Journal articles on the topic 'Biological soil quality'
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1
Visser, Suzanne, and Dennis Parkinson. "Soil biological criteria as indicators of soil quality: Soil microorganisms." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 7, no. 1-2 (June 1992): 33–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300004434.
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AbstractDiverse soil microbiological studies have attempted to assess deterioration or improvement in soil quality. These studies have been done on three levels: population level studies of the dynamics of species that are presumed to be important or sensitive; community level studies of microbial community structure, such as species diversity and frequency of occurence of species; and ecosystem level studies of a range of soil processes. We suggest that ecosystem level approaches offer the best possibilities for rapidly assessing changes in soil quality. Data from such studies will allow researchers to decide whether to proceed with population or community level studies.
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Duffková, R., and H. Macurová. "Soil biological quantity and quality parameters of grasslands in various landscape zones." Plant, Soil and Environment 57, No. 12 (December 1, 2011): 577–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/475/2011-pse.
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In three landscape zones of a permanent grassland catchment (discharge zone, D; transient zone, T; and recharge zone, R; Crystallinicum, Czech Republic), soil moisture by volume (θ) and soil biological quantity and quality parameters, e.g. oxidizable C (C<sub>ox</sub>), hot water soluble C (C<sub>hws</sub>), microbial biomass C (C<sub>mic</sub>), nitrification (NITR), aerobic N mineralization (MIN) and basal respiration rates (R<sub>bas</sub>), metabolic quotient (qCO<sub>2</sub>: R<sub>bas</sub>/C<sub>mic</sub>) and microbial quotient (C<sub>mic</sub>/C<sub>ox</sub>) were estimated in the surface soil layer. We found out positive correlation of C<sub>mic</sub> and C<sub>mic</sub>/C<sub>ox</sub> with θ, or NITR, MIN, R<sub>bas</sub> and C<sub>mic</sub> with C<sub>hws</sub>, but no relationship between θ on the one hand and NITR, MIN, R<sub>bas</sub> or C<sub>ox</sub> on the other. The wettest zone D with extremely low pH displayed the highest C<sub>mic</sub> and C<sub>mic</sub>/C<sub>ox</sub> (1081 mg/kg, 5.29%) and the lowest qCO<sub>2</sub> (31 µgC/day/mgC<sub>mic</sub>). Soil drought in zones T and R reduced C<sub>mic</sub> and C<sub>mic</sub>/C<sub>ox</sub> (939, 1029, and 3.72, 3.83, respectively) and augmented qCO<sub>2</sub> (42; 51). Rainfall following a prolonged dry period reduced MIN and NITR in permeable zone R as a result of fast microbial regeneration (average in D: 2.24; 2.48 kg N/ha/day, T: 2.62; 2.82 kg N/ha/day, R: 1.51; 1.95 kg N/ha/day).
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Stockdale, E. A., and C. A. Watson. "Biological indicators of soil quality in organic farming systems." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24, no. 4 (November 19, 2009): 308–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170509990172.
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AbstractThe health of the soil, recognized by its active role in the linked processes of decomposition and nutrient supply, is considered as the foundation of agriculture by the organic farming movement. Nutrient management in organically managed soils is fundamentally different from that of conventional agricultural systems. Crop rotations are designed with regard to maintenance of fertility with a focus on nutrient recycling. Where nutrients are added to the system, inputs are in organic and/or non-synthetic fertilizer sources that are mostly slow release in nature. Hence a greater reliance is placed on soil chemical and biological processes to release nutrients in plant-available forms. In this respect, nutrient availability in organically farmed soils is more dependent upon soil processes than is the case in conventional agriculture. The development and use of biological indicators of soil quality may therefore be more important in organic (and other low input) farming systems. The aim of this paper is to evaluate current evidence for the impact of organic farming systems on soil biological quality and consider the identification of appropriate biological indicators for use by organic farmers and their advisors. Organic farming systems are generally associated with increased biological activity and increased below-ground biodiversity. The main impacts on biological fertility do not result from the systemsper sebut are related to the amount and quality of the soil organic matter pool and disruptions of soil habitat via tillage. Even within the constraints of organic farming practices it is possible for farmers to make changes to management practices which will tend to improve soil biological quality. It is, however, by no means clear that distinct indicators of soil biological quality are needed for organic farming systems. It is important not only to identify the most appropriate indicators but also to ensure that farmers and land managers can understand and relate to them to support on-farm management decisions.
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Maienza, Anita, Fabrizio Ungaro, Silvia Baronti, Ilaria Colzi, Laura Giagnoni, Cristina Gonnelli, Giancarlo Renella, Francesca Ugolini, and Costanza Calzolari. "Biological Restoration of Urban Soils after De-Sealing Interventions." Agriculture 11, no. 3 (February 25, 2021): 190. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030190.
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Most urban greening interventions involve soil de-sealing and management to enhance fertility. Management typically requires translocating fertile topsoil to the site, which comes at great environmental costs. We hypothesized that de-sealed urban soils would undergo an increase of their fertility without exogenous topsoil application. We assessed experimental plots with de-sealed soil with topsoil, and de-sealed soil without topsoil. Both treatments were vegetated with two ornamental shrub species and irrigated. Soil fertility was analyzed by chemical (total and organic carbon) and biological indicators of soils (biological quality index and microbial activities). Since metal contamination is related to urban de-sealed soil, we also monitored the concentration of Zn, Cu and Pb in soil and detected it in plant leaves. The results demonstrate that de-sealed urban soils rapidly restore their biological quality and fertility. Restoration of de-sealing soils can contribute to the recent growing interest reclamation of urban soils for improving the urban environment quality through the restoration of soil functions and related ecosystem services. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that de-sealed soils can improve their functionality and can contribute to the recent growing interest in reclamation of urban soils for improving the urban environment quality.
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Stork, Nigel E., and Paul Eggleton. "Invertebrates as determinants and indicators of soil quality." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 7, no. 1-2 (June 1992): 38–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300004446.
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AbstractInvertebrates are an integral part of soils and are important in determining the suitability of soils for the sustainable production of healthy crops or trees. We discuss the importance of the soil invertebrate fauna in relation to terrestrial habitats and global biodiversity as we understand it. We describe the role of the main invertebrate groups in soils, including earthworms, termites, springtails, and nematodes, and how they determine soil quality. Practical problems in dealing with the invertebrate fauna include sampling, taxonomy and availability of biological information on species. Various measures are available that use invertebrates to assess soil quality, each with its advantages and disadvantages. They include abundance, biomass, density, species richness, trophic/guild structure, food web structure, keystone species and ecosystem engineers. We propose the three most useful and practical of these as suitable to be combined with other biological (microbial) and non-biological (hydrological, physical, chemical) criteria into a single index of soil quality that might be used on a regional, if not international basis.
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Błońska, Ewa, and Jarosław Lasota. "Biological and biochemical properties in evaluation of forest soil quality." Folia Forestalia Polonica 56, no. 1 (March 1, 2014): 23–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/ffp-2014-0003.
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Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using biological and biochemical parameters in the evaluation of forest soil quality and changes caused by land use. The study attempted to determine a relationship between the enzymatic activity of soil, the number of earthworms and soil physico-chemical properties. The study was carried out in central Poland in adjoining Forest Districts (Przedbórz and Smardzewice). In soil samples taken from 12 research plots, basic physico-chemical properties, enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, urease) and density and biomass of earthworms were examined. Enzyme activity showed a large diversity within the forest site types studied. The correlations between the activity of the enzymes studied and C/N ratio indicated considerable importance of these enzymes in metabolism of essential elements of organic matter of forest soils. Urease and dehydrogenase activity and earthworm number showed susceptibility to soil pH, which confirmed relationships between enzyme activity and abundance of earthworms and soil pH in H2O and KCl.
