Soil and Water Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract: (376 Views)
Abstract: Soil properties as soil quality indicators not only express the soil functions and ecosystem services, but are also a tool for evaluating different farm managements. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the temporal and spatial variation of some soil properties in wheat cultivated lands of Khuzestan province. Two sets of soil samples including 212 and 718 samples were collected from surface soil (0-30 cm) in wheat farms of Khuzestan province (15 cities) on 2011 and 2021, respectively. The results showed that the wheat cultivated lands with soil salinity restrictions increased from 42 % to 59 % in ten years past. Although, the highest average soil salinity (more than 12 dS m-1) was revealed in the southern parts of Khuzestan province and respectively in the cities of Shadgan (16.2 dS m-1) and Handijan (14.2 dS m-1), but the greatest rate of temporal changes of soil salinity occurred in Gotvand (209% increase) and Behbahan (191% increase). Moreover, the mean value of organic carbon decreased from 0.76 to 0.66% and only 23 and 10% of the studied soil samples had more than one percent of soil organic carbon on 2011 and 2021, respectively. Temporal changes of soil available phosphorus and potassium in wheat fields were not significant in 80 and 67 % of the studied cities, respectively. The results showed that despite the different rates of temporal and spatial changes of different soil properties, in general, agricultural management of wheat cultivated farms in the last decade has increased soil limitations with different intensities, which strongly affects production sustainability in agriculture.
Keywords: Soil degradation, Salinity, Organic carbon, Sustainable agriculture.
Background and Objective: By determining the temporal and spatial variations of soil properties, it is possible to identify the existing potential and limitations for sustainable agricultural development. In addition to indicating soil ecosystem services and functions, soil properties also reflect soil response to different farm managements. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the temporal and spatial changes of some soil properties in wheat cultivated lands of Khuzestan province.
Methods: Two sets of soil samples including 212 and 718 samples from were collected from surface soil (0-30 cm) in wheat farms of Khuzestan province (15 cities) on 2011 and 2021, respectively. Soil properties including soil acidity (pH), calcium carbonate, electrical conductivity of saturated soil extract (salinity), soil organic carbon, soil available phosphorous, and soil available potassium were measured. SPSS v.19 statistical software and independent T test at the probability level of 5 % were used to determine significant temporal variation of soil properties. Moreover, mapping and spatial variations of soil properties were determined by GIS v.10.3 software.
Results: The results showed that the mean value of calcium carbonate in wheat-cultivated soils of Khuzestan province was 46.3% and the mean value of soil pH varied from 7.43 to 7.48 in 2011 and 2021, respectively. In 2011, about 42% of the wheat cultivated lands faced soil salinity restrictions, but after ten years, this limitation reached to 59% of the wheat cultivated lands in Khuzestan province (23% increase). The results revealed mean value of soil salinity in the central part of Khuzestan province, including Ahvaz, Bavi and Shushtar, Ramshir and Mahshar was less than 4 dS m-1, while Shadegan, Hendijan and Ramhormoz (Southern part of the province) had a mean value of soil salinity more than 12 dSm-1. The evaluation of temporal variations in soil salinity over a ten-year period showed that there was no significant variation in the 11 studied cities. While a significant increase in the mean soil salinity of wheat cultivated farms was observed in for studied cities involving Omidie (89 %), Ramhormoz (171 %), Behbahan (191 %) and Gotvand (209 %). The mean value of soil organic carbon decreased from 0.76 to 0.66 % and only 23 and 10 % of the studied soil samples in 2011 and 2021, respectively, had soil organic carbon more than one percent. Within a period of ten years, four cities of Khuzestan province (in the northern and southern parts) including Shush (15%), Shushtar (32%), Handijan (21%) and Mahshahr (29%) showed a significant decrease in soil organic carbon. The results showed that the temporal changes of soil available phosphorus and potassium were not significant in 80 and 67 % of studied cities, respectively. A significant decrease in soil available phosphorus was observed in Shushtar city (31%) and a significant decrease in soil available potassium was also highlighted in Shush (25%), Mahshahr (18%) and Hoizeh (15%) cities.
Conclusions: The results show that although the mean value of soil salinity in the two cities of Gotvand (with salinity less than 4 dSm-1, and 0.5 to 1% organic carbon) and Behbahan (with soil salinity level in the range of 4-8 dSm-1, and organic carbon content of 0.5 to 1 percent) is in a caution condition. However, the trend of soil properties degradation in wheat cultivated fields of these two cities is very severe (209 and 191 % increase in soil salinity of Gotvand and Behbahan, respectively). The results showed that despite the different rates of temporal and spatial changes of different soil properties, in general, agricultural management of wheat cultivated farms in the last decade has increased soil limitations with different intensities, which strongly affects production sustainability in agriculture.
