Can organic management enhance biology and alleviate the soil compaction problem in Thailand ? A study of soil physical and biological parameters

Abstract

Soil degradation becomes an pressing issue to ensure food supply for the growing population. Soil compaction reduces soil quality through change in several soil parameters. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of compaction on soil parameter on two depths. This influence was studied on several land-use and agricultural practices in Northeast Thailand. Conventional sugar cane, paddy rice, cassava, organic cassava and forest are the land-uses observed. The analysis concerns soil hydrophysical and biological parameters and their interaction. The studied hydrophysical parameters are bulk density, soil water retention curve using pression plates apparatus and psychrometer, pore size distribution and hydraulic conductivity. The biological parameters are assessed through casts and earthworms density as well as soil respiration. Results displays high bulk densities, especially in the subsoil. Impact of management practices is displayed on water characteristics and on the biological parameters. However, the highlighted relations between parameters nuance literature and enhance the need for global approaches of soil quality. Further studies are required to quantify the impact of sustainable management practices on soil and the implementations of such practices in the tropical context.