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Improper soil tillage management often leads to soil degradation that eventually decreases rice productivity. The aim of the research was to identify the best soil tillage management and planting systems to improve rice productivity and vertisol properties in a rainfed agroecosystem. The field experiment was laid out as a split plot design with two planting systems of direct seeding (DS) and transplanted seeding (TS) treatments as the main plot and three soil managements treatment, i.e., no tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and conventional tillage (CT) as sub-plots and four replications. The results showed that vertisol properties such as bulk density, porosity, and permeability tend to be better in NT and MT than in CT, although these were not significantly different. However, rice plants were harvested about 10 days earlier in the DS treatment than in the TS treatment without significantly reducing yield. The DS technology has been able to streamline the planting time earlier than the usual method or the farmer's method (TS) with NT or MT soil management. The agronomic parameters of rice plants did not significantly differ either in combination treatments or in single treatment except for dry biomass weight. The highest dry biomass was obtained in the conventional tillage treatment and was significantly different from the treatment with no tillage but not significantly different from the minimum tillage. The cultivation of no tillage combined with direct seed planting was able to produce the same rice yield as transplanted seed with conventional tillage. The existence of earlier planting time will provide an opportunity to utilize irrigation water resources more efficiently for the next season of planting time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low soil fertility of acid paddy soils in East Kalimantan becomes the primary constraint in boosting rice yield. Generally, integrated soil management by applying organic matter, lime, humic acids, biofertilizer, and zeolite improves the soil's physical, chemical, and biological quality. To promote rice productivity in acid paddy fields, we tested the effectiveness of local bio-activators in promoting rice growth and flowering. The experiment was carried out from July to November 2020 in Embalut Village, Kutai Kertanegara Regency, East Kalimantan (Indonesia). We used a split-plot design using two factors and three replications, using Cibogo as a standard variety. The first factor was the application of local bio-activators by using four levels (A-0: control, A-1: 100mL/L, A-2: 150mL/L, A-3: 200mL/L). The second factor was spraying frequency during ten days intervals using four levels (F-0: control, F-1: twice, F-2: four times, dan F-3: six times). The results showed that pyrite was on the soil after four days of application on the soil surface. In addition, rice sprayed by local bio-activators was more resistant to leaf blasts. The application of local bio-activators increased soil quality and rice yield. The highest yield was from four-time spraying (128.50g, equivalent to 8.03t unmilled rice per ha) and a dose of 10 L/ha (122.22 g, equivalent to 7.64 t unmilled rice per ha). Bio-activator is prospective material for improving rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous cultivation of vegetable crops such as cabbage throughout the year causes a decrease in crop and soil productivity. There it is necessary to develop agricultural practices that can maintain sustainable production while reducing land degradation. The aim of this experiment was to study soil fertility and cabbage yields influenced by tillage methods and types of legumes as cover crops. The research was conducted in Pangalengan highlands, West Java, Indonesia. A split-plot design with four replications was applied. The main plot consisted of two tillage methods, namely minimum tillage (strip) and conventional tillage. The subplot consisted of legumes cultivated as cover crops on cabbage beds, namely string beans, red beans, peanuts, and plastic mulch as controls. The results indicated that the application of minimum tillage was not significantly different from conventional tillage in the chemical and physical properties of the soil, growth, and yield of cabbage. Therefore, minimal tillage can be used for the cultivation of cabbage in the highlands. Meanwhile, legume cover crops produced higher residual nutrients (organic C and soil P), soil microbial population, growth, and yield of cabbage compared to plastic mulch application, although the physical properties of the soil were not significantly different. This indicated that legumes planted among cabbage cultivations can increase soil fertility and cabbage yields. Then minimum tillage and cultivation of legumes as intercropping crops can be proposed as efficient methods of crop and soil management to maintain crop and land productivity in cabbage cultivation in the tropic highlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the morphometric parameters is crucial to investigate the hydrological properties of a River basin. The River basin morphometric analysis is an important technique to prioritize the watersheds for the implementation of soil and water management strategies. In this study, the morphometric characteristics of the Kunhar River have been determined using geospatial techniques. The Kunhar river basin in the northern areas was chosen for the study area because a high-level flood occurred in July 2022. Initially, flood maps were produced by modeling the areas of floods surrounding the Kunhar River using documentary materials and field research after the flood in July 2022. The calculated morphometric parameters were used to rank the watersheds in terms of soil erosion potential. The priority ranks to the watersheds was assigned as per compound parameter, which was calculated by averaging the ranks designated to each morphometric parameter. Slopes, altitude, stream power index (SPI), topographic wetness index (TWI), distance along the riverbank, geological, surface runoff, and land use/landcover (LULC), were among the floods conditioning parameters incorporated into the establishment of the geospatial datasets. Employing hydrological interpretation from the extracted drainage network, the seven sub-basins Nill (NI), Kunhar (KN), Manur (MN), Basai (BS), Gitidas (GD), Bas katna (BK), and Kala-da-katha (KDK) are determined. The basin has a total surface area of about 2434 km2 and a circumference of up to 456 km. DEM analysis is employed to compute the linear morphological statistics, and Arc GIS is applied to assess areal morphological variables. The results indicated that the extraction of surface runoff factors has a reasonably positive impact on flood prediction. Slope and elevation showed the most influence. It can be proven that morphological variables