Showing papers in "Canadian Journal of Soil Science in 2015"
TL;DR: Goetz et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the role of morphological structure and layering of Sphagnum and Tomenthypnum mosses on moss productivity and evaporation rates.
Abstract: Goetz, J. D. and Price, J. S. 2015. Role of morphological structure and layering of Sphagnum and Tomenthypnum mosses on moss productivity and evaporation rates. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 109–124. Morphological structures of peatland mosses control moss water relations and the rate of water loss by drainage and evaporation, thus influencing their physiological functions. While many of these mechanisms are understood for Sphagnum mosses, there is a limited understanding of how these processes operate in Tomenthypnum nitens, a dominant brown moss species in northern rich fens. This study contrasts how different hydrophysical characteristics of Tomenthypnum and Sphagnum species affect capillary water flow that supports evaporation and productivity. Laboratory investigations indicate that volumetric water content (θ), gross ecosystem productivity, and evaporation decreased with water table depth for both mosses, with Sphagnum capitula retaining 10–20% more water (θ range of 0.18–0.32 cm3 cm−3) than Tomenthypnum (0...
43 citations
TL;DR: Dessureault-Rompre et al. as mentioned in this paper used a first-order (F) kinetic model to estimate soil N mineralization as an aid to improved fertilizer N management, but require long-term incubations to obtain the necessary parameters.
Abstract: Dessureault-Rompre, J., Zebarth, B. J., Burton, D. L. and Georgallas, A. 2015. Predicting soil nitrogen supply from soil properties. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 63–75. Prediction functions based on simple kinetic models can be used to estimate soil N mineralization as an aid to improved fertilizer N management, but require long-term incubations to obtain the necessary parameters. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of predicting the mineralizable N parameters necessary to implement prediction functions and in addition to verify their efficiency in modeling soil N supply (SNS) over a growing season. To implement a prediction function based on a first-order (F) kinetic model, a regression equation was developed using a data base of 92 soils, which accounted for 65% of the variance in potentially mineralizable N (N 0) using soil total N (STN) and Pool I, a labile mineralizable N pool. However, the F prediction function did not provide satisfactory prediction (R 2=0.17–0.18) of SNS...
32 citations
TL;DR: Zebarth et al. as discussed by the authors examined the effect of elemental S-induced variation in soil pH (3.97-5.29) on nitrification enzyme activity and conversion of to.
Abstract: Zebarth, B. J., Forge, T. A., Goyer, C. and Brin, L. D. 2015. Effect of soil acidification on nitrification in soil. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 359–363. This laboratory experiment examined the effect of elemental S-induced variation in soil pH (3.97–5.29) on nitrification enzyme activity and conversion of to . Nitrification rate generally decreased with decreasing soil pH, but still proceeded rapidly within the pH range (4.5 to 5.2) recommended for blueberry production, contrary to what is generally assumed.
25 citations
TL;DR: Guy et al. as mentioned in this paper developed a calibration model based on field-condition soils for in situ applications to predict soil organic carbon in High Arctic polar desert soils from vis-NIR spectra.
Abstract: Guy, A. L., Siciliano, S. D. and Lamb, E. G. 2015. Spiking regional vis-NIR calibration models with local samples to predict soil organic carbon in two High Arctic polar deserts using a vis-NIR probe. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 237–249. In situ visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy is a potential solution to the logistic constraints limiting the accuracy and spatial resolution of soil organic carbon (SOC) estimates for Arctic regions. The objective of our study was to develop a calibration model based on field-condition soils for in situ applications to predict SOC in High Arctic polar desert soils from vis-NIR spectra. Soils (n=240) for calibration models were collected from three regional Canadian Arctic sites in 2010 and two local target sites in 2013. Local and regional calibration models were developed using partial least squares regression (PLSR). We assessed whether spiking or spiking and extra-weighting, regional models with calibration samples from local sites improved prediction of the loc...
