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The water footprint is an increasingly demanded environmental sustainability indicator for certifications and labels in agricultural production. Processing tomatoes are highly water-intensive, and existing studies on water footprint have uncertainties and do not consider the impact of different irrigation configurations (e.g., surface drip irrigation (SDI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SSDI)) and irrigation strategies. This study presents a two-year experimental investigation to determine the water footprint of processing tomatoes grown in southern Spain (Andalusia) and the impact of SSDI and deficit irrigation. Five irrigation treatments were established: SDI1 (surface drip irrigation without water limitation), SDI2 (surface drip irrigation without water limitation adjusted by soil moisture readings), SSDI1 (subsurface drip irrigation without water limitation and a dripline depth of 15 cm), SSDI2 (similar to SSDI1 but with mild/moderate water deficit during the fruit ripening stage), and SSDI3 (subsurface drip irrigation without water limitation and a dripline depth of 35 cm (first year) and 25 cm (second year)). Measurements included crop vegetative growth, leaf water potential, leaf gas exchange, nitrate concentration in soil solution, and crop yield and quality. The soil water balance components (actual evaporation, actual transpiration, deep drainage), necessary for determining the total crop water footprint, were simulated on a daily scale using Hydrus 2D software. Results indicated that SSDI makes more efficient use of irrigation water than SDI. The water footprint of SSDI1 was 20–35% lower than that of SDI1. SSDI2 showed similar water footprint values to SDI1 under highly demanding environmental conditions and significantly lower values (≈40%) in a year with lower evaporative demand. The dripline depth in SSDI was critical to the water footprint. With a 35 cm installation depth, SSDI3 had a significantly higher water footprint than the other treatments, wh

Dataset generated in the work “Impact of Irrigation Management Decisions on the WaterFootprint of Processing Tomatoes in Southern Spain” whose main objective was to determine the water footprint of processing tomatoes grown in southern Spain under different drip irrigation methodologies.

Soil health encompasses the effects the uppermost part of the land have on human wellbeing in a broad sense, because soil is where most food ultimately comes from, and because it more inconspicuously fulfils other ecological functions, as important as feeding, for our planet’s welfare, which is ours. Viticulture exploits the soil’s resources from which wine, its most valuable produce, boasts to obtain some of its unique quality traits, which are wrapped within the terroir concept. However, using conventional methods, viticulture also has harsh impacts on the soil, thus jeopardizing its sustainability. How long will the terroir expression remain unchanged as vineyard soil degradation goes on? While this question is difficult to answer because of the complex nature of terroirs, it is undeniable that conventional soil management practices in viticulture leave, in general, ample room for improvement, in their impact on vineyards as much as on the environment. In response, viticulture must adopt practices that enable the long-lasting preservation of its grounds for both on-farm and off-farm benefits. In this regard, the increase in the soil’s organic matter alongside the enhancement of the soil’s biological community are key because they benefit many other soil properties of a physical, chemical, and biological nature, thus determining the soil’s healthy functioning, where the vines may thrive for a long time, whereas its surroundings remain minimally disturbed. In the present review, the importance of soil health as it relates to vineyards is discussed, the soil degradation factors and processes that threaten winegrowing areas are presented, successful soil-health enhancement practices are shown, and future research trends are identified for the benefit of researchers and stakeholders in this special agricultural industry.

Soil moisture has a profound influence on life on Earth, and this vital water resource varies across space and time. Here, we explored soil moisture variations in boreal forest and tundra environments, where comprehensive soil moisture datasets are scarce. We installed soil moisture sensors up to 14 cm depth at 503 measurement sites within seven study areas across northern Europe. We recorded 6,138,528 measurements to capture soil moisture variations of the snowless season from April to September 2020. We described the spatio-temporal patterns of soil moisture, and test how these patterns are linked to topography and how these links vary in space and time. We found large spatial variation and often less pronounced temporal variation in soil moisture across the measurement sites within all study areas. We found that throughout the measurement periods both univariate and multivariate models with topographic predictors showed great temporal variation in their performance and in the relative influence of the predictors within and across the areas. We found that the soil moisture-topography relationships are site-specific, as the topography-based models often performed poorly when transferred from one area to another. There was no general solution that would work well in all the study areas when modeling soil moisture variation with topography. This should be carefully considered before applying topographic proxies for soil moisture. Overall, these data and results highlight the strong spatio-temporal heterogeneity of soil moisture conditions in boreal forest and tundra environments.

[EN] Rainfed agricultural systems in semiarid Mediterranean environments are subject to erratic but often heavy rainfall events. As an agronomic practice, fallow periods can be included even within the existing European Union common policy for crop diversification. This study aimed to quantify the effects of previous mineral fertilization on soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) content and potential nitrate leaching during no-till fallow periods of crop rotation. The Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model (LEACHM) was used for soil Nmin prediction after fallow. During fallow periods, Nmin measured in the soil profile increased by an average of 125 kg N ha¿1, whereas the model showed an average increase of 95 kg N ha¿1. The amount of nitrogen (N) leached was estimated to be 11¿38 kg N ha¿1. The N balance simulated using LEACHM might differ from the actual situation. The calibrated LEACHM underestimated soil Nmin after a drought period followed by soil water replenishment, probably due to a pulse in soil C and N mineralization caused by the wetting of dry soil, but overestimated soil Nmin after occasional rainy spells when soil quickly became saturated, probably due to occasional nitrous oxide emissions not being fully accounted for by the model and specific preferential water flow, which might lead to greater nitrate leaching than that simulated by LEACHM using the convection-dispersion equation. The results show that soil Nmin measurements after fallow periods cannot be well predicted by LEACHM. The findings of this study provide a support for fertilization planning for crop rotation systems including a fallow period to avoid overfertilization in the following cropping season and reduce N environmental impacts.

Het verbeteren van de kwaliteit van kruiden- en faunarijk grasland (N12.02) is maatwerk. Sommige percelen hebben een gunstige uitgangssituatie. Voor beheerders is het nuttig deze situatie te herkennen, zodat middelen gericht worden ingezet op percelen met een grotere natuurkwaliteit. In gebieden helpt dit bij prioritering en differentiatie in beheer en het verbeteren van de biodiversiteit. Deze handreiking gaat over het inschatten van de natuurpotentie van percelen en het differentiatie van het beheer van kruiden- en faunarijke graslanden op gebiedsniveau.

Sinds de start in 2017 tekende de Deltares Nitraat App reeds 33 000 metingen op. Deze smartphone app is ontwikkeld om agrariërs in staat te stellen nitraatverliezen naar grond- en oppervlaktewater te detecteren. Inmiddels meet de app ook zoutconcentraties en bodem N-mineraal gehaltes. Hoe werkt dit?

