Soil Science Commons^™

Thermoregulatory Behaviour And The Skin Temperature Of Grazing Cattle, M Sakurai, H Dohi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In order to clarify the thermoregulatory behaviour in hot and frosty environment, the skin temperature of the Japanese Black Cattle in the pasture was measured by a handy radiation thermometer. The regression equation of the temperature (X) and the skin temperature (Y) of grazing cattle was Y=0.814X+ 11.57 (regression coefficient; r=0.972), and that of the direct solar radiation (X) and the skin temperature (Y) was Y=18.05X+30.62 (r=0.824). When the skin temperature rose beyond about 40°C on sunny and hot days in summer, the cattle began to shelter in shade, where the skin temperature went down to about 35°C. When the …

Immune Response Of Grazing Cattle To Rumen Microflora, K Ogimoto, S Sato, T Inamoto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Changes in immune response to several rumen bacterial species were investigated in grazing cattle. The results revealed immune response variation in cattle from the first and second grazing seasons. Agglutination titers in sera to Streptococcus bovis and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens increased after 30 days of grazing. Those of S. bovis remained at a higt level until grazing was competed, while titers of B. fibrisolvens were maximum after 45 days and gradually decreased. Changes in agglutinating titers to both bacterial species varied greatly in cattle of the first grazing season. Titers of Ruminococcus albus were similar to the above two species, …

Vegetational Changes In The Sasa Nipponica Grassland Used By Winter Grazing For Successive Years, Y Ogawa, T Mitamura, K Okamoto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The influence of winter grazing by beef cattle on yearly yield and flora changes in Sasa (Sasa nipponica) grassland was examined from 1974 to 1982. This Sasa sward was established semi-naturally on cutover land following deciduous broadleaved forest at an altitude of 1,100 m on Mt. Asama in Japan. Sasa kept its foliage green and nutritive all year round, so that in this experimental grassland a large quantity of its foliage supplied sufficient nutrients for the maintenance of beef cows during winter grazing periods. Foliage weight was 2.6 tons DW/ha before winter grazing use and this value was maintained for …

Intensive Use Of Young Japanese Cedar Forest For Grazing, K Sugawara, T Isawa, M Goto, I Ito

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Experiments were conducted to investigate the intensive forest grazing in young Japanese cedar forest by introducing improved pasture species to forest floor. Study area (1-year old Japanese cedar forest) was divided into three treatment plots; unseeded and unfertilized ( unseeded plot), seeded with nitrogen (N)- phosphorus (P)-potassium (K) fertilizer ( seeded-NPK plot) and seeded with twice amount of fertilizer ( seeded-2NPK plot). Herbage production, grazing capacity, injury to the tree by grazing cattle and growth of the tree were compared among the treatments. The mean of annual fresh matter yield was 11.6 t/ha at unseeded plot, 12.7 t/ha at seeded-NPK …

Reforestation And Cattle Grazing In Southern United States, Henry A. Pearson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This research was undertaken to learn if cutover southern pine ranges can be sucessfully regenerated artificially with slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) while being grazed yearlong by beef cattle, Objectives were to determine the effects of various grazing intensities on the establishment and growth of slash pine and on herbage and cattle production, and the subsequent influence of pines on herbage and cattle production. Three range units comprising about 650 ha of cutover pine land were stocked to produce light, moderate, and heavy grazing intensities. Each year during a 4-year regeneration cycle, 17 percent of each range unit was …

Improvement Of Forest Grazing On Sado Island, H Hirota, T Suzuki

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The develpoment of forest grazing in Sada Island is briefly outlined and the cause of the abrupt decline of Zoysia dominant vegetation during the last few decades is discussed. Some experimental results to improve the herbage production for forest grazing on the island are described. For example the invading bush trees should be controlled by either felling them down or applying herbicides, followed by vegetative propagation of Zoysia species and fertilizer application. Gentle slopeland can be renovated by oversowing cool temperate grass species; 15 Kg Dactylis glomerata, 10 Kg Lolium perenne, 5 Kg Paa pratensis and 5 Kg …

Grazing As A Part Of Agroforestry, Harold F. Heady

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Multiple use of land by the small landholder for food crops, trees and animals, often called agroforestry, holds great promise for aiding people near poverty in developing countries, but new forages and techniques of management must be developed.

