Effect of Topography Indices and Soil Characteristics on Rainfed Wheat Yield in Loess Lands of Toshan Area, Northern Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Tehran

2 University of Gorgan

3 Isfahan University of Technology

Abstract

Topography by affecting soil quality can significantly affect the production of agricultural products. This study was conducted in Toshan area of Golestan province to evaluate the spatial variation of wheat production and to create regression models between the crop, soil, and topography characteristics. Wheat and soil sampling from different slope positions were collected randomly from 100 points. Soil physical-chemical analyses and wheat yield parameter measurements were carried out. The digital elevation model was prepared, and topographic attributes were calculated. The results showed that the highest total yield (14.53 t/ha) and grain yield (4.41 t/ha) were observed in <10% slope class, which showed a significant difference compared to steeper slopes. The highest (15.82 t/ha) and the lowest (5.68 t/ha) total mean yields were corresponded to paw slope and shoulder slope, respectively. The highest grain yield was obtained from the foot slope and paw slope. The amounts of mean grain yield were 4.61 t/ha in foot slope and 4.66 t/ha in paw slope. Curvature and wetness index had a remarkable relationship with wheat yield. According to the regression analyses, topography indexes have been able to explain the spatial variability of yield, indicating the importance of these factors' impact on water distribution in yield production process in the studied area. Increasing yield productions in low slope positions in this study was probably due to increasing in soil depth and plant available water, as well as accumulation of organic matter and nutrient elements such as nitrogen and potassium due to deposition of eroded materials in these positions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Agricultural Ministry of Iran, (2014). Office of statistics and information technology, bureau of agricultural statistics and information technology statistics. (In Farsi)
Ajami, M., Heidari, A., Khormali, F., Gorji, M., and Ayoubi, Sh. (2016). Environmental factors controlling soil organic carbon storage in loess soils of a subhumid region, northern Iran. Geoderma, 281, 1-10..
Ajami, M., Heidari, A., Khormali, F., Gorji, M., and Ayoubi, Sh. (2018). Effects of environmental factors on classification of loess-derived soils and clay minerals variations, northern Iran. Journal of Mountain Science, 15(5), 976-991.
Ayoubi, Sh., Khormali, F., and Sahrawat K. L. (2009). Relationships of barley biomass and grain yields to soil properties within a field in the arid region: Use of factor analysis. Acta Agriculture Scandinavica, Section B- Soil and Plant Science, 59, 107-117.
Basso, B., Ritchie, J. T., Cammarano, D., and Sartori, L. (2011). A strategic and tactical management approach to select optimal N fertilizer rates for wheat in a spatially variable field. European Journal of Agronomy,35, 215–222.
Bouyoucos, G. J. (1962). Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analysis of soils. Agronomy Journal, 54, 464-465.
Bremner, J. M. (1996). Nitrogene-total. In: Bigham, et al. (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analyses, Part III, Chemical Methods. SSSA, Madison, WI, 1085-1184.
Chapman, H. D. (1965). Cation exchange capacity. In: Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Black, C.A. (Ed.). American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Chirinda, N., Roncossek, S. D., Heckrath, G., Elsgaard, L., Thomsen, I. K., and Olesen, J. E. (2014). Root and soil carbon distribution at shoulderslope and footslope positions of temperate toposequences cropped to winter wheat. Catena, 123, 99-105.
Ciha, A. J. (1984). Slope position and grain yield of soft white winter wheat. Agronomy Journal, 76, 193-196.
Cox, M. S., Gerard, P. D., Wardlaw, M. C., and Abshire, M. J. (2003). Variability of selected soil properties and their relationships with soybean yield. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 67, 1296-1302.
Evrendliek, F., Celik, I., and Kilic, S. (2004). Changes in soil organic carbon and other physical soil properties along adjacent Mediterranean forests, grassland and cropland ecosystems. Journal of Arid Environments, 59, 743-752.
Florinsky, I. V., Eilers, R. G., Manning, G. R., and Fuller, L. G. (2002). Prediction of soil properties by digital terrain modelling. Environmental Modelling & Software , 17, 295-311.
He, Y., Wei, Y., DePauw, R., Qian, B., Lemke, R., Singh, A., Cuthbert, R., McConkey, B., and Wang, H. (2013). Spring wheat yield in the semiarid Canadian prairies: Effects of precipitation timing and soil texture over recent 30 years. Field Crops Research, 149, 329–337.
Iqbal, J., Read, J. J., Thomasson, A. J., and Jenkins, J. N. (2005). Relationships between soil-landscape and dryland cotton lint yield. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 69, 1-11.
Jalota, S. K., Singh, S., Chahal, G. B. S., Ray, S. S., Panigraghy, S., Singh, B., and Singh, K. B. (2010). Soil texture, climate and management effects on plant growth, grain yield and water use by rainfed maize–wheat cropping system: Field and simulation study. Agricultural Water Management, 97, 83–90.
Jiang, P., and Telen K. D. (2004). Effect of soil and topographic properties on crop yield in a north- central cornsoybean cropping system. Agronomy Journal, 96, 252-258.