Niet-kerende grondbewerking en gereduceerde grondbewerking laten de bodem zoveel mogelijk intact. Deze maatregelen omvatten het minimaliseren van de verstoring van de bodemstructuur, waardoor de natuurlijke bodemlagen behouden blijven en het bodemleven intact blijft. Niet-kerende grondbewerking houdt in dat de bodem nauwelijks wordt omgekeerd of verstoord. Gereduceerde grondbewerking is het verminderen van de intensiteit (diepte) en frequentie van de bewerking. Beide maatregelen dragen bij aan het verminderen van bodemerosie, het verbeteren van waterinfiltratie, het behoud van organisch materiaal en het bevorderen van biodiversiteit. Boeren en/of telers die voor deze benaderingen kiezen, kunnen profiteren van een beter vochtleverend vermogen van de bodem en potentiële opbrengstverhogingen.

Waterlogging affects millions of hectares traditionally used for food production every year. Despite this, existing literature and process-based frameworks enabling simulation of waterlogging are sparse. Here, we reveal a lack of field experiments that have enumerated effects of waterlogging on plant growth. We call for more research on waterlogging, particularly in controlled field conditions with quantified soil properties and continuous monitoring of soil moisture. We opine that future experiments should explicitly focus on the impact of waterlogging on phenology, root development, and water and nutrient uptake, including interactions with atmospheric CO concentration, temperature and other biotic/abiotic stresses. Such experimental data could then be used to develop waterlogging algorithms for crop models. Greater understanding of how waterlogging impacts on plant physiology will be conducive to more robust projections of how climate change will impact on global food security.

[SPA] Esta tesis doctoral se presenta bajo la modalidad de compendio de publicaciones. El agua es una sustancia clave para el desarrollo de la vida en La Tierra. Es por ello que la búsqueda de oportunidad de vida en otros planetas y satélites se basa en la presencia de agua en los mismos. La gestión ecológica del agua es necesaria para la sostenibilidad de los ecosistemas. Uno de los ecosistemas más amplios y donde el agua juega un papel más importante es el suelo, que alberga multitud de variedades de microorganismos cuya actividad, en parte resultante en la generación de nutrientes para el desarrollo de las especies vegetales, es totalmente dependiente del contenido de agua en el suelo. En zonas áridas y semiáridas, como es el caso de la cuenca Mediterránea, la escasez de agua supone un grave problema a la hora de gestionar los pocos recursos hídricos disponibles. En este caso, donde las condiciones geográficas son idóneas para el desarrollo de la agricultura, las soluciones pasan por una optimización de las técnicas de riego y un mayor control sobre los recursos hídricos. En este sentido, las técnicas de riego deficitario controlado se han mostrado exitosas en la reducción de la dotación hídrica a los cultivos en fases no críticas. Sin embargo, para realizar una aplicación prudente y eficiente de las mismas, resulta necesario monitorizar el estado hídrico de los cultivos, con el objetivo de que éstos no alcancen situaciones de estrés irreversible en términos de producción o estado vegetativo. Los indicadores que mayor información aportan sobre el estado hídrico de la planta suelen estar relacionados con variables medibles a partir de la propia planta, pero que son difícilmente automatizables debido a las operaciones de manejo asociadas. Este es el caso del potencial hídrico de tallo a mediodía medido con cámara de presión, considerado hasta la fecha como el indicador más fiable del estado hídrico de los cultivos en general. Es por ello que, para lograr una monito

As fresh water supplies become more unreliable, variable and expensive, the water-related implications of sustainable agriculture practices such as cover cropping are drawing increasing attention from California's agricultural communities. However, the adoption of winter cover cropping remains limited among specialty crop growers who face uncertainty regarding the water use of this practice. To investigate how winter cover crops affect soil water and evapotranspiration on farm fields, we studied three systems that span climatic and farming conditions in California's Central Valley: processing tomato fields with cover crop, almond orchards with cover crop, and almond orchards with native vegetation. From 2016 to 2019, we collected soil moisture data (3 years of neutron hydroprobe and gravimetric tests at 10 field sites) and evapotranspiration measurements (2 years at two of 10 sites) in winter cover cropped and control (clean-cultivated, bare ground) plots during winter months. Generally, there were not significant differences in soil moisture between cover cropped and control fields throughout or at the end of the winter seasons, while evapo-transpirative losses due to winter cover crops were negligible relative to clean-cultivated soil. Our results suggest that winter cover crops in the Central Valley may break even in terms of actual consumptive water use. California growers of high-value specialty crops can likely adopt winter cover cropping without altering their irrigation plans and management practices.

As fresh water supplies become more unreliable, variable and expensive, the water-related implications of sustainable agriculture practices such as cover cropping are drawing increasing attention from California's agricultural communities. However, the adoption of winter cover cropping remains limited among specialty crop growers who face uncertainty regarding the water use of this practice. To investigate how winter cover crops affect soil water and evapotranspiration on farm fields, we studied three systems that span climatic and farming conditions in California's Central Valley: processing tomato fields with cover crop, almond orchards with cover crop, and almond orchards with native vegetation. From 2016 to 2019, we collected soil moisture data (3 years of neutron hydroprobe and gravimetric tests at 10 field sites) and evapotranspiration measurements (2 years at two of 10 sites) in winter cover cropped and control (clean-cultivated, bare ground) plots during winter months. Generally, there were not significant differences in soil moisture between cover cropped and control fields throughout or at the end of the winter seasons, while evapo-transpirative losses due to winter cover crops were negligible relative to clean-cultivated soil. Our results suggest that winter cover crops in the Central Valley may break even in terms of actual consumptive water use. California growers of high-value specialty crops can likely adopt winter cover cropping without altering their irrigation plans and management practices.

Aims: This paper examines the water dynamics of a coastal dune plant community, addressing spatial and seasonal variations. We aimed to detect the patterns of water use by plants at the community level according to their distribution across a coastal dune gradient from beach to inland. Methods: Five sites were established: upper beach, embryo-dune, slack, foredune, and inland. Eight perennial species were collected seasonally to analyse the isotopic composition and water potential. Soil water samples at 3 depths, groundwater, and atmosphere, were obtained to determine plant water sources. Results: The species from Inland and foredune plant communities, Retama, Juniperus, and Helichrysum, showed the most stable isotopic signal throughout the year. On the contrary, the species most abundant on the upper beach, embryo-dune, and slack (Ammophila, Achillea, and Polygonum) showed the highest variability. Water deficit decreased the dependence on shallow and mid-soil layers along the beach-inland gradient. Beach and embryo-dune sites showed less negative leaf water potential values than the other positions in the dune gradient. Conclusions: Three factors mark the proportion of water sources used for vegetation in coastal vegetation: community composition, distance to the sea, and seasonality. Coastal dune vegetation exhibited a species-specific response in water uptake that was modified by its location on the gradient. From upper beach to inland, the plant communities showed a slight progressive increase in the use of water from deeper layers. This pattern was similar and overlapped with the wet to dry seasonal pattern.

