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Nitrogen Cycle Summary. Nitrogen is an important structural component of many necessary compounds, particularly proteins.

Nitrogen Cycle Summary

Atmosphere is the reservoir of free gaseous nitrogen and nitrogen compounds are found in bodies of organisms and in the soil. Living organisms cannot pickup elemental gaseous nitrogen directly from the atmosphere (except for nitrogen fixing bacteria). It has to be converted into nitrates to be utilised by plants. Nitrogen cycling involves several stages: Monitoring EC. Electrical conductivity or EC is the easiest and single most useful measurement to make on a soil water sample (see picture).

Monitoring EC

EC is a measurement of how much electric current can pass through a water sample. Fresh water has a low EC because it does not contain many salts; the more salt the water contains the higher the EC. EC is a quick way to measure the total salts in the soil, both 'good' salts for the irrigator like nitrate and potassium and 'bad' salts like sodium and chloride. Study to evaluate nutrient recycling on local farm will protect and save water » Suwannee Democrat. SoilPH. Haber process. The Haber process, also called the Haber–Bosch process, is the industrial implementation of the reaction of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas.

Haber process

It is the main industrial procedure to produce ammonia:[1] Nitrogen is a strong limiting mineral nutrient in plant growth. Carbon and oxygen are also critical, but are easily obtained by plants from soil and air. Even though air is 78% nitrogen, atmospheric nitrogen is nutritionally unavailable because nitrogen molecules are held together by strong triple bonds. Cation-Exchange Capacity. Cation Exchange Capacity in Soils, Simplified. Cation Exchange Capacity in Soils, Simplified (so that even I can understand it.) ©2007 by Michael AsteraAll rights reserved July 2007 Revised Oct.31, 2008 Adsorb vs Absorb.

Cation Exchange Capacity in Soils, Simplified

Cation Exchange Capacity (From Ag PhD #594 8/23/09) Legume Green Manuring. History | Benefits of legume green manuring | Managing a legume green manure | Examples of legume green manuring Soil productivity is an important concern for farmers. Green manuring is gaining popularity as a method that successfully improves soil productivity. Green manuring involves growing a crop, that will be worked into the soil later. Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio - Composting 101. All organic matter is made up of substantial amounts of carbon (C) combined with lesser amounts of nitrogen (N).

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio - Composting 101

The balance of these two elements in an organism is called the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio). For best performance, the compost pile, or more to the point the composting microorganisms, require the correct proportion of carbon for energy and nitrogen for protein production. Scientists (yes, there are compost scientists) have determined that the fastest way to produce fertile, sweet-smelling compost is to maintain a C:N ratio somewhere around 25 to 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen, or 25-30:1. If the C:N ratio is too high (excess carbon), decomposition slows down. Conservation tillage: the end of the plough? Conservation tillage: the end of the plough?

Conservation tillage: the end of the plough?

Farmers around the world plough their land. The practise of turning the soil before planting is so universal that the plough has for centuries been a symbol of agriculture. But, over the last 25 years, more and more farmers have been abandoning their ploughs. The reason is simple. The modern plough, or mouldboard, is a root cause of land degradation - one of the major problems facing agriculture today. Annual average nutrient loss from sub-Saharan African soils is estimated at 24kg/hectare and rising. Yet, in an impossible equation, as cultivable soils are gradually depleted, crop production levels must keep rising. Planting without ploughing One of the most effective remedies for land degradation is "conservation tillage" - a revolutionary cultivation technique in which the fields are not ploughed. In the early 1970s, farmers in North and South America started experimenting with conservation tillage and even "no-tillage".

Weed control. Resource Management. Worm Bin Heater Update. Coal vs. Banana: A two-minute explanation of the carbon cycle‬‏ Animated Soil Formation.mov. 1062-1065. Periodic Table of Elements and Chemistry. Potable Water Supply - ProMinent South Africa - Desalination of brackish water and seawater. A shortage of potable water throughout the world is a major problem today.

