Soil Science Commons^™

Toward Optimizing Fruit Production In Utah Soils: Apple Salt Tolerance Screening And Tart Cherry Fertility Management, Kaitlin Dabbs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Fruit production in Utah can be challenging due to local climate and soil conditions. Tart cherries and apples are major fruit crops in Utah, and improvements to these cropping systems would be beneficial for farmers and local consumers. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate desired improvements for these crops. The first study looked for salt tolerance in ten new apple rootstocks. Salty soils can be found throughout the state limiting the land suitable for apple production. When grown in salty soils apple trees often have reduced growth and production potential. A specialized drip irrigation system was constructed in a greenhouse …

The Soil Crisis In Modern Food Systems: Rethinking Agricultural Land Use, Antonia Moure Richard

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Feeding a larger world while preserving the resource that makes agriculture possible—soil—poses a governance problem. By 2050, food systems must support 9.8 billion people even as prevailing practices continue to degrade soils that are non-renewable on human timescales. Technological fixes (e.g., vertical farming, hydroponics) may complement production, but they cannot substitute for soil at scale. The question that follows is simple: are current uses of soil compatible with the future needs of food systems? This article argues that without a shift in governance, short-run productivity gains are achieved by drawing down the soil asset, thereby undermining long-run food security and …

Prediction Of The Supply Of Soil Nitrogen To Grass, D C. Whitehead

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Predictions of the supply of soil nitrogen (N) to grass over a growing season requires an assessment of nitrate N plus am­monium N (1) present in the soil at the beginning of the season and (2) likely to be released from the potentially mineralizable organic N during the season. Although a number of methods have been proposed for predicting soil N supply, and in particular the component arising from the potentially mineralizable N, many are too time consuming for routine use, and others have not been proven effective over a range of soils. However, in recent studies, the measurement of …

Sulfur For High Rainfall Pastures In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Sulfur deficiency can substantially reduce pasture yield on sandy soils, particularly in wet years where the sulfate form of sulfur leaches below the root zone of pasture plants, making it unavailable.

This information applies specifically to high rainfall pastures (over 600mm average annual rainfall) in the south-west of Western Australia.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends basing fertiliser decisions on good evidence (soil and tissue test results)

Depth And Soil Physical Context Govern Soil Organic Carbon, While Woody Cover Moderates Native Vegetation Relationships In California Rangelands, Dabid Zuniga Garcia

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is central to soil function and an important component of climate mitigation in rangeland ecosystems, but the controls on SOC across California’s working rangelands remain understudied. Using data from Point Blue Conservation Science’s Rangeland Monitoring Network, this study evaluated how soil properties, vegetation structure, and recent climate relate to SOC concentration at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–40 cm across 145 ranches spanning four California regions. Linear mixed-effects models showed that SOC was consistently higher in topsoil than subsoil and highest in coastal sites relative to interior valleys. Bulk density was the strongest negative predictor of …

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.

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 / …

Assessing Biochar And Industrial Hemp To Remediate Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil, Sophie W. Sward

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Environmental degradation is becoming increasingly prevalent as global industrialization runs rampant. Anthropogenic activity, such as mining, deposits inorganic pollutants into the environment, leading to potential soil and water contamination. Traditional, engineering-based remediation and containment procedures alter soil structure and aggregate stability and affect the biological function of the area impacted by mining activities. Phytoremediation is a more energy-efficient, and therefore cost-effective, method of environmental restoration. Phytoremediation, on its own, works in soils that are less contaminated so that the selected plant can actually grow. Soil amendments, such as biochar, can be added to improve remediation potential in more contaminated soils. …

Western Australian Soil Groups - A Diagnostic Key To Identify Soils In Western Australia (5th Edition), Paul Galloway, Dennis Van Gool, Angela Stuart-Street, Edward A. Griffin, Shahab Pathan, Noel R. Schoknecht

Resource management technical reports

The aim of the Western Australian soil groups (WA soil groups) is to classify soils of Western Australia into a limited set using criteria that are easy to recognise in the field. It is a general-purpose classification with a focus on agronomic and rangeland grazing potential. The WA soil groups are designed for WA needs. It complements the Australian Soil Classification (ASC) by grouping the continuum of soils into a limited set of soil types, which simplifies soil variability for generalists, allows soil surveyors to create standardised soil-type legends for mapping products and permits further analyses of spatial data for …

