APPLICATION OF INCREASING LEVELS OF ZINC TO SOIL REDUCED ACCUMULATION OF CADMIUM IN LUPIN GRAIN

Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) and narrow-leafed lupin (L. angustifolius L.) are grown as grain legumes in rotation with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on acidic sandy soils of south-western Australia. Yellow lupin can accumulate significantly larger cadmium (Cd) concentrations in grain than narrow-leafed lupin. A glasshouse experiment was undertaken to test whether adding increasing zinc (Zn) levels to soil increased Zn uptake by yellow lupin reducing accumulation of Cd in yellow lupin grain. Two cultivars of yellow lupin (cv. ‘Motiv’ and ‘Teo’) and 1 cultivar of narrow-leafed lupin (cv. ‘Gungurru’) were used. The soil was Zn deficient for grain production of both yellow and narrow-leafed lupin, but had low levels of native soil Cd (total Cd <0.05 mg kg^?1) so 1.6 mg Cd pot^?1, as a solution of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂·H₂O), was added and mixed through the soil. Eight Zn levels (0–3.2 mg Zn pot^?1), as solutions of zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O), were added and evenly mixed through the soil. Yellow lupin accumulated 0.16 mg Cd kg^?1 in grain when no Zn was applied, which decreased as increasing Zn levels were applied to soil, with ～0.06 mg Cd kg^?1 in grain when the largest level of Zn (3.2 mg Zn pot^?1) was applied. Low Cd concentrations (<0.016 mg Cd kg^?1) were measured in narrow-leafed lupin grain regardless of the Zn treatment. When no Zn was applied, yellow lupin produced ～2.3 times more grain than narrow-leafed lupin, indicating yellow lupin was better at acquiring and using indigenous Zn from soil for grain production. Yellow lupin required about half as much applied Zn as narrow-leafed lupin to produce 90% of the maximum grain yield, ～0.8 mg pot^?1 Zn compared with ～1.5 mg Zn pot^?1. Zn concentration in whole shoots of young plants (eight leaf growth stage) related to 90% of the maximum grain yield (critical prognostic concentration) was (mg Zn kg^?1) 25 for both yellow lupin cultivars and 19 for the narrow-leafed lupin cultivar. Critical Zn concentration in grain related to 90% of maximum grain yield was (mg Zn kg^?1) 24 for both yellow lupin cultivars compared with 20 for the narrow-leafed lupin cultivar.     

Pilot-scale counter-current acid leaching process for Cu,Pb, Sb,and Zn from small-arms shooting range soil

Purpose

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of a counter-current leaching process (CCLP) on 14 cycles with leachate treatment at the pilot scale for Pb, Cu, Sb, and Zn removal from the soil of a Canadian small-arms shooting range.

Materials and methods

The metal concentrations in the contaminated soil were 904?±?112 mg Cu kg^–1, 8,550?±?940 mg Pb kg^–1, 370?±?26 mg Sb kg^–1, and 169?±?14 mg Zn kg^–1. The CCLP includes three acid leaching steps (0.125 M H₂SO₄?+?4 M NaCl, pulp density (PD)?=?10 %, t?=?1 h, T?=?20 °C, total volume?=?20 L). The leachate treatment was performed using metal precipitation with a 5-M NaOH solution. The treated effluent was reused for the next metal leaching steps.

Results and discussion

The average metal removal yields were 80.9?±?2.3 % of Cu, 94.5?±?0.7 % of Pb, 51.1?±?4.8 % of Sb, and 43.9?±?3.9 % of Zn. Compared to a conventional leaching process, the CCLP allows a significant economy of water (24,500 L water per ton of soil), sulfuric acid (133 L H₂SO₄ t^–1), NaCl (6,310 kg NaCl t^–1), and NaOH (225 kg NaOH t^–1). This corresponds to 82 %, 65 %, 90 %, and 75 % of reduction, respectively. The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure test, which was applied on the remediated soil, demonstrated a large decrease of the lead availability (0.8 mg Pb L^–1) in comparison to the untreated soil (142 mg Pb L^–1). The estimated total cost of this soil remediation process is 267 US$ t^–1.

