J. Rudnick, S. Khalsa, M. Lubell, M. Leinfelder-Miles, K. Gould, P. H. Brown
Achieving sustainability in agricultural nitrogen (N) management relies on farmers’ decisions to reduce fertilizer inputs and adopt conservation management practices. Understanding the drivers and barriers to farmers’ adoption of improved N management practices is critical to developing effective management and policy approaches on this intractable challenge. Existing research on farmer behavior has assumed that any barrier to adoption will result in lower practice adoption rates, without fully understanding how barriers may vary across different management practices, farm and farmer types, and stages of adoption. By leveraging two farmer survey data sets (total n > 1,900), this study diagnoses key barriers to adoption across 11 different N management practices and a large diversity of farmer and farm types across the California Central Valley. We find resource constraints, technical knowledge, and uncertainty emerge as key barrier types that differentially affect farmers at various stages of adoption. On a practice-by-practice basis, uncertainty barriers appear greatest for nonadopters of a practice, whereas practice adopters are more likely to report resource barriers. Across management practices at the farm level, farmers with higher self-reported conservation orientations are more likely to report being affected by all barrier types, as compared to their peers with lower self-reported conservation orientations. Our findings demonstrate that barriers to adoption are more complex than simply the factors that predict lower adoption, as both adopters and nonadopters experience barriers. Furthermore, factors that typically predict higher adoption, such as conservation motivation, do not insulate a farmer from facing barriers to adoption. We consider how adopters are likely to go through a learning process while moving from considering to fully implementing a new practice, during which different barriers to behavior change may be encountered. We argue that interventions intended to motivate farmer adoption of improved management practices need to take more nuanced approaches to understanding how barriers to adoption are likely to vary across stages of adoption, farm and farmer type, and specific management practices.
{"title":"Understanding barriers to adoption of sustainable nitrogen management practices in California","authors":"J. Rudnick, S. Khalsa, M. Lubell, M. Leinfelder-Miles, K. Gould, P. H. Brown","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00109","url":null,"abstract":"Achieving sustainability in agricultural nitrogen (N) management relies on farmers’ decisions to reduce fertilizer inputs and adopt conservation management practices. Understanding the drivers and barriers to farmers’ adoption of improved N management practices is critical to developing effective management and policy approaches on this intractable challenge. Existing research on farmer behavior has assumed that any barrier to adoption will result in lower practice adoption rates, without fully understanding how barriers may vary across different management practices, farm and farmer types, and stages of adoption. By leveraging two farmer survey data sets (total n > 1,900), this study diagnoses key barriers to adoption across 11 different N management practices and a large diversity of farmer and farm types across the California Central Valley. We find resource constraints, technical knowledge, and uncertainty emerge as key barrier types that differentially affect farmers at various stages of adoption. On a practice-by-practice basis, uncertainty barriers appear greatest for nonadopters of a practice, whereas practice adopters are more likely to report resource barriers. Across management practices at the farm level, farmers with higher self-reported conservation orientations are more likely to report being affected by all barrier types, as compared to their peers with lower self-reported conservation orientations. Our findings demonstrate that barriers to adoption are more complex than simply the factors that predict lower adoption, as both adopters and nonadopters experience barriers. Furthermore, factors that typically predict higher adoption, such as conservation motivation, do not insulate a farmer from facing barriers to adoption. We consider how adopters are likely to go through a learning process while moving from considering to fully implementing a new practice, during which different barriers to behavior change may be encountered. We argue that interventions intended to motivate farmer adoption of improved management practices need to take more nuanced approaches to understanding how barriers to adoption are likely to vary across stages of adoption, farm and farmer type, and specific management practices.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"327 1","pages":"347 - 363"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76642658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Low temperatures, freezing-thawing cycles, and short growing seasons characterize alpine soils. The mattic epipedon, a special diagnostic surface horizon with an intensive root network, is widely distributed in alpine ecosystems. Studies on the soil macropores and roots of the mattic epipedon layer in response to seasonal freezing-thawing processes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are lacking. This study characterized the soil macropores and roots of alpine meadows during the seasonal freezing-thawing process using X-ray computed tomography and revealed the influence of soil macropores and roots structure on water transport in the mattic epipedon layer of the alpine meadows. The results showed that the soil pore distribution was more uniform during the unstable freezing stage (UFP) and the unstable thawing stage (UTP), whereas there was a clear mattic epipedon layer during the completely thawed stage (TP) and the completely frozen stage (FP). Soils in the TP stage had a higher total surface area density (0.1898 mm2 mm−3), length density (225.28 mm mm−3), node density (1,592 no. mm−3), and connectivity (0.3144) of soil macropores than those in the UFP, UTP, and FP stages. In the TP stages, the density, surface area density, branch density, length density, and node density of roots had significant correlations with the macroporosity, surface area density, length density, node density, and tortuosity of soil macropores. In the FP stage, there were no correlations between the root and soil macropore characteristics. Vertical water is expected to move more readily through the mattic epipedon in the TP stage than in the UFP and UTP stages. Roots were the preferential pathways for water transport into the soil layer of the alpine meadow. Therefore, the mattic epipedon is a key layer for water and nutrient storage and plays an important role in the water-holding function of the Tibetan Plateau due to its greater root development.
