Auswahl der wissenschaftlichen Literatur zum Thema „Soil practicals“

The construction and demolition of infrastructure can produce a surplus of excavated soils that ends up at landfills. This practice is not sustainable, and approaches are needed to reduce soil waste and minimize environmental and human health hazards. The “Reuse of urban soils and sites” Working Group in the European Large Geotechnical Institute Platform (ELGIP) works towards a safe and resource efficient use of excavated soils for construction. By considering relevant literature and practicals based on experience in the participating ELGIP countries (France, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden), this study presents current practice related to the reuse of excavated soils, and the main barriers (regulatory, organizational, logistical and material quality) to effectively reuse them. Results show that there is no consensus on the best strategies to manage excavated soils in urban areas. This paper provides suggestions of ways in which stakeholders can increase reuse of excavated soils.

The aim of the study was to determine the glycoproteins content (total glomalin (TG), easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and soil proteins related to glomalin (GRSP)) in soil under long-term monoculture of maize. Soil microbiological and biochemical properties, including microbial biomass and enzymatic activity were also assessed. The presence of total, easily-extractable glomalin and soil proteins related to glomalin was dependent on both the growth phase of the plant and tillage system. The highest content of glomalin was detected in the soils under maize in direct sowing and reduced tillage. The glomalin content was correlated with soil biological activity. The linear regression was observed between TG and GRSP content, but no linear relationship was found between GRSP and C<sub>org</sub>. The principal component analysis showed the strong correlations between the parameters of soil quality and biodiversity indicators. Selected indicators of soil microbial parameters explained 52.27% biological variability in soils.

Soil structure has many aspects, and it is difficult to measure and characterize, particularly in soils where structure changes with wetting and drying. There is a need for soundly based methods robust enough to be used routinely on a range of soils. Such methods should also provide parameters for use in soil, hydrological and agronomic process models to enable the effect of soil structure to be simulated. This paper describes five methods and presents some results of indices which are proving useful in soils studies. An index of aggregate breakdown is derived from the proportion of sizes <0.125 mm formed in the soil surface under simulated rain. This index closely relates to infiltration and erodibility in the field. Disc permeameters, operated at a range of tensions, offer a convenient way to identify the various size classes of larger pores that are available to transmit water into soil under low energy wetting. The presence of many pores in the 0-7-3.0 mm range is linked with farmer observations of better soil structure in the field. It has been used to compare treatments and provide soil hydrologic parameters in soils that do not seal or are protected from heavy rain. In Vertisols, characterizing structure degradation and also the propensity for self-mulching present difficulties. Indices derived from clod shrinkage studies can discriminate between different treatment histories and different field soil structure. The proportion of oriented clay can also be used to diagnose soil structural damage by farming operations. Self-mulching is an important phenomenon in some Vertisols which is not, in general, well understood. Further work is needed to validate and improve each of the indices reviewed. Studies using the methods outlined could provide sufficient understanding of structural processes for them to be modelled. Key criteria for use in system simulations and quantitative land evaluation might then be measured (or modelled) by simplified, routine methods.

The peer-reviewed collective monograph “Soils of the Lviv region” reflects longterm studies of the genetic nature, geographical distribution, composition andproperties of the main types and subtypes of soils in the Lviv region. The monograph contains: a preface, 10 chapters, a list of used literature, an application, information about the authors. The text is illustrated with tables, figures, modern photographs of soil profiles. The total volume of the monograph is 424 pages. This is the first theoretical and practical scientific work, which contains full information on the state of soils and soil cover in the Lviv region. Until now, the main source of information about the soils of the region were the materials of a large-scale soil survey carried out in 1957–1961 years and consecrated in the publications of Y. Olenchuk andA. Nikolin “The soils of Lviv region”, which was published in 1969. The peerreviewed monograph is a fundamental scientific work in the field of soil research, problems of modern lands use and protections.

Purpose – Temporary and permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land due to natural and human-induced activities such as soil erosion, changing cropping practices and less use of organic matter (OM) has been the greatest challenge faced by mankind in recent years, particularly in the hills and mountains of Nepal. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of sustainable soil management practices to mitigate desertification process in the hills of Nepal. Design/methodology/approach – Promotion of sustainable soil management (SSM) practices through a decentralised agriculture extension approach by involving all the stakeholders in a participatory way. Findings – SSM practices mainly: OM management, fodder and forage promotion, increased biomass production systems, integrated plant nutrition systems, and bioengineering for soil and water conservation are identified as the most appropriate and relevant technologies in mitigating the desertification process without deteriorating land quality, particularly conserving the top-soils effectively and efficiently in the hills and mountains of the country. Research limitations/implications – This research is focus on the overall effect of SSM practices due to time and budget constraints. There is scope for doing research on the different aspects of SSM practices and the extent of their effect on different soil parameters (chemical, biological and physical). Practical implications – SSM interventions clearly indicated that there is significant impact in increasing soil fertility, conserving fertile top-soils and mitigating physical, chemical and biologic desertification processes. These are possible through maintaining and improving the soil organic matter, which is the most important indicator for soil health. SSM practices have resulted in an increase of up to 30 per cent in crop yield compared to yields without SSM practices. This might be due to the improvement in SOC which improves soil texture, increases nutrient supply from organic source and conserves water quality, thus, improving soil quality. Social implications – This has created awareness among farmers. Hence, farmers are mitigating pH through increased use of organic manures, where there is less availability of agriculture lime and they are far from road access. Originality/value – SSM practices significantly contributes to combat soil desertification in the hills of Nepal.

