Integrated soil nutrient management is required to increase and sustain agricultural productivity. Assessment of soil, organic matter and nutrient losses was carried out in a 3-year integrated maize cropping system in Ghana. The treatments: no-till (NT), minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT) and soil amendments (Control, NPK, poultry manure and their combination), were arranged in a factorial design. The results showed soil loss to range from 0.140- 4.907 Mg·haˉ¹ in the order of NT < MT < CT < Bare. Soil loss reduction over the Bare was 88% by ½ Rates of NPK+PM, 87% by PM and 85% by NPK. Soil depth reductions in NT and MT were 92% lower than in CT. The loss of organic matter ranged from 47.6 kg·haˉ¹ to 120.70 kg/ha and was in the order of Bare > CT > MT > NT. Nutrient losses followed the same trend. Losses in soil organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na under tillage x soil amendments interactions were higher in the CT and bare plots. NT and MT, which were recognised as conservation tillage systems, amended with combination of organic and mineral fertilisers were found as better options in minimising soil quality degradation.
The relationship was examined between soil moisture tension expressed as soil water potential (pF) and microdiffusion of oxygen (ODR) values. Homogenized samples from various horizons of Eutric Fluvisol and Eutric Histosolwere investigated at 4 pF values (1.5; 2.2; 2.7; 3.2) using the classical Richard method. Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) was measured in soil samples at these pF values according to theLemon and Ericksson method (1952),modified byMalicki and Walczak (1983), using platinum and reference electrodes. The highest values of ODR ranging from 59.3 to 74.9 μg O₂m⁻²s⁻¹ were formed at pF 2.2 forEutric Fluvisol.Meanwhile, the maximum values of ODR forEutric Histosolranged from 86.4 to 108.1 μg O₂m⁻²s⁻¹ at the pF 3.2 were estimated. The lowest values for ODR for bothEutric Histosol and Eutric Fluvisolwere found at pF 1.5.
This paper presents pedological research in Žutica forest in northern Croatia. The most common soil types found in this area belong to the hydromorphic class (Pseudogley, pseudo- gley-gley, eugley, fluvisol) except technogenic soils formed as a result of intensive oil exploitation. Some main chemical and physical characteristics of soils are given. For forest productivity the most productive combination of soils are hypogley and pseudogley-gleysol and minimal productivity is in heavy amphygleic soils. An increase of heavy metals occurs in flooded soils in Žutica from nearby agricultural land. A high concentration of active phosphorus,and nitrogen can verify the influence of field fertilisers on the forest. Levels of cadmium found in technogenic soils exceed the permitted concentration. A large amount of CaCO3 in relation to natural forest soils can be found in technogenic soils because of quick lime disposal after oil spills and also pH increase and a nutrition and humus decrease.
The influence of various concentrations of salts of lead (II), copper (II), manganese (II), cobalt (II), molybdenum (IV) and iron (III) upon the soil dehydrogenase has been studied. Ecological areas featuring the contamination degree to which the studied soil environment had been exposed have been determined. Particular attention has been paid to high heavy metal doses causing significant disturbance to soil metabolism.