Forest Grazing In Taiwan, M D. Huang, K J. Chen, Y J. Wu, J C. Yang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Due to the shortage of man-power in rural regions, forest grazing was tested as an alternative to eliminate the noxious plants dispersed on the timber plantations in Taiwan. Tree growth was not affected, when Hereford heifers were introduced to 4-year-old Taiwania cryptomerioides plantations(at 1,600 m altitude). Although indigenous water buffaloes were less tolerant to heat than the European cattle( Hereford and Holstein), they were able to show moderate body weight gain in the tough forest environment. Partial blood profiles obtained from buffaloes and cattle gave the same conclusion.

Effects Of Spring Mangement On Herbage Mass And Sward Characteristics In Ryegrass White Clover Pasture, B M. Butler, A.C P. Chu, P.N P. Mathews, C J. Korte

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects of grazing intensity and frequency were investigated on a ryegrass/white clover pasture. Large differences in herbage mass between treatments arose mostly from ryegrass reproductive stubble during spring and mid-summer and from dead reproductive stubble during mid-summer and early autumn. Leafy, vegetative pastures were achieved during the reproductive growth period by maintaining a sward residual of less than 500 kg leaf DM/ha (sward height 9 cm) and a grazing interval of less than 14 days (pre-grazing height 20 cm). The evidence suggests that reducing the mass or size of individual reproductive tillers can be equally effective as that of …

Biotechnology In The Improvement Of Forage Crops, Indra K. Vasil

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Major advances in the cellular and molecular biology of plants recently have created new opportunities for the application of the many novel methods of biotechnology to the genetic modification and improvement of crop plants. The techniques of plant cell culture, particularly those allowing the regeneration of plants from single cells, play an important and integral role in the various strategies currently being pursued for plant improvement by unconventional means. In the past, initiation and maintenance of, as well as plant regeneration from, tissue cultures of species of the Gramineae (Poaceae) proved to be difficult. Nevertheless, cultures capable of plant regeneration …

Present State Of Grassland Production And Utilization And Future Perspectives For Grassland Farming In Humid Tropical Asia, I M. Nitis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage in humid tropical Asia consists of natural pasture, crop residues, shrub and tree leaves. Reserch has shown that the yield and quality of such forage can be increased and performance of the livestock utilizing such forage can be improved. Grassland farming contributes to the feed supply for livestock, to conservation, and is one component of an integration, which may increase economic returns and maintain the ecological balance of the region. Future research emphases on companion cropping, three strata forage, development of tidal flooding areas, agroforestry, carbon/nitrogen cyling, pasture persistency, seed production, post harvest, forage utilization and farming modelling are …

Grassland Resources And Future Development Of Grassland Farming In Temperate China, Zhu Tingcheng, Li Jiandong, Zu Yuangang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the first part of the paper the grassland resources in the semiarid area of China are descrived. Grasslands cover 2.86 million km2 of the total territory and 100 million livestock are being raised there. Steppes and meadows are classified into several types according to the ecological types of the dominant species and environments, etc. Area, geographical distribution, community structure, species composition, dynamics, nutritive value of herbages, primary production and utilization of each grassland type are outlined. In the second part, the necessity to promote grassland farming and the possibility of its development are discussed based upon the land, population, …

An Interdisciplinary Approach For Increasing Yield And Improving Quality Of Forages, J R. Wilson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The contribution of some basic plant disciplines, principally physiology and histology, to the improvement of pasture yield and quality is discussed. Studies of temperate pasture grasses have identified several sources of loss of potential yield and have provided selection criteria for increasing yield. Integration of this physiological research with studies of forage consumption on the same pastures is proving a valuable inter- disciplinary approach to defining management options for maximising pasture and/or animal productivity. In tropical grasses, research towards increasing total dry matter yield is perhaps unwarranted but there is need for more co-operative studies involving plant and animal scientists …

