Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ali Rezaei, Seyed Hossein Karparvarfard, Mojtaba Naderi-Boldaji, Hadi Azimi-Nejadian, Mehari Z. Tekeste
Summary: The development of a combined penetrometer-dielectric-microphone-ECa sensor for measuring soil physical properties was conducted. By fusing multiple sensors, accurate predictions of soil texture, water content and relative density were achieved. This sensor has potential applications in precision agriculture and further field evaluations are needed.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Peipei Yang, Arjan Reijneveld, Peter Lerink, Wei Qin, Oene Oenema
Summary: This paper investigates the relationship between subsoil compaction and crop yield as well as potential CO2 and N2O emissions. The results show that subsoil bulk density is related to crop yield and the ratio of CO2 emissions to N2O emissions. The response of the CO2 emissions to N2O emissions ratio to spatial variations in soil bulk density is greater than that of wheat yield.
Article
Forestry
Mariusz Kormanek, Jiri Dvorak, Pawel Tylek, Martin Jankovsky, Ondrej Nuhlicek, Lukasz Mateusiak
Summary: The article presents the measurement results of the impact caused by the MHT9002HV tracked harvester on surface deformations and soil physical parameters. The study was conducted on three operational trails with varying slopes. The results show that the machine had a significant impact on soil penetration resistance at a depth of 16-20 cm, but had no statistical significance on bulk density and moisture content. The maximum ground deformation on the trails reached an average of 5.9 cm. The comparison of different penetrometers used for compactness measurements revealed differences in the obtained values, highlighting the need for a new penetrometer for similar measurement conditions.
Article
Soil Science
Carlos Manoel Pedro Vaz, Junio Martins de Resende, Julio Cezar Franchini, Henrique Debiasi, Marcio Renato Nunes
Summary: This paper evaluates critical factors affecting the precision, operation time, and ease of use of dynamic penetrometers. It proposes an alternative recording procedure and assesses the variability of commercial penetrometers. The study finds that soil texture significantly affects the performance of dynamic penetrometers, and a device is proposed to extract dynamic penetrometers from highly compacted soils.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Robert Benkovic, Danijel Jug, Luka Sumanovac, Irena Jug, Krunoslav Mirosavljevic, Domagoj Zimmer, Teuta Benkovic-Lacic
Summary: Intensive agricultural practices can cause soil compaction, which affects crop growth and development. This study investigated the impact of different tillage systems on soil compaction and the influence of tractor tire pressure on penetrometer resistance during sowing. The results showed that different tillage systems and tire pressures had varying effects on soil compaction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Keller, Dani Or
Summary: Mechanization has led to the success of modern agriculture, but the increased weight of farm machinery has raised concerns about subsoil compaction. Research shows that 20% of arable land is at risk of chronic subsoil compaction, leading to potential loss of productivity. The study also suggests that prehistoric giants may have had similar effects on land productivity due to subsoil compaction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Oliver Schmittmann, Peter Schulze Lammers
Summary: Soil is crucial for soil organisms and plays significant roles in crop yield and resilience to adverse weather conditions. The subsoil is a valuable water and nutrient reserve, and its measurement and assessment are important in the context of climate change and resource scarcity. This study presents the development of a tractor-mounted subsoil penetrometer that can accurately measure penetration resistance without being affected by shaft friction. Field trials have confirmed the suitability and stability of the developed penetrometer.
Article
Agronomy
Lindsay Chamberlain Malone, Matthew D. Ruark, Christopher J. Kucharik, Thea Whitman, Shawn P. Conley
Summary: This study found that certain indicators of soil health, including POXC, Min C, PMN, and ACE-N, are closely related to soybean yield. Factors such as soil texture and drainage class have a significant impact on these indicators, as well as management factors like crop rotation and manure use. The study emphasizes the importance of considering regional factors when developing soil health benchmarks.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Tiago Zoz, Cassio de Castro Seron, Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira, Mauricio Dutra Zanotto, Jose Antonio Maior Bono, Eduardo Barreto Aguiar, Travis Wilson Witt
Summary: This study evaluated the growth of dwarf castor hybrids under different soil bulk density levels, suggesting that castor can be grown in areas with soil compaction problems. The results showed that castor hybrids and cultivars had similar shoot and root dry matter partitioning under high soil bulk density conditions, with the highest dry matter accumulations estimated around 1.60 Mg m(-3).
