M.S.

Some cyanobacteria strains have biofertilization and bioconditioning effects in soils. The objective of this study was to identify cyanobacteria with potential to improve the N fertility and structural stability of degraded soils and evaluate their effectiveness in soils of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Isolation and characterization of the indigenous cyanobacteria strains with desirable properties was first to be undertaken because their effects are known to differ from strain to strain. Cyanobacteria strains 3g, 3v, and 7e were identified from 97 strains isolated from selected soils. Nostoc strains 3g and 3v had greater ability to produce exocellular polysaccharides (EPS) but low potential to fix atmospheric N2 (4.7 and 1.3 nmol C2H4 μg chl-1 h-1, respectively). On the other hand, strain 7e had the highest capability to fix atmospheric N2 (16.1 nmol C2H4 μg chl-1 h-1) but had the least ability to produce EPS. Evaluation of the strains was done in glasshouse studies starting with Nostoc strain 9v isolated from a Tanzanian soil, followed by the indigenous strains isolated from soils in Hertzog and Qunu, South Africa. Inoculation was done by uniformly applying cyanobacteria on the surface of potted soils at a rate of 6 g m-2. First harvest and soil sampling took place after six weeks, and the top 25 mm of the soil was mixed, replanted, and sampled again after a further six weeks (second harvest). Inoculation with Nostoc strain 9v increased soil N by 40 percent and 17 percent in Guquka and Hertzog soils, respectively, and consequently increased maize dry matter yields by 40 and 49 percent. Soil C increased by 27 percent and 8 percent in Guquka and Hertzog soils, respectively, and this increase was significantly associated with that of soil N (R2 = 0.838). Higher contents of soil C, soil N and mineral N, however, were found in non-cropped soils. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed coatings of EPS on soil particles and fragments of non-cropped inoculated soils, with iii other particles enmeshed in networks of filaments, in contrast to cropped and/or non-inoculated soils. The proportion of very stable aggregates was increased by inoculation but cropping with maize reduced the aggregate stability. Inoculating Hertzog soil with indigenous strains 3g and 7e increased the nitrate N in the first cropping by 49 percent and 69 percent respectively, in cropped soils. In the second cropping increases in mineral N were 41 percent and 43 percent in 3g and 7e inoculated soils, respectively. Maize dry matter yields were higher on inoculated soils both in the first and second harvest in response to the improved N status of the soil. Increases in aggregate MWD in cropped soil as determined by fast wetting, mechanical breakdown and slow wetting were 85 percent, 33 percent, 33 percent, respectively, for 3g inoculation, 64 percent, 41 percent, and 41 percent, respectively, for 7e inoculation and 60 percent, 24 percent, 50 percent for inoculation with 9v. In non-cropped soil, increases in MWD as determined by fast wetting, mechanical breakdown and slow wetting were 11 percent, 0 percent, 7 percent, respectively for 3g inoculation, 21 percent, 11 percent, and 7 percent, respectively for 7e inoculation, and 25 percent, 36 percent, and 19 percent for strain 9v inoculation. Scanning electron microscopy observations, which were confirmed by chemical results, revealed that inoculated soils had high EPS and filaments that encouraged soil aggregation and improved aggregate stability. Results of this study show that cyanobacteria strains isolated and selected for their ability to fix atmospheric N2 and produce EPS improved the fertility status and aggregate stability of degraded soils from South Africa.