23 citations
TL;DR: Bolinder et al. as mentioned in this paper reviewed field measurements of root biomass left in the soil as crop residues at harvest for potato and sugar beet and showed that compared to cereals, the contribution of below-ground net primary productivity to crop residues is at least two to three times lower for root crops.
Abstract: Bolinder, M. A., Katterer, T., Poeplau, C., Borjesson, G. and Parent, L. E. 2015. Net primary productivity and below-ground crop residue inputs for root crops: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 87–93. Root crops are significant in agro-ecosystems of temperate climates. However, the amounts of crop residues for these crop types are not well documented and they need to be accounted for in the modeling of soil organic carbon dynamics. Our objective was to review field measurements of root biomass left in the soil as crop residues at harvest for potato and sugar beet. We considered estimates for crop residue inputs as root biomass presented in the literature and some unpublished results. Our analysis showed that compared to, for example, cereals, the contribution of below-ground net primary productivity (NPP) to crop residues is at least two to three times lower for root crops. Indeed, the field measurements indicated that root biomass for topsoils only rep...
21 citations
TL;DR: Huffman et al. as discussed by the authors modelled spring wheat yields at the level of numerous individual soils using the CERES-Wheat model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) and then aggregated the simulated yields from individual soils to regi...
Abstract: Huffman, T., Qian, B., De Jong, R., Liu, J., Wang, H., McConkey, B., Brierley, T. and Yang, J. 2015. Upscaling modelled crop yields to regional scale: A case study using DSSAT for spring wheat on the Canadian prairies. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 49–61. Dynamic crop models are often operated at the plot or field scale. Upscaling is necessary when the process-based crop models are used for regional applications, such as forecasting regional crop yields and assessing climate change impacts on regional crop productivity. Dynamic crop models often require detailed input data for climate, soil and crop management; thus, their reliability may decrease at the regional scale as the uncertainty of simulation results might increase due to uncertainties in the input data. In this study, we modelled spring wheat yields at the level of numerous individual soils using the CERES–Wheat model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) and then aggregated the simulated yields from individual soils to regi...
17 citations
TL;DR: Haynes et al. as mentioned in this paper characterized the bacterial and fungal communities present along a nutrient gradient ranging from rich to poor fen peatlands and assessed the metabolic potential of these communities to mineralize a variety of organic matter substrates of varying chemical complexity using substrate-induced respiration (SIR).
Abstract: Haynes, K. M., Preston, M. D., McLaughlin, J. W., Webster, K. and Basiliko, N. 2015. Dissimilar bacterial and fungal decomposer communities across rich to poor fen peatlands exhibit functional redundancy. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 219–230. Climatic and environmental changes can lead to shifts in the dominant vegetation communities present in northern peatland ecosystems, including from Sphagnum- to vascular-dominated systems. Such shifts in vegetation result in changes to the chemical quality of carbon substrates for soil microbial decomposers, with leaves and roots deposited in the peat surface and subsurface that potentially decompose faster. This study characterized the bacterial and fungal communities present along a nutrient gradient ranging from rich to poor fen peatlands and assessed the metabolic potential of these communities to mineralize a variety of organic matter substrates of varying chemical complexity using substrate-induced respiration (SIR) assays. Distinct microbial communities existed betw...
17 citations
TL;DR: Ouimet et al. as discussed by the authors revisited four experimental trials set up in the early 1990s to evaluate the long-term impact of municipal biosolids applied in forest plantations.
Abstract: Ouimet, R., Pion, A.-P. and Hebert, M. 2015. Long-term response of forest plantation productivity and soils to a single application of municipal biosolids. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 187–199. After 16 to 19 yr, we revisited four experimental trials set up in the early 1990s to evaluate the long-term impact of municipal biosolids applied in forest plantations. Tree growth and the soil were sampled to determine the effects of a single application of biosolids applied at (liquid equivalent) rates of 0, 130, 200, and 400 m3 ha−1. Tree radial growth responded markedly to biosolids in the young plantations, increasing from 18 % for Pinus resinosa to 62 % for Picea glauca, and up to 700 % for Quercus sp. Increases in phosphorus (P) concentrations in the tree foliage in response to biosolids could still be detected in the conifer trials. In the top 0–5 cm soil layer, organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), P, and copper (Cu) concentrations and pools increased, while soil compaction and bulk density decreased. In the d...
