Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Land capability and soil productivity'

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xv, 166 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 134-153).

Agricultural intensification reliant on monocrops could change soil health in a way that does not support maximum crop productivity. Twenty-nine-year-old no-till field plots at the University of Kentucky Spindletop research farm showed a significant reduction in corn yields from continuous corn plots compared to those from plots in various types of rotation. The objective of this study was to determine what role soil microbes might play in yield reduction and how management and time effects microbial community structure. Samples were collected from the following treatments: continuous corn (CC), continuous soybean (SS), a 2-year corn/soybean rotation (CCSS), Corn in rotation with soybean with winter wheat cover (C/W/S), and sod controls (SOD). Soil health-related parameters were determined along with microbial community structure using phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). Results show that there is a strong seasonal dynamic in microbial communities with May, July and September showing the greatest differentiation between treatments. Nonparametric multidimensional analysis (NMDS) shows that microbial communities under SS, CC treatments were significantly different from the CS and CWS treatments across all four years of the study. My findings will prove useful for assessing the contribution of biological indicators to agroecosystem function and will aid in making recommendations of when and how to manage these parameters to improve soil health and maximize yield.

A two-year lysimeter study was undertaken to compare the environmental effects (e.g. nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions) of soil applied lactose-depleted dairy factory effluent (LD-DFE) with lactose-rich DFE. The aim of this experiment was to determine the fate of nitrogen from LD-DFE and dairy cow urine applied to a Templeton fine sandy loam soil (Udic Ustrochrept), supporting a herbage cover of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). Measurements were carried out on the amount of nitrogen lost from the soil via leaching, lost by denitrification, removed by the pasture plants, and immobilized within the soil organic fraction. Further, a comparison between the fate of nitrogen in LD-DFE irrigated onto land under a "cut and carry" system, as opposed to a "grazed" pasture system was undertaken. Lactose-depleted dairy factory effluent was applied at three-weekly intervals during the summer months at rates of 25 and 50 mm, until nitrogen loading targets of 300 and 600 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ had been achieved. Measured leaching losses of nitrogen averaged 2 and 7 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for Control 25 and Control 50 treatments; 21, 20 and 58 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for 25 and 50 mm "cut and carry" treatments respectively; and 96 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for the 25 mm "grazed" treatment. The range of nitrate-N leaching loss from LD-DFE plus urine is no different from the lactose-rich DFE nitrate leaching loss. Uptake of nitrogen by the growing pasture averaged 153, 184,340,352,483, and 415 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for Control 25, Control 50, LD-DFE 25 and LD-DFE 50 mm "cut and carry" treatments, and the LD-DFE 25 mm "grazed" treatment, respectively. Denitrification losses were 0.06, 4.4, 1.69, 19.70, and 7.4 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for Control 25, the LD-DFE 25 "cut and carry" treatments, the LD-DFE 25 mm "grazed" treatment, and calculated "paddock losses", respectively. Isotopic nitrogen studies found that 29.4 and 25.8% of applied LD-DFE nitrogen was immobilised in the LD-DFE 25 and LD-DFE 50 "cut and carry" treatments. The results of this experiment confirm the findings of the previous lactose-rich DFE study, in that the effects of grazing stock are of greater environmental concern than the removal of lactose from the effluent waste stream.