低温、冻融循环和短生长季节是高山土壤的特征。高山生态系统中广泛分布着具有密集根系网络的特殊诊断层——基质表层层。青藏高原基质表层土壤大孔和根系对季节性冻融过程的响应研究较少。利用x射线计算机断层扫描技术对季节性冻融过程中高寒草甸土壤大孔隙和根系进行了表征，揭示了土壤大孔隙和根系结构对高寒草甸基质表层水分运移的影响。结果表明:在不稳定冻结阶段和不稳定融化阶段，土壤孔隙分布较为均匀，而在完全融化阶段和完全冻结阶段，存在明显的基质表层层;TP阶段土壤的总表面积密度(0.1898 mm2 mm−3)、长度密度(225.28 mm mm−3)、节点密度(1592个节点)均较高。mm−3)，土壤大孔连通性(0.3144)高于UFP、UTP和FP阶段。在TP阶段，根系密度、表面积密度、分枝密度、长度密度和节点密度与土壤大孔隙度、表面积密度、长度密度、节点密度和弯曲度呈显著相关。在FP阶段，根系与土壤大孔特征之间不存在相关性。垂直水在TP阶段比在UFP和UTP阶段更容易通过基质表层。根系是高寒草甸土壤水分运移的优先通道。因此，基质表层是青藏高原水分和养分储存的关键层，根系发育程度较高，在青藏高原的持水功能中起着重要作用。
{"title":"Characteristics of the soil macropore and root architecture of alpine meadows during the seasonal freezing-thawing process and their impact on water transport in the Qinghai Lake watershed, northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau","authors":"X. Hu, L. Jiang, Y.-D. Zhao, X. Li","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00155","url":null,"abstract":"Low temperatures, freezing-thawing cycles, and short growing seasons characterize alpine soils. The mattic epipedon, a special diagnostic surface horizon with an intensive root network, is widely distributed in alpine ecosystems. Studies on the soil macropores and roots of the mattic epipedon layer in response to seasonal freezing-thawing processes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are lacking. This study characterized the soil macropores and roots of alpine meadows during the seasonal freezing-thawing process using X-ray computed tomography and revealed the influence of soil macropores and roots structure on water transport in the mattic epipedon layer of the alpine meadows. The results showed that the soil pore distribution was more uniform during the unstable freezing stage (UFP) and the unstable thawing stage (UTP), whereas there was a clear mattic epipedon layer during the completely thawed stage (TP) and the completely frozen stage (FP). Soils in the TP stage had a higher total surface area density (0.1898 mm2 mm−3), length density (225.28 mm mm−3), node density (1,592 no. mm−3), and connectivity (0.3144) of soil macropores than those in the UFP, UTP, and FP stages. In the TP stages, the density, surface area density, branch density, length density, and node density of roots had significant correlations with the macroporosity, surface area density, length density, node density, and tortuosity of soil macropores. In the FP stage, there were no correlations between the root and soil macropore characteristics. Vertical water is expected to move more readily through the mattic epipedon in the TP stage than in the UFP and UTP stages. Roots were the preferential pathways for water transport into the soil layer of the alpine meadow. Therefore, the mattic epipedon is a key layer for water and nutrient storage and plays an important role in the water-holding function of the Tibetan Plateau due to its greater root development.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"29 1","pages":"299 - 308"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79956096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Peng, X. Xu, Haifang Wen, S. Ni, J. Wang, C. Cai
Vegetation restoration could cause variations in soil and near-surface properties, altering soil structure directly or indirectly and consequently affecting soil infiltration characteristics. This study is aimed at exploring the variation of soil physicochemical properties and infiltration characteristics under five vegetation restoration types (including restored forest, restored orchard, restored scrubland, restored grassland, and unrestored eroded land, which are referred to as RF, RO, RS, RG, and EL, respectively) and the main factors affecting infiltration characteristics. The EL was taken as the control group. Five hydraulic heads (0, −3, −6, −9, and −12 cm) were set to continuously measure the soil infiltration characteristics through a disc infiltrometer. Results indicated that vegetation restoration types significantly affected initial infiltration rate (IIR), steady infiltration rate (SIR), and hydraulic conductivity (Ks), which ranged from 0.56 to 4.40, 0.32 to 2.86, and 6.48 × 10−3 to 0.47 mm h−1, respectively (mean value: 2.72, 1.35, and 0.32 mm h−1, respectively). The highest value of soil infiltration rate appeared in the EL, and the lowest value was observed in the RF. Root parameters including root length density and root surface density were highest in RG, and lowest in the control and RF, respectively. In addition, the conceptual path model explained 95%, 96%, and 96% of the variance in IIR, SIR, and Ks, with the goodness-of-fit index of 0.988, 0.988, and 0.997, respectively. This modeling determined biological crust thickness, soil organic matter content, root length density, and sand content as the major factors affecting the process of soil infiltration. These results enhance our understanding of the water erosion process under different vegetation restoration types in the severely eroded subtropical regions of South China.