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Oliveira, Sofia S., Joana Pereira, Paulo Santos, and Ruth Pereira. "Assessing Soil Quality in Schoolyards." American Biology Teacher 83, no. 5 (May 1, 2021): 331–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/abt.2021.83.5.331.
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Soil provides innumerable valuable ecosystem services, such as the production of food and the direct support of wildlife, by ensuring the availability of adequate habitat. However, unsustainable human activities are resulting in degradation of soils worldwide. Hence, it is of utmost importance to raise awareness about this often-overlooked environmental issue. This article presents an inquiry-based activity that challenges students to assess the ecological quality of soil in the surroundings of their classroom. Plus, students and teachers are invited to become citizen scientists by sharing their data with researchers, thus contributing to a future endeavor to map soil quality through broad geographic ranges.
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Aravindh, Selvaraj, Chinnappan Chinnadurai, and Dananjeyan Balachandar. "Development of a soil biological quality index for soils of semi-arid tropics." SOIL 6, no. 2 (October 9, 2020): 483–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-483-2020.
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Abstract. Agricultural intensification, an inevitable process to feed the ever-increasing population, affects soil quality due to management-induced changes. To measure the soil quality in terms of soil functioning, several attempts were made to develop a soil quality index (SQI) based on a set of soil attributes. However, there is no universal consensus protocol available for SQI, and the role of soil biological indicators in SQI is meagre. Therefore, the present work aims to develop a unitless soil biological quality index (SBQI) scaled between 0 and 10, which would be a major component of SQI in the future. The long-term organic manure amended (OM), integrated nutrient management enforced (INM), synthetic fertilizer applied (IC), and unfertilized control (control) soils from three different predominant soil types of the location (Tamil Nadu state, India) were chosen for this. The soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, labile carbon, protein index, dehydrogenase activity, and substrate-induced respiration were used to estimate the SBQI. Five different SBQI methods, viz. simple additive (SBQI1 and SBQI2), scoring function (SBQI3), principal component analysis-based statistical modelling (SBQI4), and quadrant-plot-based method (SBQI5), were developed to estimate the biological quality as a unitless scale. All five methods have the same resolution to discriminate the soils and INM ≈ OM > IC > control is the relative trend being followed in all the soil types based on the SBQIs. All five methods were further validated for their efficiency in 25 farmers' soils of the location and proved that these methods can scale the biological health of the soil. Among the five SBQIs, we recommend SBQI5, which relates the variables to each other to scale the biological health of the soil.
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Toledo, Marcela, Silvia Ama Arzuaga, Stella Maris Contreras Leiva, and Sara Vazquez. "Biological indicators of soil quality in natural and cultivated subtropical systems." JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE 4, no. 2 (May 29, 2015): 392–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.24297/jaa.v4i2.4269.
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The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of forest conversion at to agricultural production on some biological indicators to quantify their relationship in subtropical ecosystems. The experimental design was in romized complete blocks, with four treatments: subtropical rainforest (F), yerba mate crops (I) (Ilex paraguariensis SH.); citrus crops (C) (Citrus unshiu Marc.); tobacco crops (T) (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Soil samples were taken from 0-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30m deep. The variables measured were: APA, clay content, pH, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), respiration (RE) soil organic carbon (SOC). These soils showed an acid reaction clay content over 650 g.kg-1. SOC N content were higher in soils under subtropical rainforest, intermediate under citrus crops, lower under tobacco yerba mate crops. The highest APA was found under subtropical rainforest decreased in the three depths. In all treatments, APA was higher in the superficial layer; the 76% of APA variability was explained by N P. APA can indicate changes in soil quality, when comparing subtropical rainforest to agricultural systems. APA does not indicate effects between soils under different crops. Our data suggest that acid phosphatase activity is closely associated to soil nitrogen organic content as energy source.Â
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Franzluebbers, A. J., R. L. Haney, F. M. Hons, and D. A. Zuberer. "Assessing biological soil quality with chloroform fumigation-incubation: Why subtract a control?" Canadian Journal of Soil Science 79, no. 4 (November 1, 1999): 521–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/s99-010.
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Microbial biomass, as part of the active pool of soil organic matter, is critical in decomposition of organic materials, nutrient cycling, and formation of soil structure. We evaluated chloroform fumigation-incubation with subtraction of a control (CFI/F–C) and without subtraction of a control (CFI/F) as methods to assess biological soil quality. Relationships between CFI/F and potential C mineralization, particulate organic C, and soil organic C were stronger (r2 = 0.86 ± 0.07, n = 232) than those between CFI/F–C and the same soil C pools (r2 = 0.25 ± 0.09) in soils from Georgia. From published data, relationships of CFI/F with potential C mineralization and soil organic C were stronger than those of chloroform fumigation-extraction and substrate-induced respiration with these soil C pools. Effects of land management on biological soil quality using CFI/F were consistent with those determined using other soil C pools as response variables. However, land management effects on biological soil quality using CFI/F–C were either contrary to those using other soil C pools or not detectable because of greater inherent variability in CFI/F–C. Chloroform fumigation-incubation without subtraction of a control is a robust and reliable method to assess biological soil quality under a wide range of soil conditions. Key words: Active soil carbon, chloroform fumigation-extraction, microbial biomass, soil organic matter, soil quality, substrate-induced respiration
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Toshiaki Oikawa, Ronaldo, Amanda Silva Custódio, and Fábio Fernando Araújo. "Validation of soil quality index in soil using bioindicator plant." COLLOQUIUM AGRARIAE 17, no. 3 (May 27, 2021): 59–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.5747/ca.2021.v17.n3.a440.
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Soils provide a broad set of vital ecosystem services and sustains the production of food and fibers, balancing the ecosystem. Thus, from the perspective of soil quality, it is defined as an ability to balance within the ecosystem to sustain biological productivity, promoting the health of plants and animals, being evaluated by traditional indicators as physical, chemical and biological indicators, so the present work aims to estimate the soil quality index using multivariate models using soil biological attributes and validation with growth variables of the bioindicator plant. The study was developed in the agricultural area in P. Prudente, SP, the points collected were georeferenced, collections in depth of 0 -20 cm, microbiological analysis, microbial carbon and nitrogen biomass, dehydrogenase, respiration and microbial coefficient, having a bioindicator plant curly lettuce (Lucy Brown) as a validator of the soil. The results were discovered using the PCA model for the identification of autos vectors and autos values, grouping and identifying their collinearities, linear regression, r-pearson validation and cluster heuristic analysis. The microbial attributes and the bioindicator plant discriminated the agricultural areas evaluated with establishment and validation of SQI. The metabolic coefficient and N of the microbial biomass dissipation of the highest covariance values by multivariate analysis. The reforestation area with native species (SQI0.782%) and the livestock crop integration system (SQI0.765%) were evaluated as areas with better soil quality
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Ruf, A., L. Beck, P. Dreher, K. Hund-Rinke, J. Römbke, and J. Spelda. "A biological classification concept for the assessment of soil quality: “biological soil classification scheme” (BBSK)." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 98, no. 1-3 (September 2003): 263–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0167-8809(03)00086-0.
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Liebig, Mark A., and John W. Doran. "Evaluation of farmers' perceptions of soil quality indicators." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 14, no. 1 (March 1999): 11–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300007967.
