DOCSLIB.ORG

Tillage Effects on Soil Erosion Potential and Soil Quality of a Former Conservation Reserve Program Site

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Tillage Effects on Soil Erosion Potential and Soil Quality of a Former Conservation Reserve Program Site View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UNL | Libraries University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications Biological Systems Engineering 5-1997 Tillage Effects on Soil Erosion Potential and Soil Quality of a Former Conservation Reserve Program Site John E. Gilley University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] J. W. Doran United States Department of Agriculture Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub Part of the Biological Engineering Commons Gilley, John E. and Doran, J. W., "Tillage Effects on Soil Erosion Potential and Soil Quality of a Former Conservation Reserve Program Site" (1997). Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications. 138. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/138 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Systems Engineering at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Gilley & Doran in Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 52 (1997) RES EAR C H Tillage effects on soil erosion advantages. Detailed information on the effects of grass sod on soil properties and potential and soil quality of a crop productivity at Big Spring, Texas was provided by Zobeck et a1. (1995). In the former Conservation Reserve southeastern United States, sod crops Progral11 site planted in sequence with row crops have been found to increase crop yields , pro­ vide more efficient use of water and fertil­ J.E. Gilley and J.W. Doran izer, and reduce runoff and erosion (Ben­ net et al. 1976; Carrel王eretal. 1977; Harper et al. 1980; Belesky et al. 1981; ABSTRACT: This stu吵 W出condu仰d to determine the φωoftillage on soiμrosion potential Wilkinson et al. 1987). No-till corn and soil qualiσcharacteristics ofa former Conservation Research Program (CRl引site. Following planted in sod produces excellent yields tillage， 加stu吵area in Northern Mississippi u刷 刷intained in a fallow condition for 仰le when nutrient and water requirements are months. Soilloss from simulated rainfall e仰的was mz仰nalon recen吵tilledplots and an ad­ met (Moody et al. 1963; Jones et al. joining, undisturbed CRP area. In contra.矶soil lossfrom 伽former CRP site which had been 1969; Carreker et al. 1973; Box et al. tilled nine months previously was similar to values obtained bφre the CRP program when the 1976,1980). area had been cropped for several years. Tillage and over-winter fallowing caused a degradation Corn yields are greatest the first year in soil quality resulting from the decomposition ofbiological nutrient reserves. The conservation after sod , and then decline with each suc­ and soil qua句ben侨ts derived 斤。m the CRP may rapidly decline once an area is tilled and ceeding year of corn production (Parks et 伽1 left fallow during 伽non仰'Ppedperio d. al. 1969; and Giddens et al. 1971). Elkins et al. (1979, 1983) concluded that accept­ able corn yields could be obtained while Thc CRPwas ini让itiaω叫la in the Great Plains has also resulted in sig­ maintaining a living grass mulch. Herbi­ ronmη1enta址II忖y fragile areas from 口ropc pro­ nificant increases in soil organic carbon cide application rates , vigor of the grass duction. Approximately 14.8 million (Gebhart et al. 1994). Because the CRP stand, and climatic factors all contribute hectares (仔3 6 . 5 million acres) of cropland was established to help stabilize highly to the success of intercropping manage­ were em口ro刀叶0 11忙ed in this progr阳amη1 (Taylor et a1. erodible soils, returning these areas to ment systems. 1994). To participate in the CR p, producers crop production could have detrimental A field recently plowed out of meadow were required to convert cropland to vegeta­ effects on long-term soil productivity is initially much less erodible than one tive cover for a 1a-year period. The princi­ (Young and Osborn 1990). As CRP lands which has been continuously tilled. The pal objectives of the CRP were to reduce become eligible for release, many land fine root network and improved soil erosion on highly erodible cropland, de­ managers who return their land to crop structure from meadows serve to maintain crease sedimentation, improve water quality, production will be concerned about high infiltration rates and protect the soil foster wildlife habitat , curb the production adopting procedures that will help to against erosive forces (Foster 1982). In of surplus commodities, and provide in­ maintain conservation benefits derived general, the erosion-reducing effectiveness come support for farmers (Young and Os­ during the CRP. of sod is directly proportional to vegeta­ born 1990). Management systems that