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SOIL CONSERVATION
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The increase of inundations
develops more and more into a threat of life quality in Europe. However,
what unfortunately finds little entrance in the media discussion is the fact
that not only the sealing for settlement and traffic areas or possible climate
changes are responsible for increasing flood events but - in a large extent -
also the reduced water infiltration, storage and filter capability of our
soils suffering more and more strongly compaction through an intensive
agriculture and forestry.
The increasing susceptibility of soils in Europe for compaction
and erosion shows syndromes of soil degradation which cause enormous
macroeconomic costs and must be termed as a serious threat for the
maintenance of life quality.
Many statements in science and in
policy summarise the urgent necessity of research to step further in combating
soil degradation. Soils fulfil substantial functions for production,
landscape balance and social life quality. Soils degrade, if the balance
between the soil functions is disturbed. Therefore, different forms of land
use must be able to ensure maintenance of soil functions on a
long-term basis, in order to be sustainable.
>Literature
Zero tillage is currently high recommanded for soil
conservation. The increasing amount of earthworms is statet to be a sign of
good soil structure. But: Earthworms often feel very well in amazingly
compacted soils and therefore aren't in every case a serious indicator for
healthy and well balanced soil functions.
Macro pores surrounded from compacted soil structure - as
it has been found often with zero tillage - can implicate endangerment of
groundwater due to the fast, unfiltered flow of agochemicals with percolation
water.
The buffer and filter function
(regulation function) of soil is sufficient only with a healthy non compacted
crumbly structure. The question if soil structure ensures enough filtering
capacity can only be answered by an qualitative soil structure analysis.
>
Literature
For an ecologically and economically long-term balanced
productivity and maintenance of soil functions for agricultural
productivity and social and ecological life quality, the living space and
regulation function of soils must be taken strongly more into account. To
document the effects of soil and land management systems on ecological soil
functions, sensitive indicators and economic suitable scientific
methods have to be defined, which are able to show the influence of
management systems on soil vitality. These indicators and the methods, which
serve the examination, must react sufficient sensitively to changes of
management practice, in order to point out changes in soil quality as early as
possible.
The
specification of limiting-, task-, or reference-values for soil conservation
presupposes that these also can be checked by a corresponding measuring. The
costs of the administration and control effort are a general problem at the
fixing of limiting values. Especially at the problem of soil compaction
and structure degradation, till now, usable measuring techniques
with real evidence about structure conditions aren't applied for
general data collection.
With regard to the on-site and off-site symptoms of soil
degradation in Europe as there are: erosion, compaction, increasing fertilizer
and plant protective substance effort, decreasing plant health, decreasing soil
fertility, floods and endangerment of soil water recharge and quality -
chief attention has to be given to the condition of soil
structure because of its close connections to water circulation,
soil life activity, transformation capacity and aggregate
stability. If the structure of our soils is in good condition, the symptoms
described above - which threaten production and life-quality - are reduced
decidedly and high costs can be saved.
The good suitability of a
structure examination for the judgement of management measures has been
documented and confirmed repeatedly by soil experts and farmers. Some years ago
the field method "Spadediagnosis" has been rediscovered and further
developed for scientific use in a recent study.
In this research paper the proposal is made to use soil structure as indicator
for sound soil functions because of its close connections to water circulation,
soil life activity and transformation capacity. With the Improved Spade
Diagnosis a methodology has been presented, which combines new structure
evaluation schemes developed on current knowledge about sound soil structure
conditions and their connection to soil functions and measurement of common
soil structure parameters. >Literature<
2001 the independent Institute for
Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture, was founded at Mainz, Germany, -
offering analysis, Consulting and training in soil evaluation and management by
means of Improved Spade Diagnosis. Much of practical experience with ISD
has been gained since 1996 with analysis, Consulting and training work for the
Food Industry, Universities, Advisory Services, Development Projects etc..
In the context of
the EU-SCAPE Project (Soil Conservation and Protection for Europe)
guidelines for the recommendation of soil examination methods (Guidelines
for soil assessment) are in preparation which shall standardize and
facilitate the collection of soil data.
A guideline for qualitative
soil assessment by means of Improved Spade Diagnosis as a simple,
practical and economic method has been worked out by the Institute of Soil
Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture in commission of EU-SCAPE-Project and
will be available in 2006.