Contribution Of Grassland Science To The Development Of Forage Production And Future Perspectives For Grassland Farming In Japan, H Oizumi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The utilization of grassland in Japan dates to fairy old times, but its real improvement in terms of industry did not start until the termination of the World War II. As the climatic conditions in Japan differ very much from those of European coutries, the style of grassland farming in Japan is somewhat different from that of Europe. The improvement of grassland farming in Japan after the World War II was divided into four stages, according to the tendency of the number of cattle and the acreage of forage crops. The Japanese Society of Grassland Science was established in 1954. …

Prospects For Increasing Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation In Temperate Grasslands, P/ Roger Ball, J R. Crush

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The contribution of some basic plant disciplines, principally physiology and histology, to the improvement of pasture yield and quality is discussed. Studies of temperate pasture grasses have identified several sources of loss of potential yield and have provided selection criteria for increasing yield. Integration of this physiological research with studies of forage consumption on the same pastures is proving a valuable inter- disciplinary approach to defining management options for maximising pasture and/or animal productivity. In tropical grasses, research towards increasing total dry matter yield is perhaps unwarranted but there is need for more co-operative studies involving plant and animal scientists …

Turning Waste Into Fertilizer: Aloe Vera Leaf Shavings Improve Plant Growth And Support Soil Fertility In Organic Systems, Isaiah Edward Jaramillo, Carine Cocco, James Jihoon Kang, Chu-Lin Cheng, Engil Pereira

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The Aloe vera industry discards large amounts of outer leaf tissue (“shavings”), creating an opportunity to repurpose this byproduct as a sustainable fertilizer. This study evaluated whether aloe shavings can serve as a plant-based alternative to compost in organic Aloe vera production. A field trial in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas tested three treatments: aloe shavings (applied to supply 39 kg N ha−1), organic compost (39 kg N ha−1), and a non-fertilized control. Laboratory incubations further assessed nitrogen mineralization and microbial respiration. Aloe shavings significantly enhanced vegetative growth: leaf number increased from 5.7 to 12.3 leaves per plant …

Chemical Analyses Of Soil Samples, Johan Du Toit, Shantell Garrett

Browse all Datasets

Results of chemical analyses of soil collected in the foothills of the Henry Mountains, south-central Utah, in the fall of 2020.

Tillage Legacy, Grasses And Soil Texture Shape Soil Organic Carbon Recovery In Semi-Arid Woodland, Samantha Colunga, Alejandro Fierro-Cabo, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Engil Pereira

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Soil degradation from intensive tillage poses a critical barrier to carbon sequestration, particularly in semi-arid regions where low rainfall limits ecosystem recovery. As climate change expands arid zones globally, understanding the long-term potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) recovery in degraded lands becomes increasingly urgent. Here, we analyze reforested chronosequences (4–36 years post-abandonment) in formerly cultivated subtropical thornscrub woodlands to assess SOC dynamics across gradients of soil texture and degradation. We introduce a novel degradation index (DI), integrating SOC deficit and grass dominance, to evaluate how invasive grasses, commonly overlooked in restoration metrics, impede nitrogen (N2)-fixing tree establishment and, consequently, …

Correlation Of Radon Gas Concentrations And Associated Radiological Risks In Soil Using Ssntds With Gis And Spss At Najaf Governorate, Iraq, Rafal Mohamed Abdulsada, Lubna A. Alasadi

Al-Bahir

All human beings are affected by soil directly or indirectly. This study focuses on the effect of radon gas and related radiological risks using SSNTDs, specifically CR-39 detectors, in eighty secondary schools in Najaf and Kufa cities, Najaf Governorate, Iraq. As we recognize the importance of soil and its strong connection to humans, the study focused on areas where public and private schools were built, where students are present, and the potential for radiation risks to affect students' health. The results show that the average concentrations of C, C_Rn were 64.329±59.149 Bq / m³ and 3150.699±2897.036 Bq / …

Warming Induces Unexpectedly High Soil Respiration In A Wet Tropical Forest, Tana E. Wood, Colin Tucker, Aura M. Alonso-Rodríguez, M. Isabel Loza, Iana F. Grullón-Penkova, Molly A. Cavaleri, Christine S. O'Connell, Sasha C. Reed