include sod tive dry matter production (Wischmeier Soil structure has been found to im­ have many environmental and production and Smith 1978). The objective of this prove when continuously cultivated land is put into grass (Lindstrom et al. 1994). The perennial grass cover established Interpretive summary under the CRP at selected locations with- I E. Gilley is an agricultural engineer and I W Doran is a soilscientistwith USDA-ARS locatedat over-winter fallow condition for nine months. Soil loss from simulated rainfall events the Univers句ofNebraska, Lincol刀， ， 68583 . was minimal on 阳 This articleis a contributionfrom USDA-ARS tra时 in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Di­ vision, University ofNebraska , Lincol刀 ， and is published asJournal Series No. 11311 The authors wish to express their sincere appre­ 句 benefits derived from the CRP ciation to WS. Taylor乒r his cooperation and assis­ tal附in conducting 的zs stu 今 Key words: conselVation, erosion， 始 j. Soiland Water Cons. 52 β') 184-188 184 JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVA丁ION Gilley & Doran in Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 52 (1997) study was to measure the effects of tillage the CRP in the fall of 1988. Following six between the experimental treatments. on soil erosion potential and soil quality years in the CRp, one area on the study Tests were run at the 5% confidence level characteristics of a former CRP site in sight was disked on September 1 雪 ， 1994, (户= 0.05). Northern Mississippi. and an adjoining area was disked on June Soil quality characteristics. The basic Procedures 15, 1995. Each time the areas were disked indicators of soil quality as described by several times to simulate conditions need­ Doran and Parkin (1994) were used in Stu功， area. The study site was located ed in preparing CRP for crop production. 1995 to evaluate the three management approximately 6 km (4 miles) east of The area disked in 1994 was maintained treatments. Soil samples from the 0-30.5 Como, Mississippi. A Grenada (fine-silty, 仕ee of vegetation by application of herbi­ cm (0-12.0 in) soillayer were obtained for mixed, thermic Glossic Fragiudalf) silt cide and then disked again immediately soil characterization and laboratory assess­ loam soil with a sand, silt, and clay con­ before the rainfall simulation tests. Begin­ ments of soil quality by compositing 自ve tent of 9, 65 , and 26%, respectivel严was ning on June 16, 1995 , rainfall simulation randomly sampled 1.9 cm (0.75 in) diam­ located at the study site. The Grenada se­ tests were again performed at study loca­ eter cores for three replicate areas of each ries consists of moderately well drained tions, including an adjacent undisturbed experimental treatment. Soil sampling soils that have a fragipan. These soils CRP site which was designated as UN. sites which were replicated by upper, mid­ formed in loessal material on uplands and The experimental treatments on which dIe, and lower slope positions were imme­ terraces. simulation tests were conducted four days diately adjacent to or within (1995 tillage Annual precipitation at the study area and nine months following tillage were treatment only) the areas where rainfall averages 1450 mm (57.1 in). The fre­ designated as FD and NM, respecti飞r el y. simulations were conducted. Samples quency of a 64 mm (2.5 in) rainfall of Tilling a former CRP area and then were stored under ice in an insulated chest one-hour duration is once every 10 years keeping it free of vegetation for nine for transport to the laboratory for process­ (Hershfield, 196 1), while a 50 mm (2.0 months created a condition that was opti­ ing within 48 hours after collection. in) rainfall of one-hour duration occurs mum for soil erosion. After CRP con­ Moist soil samples were passed through a every 3 to 4 years. A 25 mm (1.0 in) rain­ tracts expire , many producers are expected 4.75 mm (0.187 in) sieve for analyses of fall of one-half hour duration has a one to till their land in the fall and then keep microbial biomass C and N by the chlo­ year recurrence interval. Mean annual it in a fallow condition until a crop is roform fumigation/incubation procedure temperature is 16°C (60°F) which ranges planted the following spring. The rainfall or for mineralizable N by the anaerobic from 1acC (49°F) in January to 33°C simulation tests conducted in 1988 were incubation method. Samples were passed (91°F) in July. The average frost-free performed on a site that had been main­ through a 2 mm (0.08 in) sieve for analy­ growing season is 205 days , extending tained in a bare , fallow condition. There­ sis of 2N KCL extractable mineral N from April to October. fore , similar site preparation procedures (NO.') and NH4), total C and N by dry Soil erosion potential. Prior to initial were used in 1995 in order to allow com­ combustion, Bray-l extractable P, and par­ evaluations, the area had been cropped for parisons in soilloss with the earlier tests. tide size analysis by the hydrometer several years.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR)
