Tine options for alleviating compaction in wheelings

Repeated trafficking and harvesting operations lead to high levels of compaction in inter-row wheelings used in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) production. This reduces soil porosity and infiltration resulting in water ponding on the soil surface. Even on gently sloping land this can result in runoff generation and an increased risk of soil erosion. A winged tine (WT) is currently used by a leading asparagus grower to loosen compacted inter-row wheelings. In order to test the effectiveness of this tine for alleviating compaction and implications for runoff and soil erosion control, it was evaluated alongside several other tine configurations. These were a narrow tine (NT); a narrow tine with two shallow leading tines (NSLT); a winged tine with two shallow leading tines (WSLT); and a modified para-plough (MPP). Testing was conducted under controlled conditions on a sandy loam soil in the Soil Management Facility at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK. Tine performance was assessed at 3 depths (175, 250 and 300 mm) by draught force; soil disturbance (both above and below ground); specific draught for a given level of soil disturbance; surface roughness; and estimated change in soil bulk density. The effectiveness of tines for compaction alleviation and potential for mitigating runoff and soil erosion varied with depth. The most effective tines were found to be the MPP NSLT and the WSLT at 175 mm, 250 mm and 300 mm depth, respectively

Tolerable versus actual soil erosion rates in Europe

Erosion is a major threat to soil resources in Europe, and may impair their ability to deliver a range of ecosystem goods and services. This is reflected by the European Commission's Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, which recommends an indicator-based approach for monitoring soil erosion. Defined baseline and threshold values are essential for the evaluation of soil monitoring data. Therefore, accurate spatial data on both soil loss and soil genesis are required, especially in the light of predicted changes in climate patterns, notably frequency, seasonal distribution and intensity of precipitation. Rates of soil loss are reported that have been measured, modelled or inferred for most types of soil erosion in a variety of landscapes, by studies across the spectrum of the Earth sciences. Natural rates of soil formation can be used as a basis for setting tolerable soil erosion rates, with soil formation consisting of mineral weathering as well as dust deposition. This paper reviews the concept of tolerable soil erosion and summarises current knowledge on rates of soil formation, which are then compared to rates of soil erosion by known erosion types, for assessment of soil erosion monitoring at the European scale

Physical soil quality indicators for monitoring British soils

The condition or quality of soils determines its ability to deliver a range of functions that support ecosystem services, human health and wellbeing. The increasing policy imperative to implement successful soil monitoring programmes has resulted in the demand for reliable soil quality indicators (SQIs) for physical, biological and chemical soil properties. The selection of these indicators needs to ensure that they are sensitive and responsive to pressure and change e.g. they change across space and time in relation to natural perturbations and land management practices. Using a logical sieve approach based on key policy-related soil functions, this research assessed whether physical soil properties can be used to indicate the quality of British soils in terms of its capacity to deliver ecosystem goods and services. The resultant prioritised list of physical SQIs were tested for robustness, spatial and temporal variability and expected rate of change using statistical analysis and modelling. Six SQIs were prioritised; packing density, soil water retention characteristics, aggregate stability, rate of erosion, depth of soil and soil sealing. These all have direct relevance to current and likely future soil and environmental policy and are appropriate for implementation in soil monitoring programs

The role of conservation soil management on soil and water protection at different spatial scales

Agriculture has a direct impact on the soil environment, altering soil properties, surface characteristics and erosion risk. This has led to a move away from conventional tillage to the adoption of conservation practices, aiming to minimise soil disturbance and reduce erosion. The effectiveness of this has been shown in studies from the USA, but equivalent research in Europe is limited. The present study investigated losses of soil, water, nutrients and carbon from different tillage regimes. Two UK sites were used – Loddington (Leicestershire, on heavy clay) and Tivington (Somerset on sandy clay loam). Three cultivations were applied - conventional (deep, inversion ploughing), and two forms of conservation tillage - SOWAP (non-inversion, shallow tillage), and Farmer Preference (non-inversion, deep tillage). Treatment effects were investigated at three spatial scales, ranging from field based erosion plots (0.05 ha), to micro-plots (1.5 m2), to soil aggregate tests. Results from 2004 to 2006 showed that adoption of conservation tillage did not consistently reduce losses of soil, water, nutrient and carbon, due to high temporal variability. Notable differences were found between sites. Runoff coefficients ranged from 0.39-0.46% at Loddington, and 2.43-3.82% at Tivington. Soil losses at Loddington were below 2 t ha-1 y-1, but higher at Tivington (3.47 t ha-1 y-1). Conservation tillage led to notable changes in soil properties and surface characteristics, including a decrease in bulk density and increases in organic matter, micro-topography and residue cover. Absolute values of erosion from small scale investigations could not be extrapolated directly to field scale results. Relative treatment ranks gave better comparisons, although results were not consistent for all small scale methods, due to high levels of variability. Caution should be used when extrapolating between spatial scales. Further work is required to understand the links between temporal and spatial fluctuations in soil, surface and rainfall characteristics and erosion processes.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Efficacy of mulch and tillage options to reduce runoff and soil loss from asparagus interrows