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Victoria Regina Morello Gongora, Deonir Secco, Doglas Bassegio, Araceli Ciotti de Marins, Pablo Chang, Mateus Rodrigues Savioli
Summary: This study found that cover crops can improve the physical properties of compacted soil but may not effectively reduce soil loss and runoff.
Article
Agronomy
Yvette M. Oliver, Chris Gazey, James Fisher, Michael Robertson
Summary: Lime application has been shown to improve crop yield in Australian farming systems. A meta-analysis of 86 field trials revealed an average 12% increase in yield with a range from 0 to 185%. Sites with lower pH levels showed greater benefits from liming, and the best results were seen when lime application exceeded 2.5 t ha(-1) and had been applied for over three years, with maximum response occurring after four to eight years.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jun Hu, Xinbin Wang, Fujun Zhang, Yuanke Zhao
Summary: The dielectric permittivity of soils is determined by water content and porosity, and the relationship model between water content and dielectric permittivity can be evaluated by studying soil samples with different water content and compaction levels. The results showed that dielectric permittivity increased with water content and dry density, and the effect of water content was more significant for soils with higher density. The Topp formula and complex refractive index model were found to accurately predict soil dry density when water content was below the optimal level. However, deviations were observed when water content approached saturation. Modified versions of the Topp formula and complex refractive index model provided accurate predictions of soil compactness, which is important for ground penetrating radar detection of water content and compactness in highway subgrade soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunpeng Sun, Xiaobing Chen, Jingsong Yang, Yongming Luo, Rongjiang Yao, Xiangping Wang, Wenping Xie, Xin Zhang
Summary: The summer maize-winter barley rotation system is commonly used in coastal areas of east China, but little attention has been paid to soil degradation after crop rotation. In this study, applying wheat straw derived biochar increased water holding capacity and macro-aggregate content, mitigating soil degradation and increasing maize yield.
Article
Soil Science
Hamza Mohieddinne, Andrii Yatskul, Carolina Ugarte, Julien Thibaut, Julien Guidet, Simon Ritz
Summary: Soil compaction caused by tractor-tire-tool system affects soil structure and crop production. This study aims to find a trade-off between agronomical and energetical performances during spring barley sowing by adjusting tractor parameters. Soil physical properties, sowing success, and energy consumption were evaluated. Results showed that equally distributing the axle load, accelerating tractor speed to 14 km/h, working the soil at 10 cm depth, and inflating tires to 140 or 80 kPa can achieve soil conservation, improved barley seedling and yield, and optimized energy consumption.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Wenjia Yang, Naitong Yan, Jiali Zhang, Jiakun Yan, Dengke Ma, Shiwen Wang, Lina Yin
Summary: This study evaluated the applicability of water-permeable plastic film (WPF) and biodegradable film (BF) as alternatives to polyethylene film (PEF) in millet, sorghum, and corn in the northern Loess Plateau of China. The results showed that WPF successfully retained ineffective precipitation, improved soil water conditions, and increased crop yields. On the other hand, BF was not suitable for crops with long growth period and low leaf area index (LAI).
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Hanna Williams, Tino Colombi, Thomas Keller
Article
Soil Science
Elham Farahani, Hojat Emami, Amir Fotovat, Reza Khorassani, Thomas Keller
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Payam Farhadi, Abdollah Golmohammadi, Ahmad Sharifi Malvajerdi, Gholamhossein Shahgholi
JOURNAL OF TERRAMECHANICS
(2020)
Article
Soil Science
Renato P. de Lima, Thomas Keller
Summary: The study found that soil stress is typically overestimated by transducer probes. The overestimation decreases with probe diameter to height ratio, and increases with the ratio of probe to soil elastic modulus. Probes interfere with each other when the vertical gap between adjacent probes is closer than about three times probe diameter. Measured stress is influenced by soil depth and size of the loaded area.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Thomas Keller, Tino Colombi, Siul Ruiz, Stanislaus J. Schymanski, Peter Weisskopf, John Koestel, Marlies Sommer, Viktor Stadelmann, Daniel Breitenstein, Norbert Kirchgessner, Achim Walter, Dani Or
Summary: This study aimed to quantify short-term soil structure recovery under natural conditions with and without plant cover, revealing that two years after compaction event, soil physical properties have not fully recovered even within the topsoil. Recovery rates differ among soil properties, with permeability showing the highest recovery rates. The concept of soil structure recovery proceeding from the surface downward and expanding around biologically-active pockets could be tested with additional data.
SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Yvan Capowiez, Stephane Sammartino, Thomas Keller, Nicolas Bottinelli
Summary: Increasing soil bulk density negatively impacts the burrowing behavior and soil water infiltration of endogeic earthworms, leading to a decrease in burrow system characteristics. Despite the decrease in water infiltration as soil bulk density increases, burrows made by endogeic earthworms can moderately increase water infiltration when soil bulk density is low. These findings could help refine simulation models of earthworm burrowing behavior in relation to soil water content, temperature, and bulk density.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hanna Sjulgard, Daniel Iseskog, Norbert Kirchgessner, A. Glyn Bengough, Thomas Keller, Tino Colombi
Summary: The study revealed that pea roots exhibit reversible responses to short-term soil physical stress, while wheat roots show irreversible responses, indicating different root phenotypic plasticity between the two species. This suggests that strategies to cope with periodic soil physical stress may vary among species.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alejandro Romero-Ruiz, Niklas Linde, Ludovic Baron, Santiago Gabriel Solazzi, Thomas Keller, Dani Or
Summary: Subtle changes in soil structure have significant impacts on soil mechanical and hydraulic properties, with implications for agricultural management. This study successfully predicted soil changes due to compaction using a proposed model.
VADOSE ZONE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alejandro Romero-Ruiz, Niklas Linde, Ludovic Baron, Daniel Breitenstein, Thomas Keller, Dani Or
Summary: Characterizing and quantifying soil structure in the field remains a challenge despite its importance for hydrological and ecological soil functioning. This study expands the application of geoelectrical and time-domain reflectometry monitoring to infer the impacts of compaction on soil structure and function. The findings suggest that soil compaction leads to a decrease in soil electrical resistivity and drier soil conditions.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Keller, Dani Or
Summary: Mechanization has led to the success of modern agriculture, but the increased weight of farm machinery has raised concerns about subsoil compaction. Research shows that 20% of arable land is at risk of chronic subsoil compaction, leading to potential loss of productivity. The study also suggests that prehistoric giants may have had similar effects on land productivity due to subsoil compaction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Philippe Tschanz, Stefan Vogel, Achim Walter, Thomas Keller, Matthias Albrecht
Summary: Ground-nesting wild bees play a crucial role in pollinating wild plants and crops, impacting human wellbeing. This study in Switzerland found that arable fields are utilized for nesting by various bee species, with nest density being positively related to the proportion of bare ground and decreasing with distance from field edges. The findings suggest that maintaining small field sizes, increasing edge density, and reducing crop cover through increased row spacing can support ground-nesting bees in agricultural landscapes, potentially aided by floral-rich agri-environment scheme areas. Further research is needed to determine if tilled arable fields serve as suitable nesting habitats or ecological traps for ground-nesting bees.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Laerke Daverkosen, Alena Holzknecht, Jurgen K. Friedel, Thomas Keller, Bjarne W. Strobel, Annelie Wendeberg, Sabine Jordan
Summary: This study aims to investigate the impact of regenerative management practices on soil health indicators in Gotland, Sweden. The results show that the application of organic matter has a positive effect on soil indicators, while reduced tillage and increased share of perennials have a positive impact on vegetation density and root abundance. Additionally, cluster analysis reveals significant differences in soil indicators among different management types.
JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Philippe Tschanz, John Koestel, Valerio Volpe, Matthias Albrecht, Thomas Keller
Summary: Most research on wild bees has focused on their role as pollinators, but their importance as soil ecosystem engineers has been largely overlooked. This study used X-ray computed tomography to examine the morphology and temporal evolution of ground-nesting bee burrows, and found significant differences between species. The study highlights the potential of X-ray imaging to gain insights into the underground life of ground-nesting bees and emphasizes their importance as soil ecosystem engineers.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Florian Walder, Lucie Buechi, Cameron Wagg, Tino Colombi, Samiran Banerjee, Juliane Hirte, Jochen Mayer, Johan Six, Thomas Keller, Raphael Charles, Marcel G. A. van Der Heijden
Summary: One of the critical challenges in agriculture is to enhance yield without compromising soil health and the environment. This study compared the effects of conventional, no-till, and organic management on production and soil health. The results suggest that organic management improves soil health but leads to lower yields, while no-till systems show intermediate results. The study highlights the importance of balanced approaches that combine crop diversification, organic amendments, and effective crop protection to achieve multifunctional agroecosystems.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Amin Ghobadpour, Hossein Mousazadeh, Sousso Kelouwani, Ahmad Sharifi Malvajerdi, Shahin Rafiee
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Soil Science
Lin Liu, Yili Lu, Robert Horton, Tusheng Ren
Summary: A new approach is presented in this study to estimate the parameters of the soil water retention curve (SWRC). The new method accurately estimates SWRCs by using measured thermal conductivity-water content curves, soil texture, bulk density, and field capacity water content.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhongshan Dai, Yong Zhang, Yujie Wei, Chongfa Cai
Summary: This study investigates the effects of erosion degradation and long-term manure fertilization on soil properties and crop yield in Northeast China. Results show that erosion degradation and manure fertilization have lasting impacts on soil physical structure throughout the soil profile, while their effects on soil nutrient properties are focused in shallow layers. Manure fertilization significantly improves soil functional index (ISI) and maize yield for degraded soils. Erosion degradation has a greater influence on ISI and maize yield than manure fertilization.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xintong Xu, Ruiyu Bi, Mengxin Song, Yubing Dong, Ying Jiao, Bingxue Wang, Zhengqin Xiong
Summary: The substitution of organic fertilizers for inorganic fertilizers has a significant impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) and can help combat soil degradation and climate change in intensive vegetable production.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Moritz Koza, Roger Funk, Julia Poehlitz, Christopher Conrad, Olga Shibistova, Tobias Meinel, Kanat Akshalov, Gerd Schmidt
Summary: Semi-arid regions in Central Asia are experiencing wind erosion due to steppe conversion and unsustainable farming practices. A study conducted in Kazakhstan used a mobile wind tunnel to assess soil erodibility under real conditions. The results showed significant differences in soil erosion based on initial conditions and mechanical stress, emphasizing the importance of proper soil management to prevent severe events.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Tong Li, Guorui Li, Zhiqiang Lu, Deqiang Zhao, Yuze Li, Ziting Wang, Xiaoxia Wen, Yuncheng Liao
Summary: Conservation agriculture with three management principles is effective in mitigating soil erosion and nutrient loss. This study found that no tillage significantly increased soil extracellular enzyme activities, while legume incorporation only had a significant effect on phosphorus-acquiring enzymes. Crop diversity positively influenced the no tillage-induced increase in enzyme activities.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zahra Khasi, Mohammad Sadegh Askari, Setareh Amanifar, Kamran Moravej
Summary: This research aims to evaluate the applicability of visual soil evaluation methods for agricultural systems in semi-arid regions and assess the relationship between soil physical quality and crop yield. The results indicate that visual evaluation methods can effectively assess soil conditions, and optimal soil structural quality is crucial for sustainable crop production.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Amin Jannatul Ferdous, Xiaolin Wang, Katie Lewis, John Zak
Summary: Conservative agricultural management strategies can enhance crop productivity by altering soil microbiome, and incorporating legumes into cover crops in semi-arid regions can improve the dynamics of rhizobial communities. There is a strong underlying relationship between soil management and bacterial diversity in the soil.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Haiman Wang, Wankui Ni, Haisong Liu, Kangze Yuan
