Frank Eulenstein

Assessing the productivity function of soils. A review

The development and survival or disappearance of civilizations has been based on the performance of soils to provide food, fibre, and further essential goods for humans. Amongst soil functions, the capacity to produce plant biomass (productivity function) remains essential. This function is closely associated with the main global issues of the 21st century like food security, demands of energy and water, carbon balance and climate change. A standardised methodology for assessing the productivity function of the global soil resource consistently over different spatial scales will be demanded by a growing international community of land users and stakeholders for achieving high soil productivity in the context of sustainable multifunctional use of soils. We analysed available methods for assessing the soil productivity function. The aim was to find potentials, deficiencies and gaps in knowledge of current approaches towards a global reference framework. Our main findings were (i) that the soil moisture and thermal regime, which are climate-influenced, are the main constraints to the soil productivity potential on a global scale, and (ii) that most taxonomic soil classification systems including the World Reference Basis for Soil Resources provide little information on soil functionality in particular the productivity function. We found (iii) a multitude of approaches developed at the national and local scale in the last century for assessing mainly specific aspects of potential soil and land productivity. Their soil data inputs differ, evaluation ratings are not transferable and thus not applicable in international and global studies. At an international level or global scale, methods like agro-ecological zoning or ecosystem and crop modelling provide assessments of land productivity but contain little soil information. Those methods are not intended for field scale application to detect main soil constraints and thereby to derive soil management and conservation recommendations in situ. We found also, that (iv) soil structure is a crucial criterion of agricultural soil quality and methods of visual soil assessment like the Peerlkamp scheme, the French method “Le profil cultural” and the New Zealand Visual Soil Assessment are powerful tools for recognising dynamic agricultural soil quality and controlling soil management processes at field scale. We concluded that these approaches have potential to be integrated into an internationally applicable assessment framework of the soil’s productivity function, working from field scale to the global level. This framework needs to serve as a reference base for ranking soil productivity potentials on a global scale and as an operational tool for controlling further soil degradation and desertification. Methods like the multi-indicator-based Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating meet most criteria of such a framework. This method has potential to act as a global overall assessment method of the soil productivity function for cropping land and pastoral grassland but needs further evolution by testing and amending its indicator thresholds.

Assessing the Productivity Function of Soils

The development and survival or disappearance of civilizations has been based on the performance of soils to provide food, fibre, and further essential goods for humans. Amongst soil functions, the capacity to produce plant biomass (productivity function) remains essential. This function is closely associated with the main global issues of the 21st century like food security, demands of energy and water, carbon balance and climate change. A standardised methodology for assessing the productivity function of the global soil resource consistently over different spatial scales will be demanded by a growing international community of land users and stakeholders for achieving high soil productivity in the context of sustainable multifunctional use of soils. We analysed available methods for assessing the soil productivity function. The aim was to find potentials, deficiencies and gaps in knowledge of current approaches towards a global reference framework. Our main findings were (i) that the soil moisture and thermal regime, which are climate-influenced, are the main constraints to the soil productivity potential on a global scale, and (ii) that most taxonomic soil classification systems including the World Reference Basis for Soil Resources provide little information on soil functionality in particular the productivity function. We found (iii) a multitude of approaches developed at the national and local scale in the last century for assessing mainly specific aspects of potential soil and land productivity. Their soil data inputs differ, evaluation ratings are not transferable and thus not applicable in international and global studies. At an international level or global scale, methods like agro-ecological zoning or ecosystem and crop modelling provide assessments of land productivity but contain little soil information. Those methods are not intended for field scale application to detect main soil constraints and thereby to derive soil management and conservation recommendations in situ. We found also that (iv) soil structure is a crucial criterion of agricultural soil quality and methods of visual soil assessment like the Peerlkamp scheme, the French method “Le profil cultural” and the New Zealand Visual Soil Assessment are powerful tools for recognising dynamic agricultural soil quality and controlling soil management processes at field scale. We concluded that these approaches have potential to be integrated into an internationally applicable assessment framework of the soil’s productivity function, working from field scale to the global level. This framework needs to serve as a reference base for ranking soil productivity potentials on a global scale and as an operational tool for controlling further soil degradation and desertification. Methods like the multi-indicator-based Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating meet most criteria of such a framework. This method has potential to act as a global overall assessment method of the soil productivity function for cropping land and pastoral grassland but needs further evolution by testing and amending its indicator thresholds.

