Forestry Commission Soil Classification?
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Cultivation of Soils for Forestry
Forestry Commission ARCHIVE Forestry Commission Bulletin 119 Cultivation of Soils for Forestry FORESTRY COMMISSION BULLETIN 119 Cultivation of Soils for Forestry D.B. Paterson and W. L. Mason Forest Research, Silviculture North Branch, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY Forestry Commission, Edinburgh © Crown copyright 1999 Applications for reproduction should he made to HMSO, The Copyright Unit St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ ISBN 0 85538 400 X Paterson, David B. and Mason, William L., 1999. Cultivation of Soils for Forestry. Bulletin 119. FDC 237:114:(410) KEYWORDS: Forestry, Cultivation, Soils Acknowledgements Special thanks are due to Chris Quine, Silviculturist at Northern Research Station, who made available his unpublished Cultivation Review and many background papers and references. We thank the project leaders, research foresters and workers, past and present in Silviculture (North), and the former Site Studies and Physiology Branches who initiated and managed the experiments reported here and gave permission for their results to be used. The statistical services of I.M.S. White are gratefully acknowledged. The reports of Technical Development Branch (formerly Work Study) on trials of cultivation machinery have been heavily used. Many authors outside the Forestry Commission have provided valuable information - with particular thanks to R. Schaible, M. Carey and E. Hendrick in Ireland and D.C. Malcolm of Edinburgh University. Numerous helpful comments have been made by Graham Pyatt, Richard Toleman, John Morgan, Duncan Ray, David Henderson- Howat and Brian Spencer. Karen Chambers edited and substantially improved the structure and presentation of an early draft. Finally, we are grateful to Madge Holmes for typing various drafts, Glenn Brearley for illustrations and John Parker for editorial and publishing services. -
(Hardpan) for Precision Agriculture on So
SITE - SPECIFIC CHARACTERIZATION, MODELING AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF SUB-SOIL COMPACTION (HARDPAN) FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE ON SOUTHEASTERN US SOILS by MEHARI ZEWDE TEKESTE (Under the Direction of Randy L. Raper and Ernest W. Tollner) ABSTRACT Natural and machinery traffic-induced subsoil compacted layers (soil hardpans) that are found in many southeastern US soils limit root growth with detrimental effects on crop productivity and the environment. Due to the spatial variability of hardpans, tillage management systems that use site-specific depth tillage applications may reduce fuel consumption compared to the conventional uniform depth tillage. The success of site-specific tillage or variable depth tillage depends on an accurate sensing of the hardpan layers, field positioning, and controlling the application of real-time or prescribed tillage. The over arching objective of the work was to understand and advance the art and science of soil compaction analysis and prediction with an eye towards compaction management in precision farming. The specific objectives were (1) To investigate the influences of soil parameters (soil moisture and bulk density), and the soil-cone frictional property on the interpretations of cone penetrometer data in predicting the magnitude and depth of hardpans, (2) To determine spatial variability for creating hardpan maps and (3) To investigate a passive acoustic based real-time soil compaction sensing method. The soil cone penetration problems were also modeled using finite element modeling to investigate the soil deformation patterns and evaluate the capability of the finite element method to predict the magnitude and depth of the hardpan. Laboratory experiments in a soil column study indicated that the soil cone penetration resistances were affected by soil moisture, bulk density and cone material type. -
HOW to IMPROVE SOIL DRAINAGE Charlotte Germane, Nevada County Master Gardener
GOT COMPACTION? HOW TO IMPROVE SOIL DRAINAGE Charlotte Germane, Nevada County Master Gardener From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2011 Do you suspect you might have a drainage problem in your garden? If your soil does not drain quickly enough, your plants will drown. Soils in the foothills Your soil drainage may not be as bad as you think it is. There’s so much talk in the foothills about clay soil that some gardeners assume they have poorly draining soil, and grumble about it, when they actually have pretty respectable loam. The USDA has mapped soil types and found that in the lower foothills the soil can be sandy loam over heavy sandy loam, or loam over clay loam. Above 2000 feet, it is typically loam over clay loam with cobblestones. An unusual feature of foothills soil is the serpentine outcropping. This combines poor drainage with toxic levels of magnesium. If you need to grow in a serpentine soil area, use raised beds. The serpentine soil under the beds will not provide adequate drainage. Another foothill soil issue that makes for poor drainage is “layered soil”. Soil naturally transitions from one kind to another, but layered soil means soil that changes abruptly, making it hard for water to move through easily. Layered soil occurs naturally (soil on top of rock or a clay pan) and can also be created by digging with rototillers and heavy equipment. Check for poor grading, over-irrigation, and thatched lawns Before you label your soil the culprit, walk your garden and evaluate the grading. It is possible that at the time of your home’s construction, or during a later landscaping project,the soil was graded so the water drained toward an area with no easy outlet. -