Fertility-building crops (FBCs) offer the opportunity to alleviate the costs of inorganic fertiliser by providing an alternative supply of available nitrogen (N) in soils. A survey of relevant literature reviewed the types of FBCs, their nitrogen accumulation potentials, residue characteristics, and subsequent release patterns. It also identified a paucity of data concerning the response of different species to UK climatic, soil, and management conditions. In order to investigate these relationships further pot and field trials were established in 2007 at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (SP 00481 01382) and at Coates Manor Farm (SO 98473 00402) on Sherborne series (typical Cotswold) soils, to investigate the biology and morphology of FBCs potentially suitable for short term fertility-building, their accumulation of N under field conditions, and its subsequent recovery within test crops. Data so obtained was used as a verification and refinement tool for the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), a simple, commercially applicable, rotation-based model which can be applied to both organic and conventional production systems. Nine leguminous and two non-leguminous FBC treatments were established in April 2007 by straight sowing, followed by mulching at the conclusion of the nitrogen accumulation phase and by undersowing in spring barley (Hordeum sativum). The recovery test crops (winter and spring wheat Triticum aestivum L.) were established in September 2007 and March 2008. All FBCs established successfully. Above-ground dry matter (DM) yield and residue quality (C:N ratio) of FBCs varied significantly (P<0.05) between crops and cropping regimes with a significant correlation (r2=0.418) between DM yields and C:N ratios. FBCs and cropping regimes had significant effects (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively) on potential mineralisable nitrogen (PMN) levels in the soil and on the grain yields of winter and spring wheat test crops. Straight sown Lupinus albus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and a legume mixture resulted in higher winter wheat grain yields. However, the opportunity cost associated with straight sowing (i.e. the gross margin foregone from a spring barley crop) meant that the rotation would probably not be viable economically. Undersown Medicago lupulina, Vicia villosa, T. pratense, T. repens and the legume mixture gave worthwhile yield increases in spring wheat without incurring a yield penalty in the spring barley cover crop. Following enhancement and using actual data from the trials, the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003) provided encouraging predictions (R>0.6) for soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and key parameters were identified for future use. It was concluded that FBCs established for short term soil fertility building could provide a worthwhile enhancement of soil N levels and grain yields in a conventional arable rotation, particularly in spring wheat following FBCs undersown in spring barley. It was also concluded that the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), following further enhancement, and using additional data from these and other similar trials, could provide reasonably accurate estimates of SMN to aid more precise applications of N fertiliser in the future.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1951. / No Abstract Available

No description available.

No description available.

Promotion of agroforestry practices in sub-Sahara Africa may help sustain subsistent food and wood production by integrating trees and crops on farmlands to replenish soil fertility and improve crop yield. Using rotational woodlot and pigeonpea intercropping systems in semi-arid Tanzania as case studies, my research screened suitable tree species to increase fuelwood supply and examined mechanisms for reducing tree-crop competition. By adopting nutrient use efficiency (the ratio of biomass yield to nutrient uptake) as a criterion, I found that selecting tree species of low wood nutrient concentrations would minimize nutrient exports by 42 – 60 %, thus reducing soil nutrient depletion while concurrently sustaining local fuelwood supply harvested from rotational woodlots. Currently smallholder farmers cannot afford to replenish soil fertility because of high fertilizer costs. However, 5-year tree fallowing raised soil N and P levels for maize culture as high as those from recommended fertilizer applications. Post-fallow maize yield was also increased significantly over natural fallow practices. Apparently there is a trade-off between yields of maize and fuelwood under rotational woodlot culture providing farmers the choice to proportion tree and crop composition based on priority demands. An alternative practice of intercropping pigeonpea with maize may also rapidly replenish soil fertility as well as enhance maize yield when competitive interactions between trees and crops are controlled. Vector analysis revealed that such interactions suppressed biomass yields of maize and pigeonpea by 30 % and 60 %, respectively, due to limited soil nutrients and/or moisture. Optimizing yields of both crops would require prescribed fertilizer addition when intercropped, but dose rates can be lowered by half under the improved fallow system due to alleviating interspecific competition. My findings form the basis of a plea for greater use of rotational woodlot and pigeonpea intercropping systems in semi-arid areas. I conclude that smallholder farm management of rotational agroforestry systems can be significantly improved by refining tree selection criteria and mitigating nutrient competition between trees and crops to maintain food and fuelwood production.