A framework for assessing agricultural soil quality on a global scale

This paper provides information about a novel approach of rating agricultural soil quality (SQ) and crop yield potentials consistently over a range of spatial scales. The Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating is an indicator-based straightforward overall assessment method of agricultural SQ. It is a framework covering aspects of soil texture, structure, topography and climate which is based on 8 basic indicators and more than 12 hazard indicators. Ratings are performed by visual methods of soil evaluation. A field manual is then used to provide ratings from tables based on indicator thresholds. Finally, overall rating scores are given, ranging from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) to characterise crop yield potentials. The current approach is valid for grassland and cropland. Field tests in several countries confirmed the practicability and reliability of the method. At field scale, soil structure is a crucial, management induced criterion of agricultural SQ. At the global scale, climate controlled hazard indicators of drought risk and soil thermal regime are crucial for SQ and crop yield potentials. Final rating scores are well correlated with crop yields. We conclude that this system could be evolved for ranking and controlling agricultural SQ on a global scale.

A long-term hydrological soil study on the effects of soil and land use on deep seepage dynamics in northeast Germany

Starting in 1993, interactions between land use and precipitation have been investigated in three research areas of northeast Germany. The research based on continuous measurements of soil water tension and water content down to a depth of 5 m at 36 plots situated at diverse soils under different land use (arable land, forest, grass fallow). At arable sites, the main period of deep seepage occurred between February and April during the study period. With 175 mm a−1, the mean annual deep seepage rate under arable land was highest at sandy soils. At loamy soils, the mean seepage rate amounting to 122 mm a−1 appeared significantly less. Smallest seepage rates, however, were determined for forested plots (pine 15 mm a−1, beech 18 mm a−1). Differences were significant as compared to arable land at sandy and loamy soils and grass fallow. It is concluded that deep seepage and groundwater recharge under forest will tend to wane at annual precipitation rates of <550 mm a−1. This should be taken into account in decision making on land use planning and conversion of arable areas to forestry in regions characterised by negative values of the climatic water balance.

Gebietsabflüsse aus Agrarlandschaften Nordost‐ und Mitteldeutschlands

Fur ein groseres Gebiet im Lockergesteinsbereich Nordost‐ und Mitteldeutschlands wurden verschiedene Verfahren zur Abschatzung des mittleren Gebietsabflusses gepruft und mit gemessenen Abflussen verglichen. Die Ansatze von Renger und Strebel (1980) sowie Bagrov, mod. von Glugla (1985) berucksichtigen die Einflusse von Boden und Landnutzung auf den Gebietsabflus und zeigen gute Ubereinstimmung mit Meswerten fur Einzugsgebiete > 100 km2. Der Gebietsniederschlag ist die dominierende Bilanzgrose. Aufgrund Niederschlagsmangels kommt es im uberwiegenden Teil des Beispielsgebietes in etwa 20% der Jahre zu extremer Verminderung und unter Nadelwald bereits zum Erliegen der Abflusbildung. Setzt man fur die erste Halfte des nachsten Jahrhunderts eine Erhohung der Temperatur um 1,5 K, eine Zunahme der Winterniederschlage um 6% und eine Abnahme der Sommerniederschlage um 2% an (mittlerer Erwartungswert auf der Grundlage von Prognosen von Kenny et al. 1993), so sind nur sehr geringe Anderungen des mittleren Abflusses z...

