RSS Feed

What Are Soil Crusts and Why Are They Important

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: , , , ,

Biological Crust

A physical crust is a thin layer with reduced porosity and increased density at the surface of the soil. A biological crust is a living community of lichen, cyanobacteria, algae, and moss growing on the soil surface and binding it together. A chemical crust or precipitate is white or pale colored and forms in soils with a high content of salts. Both chemical and biological crusts can form on and extend into a physical crust. This information sheet deals only with physical and biological crusts.

Physical crusts generally indicate that the amount of organic matter in the soil has decreased and/or erosion has occurred. They have low aggregate stability, disperse readily when wet, and are easily reformed by raindrop impact or flowing water. They seal the soil surface, reduce the rate of water infiltration, and can increase runoff. Physical crusts generally have a very low content of organic matter and support little soil biological activity. The dense nature of the crusts can impede seedling emergence. Water that ponds in flat, crusted areas is likely to evaporate, reducing the amount of water available to plants. Physical crusts generally help to control wind erosion, but they do not protect the soil from water erosion.

Biological crusts stabilize the soil surface, protecting it from erosion. Depending on soil characteristics, biological crusts may increase or reduce the rate of water infiltration. By increasing surface roughness, they reduce runoff, thus increasing infiltration and the amount of water stored for plant use. Some organisms in biological crusts can increase the amount of nitrogen and other nutrients in the soil. In semiarid ecosystems biological crusts can provide a significant amount of nitrogen for plant growth. The germination of plants may be enhanced or inhibited, depending on the nature of the biological crust and the plant species. In general, the relative importance of biological crusts increases as annual precipitation and the potential plant cover decrease.

Source

Physical Crust

0 comments:

Posting Komentar

Label

2011 News AGRIBISNIS APINDO Africa Agriculture Business Agriculture Land Argentina Australia Bangladesh Berita Berita Detikcom Berita Info Jambi Berita Kompas Berita Padang Ekspres Berita Riau Pos Berita Riau Today Berita Tempo Berita riau terkini Biodiesel Bursa Malaysia CPO Tender Summary Cattle and Livestock China Cocoa Company Profile Corn Cotton Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) Dairy Dairy Products Edible Oil Euorope European Union (EU) FDA and USDA Fertilizer Flood Food Inflation Food Security Fruit Futures Futures Cocoa and Coffee Futures Edible Oil Futures Soybeans Futures Wheat Grain HUKUM India Indonesia Info Sawit Investasi Invitation Jarak pagar Kakao Kapas Karet Kebun Sawit BUMN Kebun Sawit Swasta Kelapa sawit Kopi Law Lowongan Kerja MPOB Malaysia Meat News Nilam Oil Palm Oil Palm - Elaeis guineensis PENGUPAHAN PERDA Pakistan Palm Oil News Panduan Pabrik Kelapa Sawit Penawaran menarik Pesticide and Herbicide Poultry REGULASI RSPO Rice SAWIT Serba-serbi South America Tebu Technical Comment (CBOT Soyoil) Technical Comment (DJI) Technical Comment (FCPO) Technical Comment (FKLI) Technical Comment (KLSE) Technical Comment (NYMEX Crude) Technical Comment (SSE) Technical Comment (USD/MYR) Teknik Kimia Thailand Trader's Event Trader's highlight USA Ukraine Usaha benih Vietnam Wheat benih bermutu benih kakao benih kelapa benih palsu benih sawit benih sawit unggul bibit sawit unggul biofuel biogas budidaya sawit corporation palm oil pembelian benih sawit perburuhan pertanian soybean umum varietas unggul