Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T18:42:10.642Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Restoring the productivity of marginal soils with organic amendments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Sharon B. Hornick  and
James F. Parr
Sharon B. Hornick
Affiliation:
Soil scientist/nutritionist, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705.
James F. Parr
Affiliation:
Soil scientist and coordinator of the ARS-USDA/USAID Dryland Management Project, Beltsville, MD, and Washington, DC.
Get access

Abstract

The mining of sand and gravel deposits and excavation oftopsoil in urban areas have left extensive tracts of exposed subsoils that do not support plant growth because of adverse soil chemical and physical properties. Such degraded and marginal soils, or spoils, are infertile, low in organic matter, often acidic, and subject to severe erosion and surface runoff Many of these lands are owned by small and part-time farmers who wish to restore their aesthetic value and agricultural productivity. Research has shown that with liming and the proper use of organic amendments such as animal manures and sewage sludge compost, these lands can be restored to a high level of productivity in as little as three years. The methods and techniques for improving the productivity of marginal soils described in this paper can be of considerable benefit to some farmers in developed and developing countries where there is no other choice but to farm marginal soils because of the lack of highly productive agricultural lands. With increased efforts to restore the productivity of degraded and marginal soils through the use of organic amendments, conservation tillage, and crop rotations, future research should address the effect of best management practices on crop yields, the nutritional quality of crops, and the bioavailability of plant nutrients to both animals and humans.

Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , Spring 1987 , pp. 64 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Ahrens, E., Elsaidy, S., Samaras, I., Samaras, F., and Wistinghausen, E.. 1983. Significance of fertilization for the post-harvest condition of vegetables, especially spinach. In: Environmentally Sound Agriculture, Lockeretz, William (ed.). pp. 239–246. Praeger, New York.Google Scholar
2.Grunes, D. L., and Allaway, W. H.. 1985. Nutritional quality of plants in relation to fertilizer use. In: Fertilizer Technology and Use, Engelstad, O. P. et al. (eds.), pp. 589–619. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
3.Hallberg, G. R. 1986. From hoes to herbicides: Agriculture and groundwater quality. J. of Soil and Water Conservation 41:357–364.Google Scholar
4.Hallberg, G. R. 1987. Agricultural chemicals in groundwater: Extent and implications. Amer. J. Alternative Agriculture 2(1):3–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Harris, R. S. 1975. Effects of agricultural practices on the composition of foods. In: Nutritional Evaluation of Food Processing, Harris, R. S. and Karmas, E. (eds.), pp. 33–57. Second ed., AVI Publishing Company, Westport, Connecticut.Google Scholar
6.Harwood, R. R. 1984. Organic fanning research at the Rodale Research Center. In: Organic Farming: Current Technology and Its Role in a Sustainable Agriculture, Bezdicek, D. F. et al. (eds.), pp. 1–17. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
7.Hornick, S. B., Murray, J. J., and Chaney, R. L.. 1980. Overview on utilization of composted municipal sludges. In: Natl. Conf. Munic, and Indus. Sludge Composting Proc. pp. 15–22. Inform. Transfer, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland.Google Scholar
8.Hornick, S. B. 1982a. Crop production on waste-amended gravel spoils. In: Land Reclamation and Biomass Production with Municipal Wastewater and Sludge, Sopper, W. E. et al. (eds.), pp. 207–218. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
9.Hornick, S. B. 1982b. Organic wastes for revegetating marginal lands. Biocycle 23(4):42–43.Google Scholar
10.Hornick, S. B. 1983. Animal wastes. In: Land Treatment of Hazardous Wastes, Parr, J. F. et al. (eds.), pp. 276–280. Noyes Data Corporation, Park Ridge, New Jersey.Google Scholar
11.Hornick, S. B., and Lloyd, C. A.. 1986. Fertilizer effects on crop fiber and nutrient content. Agronomy Abstracts, p. 202.Google Scholar
12.Hornick, S. B., Sikora, L. J., Sterrett, S. B., Murray, J. J., Millner, P. D., Burge, W. D., Colacicco, D., Parr, J. F., Chaney, R. L., and Willson, G. B.. 1984. Utilization of sewage sludge compost as a soil conditioner and fertilizer for plant growth. Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 464. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. GPO, Washington, DC. 32 pp.Google Scholar
13.Kader, A. A. 1987. Influence of preharvest and post-harvest environment on nutritional composition of fruits and vegetables. In: Proceedings of 1st International Symposium on Horticulture and Human Health, 04, 1987. (In Press). Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., Alexandria, Virginia.Google Scholar
14.Kansal, B. D., Singh, B., Balaj, K. L., and Kaur, G.. 1981. Effect of different levels of nitrogen and farmyard manure on yields and quality of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) Qual. Plant. Plant Foods Human Nutrition 31:163–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Parr, J. F. 1959. Effects of vertical mulching and subsoiling on soil physical properties. Agron. J. 51:412–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Parr, J. F. 1982. Composted sewage sludge, a potential resource for small farms. In: Research for Small Farms, H. W. Kerr and L. Knutson (eds.), pp. 90–99. USDA, ARS, Misc. Pub. No. 1422, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
17.Parr, J. F., and Meyer, R. E.. 1987. Strategies for increasing soil productivity in developing countries. In: Proceedings of a Workshop on “Soil, Water and Crop Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in Northeast Thailand.” Published by the U.S. Agency for International Development (S&T/AGR/USAID), Washington, DC.Google Scholar
18.Parr, J. F., Papendick, R. I., and Colacicco, D.. 1986. Recycling of organic wastes for a sustainable agriculture. Bio. Ag. Hort. 3:115–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Sahs, W. W., and Lesoing, G.. 1985. Crop rotations and manure versus agricultural chemicals in dryland grain production. J. Soil and Water Cons. 40:511–516.Google Scholar
20.Saxton, K. E., McCool, D. K., and Papendick, R. I.. 1981. Slot mulch for runoff and erosion control. J. Soil Water Conserv. 36:44–47.Google Scholar
21.Schuphan, W. 1974. Nutritional value of crops as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments—results of 12 years' experiments with vegetables. Qual. Plant. Plant Foods Human Nutrition 23:333–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1957. Soil-Year-book of Agriculture. U.S. GPO, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
23.U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1978. Improving Soils with Organic Wastes. Report to the Congress in response to Section 1461 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (PL 95–113). U.S. GPO, Washington, DC. 157 pp.Google Scholar
24.U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1980. Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming. U.S. GPO, Washington, DC. 94 pp.Google Scholar
25.Willson, G. B., Parr, J. F., Epstein, E., Marsh, P. B., Chaney, R. L., Colacicco, D., Burge, W. D., Sikora, L. J., Tester, C. F., and Hornick, S. B.. 1980. Manual for composting sewage sludge by the Beltsville Aerated Pile Method. EPA-600/8-80-022. U.S. GPO, Washington, DC. 64 pp.Google Scholar