References:
1. Meskini-Vishkaee, F., Jafarnejadi, A.R., Mousavi-Fazl, M.H. 2020. Evaluation of soil physical quality in dominant series of calcareous soils in south west of Iran. Polish Journal of Soil Science, 2: 225-243. DOI: 10.17951/pjss/2020.53.2.225
2. Mirzashahi, K. 2017. Periodic study of soil organic carbon in plains of Khuzestan and providing Extensions. Land Management Journal, 5(1): 1-12. (In Persian with English abstract)
3. Noory, H., Deyhool, M., vazifedoost, M., and Noroozi, A.A. 2016. Long term Evaluation of temporal and spatial changes in soil salinity (Garmsar irrigation and drainage network). Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research. 47 (3): 449- 457. (In Persian with English abstract)
Keywords: Soil degradation, Salinity, Organic carbon, Sustainable agriculture.
Background and Objective: By determining the temporal and spatial variations of soil properties, it is possible to identify the existing potential and limitations for sustainable agricultural development. In addition to indicating soil ecosystem services and functions, soil properties also reflect soil response to different farm managements. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the temporal and spatial changes of some soil properties in wheat cultivated lands of Khuzestan province.
Methods: Two sets of soil samples including 212 and 718 samples from were collected from surface soil (0-30 cm) in wheat farms of Khuzestan province (15 cities) on 2011 and 2021, respectively. Soil properties including soil acidity (pH), calcium carbonate, electrical conductivity of saturated soil extract (salinity), soil organic carbon, soil available phosphorous, and soil available potassium were measured. SPSS v.19 statistical software and independent T test at the probability level of 5 % were used to determine significant temporal variation of soil properties. Moreover, mapping and spatial variations of soil properties were determined by GIS v.10.3 software.
Results: The results showed that the mean value of calcium carbonate in wheat-cultivated soils of Khuzestan province was 46.3% and the mean value of soil pH varied from 7.43 to 7.48 in 2011 and 2021, respectively. In 2011, about 42% of the wheat cultivated lands faced soil salinity restrictions, but after ten years, this limitation reached to 59% of the wheat cultivated lands in Khuzestan province (23% increase). The results revealed mean value of soil salinity in the central part of Khuzestan province, including Ahvaz, Bavi and Shushtar, Ramshir and Mahshar was less than 4 dS m-1, while Shadegan, Hendijan and Ramhormoz (Southern part of the province) had a mean value of soil salinity more than 12 dSm-1. The evaluation of temporal variations in soil salinity over a ten-year period showed that there was no significant variation in the 11 studied cities. While a significant increase in the mean soil salinity of wheat cultivated farms was observed in for studied cities involving Omidie (89 %), Ramhormoz (171 %), Behbahan (191 %) and Gotvand (209 %). The mean value of soil organic carbon decreased from 0.76 to 0.66 % and only 23 and 10 % of the studied soil samples in 2011 and 2021, respectively, had soil organic carbon more than one percent. Within a period of ten years, four cities of Khuzestan province (in the northern and southern parts) including Shush (15%), Shushtar (32%), Handijan (21%) and Mahshahr (29%) showed a significant decrease in soil organic carbon. The results showed that the temporal changes of soil available phosphorus and potassium were not significant in 80 and 67 % of studied cities, respectively. A significant decrease in soil available phosphorus was observed in Shushtar city (31%) and a significant decrease in soil available potassium was also highlighted in Shush (25%), Mahshahr (18%) and Hoizeh (15%) cities.
Conclusions: The results show that although the mean value of soil salinity in the two cities of Gotvand (with salinity less than 4 dSm-1, and 0.5 to 1% organic carbon) and Behbahan (with soil salinity level in the range of 4-8 dSm-1, and organic carbon content of 0.5 to 1 percent) is in a caution condition. However, the trend of soil properties degradation in wheat cultivated fields of these two cities is very severe (209 and 191 % increase in soil salinity of Gotvand and Behbahan, respectively). The results showed that despite the different rates of temporal and spatial changes of different soil properties, in general, agricultural management of wheat cultivated farms in the last decade has increased soil limitations with different intensities, which strongly affects production sustainability in agriculture.
References:
1. Meskini-Vishkaee, F., Jafarnejadi, A.R., Mousavi-Fazl, M.H. 2020. Evaluation of soil physical quality in dominant series of calcareous soils in south west of Iran. Polish Journal of Soil Science, 2: 225-243. DOI: 10.17951/pjss/2020.53.2.225
2. Mirzashahi, K. 2017. Periodic study of soil organic carbon in plains of Khuzestan and providing Extensions. Land Management Journal, 5(1): 1-12. (In Persian with English abstract)
3. Noory, H., Deyhool, M., vazifedoost, M., and Noroozi, A.A. 2016. Long term Evaluation of temporal and spatial changes in soil salinity (Garmsar irrigation and drainage network). Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research. 47 (3): 449- 457. (In Persian with English abstract)
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Soil health association with soil-plant interactions
Received: 2023/12/30 | Accepted: 2024/05/24
Received: 2023/12/30 | Accepted: 2024/05/24
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