Comparing The Effects Of Soil Amendments On Aggregate Stability, Infiltration, And Glomalin In Eroded And Compacted Areas
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Tom Hallmark | Project Leader | hallmark@tamu.edu |
| Jamie Applewhite | MS. Student | JApplewhite@ag.tamu.edu |
Objectives:
The objectives of this research are to: 1) elucidate the effect that various soil fertility treatments have upon glomalin levels and aggregate stability, 2) determine the relationships between type of vegetative cover and glomalin levels, and 3) measure infiltration rates in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the study. Understanding the relationships among these variables should suggest management actions in the future of Ft. Hood to improve the soil stability and decrease erosion in areas impacted by training exercises.
Abstract:
Fort Hood is a 900 square kilometer military installation located between Killeen and Copperas Cove in central Texas. As a result of the constant foot traffic and use of heavy equipment, the soils on the training ranges have become increasingly compacted, eroded, and stripped of their vegetation. These problems lead to a loss of the nutrient rich topsoil and creation of large gullies.
Recent discoveries of a soil protein known as glomalin, after Glomales (the order of fungi that produce this protein), have led to numerous studies linking this protein to aggregate stability (Wright and Upadhyaya, 1998; Rillig, 2004). Hyphae from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) produce the glomalin which helps to bind particles of soil together along with physical entanglement by the actual hyphae. Furthermore, discharge of excess nutrients from confined animal feeding operations on the North Bosque River has been a problem for many years (TCEQ, 2003). However, by utilizing compost from these dairies to increase fertility it is possible to reduce nutrient loads into this watershed and potentially relieve the problems facing Ft. Hood.
Literature:
- Rillig, M.C. 2004. Arbuscular mycorrhizae, glomalin, and soil aggregation. Can. J. Soil Sci. 84:355-363.
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. 2003. Reducing Phosphorus on the North Bosque River: Taking Action to Improve Water Quality.
- Wright, S.F., and A. Upadhyaya. 1998. A survey of soils for aggregate stability and glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 198:97-107.
For more Information on this project contact: Dr. Cristine Morgan cmorgan@ag.tamu.edu