest harvesting and timber extraction machinery running on the brash. The study shows that normal harvesting operations caused some soil compaction. However, the brash mat system was shown as important in protecting the soil. Soil under brash mats experienced some compaction to at least 45 cm depth. The thickest brash mat, composed of residues from 10 rows of trees, was unable to prevent compaction completely. Nevertheless, the protective role of the brash mat system was clearly confirmed when compared to timber extraction over bare soil. The point at which compaction has a detrimental effect on the establishment and stability of future tree rotations remains uncertain.

Notizen: Abstract. Agricultural soils are important sources of the tropospheric ozone precursor NO and the greenhouse gas N2O. Emissions are controlled primarily by parameters that vary the soil mineral N supply, temperature and soil aeration. In this field experiment, the importance of soil physical properties on emissions of NO and N2O are identified. Fluxes were measured from 13 soils which belonged to 11 different soil series, ranging from poorly drained silty clay loams to freely drained sandy loams. All soils were under the same soil management regime and crop type (winter barley) and in the same maritime climate zone. Despite this, emissions of NO and N2O ranged over two orders of magnitude on all three measurement occasions, in spring before and after fertilizer application, and in autumn after harvest. NO emissions ranged from 0.3 to 215 μg NO-N m–2 h–1, with maximum emissions always from the most sandy, freely drained soil. Nitrous oxide emissions ranged from 0 to 193 μg N2O-N m–2 h–1. Seasonal shifts in soil aeration caused maximum N2O emissions to switch from freely drained sandy soils in spring to imperfectly drained soils with high clay contents in autumn. Although effects of soil type on emissions were not consistent, N2O emission was best related to a combination of bulk density and clay content and the NO/N2O ratio decreased logarithmically with increasing water filled pore space.

Notizen: Abstract. Changes in particulate organic carbon (POC) relative to total organic carbon (TOC) were measured in soils from five agronomic trial sites in New South Wales, Australia. These sites covered a wide range of different land use and management practices. POC made up 42–74% of TOC and tended to be greater under pasture and more conservative management than traditional cropping regimes. It was the form of organic carbon preferentially lost when soils under long-term pasture were brought under cultivation. It was also the dominant form of organic carbon accumulating under more conservative management practices (direct drilling, stubble retained and organic farming). Across all sites, changes in POC accounted for 81.2% (range 69–94%) of the changes in total organic carbon caused by differences in land use and management. Significant differences were found between pasture and cropped soils in the carbon content in the 〈53 μm fraction, particularly for hardsetting soils. However, even with these, POC was a more sensitive indicator of change caused by land use and management practices than TOC. The current method for measuring POC involves dispersion using sodium hexametaphosphate. The dispersing agent was found to extract 4–19 % of the TOC, leading to a significant under-estimation of POC.

Notizen: Abstract. An estimate of organic carbon stored in French soils to a depth of 30 cm was made using data from geo-referenced databases. We produced statistics on carbon stocks in soils according to land use, different land uses and soil type. Then, using a combination of maps of soil and land use we were able to estimate regional and national carbon stocks. This soil carbon map of France allowed us to identify the main controlling factors of the carbon distribution: land use, soil type in some cases, clay content, and elevation. Carbon stocks in French soils were found to be about 3.1 Pg (1015g).

Notizen: Abstract. The problem of soil erosion is particularly evident in New Zealand, given the combination of coarse-textured soils, steep relief, high rainfall, and intensification of agriculture. A study was undertaken to assess the effects of land use change on soil erosion and sediment transport for the Ngongotaha catchment in New Zealand's North Island, using a GIS based decision support and modelling system. Model simulations considered the effect of increased catchment area under deer farming and forestry on the amount of sediment delivered to the catchment outlet, averaged over a period of six years. The simulations predicted that sediment loss from land under deer farming was considerably greater than from land under other livestock or forestry. Further model simulations testing best management practices demonstrated that sediment yield could be halved if deer farming was restricted to slopes under 20%.

