Author
Joann K. Whalen
Other affiliations: Oregon State University, Université de Montréal, University of Vigo ...read more
Bio: Joann K. Whalen is an academic researcher from McGill University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Soil water & Earthworm. The author has an hindex of 44, co-authored 246 publications receiving 7302 citations. Previous affiliations of Joann K. Whalen include Oregon State University & Université de Montréal.
Topics: Soil water, Earthworm, Manure, Soil organic matter, Loam
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: In this article, a meta-analysis revealed that slow pyrolyzed biochars produced from various feedstocks at temperatures from 300°C to 600°C consistently increased some physico-chemical properties (i.e., pH, cation exchange capacity and aggregation) and microbial parameters (e.g., abundance and community structure of microorganisms) in a vast number of soils during short (≤90 days) laboratory incubations and longer (1-3 years) field studies.
842 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of fresh cattle manure on soil acidity and nutrient availability was determined in the laboratory for two acid soils from Beaverlodge and Fort Vermillion in the Peace River region of Alberta, Canada.
Abstract: Crop production on acid soils can be improved greatly by adjusting the pH to near neutrality. While soil acidity is commonly corrected by liming, there is evidence that animal manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. The effect of fresh cattle manure on soil acidity and nutrient availability was determined in the laboratory for two acid soils from Beaverlodge and Fort Vermillion in the Peace River region of Alberta, Canada. The effect of manure on soil pH was immediate and persisted during an 8-wk incubation. Manure-amended soil had significantly higher pH than unamended soil, and the highest rate (40 g manure kg -1 , dry weight basis) increased the pH of Beaverlodge and Fort Vermillion soils from 4.8 to 6.0 and 5.5 to 6.3, respectively. The higher pH in manure-amended than unamended soils was attributed to buffering from bicarbonates and organic acids in cattle manure. Mineral N (NH 4 -N + NO 3 -N), available P, K, Ca, and Mg increased immediately after manure application, and available P and K remained significantly higher in manure-amended than unamended soil after the 8-wk incubation. Soils amended with 40 g manure kg -1 had three to four times more plant-available P and K than unamended soils after incubation. Available S concentrations did not differ significantly in manure-amended and unamended soils. Extractable Al and Fe declined slightly after manure application, but did not differ in manure-amended or unamended soils after incubation. No change in the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of manure-amended soils compared to unamended soils was observed in this study, and it appears that appreciable changes in Al, Fe, and CEC from manure application do not occur in the short-term (weeks). Our results indicate that, in the short-term, cattle manure amendments can increase the pH and the quantity of plant-available P and K in acid soils.
448 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the soil biochemical cycling of N and P as influenced by biochars with diverse characteristics, and describe the consequences for plant nutrition with respect to the NUE and P use efficiency of crops grown in biochar-amended soils.
Abstract: There is global interest in understanding the prospects for biochar application to agricultural soils. If biochar enhances the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to crops, this could be pivotal in reducing N and P fertilizer inputs to agricultural soils. This review evaluates the soil biochemical cycling of N and P as influenced by biochars with diverse characteristics, and describes the consequences for plant nutrition with respect to the N use efficiency (NUE) and P use efficiency (PUE) of crops grown in biochar-amended soils. Fundamentally, biochar can alter microbial-mediated reactions in the soil N and P cycles, i.e. N2 fixation, mineralization of N and P, nitrification, ammonia volatilization and denitrification. As well, biochar provides reactive surfaces where N and P ions are retained in soil microbial biomass and in exchange sites, both of which modulate N and P availability to crops. Distinctions must be made between biochars derived from manure- and crop residue-based feedstocks versus biochars derived from ligno-cellulosic feedstock, as well as biochars produced at a lower production temperature (
330 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, cattle manure applications to a calcareous Haploboroll clay loam (Lethbridge, AB, Canada) affected aggregate size distribution, the total C, N and P content of aggregate size fractions, and water-stable aggregates.
Abstract: Agricultural management practices that alter the soil organic matter (SOM) content are expected to cause changes in soil stability and aggregation. Animal manure is a source of organic matter (OM) that has been demonstrated to increase macroaggregate formation and stability. The objectives of this study were to determine how long term cattle manure applications to a calcareous Haploboroll clay loam (Lethbridge, AB, Canada) affected aggregate size distribution, the total C, N, and P content of aggregate size fractions, and water-stable aggregates. Beef cattle manure applied at rates >30 Mg ha -1 yr -1 under dryland production and >60 Mg ha -1 yr -1 to soils under irrigation resulted in fewer dry-sieved aggregates >7.1 mm and more dry-sieved aggregates between 0.47 and 1.2 mm in the 0- to 5-cm depth, compared with unamended soils. The dry-sieved aggregate fractions between 0.47 and 1.2 mm include the 30 Mg manure ha -1 yr -1 than unamended soils, and dry-sieved aggregates between 0.47 and 2.0 mm tended to have the highest C, N, and P contents. Water aggregate stability was higher in irrigated than dryland soils, but did not improve with increasing manure application rates. Dispersing agents in the cattle manure appear to have destabilized the larger soil macroaggregates.
251 citations
Leipzig University1, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg2, Universidade Positivo3, University of Vigo4, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária5, ETH Zurich6, Moscow State University7, University of Freiburg8, University of Jena9, University of Catania10, Wageningen University and Research Centre11, Free University of Berlin12, Senckenberg Museum13, Colorado State University14, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization15, University of Nairobi16, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation17, National Scientific and Technical Research Council18, Brandenburg University of Technology19, Cornell University20, University College Dublin21, United States Forest Service22, University of Toronto23, Aberystwyth University24, State University of New York at Cortland25, National University of Luján26, University of Trier27, University of the Philippines Mindanao28, Razi University29, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek30, Kyushu University31, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency32, Aarhus University33, Northern Kentucky University34, Lincoln University (Missouri)35, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad36, Fukushima University37, Matej Bel University38, Lancaster University39, Université d'Abobo-Adjamé40, Tarbiat Modares University41, Pachhunga University College42, University of São Paulo43, University of Hawaii at Hilo44, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources45, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater46, Forest Research Institute47, University of Extremadura48, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven49, Research Institute for Nature and Forest50, Natural Resources Institute Finland51, University of Alcalá52, King Abdulaziz University53, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology54, University of Minnesota55, Federal University of Maranhão56, Jagiellonian University57, Technical University of Berlin58, University of Wisconsin-Madison59, Leibniz Association60, Braunschweig University of Technology61, University of Innsbruck62, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics63, Russian Academy of Sciences64, Khalsa College, Amritsar65, University of La Laguna66, Kōchi University67, Universidad Pública de Navarra68, McGill University69, The Nature Conservancy70, University of Giessen71, Henan University72, University of Saint Mary73
TL;DR: It was found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms, which suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
Abstract: Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.
223 citations
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a document, redatto, voted and pubblicato by the Ipcc -Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
Abstract: Cause, conseguenze e strategie di mitigazione Proponiamo il primo di una serie di articoli in cui affronteremo l’attuale problema dei mutamenti climatici. Presentiamo il documento redatto, votato e pubblicato dall’Ipcc - Comitato intergovernativo sui cambiamenti climatici - che illustra la sintesi delle ricerche svolte su questo tema rilevante.
4,187 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, soil organic carbon (SOC), biota, ionic bridging, clay and carbonates are associated with aggregation by rearrangement, flocculation and cementation.
3,241 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors summarize the recent literature about controls on dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations and fluxes in so-called "soil degraded organic matter" (SOCOM).
Abstract: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soils plays an important role in the biogeochemistry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, in pedogenesis, and in the transport of pollutants in soils. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent literature about controls on DOM concentrations and fluxes in soi
2,138 citations