soil diversity Articles
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Effects of transgenic potatoes with an altered starch composition on the diversity of soil and rhizosphere bacteria and fungi
The aim of this study was to investigate potential effects on the composition of the bacterial and fungal diversity in rhizosphere and soil of a transgenic potato line (SIBU S1) which was modified in its starch composition by RNA anisensing, compared to the non-transgenic parental cultivar (SIBU) at the flowering stage in 2000. Furthermore a second non-transgenic cultivar (SOLANA) was included in ...
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Playing hide and seek below the soil
Below the soil of a diverse grassland area you’ll find a jungle of plant roots. It is also home to a wide variety of bacteria and fungi, of which some are pathogenic and looking for a host in the tangle of roots. It appears that this is much more difficult when there is a larger diversity of plants as the host plant is more able to hide among the varied crowd. Greater plant diversity ...
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Using a Choice Experiment to Estimate Farmers’ Valuation of Agrobiodiversity on Hungarian Small Farms
Agrobiodiversity is a crucial environmental resource. Much of the agrobiodiversity remaining in situ today is found on the semi-subsistence farms of poorer countries and the small-scale farms or home gardens of more industrialised nations. The traditional farms of Hungary are an example. Labelled “home gardens” as a reflection of their institutional identity during the collectivisation period, ...
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Measurement of Total Carbon in Soil and Compost by TOC Solid Sample Measurement System
Soil contains a large amount of organic matter such as plant residue that can be decomposed by microorganisms. This organic matter plays a key role in plant growth by maintaining good chemical and physical conditions in soil and is useful in improving and stabilizing the productivity of agricultural crops. Compost, a type of fertilizer in which organic matter is decomposed by microorganisms, ...
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New approaches are needed for another Green Revolution
Twenty-first century agriculture needs low-input advances like the System of Rice Intensification, says Norman Uphoff. According to the principle of diminishing returns, continuing to produce something in the same way, with the same inputs and technology, usually becomes less productive over time. This appears to apply to agriculture's 'Green Revolution', as yield improvement has slowed in ...
By SciDev.Net
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Evaluation of the efficiency of a phytostabilization process with biological indicators of soil health
Received for publication January 7, 2009. A phytostabilization process that combined the addition of a synthetic (Calcinit + urea + PK14% + calcium carbonate) or organic (cow slurry) amendment with Lolium perenne L. growth was used to remediate a mine soil moderately contaminated with Zn, Pb, and Cd. The reduced toxicity caused by both amendments allowed the establishment of a healthy L. perenne ...
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Methodology to assess the hydrological impact of weed control practices with a view to management of Mediterranean winegrowing catchments
This paper proposes a methodology to assist water resources managers in assessing the hydrological impact of weed control practices in Mediterranean winegrowing catchments. The methodology is based on a spatial representation of practices and its integration in a distributed hydrologic model. The representation is based on the search for indicators that can be used to attribute a distribution of ...
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Canola–Wheat intercrops for improved agronomic performance and integrated pest management
Intercropping can enhance yields and reduce pest infestations, but investigations of intercropping regimes using crop species common to the large-scale monoculture production systems of western Canada have not examined these diverse elements. Intercrops of canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were established at three sites in Alberta, Canada in 2005 and 2006 to determine ...
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Cover crop and liquid manure effects on soil quality indicators in a corn silage system
Due to a lack of surface residue and organic matter inputs, continuous corn (Zea mays L.) silage production is one of the most demanding cropping systems imposed on our soil resources. In this study, our objective was to determine if using cover/companion crops and/or applying low-solids liquid dairy manure could improve physical, chemical, and biological soil properties and overall soil quality. ...
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Soil seed bank composition in pastures of diverse mixtures of temperate forages
Seed banks may contribute useful or weedy species that fill gaps in pastures. In a previous study, pastures planted to complex mixtures of forages had a lesser proportion of weedy species in the aboveground vegetation. In this study, we relate changes in the species composition of the seed bank to changes in the aboveground vegetation. In August 2001, four mixtures [two, three, six, and nine ...
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Activities of nitrogen-mineralization enzymes associated with soil aggregate size fractions of three tillage systems
Nitrogen mineralization occurring near the soil surface of agroecosystems determines the quantity of plant-available N, and soil enzymes produced by microorganisms play significant roles in the N mineralization process. Tillage systems may influence soil microbial communities and N mineralization enzymes through alterations in total soil C and N. Soil aggregates of different sizes provide diverse ...
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Using Soil EC Sensors for Irrigation Management
I. Introduction Irrigation is a critical component of agriculture, ensuring that crops receive the necessary amount of water for optimal growth and yield. However, the efficient use of water is becoming increasingly important due to water scarcity and the need to conserve resources. Soil EC sensors offer a valuable tool for irrigation management, allowing farmers to monitor soil moisture levels ...
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Crop rotation and soil health
They go together like salt and pepper – they’re better together When you have a strong and varied crop rotation, it produces a greater diversity in the soil microbiome, which improves activity both above and below the surface. One of the most critical parts about a healthy crop rotation is bacteria – both good and bad – because when you change crops, you change pathogens. ...
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Soil Microbial Community Response to Land Use Change in an Agricultural Landscape of Western Kenya
Tropical agroecosystems are subject to degradation processes such as losses in soil carbon, nutrient depletion, and reduced water holding capacity that occur rapidly resulting in a reduction in soil fertility that can be difficult to reverse. In this research, a polyphasic methodology has been used to investigate changes in microbial community structure and function in a series of tropical soils ...
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Family farms can be competitive by focusing on conservation and stewardship
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports a 40 percent decline in U.S. cropland soil erosion rates from 1982 to 2007, recent trends appear to challenge this progress. Record prices for corn and soybeans have diverted acres out of conservation programs and encouraged intensive production on a wide scale. Tree lines are cleared and wet areas drained, turning 120-acre farms into ...
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Let’s stop treating our soil like dirt
One of the most underappreciated resources on our planet, soil does much more than grow crops The United Nations’ International Year of Soils is hardly a media darling. Maybe it’s because many people are like me, who recall Mom’s words: “Take off your shoes! Don’t bring dirt into the house!” With all the challenges in the world today, why would we recognize ...
By Ensia
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2020 Prior Converted Cropland
About a month ago the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a memorandum of understanding about issues relating to implementing section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Food Security Act (FSA). The concern is the fact the the USDA and the EPA/Corps define wetlands differently. In short, the ...
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PTO Shaft 4 Series – Replacement for Bondioli & Pavesi PTO Shaft
A Four Series PTO (Power Take-Off) shaft is a form of power transmission device made of metal that is used to transfer energy from an engine or any other power source to equipment like a baler or mower. The term "4 series" signifies the dimensions as well as the specifications for the PTO shaft which are designed to handle a specific amount of torque and power. The PTO shaft of the 4 Series is ...
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What it Means: American Burying Beetle Status Change
This is the first post of our new series "What They Said - What It Means," where we unscramble the jargon around an environmental topic and discuss what it really means for project development and for you. In this post, we dive into the reasons behind the downlisting of the American burying beetle and the implications of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4(d) rule on developments in the central ...
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How a new way of thinking about soil sparked a national movement in agriculture
For three weeks every month, Ray Archuleta captivates audiences with a few handfuls of soil. He begins with two clumps, dropping them into water. The soil from a farm where the soil isn’t tilled holds together, while the tilled soil immediately disperses, indicating poor soil structure. Next, volunteers from the audience — mostly farmers and ranchers — pour water over a soil ...
By Ensia
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