The profile distribution of total and extractable zinc in selected Nigerian soils

Abstract

The profile distribution of total, DTPA‐ and 0.1 N HC1‐extractable Zn was determined in 11 Nigerian soil profiles formed on various parent Materials including the coastal plain sands, shales, basalt, granite and banded gneiss.

The total content ranged from 9 to 84 ppm. Generally soils developed on igneous rocks contained more Zn than those on sedimenatary deposits. Among the soils on sedimentary rocks, those on shale had more total Zn than those on sandstones. Total Zn was weakly correlated with organic matter but strongly associated vith clay content and free oxides of iron and manganese.

The amounts of Zn extracted by DTPA and 0.1 N HC1 ranged from 0.01 to 10.98 and from 0.23 to 6.25 ppm, respectively. The dilute acid generally removed more Zn from the soils than did the DTPA. The amounts extracted generally decreased vith depth especially vith DTFA extractant. Soils developed on basalt and shales contained the highest amounts of 0.1 N HCl‐extractable Zn while those on basement complex rocks gave the highest values of DTPA‐extractable Zn. Extractable Zn from soils on coastal plain sands remained relatively lev. The extractable Zn was more associated vith organic matter than vith clay content.     

The influence op soil treatments on elemental composition of corn and on zinc soil tests on two Missouri soils

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L) was grown at three locations on soil treated with Zn at two levels of soil fertility. Corn leaves were sampled at 2 stages of growth and analyzed for several elements. Yields were measured and soils were analyzed for O.lN HCl and DTPA extractable Zn and by standard testing methods for other components.

Zinc at 10 and 20 lb/A did not affect corn grain yields. The Zn treatments significantly increased leaf Zn concentrations. The influence of leaf sampling time differed between locations. The DTPA and O.lN HCl extractable soil Zn both reflected the Zn soil treatments. The DTPA appeared to extract a more soluble component of soil Zn which became more un‐extractable with time. In general, the extractable soil Zn was poorly correlated with Zn concentrations in the corn leaves. Under the conditions of the experiment the soil Zn levels as measured by the 2 extractants were a poor predictor of plant Zn when soil Zn levels were adequate.     

Immobilization of Zinc Fertilizer in Flooded Soils Monitored by Adapted DTPA Soil Test

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a persistent problem in flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Severe Zn deficiency causes loss of grain yield, and rice grains with low Zn content contribute to human nutritional Zn deficiencies. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction method for use with reduced soils and to assess differences in plant availability of native and fertilizer Zn from oxidized and reduced soils. The DTPA‐extractable Zn decreased by 60% through time after flooding when the extraction was done on field‐moist soil but remained at original levels when air‐dried prior to extraction. In a pot experiment with one calcareous and one noncalcareous soil, moist‐soil DTPA‐extractable Zn and plant Zn uptake both decreased after flooding compared with the oxidized soil treatment for both soils. In the flooded treatment of the calcareous soil, both plant and soil Zn concentrations were equal to or less than critical deficiency levels even after fertilization with 50 kg Zn ha^?1. We concluded that Zn availability measurements for rice at low redox potentials should be made on reduced soil rather than air‐dry soil and that applied Zn fertilizer may become unavailable to plants after flooding.     

Comparison of four extractants and chemical fractions for assessing available zinc and copper in soils of India

Abstract

Relative suitability of different extraction procedures for estimating available zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in soils was assessed using DTPA, 0.1 N HCl, ammonium acetate+EDTA, and double acid (HCl+ H₂SO₄) as extractants and rice as a test crop in Neubauer experiment. The relationships between Zn concentration and uptake of Zn by rice plants and Zn extracted by the different methods showed that DTPA‐TEA, pH 7.3, could very suitably be used to assess Zn availability in soils. However, 0.1 N HCl was better for assessing the Cu availability in soils to the rice plants. Water‐soluble and exchangeable fractions of Zn and Cu had significant positive correlations with Zn and Cu concentrations, respectively obtained by all the four extractants tested. The results also showed that DTPA and ammonium acetate+EDTA extracted organically bound Zn, whereas DTPA, 0.1 N HCl and ammonium acetate+EDTA extracted organically bound Cu. Water‐soluble, exchangeable and organic matter bound fractions exhibited significant relationships with Zn and Cu concentrations, their uptake and rice dry matter yield.     

Soil test for available zinc in acid soils of Venezuela

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) deficiencies have been identified in Venezuela with increasing frequency in recent years. However, there are no established critical values for available Zn in the acid soils of this country. Greenhouse studies were initiated to evaluate five extractants, DTPA, DTPA‐HCl, Na‐EDTA, 0.1N hydrochloric acid (HCl), and Mehlich 1 to predict Zn availability in 14 acid soils with corn as the test crop. Significant and positive correlations were found between Zn extracted among the five extractants. Zinc extracted was not related with soil pH and organic matter content, but with the cation exchange capacity and clay content. The Na‐EDTA extractant was found to be the most suitable as an indicator of Zn‐deficient acid soils, the critical Zn value being 2.4 mg#lbkg^‐1.     