17 citations
TL;DR: Rabileh et al. as mentioned in this paper conducted a study to determine changes in soil properties and their subsequent effects on maize growth, resulting from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar and/or dolomitic limestone application.
Abstract: Rabileh, M. A., Shamshuddin, J., Panhwar, Q. A., Rosenani, A. B. and Anuar, A. R. 2015. Effects of biochar and/or dolomitic limestone application on the properties of Ultisol cropped to maize under glasshouse conditions. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 37–47. Ultisols in the tropics are characterized by low pH and high exchangeable Al. Maize grown on them produces low yield. A study was conducted to determine changes in soil properties and their subsequent effects on maize growth, resulting from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar and/or dolomitic limestone application. The results show that the application of the EFB biochar improved soil fertility by increasing soil pH. The Al3+ activities in the soil solution decreased exponentially with increasing rate of the biochar application. The decrease in Al in the biochar-treated soil occurred because: (1) at the rate of>5 t ha−1, soil solution pH increased significantly, precipitating Al as gibbsite; and (2) the biochar was able to fix some of the Al by chelation....
16 citations
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TL;DR: Bekele et al. as mentioned in this paper studied the effects of amending clay, loam, and sand subsoil substrates with wood biochar pyrolized at 800°C, oxidized lignite (humalite), or labile organic mix (sawdust, wheat straw, and alfalfa; LOM) on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass, dry aggregated size distribution and penetration resistance in greenhouse.
Abstract: Bekele, A., Roy, J. L. and Young, M. A. 2015. Use of biochar and oxidized lignite for reconstructing functioning agronomic topsoil: Effects on soil properties in a greenhouse study. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 269–285. Interest in the use of biochar as soil amendment has grown recently. However, studies evaluating its potential use for reclamation of disturbed agricultural lands are lacking. We studied the effects of amending clay, loam, and sand subsoil substrates with wood biochar pyrolized at 800°C, oxidized lignite (humalite), or labile organic mix (sawdust, wheat straw, and alfalfa; LOM) on soil organic carbon (C), microbial biomass, dry aggregated size distribution and penetration resistance in greenhouse. We also considered the co-application of LOM and biochar or humalite to the subsoil substrates as treatments where C from either biochar or humalite represented a stable form of C. The amount and composition of the mix of organic amendments was determined for each subsoil so that organic C levels of rec...
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, food waste compost was incorporated into the top 10 cm of a humid-temperate Brookston clay loam soil at rates of 0 (Control), 75 dry t ha−1 (FWC-75), 150 dry t h−1(FWC−150) and 300 dry h − 1 (FWc-300), and measurements of SPQ parameters and corn yield were then made annually over the next 11 yr.
Abstract: Reynolds, W. D., Drury, C. F., Tan, C. S. and Yang, X. M. 2015. Temporal effects of food waste compost on soil physical quality and productivity. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 251–268. The benefits of compost additions on soil organic carbon content and crop productivity are extant in the literature, but detailed studies of compost effects on soil physical quality (SPQ) are limited. The objective of this study was therefore to describe how one-time additions of compost impact the immediate, mid-term and long-term SPQ and crop yields of an agricultural soil. Food waste compost (FWC) was incorporated once into the top 10 cm of a humid-temperate Brookston clay loam soil at rates of 0 (Control), 75 dry t ha−1 (FWC-75), 150 dry t ha−1 (FWC–150) and 300 dry t ha−1 (FWC-300); measurements of SPQ parameters and corn yield were then made annually over the next 11 yr. The SPQ parameters included bulk density (BD), organic carbon content (OC), air capacity (AC), plant-available water capacity (PAWC), relative field capacity...