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Tropical forests are a dominant regulator of the global carbon cycle, exchanging more carbon dioxide with the atmosphere than any other terrestrial biome. Climate models predict unprecedented climatic warming in tropical regions in the coming decades; however, in situ field warming studies are severely lacking in tropical forests. Here we present results from an in situ warming experiment in Puerto Rico, where soil respiration responses to ⁺4 ^oC warming were assessed half-hourly for a year. Soil respiration rates were 42-204% higher in warmed relative to ambient plots, representing some of the highest soil respiration rates reported for any …

Maize Yield Stability Under Organic And Conventional Farming Systems In Sub-Humid Agro-Ecozones Of Central Kenya, Milka Kiboi, David Bautze, Felix Matheri, Amritbir Riar, Andreas Fliessbach

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the main staple crop and is important to the food security and livelihoods of people globally. We evaluated the effects of organic and conventional farming systems on maize grain yield and temporal yield stability under different external input levels in a long-term experiment (2007–2022) at two sites in Kenya. We implemented four farming systems: organic high (Org-High), conventional high (Conv-High), organic low (Org-Low), and conventional low (Conv-Low) in a randomized complete block design. Growth indicators for maize, height, stem diameter, and grain yield were higher in high input systems, but grain yield stability was not. …

Effect Of Seasonal Variability In Methane Emissions And Iron Redox Chemistry At Terrestrial-Aquatic Interfaces, Hermes C. Ruiz

Master's Theses

Methane (CH₄) emissions at terrestrial–aquatic interfaces (TAIs) are significant contributors to the global carbon budget, yet the mechanisms driving methanogenesis remain poorly understood. Limited data exist on how seasonal variations and redox processes influence CH₄ fluxes in these dynamic ecosystems. This study addressed two questions: (1) How are CH₄ fluxes in riverine floodplains and adjacent hillslopes impacted by seasonal variations? (2) What roles do metal redox processes (e.g., iron (Fe)) play in regulating methanogenesis?

In-situ CH₄ flux and solid-phase Fe speciation were quantified in East River, CO, under flooded and drained conditions. Groundwater chemistry, gas flux, and soil physical properties …

New Precipitation Is Scarce In Deep Soils: Findings From 47 Forest Plots Spanning Switzerland, Emily I. Burt, Scott T. Allen, Sabine Braun, Simon Tresch, James W. Kirchner, Gregory R. Goldsmith

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

As precipitation infiltrates into soils, it can recharge them, displace previously stored waters, or bypass already-filled pores. Using 3,697 δ2H and δ18O measurements of water collected nearly monthly over >3 years in 47 forest plots across Switzerland, we present a systematic investigation of the controls on mobile soil water transport. We quantified the lags and damping of water as it percolates downward using young water fraction analysis (Fyw), and the fractions of soil water composed by precipitation that fell within the previous month (new water fractions, Fnew). The Fnew of water sampled in surface soils ranged …

Enhancing Sustainable Rice Production Through Organic Plus Fertilizer In Irrigated Paddy Fields, Oviyanti Mulyani, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Ania Citraresmini, Benny Joy, Anne Yuliana Husen

Jurnal Kultivasi

Sustainable rice farming is increasingly threatened by declining soil fertility, excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers, and environmental degradation from intensive agricultural practices. There is an urgent need for innovative organic fertilizer products that combine organic materials with macro and micronutrient enhancements to restore soil health effectively. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of organic plus fertilizer (OPF) as a sustainable soil amendment to improve soil nutrient status, increase paddy productivity, and enhance overall soil health. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments: one recommended OPF dose, six combinations of NPK (75 – 100%) …

Effect Of Eco-Enzyme Application On Soil Nutrient And Plant Productivity Of Green Mustard-Peanut In Inceptisol, Idris Abd Rachman, Buhari Umasugi, Krishna Aji, Nurul Fahira A Hakim, Adnan Sofyan, Asrul Dedy Ali Hasan