Summary: This study investigates the structural strength of the Loess-Paleosol Sequence (LPS) and finds that the strength tends to increase with burial depth, with the loess layer weaker than the paleosol layer. The microstructure of the LPS also undergoes significant transformations with increased burial depth, transitioning from an overhead structure to a matrix structure. These findings highlight the importance of climate conditions on the structural strength of the LPS.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Ranabir Chakraborty, V. K. Sharma, Debarup Das, D. R. Biswas, P. Mahapatra, D. K. Shahi, M. Barman, K. A. Chobhe, D. Chakraborty
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of long-term nutrient management practices on P fractions and P adsorption-desorption behaviour of an acid soil with a soybean-wheat cropping system. The findings revealed that amorphous Fe and Al, which play a significant role in P fixation, increased due to cultivation. The NPK+Lime treatment offered the most balanced approach, improving both crop yield and P uptake while effectively managing P dynamics in the soil. On the contrary, long-term application of NPK+FYM in an acid soil may result in faster P saturation of adsorption sites and increase the chances of leaching and eutrophication. Tailored P fertilization strategies should be developed to better utilize the PFe and PAl fractions and supplementing applied P.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Yuan Li, Ying Li, Qingping Zhang, Gang Xu, Guopeng Liang, Dong-Gill Kim, Carmen Rosa Carmona, Mei Yang, Jianming Xue, Yangzhou Xiang, Bin Yao, Yuying Shen
Summary: Agricultural intensification has led to severe degradation of croplands in China. Converting degraded croplands to grasslands can increase soil organic carbon and nitrogen content, but may decrease soil pH and available phosphorus. The duration of conversion and mean annual precipitation are major factors influencing soil changes.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xinliang Wu, Sixu Yao, Jinxing Zhou
Summary: The coupling effect of slaking and mechanical breakdown on aggregate stability was evaluated using a new method. This method can partition the unique and shared effects of these two breakdown mechanisms and showed better performance in predicting soil erosion compared to existing methods.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xinni Ju, Lei Gao, Dongli She, Yuhua Jia, Zhe Pang, Yaji Wang
Summary: This study linked soil pore structures quantified by X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning and infiltration processes traced using stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes under different land uses in the red soil region of southern China. The results showed that soil pore characteristics mainly affected soil water transport, while other soil properties played more important roles in soil water retention. CT-based porosity and soil texture were considered crucial indicators in the evaluation of water exchange during infiltration processes.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Hongwei Xu, Qing Qu, Jiaping Yang, Zhen Wang, Minggang Wang, Rentao Liu, Sha Xue
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the effects of drought on terrestrial ecosystem C-N-P stoichiometry on a global scale. The results showed that drought significantly decreased the C:N ratio in soil, enzymes, shoots, and roots. Soil microbes were limited by N, whereas plants were restricted by P under drought stress. Drought intensity and duration were negatively correlated with shoot N:P and vector angle.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Sara L. Bauke, Sabine J. Seidel, Miriam Athmann, Anne E. Berns, Melanie Braun, Martina I. Gocke, Julien Guigue, Timo Kautz, Ingrid Koegel-Knabner, Juliette Ohan, Matthias Rillig, Michael Schloter, Oliver Schmittmann, Stefanie Schulz, David Uhlig, Andrea Schnepf, Wulf Amelung
Summary: Agricultural production in Central Europe is increasingly affected by extreme drought events. This study found that incorporating organic matter, especially biowaste compost, into the subsoil significantly increased root growth and subsequently improved crop nutrient uptake, biomass, and grain yield. The incorporation of green waste compost had less pronounced effects.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xi Chen, Xuesong Wang
Summary: Based on the application of the integrated wind erosion modeling system, this study comprehensively simulated the loss and conservation of nutrients during aeolian dust emissions in the arid and semiarid areas of China. The results showed a decreasing trend in nutrient losses over the past two decades, with the ecosystems playing a crucial role in preventing these losses. The prevention rates of different land cover types were generally high, indicating the effectiveness of conservation measures.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2024)