植被恢复会引起土壤和近地表性质的变化，直接或间接地改变土壤结构，从而影响土壤入渗特性。本研究旨在探讨五种植被恢复类型(恢复森林、恢复果园、恢复灌丛、恢复草地和未恢复侵蚀地，分别称为RF、RO、RS、RG和EL)下土壤理化性质和入渗特征的变化，以及影响入渗特征的主要因素。以EL组为对照组。设置五个液压头(0，- 3，- 6，- 9和- 12厘米)，通过圆盘渗透计连续测量土壤渗透特性。结果表明，植被恢复类型对初始入渗速率(IIR)、稳定入渗速率(SIR)和水导率(Ks)影响显著，分别为0.56 ~ 4.40、0.32 ~ 2.86和6.48 × 10−3 ~ 0.47 mm h−1(平均值分别为2.72、1.35和0.32 mm h−1)。土壤入渗速率最大值出现在东部，最小值出现在中部。根长密度和根表面密度以RG组最高，对照和RF组最低。此外，概念路径模型解释了95%、96%和96%的IIR、SIR和Ks方差，拟合优度指数分别为0.988、0.988和0.997。该模型确定了生物结皮厚度、土壤有机质含量、根长密度和含沙量是影响土壤入渗过程的主要因素。这些结果加深了我们对华南亚热带严重侵蚀地区不同植被恢复类型下水分侵蚀过程的认识。
{"title":"Effects of different vegetation restoration types on soil infiltration characteristics in severely eroded subtropical regions of South China","authors":"J. Peng, X. Xu, Haifang Wen, S. Ni, J. Wang, C. Cai","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00047","url":null,"abstract":"Vegetation restoration could cause variations in soil and near-surface properties, altering soil structure directly or indirectly and consequently affecting soil infiltration characteristics. This study is aimed at exploring the variation of soil physicochemical properties and infiltration characteristics under five vegetation restoration types (including restored forest, restored orchard, restored scrubland, restored grassland, and unrestored eroded land, which are referred to as RF, RO, RS, RG, and EL, respectively) and the main factors affecting infiltration characteristics. The EL was taken as the control group. Five hydraulic heads (0, −3, −6, −9, and −12 cm) were set to continuously measure the soil infiltration characteristics through a disc infiltrometer. Results indicated that vegetation restoration types significantly affected initial infiltration rate (IIR), steady infiltration rate (SIR), and hydraulic conductivity (Ks), which ranged from 0.56 to 4.40, 0.32 to 2.86, and 6.48 × 10−3 to 0.47 mm h−1, respectively (mean value: 2.72, 1.35, and 0.32 mm h−1, respectively). The highest value of soil infiltration rate appeared in the EL, and the lowest value was observed in the RF. Root parameters including root length density and root surface density were highest in RG, and lowest in the control and RF, respectively. In addition, the conceptual path model explained 95%, 96%, and 96% of the variance in IIR, SIR, and Ks, with the goodness-of-fit index of 0.988, 0.988, and 0.997, respectively. This modeling determined biological crust thickness, soil organic matter content, root length density, and sand content as the major factors affecting the process of soil infiltration. These results enhance our understanding of the water erosion process under different vegetation restoration types in the severely eroded subtropical regions of South China.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"4 1","pages":"364 - 375"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87866981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Drainage water recycling (DWR) using drainage and subirrigation (DSI) has increased the resiliency of crop production and improved water quality in the midwestern United States, but the effects on soil properties and soil health parameters have not been determined. This research evaluated (1) reservoir nutrient concentrations of a long-term DWR site over time, (2) the effects of a DWR system on soil properties at four depths in a corn (Zea mays)–soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation compared to free drainage (FD) and nondrained (ND) soil, and (3) the influence of DWR on soil health parameters after a 17-year corn–soybean rotation compared to ND. Different laboratory methods for estimating these soil health parameters were compared. In the initial years of the study (2002 to 2007), concentration of salts (potassium [K] and sodium [Na]) and dissolved nutrients (nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P]) were higher in the reservoir water. Mean concentrations were 1.8 mg L−1 for nitrate-N (NO3-N) and 0.36 mg L−1 for orthophosphate (PO4-P) in the reservoir during the study. The concentration of salts and ions in the reservoir were not restrictive for use as irrigation water for plants. The DWR treatment had a soil texture that was 11% lower in silt (P < 0.001) and 13% higher in clay (P < 0.001) concentration at 21 to 30 cm soil depth compared to ND. The water table fluctuations appeared to influence cation (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and K) movement in soils while the FD and DWR treatments had lower soil test P in the topsoil. No significant interaction in soil analysis methods × treatments were observed (P > 0.1), indicating the absence of an effect of analysis methods (Haney soil test, Soil Health Management Assessment Framework, and Cornell Soil Health Assessment) on assessment of soil properties. DWR did not alter soil properties or soil health parameters.