After-Effects Of Grass Seed Production On Subsequent Field Crops, Uwe Simon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage grasses grown for the production of seed are usually components of a crop rotation. The after-effects of 3 grass species compared with 4 crop species on the yields of 5 field crops in the first and second year after grass seed harvest were investigated. Significant differences between the grass species, and between grasses and other field crops on subsequent crops, and between the subsequent crops in their reactions to the preceding crops were obvious in both years after grass seed harvest, Annual and perennial ryegrass excited the most positive effects on subsequent crop yields. Corn and sugarbeets responded particularly …

Studies On Soil Biochemical Activities Of Sub-Coryphile Meadow In Qing-Tibet Plateau, Liu Shigui, Long Zhangfu, Zeng Ying, Wu Yong

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The micro-organism activities and enzymatic activities were studied in the soil of 3 degenerative grasslands (Kobresia pygmaea meadow, Festuca sinensis meadow and Dasiphora fruticosa shrub) near Ruoergai Grassland Station in Sichuan, China, Main results show that soil biochemical activities have been decreasing as the grassland degenerates, especially cellulose decomposition, nitrogen fixation, phenol decomposition, protease, cellulase and sucrase.

A Seasonal Decomposition Comparison Between Forest And Turf Habitats: Implications For Climate Change, Amanda Shirmer

DePaul Discoveries

Decomposition is an essential ecosystem service in which microorganisms breakdown organic matter. This process improves soil health and acts as a vital step in global carbon cycles. In this study, we examined decomposition rates and associated soil properties in turf and forest habitats across summer and fall seasons in order to determine how land management practices and climate change may be altering local decomposition regimes. Our study determined that there was a statistically significant difference between decomposition rates in turf and forest ecosystems (P=0.003) and a significant difference in decomposition rate across season (P

Grazing Impacts On The Production Stability Of Fescue Prairie, W D. Willms, J F. Dormaar, J R. King

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The fescue prairie in southwestern Alberta is highly productive but susceptible to grazing during the growing season. This study examined how production stability is affected by grazing impact. It was initiated in 1949 using four fixed stocking rates (1.2, 1.6, 2.4, 4.8 animal-unitmonths ha-1). Forage and livestock production were estimated over 4 or 15 years, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) for either primary or secondary production was constant over all rates except for the very heavily stocked paddock. Forage production, and therefore livestock production, in that paddock was dependent on precipitation during the growing season. Heavy grazing pressure resulted …

Compatibility Of Stylosanthes Hamata And Stylosanthes Capitata In Mixed Pastures In The Subhumid Zone Of Nigeria, G Tarawali, M Peters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The forage productivity of sole plots of Stylosanthes capitata and Stylosanthes hamata in comparison with various proportional mixtures of the two legumes and their effect on soil properties and subsequent maize yield were studied in subhumid Nigeria. Dry matter (DM) yields in the mixtures were higher than in the sole stands, with the mixtures of S. hamata and S. capitata reaching 11959 to 14822 kg/ha over a three year period. Total nitrogen and/or organic carbon concentrations in the soil following the three years of legume were higher in the mixtures than in the sole stands, and this resulted in higher …

Impacts Of Grazed Pastures On Soil Water And Nitrogen Status In Cropping Systems, J A. Baldlock, W D. Bellotti, A D. Moore, I Yunusa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In southern Australia pastures precede wheat in many rotations. In recent years the quality (legume content) of many pastures has declined and the value of pastures in rotation with cereals has been questioned. This research aims to develop a more complete understanding of the impact of pastures on crop production through greater knowledge of the below ground processes of soil water and soil inorganic nitrogen. In this study, the impacts of annual barley grass (Hordium leporinum) and barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) pastures on soil water and inorganic nitrogen status at the start of a subsequent wheat growing season were investigated …

Long Term Benefits Of Diversified Forage-Oriented Cropping Systems As Compared To Rotations Based Mainly On Cereals Or Maize, E Meister, V Mediavilla, P Weisskopf

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this study is to assess the long term effects of a forageoriented, versus a maize- and a cereal-oriented crop rotation on the yield potential and soil fertility, as well as the weed, disease and pest development. We report the results after four cropping cycles using silage maize (Zea mays L.) in 1994 and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 1995 as reference crops for all three rotations. Two years of a grass-clover mixture in a five-year rotation showed positive effects with respect to most soil and plant parameters.