Conclusions

The CCLP process allows high removal yields for Pb and Cu and a significant reduction in water and chemical consumption. Further work should examine the extraction of Sb from small-arms shooting range.     

Fulvic acid in foliar spray is more effective than humic acid via soil in improving coffee seedlings growth

ABSTRACT

Humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids improve the nutrient availability and uptake by plants but some aspects of their agronomic use still need to be clarified. The effects of HA soil application and FA foliar application on the growth, Zn and B uptake by coffee seedlings were evaluated. HA was added to an Oxisol at concentrations 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg^?1 (C-HA), in both limed (pH 6.2) and overlimed (pH 7.2) conditions. FA (0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 g L^?1 C-FA) was applied to coffee leaves in three different application modes (M): with 0.3% Zn and 0.6% B supplied via foliar (M₁), 0.6% B and 1.2% Zn supplied via foliar (M₂) and 1.2 mg kg^?1 B and 6 mg kg^?1 Zn supplied via soil (M₃). HA addition in soil significantly (p < 0.05) reduced leaf B and Zn accumulation and coffee growth in both pH conditions. In the M₁ and M₂, FA application significantly (p < 0.05) increased the shoot growth at 0.59 and 0.45 g L^?1 and B accumulation at 0.96 and 0.45 g L^?1 C-FA. Foliar application of C-FA, instead soil application of C-HA, is a suitable practice to improve coffee seedlings growth and nutrition on Oxisol.     

Zinc Adsorption by Mineral Soils of Finland

Abstract

Zinc adsorption by 10 (pH 4.0–6.5) cultivated mineral soils from Finland was studied in batch experiments. Additions of Zn ranged up to 600 mg kg^?1 of soil and the corresponding equilibrium concentrations were 0.1–13 mg 1^?1. In each soil, Zn adsorption conformed to the Freundlich isotherm. Despite a relatively low initial Zn adsorption by the acidic soils, each of the soils proved to have a high potential to adsorb Zn, but the capacity was highly pH dependent. In addition to the conventional Freundlich adsorption isotherms, calculated separately for each soil, extended Freundlich-type isotherms that also incorporate soil pH and other soil characteristics were used to describe Zn adsorption of several soils simultaneously in one equation. The pH-dependent Freundlich adsorption isotherm proved to serve as a practical tool to assess Zn adsorption by soils varying in pH and other characteristics.     

Effects of Broiler Litter Management Practices on Phosphorus,Copper, Zinc,Manganese, and Arsenic Concentrations in Maryland Coastal Plain Soils

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the long‐term effects of broiler litter applications on soil phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and arsenic (As) concentrations in Chesapeake Bay watershed Coastal Plain soils. Litter and soil samples were collected from 10 farms with more than 40 years of broiler production and from wooded sites adjacent to fields and were analyzed for P and metal contents. Averaged over farms, total P and metal concentrations in the litter were 12.8 g kg^?1 P and 332, 350, 334, and 2.93 mg kg^?1 Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively. Surface (0–15 cm) soil pH values were greater than (5.7–6.4) the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth at wooded sites (3.5–4.3). Surface soil Bray 1 P values (149–796 mg kg^?1) in amended fields were greater than wooded sites (4.4–17 mg kg^?1). The 1N nitric acid (HNO₃)–extractable metal concentrations were higher in amended soils than in wooded areas and were 7.7–32, 5.7–26, 12.3–71, and 0.6–3.0 mg kg^?1 for Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively, compared to 0.76–14, 4.6–22, 1.6–70, and 0.14–0.59 mg kg^?1 for the same metals, respectively, in wooded areas. Results from this study demonstrated that long‐term broiler litter applications have altered the chemical properties of the Coastal Plain soils of the Maryland Eastern Shore. Metal concentrations were low in the surface layer of amended fields and typically decreased with depth. Phosphorus additions rather than metals are most likely to contribute to the degradation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.     