Aims: This paper examines the water dynamics of a coastal dune plant community, addressing spatial and seasonal variations. We aimed to detect the patterns of water use by plants at the community level according to their distribution across a coastal dune gradient from beach to inland. Methods: Five sites were established: upper beach, embryo-dune, slack, foredune, and inland. Eight perennial species were collected seasonally to analyse the isotopic composition and water potential. Soil water samples at 3 depths, groundwater, and atmosphere, were obtained to determine plant water sources. Results: The species from Inland and foredune plant communities, Retama, Juniperus, and Helichrysum, showed the most stable isotopic signal throughout the year. On the contrary, the species most abundant on the upper beach, embryo-dune, and slack (Ammophila, Achillea, and Polygonum) showed the highest variability. Water deficit decreased the dependence on shallow and mid-soil layers along the beach-inland gradient. Beach and embryo-dune sites showed less negative leaf water potential values than the other positions in the dune gradient. Conclusions: Three factors mark the proportion of water sources used for vegetation in coastal vegetation: community composition, distance to the sea, and seasonality. Coastal dune vegetation exhibited a species-specific response in water uptake that was modified by its location on the gradient. From upper beach to inland, the plant communities showed a slight progressive increase in the use of water from deeper layers. This pattern was similar and overlapped with the wet to dry seasonal pattern.

Aims: This paper examines the water dynamics of a coastal dune plant community, addressing spatial and seasonal variations. We aimed to detect the patterns of water use by plants at the community level according to their distribution across a coastal dune gradient from beach to inland. Methods: Five sites were established: upper beach, embryo-dune, slack, foredune, and inland. Eight perennial species were collected seasonally to analyse the isotopic composition and water potential. Soil water samples at 3 depths, groundwater, and atmosphere, were obtained to determine plant water sources. Results: The species from Inland and foredune plant communities, Retama, Juniperus, and Helichrysum, showed the most stable isotopic signal throughout the year. On the contrary, the species most abundant on the upper beach, embryo-dune, and slack (Ammophila, Achillea, and Polygonum) showed the highest variability. Water deficit decreased the dependence on shallow and mid-soil layers along the beach-inland gradient. Beach and embryo-dune sites showed less negative leaf water potential values than the other positions in the dune gradient. Conclusions: Three factors mark the proportion of water sources used for vegetation in coastal vegetation: community composition, distance to the sea, and seasonality. Coastal dune vegetation exhibited a species-specific response in water uptake that was modified by its location on the gradient. From upper beach to inland, the plant communities showed a slight progressive increase in the use of water from deeper layers. This pattern was similar and overlapped with the wet to dry seasonal pattern.

Kennisclip + Docentenhandleiding Bokashi + Powerpoint + Werkblad. Voor de landbouwdeal Fryslân; natuurinclusieve landbouw in het onderwijs, proberen Aeres MBO Leeuwarden en Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein zoveel mogelijk onderwijs te verbinden aan de de praktijk. Marten Dijkstra te Oldeboorn behoort nu tot één van de demobedrijven van Aeres MBO Leeuwarden en Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein. Met enige regelmaat zijn de studenten aanwezig bij de demobedrijven en doen daar opdrachten. Zo kunnen ze in de praktijk kennismaken met deze vorm van landbouw, ervaren wat dit inhoudt en nog meer leren over de mogelijkheden. In deze praktijkopdracht maken studenten kennis met Bokashi. Wat is het, hoe kun je het maken, waarom zou je het willen maken, wat zijn de kosten en wat zijn eventuele nadelen?

Deze brochure zoomt in op maatregelen die de veehouders willen nemen. Het is hun aanbod aan de samenleving, dat als basis kan dienen om gezamenlijk afspraken te maken voor het gebied. De voorgenomen maatregelen zijn het resultaat van een driedaags ontwerpatelier waaraan 15 melkveehouders, het agrarisch Collectief Alblasserwaard/Vijfheerenlanden en Wageningen University & Research hebben deelgenomen. Het atelier is een initiatief van Groene Cirkel Kaas en Bodemdaling.

Op het klimaatvlak wordt er veel van boeren gevraagd en verwacht. Het landelijke gebied kan een grote bijdrage leveren aan de oplossing en er zelf ook beter van worden. Een overzicht wat er op boeren afkomt en wat zij kunnen doen wordt uiteengezet. Daarnaast geven we voorbeeld gegeven van hoe waterschap en collectief in het veenweidegebied al samenwerken op dit dossier (https://klimaatslimboerenopveen.nl/wp...) Dit is de aftrap van de kenniscirkel klimaat waarin de rol van collectieven in de oplossing duidelijk wordt en waarin beschikbare kennis wordt vertaald in praktische bruikbare kennis. Sprekers: Eppo Timmer, José van Miltenburg, Dorien Jansen.

In het landbouwgebied ten noordwesten van Schokland is sprake van vernatting. In opdracht van Waterschap Zuiderzeeland en Provincie Flevoland en in samenwerking met belanghebbenden is een tweejarig onderzoek uitgevoerd om, aan de hand van metingen aan grondwater, oppervlaktewater, bodemvocht en -structuur, meer duidelijkheid te verschaffen over de mogelijke oorzaken van de vernatting. De bevindingen wijzen op een onderlinge samenhang van aanwezige (regionale en lokale) grondwaterdynamiek, afvoer vanuit percelen en hoofdwatergang, en complexe bodemstructuur dat ten grondslag ligt aan de waargenomen vernatting. Door aanwezige permanente kweldruk vanuit het regionale grondwatersysteem zijn grondwaterstanden in het gebied relatief hoog en blijft het veen en de daarboven liggende kleilaag gedurende het jaar nat. Dit heeft een beperkte berging in de bodem tot gevolg. Aanpassingen aan de directe afvoer van overtollig water uit de hydrologische zone hebben wateroverlast in het gebied verminderd. De gevoeligheid van het systeem kan echter niet voorkomen dat perioden van hoge afvoer alsnog leiden tot hoge waterpeilen in de kavelsloten, waardoor afvoer uit percelen belemmerd wordt. Dit wordt versterkt doordat de bodem beperkt water los laat richting de drainage en overtollig water bij hoge neerslag het perceel moeilijk kan verlaten. Het verhogen van de drainagedichtheid kan een bijdrage leveren aan het verbeteren van de bewerkbaarheid van de bodem.

Water is onmisbaar voor voedselproductie en biodiversiteit. Doordat de landbouw 60% van Nederland beslaat, heeft hij aanzienlijke invloed op de waterkwaliteit en -kwantiteit. Dat geldt niet alleen voor de 300.000 kilometer aan boerensloten, maar bijvoorbeeld ook voor het grondwater onder landbouwgebieden – en daarmee voor de drinkwatervoorziening en verdrogingsbestrijding – en in veengebieden voor het tempo van bodemdaling. Er worden steeds meer eisen gesteld aan het waterbeheer in het landelijk gebied. Voor een deel zijn die wettelijk verplicht, bijvoorbeeld vanuit de EU- Nitraatrichtlijn en de Kaderrichtlijn Water. Daarnaast heeft de landbouw tal van mogelijkheden om vrijwillig – al dan niet tegen betaling – bij te dragen aan een beter waterbeheer. Meer nog dan bij andere groenblauwe diensten is regionale samenwerking daarbij cruciaal.