{"title":"Long-term drainage water recycling affects soil health and soil properties","authors":"H. Kaur, K. Nelson, G. Singh, R. Udawatta","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00159","url":null,"abstract":"Drainage water recycling (DWR) using drainage and subirrigation (DSI) has increased the resiliency of crop production and improved water quality in the midwestern United States, but the effects on soil properties and soil health parameters have not been determined. This research evaluated (1) reservoir nutrient concentrations of a long-term DWR site over time, (2) the effects of a DWR system on soil properties at four depths in a corn (Zea mays)–soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation compared to free drainage (FD) and nondrained (ND) soil, and (3) the influence of DWR on soil health parameters after a 17-year corn–soybean rotation compared to ND. Different laboratory methods for estimating these soil health parameters were compared. In the initial years of the study (2002 to 2007), concentration of salts (potassium [K] and sodium [Na]) and dissolved nutrients (nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P]) were higher in the reservoir water. Mean concentrations were 1.8 mg L−1 for nitrate-N (NO3-N) and 0.36 mg L−1 for orthophosphate (PO4-P) in the reservoir during the study. The concentration of salts and ions in the reservoir were not restrictive for use as irrigation water for plants. The DWR treatment had a soil texture that was 11% lower in silt (P < 0.001) and 13% higher in clay (P < 0.001) concentration at 21 to 30 cm soil depth compared to ND. The water table fluctuations appeared to influence cation (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and K) movement in soils while the FD and DWR treatments had lower soil test P in the topsoil. No significant interaction in soil analysis methods × treatments were observed (P > 0.1), indicating the absence of an effect of analysis methods (Haney soil test, Soil Health Management Assessment Framework, and Cornell Soil Health Assessment) on assessment of soil properties. DWR did not alter soil properties or soil health parameters.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"37 1","pages":"309 - 321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84554981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Smart climate initiatives for United States cropland","authors":"C. Ogg","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.0322a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.0322a","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"18 1","pages":"79A - 81A"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88992353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
T. Guo, S. Marquart-Pyatt, K. Beethem, R. Denny, J. Lai
Scaling up cover crop use will increase crop diversity on agricultural lands and help achieve sustainable production and environmental wellbeing. To increase the total acreage planted to cover crops, more farmers need to use cover crops on a larger proportion of their farms (extent) and for a longer time (longevity), suggesting the importance of spatial and temporal scales of adoption. The adoption literature lacks attention to the spatial and temporal precision of practice measures and misses opportunities to identify consistent or diverse mechanisms for scaling up conservation practices. To fill this gap, we used data from 1,724 corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) farms in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to study three measures of cover crop usage: the use of cover crops in a single year on a specific field, the percentage of acres planted to cover crops on a farm in a single-year, and years of cover crop use. Our models included key biophysical, operational, policy, social, and psychological factors. We hypothesize that predictors of cover crop adoption and intensity and longevity of use differ. Our results revealed five factors that performed consistently across measures (perceived benefits of cover crops, knowledge, profitability goals, no-till, and rotational diversity), while the effects of the other seven factors varied, including sustainability goals that were only associated with the longevity of use. Policy programs that aim at increasing cover crop use should consider which aspect of scaling-up is being targeted, then focus on corresponding factors that can better tailor policy and education programs to farmer motivations and decision-making contexts.