integrated with PCA are an efficient and accurate method for evaluating flood vulnerability. The produced maps showing flood vulnerability potentially benefit flood prevention during major natural catastrophes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rambutan (Nephelium sp.) is one of the tropical fruit plants that are currently being developed intensively. The development of rambutan plants requires land characteristics requirements to support optimal production. The purpose of this study was to examine the limiting factors of land characteristics on the development of rambutan and its management efforts in Lambuea Village, South Konawe. This research was carried out using a land resource survey method which included aspects of land morphology, soil physical properties, and soil chemical properties. The survey was conducted to obtain soil morphological data as well as to estimate the physical properties of the soil in the field and to take samples for analysis in the laboratory to obtain data on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The observed variables included temperature components (tc), water availability (wa), oxygen availability (oa), rooting condition (rc), nutrient retention (nr), flood hazard (fh), erosion hazard (eh), and land preparation (lp). The results showed that the limiting factors for rambutan production at the research site were mainly land quality related to rooting media, erosion hazards, and nutrient retention. Improvement management to overcome land limiting factors is the addition of organic matter for land units that have a limiting factor of nutrient retention and soil conservation for land units that have erosion hazard limiting factors. Meanwhile, in inland units with limiting factors, the root condition is directed to be used as pasture land or the development of chicken, goat, or cow farms as an alternative source of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Serious problem arising from agricultural intensification, land depletion, and other anthropogenic activities is soil erosion. In planning and restoration work in a watershed or basin, the evaluation of soil erosion is useful. Under a broad variety of conditions, modelling may provide a quantitative and reliable approach to estimating soil erosion and sediment yield. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with the Geographical Information System (GIS) has been used in the current study to estimate soil loss in the Dwarakeshwar-rupnarayan basin in the south-western part of West Bengal, India, to estimate the soil loss. The Dwarakeshwar-rupnarayan basin is a sub-humid plateau zoned up to the gauging station with a drainage area of 10613 km2. The parameters of the RUSLE model were calculated, and the erosion probability zones were determined using GIS. The results indicate that during the water year 2018-2020, the projected cumulative annual potential soil loss of about 291 t/h/yr is comparable with the observed sediment of 163 t/h/yr. The weighted overlay index method has been used to obtain the probability zone map, suggesting that the main portion of the study area is in a low probability zone, and only a small portion is in a high and very high probability zone. Sediment yield is calculated with the help of Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR), and it is useful to determine the amount of sediment inflow into a river system. The average annual SY of the basin area is 20–163-ton h−1 yr-1. The findings would help to introduce soil management and conservation practices in the Dwarakeshwar-rupnarayan-Haldi basin to mitigate soil erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic variability from year to year and even within the same growing season has a significant impact on the composition of the grapes and the resulting wines. This study covered several vineyards along a 400-km route in western Romania to empirically describe the influence of climate on berry concentration in titratable acidity (TA), pH and anthocyanins of two wine varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc) during 2021-2022 growing seasons. The results showed that at a sugar level of 23° Brix total soluble solids, berries harvested in years with higher temperatures during the growing season had lower anthocyanins, and TA, but a higher pH, than berries harvested in cooler autumns. Depending on the variety, TA, anthocyanins and pH were explained on the basis of climatic variables from the vineyards location, such as the temperature during the growth and the ripening period of the berries. Despite variations in soil type and management, climate had a stronger impact on berry composition. This study revealed that climate is the most important factor in the accumulation of quality parameters in grape berries for all three wine grape varieties. The results of the study may be useful as a model for estimating changes in TA, pH, and anthocyanins in grape berries in response to climate change, in other grape varieties and wine-growing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out between the 2020 and 2022 growing seasons, in six different wine-growing regions of Romania, including the west, central, south, and east. The grapevine growing technology and production process were investigated, which were carried out differently depending on the soil and environmental resources in each growing area. The climatic conditions were also analyzed, as well as the influence on the production and quality of two grape cultivars for superior red wines grown in the researched areas. Soil management systems, fertilization, disease and insect control were investigated. At the same time, less invasive, eco friendly experimental alternatives were tested as an option to conventional technological versions. Observations and determinations were performed for each experimental alternative regarding the combined influence of the local microclimate and the different management on grape production and concentration in sugars, acidity, and vitamins. Although the grape yield was lower compared to the control variants, the experimental, less invasive and eco-friendly variants proved to be viable alternatives to the conventional ones. These experimental alternatives resulted in lower carbon emissions, less pollution, healthier viticultural products, and higher profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic soils in cropland and grassland are absolutely the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Latvia contributing to output of 3.1 mill. tons CO2 eq; therefore, it is important, to evaluate different management scenarios and their effect on the GHG emissions. In this study we compared 3 scenarios of management of organic soils used in agriculture: afforestation with birch and retaining of drainage system, afforestation with birch with following rewetting and management these areas as grasslands as