Om de landbouw toekomstbestendig te maken moet er meer aandacht zijn voor klimaat, landschap, milieu en biodiversiteit, vindt Europa. En dit vraagt een grote inspanning van boeren. Het zijn lastige opgaven, waarbij in de veenweidegebieden in de Krimpenerwaard het accent ligt op het voorkomen van bodemdaling en het beperken van broeikasgasemissies. En dan is er nog de stikstofcrisis, de woningbouw, de toename van recreatie en de behoefte aan zoetwaterbuffers in het gebied. De druk - de claim op schaarse gronden - neemt aan alle kanten toe. En die grond is grotendeels in het bezit van agrariërs. Met de Proeftuin is een poging gedaan om al deze wensen en eisen om te zetten in een robuust plan met als doel een toekomstbestendige landbouw in de veenweiden, waar de agrariërs ook nog een goede boterham kunnen verdienen.

In arid and semi-arid regions, water scarcity and soil salinization are major factors impacting sustainable agricultural production. In this study, a macroscopic root-water-uptake model was used to adapt a plant water deficit index (PWDI) for irrigation scheduling under conditions of coexisting soil water and salinity stress-causing factors. The traditional approach, estimating PWDI with average root zone soil water and salt amounts, was improved by weighting the effects of soil water and salinity according to the normalized root length density profile. An experiment growing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in soil columns and an experiment growing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in a salinized field were implemented to explore and quantify the effects of soil water and salinity conditions on plant water status, and thus to validate the improvement and evaluate its application, by monitoring soil water and salinity dynamics and plant growth indexes (e.g., leaf area, dry weight, leaf water potential, transpiration and yield). The results indicate that, even under conditions with equal root zone averages of soil matric and osmotic potentials, plant water status might be significantly different. In general, plants were less stressed when more water and less salinity were allocated in the upper root zone with more roots while less water and more salinity occurred in the lower root zone with less roots. By referring to some information in the soil column experiment, a numerical experiment was conducted to further demonstrate the improvement. The root-weighted approach resulted in improved PWDI estimation and thus was more reliable for irrigation scheduling, leading to higher irrigation frequency and quantity, leaf area index, biomass, yield, and transpiration, without significant decrease in water productivity. However, further improvement could be possible by considering the effects of historical soil water and salinity stresses as well as meteorological conditions on plant

Deltares, BoschSlabbers en Sweco brachten juli 2021 een essay uit, getiteld ‘Op Waterbasis’, dat een beeldend pleidooi bevat om ons landgebruik meer af te stemmen op de mogelijkheden en beperkingen van water en bodem. Dit met als doel om meer flexibiliteit terug te krijgen met het oog op toekomstige ontwikkelingen.

Ons oer-Hollandse landschap zakt. Het stelt de melkveehouders in het Utrechtse veenweidegebied voor een grote opgave daar waar het gaat om toepassen van bodemdaling remmende maatregelen. Tegelijkertijd moet het waterschap steeds meer inspanning leveren om de polders droog te houden, maar ook klimaatadaptief te maken. Provincie Utrecht en gemeenten kijken ook naar het buitengebied voor de energietransitie. De vraag is: hoe kunnen al deze opgaven gerealiseerd worden? En wat speelt er nog meer? De praktijk is weerbarstig en samenwerking is daarbij de sleutel.

Het Centrum voor Ondergronds Bouwen (COB) en TU Delft hebben samen met de Vlaamse Overheid een ontwerpstudie naar de mogelijkheden van integraal en multifunctioneel ruimtegebruik binnen verdichte steden in Nederland en Vlaanderen uitgevoerd. Hiertoe zijn zeven consortia aan de slag gegaan met 6 wijken in 3 Nederlandse en 3 Vlaamse steden die allemaal een specifieke positie in het bodemwatersysteem innemen. Interessant aan de uitkomsten is de definitie van de problematiek op basis van deze positie in het ontwerpen van de doorsnede van openbare ruimte, ondergrond en gebouw.

Klimaatverandering is overal, ook in Nederland, waarneembaar. Dit leidt tot extremen, extremere neerslagintensiteit en extremere temperaturen in de zomer en juist mildere winters. Kijkend naar water heeft Nederland te maken met zowel vernatting als met verdroging. De bodem onder onze voeten heeft in beide gevallen de mogelijkheid om te helpen door haar sponswerking.

Root water uptake is a major process controlling water balance and accounts for about 60% of global terrestrial evapotranspiration. The root system employs different strategies to better exploit available soil water, however, the regulation of water uptake under the spatiotemporal heterogeneous and uneven distribution of soil water is still a major question. To tackle this question, we need to understand how plants cope with this heterogeneity by adjustment of above ground responses to partial rhizosphere drying. Therefore, we use R-SWMS simulating soil water flow, flow towards the roots, and radial and the axial flow inside the root system to perform numerical experiments on a 9-cell gridded rhizotrone (50 cm×50 cm). The water potentials in each cell can be varied and fixed for the period of simulation and no water flow is allowed between cells while roots can pass over the boundaries. Then a static mature maize root architecture to different extents invaded in all cells is subjected to the various arrangements of cells' soil water potentials. R-SWMS allows determining possible hydraulic lift in drier areas. With these simulations, the variation of root water and leaf water potential will be determined and the role of root length density in each cell and corresponding average soil-root water potential will be statistically discussed. Powered by

Soil needs to be dried in order to determine water content, soil organic carbon content (SOC) and total nitrogen content (N). Water content is commonly measured using standard methods that involve drying temperatures of 105–110 °C. Recommended drying temperatures differ for the determination of SOC and N. However, at moderate drying temperatures, microbial activity might lead to organic matter mineralisation and nitrification, and thus to an underestimation of SOC and N. Furthermore, low drying temperatures might not dewater soils sufficiently to correctly determine water content or bulk density. Chemical processes such as thermal decomposition and volatilisation might occur at higher temperatures. This raises the question of whether the same sample can be used to determine water content, SOC and N. Further, the effect of drying, especially at different temperatures, on basal respiration of peat soils determined by incubation experiments is so far unknown. Effects of drying temperature might be especially severe for peat soils, which have high SOC and water contents. This study systematically evaluated the effect of different drying temperatures (20, 40, 60, 80 and 105 °C) on the determination of mass loss (proxy for water content), SOC and N over a wide range of 15 different peat soils comprising amorphous, Sphagnum and sedge peat substrate. The investigated peat soils had SOC contents ranging from approximately 16.8–52.5% with different degrees of decomposition. They were thus separated into two ‘peat groups’ (amorphous and weakly decomposed). In a subsequent investigation, an incubation experiment was carried out on a subset of five peat soils to investigate the pre-treatment effect of different drying temperatures on basal respiration. The results showed that amorphous samples should be dried at 105 °C to determine water content. The weakly decomposed peat soils in the study had reliable water contents for drying temperatures above 60 °C. For temperatures below

Aims: Root exudates are known to shape microbial activities in the rhizosphere and to be of fundamental importance for plant-soil-microbe-carbon–nitrogen interactions. However, it remains unclear how and to what extent the amount and composition of root exudation affects rhizosphere denitrification. Methods: In this study root exudation patterns and rhizosphere denitrification enzyme activity of three different grass species grown on two agricultural soils under two different soil water contents were investigated under controlled conditions. Results: We found that root exudation of primary metabolites largely depends on plant species, soil type, soil moisture and root exudation medium. In dependence of soil properties and soil moisture levels, plants largely controlled amount and quality of root exudation. Exudates affected denitrification activity and plant–microbe competition for nitrate. Specifically, exudation of organic acids stimulated denitrifying activity while the sugar lyxose exhibited an inhibitory effect. Conclusion: We show that interactive effects of physicochemical soil properties and species-specific effects of plant metabolism on root exudation act as a dominant control of rhizosphere denitrification, thereby explaining more than half of its variance. © 2021, The Author(s).

