Effects of Agricultural Practices on Soil aggregates, carbon, and nitrogen Retention: A Study of Field and Hedge Areas.

Abstract

In the context of sustainable agriculture and global food security, the concept of soil health is of paramount importance. Soil health pertains to the extent to which the state of the soil is sufficiently equilibrated to facilitate the chemical, biological, and physical processes integral to its functioning. Implementing sustainable soil management techniques such as hedgerows, no-tillage, and conservative tillage helps maintain soil diversity and enhance water drainage, ultimately promoting long-term agricultural sustainability and resilience to climate change. The current research aims to contribute to the discussion by examining soil aggregates, carbon, and nitrogen dynamics across four soil management techniques and various field locations, providing insights into how they impact nutrient cycling and soil health. The present study put forward three hypotheses concerning the impact of various management practices on soil health. The initial assumption was that soil aggregates benefit more from permanent pasture and ley management due to decreased soil disturbance from practiced masses, as opposed to tillage and no-tillage practices. The second hypothesis suggested that soils under tillage practices would have lower carbon sequestration and nitrogen concentrations than soils under the other three management practices. The third assumption was that soil aggregate quality, carbon levels, and nitrogen amounts would be greater in the hedge regions than in the rest of the field sections under the four practices. In the methodology of testing soil aggregates, soil samples weighing 60g were sifted, shaken in water, and sorted based on their particle size. Afterward, the samples were dried, cooled, and weighed to determine soil structure and organic content. Soil samples were crushed and examined for overall nitrogen and organic carbon levels through dry combustion. Potassium permanganate oxidation was used to measure POXC. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to evaluate how soil properties were influenced by both land management and field sections, and the outcomes were displayed using R Studio to aid in better understanding. The research discovered that maintaining permanent pastures improves soil aggregate stability, carbon sequestration, and nitrogen concentration, surpassing the results of tillage methods. Hedgerows were especially advantageous in cultivated fields, enhancing soil organic matter and nitrogen content. In general, the findings emphasize the significance of grasslands and hedgerows in enhancing soil health through boosting organic matter and aggregation stability.