Heavy metal accumulation from zinc smelters in a carbonate rock region in Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, China

In this study, four sites (Sites A, B, C and D, which were associated with varying durations of zinc smelting) namely two slag piles (Profile1, Profile 2) at Sites B and C and two water channels at Sites A and D in Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, Southwestern China, were investigated. Significantly elevated mean Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations, 11,192 (±8,991), 20,563 (±16,727) and 137 (±112) mg kg^?1 in slag Profile 1(n=10), and 12,535(±4,408), 26,189 (±6,209) and 47.9 (±30.1) mg kg^?1 in slag Profile 2 (n=12) were detected, respectively. Both profiles had high pH values (7.72 ± 0.37 in Profile 1 and 8.33 ± 0.49 in Profile 2). In addition, high mean Pb, Zn and Cd in soils (14,945 (±9,696), 17,059 (±12,534) and 61.9 (±33.6) mg kg^?1) and in stream sediments (11,450 (±7,097), 20,768 (±11,404) and 66.8 (±25.5) mg kg^?1) were found at Site D. A Composite Pollution Index (CPI) determined for each study Site confirms the anthropogenic origins of the observed Pb, Zn and Cd contamination. Small portions (<3% of the total) of exchangeable Pb and Zn fractions in samples were extracted by using a sequential extraction technique. In contrast, 37.7% (±7.69%), 21.3% (±7.75%) and 22.7% (±13.2%) of total Pb, Zn and Cd was associated with the carbonate bound fraction. This is indicative of the alkaline pH associated with the carbonate based-ores of this region. Further, total metal concentrations were positively and significantly correlated with soil Fe contents. This may in large part be due to the co-precipitation of Pb, Zn and Cd with Fe minerals in the surface weathering environment. However, a potential threat still exists with regards to the environment release of Pb, Zn and Cd as a result of an alteration of the pH environment, such as in the acidic rhizosphere environment of cultivated crops or acid deposition in this region. It is therefore suggested that immediate remediation measures are implemented to minimize potential risks.     

Soil affects on the cadmium and zinc contents of Chinese cabbage in Yunnan Province,China

Chinese cabbage and surface soil samples (0–20 cm) from a periurban market garden in Yunnan Province (P.R. China) were collected to determine variations of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) contents in Chinese cabbage and the influence of soil factors. Mean Cd content was 0.49 mg kg^?1 dry materials (DM) in Chinese cabbage, ranging between 0.23 and 1.34 mg kg^?1 DM (n = 21 samples). Mean Zn content was 51.2 mg kg^?1 DM, ranging from 34.9 to 157.5 mg kg^?1 DM (n = 21 samples). The soil factors best predicting Chinese cabbage Cd and Zn contents were total and available Cd and Zn contents and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Soil samples and corresponding Chinese cabbage samples were divided into two groups: soils with low pH (<6.5, n = 10) and soils with high pH (>6.5, n = 11). Positive correlation between CEC with pH > 6.5 and Cd and Zn contents in Chinese cabbage were observed. Available trace element contents and CEC explained 77% and 69% of variation of Cd and Zn contents in Chinese cabbage, respectively. AEC (enrichment coefficient related to trace element availability) and BCF (bioaccumulation factors) could be used to understand Cd and Zn accumulation in Chinese cabbage.     

Determination of Zinc Phytoavailability in Soil by Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films

Assessment of zinc (Zn) phytoavailability by the newly developed technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) has started gaining more importance because of some advantages over routine soil extractants. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine Zn phytotoxicity thresholds and the phytoavailability of Zn to sorghum sudan (Sorghum vulgare var. sudanese) grass by DGT, compared with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) extraction. Treatments were five Zn levels and two soil pH (6.5 and 6). To obtain various amounts of Zn phytoavailability, soils having two different pH values were amended with zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) at rates of 0, 150, 300, 600, and 1200 mg Zn kg^?1. Control soil (pH = 6.5) was treated with predetermined elemental sulfur to create different soil pH values (6). Shoot and root Zn concentrations ranged from 27 to 827 mg kg^?1 and 101 to 2858 mg kg^?1, respectively. In general, the Zn concentrations in shoots and roots were increased by increasing Zn concentrations and soil pH. Increasing applied Zn to soil decreased the plant biomass yield and increased adsorption of Zn by DGT. Calcium (Ca) to Zn ratios for all treatments except controls were <26 for shoots and <13 for roots. The CaCl₂‐extractable Zn and effective concentration (C_E) correlated well with plant Zn concentration. A critical shoot Zn concentration for 90% of the control yield was chosen as an indicator of Zn toxicity. The performance of DGT, CaCl₂ extraction, Ca/Zn ratio and plant Zn concentrations were similar for assessing Zn phytoavailability.     