Soil degradation is a complex process which may occur anywhere and at any time. It directly affects the physical, chemical and biological processes within the soil profile. Soil degradation can either be as a result of natural hazards or due to manmade actions, such as mismanagement on cropping patterns, soil preparation and cultivation practices. Regardless of how it is caused, soil degradation has strong negative effects on plant and soil productivity. Soil degradation can accelerate a series of processes such as erosion, compaction, loss of organic matter, loss of whole soil biota, surface sealing and contamination. This thesis presents the assessment of soil properties to improve our understanding of soil degradation on raised-bed orchards in the Vietnamese Mekong delta (MD). Measurements were made on 10 citrus plantations which had been established during a range of years from 1970 to 1998 at Hau Giang province. Soil sampling was made in the dry season of 2010 at two soil depths for each raised-bed to determine soil chemical and physical properties. The soil penetration resistance (PR) was periodically measured once a week together with soil sampling for moisture measurements during a period of 5 months. Analysis indicated the pH value of the soil was tending to decrease, nutrient imbalance and deficiency was developing, and the soil structure was deteriorating during the age since the raised-beds were originally constructed. Preventive and restorative measures need to be considered for restoring and retaining the quality of the soil and the ground water. These measures should consist of (1) neutralizing of excess acidity, (2) balancing of nutrients, (3) maintaining of soil organic matter, and (4) application of appropriate irrigation schedules. / Suy thoái đất là một tiến trình phức tạp xuất hiện ở mọi nơi, mọi lúc làm tác động trực tiếpđến các quá trình lý, hóa và sinh học trong phẫu diện đất. Nó có thể là kết quả của các hoạtđộng do tự nhiên hoặc do con người như sử dụng sai hoặc thực hành quản lý đất đai bất hợplý. Cho dù nguyên nhân thế nào chăng nữa, suy thoái đất cũng gây ra các ảnh hưởng bất lợinặng nề lên cây trồng và sức sản suất của đất. Suy thoái đất có thể thúc đẩy hàng loạt cácquá trình như là xói mòn, nén dẽ, mất vật liệu hữu cơ và sinh vật đất, đóng váng bề mặt vàô nhiễm. Luận văn này trình bày sự đánh giá về các đặc tính của đất để mở mang sự hiểubiết về suy thoái đất trên các vườn cây ăn trái ở đồng bằng sông Cửu Long. Thí nghiệmthực hiện trên 10 vườn cam quít với khoảng thời gian thành lập vườn từ 1970 đến 1998 tạitỉnh Hậu Giang. Mẫu đất được lấy vào mùa khô năm 2010 ở hai độ sâu cho mỗi vườn đểphân tích các chỉ tiêu lý hóa đất. Sức kháng xuyên của đất được đo định kỳ mỗi tuần kếthợp với lấy mẫu để xác định ẩm độ đất trong suốt khoảng thời gian 5 tháng. Kết quả phântích cho thấy pH đất có khuynh hướng giảm, sự thiếu và mất cân bằng dinh dưỡng đất ngàycàng lộ rõ, và cấu trúc đất đang xấu đi theo độ tuổi của vườn. Các biện pháp phòng ngừa vàphục hồi cần được quan tâm đối với việc phục hồi và duy trì chất lượng của đất và nướcngầm. Các biện pháp nên bao gồm (1) trung hòa độ chua đất, (2) cân bằng dinh dưỡng, (3)duy trì vật liệu hữu cơ trong đất, và (4) áp dụng chế độ tưới thích hợp. / <p>QC 20130909</p>

Arctic tundra vegetation communities are rapidly responding to climate warming with increases in aboveground biomass, particularly in deciduous shrubs. This increased shrub density has the potential to dramatically alter the functioning of tundra ecosystems through its effects on permafrost degradation and nutrient cycling, and to cause positive feedbacks to global climate change through its impacts on carbon balance and albedo. Experimental evidence indicates that tundra plant growth is most strongly limited by soil nutrient availability, which is projected to increase with warming. Therefore research to date into the mechanisms driving tundra 'shrub expansion' has taken a 'bottom-up' perspective, overlooking the potential role of herbivory in mediating plant-soil interactions. In this thesis, I integrate the impacts of climate warming and caribou browsing on tundra vegetation community structure, and specifically investigate if increases in soil fertility with warming might lead to changes in vegetation biomass and chemistry that could fundamentally alter herbivore-nutrient cycling feedbacks, shifting the role of caribou browsing from restricting shrub growth to facilitating it. Using experimental greenhouses, nutrient addition plots, and caribou exclosures at Daring Lake Research Station in the central Canadian low Arctic, I showed that warming increased soil nutrient availability and plant biomass, and that caribou browsing restricted tundra shrub growth under present conditions. Plant and soil nutrient pool responses to warming demonstrated that increased growing season temperatures enhanced tundra plant growth both by increasing soil nutrient availability and by inferred increases in the rate of photosynthesis, however that the former process was comparatively more limiting. Species- and plant part-specific changes in biomass and chemistry with warming and fertilization clearly indicated the rate and magnitude of change in soil fertility substantially alters plant community structure. Nonetheless, since plant nutrient concentrations decreased with warming and plant responses to browsing were independent of soil fertility, I did not find evidence for a shift from caribou decelerating to accelerating nutrient cycling with warming. Altogether this research indicates effective conservation and management of Rangifer populations is critical to understanding how climate change will affect tundra vegetation trajectories and ultimately tundra ecosystem carbon balances. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-07 15:13:21.698

A chemical analysis of representative samples of Windthorst sand, Denton sand, and Denton clay has been made, and this analysis shows that their composition has a strict correlation with respect to their geological origins. The analyses of the different soils have shown the Windthorst sand to be highly deficient in all of the essential elements, whereas the Denton sand is deficient in only one; namely, phosphorus. The analysis of the Denton clay showed it to be highly fertile. From the consideration of the pH and the lime content, it has been determined to some extent what crops will grow in each of the soils.