Notizen: Abstract. Measures to reduce ammonia (NH3) emissions by incorporating livestock manures into the soil may increase the potential for nitrate (NO3-) leaching. The Manure Evaluation Routine (MANNER) model estimates the amount of N available to crops following livestock manure applications after calculating losses due to NH3 volatilization and NO3- leaching. The main objective of this study was to use the MANNER model to quantify the impact on NO3- leaching of introducing measures to reduce NH3 emissions, following application of livestock manures. The data produced were also used to make preliminary estimates of the likely effect of selected NH3 abatement techniques on the potential for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. At typical UK rates of application, the potential for increased NO3- leaching following either injection of slurry or rapid incorporation of solid manures was greatest for broiler/turkey manure (22–58 kg N ha–1) and least for straw-based cattle manure (6–10 kg N ha–1). The results suggest that in order to avoid substantially increasing the potential for NO3- leaching as a consequence of NH3 abatement, livestock manures should not be applied by low NH3 emission techniques prior to autumn-sown crops in the UK. Instead, low-emission applications should be made from October onwards to grassland and where possible, late autumn-sown combinable crops or to arable land which will be planted in the spring. However, in several areas of England and Wales there is currently insufficient land planted to spring crops on which to incorporate the livestock manures produced in those areas.

Notizen: Abstract. A survey of manure management practice was undertaken in 1996, by postal questionnaire submitted to a stratified sample of egg and broiler producers in England and Wales. Out of a target of 500 laying hen and 500 broiler (chickens produced for meat) production units in the survey sample, 356 (36%) returned questionnaires. The survey provided information on amount and type of manure production, manure storage and land application strategies (timing, techniques and awareness of nutrient content). Within the survey, no attempt was made to differentiate between organic and conventional production systems. About 45% of manure production was estimated to come from layer holdings, 55% from broiler litter. It was estimated that 70% of the national manure production is litter-based and about 30% are droppings collected without litter. Sawdust/shavings are the most popular bedding material, with an average final depth of 100 mm for broilers and 140 mm on litter-based layer units. Commonly, storage is available within housing for at least the length of the cropping cycle (6 weeks in broiler production, or 12 months in deep pit laying houses), around 60% of poultry manure is stored for a period following removal from the house, most commonly for 3-6 months. Overall, autumn was the peak period for manure spreading, with over 40% of laying hen manure and 50% of broiler manure applied at that time. On grassland, spreading was reasonably evenly distributed throughout the year but autumn application was favoured for arable crops, especially before the establishment of cereals and root crops, overall, almost 50% of layer and broiler manure was applied in the autumn. In the survey, up to 10% of manures were claimed to be incorporated within a day of application and about 60% within a week of application, presumably because of concern about odour nuisance. Around 25% of poultry manure was applied by contractors. A high proportion of farmers (c. 40% with layers, c. 60% with broilers) exported manures from their holdings, the proportion removed amounting to almost 90% on these farms. Although evidence elsewhere indicates that farmers make little allowance for manures in planning crop fertilizer inputs, the survey responses suggested that farmers do make an effort to allow for manures but that their confidence in the advice available to them is lacking, or they may have other technical reasons for not taking advantage of the manurial value. Information provided by the survey is of significant importance to policy makers (e.g. for the construction of environmental emissions inventories), researchers, consultants and farmers.

Notizen: Abstract. The phosphorus (P) sorption and desorption dynamics of eleven major agricultural grassland soil types in Ireland were examined using laboratory techniques, so that soils vulnerable to P loss might be identified. Desorption of P from soil using the iron-oxide paper strip test (Pfeo), water extractable P (Pw) and calcium chloride extractable P (Pcacl2) depended on soil P status in all soils. However, soil types with high organic matter levels (OM), namely peat soils (%OM 〉30), had lower Pfeo and Pw but higher Pcacl2 values compared to mineral soils at similar soil test P levels. Phosphorus sorption capacity remaining (PSCr) was measured using a single addition of P to soils and used to calculate total P sorption capacities (PSCt) and degree of P saturation (DPS). Phosphorus sorption capacities correlated negatively with % OM in soils indicating that OM may inhibit P sorption from solution to soil. High organic matter soils exhibited low P sorption capacities and poor P reserves (total P, oxalate extractable P) compared to mineral soils. Low P sorption capacities (PSCt) in peat soils were attributed to OM, which blocked or eliminated sorption sites with organic acids, therefore, P remained in the soil solution phase (Pcacl2). In this work, peat and high organic matter soils exhibited P sorption and desorption characteristics which suggest that these soils may not be suitable for heavy applications of manure or fertilizer P owing to their low capacities for P sorption and storage.

