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Organic amendments as restoration techniques in degraded arid and semiarid systems: A review

Hueso-González, Paloma,Ruiz-Sinoga, José Damián · 2017

Abstract

There is an increasing concern at the global scale about interrelated environmental problems such as soil degradation, desertification, erosion, and climate change impacts (Hueso-Gonzalez et al., 2014). Indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals, excessive and deep tillage, excessive irrigation, among many others factors, have largely contributed to soil degradation, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas (Lal, 2008). Soil is an essential nonrenewable resource with extremely slow formation and regeneration potential (Muñoz-Rojas et al., 2016a and c, Martínez-Murillo et al., 2016). The decline in organic matter content of many soils is becoming a major cause of soil degradation, particularly in dryland regions (Muñoz-Rojas et al., 2016b) where low soil fertility cannot maintain sustainable production in many cases (Hueso-González et al., 2015). The use of soil organic amendments is a common practice in agricultural management and land restoration that can help to improve physical and chemical soil properties, soil structure, temperature and humidity conditions, as well as nutrient contents which are essential for plant growth (Guerrero et al., 2001). Under degraded conditions, several studies have shown their benefits for improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties (Jordan et al., 2010 and 2011). However, there are many research gaps in the knowledge of the effects of climatic conditions on their application, as well as the adequate types of amendment and doses and decomposition rates, (Hueso-Gonzalez,2016). All these factors are crucial for the success in their application. Here, we review long-term experiments worldwide studying the benefits associated with the application of organic materials, particularly, in restoration of arid and semiarid ecosystems together with the possible threats and risks that can result from their use. We will specifically adress: (1) type of amended and benefits arising from their use, (2) application methods and more common doses and, (3) risk derivates for their application.

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Organic amendments as restoration techniques in degraded arid and semiarid systems: A review

Author: Hueso-González, Paloma,Ruiz-Sinoga, José Damián
Year: 2017
Source: https://riuma.uma.es/xmlui/bitstream/10630/13726/1/EGU2017-13368.pdf
Geophysical Resea ch Abs ac s
Vol. 19, EGU2017-13368, 2017
EGU Gene al Assembly 2017
© Au ho (s) 2017. CC A ibu ion 3.0 License.
O ganic amendmen s as es o a ion echniques in deg aded a id and
semia id sys ems: A e iew
Paloma Hueso-González (1) and Mi iam Muñoz-Rojas (2,3)
(1) Depa amen o Geog aphy, Uni e si y o Málaga, Spain ([email p o ec ed]), (2) School o Plan Biology, Uni e si y o
Wes e n Aus alia, C awley, Aus alia, (3) Kings Pa k and Bo anic Ga dens, Pe h, Aus alia
The e is an inc easing conce n a he global scale abou in e ela ed en i onmen al p oblems such as soil
deg ada ion, dese i ica ion, e osion, and clima e change impac s (Hueso-Gonzalez e al., 2014). Indisc imina e
use o ag o-chemicals, excessi e and deep illage, excessi e i iga ion, among many o he s ac o s, ha e la gely
con ibu ed o soil deg ada ion, pa icula ly in a id and semi-a id a eas (Lal, 2008). Soil is an essen ial non-
enewable esou ce wi h ex emely slow o ma ion and egene a ion po en ial (Muñoz-Rojas e al., 2016a and c,
Ma ínez-Mu illo e al., 2016). The decline in o ganic ma e con en o many soils is becoming a majo cause
o soil deg ada ion, pa icula ly in d yland egions (Muñoz-Rojas e al., 2016b) whe e low soil e ili y canno
main ain sus ainable p oduc ion in many cases (Hueso-González e al., 2015). The use o soil o ganic amendmen s
is a common p ac ice in ag icul u al managemen and land es o a ion ha can help o imp o e physical and
chemical soil p ope ies, soil s uc u e, empe a u e and humidi y condi ions, as well as nu ien con en s which
a e essen ial o plan g ow h (Gue e o e al., 2001). Unde deg aded condi ions, se e al s udies ha e shown hei
bene i s o imp o ing soil physical, chemical and biological p ope ies (Jo dan e al., 2010 and 2011). Howe e ,
he e a e many esea ch gaps in he knowledge o he e ec s o clima ic condi ions on hei applica ion, as well as
he adequa e ypes o amendmen and doses and decomposi ion a es, (Hueso-Gonzalez,2016). All hese ac o s
a e c ucial o he success in hei applica ion. He e, we e iew long- e m expe imen s wo ldwide s udying he
bene i s associa ed wi h he applica ion o o ganic ma e ials, pa icula ly, in es o a ion o a id and semia id
ecosys ems oge he wi h he possible h ea s and isks ha can esul om hei use. We will speci ically ad ess:
(1) ype o amended and bene i s a ising om hei use, (2) applica ion me hods and mo e common doses and, (3)
isk de i a es o hei applica ion.
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