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AbstractUnderstanding farmers' knowledge of soil quality and health is essential to ensure transfer of appropriate technology for on-farm assessments. The objective of this study was to evaluate farmers' knowledge of soil quality by comparing their perceptions of soil conditions for “good” and “problem” soils on their farms with values of soil quality indicators as determined by established assessment protocol. Twenty-four conventional and organic farmers throughout eastern Nebraska were paired within regions of similar climate, topography, and soil type and their perceptions of soil quality indicators were queried using a written questionnaire. Questionnaire data were compared directly to values of soil quality indicators and perception accuracy indices were calculated. Overall, perception accuracy of soil quality indicators did not differ between conventional and organic farmers. Farmers' perceptions of soil quality indicators tended to be more accurate for “good” soils as compared to “problem” soils. Indicators that were incorrectly estimated at a frequency greater than 33% included available nitrogen and phosphorus, soil color, degree of compaction, and infiltration rate. Despite this, farmers' perceptions were correct or nearly-correct over 75% of the time for the majority of indicators evaluated in the study. Evaluation of social and managerial factors indicated that perception accuracy of soil quality indicators declined as the time of on-farm tenure increased. Results from this study indicate that agriculturists should seek out farmers' knowledge of soil characteristics as a first iteration to pointscale evaluation of soil quality.
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Chen, Qiuyu, Ying Xin, and Zhanjun Liu. "Long-Term Fertilization with Potassium Modifies Soil Biological Quality in K-Rich Soils." Agronomy 10, no. 6 (May 28, 2020): 771. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060771.
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Imbalanced fertilization without potassium (K) is a worldwide phenomenon in K-rich soils, but its long-term effects on soil quality are poorly understood. Here, in a wheat–fallow system with K-rich soil, soil nutrients and enzyme activities involved in C, N, P, and S cycling and microbial community composition were studied in a 27-year field study with three treatments: no fertilizer (CK); mineral N and P fertilizer (NP); and mineral N, P, and K fertilizer (NPK). Results revealed that long-term NP and NPK fertilization significantly increased soil quality index (SQI) scores and wheat grain yield by mediating soil fertility, which was characterized by a significant decline in soil pH and increase in soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, available N (AN), available P (AP), enzymatic activities, and the abundance of total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, when compared to CK. NP exhibited significantly higher SOC, AN, AP, microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, total bacteria, and fungi values compared to NPK; the opposite was true for soil pH and available K. Notably, the differences in wheat grain yield were not statistically significant, while SQI scores in NP (0.86 ± 0.02) were appreciably higher than NPK (0.79 ± 0.03), which was attributed to the differences in MBC, MBN, and microbial communities. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that SOC was the key variable affecting enzymatic activities and microbial community composition. The partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) revealed that fertilization-induced changes in SQI were primarily associated with soil microbiological properties (e.g., microbial community composition), while fertilization-driven increases in wheat grain yield were regulated by the soil nutrients. These results suggest that long-term NPK fertilization decreases soil biological quality in K-rich soils, and further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which K affects soil quality in agricultural systems.
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Gajda, A. M., B. Przewłoka, and K. Gawryjołek. "Changes in soil quality associated with tillage system applied." International Agrophysics 27, no. 2 (March 1, 2013): 133–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10247-012-0078-7.
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Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in soil quality associated with the tillage system applied with chosen parameters of soil biological properties. The long-term field experiments were located at a private farm in Rogów (Zamooeć region, E Poland) on a silt soil and at the Experimental Station in Laskowice (Wrocław region, S-W Poland) on a sandy loam soil. Soil samples were collected from 0-15 and 15-30 cm layers. Winter wheat was grown under traditional, reduced and no-tillage systems. The analyses included estimations of microbial biomass C and N content, microbial respiration rate, activity of dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. After eight years the effects of tillage on both soils were clearly noticed. In general, the less disturbing tillage systems enhanced the increase of soil biological activity by 15-40%, on average, than conventional tillage system. The significant correlations between microbial biomass, and/or enzyme activities with total organic C content indicate that concentration of organic C in soil environment plays an extremely important role in enhancing the stabilization and activity of soil microorganisms, and protection of an extracellular enzymes. The studied parameters of soil biological activity showed their sensitivity to tillage applied and may be considered as an useful indicators of soil quality in monitoring all conditions alter soil environment.
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Anna, Gałązka, Gawryjołek Karolina, Grządziel Jarosław, and Księżak Jerzy. "Effect of different agricultural management practices on soil biological parameters including glomalin fraction." Plant, Soil and Environment 63, No. 7 (July 19, 2017): 300–306. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/207/2017-pse.
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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.
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Banerjee, Manas R., David L. Burton, W. P. (Paul) McCaughey, and C. A. Grant. "Influence of Pasture Management on Soil Biological Quality." Journal of Range Management 53, no. 1 (January 2000): 127. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4003403.
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Vodyanova, Mariia A., I. A. Kriatov, L. G. Donerian, I. S. Evseeva, D. I. Ushakov, A. V. Sbitnev, N. A. Kiryakova, et al. "BIOLOGICAL INDICES IN THE MONITORING SYSTEM OF URBANIZED SOILS." Hygiene and sanitation 96, no. 11 (March 27, 2019): 1091–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.18821/0016-9900-2017-96-11-1091-1096.
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Current methodological guidelines for assessing the quality of soils in populated areas do not include ecotoxicological indices, thereby underestimate the potential danger of the negative impact of urban soils on the health of the population. Monitoring of soil quality is carried out according to established indices. Sanitary-parasitological and sanitary-bacteriological studies, of course, play a primary role in the establishment both of the category of soil contamination in populated areas, and basic physic-chemical parameters. The list of controlled elements contains heavy metals, benz (a) pyrene, arsenic and several others, but there are no whole classes of chemical compounds with a high level of public health hazard, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, in spite of the fact that the study of the distribution of this group of substances in the soil profile of Moscow is being included in modern scientific research work for a long time. Thus, the lack of data on the content of a number of key chemical toxicants in the soil can form a distorted final assessment of the quality of the studied soils. Ultimately, this can lead to a number of mistakes in management decisions for the improvement of the territories of Moscow and the replacement of soils with artificially created soil. One of the solutions to this problem may be the expansion of the list of physic-chemical indices in monitoring. Another one is the inclusion of ecotoxicological indices for conducting a comprehensive diagnosis of “health” of soils. Such an approach will make it possible to assess the soils more correctly, taking into account all the factors of soil formation in the territory of Moscow, including intensive multifactor anthropogenic impact on soils, which is difficult to estimate only with the help of physical and chemical methods. In the work results of own researches on an estimation of the biological activity of soils of Moscow of various functional zones are presented.
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PALOJÄRVI, A., and V. NUUTINEN. "The soil quality concept and its importance in the study of Finnish arable soils." Agricultural and Food Science 11, no. 4 (January 4, 2002): 329–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.23986/afsci.5737.
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Arable soil is a functional unit whose condition is vital to crop production, but also to ecosystems at large owing to the significant role of soil in global nutrient cycles and balances. The soil quality concept recognises the concern for the sustainability of current arable land use practices. It integrates soil chemical, physical and biological properties, and takes account of the interaction of soil with water and air. This paper reviews the soil quality concept and its applications and discusses the importance of the concept for the assessment of Finnish arable soils. Many aspects of the chemical quality of arable soil are already well known in Finland. In contrast, follow-up of the physical and biological soil components, which are increasingly seen as important features of soil quality, is rudimentary. For monitoring of the soil quality at different scales field, regional, national and global a suitable set of indicators needs to be identified. In this paper particular attention is paid to the potential importance and usefulness of selected biological indicators. It is clear that more basic research is needed to provide scientists and advisors with a solid basis for transmitting reliable information on soil quality. While the soil quality concept has been justifiably criticised, it has clear merits in the integrated handling of the soil entity and in highlighting the environmental aspects of arable soil quality.;
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Jimenez, Laís Coutinho Zayas, Hermano Melo Queiroz, Maurício Roberto Cherubin, and Tiago Osório Ferreira. "Applying the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to Assess Mangrove Soil Quality." Sustainability 14, no. 5 (March 7, 2022): 3085. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su14053085.