Agricultural Soil Compaction: Causes and Management
October 2010 Agdex 510-1 Agricultural Soil Compaction: Causes and Management oil compaction can be a serious and unnecessary soil aggregates, which has a negative affect on soil S form of soil degradation that can result in increased aggregate structure. soil erosion and decreased crop production. Soil compaction can have a number of negative effects on Compaction of soil is the compression of soil particles into soil quality and crop production including the following: a smaller volume, which reduces the size of pore space available for air and water. Most soils are composed of • causes soil pore spaces to become smaller about 50 per cent solids (sand, silt, clay and organic • reduces water infiltration rate into soil matter) and about 50 per cent pore spaces. • decreases the rate that water will penetrate into the soil root zone and subsoil • increases the potential for surface Compaction concerns water ponding, water runoff, surface soil waterlogging and soil erosion Soil compaction can impair water Soil compaction infiltration into soil, crop emergence, • reduces the ability of a soil to hold root penetration and crop nutrient and can be a serious water and air, which are necessary for water uptake, all of which result in form of soil plant root growth and function depressed crop yield. • reduces crop emergence as a result of soil crusting Human-induced compaction of degradation. • impedes root growth and limits the agricultural soil can be the result of using volume of soil explored by roots tillage equipment during soil cultivation or result from the heavy weight of field equipment. • limits soil exploration by roots and Compacted soils can also be the result of natural soil- decreases the ability of crops to take up nutrients and forming processes. -
Soils and Soil-Forming Material Technical Information Note 04 /2017 30Th November 2017
Soils and Soil-forming Material Technical Information Note 04 /2017 30th November 2017 Contents 1. Introduction to Soils ........................................................................................................................ 2 2. Components and Properties of Soil ................................................................................................ 7 3. Describing and Categorising soils .................................................................................................. 29 4. Policy, Regulation and Roles ......................................................................................................... 34 5. Soil Surveys, Handling and Management ..................................................................................... 40 6. Recommended Soil Specifications ................................................................................................ 42 7. References .................................................................................................................................... 52 “Upon this handful of soil our survival depends. Husband it and it will grow our food, our fuel, and our shelter and surround us with beauty. Abuse it and the soil will collapse and die, taking humanity with it.” From Vedas Sanskrit Scripture – circa 1500 BC The aim of this Technical Information Note is to assist Landscape Professionals (primarily landscape architects) when considering matters in relation to soils and soil-forming material. Soil is an essential requirement for providing -
Soils and Their Main Characteristics
Higher Geography Physical Environments Biosphere Soils Higher Geography course The 3 types of soil studied as part of the Higher Geography course are: • Brown Earths •Podzols •Gleys Characteristics of Brown Earths • Free draining • Brown/reddish brown • Deciduous woodland • Litter rich in nutrients • Intense biological activity e.g. earthworms • Mull humus Brown Earth Profile • Ah-topsoil dark coloured enriched with mull humus, variable depth • B - subsoil with distinctive brown/red brown colours • Lightening in colour as organic matter/iron content decreases with depth Brown Earth: Soil forming factors • Parent material • Variable soil texture •Climate • Relatively warm, dry • Vegetation/organisms • Broadleaf woodland, mull humus, indistinct horizons • Rapid decomposition • Often earthworms and other mixers • Topography • Generally low lying •Time • Since end of last ice age c10,000 years Organisms in Brown Earths False colour SEM of mixture of soil fungi and bacteria Help create a good and well aggregated, aerated and fertile crumb structured soil Thin section of soil showing enchytraeid faecal material Earthworm activity is important in soil mixing Uses of Brown Earths • Amongst the most fertile soils in Scotland • Used extensively for agriculture e.g. winter vegetables • Fertilisers required to maintain nutrient levels under agriculture • Occurring on gently undulating terrain - used extensively for settlement and industry • Sheltered sites suit growth of trees Test yourself: Brown Earths Write down 3 characteristics of a brown earth -
Sustainable Soil Management