a reference scenario. We estimated carbon stock changes in living biomass of trees and forest floor vegetation, litter, dead wood, harvested wood products and soil, substitution effect of forest biofuel, and N2O and CH4 emissions from soil. AGM model is used to create forest growth projections. The average annual GHG emissions from grassland is 7.3 tons CO2 eq ha-1 yr-1. In afforested and drained areas average GHG emissions are 2.6 tons CO2 eq ha-1 yr-1, and in afforested and rewetted areas - 3.8 tons CO2 eq ha-1 yr-1. Afforestation of grassland and maintenance of drainage system during 200 years period reduces GHG emissions by 916 tons CO2 eq ha-1, while the afforestation and rewetting reduces GHG emissions by 670 tons CO2 eq. ha-1. The substitution of fossil fuel has significant role in the climate change mitigation effect. The cost of the emissions' reduction in 2050 reaches 5.8 and 21.3 € ton-1 CO2 eq in drained and rewetted areas, accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of management practices lead to significant variations of the net C balance of agricultural soils, and in this paper is estimated the impact of long-term cultivation on the soil organic carbon stocks. This paper also evaluates the potential of carbon sequestration of mineral soils through management practices in temperate agricultural systems, under dry climate regime. For fulfilling of the objective of this study, the "stock-difference method" was used for estimating the soil organic carbon stocks between two points in time, t1 (2000) and t2 (2021). The results obtained showed that the evolution of SOC stocks during the 21 years period between 2000 and 2021 recorded significant increases in most of the investigated soils, with one exception where a decrease in SOC stock by aprox. 11 % was recorded. The highest increase in SOC stock was recorded in case of a Cambic Chernozem soil, where the SOC stock value from 2021 is 63% higher as compared with the SOC value from 2000. Also, this soil recorded the highest rate for annual change in carbon stock (1.4762 tC/ha), followed by Eutric Cambisol (1.4286 tC/ha), Chernozem (1.3810 tC/ha) and Fluvisol (1.0476 tC/ha). The presented results showed that the Cambic Chernozem has the highest potential for CO2 removal from the atmosphere with an annual rate of 5.41 tCO2/ha. Also, high potentials for CO2 sequestration with accumulation rates of 5.24 tCO2/ha and respectively 5.06 tCO2/ha have the Eutric Cambisol and Chernozem soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic soils can be a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in countries with high peat soil coverage, and emissions are observed in both sectors of agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry. This phenomenon is well-known and persistent in the Nordic part of Europe, but proper soil management practices are not often exhaustively understood and present. This study aims to assess the current situation by identifying the climate change mitigation (CCM) targeted management practices on organic soils managed for agriculture in the Baltic region. We did an expert questionnaire and screened the climate change and agriculture-related policy documents by identifying implemented or politically supported practices in the researched countries and looking for GHG mitigation practices with the most significant future potential. The assessment revealed a general lack of proper policy planning around organic soil management, a lack of direct measures and quantitative GHG mitigation estimates allowing adequate monitoring and reporting of the GHG effects into national GHG inventory reports; however, the situation differs among countries. Guidance on potential GHG mitigation through organic soil management suggests six management practices with the potentially most significant potential in the temperate cool and moist climate zone - conversion of cropland used for cereal production into grassland considering periodic ploughing, controlled drainage of grassland considering even groundwater level during the whole vegetation period, the introduction of legumes in conventional farm crop rotation, agroforestry of fast-growing trees and grass, conventional afforestation and paludiculture by afforestation of grassland with black alder and birch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural activities account for about a third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most of the GHG in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The aim of this study is to measure N2O isotopes in two differently managed agricultural soils. One soil is with organic farming and the other with conventional. Samples were collected in 32 experimental plots as well as a control plot. The samples are thus weighed in 3 l buckets, each 1.8 kg in total. Two samples were made from each plot so that they could have a different moisture regime. Moistening is designed for wet aerobic and wet anaerobic soil conditions. Information on changes in soil weight after soil wetting was also collected. Measurements for N2O isotopes were performed using a Picarro G5131-i instrument under laboratory conditions. The obtained data were collected and analysed. It was concluded that not all differences and interrelationships of the N2O isotope data obtained can be directly attributed to soil management. Differences between the effects of the microorganism population and the physical properties of the soil cannot be ruled out. The maximum value of δ15NSP value is 18.58 and the minimum value is -53.41. On the other hand, the maximum value of δ15Nbulk values is 26.76, and the minimum value is -56.97. In the conclusions, we get that both nitrification and denitrification dominate among cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, soils contain about twice as much carbon in the atmosphere and three times as much in vegetation. Therefore, soil is both a "source and sink" of greenhouse gases, and the balance between functions is very fragile. Gases are constantly moving from one basin to another, maintaining a balance in different basins of the ecosystem. Good soil management offers opportunities to address each of the challenges of food security and climate change. The estimated potential for carbon sequestration in the world's soils is between 0.4 and 1.2 Gt per year, including 0.01-0.30 Gt per year from grassland. Carbon sequestration in grassland can be increased through pasture management, sowing favorable forage species, applying fertilizers and irrigation, restoring degraded pastures, and etc. However, there are certain limitations that prevent the introduction of methods to increase carbon sequestration in grassland. Constraints include continuous rangeland degradation, climate change, lack of information on rangeland carbon stocks from developing countries, disagreements over systems for documenting carbon stock changes over time, obstacles