TL;DR: The 1995 soil analysis indicated crop rotations with less frequent fallow and with N input had higher soil quality, and long-term cropping system studies offer insights into soil management effects on agricultural sustainability.
Abstract: Smith, E. G., Janzen, H. H. and Larney, F. J. 2015. Long-term cropping system impact on quality and productivity of a Dark Brown Chernozem in southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 177–186. Long-term cropping system studies offer insights into soil management effects on agricultural sustainability. In 1995, a 6-yr bioassay study was superimposed on a long-term crop rotation study established in 1951 at Lethbridge, Alberta, to determine the impact of past cropping systems on soil quality, crop productivity, grain quality, and the relationship of yield productivity to soil quality. All plots from 13 long-term crop rotations were seeded to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a strip plot design [control, nitrogen (N) fertilizer]. Prior to seeding, soils were sampled to determine soil chemical properties. Total wheat production for the last 4 yr of the study was used as the measure of productivity. The 1995 soil analysis indicated crop rotations with less frequent fallow and with N input had higher soil quality,...
TL;DR: Miller et al. as discussed by the authors evaluated the effect of mowing and buffer width on the effectiveness of short-width (< 10 m) native grass buffers to filter sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.
Abstract: Miller, J. J., Curtis, T., Chanasyk, D. S. and Reedyk, S. 2015. Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 139–151. Little research has been conducted on the effect of mowing and buffer width on the effectiveness of short-width (< 10 m) native grass buffers to filter sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. A 2-yr (2011–2012) field study was conducted on native rangeland in southern Alberta. The treatments of mowing and buffer width (1.5, 3, 6 m) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The buffer plots were pre-wet with distilled water. A spiked solution was then applied to each plot using a run-on distribution device and the runoff collected every 10 min for 30 min once the runoff started discharging from the plot. The volume of runoff, and percent reduction in concentration and mass of sediment [total dissolved solids (TSS)], phosphorus [dissolved reactive P (DRP), total P]...
TL;DR: Ouimet et al. as discussed by the authors revisited four experimental trials set up in the early 1990s to evaluate the long-term impact of municipal biosolids applied in forest plantations.
Abstract: Ouimet, R., Pion, A.-P. and Hebert, M. 2015. Long-term response of forest plantation productivity and soils to a single application of municipal biosolids. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 187-199. After 16 to 19 yr, we revisited four experimental trials set up in the early 1990s to evaluate the long-term impact of municipal biosolids applied in forest plantations. Tree growth and the soil were sampled to determine the effects of a single application of biosolids applied at (liquid equivalent) rates of 0, 130, 200, and 400 m3 ha-1. Tree radial growth responded markedly to biosolids in the young plantations, increasing from 18 % for Pinus resinosa to 62 % for Picea glauca, and up to 700 % for Quercus sp. Increases in phosphorus (P) concentrations in the tree foliage in response to biosolids could still be detected in the conifer trials. In the top 0-5 cm soil layer, organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), P, and copper (Cu) concentrations and pools increased, while soil compaction and bulk density decreased. In the deepest soil layer sampled (20-40 cm depth), the total N and calcium (Ca) pools were reduced by the biosolids treatments, while the pool of exchangeable acidity increased. Our observations indicate that a single application of liquid biosolids up to 400 m3 ha-1 (30 t ha-1 DM) in young forest plantations is a sustainable practice without undue risk to such podzolic soils.
Abstract: Allaire, S. E., Baril, B., Vanasse, A., Lange, S. F., MacKay, J. and Smith, D. L. 2015. Carbon dynamics in a biochar-amended loamy soil under switchgrass. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 1–13. The environmental impacts of switchgrass production for bioenergy could be reduced through the use of biofertilizers rather than mineral fertilizers and through soil amendment with biochar. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the impact of biochar and biofertilizer on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) yield and parameters related to carbon dynamics, (2) to correlate carbon parameters with soil physico-chemical properties over the first two growing seasons, and (3) to develop a C budget. A complete randomized block design was installed in a sandy loam with split plot treatment design, the main plots receiving 0 or 10 t ha−1 of biochar and the sub − plots receiving no fertilization, mineral N fertilization, or biofertilizers. Biofertilizers had no significant impact on plant and soil. Biochar increased yield relati...