As roots generally grow below the soil surface, visualization and analysis of root growth in situ, in the soil, are a challenge. Classical methods typically require the removal of the root system from the soil for examination. This results in a loss of the intact root–soil system and, therefore, information on the root system architecture is lost. Furthermore, the analysis of root growth over time is not possible if destructive sampling methods are used. Modern imaging techniques such as neutron tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and especially X-ray computed tomography offer possibilities to overcome the above-mentioned limitations. These noninvasive imaging techniques are reviewed in this chapter, including specific advantages and disadvantages, as well as typical fields of application. By using these techniques, new and detailed insights into the root–soil system are possible. This allows the study of the dynamic characteristics of the true three-dimensional morphology of the root system architecture, from the distance between individual roots to the distribution of root hairs. This allows studying important interactions between roots and soil, e.g. deformation of soil by root growth and the contact between roots and soil. The noninvasive nature of imaging techniques enables repeated measurements to observe the dynamic response of roots to environmental cues. These studies contribute to a better understanding of the soil–plant interactions and can provide important information for improving soil resource capture as well as for modelling of water and nutrient uptake by plants. The 3D imaging of roots growing in soil provides valuable parameters for breeders targeting root traits, which can hardly be determined by classical methods. Therefore, the relevance of 3D imaging is expected to grow in the near future.

Vertisols shrink and swell with changes in soil moisture, influencing hydraulic properties. Vertisols are often in floodplains, yet the importance of flooding as a source of soil moisture remains poorly understood. We used blue dye and deuterated water as tracers to determine the role of the macropore network in matrix recharge under artificial flood durations of 3 and 31 days in large soil monoliths extracted from a forested soil. Gravimetric soil moisture content increased by 47% in the first three days, then increased only 3.5% from day 3-31. Post-flood moisture content was greatest in the organic-rich, top 10 cm and was lower at 10-75 cm where organic matter was less. Deuterium concentration revealed that soil moisture in the top 10 cm was quickly dominated by artificial flood water, but at depth remained <80% floodwater even after 31 days. Pervasive dye staining of ped surfaces in the top 4 cm indicated connectivity to flood waters but staining at depth was less and highly variable. The isotopic composition of soil water at depth continued to shift toward flood water despite no differences in dye staining between days 3 and 31. Results indicate flooding initially but incompletely recharges matrix water via macropores and suggest the importance of flooding as a source of matrix recharge in vertic floodplain soils may depend more on flood frequency than duration. Isotopic composition of matrix water in vertic soils depends on both advective and diffusional processes, with diffusion becoming more dominant as porosity decreases.

Large-scale ecological restoration (ER) projects have been implemented in northwest China in recent decades as a means to prevent desertification and improve ecosystem services. However, previous studies have demonstrated adverse impacts in the form of widespread soil water deficit caused by intensive ER activities. Understanding the role of climate change and ER efforts in vegetation dynamics and soil moisture consumption is essential for sustainable ecosystem management. Here, we used the break for additive season and trend (BFAST) method to analyse spatial patterns in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) variation over the agro-pastoral ecotone of northwest China (APENC) for 2000–2015. From the combined use of generalized additive modelling (GAM) and residual-trend analysis (RESTREND), we distinguished and quantified the effects of climate and human management on vegetation and soil water dynamics. Approximately 78% of the area showed vegetation variations representing a significant change in NDVI, of which more than 68% were categorized as abrupt changes. Large areas of the abrupt change type, interrupted increase and monotonic increase in NDVI were observed before 2006, and small areas of the change type of negative reversals were observed after 2012. Anthropogenic activity was found to be the major driving factor of variation in vegetation (contribution rate of 56%) and soil moisture (contribution rate of 78%). The vegetation expansion, which was mainly related to the large number of ER programs that started in 2000, was found to increase soil moisture depletion. By comparing areas where anthropogenic activities had a high contribution rate to vegetation increase and areas where soil moisture consumption was severely increased, we identify and discuss hotspot areas of soil moisture consumption caused by the ER programs. The current methodological workflow and results represent a novel foundation to inform and support water resource management a

Language simplification in scientific works that use electromagnetic induction (EMI) will promote this technique in soil and water-related research and applications. One way of fostering easy understanding and communication of ideas is by omitting the usage of the term “apparent electrical conductivity” (ECa) when dealing with EMI techniques. Herein we justify that the use of ECa terminology in many EMI sensor applications is unnecessary and can create confusion due to issues on units and dimensions of ECa. While the concept of a relative electrical conductivity within a soil system may have merit, it is our opinion that the use of the term ECa is not of primary importance in many applications of EMI to the pedosphere and hydrosphere, thus, omission of the term is warranted.

Large-scale ecological restoration (ER) projects have been implemented in northwest China in recent decades as a means to prevent desertification and improve ecosystem services. However, previous studies have demonstrated adverse impacts in the form of widespread soil water deficit caused by intensive ER activities. Understanding the role of climate change and ER efforts in vegetation dynamics and soil moisture consumption is essential for sustainable ecosystem management. Here, we used the break for additive season and trend (BFAST) method to analyse spatial patterns in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) variation over the agro-pastoral ecotone of northwest China (APENC) for 2000–2015. From the combined use of generalized additive modelling (GAM) and residual-trend analysis (RESTREND), we distinguished and quantified the effects of climate and human management on vegetation and soil water dynamics. Approximately 78% of the area showed vegetation variations representing a significant change in NDVI, of which more than 68% were categorized as abrupt changes. Large areas of the abrupt change type, interrupted increase and monotonic increase in NDVI were observed before 2006, and small areas of the change type of negative reversals were observed after 2012. Anthropogenic activity was found to be the major driving factor of variation in vegetation (contribution rate of 56%) and soil moisture (contribution rate of 78%). The vegetation expansion, which was mainly related to the large number of ER programs that started in 2000, was found to increase soil moisture depletion. By comparing areas where anthropogenic activities had a high contribution rate to vegetation increase and areas where soil moisture consumption was severely increased, we identify and discuss hotspot areas of soil moisture consumption caused by the ER programs. The current methodological workflow and results represent a novel foundation to inform and support water resource management a

De positieve impact van agroforestry is in de tropen al bewezen, maar hoe zit dat in gematigde klimaten als Nederland? Dat is waar WUR-onderzoeker Maureen Schoutsen zich mee bezighoudt. Zij denkt dat agroforestry – het bewust combineren van bomen met eenjarige gewassen – een oplossing biedt voor de problemen waar de landbouw nu tegenaan loopt, zoals extreme droogte en overtollig water.