Soil P fractionation was used to examine changes in soil inorganic and organic P under grazed irrigated pasture in a long-term field trial at Winchmore in Mid-Canterbury. The soil P fractionation scheme used involved sequential extractions of soil with O.5M NaHCO₃ @ pH 8.5 (NaHCO₃ P), 0.1M NaOH (NaOH I P), 1M HCl (HCl P) and 0.1M NaOH (NaOH II P). The Winchmore trial comprised 5 treatments: control (no P since 1952), 376R (376 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ 1952-1957, none since), 564R (564 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ 1952-1957, none since) 188PA (188 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ since 1952) and 376PA (376 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ since 1952: Topsoil (0-7.5cm) samples taken from the different treatments in 1958, 1961, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1974 and 1977 were used in this study. Changes in soil P with time showed that significant increases in soil inorganic P occurred in the annually fertilised treatments (l88PA, 376PA). As expected, the overall increase in total soil inorganic P between 1958 and 1977 was greater in the 376PA treatment (159 µg P g⁻¹) than that in the 188PA treatment (37 µg P g⁻¹). However, the chemical forms of inorganic P which accumulated in the annually fertilised treatments changed with time. Between 1958 and 1971 most of the increases in soil inorganic P in these treatments occurred in the NaHCO₃ and NaOH I P fractions. On the other hand, increases in soil inorganic P in the annually fertilised treatments between 1971 and 1977 were found mainly in the HCl and NaOH II P fractions. These changes in soil P forms were attributed to the combined effects of lime addition in 1972 and increased amounts of sparingly soluble apatite P and iron-aluminium P in the single superphosphate applied during the 1970's. In the residual fertiliser treatments (376R, 564R) significant decreases in all of the soil inorganic P fractions (i.e. NaHCO₃ P, NaOH I P, HCl P, NaOH II p) occurred between 1958 and 1977 following the cessation of P fertiliser inputs in 1957. This was attributed to continued plant uptake of P accumulated in the soil from earlier P fertiliser additions. However, levels of inorganic P in the different soil P fractions in the residual fertiliser treatments did not decline to those in the control which indicated that some of the inorganic P accumulated in the soil from P fertiliser applied between 1952 and 1957 was present in very stable forms. In all treatments, significant increases in soil organic P occurred between 1958 and 1971. The overall increases in total soil organic P were greater in the annually fertilised treatments (70-86 µg P g⁻¹) than those in the residual fertiliser (55-64 µg P g⁻¹) and control (34 µg P g⁻¹) treatments which reflected the respective levels of pasture production in the different treatments. These increases in soil organic P were attributed to the biological conversion of native and fertiliser inorganic P to organic P in the soil via plant, animal and microbial residues. The results also showed that annual rates of soil organic P accumulation between 1958 and 1971 decreased with time which indicated that steady-state conditions with regard to net 'organic P accumulation were being reached. In the residual fertiliser treatments, soil organic P continued to increase between 1958 and 1971 while levels of soil inorganic P and pasture production declined. This indicated that organic P which accumulated in soil from P fertiliser additions was more stable and less available to plants than inorganic forms of soil P. Between 1971 and 1974 small (10-38 µg P g⁻¹) but significant decreases in total soil organic P occurred in all treatments. This was attributed to increased mineralisation of soil organic P as a result of lime (4 t ha⁻¹) applied to the trial in 1972 and also to the observed cessation of further net soil organic P accumulation after 1971. Liming also appeared to affect the chemical nature of soil organic P as shown by the large decreases in NaOH I organic P(78-88 µg P g⁻¹) and concomitant smaller increases in NaOH II organic P (53-65 µg P g⁻¹) which occurred in all treatments between 1971 and 1974. The chemical nature of soil organic P in the Winchmore long-term trial was also investigated using 31p nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gel filtration chromatography. This involved quantitative extraction of organic P from the soil by sequential extraction with 0.1M NaOH, 0.2M aqueous acetylacetone (pH 8.3) and 0.5M NaOH following which the extracts were concentrated by ultrafiltration. Soils (0-7.5cm) taken from the control and 376PA annually fertilised treatments in 1958, 1971 and 1983 were used in this study. 31p NMR analysis showed that most (88-94%) of the organic P in the Winchmore soils was present as orthophosphate monoester P while the remainder was found as orthophosphate diester and pyrophosphate P. Orthophosphate monoester P also made up almost all of the soil organic P which accumulated in the 376PA treatment between 1958 and 1971. This indicated that soil organic P in the 376PA and control treatments was very stable. The gel filtration studies using Sephadex G-100 showed that most (61-83%) of the soil organic P in the control and 376PA treatments was present in the low molecular weight forms (<100,000 MW), although the proportion of soil organic P in high molecular weight forms (>100,000 MW) increased from 17-19% in 1958 to 38-39% in 1983. The latter was attributed to the microbial humification of organic P and indicated a shift toward more complex and possibly more stable forms of organic P in the soil with time. Assuming that the difference in soil organic P between the control and 376PA soils sampled in 1971 and 1983 represented the organic P derived from P fertiliser additions, results showed that this soil organic P was evenly distributed between the high and low molecular weight fractions. An exhaustive pot trial was used to examine the relative availability to plants of different forms of soil inorganic and organic P in long-term fertilised pasture soils. This involved growing 3 successive crops of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in 3 Lismore silt loam (Udic Ustochrept) soils which had received different amounts of P fertiliser for many years. Two of the soils were taken from the annually fertilised treatments in the Winchmore long term trial (188PA, 376PA) and the third (Fairton) was taken from a pasture which had been irrigated with meatworks effluent for over 80 years (65 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Each soil was subjected to 3 treatments, namely control (no nutrients added), N100 and N200. The latter treatments involved adding complete nutrient solutions with different quantities of N at rates of 100kg N ha⁻¹ (N100) and 200kg N ha⁻¹ (N200) on an area basis. The soil P fractionation scheme used was the same as that used in the Winchmore long-term trial study (i.e. NaHCO₃ P, NaOH I P, HCl P, NaOH II p). Results obtained showed that the availability to plants of different extracted inorganic P fractions, as measured by decreases in P fractions before and after 3 successive crops, followed the order: NaHCO₃ P > NaOH I P > HCl P = NaOH II P. Overall decreases in the NaHCO₃ and NaOH I inorganic P fractions were 34% and 16% respectively, while corresponding decreases in the HCl and NaOH II inorganic P fractions were small «10%) and not significant. However, a significant decrease in HCl P (16%) was observed in one soil (Fairton-N200 treatment) which was attributed to the significant decrease in soil pH (from 6.2 to 5.1) which occurred after successive cropping. Successive cropping had little or no effect on the levels of P in the different soil organic P fractions. This indicated that net soil organic P mineralisation did not contribute significantly to plant P uptake over the short-term. A short-term field experiment was also conducted to examine the effects of different soil management practices on the availability of different forms of P to plants in the long-term fertilised pasture soils. The trial was sited on selected plots of the existing annually fertilised treatments in the Winchmore long-term trial (188PA, 376PA) and comprised 5 treatments: control, 2 rates of lime (2 and 4 t ha⁻¹ ) , urea fertiliser (400kg N ha⁻¹ ) and mechanical cultivation. The above ground herbage in the uncultivated treatments was harvested on 11 occasions over a 2 year period and at each harvest topsoil (0-7.5 cm) samples were taken from all of the treatments for P analysis. The soil P fractionation scheme used in this particular trial involved sequential extractions with 0.5M NaHCO₃ @ pH 8.5 (NaHCO₃ P), 0.1M NaOH (NaOH P), ultrasonification with 0.1M NaOH (sonicate-NaOH p) and 1M HCl (HCl P). In addition, amounts of microbial P in the soils were determined. The results showed that liming resulted in small (10-21 µg P g⁻¹) though significant decreases in the NaOH soil organic P fraction in the 188PA and 376PA plots. Levels of soil microbial P were also found to be greater in the limed treatments compared with those in the controls. These results indicated that liming increased the microbial mineralisation of soil organic P in the Winchmore soils. However, pasture dry matter yields and P uptake were not significantly affected. Although urea significantly increased dry matter yields and P uptake, it did not appear to significantly affect amounts of P in the different soil P fractions. Mechanical cultivation and the subsequent fallow period (18 months) resulted in significant increases in amounts of P in the NaHCO₃ and NaOH inorganic P fractions. This was attributed to P released from the microbial decomposition of plant residues, although the absence of plants significantly reduced levels of microbial P in the cultivated soils. Practical implications of the results obtained in the present study were presented and discussed.