Heavy‐Metal Inhibition of Nitrification in Selected Iowa Soils Treated with Stay‐N 2000

Abstract

Heavy‐metal inhibition of nitrification in soils treated with reformulated nitrapyrin was investigated. Clarion and Okoboji soils were treated with ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] and a nitrification inhibitor. Copper(II) (Cu), Zinc(II) (Zn), Cadmium(II) (Cd), or Lead(II) (Pb) were added to each soil. A first‐order equation was used to calculate the maximum nitrification rate (K _max), duration of lag period (t′), period of maximum nitrification (Δt), and the termination period of nitrification (t _s). In the Clarion soil, the K _max decreased from 12 mg kg^?1 d^?1 without the nitrification inhibitor to 4, 0.25, 0.86, and 0.27 mg kg^?1 d^?1, respectively, when the inhibitor and Cu, Zn, Pb, or Cd were applied. In the Okoboji soil, K _max decreased from 22 mg kg^?1 d^?1 with no inhibitor to 6, 3, 4, and 2 mg kg^?1 d^?1, respectively, when an inhibitor and Cu, Zn, Pb, or Cd were added. The t′ varied from 8 to 25 d in the Clarion soil and from 5 to 25 d in the Okoboji soil, due to addition of Cu, Zn, Pb, or Cd and the inhibitor.     

Phosphorus Alleviates Aluminum Toxicity in Al-Sensitive Wheat Seedlings

The role of phosphorus (P) in the amelioration of aluminum (Al) toxicity to plants is still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the amelioration of Al toxicity by P supply. The study involved growing Al-sensitive wheat seedlings for 13 days in an acidic soil [pH 4.5 in calcium chloride (CaCl₂)] with increasing added rates of P (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg P kg^?1 soil) and Al [0, 50, and 150 mg aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) kg^?1 soil]. The results indicated that the effects of Al toxicity in this soil could be fully alleviated by the application of P at 50 mg AlCl₃ kg^?1. The 150 mg kg^?1 AlCl₃ treatment significantly reduced root growth, but this was partially overcome by the 80 mg kg^?1 P treatment. High P significantly reduced the concentration of Al in the apoplast, root, and shoot. It is possible that an insoluble Al-P complex forms in the soil and this decreases Al bound in apoplast as well as uptake into the roots. High P decreased the translocation of Al from root to shoot. This study also concluded that detoxification of Al³⁺ by P mainly occurs in soil but not within the plant tissue.     

Assessment of ZN Interaction with Nutrient Cations in Alkaline Soil and its Effect on Plant Growth

An experiment was conducted to assess the zinc (Zn) availability to wheat in alkaline soils during Rabi 2009–2010. Wheat seedlings in pots having 2 kg alkaline sandy soil per pot were treated with 5, 10 and 15 kg Zn ha^?1 as soil and with 0.5 and 1.0% zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) as foliar application. Results showed that Zn increasing levels in soil helped in phosphorus uptake up to boot stage but its conversion to grain portion lacked in Zn treated plants. Potassium (K) uptake also increased up to 6.24% in boot stage with treatment of 10 kg Zn ha^?1 + 1.0% ZnSO₄ foliar spray. Zinc (Zn) concentration increased in plant tissues with the increasing level of Zn application but this disturbed the phosphorus (P)-Zn interaction and, thus, both of the nutrients were found in lesser quantities in grains compared to the control. Despite of the apparent sufficient Zn level in soil (1.95 mg kg^?1), improvement in growth and yield parameters with Zn application indicate that the soil was Zn deplete in terms of plant available Zn. The above findings suggest that the figure Zn sufficiency in alkaline soil (1.0 mg kg^?1) should be revised in accordance to the nature and type of soils. Furthermore, foliar application of Zn up to 1.0% progressively increased yield but not significantly; and it was recommended that higher concentrations might be used to confirm foliar application of Zn as a successful strategy for increasing plant zinc levels.     