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Soil quality (SQ) refers to its capacity to perform its functions. Thus, the SQ index (SQI) is a potentially useful tool for monitoring soil changes induced by mangrove restoration initiatives. Although the soil management assessment framework (SMAF) is a well-developed tool for SQ assessments in diverse ecosystems, it has never been tested on mangrove soils. In this study, we tested the SMAF to evaluate the shifts in the SQ of mangroves in a reforestation initiative using three- and seven-year plantations, which were compared with degraded and mature mangroves. A minimum dataset, composed of the pH and available P as chemical indicators, bulk density as a physical indicator, and soil organic carbon as a biological indicator, was used to calculate the SQI. The SMAF scores facilitated the monitoring of improvement in the mangrove SQ with vegetation development, mainly driven by physical and biological indicators. The SMAF may be a useful tool for monitoring SQ in mangroves under protection and recovery initiatives. Nevertheless, we suggest the inclusion of additional biological and chemical indicators in the minimum dataset for future studies to better represent specific processes and functions (e.g., microbial redox reactions and contaminant immobilization) that can alter the SQ of mangroves.
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Varvel, G., W. Riedell, E. Deibert, B. McConkey, D. Tanaka, M. Vigil, and R. Schwartz. "Great Plains cropping system studies for soil quality assessment." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 21, no. 1 (March 2006): 3–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/raf2005121.
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AbstractInteractions between environmental conditions and management practices can significantly affect soil function. Soil quality assessments may improve our understanding of how soils interact with the hydrosphere and atmosphere. This information can then be used to develop management practices that improve the capacity of the soil to perform its various functions and help identify physical, chemical, and biological soil attributes to quantify the present state of a soil and detect changes resulting from management. In protocols established by the Great Plains cropping system network, sampling and testing procedures were selected to identify physical, chemical, and biological soil attributes responsive to management that may serve as useful indicators in assessing the effects of management on the soil resource. Eight existing long-term studies from throughout the Great Plains in the central USA were used to make these assessments because, (1) many years are required for certain soil properties to change measurably; (2) annual weather causes variation in system performance; and (3) the soil pools of interest are spatially variable. This paper includes detailed descriptions of the treatments and sites, and both long-term and short-term (1999–2002) data on precipitation, temperature, and yields for each location.
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Ndiaye, E. L., J. M. Sandeno, D. McGrath, and R. P. Dick. "Integrative biological indicators for detecting change in soil quality." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 15, no. 1 (March 2000): 26–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300008432.
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AbstractTo promote agricultural sustainability, there is a growing interest in developing soil quality indicators that can be used as early indicators of changes in management practices by growers, agricultural professionals, and researchers. A study was conducted on four commercial growers' fields and two research stations in western Oregon with treatments that had been started from 1 to 7 years prior to initiating the investigation. The primary comparison at each site was a winter cover crop and winter fallow in rotation with summer vegetable crops. The effects of these treatments on microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mineralizable N, soil enzyme activity (arylsulfatase and β-glucosidase), and cotton strip decomposition were analyzed to monitor changes in soil quality over a 2-year period. The cotton strip method was tested because of its simplicity (buried in soil for short periods and then assessed for tensile strength or weight loss) and potential as a soil biological indicator. Results showed that cover cropping significantly affected MBCand soil enzyme activity. Mineralizable N and CO2respiration (laboratory incubation) did not respond to winter cover crop treatment. Cotton strip decomposition was relatively insensitive to field treatments. Because MBCand β-glucosidase activity responded quickly to field management treatment and were less variable than the other measurements, they showed the most potential as soil quality indicators. Total C (organic matter index) and extractable nutrients were not significantly affected by cover cropping (even after 7 years), indicating selected biological properties are superior to these chemical properties for detecting effects of soil management.
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Du Preez, C. C. "Sustainable land use and soil quality: organic matter as an indicator." Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 22, no. 4 (September 26, 2003): 106–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v22i4.219.
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In this review the most recent approach to sustainable land use and the role that soil quality plays therein are described briefly. The requirements to which indicators must conform for the meaningful evaluation of the quality of soil and sustainability of land use are also elucidated. Thereafter the processes of physical, chemical and biological soil degradation are given. A concise discussion follows on the extent of physical and chemical soil degradation in South Africa, of which there is reliable information. Biological soil degradation is treated in more detail. Attention is given firstly to the role of soil organic matter in biogeochemical cycles. Thereafter the influence of different land use systems in the central parts of South Africa on the organic matter content and consequently the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur reserves of soils is discussed by using examples. The conclusion is that organic matter is an important indicator of soil quality and thus also of sustainable land use.
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Walter, Gerry, Michelle Wander, and Germán Bollero. "A farmer-centered approach to developing information for soil resource management: The Illinois Soil Quality Initiative." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 12, no. 2 (June 1997): 64–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300007268.
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AbstractThe Illinois Soil Quality Initiative (ISQI) is a multidisciplinary effort to develop accurate, practical, and meaningful measures of soil characteristics that farmers can incorporate in strategies to sustain soil resources over the long term. We discuss how the project integrates soils and social research and involves farmers and others in guiding its research activities. A board of farmers, farm managers and conservation agency personnel and a panel of soil scientists, agronomists, and social scientists established ISQI's goals and monitors its progress. ISQI technical staff gather data at 35 participating farms to assess the accuracy and practicality of several measures of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soils under varying tillage and environmental conditions. They communicate findings to farmers and the ISQI board through regional farmer meetings, a project newsletter, and statewide conferences. Participating farmers assess the measures' meaningfulness and practicality, suggest strategies for communicating soil quality information, and recommend new directions for research. These observations have been made at the end of ISQI's first year: definitions of and beliefs about soil quality vary widely, making it inadvisable to think of “soil quality” as a single, inclusive concept; farmers and other land managers want to understand better the relationships among soil qualities, productivity, and sustainability, and to ham how to enhance their soils' structural and biological characteristics; soil quality measures must be accompanied by research and education on how soil qualities are affected by management practices or systems and how they affect yields and the environment; many farmers are only mildly interested in self-administered soil quality measures, preferring instead to purchase such data from commercial sources.
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Samokhvalova, V. L., T. O. Grinchenko, I. M. Zhuravleva, and O. V. Mandryka. "Bioremediation of soil - soil biota - plants system under heavy metal pollution as a factor of chemical and biological degradation." Ecology and Noospherology 26, no. 3-4 (September 10, 2015): 80–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.15421/031522.