This thesis studies the role accounting plays in the monitoring and reporting of soil quality in one sector of the agricultural industry, broadacre farming. A survey was conducted with broadacre farmers in the Loddon Catchment, Victoria, Australia. The primary aim was to determine the effectiveness accounting plays in providing information to decision makers relative to the productive capacity in soil quality and not just on profits. The capital asset in this study was defined as soil quality. Soils and soil quality in particular, are major elements in determining land value. The concern is decisions are being made by potential buyers and other decision makers, particularly policy makers, with regards to soil quality on the basis of incomplete and often misleading information. It is proposed that a major reason is due to the fact that different participants in the agricultural and accounting industries require and use different information. The accounting systems used by farmers are those that have been developed for the manufacturing sector which may not be appropriate for managing long-term, complex resources such as soil. The farmers themselves did not find formal accounting reports useful for decision making because these reports are based on uniform standards and market prices. The topic of soil quality and land degradation is viewed from two perspectives. In one perspective, the proprietary view; the accounting emphasis is on the ownership of assets and the change, both in income and capital, in these assets over time. In this case the accounting equation is seen as assets - liabilities = equities. The proprietor takes all the risk. A more recent perspective in accounting, the entity view, emphasises the assets whether financed from equity or debt and where the accounting equation is seen as assets = equities. The emphasis changes to the income flow from these assets and more interest is shown in current market prices as a reflection of the future value of these assets Profit is not necessarily a good indicator of what farmers are doing for their capital asset. There needs to be greater emphasis on costs undertaken for the conservation of soil. Those costs should be considered an investment and put into the balance sheet and not the profit and loss statement. The major finding of study demonstrates that decision making groups have different

This study has provided fundamental information on the fate of urine nitrogen (N) when applied to pasture soils. In this work the three pasture soils used were a Bruntwood silt loam (BW), an old well-developed (lime and fertilizer incorporated and farmed for more than 20 years) peat soil (OP) and a young peat (YP) which was less developed (farmed for about 10 years). Initial soil chemical and physical measurements revealed that the peat soils were acidic, had higher cation exchange capacities, had greater carbon:nitrogen ratios and were better buffered against changes in soil pH than the BW soil. However, the BW soil was more fertile with a higher pH. The peat soils had lower bulk densities and higher porosities. Four experiments were performed. In the first experiment ¹⁵N-labelled urine was applied at 500 kg N ha⁻¹ to intact soil cores of the three soils. Treatments imposed were the presence and absence of a water table at two temperatures, 8°C or 23° C, over 11-14 weeks. ¹⁵N budgets were determined. This first experiment showed that the nitrification rate was faster in the BW soil and was retarded with a water table present. Significant leaching of nitrate occurred at 8°C in the BW soil without a water table. This was reduced when a water table was present. Leaching losses of urine-N were lower in the peat soils than in the BW soil. Apparent denitrification losses (i.e. calculated on a total-N recovery basis) ranged from 18 to 48 % of the ¹⁵N-applied with the greatest losses occurring in the peat soils. The second experiment examined denitrification losses, over 30 days, following the application of synthetic urine-N at 420 kg N ha⁻¹ to small soil cores situated in growth cabinets. The effects of temperature (8°C or 18°C) and synthetic urine (presence or absence) were measured on the BW and OP soils. Nitrous oxide (N₂0) measurements were taken from all soil cores and a sub-set of soil cores, at 18°C, had ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N applied so that ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen gases could be monitored. This experiment showed that the application of synthetic urine and increased soil temperature enhanced denitrification losses from both soils. Denitrification losses, at 18°C, as ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen gases accounted for 24 to 39 % of the nitrogen applied. Nitrous oxide comprised less than half of this denitrification loss. Losses of N₂0 in leachate samples from the soil cores accounted for less than 0.1 % of the nitrogen applied. A third experiment, using Iysimeters, was performed over a 150 day period in the field. The six treatments consisted of the 3 soils with applied synthetic urine, with or without a simulated water table; each replicated three times. Lysimeters were installed in the field at ground level and ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N was applied (500 kg N ha⁻¹) on June 4 1992 (day 1). Nitrification rates differed between the soils following the trend noticed in the first experiment. As in the first experiment, nitrate was only detected in the leachate from the BW soil and the inclusion of a water table reduced the concentration of nitrate. In the BW soil, the leachate nitrate concentrations exceeded the World Health Organisation's recommended limit (< 10 mg N L-1) regardless of water table treatment. No nitrate was detected in the leachates from the peat soils but there was some leaching of organic-N (< 5 % of N added) in all the peat soil treatments. Denitrification losses were monitored for the first 100 days of the experiment. In the BW soil without a water table, N₂0 production peaked at approximately day 20 and accounted for 3 % of the nitrogen applied. In the peat soils the measured denitrification losses accounted for less than 1 % of the nitrogen applied. Apparent denitrification losses in the peats were, however, calculated to be approximately 50 % of the ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N applied. It is postulated that the difference between apparent denitrification losses and those measured could have been due to; loss of dinitrogen in leachate, protracted production of dinitrogen below detectable limits, production of denitrification gases after measurements ceased (i.e. days 100 to 150) and entrapment of dinitrogen in soil cores. Due to the apparent denitrification losses being so high, further research into this nitrogen loss pathway was performed. The fourth and final experiment measured denitrification directly using highly enriched (50 atom %) ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine-N. It was performed in a growth cabinet held initially at 8°C. The ¹⁵N-labelled synthetic urine was applied at 500 kg N ha⁻¹ to small soil cores of each soil type. Fluxes of N₂0 and ¹⁵N-labelled gases were measured daily for 59 days. On day 42 the temperature of the growth cabinet was increased to 12°C in an attempt to simulate the mean soil temperature at the end of the field experiment. Up to this time, production of nitrogenous gases from the YP soil had been very low. Interpretation of gaseous nitrogen loss in the YP soil was difficult due to the possibility of chemodenitrification occurring. However, in the OP and BW soils, gaseous losses of nitrogen (determined as ¹⁵N-labelled gas) represented 16 and 7 % of the nitrogen applied respectively. Nitrous oxide comprised approximately half of this gaseous nitrogen loss, in both the OP and BW soils. This work implies that urine-N applied to the mineral soil (BW) could potentially threaten the quality of ground water due to nitrate contamination through leaching. In contrast, denitrification appears to be the major loss mechanism from the peat soils, with the production of nitrous oxide being the primary focus for any environmental concern. Future work should examine the fate of the nitrate leached from the BW soil and the potential for dilution, plant uptake or denitrification below a 30 cm soil depth. A better understanding of the denitrification mechanisms could help reduce denitrification and thereby improve the efficiency of nitrogen use and reduce the output of nitrous oxide.

