Novel methods for spatial prediction of soil functions within landscapes (SP0531)

Previous studies showed that soil patterns could be predicted in agriculturally managed landscapes by modelling and extrapolating from extensive existing but related integrated datasets. Based on these results we proposed to develop and apply predictive models of the relationships between environmental data and known soil patterns to predict capacity for key soil functions within diverse landscapes for which there is little detailed underpinning soil information available. Objectives were: To develop a high-level framework in which the non-specialist user-community could explore questions. To generate digital soil maps for three selected catchments at a target resolution of 1:50000 to provide the base information for soil function prediction. To use a modelling approach to predict the performance of key soil functions in catchments undergoing change but where only sparse or low resolution soil survey data are available. To use a modelling approach to assess the impact of different management scenarios and/or environmental conditions on the delivery of multiple soil functions within a catchment. To create a detailed outline of the requirements for ground-truthing to test the predicted model outputs at a catchment scale. To contribute to the development of a high-level framework for decision makers

ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MICROTERMES (ISOPTERA: TERMITIDAE: MACROTERMITINAE) IN CULTIVATED AND UNCULTIVATED AREAS AT MOKWA IN THE SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA VEGETATION ZONE OF NIGERIA

PhDPopulation dynamics of Microtermes (Isoptera; Macrotermitinae) are investigated in the Southern Guinea savanna vegetation zone of Nigeria. Study sites were primary woodland, long-term maize and a randomised block experiment established from secondary woodland with woodland, pasture, sweet potato, groundnuts, yam and maize. The species assemblage Comprised of Microtermes allleo, Microtermes n.sp. c., Microtermes grassei, Microtermes /epidus, Microtermes subhyalinus. 2 Microtermes abundance and distribution (n/m2) to a soil depth of 1 metre are examined in Chapter Four. Community structure differed with vegetation cover. Abundance was generally higher in the wet compared to the dry season and abundance.was greatest in long-term maize and higher in newly cleared and cultivated sites than in woodland. M subhya/inus was the most abundant species in all vegetation types except long-term cultivated maize where M /epidus was the most abundant species. Changes in crop alter species abundance and Microtermes community structure. Microtermes fungus comb abundance (n/m2), individual dry weight (g) and total dry weight (g/m2) to a soil depth of 1 metre in primary and secondary woodland and short and long-term maize are examined in Chapter Five. Vegetation cover had an influence on seasonal changes in the abundance, individual and total dry weights of fungus combs. M subhyalinus fungus combs showed the greatest seasonal changes, in secondary woodland and short-term maize. Microtermes foraging activity on softwood baits with season, species and vegetation is examined in Chapter Six. Seasonal differences in foraging activity were recorded but differences over time were more significant. Foraging activity differed with vegetation and species. Percentage of baits attacked by species as a proportion of the total number of baits attacked by all species was the best indicator of foraging activity. Non-random foraging was identified for Microtermes with positive associations among M. subhya/inus, M. aluco and M. lepidus. Microtermes foraging activity on baits is compared with soil abundance in Chapter Seven using diversity indices and simple linear regression analysis. Foraging activity can give a more accurate indication of species richness than soil sampling. Foraging activity can be correlated positively with soil abundance, most significantly with wet season assessments.Overseas Development Administration, U

Building a knowledge and innovation platform on diffuse and point soil contamination as base for (inter)national soil policies

This article highlights the importance of soil contamination, both from diffuse and point source pollution. It summarises a series of presentations at the Global Soil Week 2015 illustrating the current understanding of soil exposed to pollutants, including the main sources of contamination, the hazards and risks that pollutants in soil present for the environment and human health, as well as the possible ways to address the problem from both global and EU perspectives. It summarises the World Café discussions on four themes that participants identified as the key areas for further action: remediation of contaminated sites, alternatives to the use of chemicals and pollutants, harmonisation of monitoring and approaches and Knowledge and innovation platform.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen

Regulating services

No abstract available

Treatment of organic resources before soil incorporation in semi-arid regions improves resilience to El Niño, and increases crop production and economic returns

We are grateful for support from the DFID-NERC El Niño programme in project NE P004830, “Building Resilience in Ethiopia’s Awassa region to Drought (BREAD)”, the ESRC NEXUS programme in project IEAS/POO2501/1, “Improving organic resource use in rural Ethiopia (IPORE)”, and the NERC ESPA programme in project NEK0104251 “Alternative carbon investments in ecosystems for poverty alleviation (ALTER)”. We are also grateful to Anke Fischer (James Hutton Insitute) for her comments on the paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A systems model describing the impact of organic resource use on farming households in low to middle income countries

We are grateful for support from the DFID-NERC El Niño programme in project NE P004830, “Building Resilience in Ethiopia’s Awassa region to Drought (BREAD)”, the ESRC NEXUS programme in project IEAS/POO2501/1, “Improving organic resource use in rural Ethiopia (IPORE)”, and the NERC ESPA programme in project NEK0104251 “Alternative carbon investments in ecosystems for poverty alleviation (ALTER)”. We are also grateful to Dr. V.U.M. Rao (Former Project Coordinator, AICRP on Agrometeorology, CRIDA, Hyderabad) and Dr. S.K. Chaudhari (DDG, NRM Division, KAB-II, ICAR, New Delhi) for their assistance in collecting meteorological data of Parbhani, Maharashtra.Peer reviewedPostprin

Accounting for nature: assessing habitats in the UK countryside.