Klimaatverandering is overal, ook in Nederland, waarneembaar. Dit leidt tot extremen, extremere neerslagintensiteit en extremere temperaturen in de zomer en juist mildere winters. Kijkend naar water heeft Nederland te maken met zowel vernatting als met verdroging. De bodem onder onze voeten heeft in beide gevallen de mogelijkheid om te helpen door haar sponswerking.

De afgelopen zomers hebben laten zien dat ons stedelijk groen kwetsbaar is voor droogte. Datzelfde groen heeft een belangrijke functie bij het voorkómen van hittestress. Het Nationaal Kennis- en Innovatieprogramma Water en Klimaat – Klimaatbestendige Stad (NKWK-KBS) zal daarom de komende maanden onderzoek doen naar gebiedsgerichte maatregelen om droogteschade aan stedelijk groen te voorkomen. De bodem speelt daarbij een sleutelrol.

La medida de la conductividad eléctrica en las soluciones del suelo (agua mezclada con tierra), permite la estimación de la cantidad de agua necesaria, ya que la calidad del agua es un parámetro fundamental en la dosis de riego. La aportación de fertilizantes, modifica la conductividad de la solución, con lo que este sistema puede ser utilizado como modelo para la estima de la solución del suelo Los objetivos de este trabajo son los siguientes: • Aprender a utilizar el potenciostato como medida de relación entre la intensidad y el voltaje. • Aprender a realizar modelos de medida a partir de muestras de referencia. • Estudio de distintas sondas: conocer la relación entre la conductividad eléctrica de una solución y la resistencia que opone al paso de corriente; para diferentes geometrías y materiales. • Hallar la sonda óptima para el diseño del sensor: encontrar la geometría y el material de la sonda que nos proporcione los valores más fiables a partir del estudio de cada una de ellas. • Diseño del circuito con plataformas open-source.

[ES] En las zonas agrícolas del área mediterránea es un objetivo prioritario la conservación de suelo y del agua, lo que requiere de la adopción de medidas que compatibilicen la consecución de dicho objetivo con la continuidad de la actividad agrícola con adecuadas producciones. Estas medidas hacen referencia al mantenimiento de una adecuada calidad de suelo en los sistemas agrícolas, lo que implica, entre otros factores, alcanzar y mantener un contenido apropiado de materia orgánica, haciendo un aprovechamiento conveniente de los restos de cultivo y/o evitando la rápida descomposición de la materia orgánica del suelo. En ocasiones el aprovechamiento de los residuos de cultivo en el propio sistema no es posible. Es el caso de la paja de arroz, que es uno de los residuos más difíciles de manipular y, cuya gestión en entornos naturales tiene un alto valor ecológico, como es el caso de La Albufera de Valencia, que representa un problema social y medioambiental. Tradicionalmente, el destino final de la paja generada en el cultivo del arroz ha sido la quema, pero esta práctica está cuestionada por los problemas de salud y de contaminación atmosférica que origina en el entorno de las zonas de cultivo. Es preciso buscar alternativas a esta práctica de la quema y, entre ellas, se encuentra la retirada de la paja de los campos y su posterior aprovechamiento como acolchado en otros cultivos. En este contexto de búsqueda de alternativas al problema de la quema de la paja de arroz, se enmarca este Trabajo fin de grado, cuyo objetivo es evaluar el impacto del uso de la paja del arroz como mulch en frutales, a la vez que se valora su efecto sobre la humedad, la temperatura y la biología del suelo. Para ello, se realizaron incubaciones de laboratorio de la paja del arroz con el suelo y se midió la liberación de CO2 como indicador de la actividad de los microorganismos. Además, se colocaron sondas capacitivas a distintas profundidades en las parcelas en zonas con paja de arroz y en, [EN] In Mediterranean agricultural areas, the soil and water conservation is a priority objective, which requires the adoption of measures that make the achievement compatible with the continuity of agricultural activity with adequate production. These measures refer to the maintenance of adequate soil quality in agricultural systems, which implies, among other factors, achieving and maintaining an appropriate content of organic matter, making a convenient use of crop residues and / or avoiding rapid soil organic matter decomposition. Sometimes crop residues usage in the system itself is not possible. This is the case of rice straw, which is one of the most difficult residues to handle, and whose management in natural environments is of high ecological value, as is the case of La Albufera de Valencia, that represents a social and environmental problem. Traditionally, the fate of rice straw generated in rice growing is to be burned, but this practice is put into doubt by the health problems and air pollution that it originates in the surroundings of the cultivation areas. It is necessary to look for alternatives to this practice of burning, and among them is the rice straw removal from the fields and its subsequent use as mulch in other crops. In this context of research for alternatives to the problem of burning rice straw is framed this degree thesis, which aims to evaluate the impact of rice straw usage as mulch in fruit trees, evaluating its effect on humidity , temperature and soil biology. For this, laboratory incubations of rice straw with the soil were carried out and the release of CO2 was measured as a microorganisms¿ activity indicator. In addition, capacitive probes were placed at different depths in the plots in areas with rice straw and in areas without it, to assess the influence of this organic residue on soil moisture and temperature. The results obtained show that the addition of rice straw has led to an increase in soil respiration in all the studi

[ES] En las zonas agrícolas del área mediterránea es un objetivo prioritario la conservación de suelo y del agua, lo que requiere de la adopción de medidas que compatibilicen la consecución de dicho objetivo con la continuidad de la actividad agrícola con adecuadas producciones. Estas medidas hacen referencia al mantenimiento de una adecuada calidad de suelo en los sistemas agrícolas, lo que implica, entre otros factores, alcanzar y mantener un contenido apropiado de materia orgánica, haciendo un aprovechamiento conveniente de los restos de cultivo y/o evitando la rápida descomposición de la materia orgánica del suelo. En ocasiones el aprovechamiento de los residuos de cultivo en el propio sistema no es posible. Es el caso de la paja de arroz, que es uno de los residuos más difíciles de manipular y, cuya gestión en entornos naturales tiene un alto valor ecológico, como es el caso de La Albufera de Valencia, que representa un problema social y medioambiental. Tradicionalmente, el destino final de la paja generada en el cultivo del arroz ha sido la quema, pero esta práctica está cuestionada por los problemas de salud y de contaminación atmosférica que origina en el entorno de las zonas de cultivo. Es preciso buscar alternativas a esta práctica de la quema y, entre ellas, se encuentra la retirada de la paja de los campos y su posterior aprovechamiento como acolchado en otros cultivos. En este contexto de búsqueda de alternativas al problema de la quema de la paja de arroz, se enmarca este Trabajo fin de grado, cuyo objetivo es evaluar el impacto del uso de la paja del arroz como mulch en frutales, a la vez que se valora su efecto sobre la humedad, la temperatura y la biología del suelo. Para ello, se realizaron incubaciones de laboratorio de la paja del arroz con el suelo y se midió la liberación de CO2 como indicador de la actividad de los microorganismos. Además, se colocaron sondas capacitivas a distintas profundidades en las parcelas en zonas con paja de arroz y en, [EN] In Mediterranean agricultural areas, the soil and water conservation is a priority objective, which requires the adoption of measures that make the achievement compatible with the continuity of agricultural activity with adequate production. These measures refer to the maintenance of adequate soil quality in agricultural systems, which implies, among other factors, achieving and maintaining an appropriate content of organic matter, making a convenient use of crop residues and / or avoiding rapid soil organic matter decomposition. Sometimes crop residues usage in the system itself is not possible. This is the case of rice straw, which is one of the most difficult residues to handle, and whose management in natural environments is of high ecological value, as is the case of La Albufera de Valencia, that represents a social and environmental problem. Traditionally, the fate of rice straw generated in rice growing is to be burned, but this practice is put into doubt by the health problems and air pollution that it originates in the surroundings of the cultivation areas. It is necessary to look for alternatives to this practice of burning, and among them is the rice straw removal from the fields and its subsequent use as mulch in other crops. In this context of research for alternatives to the problem of burning rice straw is framed this degree thesis, which aims to evaluate the impact of rice straw usage as mulch in fruit trees, evaluating its effect on humidity , temperature and soil biology. For this, laboratory incubations of rice straw with the soil were carried out and the release of CO2 was measured as a microorganisms¿ activity indicator. In addition, capacitive probes were placed at different depths in the plots in areas with rice straw and in areas without it, to assess the influence of this organic residue on soil moisture and temperature. The results obtained show that the addition of rice straw has led to an increase in soil respiration in all the studi