With
the toolkit for farmer
a short brochure is available wich includes clear and easy description of
methodology for practice, including CD-Rom with interpretation aid and example
pictures.
Analysis and training for
Iglo-Langnese/Unilever Germany.
Since 2001 we
cooperate within the project "Sustainable Agriculture Initiative" with
Iglo-Langnese/Unilever.
Comprehensive surveys of
vegetable cropping fields have been done between 2002 and 2006 to evaluate the
susceptibility of soils to erosion and compaction and to develop sustainable
soil management systems. Moreover that regularly training work-shops in soil
analysis and soil management with the farmers are introduced.
Link: > Brochure "Growing for the future" |
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Short information about our offers |
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Analyse
PERFORMANCE
OFFER
Qualitative Analysis of Soil
Structure
Demonstration of field conditions in
matrix of soil quality
"good"
= Soil functions in well condition
"need
for action"
= Soil functions disturbed
As an indicator for
a sustainable soil management which aims at
- protecting water quality,
- improvement of soil
fertility,
- support of plant health and
quality
- reducing expense of mineral
manure and plant protection
chief attention has
to be given to the condition of soil structure because of its close connection
to water circulation, soil life activity, transformation capacity and aggregate
stability.
The good
suitability of a structure examination for the judgement of management measures
has been documented and confirmed repeatedly by soil experts and farmers.
As part of the
methodology of "Extended Spade Diagnosis" (ESD) 2003, a standardized scientific
version of soil structure evaluation has been presented by BESTE. This
evaluation scheme has gained much international appreciation due to its
application in scientific projects or Consulting work.>
Literature
For the EU-Project SCAPE a
"Guideline
for Simple Soil Quality Assessment" shortly published by the has
been worked out by Joint Research Centre (JRC) of EU in Ispra,
Italy.
For Farmers there has been written a
Toolkit
for qualutative soil analysis wich also shortly will be
published by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of EU in Ispra, Italy.
Qualitative Analysis of Soil Structure
... with Structure
evaluation
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Compacted Soil Structure
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Compacted Soil Structure, magnified
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Loose Soil Structure
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Loose Soil Structure, magnified
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Macropores in a compact soil matrix - Filtering and
storage-capacity are disturbed.
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Sponge like soil structure - Filtering and storage capacity in
optimum.
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To
facilitate soil structure evaluation a special description of soil
characteristics basing of current research knowledge about ecological soil
functions has been developed.
see literature: BESTE, A.
2004
For Farmers there has been
written a Toolkit for qualutative soil
analysis wich also shortly will be published by the Joint
Research Centre (JRC) of EU in Ispra, Italy.
- The structure
evaluation is soil type specific (clay-, loam-, and sandy
soils)
- The evaluation of
structure quality is not based on the measurement of physical and spatial
parameters (e.g. amount and dimension of pores or lumbricid hollows) but on the
difference between the existing visible state of structure arrangement and the
given description of task value.
- The task value is
given by a pictorially described optimum state of structure closely related to
the requirement on soil functions. This facilitates the decision in marking
different qualities of soil structure also for non professionals and it is less
time consuming as well.
- The task value
(structure mark 5) puts the main emphasis on a soil morphology, which stands
for high biological activity and a sound regulation function.
- The vertical
graduation in structure marks takes the soil stratigraphy and typical habitat
layering of soil biota as well as the influence of agricultural soil treatment
(especially tillage) into account.
Soil
structure analysis is importand to evaluate the soil impact of
no-till-management.
The minimum cultivation -
also called no till or direct seeding - is defined as "management without any
cultivation since the last harvest. Disk-machines open seeding-slits, into
which the seeds are put down. Then they are covered with soil. Weedcontrol is
mainly done with chemicals" (PHILLPIPS/PHILLIPS 1984).
This technology is recommended frequently as means against soil
erosion and compaction, but brings however a partially strong increase of weeds
as well as the desease- and pest- pressure. With minimum cultivation frequently
as favourably stated large number of vertical macropores, which are produced by
earthworms, increased the water absorption capacity, but however are nearly
always accompanied with compact structure and increased bulk density and/or
increased penetration resistance.
