Evaluation of the soil quality of the lands under irrigated wheat cultivation in Tabriz plain

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Member of Scientific Board of Soil and Water Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)

2 Member of Scientific Board of East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training Center,, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organizationn

Abstract

Soil has various tasks or functions, including the ability to produce crops, store carbon, store water, cycle nutrients and purify water. Soil functions have a high correlation with soil quality. Soil quality indices are often regional and to determine it, it is not possible to consistently use a set of idicators and indices in all regions. In this research, Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIa), the Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIw) and the Nemero Soil Quality Index (NQI) and the effect of effective characteristics on soil quality in surface soil (0-30 cm) and in the yield of 206 wheat field of East Azarbaijan Province (Tabriz Plain) in 2017 was investigated by measuring physical and chemical properties of soils and wheat grain yield. Organic carbon, bulk density, aveilble potassium and aveilble phosphorus and electrical conductivity were selected as The minimum data set (MDS) using principal component analysis (PCA). Then SQIa, SQIw and NQI were determined using TDS and MDS. The results showed that there is a correlation between wheat yield and soil quality indices using MDS (r=0.60-0.63) and using TDS (r=0.56-0.60) also there was a significant correlation (p <0.01) between the use of TDS and MDS in NQI (r=0.81), SQIw(r=0.84) and SQIa (r=0.88) (p<0.01). Therefore, all three investigated indices are suitable for the study area and using MDS is more suitable than the method of using TDS due to relatively higher correlation and number of features and lower cost.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Evaluation of the soil quality of the lands under irrigated wheat cultivation in Tabriz plain

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

 

Introduction

Soil has various tasks or functions, including the ability to produce crops, store carbon, store water, cycle nutrients and purify water. Soil functions have a high correlation with soil quality. Depending on the purpose, soil quality can be assessed. Therefore, Awareness of the physical, chemical and biological quality of soil in agriculture and natural resources is essential for optimal land management and achieving maximum economic productivity. Soil quality indicators are often regional and to determine it, it is not possible to consistently use a set of identifiers and indicators in all regions. In this study, the Nemero Soil Quality Index (NQI), the Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIw), and the Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIa) were determined using the total data set (TDS) and minimum data set (MDS) in wheat field of East Azarbaijan Province (Tabriz Plain).

Methods

In this research, Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIa), the Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIw) and the Nemero Soil Quality Index (NQI) and the effect of effective properties on soil quality in surface soil (0-30 cm) and in the yield of 206 wheat field of East Azarbaijan Province (Tabriz Plain) in 2017 was investigated by measuring physical (sand, silt and clay percentage, bulk density (Bd), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks)) and chemical (Organic carbon (OC), acidity (pH), Calcium carbonate equivalent, aveilble potassium (Kave) and aveilble phosphorus (Pave), and electrical conductivity (EC)) properties of soils and wheat grain yield. Organic carbon (OC), bulk density (Bd), aveilble potassium (Kave) and aveilble phosphorus (Pave), and electrical conductivity (EC) were selected as The minimum data set (MDS) using SPSS 24 by principal component analysis method (PCA). For this purpose, components with Eigen values greater than one were selected and in each component, properties with high loading coefficient up to 10% lower than the highest loading coefficient were selected MDS affecting soil quality. Then, Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIa), the Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIw) and the Nemero Soil Quality Index (NQI) were determined using the total data set (TDS) and the minimum data set (MDS).

Results and Discussion

The results showed that there was a significant correlation (p <0.01) between the yield of irrigated wheat and Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (r=0.63), Additive Soil Quality Index (r=0.61) and Nemero Soil Quality Index (r=0.60) using minimum data set (MDS) method; and using total data set (TDS) method this correlation values were 0.59, 0.60 and 0.56, respectively. also, there was a significant correlation (p<0.01) between the use of total data set (TDS) and minimum data set (MDS) in Nemero Soil Quality Index (r=0.81), the Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (r=0.84) and Additive Soil Quality Index (r=0.88). Therefore, all three investigated indicators are suitable for the study area and using minimum data set (MDS) is more suitable than the method of using total data set (TDS) due to relatively higher correlation and number of features and lower cost.