扩大覆盖作物的利用将增加农业用地上的作物多样性，并有助于实现可持续生产和环境福祉。为了增加覆盖作物的种植面积，更多的农民需要在更大比例的农场(范围)和更长的时间(寿命)上使用覆盖作物，这表明了采用空间和时间尺度的重要性。采用文献缺乏对实践措施的空间和时间精度的关注，并且错过了确定扩大保护实践的一致或多样化机制的机会。为了填补这一空白，我们使用了1,724种玉米(Zea mays L.)和大豆(Glycine max [L.])的数据。在伊利诺斯州、印第安纳州、密歇根州和俄亥俄州的Merr.)农场研究覆盖作物使用的三种方法:一年中特定田地覆盖作物的使用，一年中农场种植覆盖作物的面积百分比，以及覆盖作物使用的年份。我们的模型包括关键的生物物理、操作、政策、社会和心理因素。我们假设覆盖作物采用率、使用强度和使用寿命的预测因子不同。我们的研究结果揭示了五个因素在测量中表现一致(覆盖作物的感知效益、知识、盈利目标、免耕和轮作多样性)，而其他七个因素的影响各不相同，包括仅与使用寿命相关的可持续性目标。旨在增加覆盖作物利用的政策计划应考虑扩大规模的哪个方面是目标，然后将重点放在能够更好地根据农民动机和决策环境定制政策和教育计划的相应因素上。
{"title":"Scaling up agricultural conservation: Predictors of cover crop use across time and space in the US upper Midwest","authors":"T. Guo, S. Marquart-Pyatt, K. Beethem, R. Denny, J. Lai","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00084","url":null,"abstract":"Scaling up cover crop use will increase crop diversity on agricultural lands and help achieve sustainable production and environmental wellbeing. To increase the total acreage planted to cover crops, more farmers need to use cover crops on a larger proportion of their farms (extent) and for a longer time (longevity), suggesting the importance of spatial and temporal scales of adoption. The adoption literature lacks attention to the spatial and temporal precision of practice measures and misses opportunities to identify consistent or diverse mechanisms for scaling up conservation practices. To fill this gap, we used data from 1,724 corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) farms in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio to study three measures of cover crop usage: the use of cover crops in a single year on a specific field, the percentage of acres planted to cover crops on a farm in a single-year, and years of cover crop use. Our models included key biophysical, operational, policy, social, and psychological factors. We hypothesize that predictors of cover crop adoption and intensity and longevity of use differ. Our results revealed five factors that performed consistently across measures (perceived benefits of cover crops, knowledge, profitability goals, no-till, and rotational diversity), while the effects of the other seven factors varied, including sustainability goals that were only associated with the longevity of use. Policy programs that aim at increasing cover crop use should consider which aspect of scaling-up is being targeted, then focus on corresponding factors that can better tailor policy and education programs to farmer motivations and decision-making contexts.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"24 1","pages":"335 - 346"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72541066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y. Luo, K. Zhu, X. Qiu, C. Zang, X. Lu, M. Dai, W. Zhang, X. Gan
Water conservation is one of the most crucial ecosystem service functions and key to evaluating watershed protection and development. Water consumption is an important part of the water cycle and maintains ecosystem stability. The trade-off relationship between water conservation and water consumption in ecosystems at different climatic scales is a significant scientific issue in hydrological studies. The Dongjiang River basin has a very important strategic position and supplies water to the eastern part of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong. This study conducted a trade-off analysis of the water conservation and water consumption of typical ecosystems in the Dongjiang River basin at different climatic scales using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The results revealed that first, the amount of water conserved in the Dongjiang River basin was far less than that consumed over the past 50 years. Regarding typical meteorological years, water consumption followed the order of wet year > normal year > dry year. Second, the average amounts of annual, wet season, and dry season water consumption were 22.611, 17.943, and 4.668 Bm³, respectively, whereas the average amounts of water conservation were 1.198, 1.609, and −0.411 Bm³, respectively. The water conservation and water consumption of different ecosystems fluctuated significantly between the dry and wet seasons, with stronger fluctuation in the dry season. Third, in terms of ecosystem types, water conservation followed the order of arbor forest > paddy field > other forest > grassland > dry cropland, and water consumption followed the order of arbor forest > other forest > paddy field > grassland > dry cropland. Lastly, the meteorological factor driving changes in water conservation was precipitation, and the factors influencing changes in water consumption were temperature and precipitation. This study can provide theoretical reference for ecosystem protection and sustainable management of water resources, and the results and conclusions have great significance to developments in hydrological research.
