Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Soils".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 27753

Special Issue Editors

Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, University Palermo, Viale Sci, I-90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: soil fertility; indicators of soil quality; soil carbon dynamics; soil microorganisms; greenhouse gas emissions from soil and wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: conservation agriculture; N use efficiency; N2 fixation; AM symbiosis; crop productivity; cereals; pulses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: soil organic matter transformations and litter quality; soil microbial biomass and activity; bioindicators of soil quality and health; soil enzyme activities; soil-plant interactions; rhizosphere

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil quality has been defined as the capacity of a soil to sustain biological productivity, maintain or enhance environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health. Besides to an inherent component, which is quite static since it is based upon those soil properties basically immutable (e.g. slope, texture, mineralogy), soil quality also deals with a dynamic component including some specific soil attributes (e.g. soil organic matter content, soil microbial biomass and composition, soil aggregation, readily mineralizable C and N) that are subjected to changes over relatively short time periods. These changes are driven also by land-use and agronomic management (e.g. soil tillage, crop rotation, fertilization, etc.).

Therefore, identifying and developing suitable agricultural practices able to improve crop performance and value while maintaining or improving soil quality becomes crucial to enhance the sustainability of agriculture.

We invite to submit manuscripts (research articles, reviews, meta-analyses) that address the issue of improving soil quality, nutrient availability, nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity while minimizing the environmental impact of agriculture and maintaining the soil ecosystem services. Contributions may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • assessing and monitoring soil quality
  • soil quality and agricultural sustainability
  • sustainable management of soil organic matter
  • conservation agriculture
  • organic farming
  • nutrient cycling and nutrient availability
  • soil quality and crop performance

Prof. Vito Armando Laudicina
Dr. Paolo Ruisi
Prof. Luigi Badalucco
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil quality and soil quality indicators
  • soil physics
  • soil chemistry
  • soil biology and biochemistry
  • soil biodiversity
  • soil fertility
  • soil organic matter
  • soil C and N pools
  • soil microbial biomass and activity
  • mineralization/humification processes
  • microbe-soil-plant interactions
  • nutrient availability and uptake
  • arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
  • agronomic management practices (tillage, crop rotation, fertilization, etc.)
  • crop productivity
  • sustainable land management
  • organic farming
  • conservation agriculture

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 194 KiB  
Editorial
Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition
by Vito Armando Laudicina, Paolo Ruisi and Luigi Badalucco
Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071412 - 16 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1282
Abstract
Soil quality has been defined as the “continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land use boundaries, sustain biological productivity, promote the quality of air and water environments, and maintain plant, animal and human health” [...] [...] Read more.
Soil quality has been defined as the “continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land use boundaries, sustain biological productivity, promote the quality of air and water environments, and maintain plant, animal and human health” [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

12 pages, 871 KiB  
Article
From Waste to Resources: Sewage Sludges from the Citrus Processing Industry to Improve Soil Fertility and Performance of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
by Caterina Lucia, Daniela Pampinella, Eristanna Palazzolo, Luigi Badalucco and Vito Armando Laudicina
Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040913 - 21 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1355
Abstract
The citrus industry produces a large number of sludges as a consequence of citrus wastewater treatment. The correct disposal of citrus sewage sludges (CSSs) has been attempted using anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, and lime stabilization. However, since CSSs hold nitrogen, phosphorus, and other [...] Read more.
