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Soil aggregation – a matter of proper management

Elmholt, S.; Schjønning, P. and Munkholm, L.J. (2005) Soil aggregation – a matter of proper management. DARCOFenews. Newsletter from Danish Research Centre for Organic Food and Farming (2).

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Document available online at: http://www.darcof.dk/enews/jun05/crumb.html


Summary

Soil crumbs are important to soil functions. These include plant growth, and the growth of fungi and bacteria forming agents for binding and bonding of new crumbs. We have studied how commercial organic and conventional farming affect this interaction. A diverse crop rotation, including grass, and animal manure resulted in stable crumbs with a high content of biological binding and bonding agents. A cash crop rotation with the addition of only synthetic fertilizers resulted in small, stable aggregates – more like clods - with clay as binding agent. Such a soil will provide poor conditions for preparing seedbeds, because prolonged rain makes it soft and muddy while drought makes it hard as brick.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions
Soil > Soil quality > Soil biology
Crop husbandry > Soil tillage
Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring
Research affiliation: Denmark > DARCOF II (2000-2005) > I. 7 (ROMAPAC) Soil quality in organic farming
Denmark > DARCOF I (1996-2001) > I.3 Fertility and soil tillage
Deposited By: Elmholt, Susanne
ID Code:7423
Deposited On:01 Mar 2006
Last Modified:06 Jul 2017 07:43
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Not peer-reviewed

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