to implementing new paradigm policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents an investigation of the future behaviour of soil erosion processes predicted for the years 2050-2100 as a result of changes in the climate conditions and various land-use management practices. The consequences of climate change are known and visible via vital signs of the planet, i.e., the loss of sea ice, the rise in global temperatures, the rise in sea levels, the distribution of species and altered ecological processes, extreme events, ocean acidification, and changes in precipitation patterns and soil properties. However, the range of the effects of long-term climate change is difficult if not impossible to measure. The modelling of future scenarios provides a low key insight into the future development of processes modelled with a certain amount of uncertainty that has to be carefully included in the outcomes. A related issue is the relationship between climate change and soil properties, which is noticeable through the influence of physical and chemical soil properties that further affect the processes above and below the soil surface. Since the soil represents an essential element in balancing the climate, the changes in soil substances are linked to other processes with a direct impact on living organisms, including humans. The study deals with extreme events, i.e., changes in precipitation patterns and soil properties, and investigates the future development of soil erosion processes based on a continuous future precipitation data scenario provided by the Community Land Model (CLM). The erosion calculations were performed with the physically-based EROSION-3D model using a long-term simulation tool. It is assumed that the impacts of land use and soil management practices on soil-water erosion are higher than the effects of changed precipitation patterns; therefore, two scenarios were modelled in the study (current and possible future scenarios). The results show predicted changes in soil erosion processes by the years 2050-2100, which are quantified by comparing the soil management practices used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic soil management and related climate and agriculture policy planning is emerging issue globally, at European Union (EU) level and nationally, especially for organic soil rich countries like Latvia and in a light of movement towards climate neutrality by 2050. Relatively small proportion of these soils by area significantly impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emission balance of many European countries including Latvia where organic soil management related GHG emissions make up to one third of GHG emissions associated with agriculture land management. Organic soil can act either as an effective carbon storage or as considerable source of greenhouse gas emissions. The effect achieved largely depends on the management practices applied and considering importance of agriculture support system - also on agriculture and climate policy planning. In this study we analyze top-down policy and legislative framework of organic soil management in Latvia to detect development pattern of the political importance of organic soil and to map normative and policy framework around this issue. We found that international policies, i.e. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and related European level agriculture and Climate policies i.e. European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Climate policy are drivers of organic soil management at national level. Study results show genesis of the organic soil issue, map political time frame and suggest further development needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion by water is a type of physical degradation of the soil that is causing significant losses of topsoil worldwide. The susceptibility of the specific area to water erosion can be assessed by taking into account the effect of the specific erosion factors such as rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, properties of the topography (mainly slope length and gradient), vegetation cover and erosion control practices. It is obvious that not all factors can be controlled by human to the same extent. This contribution investigates the effect of growing crops in strips rather than in direct rows along the slope considering the increasing sediment transport capacity along the slope with accumulating surface runoff. As an example, the effect of protective cover under six different rotation designs including corn and alfalfa at the uniform slope with the same soil properties and rainfall pattern was evaluated. Alfalfa (generalized C factor equal to 0.02) due to its dense cover generally protects the soil against water erosion much better than corn (with generalized C factor equal to 0.55). If these crops are to be grown on the same slope proportionally in the direction of surface runoff, the mean crop and management factor would be 0.285. However, there would be a significant risk of water erosion in the corn part of the field especially in the spring months when the corn cover is less developed. As the transport capacity of concentrated surface runoff increases with the slope length, the protective efficiency of the grown crop further from the beginning of the slope has higher importance. When corn would be grown in the first half of the slope and alfalfa in the other half, further from the beginning – such design would result in 63% reduction of erosion risk if only corn was grown. At the same time, such crop management would mean 54% lower risk compared to growing alfalfa in the upper part of the slope and corn at the bottom of the slope. These results also show the importance of strip cropping that utilizes the vegetation cover of different crops and their residues in different parts of the slope and during different parts of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Waste building sludge (WBS) for improving water accumulation and retention of water was studied on two standard soils: i) clayey-loam soil (CA) with a high content of clay fraction and a high specific surface area (SBET) value; ii) sandy-loam soil (SA) with prevailing particle fraction of 0.05 - 2 mm and an order of magnitude lower SBET compare to CA. Two different WBS (from the production of concrete (B) and from the production of artificial stone (TS)) were applied to soils in amounts of 1 and 10% wt. Natural clinoptilolite (CL) as a reference material was used in the same manner. The accumulation of water in soils enriched with the defined amount of additive was measured after 2 and 24 hours. The addition of B increased the water absorption by up to 34% for SA and up to 12% for CA. With the addition of CL, water absorption increased by up to 15% in SA and up to 7% in CA. The addition of TS showed the lowest effect on increasing water absorption, i.e. about 1% in