    The Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) FIELD MANUAL FOR DETECTING AND ASSESSING PROPERTIES AND LIMITATIONS OF SOILS FOR CROPPING AND GRAZING Lothar Mueller, Uwe Schindler, Axel Behrendt, Frank Eulenstein & Ralf Dannowski Leibniz-Zentrum fuer Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF), Muencheberg, Germany with contributions of Sandro L. Schlindwein, University of St. Catarina, Florianopolis, Brasil T. Graham Shepherd, Nutri-Link, Palmerston North, New Zealand Elena Smolentseva, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry (ISSA), Novosibirsk, Russia Jutta Rogasik, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Braunschweig, Germany 1 Draft, Nov. 2007 The Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) FIELD MANUAL FOR DETECTING AND ASSESSING PROPERTIES AND LIMITATIONS OF SOILS FOR CROPPING AND GRAZING Lothar Mueller, Uwe Schindler, Axel Behrendt, Frank Eulenstein & Ralf Dannowski Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e. V., Muencheberg, Germany with contributions of Sandro L. Schlindwein, University of St. Catarina, Florianopolis, Brasil T. Graham Shepherd, Nutri-Link, Palmerston North, New Zealand Elena Smolentseva, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry (ISSA), Novosibirsk, Russia Jutta Rogasik, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Braunschweig, Germany 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1. Objectives 4 2. Concept 5 3. Procedure and scoring tables 7 3.1. Field procedure 7 3.2. Scoring of basic indicators 10 3.2.0. What are basic indicators? 10 3.2.1. Soil substrate 12 3.2.2. Depth of A horizon or depth of humic soil 14 3.2.3. Topsoil structure 15 3.2.4. Subsoil compaction 17 3.2.5. Rooting depth and depth of biological activity 19 3.2.6.
    [Show full text]
  • Progressive and Regressive Soil Evolution Phases in the Anthropocene
    Progressive and regressive soil evolution phases in the Anthropocene Manon Bajard, Jérôme Poulenard, Pierre Sabatier, Anne-Lise Develle, Charline Giguet- Covex, Jeremy Jacob, Christian Crouzet, Fernand David, Cécile Pignol, Fabien Arnaud Highlights • Lake sediment archives are used to reconstruct past soil evolution. • Erosion is quantified and the sediment geochemistry is compared to current soils. • We observed phases of greater erosion rates than soil formation rates. • These negative soil balance phases are defined as regressive pedogenesis phases. • During the Middle Ages, the erosion of increasingly deep horizons rejuvenated pedogenesis. Abstract Soils have a substantial role in the environment because they provide several ecosystem services such as food supply or carbon storage. Agricultural practices can modify soil properties and soil evolution processes, hence threatening these services. These modifications are poorly studied, and the resilience/adaptation times of soils to disruptions are unknown. Here, we study the evolution of pedogenetic processes and soil evolution phases (progressive or regressive) in response to human-induced erosion from a 4000-year lake sediment sequence (Lake La Thuile, French Alps). Erosion in this small lake catchment in the montane area is quantified from the terrigenous sediments that were trapped in the lake and compared to the soil formation rate. To access this quantification, soil processes evolution are deciphered from soil and sediment geochemistry comparison. Over the last 4000 years, first impacts on soils are recorded at approximately 1600 yr cal. BP, with the erosion of surface horizons exceeding 10 t·km− 2·yr− 1. Increasingly deep horizons were eroded with erosion accentuation during the Higher Middle Ages (1400–850 yr cal.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Soil Quality Index (SQI) for Assessing Forest Soil Health
    Soil Vital Signs: A New Soil Quality Index (SQI) for Assessing Forest Soil Health Michael C. Amacher, Katherine P. O’Neill, and Charles H. Perry May 2007 United States Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Paper Department Research Station RMRS-RP-65WWW of Agriculture Amacher, Michael C.; O’Neil, Katherine P.; Perry, Charles H. 2007. Soil vital signs: A new Soil Quality Index (SQI) for assessing forest soil health. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-65WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 12 p. Abstract __________________________________________ The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program measures a number of chemical and physical properties of soils to address specific questions about forest soil quality or health. We developed a new index of forest soil health, the soil quality index (SQI), that integrates 19 measured physical and chemical properties of forest soils into a single number that serves as the soil’s “vital sign” of overall soil quality. Regional and soil depth differences in SQI values due to differences in soil properties were observed. The SQI is a new tool for establishing baselines and detecting forest health trends. Keywords: forest soil health, Forest Inventory and Analysis, soil indicator database, soil quality index The Authors Michael C. Amacher is a research soil scientist with the Forest and Woodland Program Area at the Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Logan, UT. He holds a B.S. and a M.S. in chemistry and a Ph.D. in soil chemistry, all from The Pennsylvania State University. He joined the Rocky Mountain Research Station in 1989.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustaining the Pedosphere: Establishing a Framework for Management, Utilzation and Restoration of Soils in Cultured Systems
    Sustaining the Pedosphere: Establishing A Framework for Management, Utilzation and Restoration of Soils in Cultured Systems Eugene F. Kelly Colorado State University Outline •Introduction - Its our Problems – Life in the Fastlane - Ecological Nexus of Food-Water-Energy - Defining the Pedosphere •Framework for Management, Utilization & Restoration - Pedology and Critical Zone Science - Pedology Research Establishing the Range & Variability in Soils - Models for assessing human dimensions in ecosystems •Studies of Regional Importance Systems Approach - System Models for Agricultural Research - Soil Water - The Master Variable - Water Quality, Soil Management and Conservation Strategies •Concluding Remarks and Questions Living in a Sustainable Age or Life in the Fast Lane What do we know ? • There are key drivers across the planet that are forcing us to think and live differently. • The drivers are influencing our supplies of food, energy and water. • Science has helped us identify these drivers and our challenge is to come up with solutions Change has been most rapid over the last 50 years ! • In last 50 years we doubled population • World economy saw 7x increase • Food consumption increased 3x • Water consumption increased 3x • Fuel utilization increased 4x • More change over this period then all human history combined – we are at the inflection point in human history. • Planetary scale resources going away What are the major changes that we might be able to adjust ? • Land Use Change - the world is smaller • Food footprint is larger (40% of land used for Agriculture) • Water Use – 70% for food • Running out of atmosphere – used as as disposal for fossil fuels and other contaminants The Perfect Storm Increased Demand 50% by 2030 Energy Climate Change Demand up Demand up 50% by 2030 30% by 2030 Food Water 2D View of Pedosphere Hierarchal scales involving soil solid-phase components that combine to form horizons, profiles, local and regional landscapes, and the global pedosphere.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Quality 1
    START FARMINGSOIL QUALITY 1 introduction to soils Soil Quality Culman Steve ealthy soils yield healthy crops, But what is healthy soil and how do we Healthy, high-quality soil has: Hachieve it? • Good soil tilth • Sufficient depth Soil health is the foundation of productive farming practices. Fertile soil provides essential nutrients to • Sufficient, but not excessive, nutrient supply plants. Important physical characteristics of soil-like • Small population of plant pathogens and insect structures and aggregation allow water and air to pests infiltrate, roots to explore, and biota to thrive. Diverse • Good soil drainage and active biological communities help soil resist • Large population of beneficial organisms physical degradation and cycle nutrients at rates to • Low weed pressure meet plant needs. Soil health and soil quality are terms • No chemicals or toxins that may harm the crop used interchangeably to describe soils that are not • Resilience to degradation and unfavorable only fertile but also possess adequate physical and conditions biological properties to “sustain productivity, maintain —from Soil Health Training Manual environmental quality and promote plant and animal health” (Doron 1994). According to the (USDA) Natural Resource Remember, soil fertility is only one component Conservation Service, “Soil quality is how well soil does of soil quality. Fertile soils are able to provide the what we want it to do.” In order to grow our crops, we nutrients required for plant growth. These are the want the soil to hold water and nutrients like a sponge chemical components of soil. Some plants need certain where they are readily available for plant roots to take nutrients in large amounts, like nitrogen, phosphorus, them up, suppress pests and weeds that may attack and potassium, which are called macronutrients.
