Long-term effect of continuous wheat on soil organic matter

Continuous wheat in semiarid regions: Long-term effects on stock and quality of soil organic carbon

Continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping in semiarid regions results in variable dry matter production. As a consequence, the balance of soil organic carbon (SOC) may vary over time. The aim of this research was to assess the dynamics and long-term changes of physically and chemically extracted SOC fractions. Soil samples (0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm depths) from continuous wheat, with (f) and without (nf) fertilizer (N+P) under conventional- (CT, for 25 y) and no-tillage (NT, for 6 y) were taken during the experiment. Mineral-associated (MOC, 0-0.053 mm), fine particulate (POC_f, 0.053-0.100 mm) and coarse particulate (POC_c, 0.1-2.0 mm) SOC and humic substances were obtained. SOC variability was depending on water availability during fallow periods (SOC decomposition) or crop cycles (dry matter production). The mean wheat yields were 1.33 (nf) and 2.09 (f) Mg grain ha^-1, with an estimated carbon input of 1.64 (nf) and 2.20 (f) Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. Losses from the initial level were higher in labile fractions, POC_c (-75%) and POC_f (-53%), than in MOC (-15%). Humic acids present slight differences in their structure and quantity as a result of long-term cropping. Conversion from CT to NT resulted in contrasting results. For an equivalent soil mass, fertilizer application increased SOC by 4.31 Mg ha^-1 (under CT) and 7.29 Mg ha^-1 (under NT). The SOC turned out to be higher under NT with fertilizer use and lower without application. No-tillage does not increase SOC content by itself; it must be combined with other agricultural practices, such as fertilization and/or crop rotation.

Keywords: Fertilization, Tillage system, Physical organic carbon fractions, Humic substances

Galantini Juan A., Matias E. Duval, Julio O. Iglesias and Hugo Kruger. 2014. Continuous wheat in semiarid regions: Long-term effects on stock and quality of soil organic carbon. Soil Science 179: 284-292.
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Soil porosity under crop-grazing systems

Soil pore distribution as affected by cattle trampling under no-till and reduced-till systems

Soil pore size affects soil air and water dynamics, and thus influence crop productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of reduced-tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT) systems on soil pore distribution under animal grazing. The soil was sampled at 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and 15-20 cm depths before and after animal grazing. 

Doctoral Thesis JUAN MANUEL MARTÍNEZ

March 16, 2015-03-20

Doctoral Thesis  JUAN MANUEL MARTÍNEZ

Department of Agronomy, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

Director Dr. Juan Galantini

Comisión Investigaciones Científicas (CIC), CERZOS (UNS CONICET)

NITROGEN USE AND BALANCE IN WHEAT SYSTEMS AL SO BONAERENSE: SOIL DYNAMIC AND CROP NUTRITION

Optimizing nitrogen fertilization in regions with low and variable rainfall is difficult, because it demand to know the nitrogen (N) dynamics in the soil-plant system under no-tillage (SD). Therefore, the general hypothesis was: the N use efficiency (EUN) varies with water availability and efficiency of fertilization can be improved by knowing N supply of labile organic fractions. The overall aim was to evaluate the EUN in different soil and climatic conditions and estimate the amount and origin of N from the decomposition of soil organic matter. From 2004 to 2012, 18 trials were conducted combining fertilization rates and timing in several fields. Also, during 2010 and 2011 the apparent N mineralization was evaluated in 78 agricultural fields, with more than 10 years under SD with the aim of finding soil mineralization and crop indicators. The importance of the more carbon and N labile fractions on potentially N mineralization, determined in long-term incubations was proved. Carbon of fine particulate fraction (COPf) might be a better index N mineralization than the total particulate organic carbon (COPt). Anaerobic N (Nan) was the most related index to N mineralization; however, the use of rapid indexes with soil parameters improved the prediction of apparent N mineralization. Only higher yields were detected by N at tillering -in semiarid environment- where rainfall year exceeded the historical average. In subhumid environment was not found differential effect with N applied at vegetative stages. The clorophyll meter was a promising indicator of N uptake, however, would not be an accurate tool for predicting the N grain. Furthermore, was found that Spad readings with available N improved the prediction of EUN and physiological efficiency. The SD improved all N organic fractions. Although Nan was not associated with the N uptake at harvest, showed differences between tillage systems, being indicator of potential fertility, not necessarily associated with performance.

Doctoral Thesis MATIAS EZEQUIEL DUVAL

March 16, 2015-03-20

Doctoral Thesis MATIAS EZEQUIEL DUVAL

Department of Agronomy, Univeridad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

Director Dr. Juan Galantini

Comisión Investigaciones Científicas (CIC), CERZOS (UNS CONICET)

CONTENT, QUALITY AND DYNAMIC OF SOIL ORGANIC FRACTIONS AS INDICATORS OF SOIL QUALITY UNDER NO-TILLAGE SYSTEMS

The intensification of agriculture, with a gradual degradation of Argentina’s soil, has increased erosion processes and loss of fertility. The aim of this dissertation was to analyze different soil parameters, either alone or combined, to serve as sensitive indicators in the assessment of different management practices on sites with different climate and soil conditions. The study sites are located in Bengolea and Monte Buey (Córdoba), Pergamino (Buenos Aires) and Viale (Entre Rios). Good agricultural practices, Poor agricultural practices and natural environment (reference) at each site were evaluated. During the period from September 2009 to September 2012 soil sampling was performed in the months of February and September, in which it was determined: total organic carbon (COT), total nitrogen, pH and available phosphorous. A series of physical and chemical methods of fractionation to obtain organic fractions with different characteristics and cycling time was applied. Also a number of physical properties related to the size and distribution of pores, water availability and their relationship to soil management practices were analyzed. COT levels in AN decreased from the East (28 g kg^-1 in Viale) to West (14 g kg^-1 in Bengolea) following the rainfall and texture gradient of sites. Relationships between different labile organic fractions with COT in AN showed differences among sites, reflecting different dynamics according to the characteristics of the environment in different localities. COT levels in 0-20 cm depths of agricultural soils were 6-42% lower than AN where soybean frequency was one of the main factors causing these declines. In general, the labile organic fractions showed differential sensitivity. Those with higher lability (COP_g and CHs) showed differences related to land use, while intermediate lability (COP_f and CHt) were useful to highlight the changes due to agricultural practices. Between agricultural managements, both cropping intensity and crop type in the rotation changed the content and distribution of COT and its fractions. The sensitivity to temporal variations and management was higher in the labile organic fractions that in the COT. In turn, the magnitude of variability was different between fractions, where temporal fluctuations increased in the following order COM < COT < COP_f ≤ CHt < CHs ≤ COP_g. The combination of information from different soil attributes through indices such as COT/clay, stratification index and C pool index allowed a better differentiate the effect of use and management. The physical properties were degraded by agricultural managements with higher values of bulk density, influenced by texture, lower macroporosity and air capacity, without finding a physical indicator to different agricultural practices on all sites.