Feldskalige variabilität von frühjahrsfeuchte und mineralischem stickstoff in der ungesättigten zone sandiger standorte Nordostdeutschlands

Auf sandigen Standorten des Jungpleistozäns wurden die Variabilität der Frühjahrsfeuchte und des mineralischen Stickstoffgehaltes im Porenwasser unter verschiedenen Landnutzungsbedingungen bis 4,2 m Tiefe analysiert. Das Mittel der Frühjahrsfeuchte lag bei etwa 10 cm3/100 cm3. Die hohe standörtliche Variabilität der Frühjahrsfeuchte (Variationskoeffizienten von 26-63%) beruhte weitgehend auf Substratheterogenitäten der Geogenese. Endmoränen hatten die höchste Gesamtvarianz, Flugsanddecken zeigten die höchste Strukturvarianz. Die untersuchte Sanderfläche wies eine geringere Feuchteheterogenität auf als die Grundmoränenflächen. Bei Beprobungsabständen von 10 m wurden Reichweiten der Autokorrelation im Dekameterbereich gefunden. Die Standorte mit Flugsanden und die Sanderfläche wiesen relativ große Reichweiten der Autokorrelation auf (Reichweite 140 m), die Endmoränenstandorte und die endmoränennahe Grundmoräne waren besonders kleinflächig strukturiert (Reichweite 20-40 m). Die Gehalte an mineralischem Stickstoff in der ungesättigten Zone widerspiegelten die Landnutzung und wiesen noch höhere Variabilität auf als die Frühjahrsfeuchte. Unter ehemaliger Güllebewirtschaftung wurden sehr hohe Mengen mineralischen Stickstoffs ermittelt. Hohe N-min -Konzentrationen wurden auch unter einem Kiefernforst gemessen. Extensiv genutztes Grasland wies die geringsten Mengen und Konzentrationen an mineralischem Stickstoff auf. On sandy Pleistocene sites the variability of springtime soil moisture content (field capacity) and mineral nitrogen in pore water were analysed down to 4.2 m depth under different land use systems. The average of the field capacity was about 10 cm3/100 cm3. Their large site-specific variability (variation coefficients of 26-63%) is mainly due to the substrate heterogeneity of the pedogenesis. End moraines had the highest total variability, aeolic sand layers were strongly spatially dependent. The sandy outwash area had the lowest variability of field capacity, lower than the glacial tills. Considering sampling distances of 10 m, the autocorrelation length was also in the range of decametres. Areas of aeolic sands and outwash sands showed relatively large ranges of autocorrelation (140 m), end morains and glacial tills neighboured to end moraines are structured into smaller areas (range of autocorrelation 20-40 m). The amounts of mineral nitrogen in the vadose zone reflect the land use and show larger variability than the field capacities. Highest amounts were found in arable land of former intensive slurry application. High nitrogen concentration were also measured under a pine forest. Not fertilized grassland had the lowest amounts and concentrations of mineral nitrogen.

Novel Methods for Monitoring and Managing Land and Water Resources in Siberia

Siberia is the backbone of the economy of modern Russia due to huge reserves of gas, oil, land and water. Not only resource extracting and processing industries, but also forestry and agriculture capitalize these resources with implications for local and global processes of nature and society. We analysed the state of land and water resources with regard to the impacts of human activity and climate change. The environmental status of forests, agricultural lands and inland water bodies was evaluated based on our own research and the recent literature. The focus was on agro-ecosystems. Our synthetic review revealed that peatlands and L. Mueller (&) R. Dannowski U. Schindler F. Eulenstein Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) e.V., Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany e-mail: mueller@zalf.de A.K. Sheudshen Kuban State Agrarian University, 13 Kalinin Str, Krasnodar 350044, Russia e-mail: kubagrohim@mail.ru A. Syso P. Barsukov E.N. Smolentseva Siberian Branch, Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry (ISSA), Russian Academy of Sciences, Ac. Lavrentieva Av 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia e-mail: syso@issa.nsc.ru T. Khodzher Siberian Branch, Limnological Institute (LIN), Russian Academy of Sciences, 3 Ulan-Batorskaya St, Irkutsk 664033, Russia e-mail: khodzher@lin.irk.ru V.G. Sychev V.A. Romanenkov O.V. Rukhovich Pryanishnikov All-Russian Research Institute of Agrochemistry (VNIIA), Pryanishnikova St. 31a, Moscow 127550, Russia e-mail: geoset@yandex.ru A. Puzanov Institute for Water and Environmental Problems, 1 Molodyoznaya St, Barnaul 656038, Altai Krai, Russia e-mail: puzanov@iwep.ru