The citrus industry produces a large number of sludges as a consequence of citrus wastewater treatment. The correct disposal of citrus sewage sludges (CSSs) has been attempted using anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, and lime stabilization. However, since CSSs hold nitrogen, phosphorus, and other macronutrients required by crops, in line with the circular economy principles, they could be utilized for agricultural purposes, such as organic fertilizer. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of CSSs supplied at different doses on soil fertility and lettuce performance. To this end, a pot experiment was established. The soil was amended with CSSs at three different concentrations (2.5, 5, 10 t ha−1). After 46 days of lettuce growth, the experiment was stopped, and soils and plants were analyzed. Soil amended with CSSs showed an increase in total organic C ranging from 7% to 11%. Additionally, available P increased but only at the highest CSS dose. The addition of CSSs affected the biochemical properties of soil, but a univocal trend related to the number of CSSs applied was not found. Microbial biomass C increased only with the highest dose of CSS applied, while the metabolic quotient (qCO2) decreased. Such a positive effect on soil fertility and soil microorganisms, in turn, lead to an increase in lettuce biomass. Moreover, results indicated that following CSS addition, lettuce crops adsorbed more N in leaves than in roots, whereas P, Ca, Mg, K, and Na showed an opposite pattern and increased more consistently in roots. In conclusion, amendment with CSSs enhances soil fertility by increasing, regardless of CSS dose, total organic C, and, at the highest dose, P availability and microbial biomass C. Such improvement in soil fertility, in turn, increases lettuce biomass production without affecting its quality, i.e., alteration of the (K + Na)/(Ca + Mg) ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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11 pages, 1570 KiB  
Article
Shifting Long-Term Tillage to Geotextile Mulching for Weed Control Improves Soil Quality and Yield of Orange Orchards
by Sara Paliaga, Caterina Lucia, Daniela Pampinella, Sofia Maria Muscarella, Luigi Badalucco, Eristanna Palazzolo and Vito Armando Laudicina
Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040764 - 25 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
Weed control in urban and peri-urban orange orchards is challenging due to operational and legislative restrictions. Tillage, besides from negatively affecting soil fertility and microorganisms, is demanding for humans. On the other hand, herbicides are advised against due to the possibility to reach [...] Read more.
Weed control in urban and peri-urban orange orchards is challenging due to operational and legislative restrictions. Tillage, besides from negatively affecting soil fertility and microorganisms, is demanding for humans. On the other hand, herbicides are advised against due to the possibility to reach waterbodies from the soil surface. Therefore, in urban and peri-urban areas, instead of tillage and herbicides, mulching with black plastic geotextile fabric is often used. This study aimed at assessing the impact of long-term soil mulching with black plastic geotextile fabric on soil fertility, microbial community and yield of an orange orchard in comparison to conventional tillage. To this aim, four soil management systems were set up: rotary tillage for the last 15 years, mulching with black plastic geotextiles for the last 15 years, rotary tillage for 7 years followed by mulching for the last 8 years, mulching for 7 years followed by rotary tillage for the last 8 years. Soil samples were analyzed to determine the chemical and biochemical parameters related to soil fertility. In addition, the abundances of the main microbial groups were investigated. Mulching increased soil total organic C at least by 65%. The greater soil organic C in mulched soil in turn contributed to increase the cation exchange capacity (+62% on average) and microbial biomass C (+120% on average). Additionally, the microbial quotient exhibited higher values in mulched soils compared to tilled ones, suggesting a greater soil organic matter accessibility by soil microorganisms. Moreover, mulching favored fungi over bacteria, and Gram-positive bacteria over Gram-negative bacteria, thus contributing to the establishment of a microbial community more efficient in utilizing C sources. The latter result was confirmed by the lower values of the metabolic quotient in mulched soil compared to tilled one. Overall, the black plastic geotextile fabric improved chemical and biochemical soil fertility that, in turn, lead to a higher orange yield in mulched soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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11 pages, 8289 KiB  
Communication
Relationship of Physiographic Position to Physicochemical Characteristics of Soils of the Flooded-Savannah Agroecosystem, Colombia
by Arcesio Salamanca-Carreño, Mauricio Vélez-Terranova, Oscar Mauricio Vargas-Corzo, Otoniel Pérez-López, Andrés Fernando Castillo-Pérez and Pere M. Parés-Casanova
Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010220 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1969
Abstract
Savannah floodplains are a natural agroecosystem located in the eastern plains of Colombia, with soils considered to be of low fertility. This assumption has not been rigorously validated by direct experimental studies. The aim of the study was to analyze the soils’ physicochemical [...] Read more.
