Conservation Evidence: Evidence Data

Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Encourage foraging waterfowlOne controlled, replicated experiment from the USA found increased straw decomposition when ducks were allowed to forage. SOIL TYPE COVERED: Silty clay Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F711https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F711Wed, 29 May 2013 09:20:41 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use crop rotationBiodiversity: Four randomized, replicated trials from Canada, Portugal and Zambia measured the effect of including legumes in crop rotations and found the number of microbes and diversity of different soil animals increased. Erosion: One randomized, replicated trial from Canada found that including forage crops in crop rotations reduced rainwater runoff and soil loss, and one replicated trial from Syria showed that including legumes in rotation increased water infiltration (movement of water into the soil). Soil organic carbon: Four studies from Australia, Canada, and Denmark (including two controlled replicated trials and one replicated site comparison study), found increased soil organic carbon under crop rotation, particularly when some legumes were included. Soil organic matter: Three of five replicated trials from Canada, Portugal and Syria (one also randomized, one also controlled and randomized), and one trial from the Philippines found increased soil organic matter, particularly when legumes were included in the rotation. One study found lower soil organic matter levels when longer crop rotations were used. One randomized, replicated study found no effect on soil particle size. Soils covered: Clay, clay-loam, fine clay, loam, loam/silt loam, sandy clay, sandy loam, silty clay, silty loam. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F857https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F857Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:22:12 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Grow cover crops beneath the main crop (living mulches) or between crop rowsBiodiversity: One randomized, replicated study from Spain found that cover crops increased bacterial numbers and activity. Erosion: Two studies from France and the USA showed reduced erosion under cover crops. One controlled study showed that soil stability was highest under a grass cover, and one randomized replicated study found that cover crops reduced soil loss. Soil organic matter: Two controlled trials from India and South Africa (one also randomized and replicated) found that soil organic matter increased under cover crops, and one trial from Germany found no effect on soil organic matter levels. SOIL TYPES COVERED: gravelly-sandy loam, sandy loam, sandy, silty loam. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F897https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F897Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:24:18 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Grow cover crops when the field is emptyBiodiversity: One controlled, randomized, replicated experiment in Martinique found that growing cover crops resulted in more diverse nematode communities. One replicated trial from the USA found greater microbial biomass under ryegrass compared to a ryegrass/vetch cover crop mix. Soil structure: Three randomized, replicated studies from Denmark, Turkey and the UK found that growing cover crops improved soil structure and nutrient retention. One trial found higher soil porosity, interconnectivity and lower resistance in soil under cover crops, and one found reduced nitrate leaching. Soil organic carbon: One replicated study from Denmark and one review based mainly in Japan found increased soil carbon levels under cover crops. One study also found soil carbon levels increased further when legumes were included in cover crops. Soil organic matter: One replicated study from Denmark and three controlled, randomized, replicated studies from Australia and the USA measured the effect of growing cover crops. Three found increased nitrogen levels under cover crops, three found increased carbon, and one found increased nitrates. One trial showed that they increased regardless of whether those crops were legumes or not. Two studies from Europe (including one controlled, replicated trial) found no marked effect on soil organic matter levels. Yield: One replicated trial from the USA found higher tomato yield from soils which had been under a ryegrass cover crop. SOIL TYPES COVERED: clay, loam, sandy clay, sandy-loam, silty-clay, silty-loam.Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F898https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F898Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:43:24 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Use alley croppingA controlled, randomized, replicated study from Canada found that intercropping with trees resulted in a higher diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. SOIL TYPES COVERED: sandy-loam. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F903https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F903Wed, 02 Oct 2013 08:57:33 +0100Collected Evidence: Collected Evidence: Retain crop residuesBiodiversity: One replicated study from Mexico found higher microbial biomass when crop residues were retained. Erosion: One review found reduced water runoff, increased water storage and reduced soil erosion. One replicated site comparison from Canada found mixed effects on soil physical properties, including penetration resistance and the size of soil aggregates. One replicated study from the USA found that tillage can have mixed results on soil erosion when crop remains are removed. Soil organic matter: Two randomized, replicated trials from Australia and China found higher soil organic carbon and nitrogen when residues were retained. One trial found this only when fertilizer was also applied. Yield: Two randomized, replicated trials from Australia and China found higher yields when residues were retained. One trial found this only when residue retention was done combination with fertilizer application and no-tillage. Soil types covered: clay, loam, sandy-loam, silt loam. Collected Evidencehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F907https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservationevidence.com%2Factions%2F907Wed, 02 Oct 2013 11:38:30 +0100