Recent articles from the Agricultural Experiment Station campuses and UC ANR's county offices, institutes and research and extension centers.

[ES] En las zonas agrícolas del área mediterránea es un objetivo prioritario la conservación de suelo y del agua, lo que requiere de la adopción de medidas que compatibilicen la consecución de dicho objetivo con la continuidad de la actividad agrícola con adecuadas producciones. Estas medidas hacen referencia al mantenimiento de una adecuada calidad de suelo en los sistemas agrícolas, lo que implica, entre otros factores, alcanzar y mantener un contenido apropiado de materia orgánica, haciendo un aprovechamiento conveniente de los restos de cultivo y/o evitando la rápida descomposición de la materia orgánica del suelo. En ocasiones el aprovechamiento de los residuos de cultivo en el propio sistema no es posible. Es el caso de la paja de arroz, que es uno de los residuos más difíciles de manipular y, cuya gestión en entornos naturales tiene un alto valor ecológico, como es el caso de La Albufera de Valencia, que representa un problema social y medioambiental. Tradicionalmente, el destino final de la paja generada en el cultivo del arroz ha sido la quema, pero esta práctica está cuestionada por los problemas de salud y de contaminación atmosférica que origina en el entorno de las zonas de cultivo. Es preciso buscar alternativas a esta práctica de la quema y, entre ellas, se encuentra la retirada de la paja de los campos y su posterior aprovechamiento como acolchado en otros cultivos. En este contexto de búsqueda de alternativas al problema de la quema de la paja de arroz, se enmarca este Trabajo fin de grado, cuyo objetivo es evaluar el impacto del uso de la paja del arroz como mulch en frutales, a la vez que se valora su efecto sobre la humedad, la temperatura y la biología del suelo. Para ello, se realizaron incubaciones de laboratorio de la paja del arroz con el suelo y se midió la liberación de CO2 como indicador de la actividad de los microorganismos. Además, se colocaron sondas capacitivas a distintas profundidades en las parcelas en zonas con paja de arroz y en, [EN] In Mediterranean agricultural areas, the soil and water conservation is a priority objective, which requires the adoption of measures that make the achievement compatible with the continuity of agricultural activity with adequate production. These measures refer to the maintenance of adequate soil quality in agricultural systems, which implies, among other factors, achieving and maintaining an appropriate content of organic matter, making a convenient use of crop residues and / or avoiding rapid soil organic matter decomposition. Sometimes crop residues usage in the system itself is not possible. This is the case of rice straw, which is one of the most difficult residues to handle, and whose management in natural environments is of high ecological value, as is the case of La Albufera de Valencia, that represents a social and environmental problem. Traditionally, the fate of rice straw generated in rice growing is to be burned, but this practice is put into doubt by the health problems and air pollution that it originates in the surroundings of the cultivation areas. It is necessary to look for alternatives to this practice of burning, and among them is the rice straw removal from the fields and its subsequent use as mulch in other crops. In this context of research for alternatives to the problem of burning rice straw is framed this degree thesis, which aims to evaluate the impact of rice straw usage as mulch in fruit trees, evaluating its effect on humidity , temperature and soil biology. For this, laboratory incubations of rice straw with the soil were carried out and the release of CO2 was measured as a microorganisms¿ activity indicator. In addition, capacitive probes were placed at different depths in the plots in areas with rice straw and in areas without it, to assess the influence of this organic residue on soil moisture and temperature. The results obtained show that the addition of rice straw has led to an increase in soil respiration in all the studi

Vegetation is essential in constructing eco-slopes for environmental protection and restoration, as well as in minimizing soil erosion and landslide. The effects of vegetation on the hydraulic properties of the underlying soil cover, especially the saturated-unsaturated hydraulic properties during long-term drying-wetting cycles, are extremely important to assess the performance of an eco-slope, which have not been intensively investigated. This study investigated the infiltration and hydraulic conductivity of the vegetated covers by continuously monitoring the hydraulic properties of three different vegetated layers for a period of four years. Thirty-three sensors were set up to monitor the hydraulic properties of a Vetiver grass cover, a Bermuda grass cover and a bare cover in-situ. The results demonstrate that the infiltration rate through the Vetiver grass cover is almost two times that of the cover without vegetation. In contrast, the infiltration rate through the Bermuda grass cover is only half of the bare cover. The hydraulic conductivity of the Vetiver cover is larger than that of the bare cover and increases up to 3 orders of magnitude. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the Bermuda cover is the smallest, which only increased by 1–2 orders of magnitude under the same matric suction in four years. The field study indicates that the Bermuda grass can effectively reduce the increase in percolation of a soil layer. This study provides valuable field data to clearly demonstrate the influence of vegetation on the covers, paving the way for a more sustainable ecological slope design.