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By carrying out long-term field studies of soil – soil biota – plants system in areas of technogenic impact emission of HM it was determined the taxonomic composition of mycological coenosis under the soil pollution by HM fungi genera Mucor, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Aspergillus. It was given the high levels of soil contamination by HM fate fungi of the genus Trichoderma, which is not phytopathogenic in mycological coenosis of soil, increased significantly under 13 %, indicating that the stability of operation in the presence of HM excess in soils. Among the genus Trichoderma fungi, it was found the most active in species Trichoderma viride. It was determined that fungi, bacteria compared to the soil, are more resistant to contamination concealed antagonism and inhibition effect of certain bacteria fungi that compete with native soil biota. On the basis of the soil-geochemical investigations the results in zones of sources of man-made emissions of pollutants influence Zmievskoy TPP «Centrenergo» NAC «Energy Company of Ukraine» Kharkiv region and a series of laboratory experiments elaborated a methodical approach for bioremediation of contaminated with heavy metals (HM) of the soil – soil biota – plants system. Used established a new property of the active biochemical agent of mycological drug Trihodermin BT based on mycological drug culture type Trichoderma viride – the ability to intensify the process of bioremediation and restore the quality of technogenic contaminated soils by HM. Biological preparation of Trichoderma BT used as a new biological improver for the prevention of biological and chemical degradation of soils with the activation of the myco- and microbial system of soil, functioning, increase the immune status and productivity of Hordeum sativum plants and improving their quality. Provides bioremediation effect with a limited term of a biological product in the soil, lowering its standards with increased use of its biological effectiveness. The technical result of the method is the expansion of the mycological drugs bank as natural resources with the effect of fertilizers, while the spread of the effective action of the active agent in the other components of the biological product of the studied system to produce new biological effects with simultaneous stabilization of the ecological environment, natural activation of the biological potential of the soil and the economic use of resources. The method can be used in agroecology, soil ecological management, for environmental monitoring of technogenic contaminated soils for various purposes and their using; in research practice – to develop a system of measures for biological remediation of contaminated areas in the complex biological processing methods remediation of contaminated soil and restoration of their resources, and, consequently, lower intensity of chemical and biological degradation of soils under the influence of technogenic pollution by HM; to improve the soil quality.
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Karlen, D. L., N. S. Eash, and P. W. Unger. "Soil and crop management effects on soil quality indicators." American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 7, no. 1-2 (June 1992): 48–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0889189300004458.
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AbstractPeople are becoming more aware that our soil resources are as vulnerable to degradation as air or water, but criteria are needed to learn how soil quality is changing. Our objectives in this review are: (1) to illustrate that interactions between human and natural factors determine soil quality; (2) to identify indicators that can be used to evaluate human-induced effects on soil quality; and (3) to suggest soil and crop management strategies that will sustain or improve soil quality. The physical, chemical, and biological processes and interactions within the soil are critical factors affecting all indicators of soil quality. The biological processes are especially important because they provide much of the resiliency or buffering capacity to ameliorate stress. Presumably, no single soil or crop management practice will guarantee improved soil quality, but conservation tillage, cover crops, and crop rotations are practices that may be effective. Alley or narrow-strip cropping may facilitate adoption of several of those agronomic practices and increase temporal and spatial diversity across the landscape. To maintain or possibly improve soil quality and simultaneously address a growing waste disposal problem, we suggest that urban lawn and newspaper waste be evaluated as carbon sources. We conclude that the most critical factor, regardless of the soil and crop management strategy, is to recognize that carbon is an essential element for improving soil quality in the U.S. and around the world.
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Corstanje, Ron, Theresa G. Mercer, Jane R. Rickson, Lynda K. Deeks, Paul Newell-Price, Ian Holman, Cedric Kechavarsi, and Toby W. Waine. "Physical soil quality indicators for monitoring British soils." Solid Earth 8, no. 5 (September 28, 2017): 1003–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/se-8-1003-2017.
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Abstract. Soil condition or quality determines its ability to deliver a range of functions that support ecosystem services, human health and wellbeing. The increasing policy imperative to implement successful soil monitoring programmes has resulted in the demand for reliable soil quality indicators (SQIs) for physical, biological and chemical soil properties. The selection of these indicators needs to ensure that they are sensitive and responsive to pressure and change, e.g. they change across space and time in relation to natural perturbations and land management practices. Using a logical sieve approach based on key policy-related soil functions, this research assessed whether physical soil properties can be used to indicate the quality of British soils in terms of their capacity to deliver ecosystem goods and services. The resultant prioritised list of physical SQIs was tested for robustness, spatial and temporal variability, and expected rate of change using statistical analysis and modelling. Seven SQIs were prioritised: soil packing density, soil water retention characteristics, aggregate stability, rate of soil erosion, depth of soil, soil structure (assessed by visual soil evaluation) and soil sealing. These all have direct relevance to current and likely future soil and environmental policy and are appropriate for implementation in soil monitoring programmes.
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Bedolla-Rivera, Héctor Iván, María de la Luz Xochilt Negrete-Rodríguez, Francisco Paúl Gámez-Vázquez, Dioselina Álvarez-Bernal, and Eloy Conde-Barajas. "Comparison of methodolgies of soil quality indices (SQI) for sodic soil." Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental 38 (August 16, 2022): 317–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.20937/rica.54449.
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Soil degradation and the use of urban biosolid wastes to soil restoration have an economic, social-environmental and health impact. Therefore, there is interest worldwide in the use and comparison of methodologies to establish soil quality indexes (SQIs) based on physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soils. Considering that more than 60% of the territory in the Bajío region of Mexico in the State of Guanajuato is affected by some type of soil degradation, three methodologies for the establishment of SQIs—additive, weighted and unified weighted indexes—were compared in this study to evaluate the short-term effects—30 days—of the addition of biosolids as soil improvers. The methodologies were applied in experiments on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization dynamics in a sodic agricultural soil. The ammonium indicator (N-NH4+) was established as the one that is most related to the quality of the soil. The additive and unified weighted indexes differentiated the level of soil quality with respect to time and treatment. The developed SQIs can be used for short-term assessment of the quality of agricultural soils under amendment addition treatments with biosolids or similar organic products.
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Horváth, Adrienn, Péter Csáki, Renáta Szita, Péter Kalicz, Zoltán Gribovszki, András Bidló, Bernadett Bolodár-Varga, Pál Balázs, and Dániel Winkler. "A Complex Soil Ecological Approach in a Sustainable Urban Environment: Soil Properties and Soil Biological Quality." Minerals 11, no. 7 (June 29, 2021): 704. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/min11070704.
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The main purpose of the present study was to monitor actual contamination levels and execute a comparative assessment of results in a mid-sized Hungarian city for two different years. The first citywide soil investigations were completed in 2011. In 2018, the most prominent properties (pH, CaCO3, texture, and trace metals Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were reanalyzed and were supplemented with mesofauna on selected sites. The available trace metal elements of urban soils showed the following tendency in 2011: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr = Ni = Co. In 2018, the previous order changed to Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd = Ni = Co. Cd and Pb enrichments were found, especially near the M7 motorway. The comparison between 2011 and 2018 revealed soil contamination was, on average, higher in 2011. Soil microarthropod communities were sampled and assessed using abundance data and diversity measurements. Soil biological quality was evaluated with the help of the Soil Biological Quality (QBS-ar) index. Acari and Collembola appeared to be the most abundant, ubiquitous taxa in the samples. Simultaneously, important groups like Symphyla, Protura, and Chilopoda were completely absent from the most polluted sites. For the most part, lower taxa richness, diversity, and QBS-ar index were observed with higher available Cu Zn, and Pb concentrations.
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Gayan, A., D. J. Nath, B. Bhattacharyya, and N. Dutta. "Assessment of soil quality indicators under rice ecosystem of Assam, India." Journal of Environmental Biology 41, no. 6 (November 15, 2020): 1655–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.22438/jeb/41/6/si-246.