If the soil is
compacted metabolism decreases, nitrogen will be fixed, surface flew and
erosion start and the existing water in the pores is not available for the
plant because of the high water tension in the fine pores.
If a compacted soil matrix is only passed through by vertical
earth worm aisles but doesn't show a network like pore system (like a sponge
structure), water is percolating very fast and unfiltered and groundwater
quality is endangered - even particularly if high amounts of agrochemicals are
applied. Storage and filtering function can be disturbed.
Penetration resistance will not show if soil is compacted with a
wet loamy soil. Bulk density will not show structure quality because it does
not differenciate between macropores in a compact soil matrix or a sponge like
structure.
For that
qualitative structure analysis is urgently needed to evaluate the impact of
management practices on soil. |
Analysis
Qualitative Analysis of Soil Structure
... with the simple Test of
Aggregate Stability
Types of Soil Fragments
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Crumble (3-5 mm) magnified 8
times,
porose
"swamb-structure"
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Crumble, magnified 20 times -
many holows and pores are
visible.
Soil organisms have
living spaces.
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Polyeder (3-5 mm), magnified 8
times.
Compacted! Like
concrete.
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Polyeder, magnified 20 times - no pores visible.
Living space and metabolism is reduced.
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Silting
Test
The methodology of aggregate
stability test, which is introduced with ESD, goes back on an idea of
SEKERA/BRUNNER (1943).
The bowl method, referring BESTE (2003) represents a further
developement of this methodology. The test has been standardised using a
silting evaluation with verbally defined, soil type specific silting images.
see literature: BESTE, A.
2004
The main silting grades are defined as 0,
1 and 2.
With those calculation of percentage is
done. Highest status of stability obtains 40 (20 cavities x grade
2),
40 x 2 bowls = 80 = 100%.
Compared to other common methods of
aggregate stability measurements ("Wet Sieving" by DE
LEENHEEER/DE BOODT 1954, KEMPER/ROSENAU 1986 and SCHLICHTING/BLUME 1995; "Percolation Method" by
SEKERA/BRUNNER 1943 and BECHER/KAINZ
1983), which request high technical expenditure and intensive
preparations of samples the bowl method with silting evaluation offers the
following advantages:
- Less request in
sample preparation
- Facilitation of
implementation and imparting of results
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Consulting &
Training
Agro-Consulting and Training in Soil
Conservation
Saving soil
functions...
How to make
soil fit for climate change...
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- Soil Analysis
-
Soil Fertility
- Tillage
Management
- Soil
Erosion
- Soil
Compaction |
- Green manure and Intercrops
- Rooting Analysis
- Field Workshops
-
Crop Rotation Management |
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For Example: Soil Analysis in the Field
Various methodologies exist to assess the chemical, physical and
biological constitution of soils. Because of the complex interconnection of
factors only few aspects of soil quality can be discovered with every
examination (e.g.: nutrient availability for plants in chemical soil
examination).
Even
if efforts are high, scientific investigations only deliver small views of the
whole soil system (e.g.: microbiology).
A
direct and comprehensive impression of soil quality and health is delivered by
the examination of soil structure. With
reference to ecological soil vitality, the condition of soil structure
represents a complex and sensitive indicator. Water circulation, soil life
activity and transformation capacity are interconnected complexly with the
state of soil structure.
The practice of the
qualitative soil analysis is to dig a 'soil-brick' with a spade out of the
field. This soil brick or block is immediately examined concerning the
condition of soil structure (loose, medium, dense, possible existence of
compaction layers) and other parameters (moisture: dry, less wet, medium-wet,
wet).
It is an applicable farmers tool to
assess the structure of the soil in a simple way. The comprehensive impression
has been proved as very helpful for the judgement of previous management
practices (crop-rotations, tillage-treatments...) and appropriate decisions
about modifications for future soil management by agricultural consultants and
farmers.
Compaction layers of tillage
treatment can be located simply.
The rooting
quality of intercrops is made visible and gives a vital impression of food
supply for the soil live activity as the basis for soil
fertility.
The methodology has been
scientificly improved by BESTE (2003). The soil structure evaluation scheme facilitates the
classification of an actual soil condition in "good" or "need of
action".
> Literature
>
Analysis
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