Orientadores: Luiz Henrique Antunes Rodrigues, Francisco Lombardi Neto
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola
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Resumo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um sistema de apoio à decisão para a gestão da terra, integrando um Sistema Especialista para determinar a capacidade de uso da terra e outro para recomendar usos adequados e as práticas de conservação e manejo do solo, um Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG), uma base de dados e uma interface para interpretar a entrada de dados do usuário e as mensagens passadas entre os sub-sistemas. Todos os diálogos entre o usuário e o sistema são realizados pela da interface, assim como a comunicação entre os componentes do sistema desenvolvido. Os sistemas especialistas foram desenvolvidos utilizando o ¿shell¿ conhecido como CLIPS (C Language Integrated Production System) que provê um ambiente para a construção de sistemas especialistas. O SIG utilizado foi o IDRISI, versão 32, que possui o módulo Applications Programming Interface - API (Interface de Programação de Aplicativos) com um OLE Automation Server, possibilitando o uso de linguagens de alto nível, tais como Visual Basic, para controlar as operações do Idrisi32. A base de dados foi desenvolvida com a utilização do Microsoft Access®, além disso, é de fácil acesso, pois a maioria dos usuários tem esse aplicativo instalado em seus computadores. O sistema desenvolvido determina a capacidade de uso da terra; recomenda usos adequados para cada classe de capacidade de uso; recomenda práticas de conservação e manejo do solo; e identifica áreas de conflito comparando os mapas de uso da terra da região em estudo com o mapa de capacidade de uso. Todos os resultados podem ser visualizados em janelas do programa, gravados ou impressos em formas de relatórios. A validação do sistema foi feita comparando as saídas do sistema com os resultados obtidos de quatro especialistas. As divergências encontradas mostraram que o sistema desenvolvido foi mais rigoroso, principalmente no que diz respeito ao risco de erosão, determinando classes de capacidade de uso diferentes das determinadas por alguns especialistas. Quanto ao tipo de uso e às práticas de conservação e manejo do solo, foram poucas as divergências encontradas. A área utilizada para testar o sistema é o Município de Santo Antônio do Jardim - SP. O sistema classificou 36,95% das terras do município como adequadas para a utilização com cultura anual ou perene; 42,69% são adequadas para pastagem e reflorestamento e 19,51% devem ser utilizadas para preservação ambiental. Outro resultado apresentado é o mapa de intensidade de uso, no qual pôde se observar que 48,50% do município está sendo utilizada de forma adequada; 31,82% com uso inadequado e, 14,06% apresenta subutilização. O sistema mostrou ser uma ferramenta poderosa e eficaz, permitindo avaliar uma região, dando suporte para uma tomada de decisão mais fundamentada
Abstract: The objective of this work was to develop a decision support system for agricultural land environmental planing, which integrates an Expert System to determine the land capability and other to recommend adequate uses and practices for soil conservation and management, Geographic Information System (GIS), a database and an interface to monitor input and output data and the messages passed between the subsystems. The management of all the system is made by an interface developed in Visual Basic, version 5.0. All the dialogues between the user and the system as well as the communication with the components of the system are made through the interface that shows windows, menus, dialog boxes, maps and reports in the screen. It saves the results in files and prints them. The expert systems were developed with a shell known as CLIPS (C Language Integrated Production System), that provides an environment for building expert systems. The GIS was IDRISI, version 32, that has Applications Programming Interface ¿ API with an OLE Automation Server, and makes possible to use high-level languages, such as Visual Basic for controlling the operation of Idrisi32. The database was developed with the Microsoft Access®, because of the majority of the users have this software installed in its computers. The developed system determines land capability from information stored in the database and, also supplied for the SIG, through the soil and slope maps; it recommends adequate uses for land capability class; it recommends practices for soil conservation and management and identifies conflict areas comparing the maps of land use with the land capability. All the results can be visualized by the user through windows of the program, recorded or printed in forms of reports. The validation of the system was done comparing the system outputs with the results obtained of four experts. The divergences have shown that the system was more rigorous than the experts, specially concerning the erosion risk, leading to different land capability classes from those determined for some experts, in some cases. Concerning to the type of practices for soil conservation and management, the divergences have been few. In order to test the system, the county of Santo Antônio do Jardim ¿ SP was selected. The system classified 36.95% of lands as adequate for the use with annual or perennial cultures; 42.69% are adequate for pastures and reforestation and 19.51% must be used for environmental preservation. Another presented result is the map of intensity use, through which could be observed that 48.50% of the lands are being used of adequate form; 31.82% of the lands presents inadequate use and, 14.06% presents under utilization. The system is a powerful and efficient tool, what makes it possible to evaluate a region and give support to a more adequate decision making
Doutorado
Planejamento e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável
Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola

A importância da água na agricultura para o sucesso das lavouras é inquestionável. Nos tempos atuais, a irrigação tornou-se ferramenta estratégica para o sucesso das produções. Dentre outros benefícios, está a possibilidade de plantio de entre safras, o que possibilita melhorar o aproveitamento da área agrícola. Uma maior produtividade também pode ser alcançada por meio do uso artificial de condução de água às lavouras. No entanto, deve-se buscar o equilíbrio entre os interesses da produção com os critérios socioambientais. Outrossim, a disponibilização de água em excesso pode acarretar prejuízos, causando a proliferação de fungos e bactérias, e do possível apodrecimento das raízes. Desta forma, a irrigação de lavouras deve demandar controles eficientes do conteúdo de água no solo, primando pelo uso racional e ecologicamente sustentável dos recursos naturais envolvidos. É sabido que existem diversos sensores de umidade do solo que são capazes de obter o teor de água no solo, e que podem auxiliar no controle do uso da água. No entanto, os altos custos dos sensores de qualidade continuam sendo uma barreira para a implantação em lavouras de pequenos produtores, devido aos seus frágeis poderes aquisitivos. Motivado por isso, este trabalho buscou desenvolver um protótipo de sensor que possibilitasse a aferição da umidade do solo, sendo que a premissa principal seria o baixo custo. Para isso foi necessário realizar a calibração do protótipo, a partir de leituras simultâneas entre o mesmo e o equipamento de referência, o sensor profissional Watermark modelo 200SS-5. De forma acessória, o protótipo foi projetado para comunicar-se com plataformas externas, afim de possibilitar a integração e o monitoramento em tempo real. Os dados foram transmitidos para o banco de dados por intermédio da tecnologia wireless do microcontrolador ESP8266-12E (placa NodeMCU). Duas plataformas foram utilizadas, a ThingSpeak, bem como outra desenvolvida por este autor para o específico fim de integração com o protótipo. O custo para o desenvolvimento do protótipo correspondeu a 4,2% do valor correspondente ao sensor Watermark, possuindo características adicionais em comparação ao equipamento de referência, como a comunicação com meios externos e a fácil integração com sistemas de irrigação automatizada.
The importance of water in agriculture for the success of crops is unquestionable. In the present times, irrigation has become a strategic tool for the success of productions. Among other benefits is the possibility of planting between harvests, which makes it possible to improve the utilization of the agricultural area. Higher productivity can also be achieved through the artificial use of water to the crops. However, a balance must be struck between the interests of production and the socio-environmental criteria. Also, the availability of water in excess can lead to damages, causing the proliferation of fungi and bacteria, and the possible rotting of the roots. In this way, irrigation of crops should demand efficient controls of soil water content, emphasizing the rational and ecologically sustainable use of the natural resources involved. It is known that there are several soil moisture sensors that are able to obtain the water content in the soil, and that can aid in the control of water use. However, the high costs of quality sensors continue to be a barrier to the implantation in crops of small producers, due to their fragile purchasing power. Motivated by this, this work sought to develop a prototype sensor that would allow the measurement of soil moisture, and the main premise would be the low cost. For this, it was necessary to carry out the calibration of the prototype, from simultaneous readings between the same and the reference equipment, the professional sensor Watermark model 200SS-5. Of accessory form, the prototype was designed to communicate with external platforms, possibiliting the integration and real-time monitoring. For the database the data were transmitted through the wireless technology of the ESP8266-12E microcontroller (NodeMCU board). Two platforms were used, the ThingSpeak, as well a another developed by this author for the specific purpose of integration with the prototype. The cost for the prototype development corresponded to 4.2% of the value corresponding to the Watermark sensor, having additional characteristics compared to the reference equipment, the such as communication with external means and the easy integration with automated irrigation systems.

Se estudia el ciclo del carbono en diferentes usos del suelo (uso forestal, campo agrícola abandonado y olivar de secano) de un ecosistema mediterráneo ante la perspectiva del cambio climático. La hipótesis general de esta tesis es que los cambios en los patrones (estructura y distribución espacial) y tipo de vegetación resultantes de la intensificación de los usos del suelo causarán alteraciones en las condiciones microclimáticas (temperatura y humedad del suelo) y en las características del micrositio (comunidades microbianas del suelo, calidad de los detritos procedentes de la vegetación, patrones de escorrentía y erosión del suelo), que afectarán a los flujos de carbono (entradas y salidas), a los factores que controlan dichos flujos y a la capacidad de secuestro de carbono del ecosistema. Para validar dicha hipótesis se plantean los siguientes objetivos generales: i) caracterizar los reservorios y los flujos de carbono; ii) evaluar la importancia relativa de los diferentes componentes del balance de carbono; e iii) identificar los factores que controlan los flujos de carbono más importantes que regulan la capacidad subterránea de secuestro del mismo en un gradiente de intensificación de usos del suelo.
This thesis provides a useful database of carbon (C) pools and fluxes under different land uses (open forest, old-field, olive grove) in a dry Mediterranean ecosystem of Southeast Spain. To understand how global climate change and alterations in land use are affecting Mediterranean soil biogeochemical processes, I completed four studies that investigated the different C components within the C balance of each land use type, the interactions between them, and their controlling factors. The main objectives were: 1) to quantify C pools and fluxes (outputs and inputs) under different land uses over a three-year period (2006-2009); 2) to compare two C balance approaches based on steady-state or non-steady-state conditions in order to assess the relative importance of the different C fluxes within the C balance of each land use type; and 3) to identify the factors controlling the main C fluxes within each land use type.

"Capping is a mandatory landfill closure procedure to isolate the waste from outside environment, mainly rain water. Clay caps are mostly expensive and often fail to limit entry of water into the waste by developing cracks due to desiccation. To reduce capping costs and to increase environmental benefits, an alternate capping system called ‘Phytocapping’ was trialled at Lakes Creek Road Landfill, Rockhampton, Australia. This system consists of a soil cover and vegetation. Soil cover stores water during rainfall events and the vegetation removes the stored water via transpiration. Trees also act as ‘rain interceptors’ by trapping certain proportion of the rainfall in their canopy. Soil and plants also contribute to reduced methane emission by supporting methanotrophs in their root zone."

"Presence of high levels of Cd in soils results in accumulation of Cd in the food crops. Consumption of CD rich food items can induce cancer as well as causing health impacts in humans. Accumulation of Cd in the soils and plants can also cause other environmental impacts. One way to minimise these adverse impacts would be to remove Cd from contaminated soils by chemical or biological means.... Techniques such as phytoremediation may be used to remove Cd from contaminated soils economically.... The aim of this study was to select genotypes of tomato that would grow well in media containing high concentrations of Cd and accumulate high concentrations of Cd in their shoot tissues, so that they may be used in phytoremediation of Cd contaminated sites"--Abstract.

Throughout much of the United States, systems of ecological land classification are used to divide the forested landscape into units that are biologically and operationally meaningful. No such system currently exists in central Massachusetts, however, due to the extensive and prolonged effects of human land use. Initial research on a series of State Forests in central Massachusetts indicate that physical site characteristics such as the presence of a hardpan, soil texture and type of glacial deposition can be correlated with patterns in vegetation distribution. These factors are similar to those used by W. B. Leak in creating an ecological land type (ELT) classification for the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. A system was created to adapt and transfer the White Mountain ELTs to central Massachusetts. The system was then applied to a variety of sites in central Massachusetts at two different scales. The habitat classification system reflected general trends of vegetation composition and productivity, particularly at a local landscape level, but further work is needed to better account for the effect of land use history and local ecological variation. An underlying assumption of ecological land classification is that vegetation is most strongly influenced by site factors that are related to soil moisture availability. Direct soil moisture measurements were made on a variety of sites throughout a season at Cadwell Memorial Forest in Pelham, Massachusetts. Analysis showed a relatively poor correlation between soil moisture measured that year and long-term site productivity. However, the pattern of short term (weekly) variation in soil moisture was related to general trends in productivity. The hydrologic model, TOPMODEL, was used to create a relative wetness potential index within a GIS framework to predict site productivity based on potential soil moisture availability. While this model showed some potential in predicting general soil moisture status, it was not well correlated with the direct soil moisture measurements.