TL;DR: Huffman et al. as discussed by the authors modelled spring wheat yields at the level of numerous individual soils using the CERES-Wheat model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) and then aggregated the simulated yields from individual soils to regi...
Abstract: Huffman, T., Qian, B., De Jong, R., Liu, J., Wang, H., McConkey, B., Brierley, T. and Yang, J. 2015. Upscaling modelled crop yields to regional scale: A case study using DSSAT for spring wheat on the Canadian prairies. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 49–61. Dynamic crop models are often operated at the plot or field scale. Upscaling is necessary when the process-based crop models are used for regional applications, such as forecasting regional crop yields and assessing climate change impacts on regional crop productivity. Dynamic crop models often require detailed input data for climate, soil and crop management; thus, their reliability may decrease at the regional scale as the uncertainty of simulation results might increase due to uncertainties in the input data. In this study, we modelled spring wheat yields at the level of numerous individual soils using the CERES-Wheat model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) and then aggregated the simulated yields from individual soils to regi...
TL;DR: Huang et al. as discussed by the authors evaluated air permeability measurements to characterize the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of soil reclamation covers. But the method was time consuming and consequently a rapid method of estimating Ks was developed.
Abstract: Huang, M., Rodger, H. and Barbour, S. L. 2015. An evaluation of air permeability measurements to characterize the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil reclamation covers. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 15–26. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of soil covers used in land reclamation is known to change over time as the result of weathering processes. Guelph permeameter (GP) measurements have been used to track the evolution of Ks for soil covers at an oil sands mine near Ft. McMurray, Alberta. Although successful, the method was time consuming and consequently a rapid method of estimating Ks based on in situ air permeability measurements was developed. The objectives of this study were: (1) to use air permeability measurements to characterize the spatial variations of Ks for typical reclamation soils and (2) to compare air permeability measurements to direct measurements obtained through laboratory and GP measurements. The results highlight that the values of Ks estimated from measured air permeability v...
TL;DR: Gombault et al. as mentioned in this paper simulated the impacts of climate change on water quality in the Pike River watershed, an important contributor of nutrient loads into the northern arm of Lake Champlain, for the time horizon 2041-2070.
Abstract: Gombault, C., Madramootoo, C. A., Michaud, A. R., Beaudin, I., Sottile, M. F., Chikhaoui, M. and Ngwa, F. F. 2015. Impacts of climate change on nutrient losses from the Pike River watershed of southern Quebec. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 337–358. The impacts of climate change on water quality in the Pike River watershed, an important contributor of nutrient loads into the northern arm of Lake Champlain, were simulated for the time horizon 2041–2070. Four water quality scenarios were simulated using a calibrated version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) customized to Quebec agroclimatic conditions. Three of the scenarios were generated using climate data simulated with the Fourth-generation Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM4). The fourth scenario was generated using the climate simulated with the Arpege Regional Climate Model. Potential mean climate-induced changes in sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen yield projected by these scenarios were then analyzed for the 2050 horizon. In addition, the imp...
TL;DR: Baker et al. as mentioned in this paper investigated P fractionation in acidic (pH≤4.6) soils in south-central Ontario and relationships between soil pH and P sorption at relatively low P concentrations.