Zinc,Copper, Boron and Iron Requirement of Upland Rice Grown on a Brazilian Oxisol

Deficiency of micronutrients increasing in field crops, including upland rice in recent years. The objective of this study was to determine requirement of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) boron (B) and iron (Fe) for upland rice grown on a Brazilian Oxisol. The levels used were: Zn (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg kg^?1), Cu (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg^?1), B (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg^?1) and Fe (0, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg kg^?1). Plant height, straw yield, grain yield, panicle number and grain harvest index (GHI) were significantly improved with the addition of these micronutrients. Root growth was also improved with the application of micronutrients, except with the addition of B. Maximum grain yield was obtained with the addition of 51 mg Zn, 24 mg Cu, 5 mg B kg^?1, and 283 mg Fe kg^?1 soil. Similarly, maximum straw yield was obtained with the addition of 38 mg Zn, 17 mg Cu, 6 mg B kg^?1, and 1500 mg Fe kg^?1 soil. Maximum plant height was obtained with the addition of 54 mg Zn, 10 mg B kg^?1, and 1197 mg Fe kg^?1 soil. Copper did not affect plant height significantly. Maximum panicle number was obtained with the addition of 22 mg Cu kg^?1, 3 mg B kg^?1, and 1100 mg Fe kg^?1 soil. Zinc did not affect panicle number significantly. Maximum GHI was obtained with the addition of 61 mg Zn kg^?1, and 8 mg B kg^?1. Zinc was had a linear increase in GHI in the range of 0 to 80 mg kg^?1, and Fe showed a negative relationship with GHI.     

ROOT ZONE TEMPERATURE INFLUENCES ZINC REQUIREMENT OF MAIZE CULTIVARS ON A CALCAREOUS LOAM SOIL

The zinc (Zn) requirement of a maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid (‘FHY-396’) and an indigenous variety (‘EV-7004’) was measured at low (22.4 ± 5°C) and high (28.8 ± 5°C) root-zone temperatures (RZT). Four Zn rates (0, 3, 9 and 27 mg kg^?1 soil) were applied to a calcareous loam soil in pots for the glasshouse study. Shoot and root dry matter yields were significantly more at the higher RZT. Regardless the RZT, maximum relative shoot dry matter yield in hybrid and variety was produced, respectively, at 9 and 3 mg Zn kg^?1 soil. Zinc concentration in roots and shoots of both the cultivars increased with Zn rates and it was significantly more at the higher RZT. Cultivars differed in critical Zn concentration (C_ZnC) required for maximum shoot dry matter yield. The C_ZnC ranged from 25 to 39 μg Zn g^?1 plant tissue for optimum growth of both the cultivars at low and high RZT.     

Analysis of Citrus Orchard Efficiency in Relation to Soil Properties

ABSTRACT

Orchard efficiency (OE) is one of the indices of evaluating the sustainability in production behavior of citrus orchards. A wide range of soil properties broadly categorized into particle size distribution, water soluble and exchangeable cations, and soil available nutrients were investigated in relation to efficiency of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) orchards established on smectite rich three soil orders (Entisols, Inceptisols, and Vertisols) representing 18 locations of central India. The soil properties, viz., free calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), clay content, water soluble- and exchangeable-calcium (Ca^{2 +}), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) contributed significantly towards variation in OE. The threshold limit of these limiting soil properties was further established using multivariate quadratic regression models as: 132.1 g kg^{? 1} free CaCO₃, 418.1 g kg^{? 1} clay, 149.9 mg L^{? 1} water soluble Ca^{2 +}, 25.9 cmol(p⁺) kg^{? 1} exchangeable Ca^{2 +}, 114.6 mg kg^{? 1} available N, 12.8 mg kg^{? 1} available P, and 0.96 mg kg^{? 1} available Zn in relation to optimum OE of 82.1%. These reference values were very close to those obtained from best fit models, and could be effectively utilized in addressing soil related production constraints for precision-aided citriculture.     