SA and less than 3% in CA. Water retention was studied on the identical samples after their saturation with water (24 h). The saturated soil columns were subjected to the evaporation in air at laboratory temperature (20 °C) to the constant weight. The addition of B extended the water retention time by up to 336 hours in the case of SA, and up to 72 hours for CA. The addition of TS and CL led to extending water retention by up to 168 hours for SA and up to 72 hours for CA. The ability of WBS to improve the water management of soils declined in the order: B> CL> TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern society receives 93% of food products owing to the fertile soils. Today, the areas of fertile soils decreases gradually, while the world population increases. Soil degradation is a global process, the problem, which worries all countries of the world more or less. Soil degradation in Georgia is the result of the climate-relief peculiarities, activity of geodynamic processes, uncontrolled forest felling and inappropriate agricultural practice (incorrect irrigation, melioration, excess use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, practice of sowing mono-cultures, excess grazing, ploughing steeply inclined slopes, etc.) and most importantly, the processes of warming and climate aridization in Georgia, which coincided with the intensified soil degradation further contributing to the reduced productivity of agriculture. One of the signs of degradation is salt soils. The total area of salt soils and solonetz over the areas of Georgia, which have turned into semi-deserts, is more than 205 thousand hectares. 65% of the agricultural plots of the country are poor in nutritive elements. Particularly alarming is the severe deficit and negative balance of humus, the major indicator of the soil productivity, in all regions of the country. As a result of improper anthropogenic impact on soil, the soil structure is violated, the content of humus and nutritive elements decreased in the soil, a lower compacted layer of the arable zone was formed and the physical properties of soil, such as water permeability, moisture content, aeration, etc. deteriorated. It is established that the harvest on such degraded and tired soils is reduced by 55-65% on average. It should be noted that the absolute majority of the soils in the study region is arable. Most of them are cultivated for purposes other than intended, mostly as hey meadows or pastures. This contributes to the growing areas of virgin soils, soil subsidence, reduced soil porosity, etc. Besides, the said areas are often irrigated improperly leading to the secondary salination of soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide N2O is one of the major contributors to global warming and ozone depletion in the stratosphere. Management of agricultural soils is the largest source of N2O emissions in agricultural sector, therefore simultaneous and accurate measurement of N2O concentration is necessary. Nitrous oxide emission is formed within nitrification and denitrification processes in agricultural soils. The agricultural sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Latvia as it accounted for 24.6 % of the total greenhouse emissions in the country in 2017. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of conventional tillage and minimal tillage and different moisture regimes on N2O emissions from agricultural soils. During the vegetation season 2019 in Latvia, 24 unmixed soil samples as well as two reference samples were taken from different crop fields: winter wheat, bean, winter rapeseed, summer barley. Soil samples were collected from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies study farm “Pēterlauki” located in Platone parish. Measurements of N2O emissions from soil samples under various moisture conditions were performed in a laboratory with a Picarro G2508 spectrophotometer. N2O emission measurements show the complex nature of N2O gas formation, where a number of factors influence the action of microorganisms, such as soil temperature, soil structure, soil reaction, the availability of nitrogen ions in the soil, the availability of degradable material and water in the soil. Crop rotation, tillage, nitrogen sources and indicators in collaboration with the time and depth of nitrogen compounds interactions have a significant impact on N2O emissions into the soil. In almost all measurements of N2O emissions there was observed a tendency for emissions to increase in soil samples with minimal tillage in all moisture regimes. The exception occurred in measurements from over-watered bean soil sample with minimal tillage – N2O emissions increased rapidly only during the last days of performed experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Land degradation is a serious problem of unrecoverable soil loss on the sloping land. This research objectives were to determined the effect of weed control and different tillage treatment on losses of nutrient and organic matter in sloping lands. The experiments was design as Randomized Complete Block Design on 2 factor: the first order factor was conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT); the second order factor was botanical herbicide of cashew nut shell extract and without with weed control with four replication. The result showed that the soil treatment (CT, and NT), botanical herbicide, and the combination of both did not have significantly difference at concentrations of Mg-dd, Ca-dd, and K-dd in erosion sediments. But, the soil treatment (CT, and NT), botanical herbicide, and the combination of both have significantly difference on concentrations of the total N, C-organic, and P-availability.The data showed non-selective erosion processes because Enrichment Ratio value is not more than one. The CT and NT caused C-organic loss 13.062 kg/ha and 2.004 kg/ha, respectively. This has a negative effect on soil fertility and yields which in effect reduces of black grass jelly plants production and fertilizer is carried away by erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia as one of the air pollutant mostly originated from agricultural activities, such as manure and soil management. There is a need for precise and reliable quantification of ammonia emissions which is easy applicable on field or laboratory conditions. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy device Picarro G2508 measures ammonia (NH3) concentrations along greenhouse gasses, namely nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide and water vapour content. The aim of the study is to develop methodology for NH3 measurements for Picarro G2508 in laboratory conditions as well as to conclude the peak concentrations of ammonia emission in time resolution of 5 days measurement period. Measurements were done in laboratory with Picarro G2508 in closed chamber system with recirculation by using 3 types of mineral soils and 2 types of organic soils with disturbed structure dried in room temperature and sieved). Two soil moisture conditions were simulated both saturated and oversaturated. Water were added in the beginning of experiment and there were no additional water input during experiment. Urea and ammonia nitrate were used as nitrogen fertilizers and added to sample right before the first measurement was carried out. The time of measurement have to be established before each experiment according to expected ammonia emission intensity and water vapour. During the second and third measurement day NH3 concentrations were the highest in mineral soil samples with addition of urea mineral fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displacement of soil particles by erosion can be seen as a major threat to the quality of agricultural land in the conditions of Czech Republic. While the effects of water and wind erosion have long been investigated and reported, the effect of soil tillage technology on soil particles translocation are relatively new area of agriculture research. Soil tillage may contribute to the undesirable translocation of soil particles towards lower-lying parts of fields especially on slopes. The effect of soil tillage implements on soil particle translocation has not been sufficiently explained yet. The object of this research was to assess the influence of different operating speed of power harrow on soil particle translocation during secondary tillage (soil preparation). Measurements to determine the displacement of soil particles were performed in location Nesperská Lhota in the Central Bohemia Region. Measurements were performed on a sandy loam cambisol after harvest spring cereals (oat for sillage production). To indicate displacement of soil particles was used grit of white limestone (size 10-16 mm). Limestone was put down into the trench with known position orthogonal to the direction of working operations. Subsequently were performed working operations in the specified sequence. Limestone particles were counted and weighed in each section. It was detected by measuring the different nature of displacement. Statistical significance of differences in the weight of translocated particles was evaluated for different operating speeds of power harrow from 4.5 to 12 km.h-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is the basic condition for life on Earth. However, soil exploitation is greatly inefficient and especially unsustainable in these days. The sustainable development strategy defines clearly how soil should be treated to preserve or to improve quality and quantity of the soil for future generations. Proper soil management should ensure sustainable soil development, mainly protection against erosion and pollution, and against agricultural land fund grabbing. With the growing population on the planet, these problems are even more ongoing both globally and regionally. This contribution is focused on region which deals with these problems the most in the Czech Republic, The Northern Bohemia region (districts Chomutov, Most, Teplice, Ústí nad Labem). This area is anthropogenically affected due to intensive brown coal mining. Recently, partial breaking of the previous mining limits was approved there; therefore a restoration and revitalization will be needed there in the future. Significant number of the population lives in this area, and that is why there is an effort to integrate the devastated landscape into the surroundings, and also the effort to introduce sustainable forms of soil management. A project called Sustainable forms of management in anthropogenically affected landscape deals with this issue within Faculty for Environment at J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review are presented advantages and disadvantages about films used in mulch, the main improvements properties of the soli and crops. Using biodegradable films at the expense of polyethylene help to improve the wellfare of plants and human lives. Decreased poisoning the soil and air, reducing greenhouse emissions by eliminating some stages to maintenance of cultures and reducing the effort of gatherin the film because it's decompose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the various theoretical studies, but also from experimental tests it was found that if the working tool for soil tillage vibrates, conditions are created to ensure a reduction in draft resistance of the working tool through the soil, and, therefore, a reduction in the energy needed to perform soil tillage work. The vibrations of the working tool can be transmitted in longitudinal, transverse direction or in any direction. The same soil can have very different physical and mechanical properties and is impossible to apply classical methods of the mechanics of continuum medium for agricultural soil. Phenomenon related to soil dynamics can be studied by means of some models characterized by a limited number of parameters. In this context, foe modeling it can be used the similarity method or Buckingham's Π theorem in dimensional analysis. The influence of vibrations is equivalent to the action of an additional force applied to the working tool, which influences the traction and friction forces between the working tool and tilled soil. This paper presents the results on the variation of the vibrations intake on reducing the energy consumed to drive the working tool in case of vibration, depending on the orientation angle of the additional force necessary to generate the vibrations to normal in the forward direction for different values of the angle of external friction between the active surface of the working tool and the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important stand productivity and competition indicators is height annual increment, which is affected by various factors such as soil preparation, initial density as well as various management risk factors. Empirical material for the research was collected in the northern part of Latvia. In four pure Scots pine stands in Myrtillosa forest site type 29 circular plots tree diameter, height and the last five years annual height increment was measured and visual state of health was described. The aim of this research is to analyse Scots pine height annual increment in naturally regenerated young forest stands in Myrtillosa site type forest stands and to give an evaluation of the impact of the initial stand density and the health status on height growth. The mean height increment in studied stands is 0.26 ± 0.009 m and the average periodical increment is 0.37 ± 0.042 m. The annual height increment has been in the height range from 0.23 to 0.53 m. Initial stand density affects the annual height increment significantly. In the stand with an initial density of 5770 ± 961 trees the height increment during the last five years has risen by 36%, but in stand with