Notizen: Abstract. Complex relationships exist between different components of the organic farm and the quantity and quality of the end products depend on the functioning of the whole system. As such, it is very difficult to isolate soil fertility from production and environmental aspects of the system. Crop rotation is the central tool that integrates the maintenance and development of soil fertility with different aspects of crop and livestock production in organic systems. Nutrient supply to crops depends on the use of legumes to add nitrogen to the system and limited inputs of supplementary nutrients, added in acceptable forms. Manures and crop residues are carefully managed to recycle nutrients around the farm. Management of soil organic matter, primarily through the use of short-term leys, helps ensure good soil structure and biological activity, important for nutrient supply, health and productivity of both crops and livestock. Carefully planned diverse rotations help reduce the incidence of pests and diseases and allow for cultural methods of weed control. As a result of the complex interactions between different system components, fertility management in organic farming relies on a long-term integrated approach rather than the more short-term very targeted solutions common in conventional agriculture.

Notizen: Abstract. On organic farms, where the importation of materials to build/maintain soil fertility is restricted, it is important that a balance between inputs and outputs of nutrients is achieved to ensure both short-term productivity and long-term sustainability. This paper considers different approaches to nutrient budgeting on organic farms and evaluates the sources of bias in the measurements and/or estimates of the nutrient inputs and outputs. The paper collates 88 nutrient budgets compiled at the farm scale in nine temperate countries. All the nitrogen (N) budgets showed an N surplus (average 83.2 kg N ha–1 yr–1). The efficiency of N use, defined as outputs/inputs, was highest (0.9) and lowest (0.2) in arable and beef systems respectively. The phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) budgets showed both surpluses and deficits (average 3.6 kg P ha–1 yr–1, 14.2 kg K ha–1 yr–1) with horticultural systems showing large surpluses resulting from purchased manure. The estimation of N fixation and quantities of nutrients in purchased manures may introduce significant errors in nutrient budgets. Overall, the data illustrate the diversity of management systems in place on organic farms, and suggest that used together with soil analysis, nutrient budgets are a useful tool for improving the long-term sustainability of organic systems.

Notizen: Abstract. Earthworms influence a wide range of soil properties. They are affected by practices that perturb the soil or change organic inputs. This study compared populations in UK organic and conventional rotations differing in such practices. Three farm pairs, ranging from stockless to arable-grassland systems, were sampled on three occasions in each of two crop years. Additional farm pairs were sampled on a single occasion. Nine common earthworm species were grouped into three classes based on the depth ranges from which they were recovered. Cast and soil samples were taken from leys to compare aggregate stability, organic and nutrient content, and microbial biomass.  For similar rotation stages, populations of surface and shallow species classes were often larger in organic systems. In some comparisons the reverse was the case, particularly as the proportion of ley within each pair increased. System differences in biomass, but not abundance, could be attributed to the proportion of leys in rotations; individual earthworm weights were larger in conventional systems. Casts from both systems had markedly higher organic contents, stability, available P and K concentrations, and microbial biomass than underlying soil. This trend was more pronounced in conventional sites for nutrients and microbial biomass. Differences in populations and cast properties may have implications for soil fertility and wider ecosystem function.

Notizen: Abstract. Generally, traditional soil surveys do not adequately account for the spatial variability of soil properties. Maps that are derived using these cursory soil data are likely to contain errors and thus make interpretation and soil management difficult. On the other hand quantitative methods of soil inventory at the field scale involve the design and adoption of sampling regimes and laboratory analysis that are time consuming and costly. In the latter case new technologies are required to efficiently sample and observe the soil in the field. This is particularly the case where soil salinization is prevalent, and detailed quantitative information for determining its cause is required. In this paper, a Mobile Electromagnetic Sensing System (MESS) is described and its application in an irrigated-cotton field, located in the lower Namoi valley in New South Wales, Australia. Results from the EM38 instrument were found to be correlated with the effective cation exchange capacity (r2= 0.81). This was related to variability in soil mineralogy across the field. In addition, differences in soil chemical and textural variables, measured along a transect and adjacent to water storage, were used to identify seepage areas near a water reservoir where soil salinization was evident.