Countryside Survey 2000 (CS2000) and the Northern Ireland Countryside Survey 2000 (NICS2000) have been designed to provide detailed information about the habitats and landscape features that are important elements of our countryside. They can tell us about the ‘stock’ of these resources, that is how much of them we have and where they are to be found, and they can give us an insight into their condition based on the variety and abundance of the plant species associated with them. Using information from previous surveys, we can also gain an understanding of how the stock and condition of these habitats and landscape features are changing over time. We can build up a sort of balance sheet or an account of natural assets in the UK countryside. In this report we look in particular at the period between the last two surveys, 1990 and 1998

Selecting biological indicators for monitoring soils: a framework for balancing scientific opinion to assist policy development

Soils are one of the most important features of the natural capital of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a strong and increasing policy requirement for effective monitoring of soils at local, regional and national scales. However, it remains unclear which properties of soils are most appropriately monitored. This is partly due to the wide range of goods and services that soils provide, but also their inherent chemical, physical and biological complexity. Given that the biota plays such fundamental roles in the majority of ecosystem services provided by soils, biological properties are logical candidates as effective indicators, to complement other physico-chemical properties. A plethora of biological methods have been suggested as indicators for monitoring soils but few are used in national scale monitoring or are published as international standards. A framework for selecting ecologically-relevant biological indicators of soil quality for national-scale soil monitoring that covers the full range of ecological functions and services of soil was devised. The literature was surveyed to identify 183 candidate biological indicators which were then scored by experts and stakeholders against a wide range of scientific and technical criteria. The framework used the scores and weightings to then rank, prioritise and select the indicators. This semi-objective approach using a “logical-sieve” allowed repeated iterations to take account of end-user requirements and expert opinion. A ranked list of 21 indicators was produced that covered a range of genotypic-, phenotypic- and functional-based indicators for different trophic groups. Four of these were not deemed sufficiently robust for ready deployment in a national-scale monitoring scheme without further methodological development. The suite of indicators identified offers the strongest potential candidates for deployment in national-scale soil monitoring schemes provided standard operating procedures are defined and their inherent sensitivity, ability to discriminate between soil:land-use combinations, and provide ecologically interpretable signals is confirmed. The power of the approach adopted here is that it provides a clear record and audit trail on the decision-making process, enables different priorities to be set contingent on the nature of the desired monitoring, and can direct and allow the inclusion of further methods or indicators into the framework

Defra Soil Protection Research in the Context of the Soil Natural Capital / Ecosystem Services Framework

Summary: "A Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself." This quote from, F.D. Roosevelt, 1937, from a letter written to all state Governors in the USA following the dust bowl, encapsulates the importance of soil protection. The dust bowl brought about legislation to protect and conserve soils as a fundamental natural resource in the USA between 1930 and 1936. In current times we are facing unprecedented pressure on land resources from multiple uses here in the UK and across Europe. In response to these increasing pressures Defra has produced soil protection reports and strategies including the report, ‘Safeguarding our Soils: A Strategy for England’ (PB13297). The vision statement of this document reads, ‘By 2030, all England’s soils will be managed sustainably and degradation threats tackled successfully. This will improve the quality of England’s soils and safeguard their ability to provide essential services for future generations.’ Similarly, the Welsh Assembly Government commissioned, ‘The Welsh Soils Action Plan’ (WSAP, 2009) which has a similar goal. These documents set out the pressing issues with regard to soils, their management and protection, and therefore serve as a useful contextual tool for synthesizing past Defra research with regard to current issues. This report synthesises soil protection research commissioned by Defra between 1990 and 2008, to provide the state of current Defra knowledge with regard to soil protection. Contextually, an attempt is made to fit the synthesized knowledge into the Natural Capital / Ecosystem Services framework. It offers a bold, fresh approach that will orient the report firmly in the context of strengthening the linking of science and policy through Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services, and firmly aligns the research with ongoing EU efforts. The report is comprised of 5 work packages for Defra project SP1607 “Defra research on soil protection 1990 - 2008: Synthesis of outputs’. Defra has made a firm commitment to adopt the ecosystems approach which is designed to convey the value of ecosystems, their capital, and their goods and services into the decision making / policy development process. The workpackages address the following: WP1: Chapter 1) Place England and Wales soil policy and research efforts in the wider context of European and International policy. Chapter 2) Identify and synthesize knowledge of needs of farmers, resource managers and the wider society. Chapter 3) Describe the soil natural capital / ecosystem services framework. WP2: Chapter 4) Evaluate current indicators and soil sampling/measurement strategy. Chapter 5) Evaluate work done on the quantification of soil capital. Chapter 6) Evaluate work done on the soil Ecosystem Services. WP3: Chapter 7) Identify Impact of climate change on soils, soil function, and threats to soil protection. Chapter 8) Identify threats to soils, for the England and Wales context; Evaluate research tackling threats that may degrade soil capital or reduce services. WP4: Chapter 9) Evaluate work done on the valuing of soil Natural Capital. WP5: Chapter 10) Future Vision