Top of Form ATTRAv2 page skip navigation 500 500 500 500 500 0 Search Bottom of Form 800-346-9140 Home | Site Map | Who We Are | Contact (English) Us | Calendar | Español | Text Only 800-411-3222 (Español) Home > Master Publication List > Sustainable Soil Management What Is Sustainable Soil Management Sustainable Agriculture? The printable PDF version of the Horticultural By Preston Sullivan entire document is available at: Crops NCAT Agriculture Specialist http://attra.ncat.org/attra- © NCAT 2004 pub/PDF/soilmgmt.pdf Field Crops ATTRA Publication #IP027/133 31 pages — 1.5 mb Download Acrobat Reader Soils & Compost Water Management Pest Management Organic Farming Livestock Marketing, Business & Risk Abstract Soybeans no-till planted into Management wheat stubble. This publication covers basic soil Photo by: Preston Sullivan Farm Energy properties and management steps toward building and maintaining healthy soils. Part I deals with basic Education soil principles and provides an understanding of living soils and how they work. In this section you will find answers to why soil organisms Other Resources and organic matter are important. Part II covers management steps to build soil quality on your farm. The last section looks at farmers who Master have successfully built up their soil. The publication concludes with a Publication List large resource section of other available information. Table of Contents Top of Form Part I. Characteristics of Sustainable Soils o Introduction o The Living Soil: Texture and Structure o The Living Soil: The Importance of Soil Organisms 1011223551022 o Organic Matter, Humus, and the Soil Foodweb o Soil Tilth and Organic Matter oi o Tillage, Organic Matter, and Plant Productivity o Fertilizer Amendments and Biologically Active Soils Go o Conventional Fertilizers Enter your o Top$oil—Your Farm'$ Capital email above o Summary of Part I and click Go. -
Nitrate Distribution in a Deep, Alluvial Unsaturated Zone: Geologic Control Vs
Nitrate Distribution in a Deep, Alluvial Unsaturated Zone: Geologic Control vs. Fertilizer Management Thomas Harter*, Katrin Heeren, William R. Horwath Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources University of California Davis, CA 95616 * corresponding author ph/530-752-2709; [email protected]; http://groundwater.ucdavis.edu Introduction For decades, nitrate leaching from agricultural sources (among others) has been a concern to agronomists, soil scientists, and hydrologists. Federal legislation first recognized the potential impacts to water resources in the early 1970s, when the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and other water pollution related legislation was enacted. Since then, countless efforts have been mounted by both the scientific-technical community and the agricultural industry to better understand the role of agricultural practices in determining the fate of fertilizer and pesticides in watersheds (including groundwater) and to improve agricultural management accordingly. From a groundwater perspective, much of the scientific work relating to nitrate has focused on two areas: documenting the extent of groundwater nitrate contamination; and investigating the fate of nitrogen in the soil root zone (including the potential for groundwater leaching) as it relates to particular agricultural crops and management practices. Rarely, these two research areas are linked within a single study and if they are, groundwater levels are typically close to the soil surface (less than 10 feet). In California’s valleys and basins, particularly in Central and Southern California, groundwater levels are frequently much deeper than 20 feet. The unsaturated zone between the land surface and the water table may therefore be from 20 to over 100 feet thick. -
Seed and Soil Dynamics in Shrubland Ecosystems: Proceedings; 2002 August 12–16; Laramie, WY
United States Department of Agriculture Seed and Soil Dynamics in Forest Service Rocky Mountain Shrubland Ecosystems: Research Station Proceedings Proceedings RMRS-P-31 February 2004 Abstract Hild, Ann L.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Meyer, Susan E.; Booth, D. Terrance; McArthur, E. Durant, comps. 2004. Seed and soil dynamics in shrubland ecosystems: proceedings; 2002 August 12–16; Laramie, WY. Proc. RMRS-P-31. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 216 p. The 38 papers in this proceedings are divided into six sections; the first includes an overview paper and documentation of the first Shrub Research Consortium Distinguished Service Award. The next four sections cluster papers on restoration and revegetation, soil and microsite requirements, germination and establishment of desired species, and community ecology of shrubland systems. The final section contains descriptions of the field trips to the High Plains Grassland Research Station and to the Snowy Range and Medicine Bow Peak. The proceedings unites many papers on germination of native seed with vegetation ecology, soil physio- chemical properties, and soil biology to create a volume describing the interactions of seeds and soils in arid and semiarid shrubland ecosystems. Keywords: wildland shrubs, seed, soil, restoration, rehabilitation, seed bank, seed germination, biological soil crusts Acknowledgments The symposium, field trips, and subsequent publication of this volume were made possible through the hard work of many people. We wish to thank everyone who took a part in ensuring the success of the meetings, trade show, and paper submissions. We thank the University of Wyoming Office of Academic Affairs, the Graduate School, and its Dean, Dr. -
