Limiting & Enhancing Processes

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Impact of soil organic matter on soil properties—a review with emphasis on Australian soils (2015)

Authors: Murphy, B.

Publication Details: Soil Research, 53(6), 605–635.

Executive Summary/Abstract

Increasing levels of carbon in the soil can impact the farming system, either by selling ACCUs or by increasingthe capacity of the soil for growing more plants, the latter being the focus of this article. It is also important tounderstand how SOM affects different soil types.

Soil carbon sequestration to depth in response to long-term phosphorus fertilization of grazed pasture (2019)

Authors: Coonan, E. C., Richardson, A. E., Kirkby, C. A., Kirkegaard, J. A., Amidy, M. R., Simpson, R. J., & Strong, C. L.

Publication Details: Geoderma, 338, 226-235.

Executive Summary/Abstract

Most studies into P inputs and the relationship to SOC accumulation only measure soil to depths of 20 em. This study investigates P inputs, higher stocking rates and SOC accumulation down to 1m. Long-term benefits  were noticed for SOC accumulation to depths of 60 em.

The positive relationship between soil quality and crop production: A case study on the effect of farm compost application (2014)

Authors: D’Hose, T., Cougnon, M., De Vliegher, A.,Vandecasteele, B., Viaene, N., Cornelis, W., Van Bockstaele, E., & Reheul, D.

Publication Details: Applied Soil Ecology : a Section of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 75, 189–198.

Executive Summary/Abstract

This article explores farm compost as a method to improve the sustainability of farms by increasing soil qualities – physical, chemical and biological. Increasing the soil quality could equate to higher and better quality yield; the former is much easier to quantify and is a metric in this study.

A deeper look at the relationship between root carbon pools and the vertical distribution of the soil carbon pool (2017)

Authors: Dietzel, R., Liebman, M., & Archontoulis, S.

Publication Details: Soil, 3(3), 139–152.

Executive Summary/Abstract

There was a significant loss of SOC in prairie soils after changing from prairie grasses to annually tilled crops. The root architecture and distribution of perennial and annual plants differ significantly. Results from other studies do not align rooting habits with SOC found at depths. The greatest amount of soil C is found below 0.2m depth, and only a small amount of plant roots are found below this level. After considering climatic and geological influences, the correlation between the C to N ratio (C:N) and the accumulation of SOC in the soil profile may significantly affect the outcome. By investigating the land use change and managing for a return to prairie grasses, it is possible to find out the correlation between the C:N and SOC accumulation.

Soil organic carbon stock in grasslands: Effects of inorganic fertilizers, liming and grazing in different climate settings (2018)

Authors: Eze, S., Palmer, S. M., & Chapman, P. J.

Publication Details: Journal of Environmental Management, 223, 74–84.

Executive Summary/ Abstract

With many inconsistent findings in multiple meta-analyses and original research on the fate of SOC from grazing, fertilisers and liming, this meta-analysis aims to find a definitive answer as to how grazing impacts soils(and in particular SOC), taking in the larger perspective of climate, soils and other factors beyond management into account.

Evaluation of the Foliar Application of Nano Urea on the Performance of Rabi Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) (2022)

Authors: Goud, G., Sudhakar, K., Pasha, M., & Madhavi, A.

Publication Details: International Journal of Environment and ClimateChange, 12(11), 2700-2706.

Executive Summary/ Abstract Nitrogen (N) fertiliser is essential for the quality and quantity of proteins and yields in oil seeds. Assessing appropriate N rates as a top dressing for gaining greater quality and quantity is challenging. Nanotechnology enables understanding and managing N-fertiliser foliar applications to increase quality and yield whilst reducing costs to the farmer.

Changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and sulphur content as influenced by liming and nitrogen fertilization of three energy crops (2017)

Authors: Šiaudinis, G., Liaudanskiene, I., & Slepetiene, A.

Publication Details: Icelandic Agricultural Sciences (IAS)

Executive Summary/Abstract

In acidic soils, lime can be used to raise pH. This article investigates other effects on soil health, especially TOC, TN, Total S and C:N ratio in three different bioenergy crops. This research was completed in acidic moraine loam in Lithuania.

Below ground carbon inputs to soil via root biomass and rhizodeposition of field-grown maize and wheat at harvest are independent of net primary productivity (2018)

Authors: Hirte, J., Leifeld, J., Abvien, S.,Oberholzer, H. & Mayer,J.

Publication Details: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 265, 556-56

Executive Summary/Abstract 

Below-ground carbon inputs comprise 30 – 90% of organic carbon inputs in the soil and have a longer residency time than crop residues above the surface. The two origins of these below-ground inputs are root biomass and rhizodeposition. Most studies into this process do not account for the whole life cycle of the plant.

Deep soil inventories reveal that impacts of cover crops and compost on soil carbon sequestration differ in surface and subsurface soils (2019)

Authors: Tautges, N. E., Chiartas, J. L., Gaudin, A. C. M., O’Geen,A. T., Herrera, I., & Scow, K. M.

Publication Details: Global Change Biology, 25(11), 3753–3766.

Executive Summary/Abstract 

Studies in cover cropping, compost and manure additions and perennial crops and pastures mostly report increases in SOC. Broad assumptions in research have been made as to the depth to which these management practices influence SOC.