initial density of 12,650 ± 1,581 trees (P = 51.8% and R = 6.0%) the height increment during the five-years period has increased by only 12%. The tree health status does not affect the tree height increment significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article regards logging machines impact on ground, consist of two layers: wood harvesting wastes (top layer) and skidroad soil (bottom layer). Authors propose mathematical model of rut formation, taking into account changes soils characteristic after machine passover, and the algorithm for rut depth calculation in case of multiple passover through same area . To determine rut depth, formed on run by logging machinery, strengthen with wood harvesting wastes, it is used two-layer ground compaction model under compressive load. According to modeling results regression equation is obtained, which allows to determine in practice soil relative compaction (and further formed rut depth), without complex calculations. Receipt equation takes into account the influence of average wood harvesting wastes layer thickness on soil deformation, as well as passover number along the route. Calculations are performed using author program for numerical solution of initial simultaneous equations. Comparison of calculation results with the results of earlier experiments demonstrate adequacy of the methodology for rut depth determination considering multiple passovers and strengthen wood harvesting wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article briefly summarises the evaluation of pedological situation of the Most Lake coast and slopes. The main attention is devoted to new results of the research achieved in 2013 - 2014. The main targets of the research were the finishing of geological and pedological mapping of the Most lake area, the realization of periodical sampling from nine research pits and etermination of the content of risk trace elements in the small phytotoxical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of water resources, associated with the growing need for water, is one of the most critical problems of humanity. At the same time, irregular rainfall, coupled with the occurrence of high temperatures, are strong obstacles to the preservation and growth of plants, causing high rates of water deficiency. Recently, several systems of soil monitoring and irrigation control have been developed with the aim of improving water use efficiency. This study describes a system (iRain), developed by the authors, which aims to ensure autonomous and efficient irrigation in urban gardens. It consists of a net of sensors and actuators with Zigbee communication and control software for storage and availability of monitoring data on a web portal in real time. In manual mode, the irrigation management is the responsibility of the irrigation manager in order to control the system from the portal. In automatic mode, the system prevents watering if there is a forecast of precipitation (up to 3 days) and if the humidity of the soil has not fallen below a critical value. In this mode the decision is made at the local base. The system also gives preference to irrigation at night and during periods of light wind in order to obtain more accurate and efficient irrigation. Thus, the iRain constitutes a valuable tool for promoting sustainable use of this scarce natural resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has as main objective the development of theoretical and experimental research on dynamic behavior and energy of plowing aggregates. The aggregates are formed by a wheeled tractor and a plow wear, which can highlighted the influence of the adjustment systems of the working width, on the dynamics and energetics of the plowing aggregates, to travel on different soil types in different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to address the problem of achieving autumn wheat production and how technological factors influence the realization of production. It was considered choosing the most efficient technological variants of crop. To this scope we compared, in the experiment, the conventional soil works system (with ploughing, seedbed preparation, fertilizing, seeding) and soil minimum works system or conservative works system. The results led us to conclude that the highest yields are obtained in the conservative system of works, economically feasible yields and that are obtained using a minimum works technology, in which the crop protection is ensured by seed treatment, 2 or 3 treatments per vegetation when productions of 4500-5000 kg / ha are obtained, with reduced expenditures by 9.3 -16.2%, compared to conventional technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigid inclusions technique is an improvement method for soft soils, which is used increasingly more recently at international level. The system allows the foundation on week soils of large civil engineering works in safe conditions and considering the economic aspects. The system consists of rigid inclusions and a load transfer platform made of granular material which leads to the simultaneous charge of the inclusion head and soft soil. The technique is used in order to reduce and homogenize the surface settlements. The paper presents a 3D numerical model of rigid inclusions submitted to dynamic loads, which was calibrated and validated on the basis of the experiments developed in the European project SERIES (Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies). The experiments were performed on small scale models on the shaking table at the University of Bristol, UK. The paper studies the dynamic behaviour of the rigid inclusions in different configurations and presents comparisons between the numerical modelling and the experimental results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigations were carried out in the LAU WM institute land plots in the Endocalcari Endohypogkeyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can). Basis of the investigation is nine drainage systems and 3 variants. Every variant made 3 drainage lines (0,54 ha). Traditional arable system was applied in I variant. Soil tillage was not applied in II variant. In this variant in spring barley or spring wheat was sown and left make to spring. In the III variant soil was not tillage and left until spring. Either II variant was distinct by smaller soil mobile phosphorus (P2O5) which make up 118 mg kg-1, or 17-24 % smaller than in I variant (arable agriculture) and III variant (no soil tillage). In the condition of I variant was gained most abundance yield of spring barley, and spring wheat. The biggest removal of phosphorus with crops was gained in the conditions of 2 variant there where was grown undercrop. Average data of P-PO4 3- concentration in drainage water was shown that smallest concentration of one be in II variant (growing ryegrass) (0,01 mg l-1). Applying traditional agriculture as