Savannah floodplains are a natural agroecosystem located in the eastern plains of Colombia, with soils considered to be of low fertility. This assumption has not been rigorously validated by direct experimental studies. The aim of the study was to analyze the soils’ physicochemical characteristics of the “banks” and “lows”, which are physiographic positions, from the floodplain savannah in Arauca, Colombia. Soil samples were collected in “low” (n = 14) and “bank” (n = 15) physiographic positions. For each soil sample, the following chemical variables were determined: pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, exchange acidity, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B, and physical variable (texture). The Wilcoxon non-parametric test (Mann–Whitney) was applied for the comparison of the soil’s physicochemical variables in each physiographic position (p < 0.05). The highest values for each variable analyzed correspond to the physiographic position of “low” (p < 0.05). The pH, T.N., Na, K and B were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The physiographic positions of “bank” and “low” of floodplain savannah presented low levels of most nutrients, with slightly higher values in the “low” physiographic position. Corrective measures must be applied to improve the nutritional values of savannah soils and, consequently, the productivity of native forages. Despite these deficiencies, the vegetation cover is given by very well-adapted native grasses, reflecting the conditions of said agroecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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18 pages, 3481 KiB  
Article
Effect of Bentonite and Barley Straw on the Restoration of the Biological Quality of Agriculture Soil Contaminated with the Herbicide Successor T 550 SE
by Jadwiga Wyszkowska, Monika Tomkiel, Agata Borowik, Małgorzata Baćmaga and Jan Kucharski
Agriculture 2021, 11(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010027 - 03 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2351
Abstract
Environmentally safe ways are sought to prevent the accumulation and to accelerate the degradation of herbicide active substances in agricultural soil. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of finely-ground barley straw and bentonite in mitigating the effects of agricultural soil contamination with [...] Read more.
Environmentally safe ways are sought to prevent the accumulation and to accelerate the degradation of herbicide active substances in agricultural soil. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of finely-ground barley straw and bentonite in mitigating the effects of agricultural soil contamination with Successor T 550 SE. This herbicide was applied in the following doses: 0, 0.73, and 14.63 mg of the active substance per kg. The bentonite and spring barley straw were used at 10 g/kg. The action of these additives was compared to soil without the addition of straw and bentonite. The application of the experimental herbicide disturbed microbial systems, such as organotrophic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria and their spores, actinobacteria, and fungi. A positive response to the herbicide dose of 14.63 mg a.s./kg was observed only for spores of oligotrophic bacteria. Further disturbances were observed in the agricultural soil biochemical properties, i.e., in the activity of dehydrogenases, urease, catalase, acid, and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase. A significant decrease in the activity of dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase was observed following the application of 14.63 mg a.s./kg. The yield of maize decreased following the application of the analysed plant protection agent. Based on the soil quality index (BA), the addition of straw was more effective in restoring soil homeostasis than bentonite. Both bentonite and straw can be successfully used to improve agricultural soil biological activity. However, more effective mitigation of the negative effects of the herbicide in soil was observed in objects supplemented with barley straw. This improved the microbiological and biochemical properties of the soil. Barley straw was more effective than bentonite in restoring soil biological balance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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17 pages, 845 KiB  
Article
Presence of Bradyrhizobium sp. under Continental Conditions in Central Europe
by Anne Griebsch, Nicole Matschiavelli, Sylwia Lewandowska and Knut Schmidtke
Agriculture 2020, 10(10), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10100446 - 30 Sep 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2969
Abstract
Soil samples from different locations with varied soybean cultivation histories were taken from arable fields in 2018 in East Germany and Poland (Lower Silesia) to evaluate the specific microsymbionts of the soybean, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, one to seven years after inoculation. Soybeans were [...] Read more.
Soil samples from different locations with varied soybean cultivation histories were taken from arable fields in 2018 in East Germany and Poland (Lower Silesia) to evaluate the specific microsymbionts of the soybean, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, one to seven years after inoculation. Soybeans were grown in the selected farms between 2011 and 2017. The aim of the experiment was to investigate whether there is a difference in rhizobia contents in soils in which soybeans have been recultivated after one to seven years break, and whether this could lead to differences in soybean plant growth. The obtained soil samples were directly transferred into containers, then sterilized soybean seeds were sown into pots in the greenhouse. After 94 days of growth, the plants were harvested and various parameters such as the nodular mass, number of nodules, and dry matter in the individual plant parts were determined. In addition, the relative abundances of Bradyrhizobium sp. in soil samples were identified by sequencing. No major decline in Bradyrhizobium sp. concentration could be observed due to a longer interruption of soybean cultivation. Soil properties such as pH, P, and Mg contents did not show a significant influence on the nodule mass or number, but seem to have an influence on the relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium sp. The investigations have shown that Bradyrhizobium japonicum persists in arable soils even under Central European site conditions and enters into an effective symbiosis with soybeans for up to seven years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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11 pages, 900 KiB  
Article
Soil Quality Characteristics as Affected by Continuous Rice Cultivation and Changes in Cropping Systems in South China
by Xiangning Ren, Feixiang Chen, Tao Ma and Yueming Hu
Agriculture 2020, 10(10), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10100443 - 30 Sep 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2726
Abstract
This study was conducted to elucidate how changes in critical soil quality characteristics relate to continuous rice cultivation and changes in cropping systems and fertilization in South China over the time span 1980 to 2017. Soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen [...] Read more.