Notizen: Abstract. Precision Agriculture seeks to match resource application and agronomic practice with soil and crop requirements as they vary in both space and time. Therefore, an understanding of both the temporal and the spatial components of variability is essential before decisions can be made about the feasibility of site-specific management. In the present study, the spatial and the temporal components of variability in certain key soil properties of a grassland field were evaluated to assess the likely feasibility of adopting a site-specific approach to grassland management. A 7.9 ha grassland field was selected for the study and soil samples were taken three times at regular 25 m intervals across the field over a two year period, and chemically analysed. Classical and geostatistical procedures were used to evaluate the spatial variability and the temporal stability of soil property distributions. Soil extractable P and K had the greatest within-field variability and soil pH the least. Soil K distributions were also highly unstable over time and it was concluded that the optimal risk aversion strategy would be to apply uniform dressings of this nutrient to the entire field. In contrast, soil pH, P, Mg and sulphate distributions were not only temporally stable, but were also spatially correlated over reasonably large ranges. It was concluded that these properties might be managed in a site-specific way based on the results of periodic soil testing in three clearly defined management sub-units within the field. Over the two year period, C and N accumulated in the soil at surprisingly high rates on certain parts of the field but not in others.

Notizen: Abstract. The worldwide occurrence of saline sodic and sodic soils on more than half a billion hectares warrants attention for their efficient, inexpensive and environmentally acceptable management. These soils can be ameliorated by providing a source of calcium (Ca2+) to replace excess sodium (Na+) from the cation exchange sites. Although chemical amendments have long been used to ameliorate such soils, the chemical process has become costly during the last two decades in several developing countries. As a low-cost and environmentally acceptable strategy, the cultivation of certain salt tolerant forage species on calcareous sodic and saline sodic soils, i.e. phytoremediation, has gained interest among scientists and farmers in recent years. In a field study conducted at three calcareous saline sodic sites (pHs=8.1–8.8, ECe=7.8–12.5 dS m–1, SAR=30.6–76.1) in the Indus Plains of Pakistan, we compared chemical and phytoremediation methods. There were four treatments; two involved plants: Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth), and sesbania (Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight). The other two treatments were uncropped: soil application of gypsum and an untreated control. All treatments were irrigated with canal water (EC=0.22–0.28 dS m–1). The plant species were grown for one season (5–6 months). Sesbania produced more forage yield (34 t ha–1) than Kallar grass (23 t ha–1). Phytoremediation and chemical treatments resulted in similar decreases in soil salinity and sodicity, indicating that phytoremediation may replace or supplement the more costly chemical approach. The soil amelioration potential of sesbania was similar to that of the Kallar grass, which suggests that moderately saline sodic calcareous soils can be improved by growing a forage legume with market value.

Notizen: Abstract. Nitrate leaching was measured for four years at the Royal Agricultural College ‘s Coates Farm in the Cotswolds, England. Coates is a typical Cotswold mixed farm with thin, well-drained calcareous soils especially prone to leaching. Over the duration of this study there were dairy, sheep and arable enterprises on the farm. A ‘Farm Gate’ nitrogen (N) budget was constructed. Small 120 m × 20 m ‘farmlets’ were sited in ten fields across the farm, covering all parts of the rotation, as the sites for detailed measurements. Each farmlet received the same management as the rest of the field in which they were situated. Using ceramic probes inserted to 60 cm, soil water was sampled every two weeks throughout the winter drainage season. The annual drainage varied from 135 mm under grassland in 1996/7 to 600 mm under cereals in 1998/9. Average N losses by leaching were determined mostly by rainfall and were 65 kg N ha–1 yr–1, accounting for 25% of the N inputs. Especially leaky parts of the rotation were the ploughing out of a lucerne ley and the grazing of stubble turnips with sheep, both typical Cotswold farm practices. The research highlights some of the difficulties in developing practicable, profitable management practices to decrease nitrate losses.

Notizen: Abstract. Differences in land-use history within soil series, although not influencing soil classification, lead to variability of non-diagnostic soil properties in soil databases. Regional studies that use soil databases are confronted with this considerable variability. This has, for example, been reported in regional studies focused on nitrate leaching from agricultural land. Such findings have a direct impact on regional assessments of nitrate leaching from dairy farms on sandy soils, a major environmental issue in the Netherlands. There is thus a need to deal with this variability in soil properties.We were able to relate soil organic nitrogen, soil organic carbon and its dynamics to land use history for a Dutch sandy soil series. Within one soil series, three different land use histories were identified: old grassland, reseeded grassland and grassland converted from continuous cropping with silage maize. The addition of landscape characteristics significantly improved the regression models based on land-use only. Once established for any given soil series, such relationships can significantly improve soil survey input into dynamic models of soil behaviour such as regional nitrate leaching studies.