The problems of land resources degradation as a result of misuse of arable land for non agricultural development and lack of appropriate methods and guidelines for land resources assessment are currently evident in Eritrea. These problems, have called for an urgent need for an appropriate land resources assessment in Eritrea. In response to this, a land capability classification in the areas around Asmara city that covers about 11742.7 ha was conducted. The intended aim was to properly assess the potential of the land resources in the study area and classify the capability of the land so as to designate the land according to its capability and foster appropriate land use. All the available natural resources in the study area were carefully assessed. A detailed soil survey was conducted and soil units were examined, described, classified and mapped out. Several criteria for the limitations were selected from the reviewed literature mainly USDA and RSA Land Capability Classification systems and in consultation with the soil survey and natural resources experts of the Ministry of Agriculture in Eritrea. In formation on land and soil characteristics, and the specified limitations and criteria were captured in a spatial digital format and then analysed within a GIS. Based on the specified parameters, different land capability units, subclasses, classes and orders were identified and mapped out. Finally, the sub classes were grouped to create,land capability classes ranging from Class I to Class VII and consequently the capability classes were grouped and mapped out at the level of land capability orders. The results revealed seven land capability classes (Class I to VII). Class III land in the study area covers 4149.43 ha (36.9 percent of the total area). The largest portion of this class is found in the central, southern and south eastern parts of the study area. However, classes I and II are very limited and cover 1562.95 ha (13.9 percent) of the study area. These classes are found mainly in the southern and central parts of the study area. Most of the gentle and steep sloping lands in the north and north eastern parts of the study area are classified as classes IV and VI. These classes have an area of 2652.08 ha (23.6 percent) and 2594.87 ha (23.1 percent) of the study area, respectively. Classes V and VII are very limited. These classes cover 221.53 ha (2 percent) and 57.55 ha (0.5 percent), respectively. The largest portion of class V land is found in the central part of the study area. Class VII land is mainly confined to the north eastern, western and southern corners of the study area. Four land capability orders were arrived at ranging from (high to moderate potential to non-arable land). The high to moderate potential arable lands are largely found in the southern and central parts of the study area. These lands cover 5715.39 ha (50.8 percent) of the study area. However, low potential arable (marginal productive) and non-arable lands have a considerable area of 2652.08 ha (23.6 percent) and 2652.42 ha (23.1 percent) of the study area, respectively. The largest portion of these lands is found in the north, north eastern and eastern parts of the study area. A small portion of the lands in the study area is classified as seasonally wetland. This land has an are~\ of 221.53 h~{2 percent) of the study area and is mainly found in the central part of the study area. It was concluded that nearly 50 percent of the land in the study area is classified as of moderately to high agricultural potential whereas the rest of the land is classified as marginal to non-arable land. However, the steady growth of demand for land for nonagricultural development due to the increasing population that depend on farm production in the study area, renders the prime arable lands as too limited to support the current population in the study area. Hence, protecting the prime arable lands and properly using such lands based on their sustained capacity can only secure the livelihood of the community.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The overall effect of tree clearing on pasture, litter production and major soil parameters were analysed using multivariate analysis.. "Tree clearing is practised for greater beef production and hence monetary gains from grazing systems of central Queensland. The high rates of clearing in the past and even recently (577, 000 ha/yr during 1999-2001) were mainly to develop land for pastures. The sustainability of cleared pasture systems over the long-term is questioned. Three major types of tree communities i.e. Eucalyptus populnea F. Muell., E. melanophloia F. Muell. and Acacia harpophylla F. Muell. ex. Benth. were selected on one property in central Queensland to quantify the impacts of clearing on pasture production and composition, and soil properties. The impacts were measured over time-since-clearing (recent (<5 years), medium (11-13years) and old (>30 years)) in unreplicated cleared pastures in comparison to their replicated uncleared/intact woodland pastures of each tree community. Measures of pasture above-ground biomass production on a single property over time-sinceclearing in cleared systems showed that gains were not sustained over the long-term. The difference in response to clearing between tree communities was evident and important to support the future policy decisions. The impact of clearing on soil properties (physicochemical and biological) was confirmed, and explained the lesser availability of nutrients with time of clearing in cleared pastures. The changes in some soil properties underscored the associated risks and changes in ecosystem functions due to clearing. Less litter was produced at cleared than uncleared pastures, but nutrient release was faster at cleared compared to uncleared systems. The overall effect of clearing in terms of pasture and litter production, and major soil parameters were analysed using multivariate analyses. -- abstract

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, .Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
An Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) has been developed for rangeland condition assessment in arid northwestern Namibia. The usefulness of termites as bio-indlcators has been tested and reliable sampling protocol for termite diversity in an arid ervlronrnent has been developed. The study was conducted mainly at a high- and low-intensity site on each of three farms. Two of the farms were communally owned; the other was commercially owned. (Abbreviation abstract)
Andrew Chakane 2019

Afforestation and stand development can significantly affect soil respiration and net ecosystem productivity (NEP). I studied 1) the effects of afforestation on NEP by comparing cropland previously planted to barley (on a barley-barley-alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa rotation) and that converted to a hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides Populus petrowskyana var. Walker) plantation and 2) the NEP along a chronosequence of stands aged 5-, 8-, 14-, and 16-year old in 2009 in central Alberta, Canada. Soil respiration and NEP decreased in the first two to three years after afforestation, while both generally increased with stand development. The ecosys model was used to simulate carbon dynamics in the plantations over a 20-year rotation under contrasting soil conditions. Soil conditions of the 14-year-old plantation accumulated the greatest amount of ecosystem carbon over the whole rotation. The research indicated that plantations could be a net carbon source in the first few years after afforestation and then became a net carbon sink, helping to mitigate net CO2 emissions for the remainder of the rotation.
Soil Science

