Erosion-induced losses of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals from agricultural soils of contrasting organic matter management

Shi, Pu; Schulin, Rainer

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.060

Cited by 98 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…A high proportion of soil organic matter is one of the most important indicators of soil fertility [23] and leads to higher agricultural yields [24,25]. In modern agriculture, much of the soil organic matter is lost, partly through erosion [26,27] and partly through the extraction of organic matter through harvesting crops or soil disturbances due to cultivation [28][29][30]. High yields can only be maintained through the input of synthetic fertilizers [31].…”

Section: Loss Of Soil Organic Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Permaculture—Scientific Evidence of Principles for the Agroecological Design of Farming Systems

Krebs

Bach

2018

Sustainability

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Modern industrial agriculture is largely responsible for environmental problems, such as biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and alteration of biogeochemical cycles or greenhouse gas emission. Agroecology, as a scientific discipline as well as an agricultural practice and movement, emerged as a response to these problems, with the goal to create a more sustainable agriculture. Another response was the emergence of permaculture, a design system based on design principles, as well as a framework for the methods of ecosystem mimicry and complex system optimization. Its emphasis, being on a conscious design of agroecosystems, is the major difference to other alternative agricultural approaches. Agroecology has been a scientific discipline for a few decades already, but only recently have design principles for the reorganization of faming systems been formulated, whereas permaculture practitioners have long been using design principles without them ever being scrutinized. Here, we review the scientific literature to evaluate the scientific basis for the design principles proposed by permaculture co-originator, David Holmgren. Scientific evidence for all twelve principles will be presented. Even though permaculture principles describing the structure of favorable agroecosystems were quite similar to the agroecological approach, permaculture in addition provides principles to guide the design, implementation, and maintenance of resilient agroecological systems.

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Section: Loss Of Soil Organic Mattermentioning

confidence: 99%

Permaculture—Scientific Evidence of Principles for the Agroecological Design of Farming Systems

Krebs

Bach

2018

Sustainability

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“…Agricultural management practices and topographic positions also influence its dynamics, thus making AS a dynamic property that evolves with space and time [3,4]. Decrease of AS in croplands not only hinders agricultural production through the control over surface crusting and seedling emergence [5], but also increases the risks of soil degradation, thereby compromising the physical protection of SOC by intact soil structure [6] and amplifying the erosion-induced nutrient and pollutant transfer from soils to surface water [7]. Among all influencing factors, SOC is frequently reported to be an essential one that positively controls the dynamics of AS [8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-Scale, High-Resolution Mapping of Soil Aggregate Stability in Croplands Using APEX Hyperspectral Imagery

Shi

Castaldi²,

Wesemael

et al. 2020

Remote Sensing

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Investigations into the spatial dynamics of soil aggregate stability (AS) are urgently needed to better target areas that have undergone soil degradation. However, due to the lack of efficient alternatives to the conventional labor-intensive methods to quantify AS, detailed information on its spatial structure across scales are scarce. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of using hyperspectral remote sensing imagery to rapidly produce a high-resolution AS map at regional scale. Airborne Prism Experiment (APEX) hyperspectral images covering an area of 230 km2 in the Belgian loam belt were used together with a local topsoil dataset. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were developed for three AS indexes (i.e., mean weight diameter (MWD), microaggregate and macroaggregate fractions) and soil organic carbon (SOC), and evaluated against an independent validation dataset. The prediction models were then applied to more than 700 bare soil fields for the production of high resolution (2×2 m) MWD and SOC maps. The PLSR models had a satisfactory level of accuracy for all four variables (R2 >0.5, RPD > 1.4), and the predicted maps were capable of capturing the fine-scale as well as the between-field variabilities of soil properties. Variogram analysis on the spatial structure of MWD showed a clear spatial organization at the catchment scale (range: 1.3 km) that is possibly driven by erosion-induced soil redistribution processes. Further analysis in restricted areas displayed contrasting spatial structures where spatial auto-correlation of AS was only found at field scale, thus highlighting the potential of hyperspectral remote sensing as a promising technique to investigate the spatial variability of AS across multiple scales.

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“…Moreover, soil organic matter represents the biggest stock of carbon/energy for soil microorganisms and, thus, for the whole soil biota, which are key players in soil functionalities [4]. SOM is also fundamental in determining soil structure and, consequently, in controlling soil erosion, water infiltration, and water holding capacity [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reuse of Animal Manure: A Case Study on Stakeholders’ Perceptions about Pelletized Compost in Northwestern Italy

2018

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Abstract:The present study aimed at investigating perceptions and preferences about the use and the chemical characteristics of pellets made from composted animal manure in a sample of Italian farmers and agricultural advisors (Piedmont region, Northwestern Italy). The study encompassed two different steps: At first, the participants were administered a questionnaire about their actual use of pellets and preferences about their chemical characteristics. Then, a subgroup participated into a hands-on experience with different pelletized animal manures and some final questions. Concerning the use of pellets made from composted animal manure, even if the participants affirmed to be interested in using organic pellets and declared to own the appropriate equipment needed for their application, the results indicated that pelletized compost utilization had not yet become a common practice for agricultural crops. The obtained results highlighted a lack of knowledge, especially among farmers, about the importance of some chemical properties of this pelletized organic material. The participants, both farmers and advisors, were particularly attracted by the total nitrogen content of organic pelletized fertilizers, probably because the supplying of nutrients, nitrogen particularly, is the function of fertilizers they were interested in the most due to its direct connection with crop production. The hands-on session allowed the participants to better understand the benefits of the principal chemical properties-organic matter and carbon to nitrogen ratio-of pelletized animal manure compost. On the other hand, organic matter content and carbon to nitrogen ratio, more related with biological fertility and biodiversity of soils, are immediately less interesting and, as the hands-on experience pointed out, require more effort to be appreciated by agricultural operators. Targeted information campaigns and training activities may be developed among the agricultural community to make them aware of the importance of increasing soil organic matter content, and the possible use of pelletized composted animal manure. Further studies should be addressed toward gaining more insights into the beneficial effects of the information and training activities for pelletized compost adoption.

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Erosion-induced losses of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals from agricultural soils of contrasting organic matter management

Cited by 98 publications

References 41 publications

Permaculture—Scientific Evidence of Principles for the Agroecological Design of Farming Systems

Permaculture—Scientific Evidence of Principles for the Agroecological Design of Farming Systems

Large-Scale, High-Resolution Mapping of Soil Aggregate Stability in Croplands Using APEX Hyperspectral Imagery

Reuse of Animal Manure: A Case Study on Stakeholders’ Perceptions about Pelletized Compost in Northwestern Italy

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