Jurnal Kultivasi

Appropriate land management has a long-term impact on soil performance and is believed to improve soil fertility. This study investigated the effect of eco-enzymes on soil nutrients and plant productivity of green mustard-peanut in inceptisol. The research was conducted from February to April 2025. The experiment used a randomized block design (RBD) consisting of 5 treatments and replicated 3 times, so that there were 15 units, including N0 = without Eco-enzyme, N1 = Eco-enzyme 2cc/L. N2= Eco-enzyme 4cc/L, N3= Eco-enzyme 6cc/L, and N4= Eco-enzyme 8cc/L. The commodities used were green mustard (Brassica juncea L) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea Linn). Soil …

Growth And Yield Of Curly Red Chili (Capsicum Annum L.) In Response To Mulching And Chicken Manure Application In The Erosion-Prone Area Of Loto, Ternate Island, Tri Mulya Hartati, Lily Ishak, Krishna Aji, Chumidach Roini

Jurnal Kultivasi

Information on soil resources in volcanic landscapes presents a high potential for agricultural land development, but its development is always faced with the potential for continuous land degradation. This study aims to reduce the rate of land degradation through the application of vegetative conservation in erosion-prone Loto agrotourism area, Ternate Island. The research location is focused on erosion-prone areas. The research consisted of a soil resource inventory and a vegetative conservation application. The vegetative conservation application method used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) pattern, composed of 2 factors. The first factor is mulching, namely: no mulching (M0) and mulching (M1), …

Post-Drought Growth Recovery Of Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Under Different Techniques And Doses Of Biofertilizer Applications, Nabila Ragil Wiharti, Intan Ratna Dewi Anjarsari, Yudithia Maxiselly

Jurnal Kultivasi

Drought stress is a major limiting factor affecting the growth, yield, and quality of tea (Camellia sinensis). The present study aimed to analyze the success of post-drought growth recovery of tea in response to different techniques and doses of biofertilizer applications. Field experiments were conducted from January to August 2024 in the experimental garden of the Research Institute for Tea and Cinchona, Gambung Blok A8, Bandung. This work was arranged in a split-plot design, consisting of a main plot with two biofertilizer application techniques (foliar feeding and soil drenching) and subplots with four levels of biofertilizer dosage (control (B1), 15 …

Soil Ethics In Practice: Harvesting Conservation Choices Among Puerto Rican Coffee Farmers, Patricia Marie Cordero-Irizarry

Theses and Dissertations

Coffee farming in Puerto Rico has declined over recent decades, partly due to deteriorating soil quality. However, the decision-making process behind farmers’ adoption of soil conservation practices remains unclear, particularly the overlooked role of soil ethics, which emphasizes the moral principles guiding human relationships with the soil. This mixed-methods study examined coffee farmers’ adoption of soil conservation practices by integrating the Values-Beliefs-Norms (VBN) theory and a newly developed Soil Ethics Survey (SES) instrument for the quantitative component, while using Decision-Making Theory and Social Cognitive Theory to qualitatively explore how farmers’ experiences and reflections shape their soil ethics. Quantitative findings revealed …

Farm Management Practice For The Prevention Of Soil Erosion In The Carnarvon Horticultural Area, Kehinde O. Erinle

Horticulture research reports

The Carnarvon horticultural area has suffered considerable erosion damage following flooding of the Gascoyne River.

The purpose of this report is to describe the factors that contribute to soil erosion in the Carnarvon horticultural area (Section 1), provide guidelines for good soil management (Sections 2) and provide floodway hazard classes and associated soil management recommendations (Section 3).

This report:

• Provides detailed information on soil management for intensive irrigated cropping.
• Details cropping alternatives to better manage the soil erosion risk.
• Identifies appropriate plants for soil stabilisation in a range of situations.
• Promotes the concept of property management plans.
• Takes account of …

Soil Carbon Storage And Its Relation To Abiotic And Biotic Factors In The Boise Foothills, Richie William Holder

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial soil sequesters a significant amount of carbon (C), and changes to this pool can impact atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate change. Thus, it is crucial to understand the drivers of the size of this pool. Changes in plant community composition in semi-arid ecosystems can impact soil C storage. However, little is known about the impact of plant functional type on the quantity and distribution of soil C on a landscape scale relevant to ecosystem management. I conducted a study in the City of Boise’s Open Space Reserves located north of Boise, Idaho to evaluate how plant functional type affects …