Zinc Nutrition of Onion: Proposed Diagnostic Criteria

ABSTRACT

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a global nutritional problem in crops grown in calcareous soils. However, plant analysis criteria, a good tool for interpreting crop Zn requirement, is scarcely reported in literature for onion (Allium cepa L.). In a greenhouse experiment, Zn requirement, critical concentrations in diagnostic parts and genotypic variation were assessed using four onion cultivars (‘Swat-1’, ‘Phulkara,’ ‘Sariab Red,’ and ‘Chilton-89’) grown in a Zn-deficient (AB-DTPA extractable, 0.44 Zn mg kg^?1), calcareous soil of Gujranwala series (Typic Hapludalf). Five rates of Zn, ranging from 0 to 16 mg Zn kg^?1 soil, were applied as zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) along with adequate basal fertilization of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and boron (B). Four onion seedlings were transplanted in each pot. Whole shoots of two plants and recently matured leaves of other two plants were sampled. Zinc application significantly increased dry bulb yield and maximum yield was produced with 8 mg Zn kg^?1. Application of higher rates did not improve yield further. The cultivars differed significantly in Zn efficiency and cv. ‘Swat-1’ was most Zn-efficient. Fertilizer requirement for near-maximum dry bulb yield was 2.5 mg Zn kg^?1. Plant tissue critical Zn concentrations were 30 mg kg^?1 in young whole shoots, 25 mg kg^?1 in matured leaves, 16 mg kg^?1 in tops and 14 mg Zn kg^?1 in bulb. Zinc content in mature bulb also appeared to be a good indicator of soil Zn availability status.     

Phosphorus-induced zinc deficiency in wheat pot-grown on noncalcareous and calcareous soils of different properties

High levels of phosphorus (P) often induce zinc (Zn) deficiency in plants grown on Zn-poor soils. We investigated P-induced Zn deficiency in durum wheat (Triticum durum L. ‘Carpio’) grown on 16 noncalcareous and 31 calcareous soils differing in levels of available (Olsen) P and available (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable) Zn using micropots. A completely randomized factorial design with two levels of P (0 and 40 mg P kg^?1 soil) and Zn (0 and 3 mg Zn kg^?1 soil), i.e. four treatments (‘control’, + P, + Zn, and + PZn), were used. Grain yield of control plants depended mainly on the Olsen P level. Phosphorus had a negative effect on yield in 6 soils with Olsen P/Zn_DTPA > 25, and Zn a positive one in 5 soils with Olsen P/Zn_DTPA > 50; and the + PZn treatment generally resulted in the highest yield. Grain Zn concentration of control plants was negatively correlated with growth and Olsen P. Calcareous soils were less sensitive to P-induced Zn deficiency than noncalcareous soils because phosphate is sorbed by calcite rather than being co-adsorbed with Zn on the Fe oxides. Co-application of P and Zn to soil at low and application of Zn at high Olsen P ensured both maximum yield and grain Zn bioavailability.     

The Effect of Vermicompost on Transformation Rate of Available P Applied as Chemical Fertilizer in a Calcareous Clay Soil

The effects of vermicompost (VC) (0% and 1% w/w) on treated calcareous clay soil with 0 and 50 mg phosphorus (P) kg^?1 as calcium phosphate [Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.H₂O] was investigated. The soil samples were incubated for 7, 30, 60, 120, and 150 d at 25 ± 1°C and Olsen-P was measured after each incubation time. Results showed that Olsen-P increased 36% and 38% after VC addition in treated soil with 0 and 50 mg P kg^?1, respectively. Recovery of Olsen-P in treated soils with VC, combined fertilizer VC + P, and fertilizer P was 42%, 42%, and 17%, respectively. The rate coefficient in treated soils with fertilizer, VC, and combined fertilizer VC + P was 0.033, 0.026, and 0.023 mg kg^?1 d^?1/2, respectively. It seems that the process that leads to the decrease in available P in amended soils, is controlled by P diffusion into sorption sites in micropores of aggregates.     