    [Show full text]
  • Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card Guide to Accompany the Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card, EM 8711
    Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card Guide To accompany the Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card, EM 8711 EM 8710-E Reprinted February 2009 Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................................3 Suggested assessment calendar ........................................................................................................4 Soil-quality indicators 1. Does the soil have good structure and tilth? ..........................................................................5 2. Is the soil free of compacted layers? ......................................................................................7 3. Is the soil worked easily? .......................................................................................................9 4. Is the soil full of living organisms? ......................................................................................11 5. Are earthworms abundant in the soil? .................................................................................13 6. Is plant residue present and decomposing? ..........................................................................15 7. Do crops/weeds appear healthy and vigorous? ....................................................................17 8. Do plant roots grow well? ....................................................................................................19 9. Does water infiltrate quickly? ..............................................................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Organic Matter
    Soil organic matter (SOM) is the organic component of soil, consisting of three primary parts including small (fresh) plant residues and small living soil organisms, decomposing (active) organic matter, and stable organic matter (humus). Soil organic matter serves as a reservoir of nutrients for crops, provides soil aggregation, increases nutrient exchange, retains moisture, reduces compaction, reduces surface crusting, and increases water infiltration into soil. Components vary in proportion and have many intermediate stages (Figure 1). Plant residues on the soil surface such as leaves, manure, or crop residue are not considered SOM and are usually removed from soil samples by sieving through a 2 mm wire mesh before analysis. Soil organic matter content can be estimated in the field and tested in a lab to provide estimates for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur mineralized available for crop production and adjust fertilizer recommendations. Soil organic matter impacts the rate of surface applied herbicides along with soil pH necessary to effectively control weeds. Soil organic matter impacts the potential for herbicide carryover for future crops, and amount of lime necessary to raise pH. Figure 1. Major soil organic matter components (Source: The Soil Food Web, USDA-NRCS). Inherent Factors Affecting Soil Organic Matter Inherent factors affecting soil organic matter such warm and humid and slower in cool, dry climates. as climate and soil texture cannot be changed. Organic matter also decomposes faster when soil is Climatic conditions, such as rainfall, temperature, well aerated (higher oxygen levels) and much moisture, and soil aeration (oxygen levels) affect slower on saturated wet soils (refer to soil the rate of organic matter decomposition.
    [Show full text]
  • Scopes and Limits of Soil Evaluation in Urban Planning Procedures Markus TUSCH, Clemens GEITNER and Jörn DITTFURTH Mag
    reviewed paper A Thematic Soil Plan for the City of Munich – Scopes and Limits of Soil Evaluation in Urban Planning Procedures Markus TUSCH, Clemens GEITNER and Jörn DITTFURTH Mag. Markus Tusch, University of Innsbruck, Inst. of Geography, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, [email protected] 1 SOIL AS COMPONENT OF THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM Soil as the top layer of the earth’s crust, formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms performs a variety of ecological, social and economic functions vital for human life. Nevertheless the ecological value and significance of intact soils is often grossly underrated compared to the economic value of land. Especially in densely populated areas soils and their manifold functions are impaired and endangered by sealing, compaction, contamination or outright removal. In Germany the conservation of soil is therefore regulated by the German Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG 1998). However, until recently soil played but a minor role in urban planning procedures mainly due to a lack of interpreted, planning- oriented information concerning urban soils and their natural functions. Information about "soil" is usually limited to the economic value, i.e. real estate value or land price, to known or assumed contaminations, to the degree of surface sealing and to the mechanical and geohydrological suitability as building ground. Comparatively little is known about the potential of local soils to develop biotopes for animals and plants, about soil performances in carbon, nutrient and water cycles – e.g. the capacity to infiltrate rain water – or soils’ capacity to filter, buffer and transform potentially harmful substances.
    [Show full text]
  • Soils in Landscaped Public Areas - Wolfgang Burghardt
    AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES – Vol. II - Soils in Landscaped Public Areas - Wolfgang Burghardt SOILS IN LANDSCAPED PUBLIC AREAS Wolfgang Burghardt Institute of Ecology, University of Essen, Germany Keywords: soil, park, playground, burial ground, soil pollution, soil compaction, pollution, aeration Contents 1. Introduction 2. Parks 3. Playgrounds 4. Burial Grounds Glossary Bibliography Summary Demands of public use determine the quality of urban ground and soils. On the other hand city history, location and availability of the ground have greater influence on the use than do the soil characteristics. In addition the use of the ground and the urban environment can effect the soil in an extreme way. This mutual relationship is pronounced for soils of parks, cemeteries and playgrounds. To a minor extent, very old remnant areas survive in many cities. They can have well developed soil morphology, not touched by agriculture, of low maintenance input and are in many respects in a natural state, but which are under the impact of the environment of urban atmosphere. Often they are strongly acid and can be a source of groundwater pollution. Most areas are exposed to landscaping by tipping and excavation. The reasons for this are numerous. New substrates are the body of soil formation. These soils are young and not much developed or stratified into horizons. Accumulation of humus will be visible, indicating that the soils are already sinks for carbon dioxide. An adverse characteristic of soils tippedUNESCO in the last 30 to 40 years –is strong EOLSS compaction, which is not found to the same extent in rural areas. Compaction can be dominant.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Quality?Quality?