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Aim: To assess the soil quality indices and its impact on rice yield in Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam. Methodology: Seventy-three numbers of geo referenced soil samples were collected from the rice ecosystems and analysed for twenty-one soil physical, chemical and biological parameters. The soil quality indices (SQI) were developed using statistical tools like principal component analysis (PCA) techniques and expert opinion (EO). Relative soil quality index (RSQI) was also developed for grouping the soils into categories. Correlation matrices were drawn between different soil quality indices. The optimum values of soil quality indices were computed to sustain 80% or more of the existing in field maximum rice yield (5.20 t ha-1). Results: Multivariate statistics showed that four biological parameters viz., fluorescein di-acetate activity, phosphate solubilising bacteria, total bacterial population and collembolan population and three chemical parameters viz., cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity? and diethylene tri amine penta acetic acid-Zinc could explain 70.2% of the cumulative variance. RSQI demonstrated that >50% and >30% of soils belonged to medium and good category. The regression of percent relative rice yield obtained from farmers field, illustrated that soil functions based EO-SQI could explain high degree of relationship (R2=0.289; r=0.537*), followed by RSQI (R2=0.284;r=0.532*) and PCA-SQI (R2=0.143; r=0.378*) to explain the variability of soils. The optimum value indicates that the rice soils having PCA-SQI value >0.55 were likely to give 80% or more of the maximum yield of UBVZ of Assam. Interpretation: Approaches of rating of soil quality based on PCA-SQI may be a useful tool, and there is need of more extensive investigations to validate its usefulness for assessment of soil quality in different cropping sequences of Assam.
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Rodríguez-León, Carlos H., Clara P. Peña-Venegas, Armando Sterling, Daniel Castro, Lizeth K. Mahecha-Virguez, Yeny R. Virguez-Díaz, and Adriana M. Silva-Olaya. "Soil Quality Restoration during the Natural Succession of Abandoned Cattle Pastures in Deforested Landscapes in the Colombian Amazon." Agronomy 11, no. 12 (December 7, 2021): 2484. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122484.
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Successional processes in abandoned pastures in the Amazon region have been well-documented for the floristic component; however, soil succession has been poorly studied. This study assessed the physical, chemical and biological responses of soils in the Amazon region during the natural succession process in two main landscapes of the Colombian Amazon. Soil data on soil physico–chemical (bulk density, macroaggregates, pH and minerals) and biological (soil macrofauna) composition were evaluated along chronosequence with four successional stages: (i) degraded pastures, (ii) young (10–20-year-old), (iii) middle-age (25–40-year-old) and (iv) mature forests, in two different landscapes (hill and mountain). Individual soil variables and a synthetic indicator of soil quality (GISQ) were evaluated as tools for natural succession monitoring. The results corroborated the negative impact that cattle ranching has on Amazon soils. After 10 years of natural succession, the physico–chemical and biological soil components were widely restored. Less soil compaction and organic carbon occurred in older successional stages. Soil macrofauna richness and density increased along the chronosequence, with an evident association between the macrofauna composition and the macroaggregates in the soil. None of the individual soil properties or the GISQ indicator discriminated among natural succession stages; therefore, new soil quality indicators should be developed to monitor soil quality restoration in natural successions.
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Zhou, Wei, Teng-Fei Lv, Yong Chen, Anthony P. Westby, and Wan-Jun Ren. "Soil Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Paddy-Upland Rotation: A Review." Scientific World Journal 2014 (2014): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/856352.
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Paddy-upland rotation is an unavoidable cropping system for Asia to meet the increasing demand for food. The reduction in grain yields has increased the research interest on the soil properties of rice-based cropping systems. Paddy-upland rotation fields are unique from other wetland or upland soils, because they are associated with frequent cycling between wetting and drying under anaerobic and aerobic conditions; such rotations affect the soil C and N cycles, make the chemical speciation and biological effectiveness of soil nutrient elements varied with seasons, increase the diversity of soil organisms, and make the soil physical properties more difficult to analyze. Consequently, maintaining or improving soil quality at a desirable level has become a complicated issue. Therefore, fully understanding the soil characteristics of paddy-upland rotation is necessary for the sustainable development of the system. In this paper, we offer helpful insight into the effect of rice-upland combinations on the soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, which could provide guidance for reasonable cultivation management measures and contribute to the improvement of soil quality and crop yield.
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Timmerman, M. D., L. G. Fuller, and D. L. Burton. "The effects of a crude oil spill on microbiological indices of soil biological quality." Canadian Journal of Soil Science 83, no. 2 (May 1, 2003): 173–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/s01-039.
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The effects of a crude oil spill and remediation on the biological quality of an agricultural soil were examined based on three microbiological indices: microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and microbial metabolic diversity (MMD). The soils in both contaminated and uncontaminated plots were clay loam Gleyed Rego Black Chernozems developed from lacustrine materials overlying till. The four remedial treatments consisted of: meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii. Rohman and Schult), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ‘Algonquin’), fallow with wheat straw incorporation (SF) and unamended fallow (UFSP). An unamended fallow on adjacent uncontaminated land served as a control (UFCON). The spill had a statistically significant, negative effect on MBC and MMD (P = 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). Although a negative effect on DHA was not significant (P = 0.05), the results show evident trends. The forage treatments were, overall, significantly more effective than the SF treatment in restoring soil biological quality in hydrocarbon contaminated soil to control levels. Based on overall trends only, bromegrass had the greatest effect on soil biological quality relative to the UFSP, followed by alfalfa. The incorporation of wheat straw did not significantly affect any of the examined microbial indices. Key words: Crude oil contamination, soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, microbial metabolic diversity, soil biological quality
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Swanepoel, P. A., J. Habig, C. C. du Preez, P. R. Botha, and H. A. Snyman. "Biological quality of a podzolic soil after 19 years of irrigated minimum-till kikuyu–ryegrass pasture." Soil Research 52, no. 1 (2014): 64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr13237.
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Conversion of natural rangeland to minimum-tillage kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) based pastures for dairy production in the southern Cape of South Africa, may be beneficial to soil biological quality. The objective was to evaluate whether 19 years of minimum-till kikuyu-ryegrass pasture had altered the distribution and quality of biological properties formerly developed under natural rangeland. An irrigated minimum-till kikuyu-ryegrass pasture soil was compared to virgin soil with natural rangeland. Soil organic matter, soil organic C, active C, microbial biomass C, total N and enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, urease and alkaline phosphatase) behaved similarly by having higher values in the surface layers of the cultivated pasture soil than in virgin soil, decreased with depth until they become similar at the 200–300 mm depth. Acid phosphatase activity was similar (P > 0.05) between soils. Vertical distribution of potentially mineralizable N was similar (P > 0.05) at 0–100 mm soil depth, but higher (P ≤ 0.01) in the cultivated pasture soil than in the virgin soil. The microbial indicated along with stratification ratios for different biological indicators that the cultivated pasture soil’s ecosystem functionality improved. Soil microbial functional diversity and carbon source utilisation patterns of the cultivated pasture soil and virgin soil was influenced by plant species present and root exudate composition. The soil microbial diversity, as shown by the Shannon-Weaver and Enrichment Indices, was significantly altered between cultivated pasture and the virgin soil, especially at different soil depths. A general appraisal of biological soil properties indicated that conversion of natural fynbos vegetation to irrigated minimum-till kikuyu-ryegrass pasture after 19 years of cultivation on a podzolic soil beneficial.
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Masto, R. E., S. Sheik, G. Nehru, V. A. Selvi, J. George, and L. C. Ram. "Environmental soil quality index and indicators for a coal mining soil." Solid Earth Discussions 7, no. 1 (February 10, 2015): 617–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/sed-7-617-2015.