{"title":"Trade-off analysis of water conservation and water consumption of typical ecosystems at different climatic scales in the Dongjiang River basin, China","authors":"Y. Luo, K. Zhu, X. Qiu, C. Zang, X. Lu, M. Dai, W. Zhang, X. Gan","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00106","url":null,"abstract":"Water conservation is one of the most crucial ecosystem service functions and key to evaluating watershed protection and development. Water consumption is an important part of the water cycle and maintains ecosystem stability. The trade-off relationship between water conservation and water consumption in ecosystems at different climatic scales is a significant scientific issue in hydrological studies. The Dongjiang River basin has a very important strategic position and supplies water to the eastern part of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong. This study conducted a trade-off analysis of the water conservation and water consumption of typical ecosystems in the Dongjiang River basin at different climatic scales using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The results revealed that first, the amount of water conserved in the Dongjiang River basin was far less than that consumed over the past 50 years. Regarding typical meteorological years, water consumption followed the order of wet year > normal year > dry year. Second, the average amounts of annual, wet season, and dry season water consumption were 22.611, 17.943, and 4.668 Bm³, respectively, whereas the average amounts of water conservation were 1.198, 1.609, and −0.411 Bm³, respectively. The water conservation and water consumption of different ecosystems fluctuated significantly between the dry and wet seasons, with stronger fluctuation in the dry season. Third, in terms of ecosystem types, water conservation followed the order of arbor forest > paddy field > other forest > grassland > dry cropland, and water consumption followed the order of arbor forest > other forest > paddy field > grassland > dry cropland. Lastly, the meteorological factor driving changes in water conservation was precipitation, and the factors influencing changes in water consumption were temperature and precipitation. This study can provide theoretical reference for ecosystem protection and sustainable management of water resources, and the results and conclusions have great significance to developments in hydrological research.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"13 1","pages":"322 - 334"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89024686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Q. Phung, A. Thompson, C. Baffaut, L. Witthaus, N. Aloysius, T. L. Veith, D. Bosch, G. McCarty, S. Lee
The Soil Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses widely available inputs from the SSURGO database to classify cropland into four levels of vulnerability to sediment and nutrient losses: Low, Moderate, Moderately High, and High. Previous work has identified inconsistencies in SVI assessments across the United States, possibly because neither precipitation amount nor intensity were included in the development of SVI. This study aimed to determine if rainfall characteristics influence the SVI classification and which ones are most critical. The objectives were to (1) evaluate the impact of precipitation characteristics on land vulnerability to sediment loss, and (2) evaluate if rainfall characteristics alter the degree of agreement between the simulated sediment yield and SVI classification. The study focused on four Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) watersheds in Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania for which sediment yields were simulated using previously calibrated models. The models were run with input precipitation data from these four watersheds. In addition, in order to examine a wider range of precipitation characteristics, model runs were made for the same four watersheds utilizing precipitation data from two CEAP areas in Georgia and Maryland. Sediment yields for all the cropland units in four of the watersheds were simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool or the Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Model using 1985 to 2014 precipitation data from all six areas as inputs. Similarities and differences between precipitation characteristics such as precipitation amount, intensity, and rainfall erosivity R-factors were compared with the similarities and differences in simulated sediment loss. Results confirmed that SVI is a useful tool for relative ranking of cropland at risk of erosion within a region, as SVI and the model-based vulnerability classifications agreed for 55% to 100% of the watersheds’ subunits. However, model-based classification of field vulnerability could shift due to changes in precipitation characteristics. Thus, the range of soil loss for each vulnerability class can shift from one region to another. The results suggest that precipitation intensity or annual R-factor may help improve the correspondence between vulnerability and the range of expected soil loss.
{"title":"Assessing Soil Vulnerability Index classification with respect to rainfall characteristics","authors":"Q. Phung, A. Thompson, C. Baffaut, L. Witthaus, N. Aloysius, T. L. Veith, D. Bosch, G. McCarty, S. Lee","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00065","url":null,"abstract":"The Soil Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses widely available inputs from the SSURGO database to classify cropland into four levels of vulnerability to sediment and nutrient losses: Low, Moderate, Moderately High, and High. Previous work has identified inconsistencies in SVI assessments across the United States, possibly because neither precipitation amount nor intensity were included in the development of SVI. This study aimed to determine if rainfall characteristics influence the SVI classification and which ones are most critical. The objectives were to (1) evaluate the impact of precipitation characteristics on land vulnerability to sediment loss, and (2) evaluate if rainfall characteristics alter the degree of agreement between the simulated sediment yield and SVI classification. The study focused on four Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) watersheds in Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania for which sediment yields were simulated using previously calibrated models. The models were run with input precipitation data from these four watersheds. In addition, in order to examine a wider range of precipitation characteristics, model runs were made for the same four watersheds utilizing precipitation data from two CEAP areas in Georgia and Maryland. Sediment yields for all the cropland units in four of the watersheds were simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool or the Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Model using 1985 to 2014 precipitation data from all six areas as inputs. Similarities and differences between precipitation characteristics such as precipitation amount, intensity, and rainfall erosivity R-factors were compared with the similarities and differences in simulated sediment loss. Results confirmed that SVI is a useful tool for relative ranking of cropland at risk of erosion within a region, as SVI and the model-based vulnerability classifications agreed for 55% to 100% of the watersheds’ subunits. However, model-based classification of field vulnerability could shift due to changes in precipitation characteristics. Thus, the range of soil loss for each vulnerability class can shift from one region to another. The results suggest that precipitation intensity or annual R-factor may help improve the correspondence between vulnerability and the range of expected soil loss.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"40 1","pages":"209 - 221"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90935492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Z. Liu, L. Nie, M. Zhang, S. Zhang, H. Yang, L. Guo, J. Xia, T. Ning, N. Jiao, Y. Kuzyakov
Conservation tillage has been adopted worldwide as an attractive alternative to conventional tillage. However, suitable conservation tillage for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yield simultaneously is still limited. Two conservation tillage methods, subsoiling to the 40 cm depth (ST) and no-tillage (NT), were combined with three straw return treatments (i.e., no return [−0], return of whole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw and 1 m high maize (Zea mays L.) stubble [−1], and return of whole wheat and maize straw [−a]) to study their impacts on SOC content, labile C fractions, and crop yields, with conventional tillage (CT) used as a control in a 15-year field experiment. Subsoiling with 1 m high maize stubble return (ST-1) increased the mean annual grain yields by 18% and the mean SOC content by 39% at the 0 to 100 cm depth compared with conventional tillage with no maize straw return (CT-0) in 2016 and 2017. The mean SOC at the 0 to 100 cm depth of the NT treatment was lower than those of ST and CT because of the reduced transformation from straw to SOC and labile C fractions. One meter high maize stubble return can maintain high SOC content, C fractions, and crop yield compared with whole maize straw return. Thus, subsoiling combined with 1 m high maize stubble return was an effective conservation tillage to increase the SOC content and crop yield.
