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Visible and near infrared spectroscopy (vis-NIRS) is an established method for estimating the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nitrogen (N). Recent studies have suggested that it may also be useful for estimating enzyme activities, however this potential has not been explored in detail. Objectives were to determine estimation accuracies of vis-NIRS for general soil properties (SOC, N,...
Growth limitation induced by Al toxicity is believed to commonly occur in tropical forests, although a direct proof is frequently lacking. To test for the general assumption of Al toxicity, Al, Ca, and Mg concentrations in precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, organic layer leachate, mineral soil solutions, stream water, and the leaves of 17 native tree species were analyzed. We calculated Al fluxes...
The interaction between biochar and soil changes nitrogen (N) dynamics in different ecosystems. Although multiple studies have reported influences of biochar on soil inorganic N (SIN) including ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3−-N), the influences reported are contradictory. We undertook a meta-analysis to investigate how biochar properties and the interaction among biochar, soil and fertilisation...
Deadwood is a key factor in forest ecosystems, yet how it influences forest soil properties is uncertain. We hypothesized that changes in soil properties induced by deadwood mainly depend on the amount of released phenolic matter. Consequently we expected softwood- and hardwood-related deadwood effects on soil to be explained by unequal enrichment of phenolic substances. We measured differences in...
Grain size distribution (GSD) is fundamental for soils and usually described by a set of graphic parameters (e.g., median size, kurtosis, skewness, uniform and curvature coefficient). Some probability distributions (e.g., lognormal and Weibull distribution) are used for special cases, but no general expression is available. In this paper we propose a general distribution form of P(D)=CD−μexp(−D/Dc...
Soil organic matter (SOM) for topsoil is one of most important indicators to support the success of mine ecological reclamation. SOM varies along the artificial mine landscape characterized by different bench-slopes of dump. Reflectance using field spectroscopy can provide useful information on the assessment of punctual soil variation, and has the advantages of speed and efficiency. The aims of this...
Predicting soil properties through visible and near-infrared (Vis–NIR) spectroscopy by a limited number of calibration samples can reduce the cost and time for physic-chemical analyses. This study was aimed to assess the influence of calibration set size on the prediction of total carbon (TC) in the soil by Vis–NIR spectroscopy. In a forested area of 33ha in southern Italy (Calabria), 216 soil samples...
The organic fraction of soils is critically important to soil health and optimal ecosystem functioning. Traditional analysis of soil organic horizons (O horizons) has been dependent upon laboratory-based instrumentation. Simultaneously, the use of proximal sensors such as portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry along with visible near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR DRS)...
Spatial variation in water flow and solute transport are important considerations when assessing field-scale remediation options, and for managing water and chemicals during agricultural production. Here, we evaluated the relationship between laboratory-measured solute transport variables pore-water velocity (v), dispersivity (λ), and retardation coefficient (R) and land use, soil type, and other...
Wetting patterns produced by water repellent soils are able to preferentially channel moisture deep into the soil profile, minimising storage in surface layers where it is most susceptible to evaporative loss. Although this effect has been repeatedly described in the literature, the significance of such effects under field conditions remains unclear. In order to quantify the impact of water repellency,...
The teaching-research-industry-learning (TRIL) nexus has been used to develop a framework for the learning and teaching of soil science applicable to a range of recipients, particularly campus-based students and practicing farm advisors. To develop such a framework, a starting point was to establish a core body of knowledge (CBoK) for soil science that would meet industry needs, in this case the grains...
Ecosystem services provided by tropical peat swamp forests, such as carbon (C) storage and water regulation, are under threat due to encroachment and replacement of these natural forests by drainage-based agriculture, commonly oil palm plantation. This study aims to quantify how the chemical and physical properties of peat change during land conversion to oil palm. This will be addressed by comparing...
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of liming and Phragmites australis growth for the management of metal-polluted wetland soils under fluctuating water table levels. Soil columns (20cm in diameter and 60cm high) were constructed with two soil types (pH~6.4 and pH~3.1) and four treatments were assayed: with/without liming and with/without vegetation. The pH, Eh, EC, WSOC and soluble metals...
Tillage influences first soil structure and then soil organisms such as earthworms, which are highly involved in the creation of soil macroporosity. This study assessed the temporal dynamics of earthworm-related macroporosity in two ploughed and one unploughed cropping systems. Three sampling dates were chosen: one month before ploughing, and one and five months after the event. Earthworm communities,...
Soil sensing using infrared spectroscopy has been proposed as an alternative to conventional soil analysis to detect soil contamination. This study evaluated the use of field portable and laboratory benchtop infrared spectrometers in both the near infrared (NIR) and mid infrared (MIR) region for rapid, non-destructive assessment of petroleum contaminated soils. A laboratory study of soils spiked with...
Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) represent a potential means to sustainably intensify agriculture. Developing ICLS that concurrently achieve production and environmental goals is contingent upon efficiently managing plant nutrients in time and space. In this study, we sought to quantify residue management and field-zone effects on soil NO3-N, available P, and soil pH over a 12year period for...
Biochar can remediate degraded soils and maintain or improve soil health, but specific and predictable effects on soil properties and crop productivity are unknown because of complex interactions associated with climate patterns, inherent soil characteristics, site-specific crop and soil management practices, and the source, production characteristics, and amount of biochar applied. This multi-location...
Pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) has long been used as a soil amendment to improve soil physicochemical properties. However, few studies simultaneously investigated both intensities and frequencies of PyOM addition on soil chemical properties of soil base cations, soil pH buffering capacity (pHBC), and plant available micronutrients. In the main food production area of lower Liaohe River Plain in Northeast...
The properties of and processes in calcareous soils are important in the context of dryland soil management and moderation of atmospheric CO2 by carbonate weathering. This study was conducted to determine the major and trace elemental composition in soils of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and their geochemical features. Soil samples were taken from seven pedons, five of them from forest soils and two...
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