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Abstract. Assessment of soil quality is one of the key parameters for evaluation of environmental contamination in the mining ecosystem. To investigate the effect of coal mining on soil quality, opencast and underground mining sites were selected in the Raniganj Coafield area, India. The physical, chemical, biological parameters, heavy metals, and PAHs contents of the soils were evaluated. Soil dehydrogenase (+79%) and fluorescein (+32%) activities were significantly higher in underground mine (UGM) soil, whereas peroxidase activity (+57%) was higher in opencast mine (OCM) soil. Content of As, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb was significantly higher in OCM soil, whereas, Cd was higher in UGM. In general, the PAHs contents were higher in UGM soils probably due to the natural coal burning in these sites. The observed values for the above properties were converted into a unit less score (0–1.00) and the scores were integrated into environmental soil quality index (ESQI). In the unscreened index (ESQI-1) all the soil parameters were included and the results showed that the quality of the soil was better for UGM (0.539) than the OCM (0.511) soils. Principal component analysis was employed to derive ESQI-2 and accordingly, total PAHs, loss on ignition, bulk density, Be, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, and microbial quotient (respiration: microbial biomass ratio) were found to be the most critical properties. The ESQI-2 was also higher for soils near UGM (+10.1%). The proposed ESQI may be employed to monitor soil quality changes due to anthropogenic interventions.
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Matos, Priscila S., Steven J. Fonte, Sandra S. Lima, Marcos G. Pereira, Courtland Kelly, Júnior M. Damian, Marcelo A. Fontes, Guilherme M. Chaer, Felipe C. Brasil, and Everaldo Zonta. "Linkages among Soil Properties and Litter Quality in Agroforestry Systems of Southeastern Brazil." Sustainability 12, no. 22 (November 23, 2020): 9752. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12229752.
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Agroforestry systems have been promoted as a solution to address trade-offs between environmental conservation efforts and the need for increased agricultural productivity on smallholder farms in Brazil. However, the impact of land use change from degraded pasture to agroforestry on soil properties remains unclear. The objectives of this research were to: (1) assess soil chemical, physical and biological properties across distinct land uses (degraded pasture, agroforestry and secondary forest); and (2) understand relationships between litter quality, soil organic matter (SOM) and key soil quality parameters in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Soils, macroinvertebrates and litter were collected in April and September of 2018 under five land uses, including: three types of agroforestry systems, a degraded pasture and a secondary forest in Sapucaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our results showed that soil properties clearly separated the three agroforestry systems plots (AS1, AS2, AS3) from the forest and pasture plots. Moreover, litter quality and SOM likely influence multiple biological and physiochemical soil properties under agroforestry systems and secondary forest. Our findings suggest that agroforestry systems can help support soil biological, chemical and physical properties and that the litter quality may be an important driver of their effects and potential contributions to soil restoration in the region.
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Wander, Michelle M., and Laurie E. Drinkwater. "Fostering soil stewardship through soil quality assessment." Applied Soil Ecology 15, no. 1 (August 2000): 61–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0929-1393(00)00072-x.
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Naveen Kumar, B. T., and H. B. Babalad. "Influence of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Biological Soil Quality." International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 7, no. 03 (March 10, 2018): 312–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.703.037.
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Hofman, Jakub, Jitka Bezchlebová, Ladislav Dušek, Ludvı́k Doležal, Ivan Holoubek, Petr Anděl, Alena Ansorgová, and Stanislav Malý. "Novel approach to monitoring of the soil biological quality." Environment International 28, no. 8 (March 2003): 771–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0160-4120(02)00068-5.
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Paz‐Ferreiro, Jorge, and Shenglei Fu. "Biological Indices for Soil Quality Evaluation: Perspectives and Limitations." Land Degradation & Development 27, no. 1 (November 28, 2013): 14–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2262.
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Andrés, Pilar, Enrique Doblas-Miranda, Alex Silva-Sánchez, Stefania Mattana, and Francesc Font. "Physical, Chemical, and Biological Indicators of Soil Quality in Mediterranean Vineyards under Contrasting Farming Schemes." Agronomy 12, no. 11 (October 26, 2022): 2643. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112643.
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The soil of most Spanish vineyards is strongly eroded and carbon depleted and is very poor in biodiversity. Growing evidence of the negative impacts of soil degradation on climate change mitigation, water quality, and plant production is pushing a shift from intensive viticulture to more sustainable management strategies of the vineyards. Among them, minimum impact and regenerative viticulture are gaining ground. However, field data are still necessary to assess the real effect of these new farming schemes on soil carbon stocks and soil functional biodiversity. We compared soil quality at three vineyards managed under intensive, regenerative, and minimum impact strategies using physical, chemical, and biological indicators. Soil carbon stocks were 2.3 and 3.4 times greater in the regenerative and the minimal impact vineyards than in the intensive vineyard, respectively. Soil biota was particularly favored by regenerative viticulture, with 26.2 times more protists, 3.1 times more nematodes, and 29.4 more microarthropods in the regenerative than in the intensive vineyard. Our results indicate that the ecological intensification of agricultural practices is highly promising to restore degraded agricultural soils under Mediterranean conditions. We also propose cost-effective soil bioindicators sensitive to agricultural management for their possible inclusion in soil monitoring programs.
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Augustyniuk-Kram, Anna, and Karol J. Kram. "The impact of revitalization treatments on biological activity of soil under afforestation on post-agricultural land." Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae 18, no. 5 (December 31, 2020): 293–302. http://dx.doi.org/10.21697/seb.2020.18.5.26.
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In Poland, afforestation is usually carried out on the weakest soils, excluded from agricultural use and wasteland, i.e. post-agricultural land. A characteristic feature of such habitat is poor-quality soil, relatively high content of nutrients for trees, particularly nitrogen, as well as a low level of humus. This is important for the quality of microbiological processes occurring in post-agricultural soils. Restitution of the forest in such a habitat requires the use of various revitalisation treatments for improving soil quality and increasing biological activity and soil fertility. This article presents the results of a long-term experiment on the effectiveness of various revitalisation treatments (zoo- and phytomelioration) on afforested post-agricultural lands after more than 30 years from their application in pine forests in north-western Poland. These treatments consisted of introducing additional organic matter into the soil in the form of bark and sawdust, sowing lupine and introducing soil fauna. The comparative area for afforestation on post-agricultural soils in the presented experiment was the area of forest soils, located in the same habitat, in a pine stand, at the same time. Biological activity of soil was measured with the activity of soil enzymes dehydrogenases and acid phosphatase, the biomass of microorganisms was measured and the content of total dissolved carbon and nitrogen was also determined.
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Tóth, Zsolt, Elisabeth Hornung, and András Báldi. "Effects of set-aside management on certain elements of soil biota and early stage organic matter decomposition in a High Nature Value Area, Hungary." Nature Conservation 29 (August 29, 2018): 1–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.29.24856.
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Agricultural intensification is one of the greatest threats to soil biota and function. In contrast, set-aside still remains a management practice in certain agri-environmental schemes. In Hungary, the establishment of sown set-aside fields is a requirement of agri-environmental schemes in High Nature Value Areas. We tested the effects of set-aside management on soil biota (bacteria, microarthropods, woodlice and millipedes), soil properties and organic matter decomposition after an initial establishment period of two years. Cereal – set-aside field pairs, semi-natural grasslands and cereal fields were sampled in the Heves Plain High Nature Value Area in Eastern Hungary, in May 2014. Topsoil samples were taken from each site for physical, chemical, microbial analyses and for extraction of soil microarthropods. Macrodecomposers were sampled by pitfall traps for two weeks. The biological quality of soil was estimated by the integrated QBS index (‘‘Qualità Biologica del Suolo’’, meaning ‘‘Biological Quality of Soil’’) based on diversity of soil microarthropods. To follow early stage organic matter decomposition, we used tea bags filled with a site-independent, universal plant material (Aspalathuslinearis, average mass 1.26 ± 0.03 g). Tea bags were retrieved after 1 month to estimate the rate of mass loss. We found significant differences between habitat types regarding several soil physical and chemical parameters (soil pH, K and Na content). The study showed positive effects of set-aside management on soil biodiversity, especially for microarthropods and isopods. However, we did not experience similar trends in relation to soil bacteria and millipedes. There was higher intensity of organic matter decomposition in soils of set-aside fields and semi-natural grasslands (remaining mass on average: 74.17% and 76.6%, respectively) compared to cereal fields (average remaining mass: 81.3%). Out of the biotic components, only the biological quality of soil significantly influenced (even if marginally) plant tissue decomposition. Our results highlight the importance of set-aside fields as shelter habitats for soil biota, especially for arthropods. Set-aside fields that are out of a crop rotation for 2 years could be a valuable option for maintaining soil biodiversity, as these fields may simultaneously conserve elements of above- and below-ground diversity.
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Stephenson, R. A., E. C. Gallagher, and P. M. Pepper. "Macadamia yield and quality responses to phosphorus." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, no. 10 (2002): 1165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar02012.
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Phosphorus fertiliser was applied to mature macadamia trees on 3 plantations with relatively low soil P in south-eastern Queensland at rates of 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg P/ha at El Briale and Como Park and 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg P/ha at Haylock. High rates of P were being applied to macadamias throughout the Australian industry and this study was designed to provide a basis for determining optimum application rates and critical soil P levels. Soil P was 33–199.5, 38.1–267.0, and 62.3–253.0 mg/kg at El Briale, Como Park, and Haylock, respectively. A tentative critical soil P concentration of 84–88 mg/kg was indicated, based on relative yields at El Briale and Haylock. Yield responsiveness to applied P was greatest at Haylock on a heavy soil that may have adsorbed P more readily, and had a higher P buffer capacity, than the lighter soils at the other sites. Leaf P was unresponsive to applied P, and hence soil P in this study. This is of concern since leaf P is used extensively to guide nutrition management. Further work is required to clarify relationships between leaf and soil P concentrations.
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Vilkiene, Monika, Ieva Mockeviciene, Danute Karcauskiene, Skaidre Suproniene, Modupe Olufemi Doyeni, and Dalia Ambrazaitiene. "Biological Indicators of Soil Quality under Different Tillage Systems in Retisol." Sustainability 13, no. 17 (August 26, 2021): 9624. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13179624.
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Soil microorganism diversity has a close relation with soil function, and the changes in the composition of the soil microbial population can directly affect it. The aim of this study was to identify the bacterial community composition and determine the main soil chemical and physical properties formed by the different tillage systems. In the experiment, we analyzed the combination of three tillage systems and four organic fertilizers. Soil samples were taken from the two layers of the soil profile: the upper 0–10 cm and the lower 10–20 cm. The composition and diversity of soil bacterial communities were assessed by the sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Results revealed that the highest biodiversity was found in the soil with shallow ploughless tillage and enriched with farmyard manure. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacterial species across all treatments. Their total abundance varied between 26% and 36% in the different analyzed agroecosystems. For the Dystric Bathygleyic Glossic Retisol, shallow ploughless tillage is the most suitable tillage system, as it creates favorable conditions for the accumulation of organic carbon in the soil under the Western Lithuania climate conditions.
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Dazzi, Carmelo. "Saline waters and soil quality." Italian Journal of Agronomy 1, no. 3s (September 23, 2010): 467. http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ija.2006.s3.467.
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Napoletano, Pasquale, Claudio Colombo, Erika Di Iorio, Valeria Memoli, Speranza Claudia Panico, Anna Gabriella Ruggiero, Lucia Santorufo, Giulia Maisto, and Anna De Marco. "Integrated Approach for Quality Assessment of Technosols in Experimental Mesocosms." Sustainability 13, no. 16 (August 13, 2021): 9101. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13169101.
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The assessment of Technosols quality in urban environments is pivotal for the maintenance of ecosystems impacted by human activities. The study was performed on Technosols constructed in experimental mesocosms in the suburban area of Naples (Southern Italy) to highlight changes in the main soil properties over eight years and to identify the most suitable indices at quality monitoring. In this study, several chemical, biological, and integrated indices were analysed to evaluate the mineral accumulation, potential ecological risk, edaphon activity, fertility, and the overall soil quality. The Technosols showed alkaline pH, nitrogen ranged from 24.5 to 39.5 g kg−1, high organic matter contents above 40 g kg−1, and there were no evident processes of soil compaction. Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) did not exceed the thresholds defined by the Italian law for urban soils, despite their volcanic components. During eight years, the chemical indices depicted changes in the elements balance and increase in ecological risk; the biological indices indicated a reduction in the fungal fraction (fivefold) and in the resources utilisation and carbon storage. The soil quality index with all parameters highlighted the reduction in the soil quality (from 0.78 to 0.65) due to the decrease of the chemical quality, the increase of microbial stress conditions, and changes of the microbial composition, underlining the importance of integrating chemical and biological information for monitoring Technosols.
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Asensio, Verónica, Emma F. Covelo, and Ellen Kandeler. "Soil management of copper mine tailing soils — Sludge amendment and tree vegetation could improve biological soil quality." Science of The Total Environment 456-457 (July 2013): 82–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.061.
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Kremer, Robert J., and Linda F. Hezel. "Soil quality improvement under an ecologically based farming system in northwest Missouri." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 28, no. 3 (May 16, 2012): 245–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s174217051200018x.
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AbstractEcologically based farming conserves and improves the soil resource and protects environmental quality by using organic or natural resources without the application of synthetic chemicals. Soil quality assessment indicates the ability of management systems to optimize soil productivity and to maintain its structural and biological integrity. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of ecologically based management on biochemical characteristics of soil [soil quality indicators (SQI)] as an assessment of soil quality. The study was conducted on an ecologically based farming enterprise established on gently sloping soils of Sharpsburg silt loam (fine montmorillonitic, mesic Typic Argiudolls) in Clay County, Missouri, which was previously under conventional corn and soybean production. The transition to organic farming began in 1995, which included a primary management strategy to restore soil organic matter consisting of the establishment of native prairie plants and the application of composted vegetative residues and litter from horse and laying hen operations. Soils were collected at 0–10cm depths from sites under organic production (orchard and vegetable), managed prairie/pasture and from adjacent unmanaged fields during 2003–2008 for soil quality assessment. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and water-stable soil aggregates were considerably increased by up to 60 and 72%, respectively, in organic production sites compared with tilled cropland by the fifth year of assessment. Organically managed systems and restored prairie sites significantly increased (P<0.05) soil enzyme activities compared with unmanaged grass and tilled cropland. For example, dehydrogenase and glucosaminidase activities increased by 60 and 73%, respectively, under organic vegetables compared with tilled cropland. Soil enzyme activities were significantly correlated with SOC content (rvalues up to 0.90,P<0.001). The results of the soil quality assessment suggest that ecologically based management successfully restored biological activity of silt loam soils previously under intensive conventional agriculture. The system practiced at the study sites illustrates how resources internal to the farm (i.e., composts) can be used to manage soil productivity.
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Emino, Everett R., and Phil R. Warman. "Biological Assay for Compost Quality." Compost Science & Utilization 12, no. 4 (September 2004): 342–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1065657x.2004.10702203.
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