In the UK, conventional asparagus cultivation practices on sloping land, erodible soils and increased frequency of extreme rainfall events combine to promote runoff generation and soil loss, particularly from interrows. This instrumented field study investigated the interactive effect of mulch and shallow soil disturbance (working depth of 0.175 m) on reducing runoff and soil loss. Ten treatments were installed in a commercial asparagus field near Ross-on-Wye (England, UK) during May 1st–July 17th, 2012. Straw and compost were applied to the interrows at high and low application rates (straw = 5 t ha−1 and 3 t ha−1 and compost = 18 t ha−1 and 8 t ha−1, respectively), both with or without shallow soil disturbance (SSD and Non-SSD) as compared with a bare soil, unamended Control. Across five sampling periods, Non-SSD straw mulch applied at 5 t ha−1 and 3 t ha−1; Non-SSD compost mulch at 18 t ha−1; and straw mulch applied at 5 t ha−1 with SSD all significantly reduced cumulative total soil loss by 53–72% as compared with the Control. Further, mulch treatments with SSD were in general less effective at reducing total soil loss as compared to non-SSD mulch treatments. Compost application was less effective than straw, due to sub-optimal compost blanket depths as dictated by N restrictions for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, in which the study took place. Despite an overall reduction in total soil loss of 72% (associated with Non-SSD straw mulch applied at 5 t ha−1), soil erosion rates exceeded 1.4 t ha−1 yr−1, considered to be a tolerable erosion rate in the EU. In addition, measured sediment concentrations in the runoff consistently exceeded the EU water quality guideline value of 25 mg l−1. The results indicate that the efficacy of the treatments tested was not adequate to reduce soil erosion in commercial asparagus fields in the UK to tolerable rates. This may in large part be due to daily foot trafficking events that occur during the asparagus harvesting period (April–June) which disturbs and degrades the treatments applied reduing their efficacy. This study demonstrates that additional research is required in order to identify effective erosion control measures to ensure the sustainability of commercial asparagus production systems in the U

Environmental Assessment of Soil for Monitoring Volume I: Indicators & Criteria

The ENVASSO Project (Contract 022713) was funded 2006-8, under the European Commission 6th Framework Programme of Research, with the objective of defining and documenting a soil monitoring system appropriate for soil protection at continental level. The ENVASSO Consortium, comprising 37 partners drawn from 25 EU Member States, reviewed soil indicators, identified existing soil inventories and monitoring programmes in the Member States, designed and programmed a database management system to capture, store and supply soil profile data, and drafted procedures and protocols appropriate for inclusion in a European soil monitoring network of sites that are geo-referenced and at which a qualified sampling process is or could be conducted. Volume I, one of six describing the results of the ENVASSO Project, identifies 290 potential indicators relating to 188 key issues for the following nine threats to soil: erosion, organic matter decline, contamination, sealing, compaction, loss of biodiversity, salinisation, landslides and desertification. Sixty candidate indicators that address 27 key issues, covering all these threats, were selected on the basis of their thematic relevance, policy relevance and data availability. Baseline and threshold values are presented and detailed Fact Sheets describe three priority indicators for each soil threat.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

The contribution of the European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC) to scientific knowledge, education and sustainability