In the southern Great Plains, the encroachment of grassland ecosystems by mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), is widespread, and prescribed fire is commonly used in its control. Despite this, substantial quantitative information concerning their influences on the community composition, functional dynamics, and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage potential of grassland ecosystems is lacking. The objectives of this study were to: a) quantify the effects of seasonal prescribed fire treatments and mesquite encroachment on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and herbaceous community composition; b) characterize SOC pool sizes, turnover, and storage potential relative to vegetation type and fire treatment; c) evaluate the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities relative to vegetation type; and d) characterize the functional diversity of these same microbes using the GeoChip functional gene microarray. Repeated winter and summer fires led to increased ANPP rates (average, 434 and 313 g m-2 y-1, respectively), relative to unburned controls (average, 238 g m-2 y-1), altered herbaceous community composition, and increased the storage of resistant forms of SOC, but did not affect overall SOC storage. Herbaceous ANPP rates did not differ significantly as a result of mesquite encroachment, but herbaceous community composition and SOC storage did. Mesquite soils contained significantly more total, slow-turnover, and resistant forms of SOC than those that occurred beneath C3 or C4 grasses. Similarity among the soil bacterial and fungal communities associated with the major vegetation types in this system was low to moderate. Significant differences were detected among soil fungi, with the mesquite-associated fungi harboring significant differences in community structure relative to the fungal communities associated with each of the other vegetation types examined. Despite this result, few significant differences were detected with respect to the functional diversity of these communities, suggesting either a high degree of functional redundancy, or that the functional differences harbored by these communities are beyond the scope of the GeoChip. The results of this study demonstrate that both fire and mesquite encroachment have the potential to alter ecosystem components and processes significantly, providing new insight regarding the effects of these widespread land use and land cover changes on ecosystem structure and function.

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One-third of the North Island of New Zealand has been identified as requiring increased soil conservation if pastoral farming is to be sustainable. For over 50 years the planting of widely spaced poplar trees (Populus spp.) has been one of the main methods used to control soil erosion on hill pastures. Research has shown that these plantings have successfully decreased soil erosion but their impact on the productivity of pastoral farming has received little research attention. The research that has been undertaken has found poplars can suppress understorey pasture production by up to 40%, suggesting that farmers require more research information on the impact of planting conservation trees on the productivity of their farm if the use of conservation trees is to be more widely adopted on erosion prone land. The objective of this thesis was to provide comprehensive data on the relationship between the range of poplar densities used for soil conservation on the light and soil under poplars, and consequently the effect on understorey pastures. Three field sites on commercial sheep and beef hill farms, in regions with contrasting summer soil moisture availability, Manawatu (one site) and Central Hawke's Bay (two sites), were monitored for two years. Tree stocking rates ranged from 0 to 375 trees/ha. Measurements were based on units of four trees with most measurements either directly below the tree crowns or in the gaps between the trees, but more intensive transect measurements were also made. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the ratio of red to far red light (R:FR) were measured under the trees and in open pasture controls. Stand density indices used included all the commonly used measures of tree canopies, including digital photography, and stem diameter at breast height (DBH). PAR transmission was inversely related to all of the stand density indices with canopy closure based on digital photographs being the most robust of the indices used. PAR under the trees, relative to open pasture, was greater in the gaps than below tree crowns. Under a completely closed canopy, PAR transmission was reduced to 15-20% and 50-55% of the open pasture in summer and winter, respectively. The RFR under the trees, relative to open pasture, decreased markedly at high stand densities (allowing less than 40% PAR transmission) in summer, but was similar in winter. The change in PAR under the trees was shown to be a major factor limiting pasture growth, particularly directly below the tree crowns. For both summer and winter, canopy closure measured with a standard digital camera was strongly related to stand level PAR transmission (r2=0.88-0.97; P<0.0001) and was also a practical method of measuring canopy closure in the field. The soil measurements confirmed earlier research that soil pH increases under mature poplar trees. There was a 0.2 - 0.7 unit increase in soil pH in the upper 75 mm of soil over both contrasting regions. The soil fertility under the trees in terms of requirements for pasture growth was similar to that of the open pasture with calcium and potassium up to 2.2 and 9.0 quick test units higher in the soil under the trees than in the open pasture, respectively. The direct cause of the increased concentration of some cations under the trees was the annual tree leaf litter. Overall, the soil fertility under the trees had the potential to produce similar pasture production to that of the open pasture with the added advantage of less acid conditions. Averaged over all sites the respective annual net herbage accumulation (ANHA) under poplar canopy closures of 25, 50 and 75 % was estimated from the equations developed to be 77, 60 and 48% of the open pasture. The greatest decrease was directly below the tree crowns where at canopy closures greater than 20% the ANHA was a relatively constant 50% of open pasture. In the vertically projected gap between trees the ANHA decreased by 6.6% relative to open pasture for each 10% increase in canopy closure. At approximately 80% canopy closure there was no difference between the ANHA directly below the trees and in the gap. Pasture net herbage accumulation (NHA) under the trees relative to open pasture was at its lowest in summer and autumn (36% of open pasture under a closed canopy), and at its greatest in early spring before tree canopy leafed out (72% of open pasture under a closed canopy). The botanical composition and feed value of the pasture under the trees was broadly similar to that of the open pasture. The greatest impact of the poplars on the pasture was decreased NHA due to shading. The decrease in NHA directly below mature unpruned poplars is substantial and would decrease farm profitability if the poplar stand density were high over a large area of the farm. The use of poplars for soil conservation is essential but these results show the importance of managing trees through pruning and thinning so that canopy closure is minimised. ANHA under the trees can be maintained at 75% of the open pasture if canopy closure is prevented from exceeding 30-40%.