{"title":"Long-term subsoiling and straw return increase soil organic carbon fractions and crop yield","authors":"Z. Liu, L. Nie, M. Zhang, S. Zhang, H. Yang, L. Guo, J. Xia, T. Ning, N. Jiao, Y. Kuzyakov","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00094","url":null,"abstract":"Conservation tillage has been adopted worldwide as an attractive alternative to conventional tillage. However, suitable conservation tillage for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yield simultaneously is still limited. Two conservation tillage methods, subsoiling to the 40 cm depth (ST) and no-tillage (NT), were combined with three straw return treatments (i.e., no return [−0], return of whole wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw and 1 m high maize (Zea mays L.) stubble [−1], and return of whole wheat and maize straw [−a]) to study their impacts on SOC content, labile C fractions, and crop yields, with conventional tillage (CT) used as a control in a 15-year field experiment. Subsoiling with 1 m high maize stubble return (ST-1) increased the mean annual grain yields by 18% and the mean SOC content by 39% at the 0 to 100 cm depth compared with conventional tillage with no maize straw return (CT-0) in 2016 and 2017. The mean SOC at the 0 to 100 cm depth of the NT treatment was lower than those of ST and CT because of the reduced transformation from straw to SOC and labile C fractions. One meter high maize stubble return can maintain high SOC content, C fractions, and crop yield compared with whole maize straw return. Thus, subsoiling combined with 1 m high maize stubble return was an effective conservation tillage to increase the SOC content and crop yield.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"144 1","pages":"234 - 244"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76238010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Sedghi, R. Fox, L. Sherman, C. Gaudlip, R. Weil
The US state of Maryland incentivizes farmers to plant cover crops to reduce nitrogen (N) loading to the Chesapeake Bay and to sequester carbon (C). Maryland has a greater percentage of agricultural land in cover crops than any other state, but Maryland farmers typically plant cover crops in October, after harvest and terminate them early in spring, thus severely limiting the cover crop growing time with sufficient temperatures. We hypothesized that extending the cover crop growing season, by interseeding cover crops earlier in fall and terminating them later in the spring, would increase both fall and spring cover crop biomass and N content, reduce nitrate (NO3) leached during winter through early spring, increase soil mineral N, and increase soil moisture in early summer. We tested this hypothesis across 18 site-years by partnering with commercial farmers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The farmers managed a brassica-legume-cereal cover crop on their corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) fields according to three treatments: (1) aerial interseed cover crop prior to cash crop harvest and terminate it at or after cash crop planting (Extended); (2) drill cover crop after cash crop harvest and terminate it several weeks before cash crop planting (Standard); and (3) a no-cover crop control in 2018 and 2019 (No Cover). For each treatment, we measured cover crop biomass + N content (fall and spring), NO3 in 70 or 100 cm deep drainage water (fall-winter), as well as soil mineral N and moisture (in June). The Extended treatment exhibited higher fall biomass (1,700 versus 294 kg ha−1) and total N content (65.3 versus 9.6 kg N ha−1) only in a wet year, but produced greater spring cover crop biomass and N content than the Standard treatment every year. In the year with a very wet fall, NO3-N leaching loss was reduced by 84% for Extended and by 45% for Standard compared to No Cover. We found no difference in NO3 leaching between Extended and Standard in years with a dry fall (2017 and 2019). Averaged over all three years, Extended and Standard did not differ in June soil NO3 concentration. Greater reductions in NO3 leaching may make early aerial interseeding preferable to post-harvest drilling, while increased biomass produced in spring with later termination made Extended desirable for increased C inputs. Hence, extending the cover-cropping season can be beneficial to the farmer and to the environment due to increased fall and spring cover crop C inputs to the soil and reduced NO3 leaching in wet years, reducing potential eutrophication of nearby waterways.