Soil is an integral component of the global environmental system that supports the quality and diversity of terrestrial life on Earth. Therefore, it is vital to consider the processes and impacts of soil degradation on society, especially on the provision of environmental goods and services, including food security and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Scientific societies devoted to Soil Science play significant roles in promoting soil security by advancing scientific knowledge, education and environmental sustainability. The European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC) was founded in Ghent (Belgium) on 4 November 1988 by a group of 23 researchers from several European countries. It is an interdisciplinary, non-political association with over 500 members in 56 countries. The ESSC produces and distributes a hardcopy Newsletter twice a year and maintains both a website and Facebook page: http://www.soilconservation.eu/ https://www.facebook.com/European-Society-for-Soil-Conservation-ESSC-100528363448094/ The ESSC aims to: \u2022 Support research on soil degradation, soil protection and soil and water conservation. \u2022 Provide a network for the exchange of knowledge about soil degradation processes and soil conservation research and practises. \u2022 Produce publications on major issues relating to soil degradation and soil and water conservation. \u2022 Advise regulators and policy-makers on soil issues, especially soil degradation, protection and conservation. The ESSC held its First International Congress in Silsoe (UK) in 1992. Further International Congresses were held in Munich (1996), Valencia (2000), Budapest (2004), Palermo (2007), Thessaloniki (2011) and Moscow (2015). The Eighth International Congress will be held in Lleida (Spain) in June 2017: http://www.consowalleida2017.com/ Interspersed between these international congresses, the ESSC organizes annual international conferences on specific topics. These include Imola, Italy (Biogeochemical Processes at Air-Soil-Water Interfaces and Environmental Protection) in 2015 and Cluj-Napoca, Romania (Soil: Our Common Future) in 2016. Since its inception, the Society has made significant advances, including developing a strong and growing global network of soil scholars. The ESSC honours major individual contributions to soil conservation through two awards made every four years at its Congresses, namely: \u2022 The \u2018Gerold Richter Award,\u2019 awarded to a person who has, over their career, made significant and internationally recognized contributions to the investigation and/or promotion of soil conservation in Europe. \u2022 The \u2018Young Person\u2019s Award\u2019 is presented to a member of the Society, aged 40 years or less, who over the previous four years has made important contributions to soil conservation in Europe through research, practise, policy-making or another relevant activity. The ESSC provides grants to young members to attend its conferences and promotes the organization of scientific meetings, soil conservation research, and co-operation between numerous institutions and individuals on soil conservation initiatives. The societal challenges that can be addressed through better soil protection, as well as developing new knowledge and scientific approaches to soil protection and sustainable management, mean the ESSC embraces the on-going development, application, review and criticism of highly innovative scientific methods for soil conservation. It is in this context that the ESSC analyses and publicizes the roles and functions of soil in natural and human-modified systems and the functional optimization of soils to ensure sustainable environmental protection

Optical imaging and spectroscopy for the study of the human brain: status report.

This report is the second part of a comprehensive two-part series aimed at reviewing an extensive and diverse toolkit of novel methods to explore brain health and function. While the first report focused on neurophotonic tools mostly applicable to animal studies, here, we highlight optical spectroscopy and imaging methods relevant to noninvasive human brain studies. We outline current state-of-the-art technologies and software advances, explore the most recent impact of these technologies on neuroscience and clinical applications, identify the areas where innovation is needed, and provide an outlook for the future directions

A comparison of conventional and 137 Cs-based estimates of soil erosion rates on arable and grassland across lowland England and Wales

Soils deliver a range of ecosystem services and underpin conventional global food production which must increase to feed the projected growth in human population. Although soil erosion by water and subsequent sediment delivery to rivers are natural processes, anthropogenic pressures, including modern farming practices and management, have accelerated soil erosion rates on both arable and grassland. A range of approaches can be used to assess and document soil erosion rates and, in the case of the UK, these mainly comprise the 137Cs-based approach, conventional surveys using volumetric measurements, integration of information on suspended sediment flux, fine sediment source apportionment and landscape sediment retention and traditional bounded hydrological monitoring at edge-of-field using experimental platforms. We compare the erosion rates for arable and grassland in lowland England assessed by these different techniques. Rates assessed by volumetric measurements are similar to those generated by integrating information on suspended sediment flux, sources and landscape retention, but are much less than those estimated by the 137Cs-based approach; of the order of one magnitude less for arable land. The 137Cs approach assumes an initial distribution of 137Cs uniformly spread across the landscape and relates the sampled distribution to erosion, but other (transport) processes are also involved and their representation in the calibration procedures remains problematic. We suggest that the 137Cs technique needs to be validated more rigorously and conversion models re-calibrated. As things stand, rates of erosion based on the distribution of 137Cs may well overstate the severity of the problem in lowland Britain and, therefore, are not a reliable indicator of water erosion rates