Abstract: Baker, S. R., Watmough, S. A. and Eimers, M. C. 2015. Phosphorus forms and response to changes in pH in acid-sensitive soils on the Precambrian Shield. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 95–108. Soil acidification may explain declines in total phosphorus (TP) levels that have been observed in surface waters in central Ontario, Canada, but much of the research on phosphorus (P) mobility in pH manipulated soils has been performed at high P concentrations (i.e., >500 µM). This study investigated P fractionation in acidic (pH≤4.6) soils in south-central Ontario and relationships between soil pH and P sorption at relatively low P concentrations to test whether long-term declines in soil pH could have increased soil P sorption. Soils from three forested catchments that vary naturally in soil pH and outlet stream [TP] (0.1–0.4 µM in 2008) had very similar soil P concentrations and distributions (Hedley fractionation). Only hydrochloric-acid extractable P (i.e., apatite) differed amongst catchments and was greatest at the cat...
TL;DR: Yavitt et al. as discussed by the authors used complementary field and laboratory studies to examine the impact of two types of soil disturbance on net consumption of atmospheric methane (CH4) in forest soils near Ithaca, New York.
Abstract: Yavitt, J. B. 2015. Land use history determines non-native earthworm impacts on atmospheric methane consumption in forest soils, central New York State. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 321–330. I used complementary field and laboratory studies to examine the impact of two types of soil disturbance on net consumption of atmospheric methane (CH4) in forest soils near Ithaca, New York. One type of disturbance is invasion of non-native earthworms that mix soil layers, and the other is agriculture, which reduces the pit-and-mound surface topography to a flat landscape. Measurements of CH4 fluxes between soil and the atmosphere were made in autumn before seasonal leaf fall when earthworms had consumed all of the previous year's leaf fall, and revealed no impact by earthworms in the never-tilled soils. Although earthworms did lead to greater consumption of atmospheric CH4 in the post-agriculture soils, the mean consumption rate was only −0.2 mg m2 d−1. Concentrations of atmospheric CH4 in wormed soils were often greater t...
TL;DR: Whalen et al. as discussed by the authors evaluated the behavior of earthworm burrows and found that Lumbricus terrestris refilled burrows had more air-filled space around their perimeter than those of Aporrectodea turgida, which often were completely refilled.
Abstract: Whalen, J. K., Han L. and Dutilleul, P. 2015. Burrow refilling behavior of Aporrectodea turgida (Eisen) and Lumbricus terrestris L. as revealed by X-ray computed tomography scanning: Graphical and quantitative analyses. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 231–235. Solute and gas transport through earthworm burrows is altered when burrows become refilled. Earthworm burrow refilling was evaluated with non-invasive X-ray computed tomography in undisturbed soil cores. Proportionally, Lumbricus terrestris refilled burrows had more air-filled space left around their perimeter than those of Aporrectodea turgida, which often were completely refilled.
TL;DR: Ige et al. as mentioned in this paper used anion resins to measure nitrogen mineralization in pig-manure-amended soils measured using anion resin method and determined the fertilizer equivalence of locally available manures.
Abstract: Ige, D. V., Sayem, S. M. and Akinremi, O. O. 2015. Nitrogen mineralization in beef- and pig-manure-amended soils measured using anion resin method. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 305–319. A major challenge facing the widespread use of manure is the uncertainty about its fertilizer equivalence. This study was carried out to determine the fertilizer equivalence of locally available manures in two soils in Manitoba. A randomized complete block design was adopted with six treatments [nitrogen fertilizer, a liquid swine manure (LSM), three solid beef manures (SBM) and a control] and four replicates. Each treatment was applied to a cylindrical soil column installed at the site at the rate of 100 kg ha−1 of “available N”, and leached NO3-N was captured by resin bags at the bottom of the cylinder. The soils and resin bags removed from the cylinders were sampled at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, and 18 wk following treatment application. Ammonium nitrogen in the amendments was nitrified within the first 2 to 3 wk with significa...
TL;DR: Zettl et al. as discussed by the authors used a semi-permanent multisensor capacitance probe (MCP) capable of continuous measurement of volumetric water content (θv) and used it to monitor reclamation soil cover performance.