Effects Of Different Phosphate Fertilizers On Pasture Nutrition And Soil Phosphorus In Canterbury, New Zealand, L M. Condron, K M. Goh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A field trial was conducted over 6 years to assess the relative performance of three phosphate (P) fertilisers of differing solubility (single superphosphate, ‘longlife’ superphosphate, ‘reactive’ phosphate rock) on a permanent pasture at Methven in Canterbury, New Zealand. Plant P uptake data showed that while the overall relative effectiveness of the fertilisers was closely related to their water-soluble P content (single superphosphate > ‘longlife’ superphosphate > ‘reactive’ phosphate rock), the agronomic efficiency of the sparingly soluble phosphate rock fertiliser improved markedly with time. Soil P analysis demonstrated that significant dissolution of phosphate rock had occurred in the soil, and the findings of …

Symbiotic Behaviour Of Alfalfa Varieties Grown In Different Soils, C Scotti, S Gnocchi, M Carelli, P Rotili

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Six alfalfa (Medicago sativa) varieties were grown in two contrasting soils to study their symbiotic ability as estimated by nodule biomass and dry matter yield in presence of the natural population of rhizobia of soil. Varieties can be discriminated on the basis of total (year) nodule biomass; their ranking for nodule biomass was consistent in the different soil types although soils significantly influenced nodulation and dry matter yield.

Relationship Of Soil To Native Pasture In A Flooding Pampa Area (Argentine), S P. Debelis, A A. Bozzo, A Bujan, M B. Barrios

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The influence of the topography in soils found in the area surrounding the Chascomús lagoon is examined. The study of the profiles within the representative transect in each microenvironment reveals changes related to its traits. Its relationship with the vegetation present in each toposequence position was observed. The worsening of the natural drainage conditions, are related to reduction of organic matter, increase in the values of pH and PSI, greater intensity of hydromorphic traces and appearance of groups of characteristic species.

Trace Element Contamination In Urban Soils: Testing And Management, Melissa Chilinski, Melanie Stock, Paul R. Grossl, Eli Oliver

All Current Publications

Trace elements, often referred to as heavy metals, naturally occur in the soil at low levels. Certain land use histories can elevate the concentrations of trace elements to levels that present health risks. Understanding which elements and soil test values may impact human or crop health is an important aspect of gardening and micro-farming, particularly in urban environments that are at increased risk of soil contamination. This fact sheet provides instructions on interpreting soil test results for trace elements through the Total Element Composition EPA 3050B Soil Test (#S19) at Utah State University Analytical Laboratory.

Effect Of Tannin In Animal Diet On Nitrification Rate Of Pasture Soil Under Dung Patches, J R. Crush

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The rate of formation of nitrate and ammonium in the soil under dung patches was compared for dung from animals fed either ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) or ryegrass/Lotus pedunculatus forage. Tannin derived from the Lotus did not inhibit ammonification in the soil under dung but nitrate formation was strongly inhibited. The results support the theory that polyphenolics may bind to nitrite in acid soils and cause immobilisation of mineral nitrogen. Apart from their effect of reducing the proportion of dietary nitrogen excreted in urine, tannins in animal diets may make a further contribution to …

A Comparison Of Production And Soils In Modified Mixed Prairie Community, S W. Porter, W D. Willms, J F. Dormaar, B H. Ellert, H H. Janzen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study examined the effects of reseeding a Stipa-Agropyron- Bouteloua community to monocultures of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Geartn.), Russian wild rye grass (Elymus junceus Fisch.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on above and below ground biomass and indicators of soil quality. Summer fallowed wheat produced 10817 kg ha-1 and 4090 kg ha-1 of above ground below ground biomass respectively whereas the native community produced 3191 kg ha-1 above ground and 13013 kg ha-1 of below ground biomass. However wheat, crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye grass generally showed a lower biological index, phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity.