Modern Techniquesfor Mapping Soil Salinity and the Hard Pan Layer at the Agricultural and Research Station of KFU, Al Hassa, KSA
6th International Conference on Water Resources and Arid Environments (ICWRAE 6): 218-226 16-17 December, 2014, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Modern Techniquesfor Mapping Soil Salinity and the Hard Pan Layer at the Agricultural and Research Station of KFU, Al Hassa, KSA Ahmed El Mahmoudi, Adel A. Hussein and Yousf Al-Molhem Water Studies Center, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al Hofouf, 32982, KSA Abstract: The agricultural and research station of King Faisal University, KSA is a key field of scientific studies conducted by faculty members and graduatesof King Faisal University. The soil and water are of the most important factors that determine the success of agricultural activity in any location and based on their characteristics, the type of plants, as well as their productivity are determined. Soil salinity and existing of the hardpan layer are consider to be of dominant problems which affecting the agricultural activities in this agricultural research station. To contribute to these problems, electromagnetic induction and electrical resistivity tomography implemented in this study. EM38-MK2 conductivity meter,as a cheap, rapid and effectivefor mapping of soil salinity, used in vertical mode to measure the electrical conductivity (EC) at depths of 75 and 150 cm at about 700 sites along the study area. Moreover, about 157 soil samples using the hand auger collected at depth intervals of 10-20 cm and 30-40 cm for the same site. The electrical conductivity for the collected soil samples measured at the lab to correlate with the EM38-Mk2 data. In addition, 2-D electrical tomography using SuperSting R8/IP 8 channel multi-electrode resistivity and IP imaging system with 112 electrodes at 3 meter spacing implemented along selected profiles to map the hardpan layer. -
Review of the Evidence Base for the Status and Change of Soil Carbon Below 15 Cm from the Soil Surface in England and Wales
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Research project final report Project title Review of the evidence base for the status and change of soil carbon below 15 cm from the soil surface in England and Wales Sub-Project iii of Defra Project SP1106: Soil carbon: studies to explore greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation Defra project code SP1106 Contractor SKM Enviros Organisations Rothamsted Research / North Wyke Cranfield University British Geological Survey Report authors Andy Gregory ([email protected]), Andy Whitmore, Guy Kirk, Barry Rawlins, Karl Ritz, Phil Wallace. Project start date October 2010 Sub-project end date March 2011 Sub-project iii: Review of the evidence base for the status and change of soil carbon below 15 cm from the soil surface in England and Wales Executive summary The world‟s soils contain more carbon (C), predominantly in organic matter (OM), than the atmosphere and terrestrial plants combined. Our knowledge of soil C is largely restricted to the topsoil, but more than half of soil C is stored at depths lower than 15 cm in the subsoil. Subsoil C represents a little-understood component of the global C cycle, with potential implications with respect to predicted changes in climate; it is important that the level of understanding of subsoil C in England and Wales is clarified and that potential knowledge gaps are identified. The overall aim of this review was to evaluate the current status and dynamics of subsoil C in England and Wales by reviewing the best-available evidence and by sensible extrapolation. Further objectives sought to review the source and stability of subsoil C in general, to identify the key gaps in knowledge, and to seek evidence on how subsoil C may respond to imposed (soil management) or natural (climate change) changes in contributing factors in the future. -
Soil Variation
Soil Variation Have a look at some of the most common soils in Scotland’s crofting counties, as well as a couple that are only found in certain parts of the country, and how those soils are used and managed by crofters. Crofting areas in Scotland have cool and generally wet climates, which helps peat soils to develop. Ancient woodlands helped brown earth soil to form, leaching under wet and acid conditions allows podzols to form and although the woods are often gone now, the soil remains as podzols. When a soil becomes water saturated a gley soil can develop. In coastal areas crofts sometimes have soils which have developed on beach sand called Machair. The parent material influences the soil type and in a few areas the serpentinite rocks develop a rare soil called serpentine soil. 1 Peat Hi I’m Pete 2 Brown Earth Hi I’m Rusty Peat forms in very wet conditions where plant leaves, shoots As you might guess from their name brown earths are a deep and roots die and are very slowly decomposed over time. On rich brown colour, but more importantly tend to be much more average peat accumulates at about 1mm per year, is wet and fertile. They are more common on the east coast and in drier, very acid, so only those plants which are specially adapted to warmer environments. those conditions can grow. Brown earths form on rich parent material, which contains While it is not much use for farming, it is still sometimes a good balance of elements such as calcium and aluminium used as fuel (after it is dried out) and can be used to which produce pH neutral or alkaline soil.