美国马里兰州鼓励农民种植覆盖作物，以减少向切萨皮克湾(Chesapeake Bay)的氮(N)负荷，并封存碳(C)。马里兰州种植覆盖作物的农业土地比例高于其他任何州，但马里兰州农民通常在收获后的10月种植覆盖作物，并在早春终止，因此严重限制了覆盖作物在足够温度下的生长时间。我们假设延长覆盖作物的生长季节，通过在秋季早期播种覆盖作物，在春季晚些时候终止覆盖作物，可以增加秋季和春季覆盖作物的生物量和氮含量，减少冬季到早春期间的硝态氮(NO3)淋滤，增加土壤矿质氮，增加初夏土壤水分。我们通过与马里兰州东海岸的商业农民合作，在18个地点的时间里检验了这一假设。农民们在他们的玉米(Zea mays L.)或大豆(Glycine max [L.)上种植芸苔-豆类-谷物覆盖作物。(1)在经济作物收获前进行空中间种覆盖，并在经济作物种植时或种植后终止间种覆盖(延期);(2)在经济作物收获后钻盖，在经济作物种植前几周终止(标准);(3) 2018年和2019年的无覆盖作物控制(无覆盖)。对于每个处理，我们测量了覆盖作物生物量+ N含量(秋季和春季)，70或100 cm深排水中的NO3含量(秋冬季)，以及土壤矿质氮和水分(6月)。扩展处理仅在湿润年份表现出更高的秋季生物量(1,700比294 kg ha - 1)和总氮含量(65.3比9.6 kg N ha - 1)，但每年的春季覆盖作物生物量和氮含量都高于标准处理。在秋季非常潮湿的年份，与不覆盖相比，扩展覆盖减少了84%，标准覆盖减少了45%。我们发现，在干旱的秋季(2017年和2019年)，扩展版和标准版的NO3浸出量没有差异。从3年平均值来看，“标准”与“标准”6月土壤NO3浓度无显著差异。NO3淋失的减少可能使早期空中间作比收获后的钻孔更可取，而春季生物量的增加和后期终止使得延长对增加的C投入更可取。因此，延长覆盖种植季节对农民和环境都是有益的，因为秋季和春季覆盖作物向土壤中投入的碳增加了，湿润年份的NO3淋失减少了，减少了附近水道的潜在富营养化。
{"title":"Aerial interseeding and planting green to enhance nitrogen capture and cover crop biomass carbon","authors":"N. Sedghi, R. Fox, L. Sherman, C. Gaudlip, R. Weil","doi":"10.2489/jswc.2023.00051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2023.00051","url":null,"abstract":"The US state of Maryland incentivizes farmers to plant cover crops to reduce nitrogen (N) loading to the Chesapeake Bay and to sequester carbon (C). Maryland has a greater percentage of agricultural land in cover crops than any other state, but Maryland farmers typically plant cover crops in October, after harvest and terminate them early in spring, thus severely limiting the cover crop growing time with sufficient temperatures. We hypothesized that extending the cover crop growing season, by interseeding cover crops earlier in fall and terminating them later in the spring, would increase both fall and spring cover crop biomass and N content, reduce nitrate (NO3) leached during winter through early spring, increase soil mineral N, and increase soil moisture in early summer. We tested this hypothesis across 18 site-years by partnering with commercial farmers on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The farmers managed a brassica-legume-cereal cover crop on their corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) fields according to three treatments: (1) aerial interseed cover crop prior to cash crop harvest and terminate it at or after cash crop planting (Extended); (2) drill cover crop after cash crop harvest and terminate it several weeks before cash crop planting (Standard); and (3) a no-cover crop control in 2018 and 2019 (No Cover). For each treatment, we measured cover crop biomass + N content (fall and spring), NO3 in 70 or 100 cm deep drainage water (fall-winter), as well as soil mineral N and moisture (in June). The Extended treatment exhibited higher fall biomass (1,700 versus 294 kg ha−1) and total N content (65.3 versus 9.6 kg N ha−1) only in a wet year, but produced greater spring cover crop biomass and N content than the Standard treatment every year. In the year with a very wet fall, NO3-N leaching loss was reduced by 84% for Extended and by 45% for Standard compared to No Cover. We found no difference in NO3 leaching between Extended and Standard in years with a dry fall (2017 and 2019). Averaged over all three years, Extended and Standard did not differ in June soil NO3 concentration. Greater reductions in NO3 leaching may make early aerial interseeding preferable to post-harvest drilling, while increased biomass produced in spring with later termination made Extended desirable for increased C inputs. Hence, extending the cover-cropping season can be beneficial to the farmer and to the environment due to increased fall and spring cover crop C inputs to the soil and reduced NO3 leaching in wet years, reducing potential eutrophication of nearby waterways.","PeriodicalId":50049,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Soil and Water Conservation","volume":"19 1","pages":"282 - 298"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75314167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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