Soil Nitrate Prediction Using Ftir-Atr, Vis-Nir, And Raman Spectroscopy, Sabiha Ferdous

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with Attenuated total reflectance (ATR), Visible-Near Infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIR), and Raman spectroscopy (RS) are non-destructive techniques for rapid determination of nitrogen compounds in soil. Leveraging FTIR-ATR and Vis-NIR spectra using partial least squares regression (PLSR) modeling, the study aims to predict soil nitrate content and explored the feasibility of Raman spectroscopy to detect nitrate (NO₃^-), nitrite (NO₂^-), and ammonium (NH₄⁺) in soil. Soil samples were collected from four different fields, dried, sieved (2mm), and then used for collecting spectra (FTIR-ATR and Vis-NIR). Laboratory analysis was …

Can You Have Your Cake And Eat It Too? Impact Of Grazing Cover Crops On Soil Properties, M. E. Drewnoski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Does grazing of cover crops negate the soil health benefits of cover crops (CC)? A review of the literature was conducted to understand the soil impacts of grazing CC compared to a non-grazed CC control. Grazing CC did increase soil compaction in 50% of cases, but this increase was below the threshold that would be expected to impact root growth in most cases. It does appear that grazing under wet soils or high stocking rates can compact soil. Grazing did not affect wet aggregate stability in 83% of the studies. Soil carbon concentration was unaffected in 70% of the studies …

The Influence Of High Density Grazing And Conventional, Rotational Grazing On Soil And Vegetation Parameters In The Semi-Arid And Mesic Grasslands Of South Africa, Jamie Paulse, C. Visser, P. J. Malan, G. N. Smit, F. H. De Witt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In South Africa, multi-camp rotational grazing using ‘conservative stocking rates’ have been the conventional approach to livestock grazing management systems. However, as of late, the high-desnity approach (used interchangeably – depending on the situation – with regenerative grazing, mob grazing, short duration, high pressure grazing, rapid rotation, time controlled, ultra-high density, holistic grazing and holistic resource management) has been adopted by numerous farmers. This approach is considered to be an adaptable one, incorporating the ‘herd effect’ concept, whereby large numbers of animals occupy an area for short periods of time, and allowed an extended rest period. It claims to improve …

Soil Biogeochemistry In Riparian And Restored Tidal Wetlands: Monitoring And Method Evaluation, Joseph Anthony Loffredo

Open Access Master's Theses

Although soils are essential for sustaining ecosystems, they are often overlooked in routine monitoring efforts during restoration projects. This thesis tries to address the interest in and challenges of measuring and monitoring soil biogeochemical properties and processes to evaluate restoration trajectories. In the first part of this thesis (Chapter 1), I monitored tidal marsh vegetation and soil biogeochemical responses to restoration by thin-layer placement (TLP) of dredged sediments in a greenhouse mesocosm study and a parallel field study at an active restoration site in southern RI. In the greenhouse, aboveground plant biomass in mesocosms treated with +5 cm and +10 …

Assessing And Understanding Soil Characteristics​, Amy Papineau

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Litter Addition On Amino Acid Content And Composition In Alpine Meadow Soil, Yanli L. Feng, X. Y. Li, W. Z. Zong, J. Wang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Litter plays an important role in plant-soil nutrient cycling. However, the response of soil amino acid pools to litter input is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of litter addition on the content and composition of soil amino acids in an alpine meadow soil. Soil was amended with litter of its dominant species, Kobresia graminifolia, and incubated for four weeks. Our results show that litter addition significantly increased the exchangeable amino acid content and protease activity in the soil. These results are crucial for understanding the amino acid cycling in soil.

Fire Effects On Soil Organic Matter In The Creek Fire, Gracie E. Doolin

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Wildfires have increased in frequency and severity over the past few decades due to the increased concertation of CO2 emissions from anthropogenic influence. Soil carbon (C) sequestration has been identified as a climate change mitigation strategy; however, the influx of large-scale wildfires has accelerated landscape processes such as erosion, reducing soil aggradation, and soil C and nitrogen (N) protection. This trend is highlighted by the Creek Fire that occurred in September 2020 and burned 379,895 acres in the Sierra National Forest. This research is designed to close the knowledge gap regarding the impact of burn severity on soil organic matter …

Spatial Distribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Dry Steppe (South-Eastern Siberia, Russia), K. B. Gongalsky

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Soil macroinvertebrates are important components of ecosystems. They play a key role in decomposition processes and turnover of the most of elements. Adequate estimation of abundance and biomass of these animals is fundamental for understanding their input in steppe ecosystems. Asian steppes of Russia are poorly studied. Therefore, baseline soil invertebrate composition, abundance and rules of distribution were estimated.