In the past, the indigenous knowledge of soils of small-scale farmers in South Africa has been largely ignored in scientific research. Hence the use of scientific approaches to land evaluation has often failed to improve land use in rural areas where understanding of the prescriptive scientific logic is lacking. Despite this, it is clear that local people and smallscale farmers have knowledge of their lands based on soil and land characteristics that remain largely unknown to the scientific community. It is therefore important for researchers to understand farmers’ knowledge of soil classification and management. To address this issue, a study was conducted in the uMbumbulu area of KwaZulu-Natal to investigate the use of indigenous knowledge as well as farmers’ perceptions and assessments of soil fertility. A preliminary questionnaire was designed to explore indigenous knowledge in a group interview that was conducted prior to the study. Another questionnaire was used to elicit indigenous knowledge from 59 randomly chosen homesteads representative of the population of Ezigeni and Ogagwini villages. Six homesteads were chosen for further detailed information on the cropping history, knowledge specific to the cultivated lands, detailed soil description and fertility. Soil samples were taken from these homesteads under different land uses (taro, fallow, veld and vegetable) at 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth for laboratory analysis. This was done to determine the effect of land use on soil physical and chemical properties and soil microbial activity. For scientific evaluation a general purpose free soil survey was conducted to produce land capability and suitability maps. Farmers identified ten soil types using soil morphological characteristics, mainly soil colour and texture. These soil properties were also used in the farmers’ land suitability assessment. In addition, slope position, natural vegetation and village location were used to indicate land suitability. The amount of topsoil was also used in land evaluation. However, slope position was considered the most important factor as it affects the pattern of soils and hence their suitability. Soils on the footslope were considered more suitable for crops than those found on the midslope and upslope. The yield difference observed between villages, which were higher in Ogagwini than Ezigeni, was also used as a criterion for evaluation. Farmers attributed these yield differences for various crops to the effect of soil type on productivity. In support, scientific evaluation found that Ezigeni village had a number of soils with a heavy textured, pedocutanic B horizon and hence a relatively shallow effective rooting depth. Moreover, the Ezigeni village land suitability was limited in places by poor drainage and stoniness. These limitations were rarely found for the Ogagwini village soils. Farmers had a total of six comprehensive and well defined soil fertility indicators, namely crop yield, crop appearance, natural vegetation, soil texture, soil colour and presence of mesofauna. Results showed that farmers’ fertility perceptions are more holistic than those of researchers. However, despite this, their assessment correlated with soil analysis. There was a close relationship between scientific and indigenous suitability evaluation for three commonly cultivated crops (taro, maize and dry beans). This was further substantiated by yield measurements which were significantly higher for Ogagwini as rated by both farmers and scientific evaluation as the more suitable. The significant agreements between the scientific and indigenous approaches imply that there are fundamental similarities between them. Recognizing this and subsequently integrating the two approaches will produce land use plans relevant and profitable for both small-scale farmers and scientists.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

This thesis aIms to produce a distinctive model for the sustainable horticultural development of Maori resources, primarily land. It is inclusive of tikanga Maori and indigenous production systems based on the unique body of knowledge aligned to Maori. The integration of this knowledge with western science is both argued and applied through the model itself. The hypothesis applied was that matauranga Maori relevant to horticulture and pedology can inform and add value to the future development of Maori land resources. The thesis is bui lt on a unique set of contributing knowledge bases aligned to soils and horticultural management supported by three case studies, identified through their common association i.e. whakapapa links. The format of the thesis intentionally follows science principles in structure and presentation and some assumptions are made regarding base knowledge surrounding Maori cultural factors and the science disciplines relative to soils and horticul ture. The indigenous element, including Maori knowledge, is incorporated into the model using a triadic kosmos/corpus/praxis approach. Where kosmos is applied as Te A o Miiori, corpus as miitauranga Miiori and praxis as tikanga Miiori, the relationship between each element is clear and the interpretation of the associated knowledge becomes more apparent and can be applied to cultural assessments of resources, i ncluding land. The crux of the cultural assessment model is the quality of information used to assess Maori resources, especially from the cultural perspective. The Maori cultural paradigm, traditional horticulture and pedology, and various decision systems are purposefully accessed to act as contributors to the assessment model and to highlight the diversity and quality of information land managers have at their disposal. The ability to apply a cultural layer drawn from a body of knowledge not previously included in decision models relative to land utility in New Zealand is the key point. of difference of the model. The model is discussed from the perspective of its beneficial role for future use by Maori and how it can be continuously refined to meet the needs of Maori land owners and thus contribute to the rangatiratanga of Maori.

The aim of this research is to assess various options for the management of topsoil stockpiles on disturbed lands and to evaluate the viability and germinability over time of the seedbanks in these stockpiles for use in rehabilitation. To predict their success, experimental trials were designed and conducted.

This research aims to develop the present knowledge of arid zone rehabilitation by scientifically testing topsoiling and seeding treatments on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, in a way that enables the widest application and comparison to other mining leases throughout the arid lands.

Trifolium repens, Lotus pedunculatus and Holcus lanatus were oversown on two recent soil slip surfaces at AgResearch’s Ballantrae pastoral hill‐country farm near Woodville. The two slip surfaces were located on (Manamahu steepland soil) sedimentary mudstone. One slip had a north aspect and the other had a south aspect. Both slips were located on a land class 6 with slope 28‐330. The pasture species were oversown during early spring and the percentage seedling emergence and early establishment from viable seeds oversown was analysed at early spring (Day 15), late spring (Day 45), early summer (Day 90), and late summer (Day 120). The slip surfaces showed micro‐climatic extremes in terms of both soil moisture and surface temperatures during the summer period. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in soil moisture between north and south facing slip surfaces. Higher soil moisture and lower soil mean temperature were recorded on the south aspect slip surface. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the three pasture species in terms of seedling emergence and early establishment. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were also found with aspect. The south aspect slip surface had a higher percentage of seedling emergence and earlier establishment for all the species. Interaction between species by aspect became significantly different (P < 0.05) at Day 90 and Day 120. The main effects of time and species were also significantly different (P < 0.05) illustrating seedling emergence and establishment as a race against time. Trifolium repens was a more successful pasture specie, than L. pedunculatus and H. lanatus due to its higher consistency on both north and south slip surfaces. Oversowing T. repens during early spring is a viable option for rehabilitation of recent soil slips in Manawatu.