[ES] En las zonas agrícolas del área mediterránea es un objetivo prioritario la conservación de suelo y del agua, lo que requiere de la adopción de medidas que compatibilicen la consecución de dicho objetivo con la continuidad de la actividad agrícola con adecuadas producciones. Estas medidas hacen referencia al mantenimiento de una adecuada calidad de suelo en los sistemas agrícolas, lo que implica, entre otros factores, alcanzar y mantener un contenido apropiado de materia orgánica, haciendo un aprovechamiento conveniente de los restos de cultivo y/o evitando la rápida descomposición de la materia orgánica del suelo. En ocasiones el aprovechamiento de los residuos de cultivo en el propio sistema no es posible. Es el caso de la paja de arroz, que es uno de los residuos más difíciles de manipular y, cuya gestión en entornos naturales tiene un alto valor ecológico, como es el caso de La Albufera de Valencia, que representa un problema social y medioambiental. Tradicionalmente, el destino final de la paja generada en el cultivo del arroz ha sido la quema, pero esta práctica está cuestionada por los problemas de salud y de contaminación atmosférica que origina en el entorno de las zonas de cultivo. Es preciso buscar alternativas a esta práctica de la quema y, entre ellas, se encuentra la retirada de la paja de los campos y su posterior aprovechamiento como acolchado en otros cultivos. En este contexto de búsqueda de alternativas al problema de la quema de la paja de arroz, se enmarca este Trabajo fin de grado, cuyo objetivo es evaluar el impacto del uso de la paja del arroz como mulch en frutales, a la vez que se valora su efecto sobre la humedad, la temperatura y la biología del suelo. Para ello, se realizaron incubaciones de laboratorio de la paja del arroz con el suelo y se midió la liberación de CO2 como indicador de la actividad de los microorganismos. Además, se colocaron sondas capacitivas a distintas profundidades en las parcelas en zonas con paja de arroz y en, [EN] In Mediterranean agricultural areas, the soil and water conservation is a priority objective, which requires the adoption of measures that make the achievement compatible with the continuity of agricultural activity with adequate production. These measures refer to the maintenance of adequate soil quality in agricultural systems, which implies, among other factors, achieving and maintaining an appropriate content of organic matter, making a convenient use of crop residues and / or avoiding rapid soil organic matter decomposition. Sometimes crop residues usage in the system itself is not possible. This is the case of rice straw, which is one of the most difficult residues to handle, and whose management in natural environments is of high ecological value, as is the case of La Albufera de Valencia, that represents a social and environmental problem. Traditionally, the fate of rice straw generated in rice growing is to be burned, but this practice is put into doubt by the health problems and air pollution that it originates in the surroundings of the cultivation areas. It is necessary to look for alternatives to this practice of burning, and among them is the rice straw removal from the fields and its subsequent use as mulch in other crops. In this context of research for alternatives to the problem of burning rice straw is framed this degree thesis, which aims to evaluate the impact of rice straw usage as mulch in fruit trees, evaluating its effect on humidity , temperature and soil biology. For this, laboratory incubations of rice straw with the soil were carried out and the release of CO2 was measured as a microorganisms¿ activity indicator. In addition, capacitive probes were placed at different depths in the plots in areas with rice straw and in areas without it, to assess the influence of this organic residue on soil moisture and temperature. The results obtained show that the addition of rice straw has led to an increase in soil respiration in all the studi

[ES] En las zonas agrícolas del área mediterránea es un objetivo prioritario la conservación de suelo y del agua, lo que requiere de la adopción de medidas que compatibilicen la consecución de dicho objetivo con la continuidad de la actividad agrícola con adecuadas producciones. Estas medidas hacen referencia al mantenimiento de una adecuada calidad de suelo en los sistemas agrícolas, lo que implica, entre otros factores, alcanzar y mantener un contenido apropiado de materia orgánica, haciendo un aprovechamiento conveniente de los restos de cultivo y/o evitando la rápida descomposición de la materia orgánica del suelo. En ocasiones el aprovechamiento de los residuos de cultivo en el propio sistema no es posible. Es el caso de la paja de arroz, que es uno de los residuos más difíciles de manipular y, cuya gestión en entornos naturales tiene un alto valor ecológico, como es el caso de La Albufera de Valencia, que representa un problema social y medioambiental. Tradicionalmente, el destino final de la paja generada en el cultivo del arroz ha sido la quema, pero esta práctica está cuestionada por los problemas de salud y de contaminación atmosférica que origina en el entorno de las zonas de cultivo. Es preciso buscar alternativas a esta práctica de la quema y, entre ellas, se encuentra la retirada de la paja de los campos y su posterior aprovechamiento como acolchado en otros cultivos. En este contexto de búsqueda de alternativas al problema de la quema de la paja de arroz, se enmarca este Trabajo fin de grado, cuyo objetivo es evaluar el impacto del uso de la paja del arroz como mulch en frutales, a la vez que se valora su efecto sobre la humedad, la temperatura y la biología del suelo. Para ello, se realizaron incubaciones de laboratorio de la paja del arroz con el suelo y se midió la liberación de CO2 como indicador de la actividad de los microorganismos. Además, se colocaron sondas capacitivas a distintas profundidades en las parcelas en zonas con paja de arroz y en, [EN] In Mediterranean agricultural areas, the soil and water conservation is a priority objective, which requires the adoption of measures that make the achievement compatible with the continuity of agricultural activity with adequate production. These measures refer to the maintenance of adequate soil quality in agricultural systems, which implies, among other factors, achieving and maintaining an appropriate content of organic matter, making a convenient use of crop residues and / or avoiding rapid soil organic matter decomposition. Sometimes crop residues usage in the system itself is not possible. This is the case of rice straw, which is one of the most difficult residues to handle, and whose management in natural environments is of high ecological value, as is the case of La Albufera de Valencia, that represents a social and environmental problem. Traditionally, the fate of rice straw generated in rice growing is to be burned, but this practice is put into doubt by the health problems and air pollution that it originates in the surroundings of the cultivation areas. It is necessary to look for alternatives to this practice of burning, and among them is the rice straw removal from the fields and its subsequent use as mulch in other crops. In this context of research for alternatives to the problem of burning rice straw is framed this degree thesis, which aims to evaluate the impact of rice straw usage as mulch in fruit trees, evaluating its effect on humidity , temperature and soil biology. For this, laboratory incubations of rice straw with the soil were carried out and the release of CO2 was measured as a microorganisms¿ activity indicator. In addition, capacitive probes were placed at different depths in the plots in areas with rice straw and in areas without it, to assess the influence of this organic residue on soil moisture and temperature. The results obtained show that the addition of rice straw has led to an increase in soil respiration in all the studi

Vegetation is essential in constructing eco-slopes for environmental protection and restoration, as well as in minimizing soil erosion and landslide. The effects of vegetation on the hydraulic properties of the underlying soil cover, especially the saturated-unsaturated hydraulic properties during long-term drying-wetting cycles, are extremely important to assess the performance of an eco-slope, which have not been intensively investigated. This study investigated the infiltration and hydraulic conductivity of the vegetated covers by continuously monitoring the hydraulic properties of three different vegetated layers for a period of four years. Thirty-three sensors were set up to monitor the hydraulic properties of a Vetiver grass cover, a Bermuda grass cover and a bare cover in-situ. The results demonstrate that the infiltration rate through the Vetiver grass cover is almost two times that of the cover without vegetation. In contrast, the infiltration rate through the Bermuda grass cover is only half of the bare cover. The hydraulic conductivity of the Vetiver cover is larger than that of the bare cover and increases up to 3 orders of magnitude. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the Bermuda cover is the smallest, which only increased by 1–2 orders of magnitude under the same matric suction in four years. The field study indicates that the Bermuda grass can effectively reduce the increase in percolation of a soil layer. This study provides valuable field data to clearly demonstrate the influence of vegetation on the covers, paving the way for a more sustainable ecological slope design.

Recent articles from the Agricultural Experiment Station campuses and UC ANR's county offices, institutes and research and extension centers.