This study was conducted to elucidate how changes in critical soil quality characteristics relate to continuous rice cultivation and changes in cropping systems and fertilization in South China over the time span 1980 to 2017. Soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP) and potassium (AK) were determined for the samples taken in 2017 and compared to results from the paired samples collected in 1980 by grouping all samples into four cropping systems: continuous paddy fields, new paddy fields developed from uplands, continuous uplands, and new uplands developed from paddy soils. The results show a significant increase in soil pH, AP and AK in all cropping systems, which was, however, coupled with low fertilizer use efficiency. Additionally, a significant increase in SOM came with new paddy soils, whereas a little SOM accumulation and a significantly weakened correlation of TN to SOM occurred in continuous paddy soils. Both low fertilizer use efficiency and deteriorated soil C sequestration function imply a sub-health status of continuous paddy soils. The changes in cropping systems and fertilization, which essentially resulted from expeditious economic growth, should be responsible for the dynamics of C and N and the consequences to soil quality. More experimental studies on balanced fertilization vs. local commonly used fertilization are suggested to probe the mechanisms underlying the C and N dynamics in paddy soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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16 pages, 620 KiB  
Article
Possibility of Limiting Mineral Fertilization in Potato Cultivation by Using Bio-fertilizer and Its Influence on Protein Content in Potato Tubers
by Dorota Wichrowska and Małgorzata Szczepanek
Agriculture 2020, 10(10), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10100442 - 29 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2539
Abstract
Potato protein is a valuable source of essential plant-derived amino acids, the composition of which is similar to that of chicken egg protein considering the amino acid reference. Many factors used in potato cultivation can modify its composition. The use of bio-fertilizers in [...] Read more.
Potato protein is a valuable source of essential plant-derived amino acids, the composition of which is similar to that of chicken egg protein considering the amino acid reference. Many factors used in potato cultivation can modify its composition. The use of bio-fertilizers in potato growing offers a possibility of a better use of minerals from soil and organic sources and reducing the need for mineral fertilizers by activating minerals present in soil. The effect can be to improve not only the potato tuber yield but also the nutritional value. The aim of this study has been to determine the hanges in the content of crude protein and the composition of amino acids in potato tubers, depending on the application of the bio-fertilizer (UGmax), organic fertilizers (pea as a catch crop, straw, and farmyard manure (FYM)) as well as mineral fertilization (100% and 50% of the reference rate). The application of bio-fertilizer significantly increased the content of essential and non-essential amino acids in potato tuber protein. With the half-decreased mineral fertilization rate, bio-fertilizer most effectively increased the content of tyrosine, methionine, asparagine in potato tuber protein in the treatments with FYM or with a catch crop as well as without organic fertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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9 pages, 2323 KiB  
Article
Chemical and Spectroscopic Parameters Are Equally Sensitive in Describing Soil Organic Matter Changes After Decades of Different Fertilization
by Tomáš Šimon and Mikuláš Madaras
Agriculture 2020, 10(9), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10090422 - 22 Sep 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2654
Abstract
The composition and dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) are decisive factors in soil quality. In this work, total organic C (Ctot), hot water extractable C (Chwl), and aliphatic and aromatic SOM components detected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) [...] Read more.