Johnen, T., Boettcher, U., and Kage, H. (2014). An analysis of factors determining spatial variable grain yield of winter wheat. European Journal of Agronomy, 52, 297-306.
Kemper, W. D., and Rosenau, R. C. (1986). Aggregate stability and size distribution. In: Klute, A. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part I: Physical Analysis. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI, 425-442.
Khajehpour, M. R. (2013). Cereal crops. Isfahan University of Technology. 763 p. (In Farsi)
Kravchenko, A. N., and Bullock, D. G. (2000). Correlation of corn and soybean grain yield with topography and soil properties. Agronomy Journal, 92, 75-83.
Kravchenko, A. N., Robertson, G. P., Thelen, K. D., and Harwood, R. R. (2005). Management, topographical, and weather effects on spatial variability of crop grain yields. Agronomy Journal, 97, 514-523.
Kumhálová, J., Matejkova, S., Fifernová, M., Lipavsky, J. and Kumhála, F. (2008). Topography impact on nutrition content in soil and yield. Plant Soil and Environment, 54(6), p.255.
Malakouti, M. J., Keshavarz, P., and Karimian, N. (2008). A comprehensive approach towards identification of nutrients deficiencies & optimal fertilization for sustainable agriculture. Tarbiat Modares University Press. (In Farsi)
McLean, E.O. (1982). Soil pH and lime requirement. In: Page, A.L., R.H. Miller, and D.R. Keeney. (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties, 2nd ed., Agronomy, 9, 199–224.
Mehnatkesh, A. (2014). Determination of the most important factors on rainfed wheat production using sensitivity analysis in hilly land of central Zagros. First National Conference on Soil and Water Management in Wheat Production, Tehran, Iran. (In Farsi)
Mohammadi, J. (2008). Pedometrics (Trrain analysis). Pelk publications. 430 p. (In Farsi)
Nelson, D. W., and Sommers, L. E. (1982). Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R. H., & Keeney, D. R. (Eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties, 2nd ed., Agronomy, 9, 539–579.
Norouzi, M, Jalalian, A, Ayoubi, Sh, and Khademi, H. (2009). Relationship between Wheat Yield and Terrain Attributes in Ardal Region, Charmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 12 (46), 759-770. (In Farsi).
Norouzi, M., Ayoubi, Sh., Jalalian, A., Khademi, H. and Dehghani, A.A. (2010). Predicting rainfed wheat quality and quantity by artificial neural network using terrain and soil characteristics. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B–Soil and Plant Science, 60(4), 341-352.
Nour-Mohammadi, G., Siadat, A. and Kashani, A. (1997). Agronomy (Vol. 1: Cereal crops) Shahid Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran, 446 p. (In Farsi).
Olsen, S. R., Cole, C. V., Watanabe, F. S., and Dean, L. A. (1954). Estimation of available P in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. USDA circular, 939, 1-19.
Page, A. L., Miller, R. H. and Keeney, D. R. (1982). Methods of Soil Analysis. 2th ed. Part 2: Chemical and biological properties. Soil Sci Soc Am Inc. publisher.
Pan, G., Smith, P., and Pan, W. (2009). The role of soil organic matter in maintaining the productivity and yield stability of cereals in China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 129, 344–348.
Plante, A. F., Conant, R. T., Stewart, C. E., Paustian, K., and Six, J. (2006). Impact of soil texture on the distribution of soil organic matter in physical and chemical fractions. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70, 287-296.
Reyniers, M., Maertens, K., Vrindts, E., and DeBaerdemaeker, J. (2006). Yield variability related to landscape properties of a loamy soil in central Belgium. Soil & Tillage Research, 88, 262–273.
Richards, L. A. (1954). Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkaline soil. USDA Hand book, No. 60, Washington DC., 160 p.
Salinity Laboratory Staff, (1954). Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils, No. 60. USDA-NRCS, Washington DC.
Shabani, A., Haghnia, Gh., Karimi, A., and Ahmadi, M. M. (2012). Influence of Topography and Soil Characteristics on the Rainfed Wheat Yield in Sisab Region, Northeastern Iran. Journal of Water and Soil. 26(4), 922-932. (In Farsi)
Sinai, G., Zaslavsky, D., and Golany, P. (1981).The effect of soil surface curvature on moisture and yield-Beer Sheba observation. Soil Science, 132(5), 367-375.
Slobodian, N., VanRees, K., and Pennock, D. (2002). Cultivation-induced effects on belowground biomass and organic carbon. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 66, 924–930.
Solomon, D., Fritzsche, F. Tekalign, M., Lemann J., and Zech, W. (2002). Soil organic matter composition in the subhumid Ethiopian highlands as influenced by deforestation and agricultural management. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 66, 68-82.
Souza, Z. M., Cerri, D. G. P., Magalhes, P. S. G., and Siqueira, D. S. (2010). Spatial variability of soil attributes and sugarcane yield in relation to topographic location. Engenharia Agricolae Ambiental, 14, 1250-1256.
Timlin, D. J., Pachepsky, Y., Snyder, V. A., and Bryant, R. B. (1998). Spatial and temporal variability of corn grain yield on a hillslope. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 62(3), 764-773.
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), (1998). Soil Quality Information Sheet. Soil Quality Resource Concerns: Soil Biodiversity.
VanWambeke, A. (1992). Soils of the Tropics - Properties and Appraisal. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 51, Issue 1
April 2020
Pages 93-105

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics