Agri-Mat Mulching Improves Aggregate Stability and Soil Pore Formation on Smallholder Farms in Sub-Saharan Africa

IF 4 2区农林科学 Q2 FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Food and Energy Security Pub Date : 2025-01-05 DOI:10.1002/fes3.70036

Sibongiseni Mgolozeli, Adornis D. Nciizah, Isaiah I. C. Wakindiki, Khumbulani Dhavu, Fhatuwani N. Mudau, Siaw Onwona-Agyeman

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Agri-mats are solid organic mulch mats derived from various organic waste materials such as straw, grass, weed biomass, algae residues, etc. These agri-mats are created by hot- or cold-pressing biomass into solid, bio degradable mats. Although agri-mats provide remarkable benefits to agricultural soils, including improved soil fertility and crop productivity, their effect on topsoil structure has not been adequately explored. The aim of this study was to determine the aggregate stability and physical architecture of two contrasting soils using the fast-wetting method and X-ray microfocus computed tomography (CT), respectively. The following five treatments were established in two sites (Durban with loam soil and Pretoria with sandy loam soil): (i) full agri-mat cover (100% AG), (ii) half agri-mat cover (50% AG), (iii) bare or no cover (control), (iv). 6 tons.ha⁻¹ of grass mulch (6 t.GM) and (v) 3 tons.ha⁻¹ grass mulch (3 t.GM). The two sites were planted with maize in summer and spinach in winter for two consecutive seasons (2017/18 and 2018/19). The aggregate stability test results indicated that 100% agri-mat (100% AG) mulch had greater aggregate stabilizing ability than all other mulching treatments in both soil types. In the loam soil, the 100% AG treatment increased the stability of the aggregates by 58% and by 65% in the sandy loam soil after two years. The X-ray CT analysis results showed that under the loam soil, 50% AG mulch treatment produced more (89%) macro-aggregates (> 250 μm) compared to 100% AG (77%). However, the 100% AG treatment produced more (71%) macro-aggregates compared with the 50% AG (65%) under the sandy loam soil. Based on the overall morphological characteristics of the soil aggregates, the 100% AG treatment was superior to the other organic mulching treatments in terms of soil pore structure formation and aggregate stability regardless of the soil type after two years.

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来源期刊

Food and Energy Security Energy-Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

CiteScore

9.30

自引率

4.00%

发文量

审稿时长

19 weeks

期刊介绍： Food and Energy Security seeks to publish high quality and high impact original research on agricultural crop and forest productivity to improve food and energy security. It actively seeks submissions from emerging countries with expanding agricultural research communities. Papers from China, other parts of Asia, India and South America are particularly welcome. The Editorial Board, headed by Editor-in-Chief Professor Martin Parry, is determined to make FES the leading publication in its sector and will be aiming for a top-ranking impact factor. Primary research articles should report hypothesis driven investigations that provide new insights into mechanisms and processes that determine productivity and properties for exploitation. Review articles are welcome but they must be critical in approach and provide particularly novel and far reaching insights. Food and Energy Security offers authors a forum for the discussion of the most important advances in this field and promotes an integrative approach of scientific disciplines. Papers must contribute substantially to the advancement of knowledge. Examples of areas covered in Food and Energy Security include: • Agronomy • Biotechnological Approaches • Breeding & Genetics • Climate Change • Quality and Composition • Food Crops and Bioenergy Feedstocks • Developmental, Physiology and Biochemistry • Functional Genomics • Molecular Biology • Pest and Disease Management • Post Harvest Biology • Soil Science • Systems Biology