Fundamentals of the No-tillage System No-tillage is a technique of conservationist cultivation in which planting is carried out without the steps of conventional tillage and harrowing. In this technique, it is necessary to keep the soil always covered by developing plants and by plant residues. This cover is intended to protect the soil from the direct impact of raindrops, surface runoff and water and wind erosion. No-tillage can be considered as a modality of minimum cultivation, since soil preparation is limited to the sowing furrow, sowing, fertilization and, eventually, herbicide application in a single operation. No-tillage, defined as the process of sowing in unroot soil, in which the seed is placed in grooves or pits, with sufficient width and depth for adequate cover and contact of the seeds with the soil, is understood as a system with the Following grounds: Elimination / reduction of soil preparation operations; Use of herbicides to control weeds; Training ...
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Soil & Biodiversity Soil biodiversity is the variety of life that exists within the soil, including bacteria, fungi, earthworms and termites. A teaspoon of topsoil typically contains a vast range of different species and up to 6 billion microorganisms.The maintenance of soil biodiversity is essential to both the environment and to agricultural industries. 1).Soil is by far the most biologically diverse material on Earth. 2).Soil contains a large variety of organisms which interact and contribute to many global cycles, including the carbon and nitrogen cycles. 3).Soil provides vital habitats for micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, as well as insects and other organisms. Importance The diversity of organisms living within soils is critical to all earth ecosystems because soil organisms: are essential for the cycling of ecosystem nutrients are necessary for plant growth and plant nutrition improve the entry of water into soil and its storage...
Soil Horizons... A soil horizon is a layer of soil parallel to the earth’s surface. It has a unique set of physical, chemical, and biological properties. The properties of soil horizons, such as texture, color, and structure, are the results of the soil-forming processes, and they distinguish each horizon from other horizons above and below it. When soil horizons are studied, the student needs to know how much of the soil must be observed or studied. The smallest volume that can be called “soil” is a pedon (peh-don). A pedon is three dimensional and large enough to permit study of all horizons. Its area ranges from 10 to 100 square feet (1–10 square meters), depending on the variability of the soil.
Igneous Rocks formation Igneous Rock Formation Igneous rocks are formed from this molten magma. These rocks form when the magma cools and crystallizes. This can happen above ground as with lava. It can also form below the surface when the molten rock rises in the crust but does not reach the surface. The Cooling off Period When the magma reaches the surface it cools quickly, a matter of days or weeks. When the magma forms pockets underground it cools much more slowly. This could take thousands or even millions of years. The rate at which the magma cools determines the kind of igneous rocks that are formed. Faster cooling surface lava creates rock that is fine grained or aphanitic. The rapid cooling doesn’t allow large crystals to form. In addition most of the gasses are driven off into the atmosphere. The slower cooling that takes place underground allows larger crystal formation. The Granite pictured above is an example of this type of rock formation. Ig...
Sedimentary Rocks: are formed by the accumulation and subsequent consolidation of sediments into various types of rock. The key is the sediments. Sediments are unconsolidated material and have different origins. Ultimately, the origin of these sediments is the weathering, erosion and/or the chemical breakdown of other rocks. These "other" rocks could be igneous, metamorphics or even other sedimentary rocks. The type and size of the sediments and how they are formed will lead to the classification of the different sedimentary rocks listed below. Another common factor to sedimentary rocks is that they originate on the surface of the Earth, unlike most igneous and metamorphics rocks which originate in the interior of the Earth's crust. Geologists can actually see many sedimentary rocks form or at least see the sediments that will become sedimentary rocks prior to their lithification (literally "turn...
Biodiversity Fonte: Google images Microorganisms and soil fauna make an important contribution to the conversion of organic matter in the soil. This research project investigates the relation between the diversity of crops and cultivation methods above ground and the biodiversity of organisms below ground, and evaluates the significance of this for the life support functions of the soil, such as the retention of nutrients and the suppression of diseases. We have recently found indications that reduced fertilisation and tillage of agricultural soils allows fungi to play a greater role in the soil ecosystem and leads to a more natural soil fauna. It is not yet clear what the implications of a dominant fungal population are for soil fauna such as earthworms, which also play a major role in mineralisation. If the fungal population increases rapidly while the availability of nutrients is lower, the fungi/bacteria ratio may be useful as an indicator for sustainability. The exis...
Some facts about soils There are more microorganisms in a handful of soil than there are people on earth; It takes 500 years to produce just under an inch of topsoil, this is the most productive layer of soil; It greatly reduces flood risk by storing up to 9200 tonnes of water per acre. In total that’s about 0.01% of the Earth’s total water; Soil is a living syste; Soil acts as a filter for underground water, filtering out pollutants; Approximately 10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions are stored in soil; It provides all the nutrients required for successful plant growth; Soil consists of 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air & 5% organic matter As already mentioned 50% is air and water, the other 50% is broken rock and decaying plants and animals; The amount of sand, clay and silt is what gives different soil types their various textures. Most soils are a mix of all three; Soil has 6 layers called horizons O, A, E, B, C and R. Horizon O is the topsoil and ...
Types of Rocks Fonte: Google images Collecting and classifying rocks can be a rewarding pastime. Both rocks and minerals play an important part of our lives through the many products made from them. Rocks provide most of our material needs, much of our power, and most of our national and state wealth. The study of rocks is called petrology and forms part of the science of geology. Rocks are classified according to their origin. The main classes of rocks are: Igneous rocks: which crystallise or solidify from a molten state. Sedimentary rocks: made up or fragments of pre-existing rock, biogenic material or chemical precipitates. Metamorphic rocks: formed from the alteration of pre-existing rocks due to heat and pressure in the earth. Igneous Rocks Igneous rocks all form by the cooling of molten material known as magma. This can occur at or near the surface, at shallow depths in the earth’s crust, or deep in the crust. Igneous rocks which f...