A study was carried out to compare the fertility of soils under improved soil management practice with that of prevailing conventional practice and to assess the farmers’ perception on the improved practice in the upland farming system. The study was carried out in Nasikasthan Sanga of Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal. Soil samples were collected from fields under improved conventional practice. Samples were taken at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths and were analyzed for various physico-chemical properties to compare the fertility status of the soils under both the practices. Altogether 68 farmers were interviewed to have information on farming practices and information pertinent to improved soil management practice being adopted by them. Results from soil physico-chemical analysis showed higher fertility of soils under improved practice in terms of more favorable pH level, contents of exchangeable bases, available phosphorus and soil organic matter compared to prevailing conventional soil management practice. Moreover, majority of the farmers believed that soil fertility and physical condition of their upland soils had improved and that the productivity of major upland crops had also increased after the adoption of improved soil management practice. Improved practice could play an important role in the sustainable management of upland soils in the mid hills of Nepal. It is however, desirable to conduct long-term research to further ascertain the effect of the practice on soil fertility of different soil types and land uses.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 27-39DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11639

Abstract. It is widely accepted that the measurement of organic and inorganic forms of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soils should be performed on fresh extracts taken from fresh soil samples. However, this is often not possible, and it is common practice to store samples (soils and/or extracts), despite a lack of guidance on best practice. We utilised a case study on a temperate grassland soil taken from different depths to demonstrate how differences in soil and/or soil extract storage temperature (4 or −20 ∘C) and duration can influence sample integrity for the quantification of soil-dissolved organic C and N (DOC and DON), extractable inorganic nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-) and microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN). The appropriateness of different storage treatments varied between topsoils and subsoils, highlighting the need to consider appropriate storage methods based on soil depth and soil properties. In general, we found that storing soils and extracts by freezing at −20 ∘C was least effective at maintaining measured values of fresh material, whilst refrigerating (4 ∘C) soils for less than a week for DOC and DON and up to a year for MBC and MBN and refrigerating soil extracts for less than a week for NH4+ and NO3- did not jeopardise sample integrity. We discuss and provide the appropriate tools to ensure researchers consider best storage practice methods when designing and organising ecological research involving assessments of soil properties related to C and N cycling. We encourage researchers to use standardised methods where possible and to report their storage treatment (i.e. temperature, duration) when publishing findings on aspects of soil and ecosystem functioning. In the absence of published storage recommendations for a given soil type, we encourage researchers to conduct a pilot study and publish their findings.

Soil microorganisms play important roles in the plant health and agricultural production. However, little is known about the complex responses of microbial communities and interaction networks to different agricultural management practices in tea plantation soils. In the present study, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology and molecular ecological network (MEN) analysis were used to investigate the soil microbial diversity, community structure and composition, interaction networks of organic tea plantation (OTP), non-polluted tea plantation (NPTP) and conventional tea plantation (CTP). Alpha-diversity indices, Chao1 and richness, of OTP soil were significantly higher than those of NPTP and CTP soils. The beta-diversity analysis showed there were significant differences among bacterial community structures of OTP, NPTP and CTP soils. Composition analysis showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi were the most dominant bacteria in all tea plantation soil samples under different management practices, and the beneficial community compositions of OTP soil were significantly different from NPTP and CTP soils at the phylum and genus levels. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and mantel test revealed that TOC and NO3-N contents as well as pH values were the key soil factors to affect the bacterial community structures of tea plantation soils. Furthermore, network analysis showed that the network of OTP soil possessed more functionally interrelated microbial modules than NPTP and CTP soils, indicating that OTP soil possessed the higher ecosystem multi-functionality. These results provided the theoretical basis and reference for improving soil microbial diversity and enhancing community multi-functionality in tea plantation soil ecosystems through effective agricultural management practices.

The infiltration behaviour and physical properties of a hardsetting sandy loam soil at Cowra, N.S.W., following 2 years of different tillage treatments are reported. Soil that had not been cultivated for 25 years was also investigated at an adjacent pasture site. Infiltration of simulated rainfall at the end of the wheat-growing season gave moisture profiles that were quite different for cultivated, direct drilled and pasture soils. The moisture profile for the cultivated soil suggested the presence of an impeded layer which retarded the movement of infiltrated rain to the subsoil. Porosity measurements confirmed the presence of a layer with significantly fewer macropores (> 300 �m diameter) at the 50-100 mm depth in the cultivated soil, when compared with the direct drilled soil. The old pasture soil had significantly higher porosity (> 300 �m diameter) in the top 100 mm. Aggregate stabilities and organic carbon contents were measured in narrow increments to 150 mm depth for the three different soils, and revealed that a surface 25 mm layer of high organic carbon and highly stable macro-aggregates was present in the pasture and direct drilled soils but absent in the cultivated soil. The unstable surface layer in the conventionally cultivated soil was a consequence of the mixing and inverting action of cultivation and was not due to a net loss of organic carbon from the profile. The organic carbon content of the pasture soil was not significantly different from the direct drilled soil below 50 mm; however, it was significantly lower than the conventionally cultivated soil between 50 and 150 mm depth. These results indicate a need to adopt tillage practices that can preserve the top 25 mm layer of such fragile soils.