Abstract: Zettl, J. D., Huang, M., Barbour, S. L. and Si, B. C. 2015. Density-dependent calibration of multisensor capacitance probes in coarse soil. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 331–336. Coarse-textured reconstructed soils are utilized extensively in the reclamation of mining waste. Accurate and continuous sensing of soil water content is required to understand soil water dynamics and evaluate the hydraulic characteristics of these soils. The EnviroSCAN (Sentek Pty. Ltd, Australia) is a semi-permanent multisensor capacitance probe (MCP) capable of continuous measurement of volumetric water content (θv) and has been used to monitor reclamation soil cover performance. Calibration of these probes is required to improve the accuracy of field measurements. In this study, field and laboratory measurements were undertaken over a range of water contents and bulk densities to refine the relationship between θv and scaled frequency (SF) measured by the MCP. The manufacturer's calibration equation tended to underestimate θv under w...
TL;DR: Boczulak et al. as mentioned in this paper found evidence of short and long-term temperature response of microbial communities involved in soil nitrogen cycling by measuring the relative availability of organic and inorganic N forms in forest soils from a high and a low elevation site, incubated at 10, 16 and 20°C for 16 wk.
Abstract: Boczulak, S. A., Hawkins, B. J., Maynard, D. G. and Roy, R. 2015. Long- and short-term temperature differences affect organic and inorganic nitrogen availability in forest soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 77–86. Soil microbial activity determines rates of decomposition and is strongly influenced by temperature. Soil microbial communities may be adapted to site characteristics, including temperature, through physiological modification of microbial populations or changes in species composition; however, response to short-term changes in temperature may also occur. We searched for evidence of short- and long-term temperature response of microbial communities involved in soil nitrogen (N) cycling by measuring the relative availability of organic and inorganic N forms in forest soils from a high and a low elevation site, incubated at 10, 16 and 20°C for 16 wk. By week 16, ammonium concentrations were greater in soils incubated at 16 and 20°C than at 10°C, and in soil from the low elevation site, compared with high...
TL;DR: Rees et al. as mentioned in this paper investigated the implications of thickness of soil over compact subsoil on plow layer soil thermal and water regimes and ultimately the yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).
Abstract: Rees, H. W., Chow, T. L., Xing, Z., Li, S., Monteith, J. O. and Stevens, L. 2015. Depth to compact subsoil effects on soil properties and barley–potato yields on a loamy soil in New Brunswick. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 203–218. An experiment was established to investigate the implications of thickness of soil over compact subsoil on plow layer soil thermal and water regimes and ultimately the yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Three depths were considered, 24 cm (shallow), 36 cm (medium) and 60 cm (deep). Results on soil temperature impacts were inconclusive. The shallow treatment water content was most greatly affected by precipitation and had the greatest potential to become saturated then drying out more than the other treatments. The deep treatment did not improve soil temperature and water regimes enough to increase crop yield. The medium depth, which most closely approximated existing local solum development, proved superior to the shallow treatment in terms of crop ...
TL;DR: Miller et al. as mentioned in this paper measured soil moisture (0.23 − 1.22 m) in the field at mid and lower slope positions in southern Alberta from May to October in 1985 and 1986.
Abstract: Miller, J. J. and Chanasyk, A. S. 2015. Unsaturated water flux at mid and lower slope positions within an inclined landscape of the Dark Brown soil zone in southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 27–36. Little research has quantified vertical-unsaturated water flux below the root zone for mid and lower slope positions within inclined, low-relief, and longer-slope landscapes of the Dark Brown soil zone of the Canadian prairies. We measured soil moisture (0.23–1.22 m) in the field at mid and lower slope positions in southern Alberta from May to October in 1985 and 1986. Undisturbed soil cores were taken from soil horizons and saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture retention were determined in the laboratory. Vertical-unsaturated water flux below the root zone was calculated between 1.07 and 1.22 m depths below ground surface using the hydraulic gradient method. Water fluxes for the 2 yr ranged from <10−11 to 10−10 m s−1 at the mid slope position, and from <10−11 m s−1 to 10−9 m s−1 at the lower ...