Integration of Soil pH with Soil‐Test Values of Zinc for Prediction of Yield Response in Rice Grown in Mollisols

Seventeen Mollisols having pH_(1:2) in the range of 6.00 to 8.42 were analyzed with five extractants, and the extractable zinc (Zn) ranges were 0.84 to 2.75 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) (pH 7.3), 0.91 to 2.72 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for DTPA + ammonium bicarbonate (pH 7.6), 1.82 to 7.18 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for Mehlich 3, 1.22 to 3.83 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) + ammonium carbonate, and 0.88 to 1.18 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for 1 mol L^?1 magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) (pH 6.0). Zinc extracted by DTPA (pH 7.3) and Mehlich 3 showed significant positive correlation with sand content, whereas only Mehlich 3 showed negative correlation with soil pH. All extractants showed significant positive correlation with each other except for 1 mol L^?1 MgCl₂‐extractable Zn, which had significant positive correlation with only Mehlich 3– and EDTA + ammonium carbonate–extractable Zn. A greenhouse experiment showed that Bray's percentage yield of rice was poorly correlated to extractable soil Zn but had a significant and negative linear correlation with soil pH (r = ?0.662, significant at p = 0.01). Total Zn uptake by rice had a significant positive correlation with 1 mol L^?1 MgCl₂– and Mehlich 3–extractable Zn. A proposed parameter (p extractable Zn + p OH^?) involving both soil extractable Zn and pH terms together showed significant and positive correlation with Bray's percentage yield and total Zn uptake of rice. The calculated values of critical limits of soil Zn in terms of the proposed parameter were 14.1699 for DTPA (pH 7.3), 13.9587 for DTPA + ammonium bicarbonate, 13.7016 for Mehlich 3, 13.9402 for EDTA + ammonium carbonate, and 14.1810 for 1 mol L^?1 MgCl₂ (pH 6.0). The critical limits of Zn in rice grain and straw were 17.32 and 22.95 mg Zn kg^?1 plant tissue, respectively.     

Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils Around the Abandoned Mine Sites of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Southwest Spain)

This paper investigates the pollution load of selected trace elements in 32 soil samples collected around 21 different mining areas of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Southwest Spain), integrating chemical data with soil parameters to help understand the partitioning and mobility of pollutants. The minesoils are depleted in acid neutralising minerals and show limiting physicochemical properties, including low pH values and very high anomalies of potentially hazardous metals. The total concentrations of As (up to 1,560 mg kg^?1) and certain heavy metals (up to 2,874 mg kg^?1 Cu, 6,500 mg kg^?1 Pb, 6,890 mg kg^?1 Zn, 62 mg kg^?1 Hg and 22 mg kg^?1 Cd) are two orders of magnitude above the soil background values. The close association of Cd and Zn with the carbonate content in lime-amended minesoils suggests metal immobilisation through adsorption and/or co-precipitation mechanisms, after acid neutralisation, whereas As and Pb are similarly partitioned into the soil and mostly associated with iron oxy-hydroxides.     

Effects of zinc fertilizer amendments on yield and grain zinc concentration under controlled environment conditions

The application of zinc (Zn) fertilizer to lentil is an agronomic strategy that has the potential to improve yield and enhance grain Zn concentration. A pot study was conducted to determine if Zn fertilizer applied to three popular Saskatchewan lentil cultivars could increase yield and concentration of Zn in the grain. The effects of soil and foliar applied Zn forms, including ZnSO₄, Zn chelated with EDTA, Zn lignosulphonate, and a control were evaluated. Forms of Zn were not found to significantly increase yield (P = 0.828) or grain Zn concentration (P = 0.708) in any of the lentil cultivars tested. Fertilization with soil applied ZnSO₄ resulted in significantly (P < 0.0001) higher amounts of residual available Zn in the soil relative to other Zn treatments. Soil fertilized with ZnSO₄ had 1.13 mg kg^?1 diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Zn compared to 0.84 mg Zn kg^?1 and 0.77 mg Zn kg^?1 in the soil and foliar applied chelated Zn, respectively.