Andrews, S. S., Karlen, D. L. & Cambardella, C. A. )2004(. The soil management assessment framework: a quantitative soil quality evaluation method. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 68, 1945–1962.
Andrews, S. S., Karlen, D. L. & Mitchell, J. P. )2002b(. A comparison of soil quality indices methods for vegetable production system in northern California. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 90, 25–45.
Andrews, S. S., Mitchell, J. P., Mancinelli, R., Karlen, K. L., Hartz, T. K., Horwath, W. R., Pettygrove, G. S., Scow, K. M. & Munk, D. S. )2002a(. On-farm assessment of soil quality in California's central valley. Agronomy Journal, 94, 12–23.
Ansori, A. & Gholami, A. (2015). Improved nutrient uptake and growth of maize in response to inoculation with Thiobacillus and Mycorrhiza on an alkaline soil. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 46 (17), 2111-2126.
Aparicio, V. & Costa, J. L. )2007(. Soil quality indicators under continuous cropping systems in the Argentinean Pampas. Soil and Tillage Research, 96(1), 155-165.
Aria, P. & Mirkhani, R. (2005). Methods of Soil Physical Analysis, Technical Bulletin, Soil and Water Research Institute, Iran, 479. (In Persian)
Basak, N., Mandal, B., Biswas, S., Basak, P., Mitran, T., Saha, B., ... & Datta, A. (2022). Impact of Long Term Nutrient Management on Soil Quality Indices in Rice-Wheat System of Lower Indo-Gangetic Plain. Sustainability, 14(11), 6533.
Biberdzic, M., Barac, S., Lalevic, D., Djikic, A., Prodanovic, D. & Rajicic, V. (2020). Influence of soil tillage system on soil compaction and winter wheat yield. Chilean journal of agricultural research, 80(1), 80-89.
Brejda, J. J., Moorman, T. B., Smith, J. L., Karlen, D. L., Allan, D. L. & Dao, T. H. (2000). Distribution and variability of surface soil properties at a regional scale. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64(3), 974-982.
De Paul Obade, V. & Lal, R. )2016(. Towards a standard technique for soil quality assessment. Geoderma, 265, 96-102.
Dengiz, O., Sekan, I. C., Saygin, F. & Imamoglu, A. )2020(. Assessment of Soil Quality Index for Tea Cultivated Soils in Ortaçay Micro Catchment in Black Sea Region. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 26(1), 42-53.
Doran, J. W. & Parkin, T. B. (1997). Quantitative indicators of soil quality: a minimum data set. Methods for assessing soil quality, 49, 25-37.
Doran, J. W. & Parkin, T. B. (1994). Defining and assessing soil quality. Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment, 35, 1-21.
Fallahzade, J. & Hajabbasi, M. A. )2011(. Changes in Soil Quality Indicators by Reclamation of Salt–Affected Land in Abarkooh Plain, Central Iran. Journal of Water and Soil Science (Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources), 15 (55),139-150. (In Persian)
 Friedman, D., Hubbs, M., Tugel, A., Seybold, C. & Sucik, M. (2001). Guidelines for soil quality assessment in conservation planning. Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture.
Gee, G. W. & Or, D. )2002(. Particle-size analysisMethods of Soil Analysis. Part 4. Physical Methods. Soil Science Society of America Book Series, 5, 255–289.
Ghaemi, M., Astaraei, A. R., Mahalati, M. N., Emami, H. & Sanaeinejad, H. H. )2014(. Spatio-temporal soil quality assessment under crop rotation irrigated with treated urban wastewater using fuzzy modelling. International Agrophysics, 28(3), 291-302.
Gholami, A., Kahkesh, A. H. & Panahpour, E. )2012(. Influence of land use changes on some soil quality indexes in abbahar masjed soleiman region. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 4-17, 1251-1254.
Isong, I. A., John, K., Okon, P. B., Ogban, P. I., & Afu, S. M. (2022). Soil quality estimation using environmental covariates and predictive models: an example from tropical soils of Nigeria. Ecological Processes, 11(1), 1-22.
Scanlon, B. R., Andraski, B. J. & Bilskie, J. (2002). Bulk Density and Linear Extensibility. Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 4 Physical Methods, 643-670.
Jolliffe, I. T. (2003). Principal component analysis. Technometrics45(3), 276.
Karkaj, E. S., Sepehry, A., Barani, H., Motamedi, J. T. & Shahbazi, F. )2019(. Establishing a suitable soil quality index for semi-arid rangeland ecosystems in northwest of Iran. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 19(3), 648-658.
Karlen, D. L., Rosek, M. J., Gardner, J. C., Allan, D. L., Alms, M. J., Bezdicek, D. F., Flock, M., Huggins, D. R., Miller, B. S. & Staben, M. L. )1999(. Conservation reserve program effects on soil quality indicators. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 54(1), 439-444.
Karlen, D. L., Parkin, T. B. & Eash, N. S. )1996(. Use of soil quality indicators to evaluate conservation reserve program sites in Iowa. In Doran, J. W., Jones, A. J. (Eds.),  Methods for Assessing Soil Quality. Methods for Assessing Soil Quality, 49(1997), 345-355.
Khademi, H., Mohammadi, J. & Nael, M. (2006). Comparison of selected soil quality indicators in different land management systems in Boroojen, Chaharmahal Bakhtiari province. The Scientific Journal of Agriculture, 29(3), 111-124. (In Persian)
