Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set

Tillage is known to potentially affect soil quality in various ways, and employing appropriate tillage measures is crucial to construct a reasonable cultivated layer (RCL), which could maximize the storage and coordination of water, gas and heat conditions in the cultivated layer of red soil sloping...

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Main Authors: Huifang Jin, Yijun Zhong, Dongmei Shi, Junkai Li, Yibao Lou, Yanli Li, Jifu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-11-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21006786
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author Huifang Jin
Yijun Zhong
Dongmei Shi
Junkai Li
Yibao Lou
Yanli Li
Jifu Li
author_facet Huifang Jin
Yijun Zhong
Dongmei Shi
Junkai Li
Yibao Lou
Yanli Li
Jifu Li
author_sort Huifang Jin
collection DOAJ
description Tillage is known to potentially affect soil quality in various ways, and employing appropriate tillage measures is crucial to construct a reasonable cultivated layer (RCL), which could maximize the storage and coordination of water, gas and heat conditions in the cultivated layer of red soil sloping farmland. This study aims to 1) select the key indicators to establish a minimum data set (MDS), 2) evaluate the quality of cultivated-layer soil and define the indicator threshold for RCL construction, and 3) develop a credible cultivated-layer soil quality index (CLSQI) for the cultivated layer with different tillage measures, and screen suitable tillage measures to improving the soil productivity of red soil sloping farmland. Taking the red soil sloping farmland in China as the research focus, the MDS is established by principal component analysis (PCA) in conjunction with the norm value, Furthermore, the membership function models (S type, anti-s-type, Parabola-type) are used to normalize the indicator data and then assess the CLSQ based on the CLSQI approache, determine the indicator threshold by the CLSQ grade and membership function model, and analyse the cultivated-layer improvement effect by different tillage measures. The results indicated that the MDS and the thresholds of six indicators defined as the cultivated-layer thickness (CLT ≥ 20.39 cm), saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC ≥ 6.24 mm/min), shear strength (SS ≥ 3.16 kg/cm2), clay content of 10.0–28.1%, organic matter (OM ≥ 15.23 g/kg) and available phosphorus (AP ≥ 58.48 mg/kg), were established in this research for the soil quality assessment of red soil sloping farmland. Tillage methods notably influenced these indicators and CLSQ, and the CLSQI was the highest for subsoiling (0.58) and lowest for soil compaction (0.37); however, mechanical compaction imposed a negative impact on the CLSQ under agricultural modernization, so subsoiling was the recommended measure for the production of soil conditions in this area. Our findings demonstrated that the sloping farmland resources in the research area should be reasonably utilized for the construction of an RCL, and effective subsoiling was suggested for good recovery of cultivated-layer soil capacity and function to increase the CLSQ. Smallholder farmers should therefore be aware of the potential for high soil quality in the future as a result of subsoiling and maintain the soil indicators at a suitable or even high level.
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spelling doaj.art-ebc1f489a0664d3b83b9933e443d3ce52022-12-21T19:09:36ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-11-01130108013Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data setHuifang Jin0Yijun Zhong1Dongmei Shi2Junkai Li3Yibao Lou4Yanli Li5Jifu Li6Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China; College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China; College of Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation and Eco-environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation and Eco-environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Corresponding author at: College of Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation and Eco-environment, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Street, Beibei District, Chongqing 400715, China.Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China; College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, ChinaInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shanxi 712100, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China; College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China; College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, ChinaTillage is known to potentially affect soil quality in various ways, and employing appropriate tillage measures is crucial to construct a reasonable cultivated layer (RCL), which could maximize the storage and coordination of water, gas and heat conditions in the cultivated layer of red soil sloping farmland. This study aims to 1) select the key indicators to establish a minimum data set (MDS), 2) evaluate the quality of cultivated-layer soil and define the indicator threshold for RCL construction, and 3) develop a credible cultivated-layer soil quality index (CLSQI) for the cultivated layer with different tillage measures, and screen suitable tillage measures to improving the soil productivity of red soil sloping farmland. Taking the red soil sloping farmland in China as the research focus, the MDS is established by principal component analysis (PCA) in conjunction with the norm value, Furthermore, the membership function models (S type, anti-s-type, Parabola-type) are used to normalize the indicator data and then assess the CLSQ based on the CLSQI approache, determine the indicator threshold by the CLSQ grade and membership function model, and analyse the cultivated-layer improvement effect by different tillage measures. The results indicated that the MDS and the thresholds of six indicators defined as the cultivated-layer thickness (CLT ≥ 20.39 cm), saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC ≥ 6.24 mm/min), shear strength (SS ≥ 3.16 kg/cm2), clay content of 10.0–28.1%, organic matter (OM ≥ 15.23 g/kg) and available phosphorus (AP ≥ 58.48 mg/kg), were established in this research for the soil quality assessment of red soil sloping farmland. Tillage methods notably influenced these indicators and CLSQ, and the CLSQI was the highest for subsoiling (0.58) and lowest for soil compaction (0.37); however, mechanical compaction imposed a negative impact on the CLSQ under agricultural modernization, so subsoiling was the recommended measure for the production of soil conditions in this area. Our findings demonstrated that the sloping farmland resources in the research area should be reasonably utilized for the construction of an RCL, and effective subsoiling was suggested for good recovery of cultivated-layer soil capacity and function to increase the CLSQ. Smallholder farmers should therefore be aware of the potential for high soil quality in the future as a result of subsoiling and maintain the soil indicators at a suitable or even high level.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21006786Reasonable cultivated layerTillage measuresCultivated-layer soil qualityMinimum data setIndicator threshold
spellingShingle Huifang Jin
Yijun Zhong
Dongmei Shi
Junkai Li
Yibao Lou
Yanli Li
Jifu Li
Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
Ecological Indicators
Reasonable cultivated layer
Tillage measures
Cultivated-layer soil quality
Minimum data set
Indicator threshold
title Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
title_full Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
title_fullStr Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
title_short Quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated-layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region: Establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
title_sort quantifying the impact of tillage measures on the cultivated layer soil quality in the red soil hilly region establishing the thresholds of the minimum data set
topic Reasonable cultivated layer
Tillage measures
Cultivated-layer soil quality
Minimum data set
Indicator threshold
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21006786
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