Calculating the Effect of Soil Organic Matter Concentration on Soil Bulk Density

Abstract

Soil bulk density (ρb) is required to estimate, evaluate, and calculate many physical soil properties and processes and is essential to convert data from weight‐based to volume‐ and area‐related data. One of the dominating factors changing ρb is the soil's organic matter (SOM) concentration that alters the soil's compressibility; ρb is an important soil structure attribute. Currently, no parameter for characterizing soil compactness giving directly comparable values for all soils is available. Therefore, our aim was to develop a general approach to calculate the effect of SOM concentration on ρb that would be universally valid for soils different in their genesis, compaction, and type of land use. To describe the effect of SOM on ρb mathematically, we used a nonlinear regression model that was parameterized and validated using published data from experiments where SOM concentration was the main ρb–affecting factor (long‐term fertilization and proctor experiments, wetlands, reclaimed soils, and volcanic soils). To obtain a standardized parameter describing the present compaction status of a site, we introduced the standardized bulk density sρb Mathematically, sρb is the intercept parameter of the used nonlinear regression model, and ranged between 0.7 and 2.1 Mg m−3 and was very simple to estimate. Another distinct advantage of this novel concept is that only one representative pair of ρb and SOM has to be known to calculate sρb as well as the bulk densities corresponding to other SOM concentrations measured on the site. This concept might also be helpful for identifying similar universal approaches to standardize the effect of other ρb affecting parameters (e.g., texture, soil depth, tillage regime), however, reassessed from the SOM effect.

DISTURBANCES CAUSED BY FLOODS IN THREE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF A VERTISOL SOIL IN THE EAST REGION OF CUBA, CULTIVATED WITH SUGARCANE (Saccharum spp.)

“…Other researchers suggest after waterlogging soil conditions, apply organic matter. Organic matter application influences soil physical properties such as soil structure, bulk density (Ruehlmann and Korschens, 2009) and soil porosity (Lucas et al, 2014) and in chemical properties as a nitrogen and phosphorus transformation in the soil (Singh et al, 1988). If some crops as wheat is treated with extra nitrogen it can make a splendid recovery against the early waterlogging stress (Dong et al, 1983;Swarup and Sharma, 1993).…”

An application of blended amendments in monsoon rice field

“…The SOM concentration in soil sample was calculated using the formula (SOM = SOC × 1.724) given in Ruehlmann and Korschens (2009). The total nitrogen and total carbon were analysed by CHN analyser (model: 2400 series2, USA).…”

Impact of levee breaches, flooding, and land scouring on soil productivity

“…The negative impacts of the cutting and filling operations on soil productivity will need to be remediated by restoring natural ecological functions to the affected soils. Organic matter additions to the soil, such as biosolids and composts, decrease the bulk density of soils, increase infiltration rates and porosity, and contribute to better soil structure (Ruehlmann and Körschens 2009;Sloan and Cawthon 2003;White et al 1997). The use of cover crops can also be an important management tool for protecting soils from erosion during dormant seasons and for reestablishing key soil quality indicators (Abdollahi and Munkholm 2014;Stavi et al 2012).…”