Khormali, F., Ajami, M., Ayoubi, S., Srinivasarao, C. & Wani, S. P. )2009(. Role of deforestation and hillslope position on soil quality attributes of loess-derived soils in Golestan province, Iran. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 134(3), 178-189.
Li, P., Shi, K., Wang, Y., Kong, D., Liu, T., Jiao, J., ... & Hu, F. )2019(. Soil quality assessment of wheat-maize cropping system with different productivities in China: Establishing a minimum data set. Soil and Tillage Research, 190, 31-40.
Maas, E. V. & Hoffman, G. J. (1977). Crop salt tolerance—current assessment. Journal of the irrigation and drainage division, 103(2), 115-134.
MATLAB R2015b. )2015(. Software for technical computing and model-based design. The Mach Works Ins, USA.
Mirkhani, R. )2013(. The Effect of soil compaction on soil physical and chemical properties and wheat yield in Irrigation water salinity levels. Final report of research. Soil and Water Research Institute, 42767, 49pp. (In Persian)
Mirkhani, R., Vaezi, A. & Rezaei, H. (2020). Investigation of the Soil Quality Indices in Irrigated Wheat Farms of Nazarabad Region in West of Alborz Province. Water and Soil34(5), 1125-1139. (In Persian)
Mirkhani, R., Vaezi, A. R. & Rezaei, H. (2021). Spatial Distribution of Soil Quality in Savojbolagh Fields in Alborz Province. Applied Soil Research9(2), 1-14. (In Persian)
Nabiollahi, K., Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, R., Kerry, R. & Moradian, S. )2017(. Assessment of soil quality indices for salt-affected agricultural land in Kurdistan Province, Iran. Ecological Indicators, 83, 482-494.
Olsen, S. R. (1954). Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate (No. 939). US Department of Agriculture.
Page, A. L., Miller, R. H. & Keeney, D. R. )1982(. Methods of Soil Analysis, part 2, chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Soil Science Society of America, 1159p.
Patzel, N., Sticher, H. & Karlen, D. L. )2000(. Soil fertility-phenomenon and concept. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 163(2), 129-142.
Qi, Y., Darilek, J. L., Huang, B., Zhao, Y., Sun, W. & Gu, Z. )2009(. Evaluating soil quality indices in an agricultural region of Jiangsu Province, China. Geoderma, 149(3), 325-334.
Qin, M. Z. & Zhao, J. )2000(. Strategies for sustainable use and characteristics of soil quality changes in urban-rural marginal area: a case study of Kaifeng. CTA GEOGRAPHICA SINICA-CHINESE EDITION, 55(5), 545–554.
Qin, M. Z. & Zhao, J. (2000). Strategies for sustainable use and characteristics of soil quality changes in urban-rural marginal area. ACTA GEOGRAPHICA SINICA-CHINESE EDITION-, 55(5), 545-554.
Rahmanipour, F., Marzaioli, R., Bahrami, H. A., Fereidouni, Z. & Bandarabadi, S. R. )2014(. Assessment of soil quality indices in agricultural lands of Qazvin Province, Iran. Ecological Indicators, 40, 19-26.
Raiesi, F. 2017. A minimum data set and soil quality index to quantify the effect of land use conversion on soil quality and degradation in native rangelands of upland arid and semiarid regions. Ecological Indicators, 75, 307-320.
Ramezani, F., Jafari S., Salavati A. & Khalili Moghaddam, B. )2015(. Study the Soil Quality Changes Indicators Using Nemoro and Integrated Quality Index Models in Some Khuzestan’s Soils. Journal of Water and Soil 29(6), 1629-1639. (In Persian)
Rezaei, M. & Hemati, Z. )2012(. Reaction of wheat yield to soil physical and chemical Characteristics in Arak Fields. World Applied Sciences Journal, 20(8), 1183-1187.
Shahab, H., Emami, H., Haghnia, G. H. & Karimi, A. )2013(. Pore size distribution as a soil physical quality index for agricultural and pasture soils in northeastern Iran. Pedosphere, 23(3), 312-320.
SYS, C., Van Ranst E. & Debaveye, J. )1993(. land evaluation. part III: crop requirements. General Administration for Development cooperation, Agricultural publication, , 7, Brussels Belgium 199 pp.
Tkaczyk, P., Bednarek, W., Dresler, S. & Krzyszczak, J. )2018(. The effect od some soil Physicocheical properties and nitrogen fertilization on winter wheat yield. Acta Agrophysica, 25(1), 107-116.
Toledo, D. M., Galantini, J., Dalurzo, H., Vazquez, S. & Bollero, G. )2013(. Methods for assessing the effects of land use changes on carbon stocks of subtropical oxisols. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 77(5), 1542-1552.
Torbert, H. A., Krueger, E. & Kurtener, D. )2008(. Soil quality assessment using fuzzy modeling. International Agrophysics, 22(4), 365-370.
Vaezi, A. R., Mirkhani, R., rezaei, H. & esmaeelnejad, L. )2020(. Investigating Spatial Variability of Soil Quality Indices in Nazar Abad Fields, West of Alborz Province. Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research51(7), 1755-1768. (In Persian).
Van Leeuwen, J. P., Moraetis, D., Lair, G. J., Bloem, J., Nikolaidis, N. P., Hemerik, L. & de Ruiter, P. C. )2015(. Ecological soil quality affected by land use and management on semi-arid Crete. Soil Discussions, 2, 187-215.
Walkley, A. & Black, I. A. )1934(. An examination of Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science, 37, 29-37.
Yanbing, Q., Darilek, J. L., Biao, H., Yongcun, Z., Sun, W. & Gu, Z. )2009(. Evaluating soil quality indices in an agricultural region of Jiangsu Province, China. Geoderma, 149, 325-334.