The composition and dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) are decisive factors in soil quality. In this work, total organic C (Ctot), hot water extractable C (Chwl), and aliphatic and aromatic SOM components detected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were determined to evaluate SOM quantity and quality in soil samples taken between 2004 and 2017 from 13 field experiments established in different soil and climatic conditions of the Czech Republic. In addition, the C pool index (CPI), lability index (LI), C management index (CMI), and SOM decomposition index (DI) were assessed. Treatments were selected as follows: Unfertilized control (Nil), mineral fertilized treatment (NPK), farmyard manured treatment (FYM), and organic and mineral fertilized treatment (FYM+NPK). Both organic and combined fertilization significantly increased soil Ctot, Chwl, CPI, LI, CMI, and labile aliphatic SOM components (FTIRaliph) in most of the experiments compared to unfertilized treatments (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, the highest content of recalcitrant aromatic SOM components (FTIRarom) and increased DI were determined in majority of unfertilized soils. Our results show that: (1) fertilization regimes increased both labile and total C pools; the highest increase was nearly uniformly observed for NPK+FYM treatment; (2) SOM chemical and FTIR spectral detection had equal sensitivity to the changes; and (3) none of the parameters or indices tested can be used as a stand-alone SOM quality descriptor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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12 pages, 855 KiB  
Article
Content of Trace Elements in Soil Fertilized with Potassium and Nitrogen
by Mirosław Wyszkowski and Marzena S. Brodowska
Agriculture 2020, 10(9), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10090398 - 08 Sep 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4406
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of increasing potassium fertilization (0, 140, 190, and 240 mg K2O/kg of soil) in the interaction with nitrogen fertilization (130 and 170 mg N/kg of soil) on the trace elements content [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of increasing potassium fertilization (0, 140, 190, and 240 mg K2O/kg of soil) in the interaction with nitrogen fertilization (130 and 170 mg N/kg of soil) on the trace elements content in the typical, non-contaminated agricultural soil. The trace elements content in the soil depended on nitrogen and potassium fertilization. Potassium fertilization had a more significant effect on trace elements content in the soil fertilized at the same time with a lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N/kg soil). Increasing potassium fertilization increased the content of cadmium by 83% and lead by 32% and reduced the amounts of chromium by 10% and iron by 3% in the soil, particularly in the series with a lower nitrogen dose (130 mg N/kg soil). The effect of potassium fertilization on the content of other trace elements was less unambiguous since, for most of trace elements, lower doses of this fertilizer contributed to growth of trace element, while higher doses lead to a decrease in their accumulation in the soil. Nitrogen fertilization increased the contents of zinc and iron—3%, copper—9%, manganese—12%, chromium—15%, and cobalt—59%, while reducing the contents of cadmium and nickel—24% and lead—45%. Permissible standards for trace elements content in the soil have not been exceeded. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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10 pages, 2529 KiB  
Article
Particle Size Imbalance Index from Compositional Analysis to Evaluate Cereal Sustainability for Arid Soils in Eastern Algeria
by Siham Zaaboubi, Lotfi Khiari, Salah Abdesselam, Jacques Gallichand, Fassil Kebede and Ghouati Kerrache
Agriculture 2020, 10(7), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10070296 - 14 Jul 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2535
Abstract
For homogeneous fertilization and crop management practices, this work hypothesized that texture could influence cereal yield, particularly in dry regions. Particle size analysis could help improve knowledge of the soil-plant relationship to obtain favorable conditions for better yield. The objective of this work [...] Read more.
For homogeneous fertilization and crop management practices, this work hypothesized that texture could influence cereal yield, particularly in dry regions. Particle size analysis could help improve knowledge of the soil-plant relationship to obtain favorable conditions for better yield. The objective of this work is to develop a single granulometric index for durum wheat (Triticum durum) that is well correlated with yield. For this purpose, 350 independent samples of cereal soils from eastern Algeria were taken and the recorded yields were linked to these samples. The cutoff yield, which separates sub-populations with acceptable yield from those with less acceptable yield, was determined from the inflection point of the cumulative variance ratio functions related to yield by the Richards’ equation. The result obtained is 2.0 Mg.ha−1, with a theoretical critical chi-square value of 4.2, close to 4.6, which is the critical value of r2granulo as obtained by the Cate-Nelson procedure. The five-granulometric indices were found to be symmetrical around zero as follows: ±0.83 for clay (IC), ±1.73 for fine silt (IFL), ±0.31 for coarse silt (ICL), ±0.44 for fine sand (IFS), and ±1.30 for coarse sand (ICS). The two fractions that most influence the textural imbalance are fine silt (IFL) and coarse sand (ICS), with a contribution of 41% and 37%, respectively. The critical single imbalance index r g r a n u l o 2 can be used for determining cereal suitability for soils in the arid region of eastern Algeria. The lower the   r g r a n u l o 2 is, the better the soil for cereal crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Crop Nutrition)
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