The effects of conservation-tillage practices on the root environment of corn (Zea mays L.) may differ with varying amounts of irrigation. Dryland, 50% irrigation, and 100% irrigation treatments were applied in combination with disc, no-tillage, and a postemergence chisel treatment designed to allow rapid infiltration of irrigation water. The study was conducted during the 1980 growing season a...

soil compaction can occur as a result of a number of factors. one of the most important factors is soil response to pressures imposed by wheels and soil engaging tools. this research investigated the effect of tyre load and inflation pressure on soil compaction-related factors. these factors include rut width, rut depth, cone index and horizontal force in different layers of soil profile. in th...

The spatial distribution of the root system through the soil profile has an impact on moisture and nutrient uptake by plants, affecting growth and productivity. The spatial distribution of the roots, soil moisture, and fertility are affected by tillage practices. The combination of high soil density and the presence of a soil plow pan typically impede the growth of maize (Zea mays L.).We invest...

Understanding depth distribution of roots may help develop an understanding of plant productivity and the limits to productivity by indicating which parts of the soil profile are being accessed for water and nutrients. The subtropical east coast of Australia provides climatic and soil conditions that produce some of the highest plant productivity rates in the country. This has been recognised b...

Late Quaternary rates of apparent soil production, bedrock incision, and average erosion are determined for the southeastern highlands of Australia using in situ produced cosmogenic nuclide concentrations of Be and Al. Apparent soil production rates define a steep, inverse exponential function of soil depth with a maximum of 143mMa 1 under zero soil depth. There were no observed soil depths bet...

Improving soil fertility/productivity and reducing environmental impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization are essential for sustainable agriculture. Quantifying the contribution of various fertilization regimes to soil N storage and loss has been lacking in a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. Based on data collected from field experiments at three typical agricultural zones in China, soil N dyna...

Because a large fraction of the world’s carbon exists in the soil of boreal forests, understanding how soil temperature and moisture affect soil respiration is vital for predicting soil response to climate change. We measured soil respiration and CO2 concentrations within soils of floodplain and upland forests in interior Alaska from 1996 to 1997. At each site, a 0.10-ha-area shelter was constr...

Chemical profiling of decomposition odour is conducted in the environmental sciences to detect malodourous target sources in air, water or soil. More recently decomposition odour profiling has been employed in the forensic sciences to generate a profile of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by decomposed remains. The chemical profile of decomposition odour is still being debated wit...