Potable Water Supply - ProMinent South Africa - Desalination of brackish water and seawater

Only 0.03% of the world’s water is suitable potable water for human use. For many countries, a solution to this problem is desalination of brackish or seawater through reverse osmosis. The technology of reverse osmosis to accomplish desalination has, in the meantime, become very sophisticated and is now of great interest and affordable, especially for island locations. ProMinent offers its customers this technology, including the necessary pre and subsequent treatment, all from one source. Our potable water specialists choose the best process combinations as well as the best components for your application. The central task when it comes to desalination of brackish and seawater, is a considerable reduction in the salt content.

This can be easily achieved with reverse osmosis equipment using the appropriate membranes. Procedure. State of the Environment - South Africa: Freshwater Systems and Resources: Overview. 3. SALINE SOILS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 3.1 Characteristics 3.2 Reclamation and management 3.3 Crops in saline soils 3.1 Characteristics 3.1.1 Measuring salinity status 3.1.2 Salinity and plant growth The distinguishing characteristic of saline soils from the agricultural standpoint, is that they contain sufficient neutral soluble salts to adversely affect the growth of most crop plants.

3. SALINE SOILS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

For purposes of definition, saline soils are those which have an electrical conductivity of the saturation soil extract of more than 4 dS/m at 25°C (Richards 1954). This value is generally used the world over although the terminology committee of the Soil Science Society of America has lowered the boundary between saline and non-saline soils to 2 dS/m in the saturation extract. Excess salts keep the clay in saline soils in a flocculated state so that these soils generally have good physical properties.

Symptoms of specific element toxicities, such as marginal or tip burn of leaves, occur as a rule only in woody plants. Tilth and Tillage - Effects of Tillage on Soil & Plant growth.

Carbon cycle

Vermicomposting. Soils. Stabilized Earth Construction. Stabilized Earth Construction OVERVIEW Soil is a universal building material and is one of the oldest known to humanity. Simple soils (without additives), or soils improved by adding stabilizing materials such as bitumen or cement, are suitable for homes, schools, roads, and other construction. For construction purposes, soil is usually formed into blocks. Two general types of blocks are described here: adobe block and stabilized earth block formed under great pressure. Adobe blocks are made from moistened soil that may be mixed with straw or other stabilizers. They are formed without pressure and usually cured in the sun. Fg1x333.gif (486x486)

Soil quality - Horseshoe test - consumer.org.nz. To determine if your soil has high clay content collect about a handful from 3-5cm below the surface.

Soil quality - Horseshoe test - consumer.org.nz

It should be quite moist but not soaking wet. If necessary water the ground and allow it to drain before collecting your sample. Rolling the soil into a sausage shape. Remove any plant material and roots. Knead the soil for several minutes, breaking down any lumps until you can squeeze it into a relatively smooth ball. Soil Types and Testing. Soil can be described in many different ways, such as heavy, light, sandy, clay, loam, poor or good.

Soil Types and Testing

Scientists typically describe soil according to its: Color Compaction Moisture content Organic content pH Profile Structure Temperature, and Texture Although each of these factors is important, three factors (texture, organic content and pH) are more important than the others. Regardless, we will provide a brief overview of all nine factors below. Color Soil color can provide information about organic matter in the soil, drainage, biotic activity, and fertility. Compaction To be healthy, a soil needs to be able to breath and water needs to be able to move through it reasonably easily.

Soil. Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids and a myriad of micro- and macro- organisms that can support plant life. It is a natural body that exists as part of the pedosphere and it performs four important functions: it is a medium for plant growth; it is a means of water storage, supply and purification; it is a modifier of the atmosphere; and it is a habitat for organisms that take part in decomposition and creation of a habitat for other organisms. Soil is considered the "skin of the earth" with interfaces between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.[1] Soil consists of a solid phase (minerals & organic matter) as well as a porous phase that holds gases and water.[2][3][4] Accordingly, soils are often treated as a three-state system.[5] Overview[edit]

Factsheet29.pdf (application/pdf Object) Soil Forming Factors: Rocks and Soil. The importance of soil organic matter. Natural Resources and Environment: nr-home.