Nutrient Balances in Agriculture: A Basis for the Efficiency Survey of Agricultural Groundwater Conservation Measures

In nutrient balances, additions and removals of nutrients are assessed to identify the remaining concentrations of nutrients in soil. Balances can be performed using operational records of nutrients applications and other agronomic information (crops, yields, weather, etc.) at farm or even field level. The aim of performing nutrient balances is to obtain an overview of nutrient levels, in particular to prevent surpluses that could lead to environmental problems such as groundwater contamination, water eutrophication, air pollution and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This chapter will provide an overview of methods used to assess soil nutrient levels at farm and field level. The methods described here can be used by farmers, landscape planners, environmentalists, politicians and other stakeholders as a basis for taking agricultural groundwater conservation measures. The procedures and recommendations specified in this chapter are in accordance with the guidelines of the DWA—German association for water, wastewater and waste: “Efficiency of measures to control land use for groundwater conservation—the example of nitrogen” (DWA-M 911 (2013): Effizienzkontrolle von Masnahmen zur grundwasserschonenden Bodennutzung am Beispiel des Stickstoffs).

Implications of soil substrate and land use for properties of fen soils in North-East Germany Part II: Aspects of structure in the peat soil landscape

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of peat soil substrate governed by the hydrological type of mire, land use and state of anthropogenic changes on the fen soil structure in terms of the water retention curve, soil aggregates and topsoil strength. Our hypothesis was that morphological parameters of the peat soil landscape, like peat thickness and water table, are correlated with functional parameters of internal soil structure like water retention or cone resistance. These parameters were measured along several transects in fens of the Rhin-Havelluch and the Uckermark region. Results confirmed our hypothesis. The peat thickness was cross-correlated with the state of anthropogenic soil changes and soil structure. The type of land use (grassland, forest) had significant implications for the moisture status and structure in terms of density, strength, pore size distribution and aggregate sizes of topsoils.

Wirkung von Böden und Fruchtarten auf die Grundwasserneubildung pleistozäner Ackerstandorte Ostbrandenburgs

Fur grundwasserferne Boden Ostbrandenburgs wurde fur unterschiedliche Fruchtarten und Fruchtfolgen die Sickerwasserbildung fur die Jahre 1992–1995 berechnet. Grundlage bildete der validierte und verifizierte Bodenwasser‐Modellverbund MOBOWASI (Wegehenkel, 1995). Ergebnisse zum Einflus von Niederschlag, Boden, Fruchtart und Fruchtartenzusammenstellung auf die Sickerwasserbildung werden vorgestellt und diskutiert. Grasland und Fruchtfolgen mit Zwischenfrucht liefern die geringsten Sickerwassermengen. Entscheidend fur die Sickerwassermenge ist nicht allein die Jahresniederschlagssumme, sondern ihre zeitliche und mengenmasige Verteilung. Bodenwasserdefizite, verursacht durch geringe Niederschlage, konnen bei mittleren bis schweren Boden uberjahrig mindernd auf die Sickerwasserbildung wirken. In fur die niederschlagsarme Region Ostbrandenburgs feuchten Jahren ist der Bodeneinflus stark, in trockenen Jahren nur unwesentlich. Die Wirkung der Fruchtart und Fruchtfolge auf die Sickerwassermenge ist gros, wenn die ...