well as not soil tillage concentration of P-PO4 3- increase 3-4 times (to 0,03 and 0,04 mg l-1). The leaching by drainage water of P-PO4 3- was smallest in II variant (with ryegrass) and made 0,009 kg ha-1. Applying arable agriculture and no soil tillage leaching of P-PO4 3- increase 67-100% (to 0,015 - 0,018 kg ha-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding economic activity of people has an increasing impact on nature. While implementing restructurization of country economy it is important to apply preventive measures that would help to improve the quality of all surface and subterranean waters including quality of water of all rivers because it significantly influences the condition of the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon. Drainage of agricultural fields is not only a modern measure of removing the surplus of water but also a fair constituent part of water balance of open water bodies. Rainfall or water from melting precipitation percolate into the soil and leak to trenches and little rivers through drainage system. Dissolved chemical elements and residues of chemical plant protection substances in drainage water influence the quality of basin water. At atmospheric nutrition of soil the formation of drainage run-off depends not only on atmospheric conditions (amount of precipitation, their distribution, and regime of air temperature) and hydrological characteristics of soil, but also on technologies and terms of tillage. During the period of research from 2005 to 2010 the average annual height of drainage run-off in the field of reduced tillage fluctuated from 3.18 to 31.6 mm (run-off coefficient a fluctuated in the range from 0.047 to 0.64). The largest amount of water leaks through the drainage in winter (31.5 %), while 27.2 % of water leaks in autumn; 26.9 % in spring and 14.4 % in summer. Average annual drainage run-off in reduced tillage field reached 13.9 mm, i.e 5.44 % less comparing to conventional tillage fields and 5.04 % higher in comparison to late tillage fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was established in separately tile-drained plots on a loam soil in Midle Lithuanian Lowland with a mean precipitation of 590 mm per year and the annual mean temperature + 6.1°C. The tillage experiment distinguished between conventional tillage (CT) with mouldboard ploughing 23-25 cm depth after harvest in August-September, late ploughing (LP) in the end of October - beginning of November and reduced tillage (RT). The aim of this work was to study the effects of three tillage systems on soil physical properties, soil water content and drainage outflow, during the six successive year's treatments (2005-2010). The reliability of the results was determined by processing them with mathematical-statistical methods using MS Excel 2000 Data Analysis Tool Pack. Differences of tillage treatments were tested at the significance level p≤0.05. When considered across all the tillage treatments reduced tillage resulted in significantly higher (by 9-11%) soil water content in surface layer (0-20 cm) compared to traditional tillage while the differences between other tillage treatments were insignificant. Reduced tillage may be considered as a measure for drainage outflow retention in springtime especially under the dry spring period, because during spring peak (in March) the average monthly drainage outflow in reduced tillage system was 7% lower compared to late ploughing at the end of October - beginning of November and 23% lower compared to conventional tillage after the harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and function of a soil ecosystem depends on the cycling of nutrients by the soil microbial community. To evaluate the impact of conventional and conservative tillage systems and the effects of municipal waste compost (MWC) amendment on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamic, temporal changes in microbial community size, metabolic activity and soil enzyme activities were measured by monitoring microbial biomass C (MBC), dehydrogenase activity, and urease, BAA-protease, phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities in soils, respectively. Results indicates that moldboard tillage caused a significant decrease of SOM, MBC and most enzyme activities studied, meanwhile no-tillage system showed a greater SOM content and a larger and more active microbial biomass, enhancing the rate of C, N and P cycling throught higher levels of enzyme activities in soil. MWC amendment had a possitive effect reactivating microbial activities on both tillage systems, being more significant in notillage soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we try to emphasize the increase of the content of nitrates and nitrites from the underground waters, in direct correlation with the manner of exploitation of agricultural lands and implicitly the levigated quantity of azoth, using the modelling method through the GIS technique. The incorrect irrigation and drainage, associated with other inappropriate practices (monoculture or short term cropping systems, excessive loosening of the soil, especially through numerous superficial works etc.) to which are sometimes added the inexistence of anti-erosion systems of culture on the agricultural versants, determine the appearance and intensification of physical and chemical degradation of lands. Both the physical pollution through processes such as: hydric or wind erosion, the destructuring, compacting etc. and chemical pollution through the alluvial transport with significant pesticide quantities, contribute in this manner even more to sensitizing, favoring and emphasizing the degradation of the quality of underground waters, considered as being "the last hope of drinkable water" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional tillage and sowing technologies that involve application of shellboards and intensive soil loosening machinery are destructive to soil, its characteristics, biodiversity, soil erosion, water pollution, etc. Application of sustainable tillage and sowing machinery may significantly reduce invasion into natural soil processes and, by this, improve economical and energetical efficiency of cereal growing technologies. Conventional technology of cereal sowing requires about 1,36 h ha-1 for tillage and sowing, while, in comparison, sustainable tillage and sowing technologies take 20 to 49 % less working time. In Lithuania fuel consumption for direct sowing is about 6,25 l ha-1; in the case of sustainable tillage and sowing technology application fuel input increases 2-4 times, in the case of conventional technology application - up to 5 times. In Lithuania expenses for direct sowing and sustainable tillage and sowing technologies are by 66 - 188 Lt ha-1 (from 19 to 54 EUR ha-1) lower than those for conventional cereal tillage and sowing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]