TL;DR: DuDu et al. as discussed by the authors developed a national crop yield database at the regional (ecodistrict) level by aggregating individual records of an existing but very broad-level sample-derived yield database according to the ecostratification hierarchy.
Abstract: Du, Y., Huffman, T., Daneshfar, B., Green, M., Feng, F., Liu, J., Liu, T. and Liu, H. 2015. Improving the spatial resolution and ecostratification of crop yield estimates in Canada. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 287–297. Canada's terrestrial ecostratification framework provides nested spatial units for organizing national data related to soils, landforms and land use. In the agricultural domain, the lack of national, uniform crop yield data on the ecostratification framework severely hinders our ability to evaluate the biophysical data with respect to economic and climatic conditions. We developed a national crop yield database at the regional (ecodistrict) level by aggregating individual records of an existing but very broad-level sample-derived yield database according to the ecostratification hierarchy. Issues related to the different sampling frameworks and the need for confidentiality of individual records were resolved in order to generate an ecostratified crop yield dataset at a reasonably detailed spatial...
TL;DR: In this article, a serial of quasi-steady-state numerical simulations were conducted to examine the modulation property of the in-terplanetary magnetic field clock angle θ on the solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere.
Abstract: By use of the global PPMLR Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model, a serial of quasi- steady-state numerical simulations were conducted to examine the modulation property of the in- terplanetary magnetic field clock angle θ on the solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere. All the simulations can be divided into seven groups according to different criteria of solar wind conditions. For each group, 37 numerical examples are analyzed, with the clock angle varying from 0 ◦ to 360 ◦ with an interval of 10 ◦ , keeping the other solar wind parameters (such as the solar wind number density, velocity, and the magnetic field magnitude) unchanged. As expected, the solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere is modulated by the IMF clock angle. The axisymmetrical bell-shaped curve peaks at the clock angle of 180 ◦ . However, the modulation effect remains invariant with varying other solar wind conditions. The function form of such an invariant modulation is found to be sin(θ/2) 2.70 +0 .25.
TL;DR: Whitson et al. as mentioned in this paper used the equivalent latitude metric to identify an index based on gradient and aspect that ranks sites based on differences in direct radiant energy inputs for prediction of soil development in a complex mapunit.
Abstract: Whitson, I. R. 2015. Equivalent latitude for prediction of soil development in a complex mapunit. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 125–137. Soil pattern in the Hillwash complex mapunit from Saskatchewan is too variable to be resolved spatially with conventional mapping approaches. The equivalent latitude metric allows identification of an index based on gradient and aspect that ranks sites based on differences in direct radiant energy inputs. Effects on soil development with reference to surface horizon color and soil classification were investigated at three study areas in southern Saskatchewan. At the first, sites with equivalent latitude greater than local latitude (north group) had a higher frequency of darker soil colors than sites where equivalent latitude was less than local latitude (south group). Black Chernozemic profiles made up nine of 13 profiles from the north group compared with none in the south group or in local controls. Similar color and classification trends in a north sample group were found at ...
TL;DR: In this article, a fine-scale digital soil map layer for Nova Scotia was combined with historic soil survey information and digital elevation data to generate a new water erosion hazard map based on inherent soil erodibility and slope class.
Abstract: Keys, K., Sterling, S. M. and Guan, Y. 2015. Using historic soil survey data to map water erosion hazard for land-use planning in Nova Scotia. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 299–304. A fine-scale digital soil map layer for Nova Scotia was combined with historic soil survey information and digital elevation (DEM) data to generate a new water erosion hazard map based on inherent soil erodibility and slope class. Results showed approximately 62% of Nova Scotia has low erosion hazard, 33% has moderate hazard, and 5% has high hazard. The erosion hazard map was subsequently used in a provincial watershed assessment program (NSWAP) to map potential water quality stressors related to land-use patterns on erodible soils. This work is an example of how historic soil survey data can be utilized to create new information for land-use planning and environmental assessment.