    SSoiloil QQualityuality BBetteretter LawnsLawns MadeMade EEasyasy GGotot SSoiloil QQuality?uality? Prior to land development and agricultural cultivation, the native ecosystem of tallgrass prairie built and maintained soils with high organic matter and porosity. The high organic matter and porosity gave the landscape the ability to absorb rain and not shed runoff. Hardy native plants and grasses had deep root systems, which created pore spaces that allowed rainfall to percolate into the soil profi le. Soils rich in organic matter support an entire ecosystem of microorganisms that contribute to soil health. Iowa soils have been signifi cantly altered by tillage for farming and grading practices associated with urban development. Years of tillage and soil erosion has caused the loss of more than half of Iowa’s topsoil. The organic matter content was reduced from a healthy, sponge-like 10% to less than 2%. Often remaining topsoil is completely removed during development for urban growth. Little to no organic matter remains and the graded soils are compacted. CCleanlean WWaterater IIss EEveryone’sveryone’s BBusinessusiness Compacted soils with no organic matter cause nearly all the water to runoff during rainfall. Stormwater runoff fl ows untreated to storm sewers, and washes associated pollutants directly into nearby streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Yards with poor soil quality contribute to water quality issues because of their inability to infi ltrate water or make it available for the turfgrass. Rainfall runs off the lawn instead of providing water for the grass. Any applications of pesticide and fertilizer may also travel in runoff to nearby water bodies, negatively impacting water quality in your neighborhood and beyond.
    [Show full text]
  • Sources and Impacts of Contaminants in Soils
    Cornell Waste Management Institute Department of Crop & Soil Sciences Rice Hall • Ithaca, NY 14853 by: http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu 607-255-1187 Hannah Shayler E-Mail: [email protected] Murray McBride Ellen Harrison Sources and Impacts of Contaminants in Soils Soils Overview This document provides background information Soils are formed by the decomposition of rock and about soil contaminants and their impacts on organic matter over many years. Soil properties vary human health and the environment. It is part of a from place to place with differences in bedrock compo- series of CWMI resources intended to help people sition, climate, and other factors. At times, the amounts who are interested in soil testing, interpreting test of some soil elements and other substances may exceed results, and best practices for healthy soils. levels recommended for the health of humans, animals, or plants. Certain chemical elements occur naturally in What Happens to Contaminants in Soils? soils as components of minerals, yet may be toxic at some concentrations. Other potentially harmful substances Once contaminants are in soils, where they go and may end up in soils through human activities. how quickly they travel depends on many factors. Some organic (carbon-based) contaminants can undergo In some regions of the United States, naturally oc- chemical changes or degrade into products that may curring concentrations of certain chemicals may be be more or less toxic than the original compound. Note higher than those in other areas. For example, typical that chemical elements (such as metals) cannot break levels of arsenic in the soils of some regions of New down, but their characteristics may change so that they York State can exceed recommended values.
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Soil Mapping and GIS-Based Land Evaluation for Rice Suitability in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
    Digital Soil Mapping and GIS-based Land Evaluation for Rice Suitability in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Boniface Hussein John Massawe, M.S. Graduate Program in Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2015 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Brian Slater, Advisor Dr. Warren Dick Dr. Laura Lindsey i Copyrighted by Boniface Hussein John Massawe 2015 ii Abstract A GIS-based multi-criteria land evaluation was performed in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania in order to avail decision makers and farmers with evidence based decision support tool for improved and sustainable rice production in this important region for agricultural investment. Five most important criteria for rice production in the area were identified through literature search and discussion with local agronomists and farmers. The identified criteria were 1) soil properties, 2) surface water resources, 3) accessibility, 4) distance to markets, and 5) topography. Spatial information for these criteria for the study area was generated. To generate spatial soil information, field survey and lab analysis was conducted using base map generated from a legacy soil map and 30 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM). OSACA, a k-means based clustering application was used to perform distance metric numerical classification of soil profiles. The profiles were classified into 13 clusters. The clusters were demonstrated to be different from each other through comparison of modeled continuous vertical variability of selected attributes of modal soil cluster centroids by using equal area spline functions. Two decision tree based algorithms, J48 and Random Forest (RF) were applied to construct models to spatially predict the soil clusters using environmental correlates derived from 30 m DEM, 5 m RapidEye satellite ii image and legacy soil map using the scorpan digital soil mapping framework.
    [Show full text]