The profile distribution of total and extractable copper in selected Nigerian soils

Abstract

The profile distribution of total, DTPA‐ and 0.1N HCl‐extractable Cu was determined in 11 Nigerian soil profiles formed from various parent materials including the coastal plain sands, shales, basalt, granite and banded gneiss.

Total Cu ranged from 7 to 72 ppm with a mean of 35 ppm₀ The soils formed from basalt had the highest values while those on coastal plains had the least content. Generally, there was a higher content in the subsoils than in the surface horizons. The total Cu significantly correlated with percent clay and the free oxide contents of Fe and Mn.

DTPA ‐ and 0.1N HCl‐extractable Cu ranged from 0.08 to 2.81 ppm and 0.10 to 7.78 ppm, respectively. Soils on metamorphic rocks gave the highest values of DTPA‐extractable Cu. The DTPA‐extractable Cu ‐was only related to pH but the acid extractable Cu was associated with total Cu, clay, free Fe₂O₃ and MnO₂ contents.     

Evaluation of Various Zinc Extractants in Lowland Rice Soil under the Influence of Zinc Sulfate and Chelated Zinc

Field experiments were conducted on rice (cv ‘IET 4094’) in an Aeric endoaquept (pH 7.2) to evaluate the various zinc (Zn) extractants in lowland rice soil under the influence of Zn sulfate and chelated Zn. The diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl), and 0.05 N HCl‐extractable Zn concentrations in soil increased initially up to the Z29 stage of crop growth when Zn was applied as a single basal source, being greater with Zn ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Zn‐EDTA) compared to zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) application. Among the various extractants, the performance of 0.1 N HCl in extracting Zn was better than the other two extractants and followed the trend 0.1 N HCl > 0.005 M DTPA > 0.05 N HCl. The greatest increase in grain and straw yield of rice was 37.8 and 20.4%, respectively, over the control in the treatment T₇ (1 kg Zn ha^?1 as Zn‐EDTA at basal).     

A rapid method of evaluating the zinc status of coastal plain soils

Abstract

A study was made to evaluate Zn removed by extraction with a 0.075 N acid mixture (0.05 N HCl + 0.025 N H₂SO₄). A ratio of soil to extracting solution of 1 to 4 and an extracting time of 15 minutes was selected. Data obtained by the method was significantly correlated with dithizone (0.01%) extraction. The method was found to be acceptable for evaluation of the Zn status of Southern Coastal Plain soils and easily adapted to routine use in soil testing. A significant correlation was obtained between extractable soil Zn and leaf blade content of Zn for Zn‐deficient and non‐deficient corn plants.     

Use of routine soil tests in predicting corn leaf zinc

Abstract

Zinc of index corn leaves samples from 91 Minnesota sites on numerous soil types was correlated with soil Zn extracted by four routine procedures. The EDTA?(NH₄)₂CO₃ ‐ extractable soil Zn was more closely correlated with leaf Zn than soil zinc extracted by 0.1N HCl, EDTA‐NH₄OAc, or by NH₄OAc ‐ dithizone. Soil pH, CaCO₃ equivalent, extractable P, and organic matter of both acid and calcareous soils were negatively correlated with leaf Zn. When EDTA ? (NH₄)₂CO₃ ‐ extractable Zn was included with routine soil tests, a prediction equation for corn leaf Zn was formulated and compared with analytical values. However, the use of 1.4 ppm EDTA ? (NH₃)₂CO₃, ‐ extractable soil Zn alone as a critical value was equally effective in predicting leaf Zn.     

Available and total forms of copper and zinc in basaltic soils of the Nigerian Savanna

Abstract

The available (0.1M HCl‐ and DTPA‐extractable) and total forms of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were determined in soils developed on various groups of basalts, namely, the Newer, Older, Lateritized‐Older, and Biu (undifferentiated) basalts. The HCl‐, DTPA‐extractable, and total Cu in the soils ranged from 0.40 to 5.60, 0.15 to 2.64, and 15 to 65 mg Cu kg^‐1, respectively, with corresponding means values of 2.06, 0.89, and 41 mg Cu kg^‐1. Similarly, HCl‐, DTPA‐extractable, and total Zn varied from 3.00 to 6.20, 0.14 to 2.15, and 25 to 265 mg Zn kg^‐1 with respective mean values of 4.65, 0.52, and 89 mg Zn kg^‐1. The soils were high in the total forms of Cu and Zn, generally sufficient in available Cu, but deficient in available Zn. Both the total and available forms of Cu and Zn were little correlated with soil properties in soils of the Lateritized‐Older and Biu basalts, while only the available forms were related mainly to silt, clay, pH, and organic carbon in soils of the Newer and Older basalts. Furthermore, the available forms were correlated with each other, but not with the total forms.     

Micronutrient cation survey of lowland rice in sierra leone

Abstract

Lowland rice plants were sampled at two growth stages and analyzed for Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe. Most of the sites were deficient in Cu and one‐third of the sites were rated deficient in Zn. All sites were in the adequate range with respect to Mn. Many Fe values were in the excess to toxic range. Average content of micronutrient cations in rice plants was uniformly greater 30 days after the rice was transplanted than 60 days after transplanting.

Correlations between extractable Mn in lowland soils and Mn in associated rice plants were highly significant with the DTPA extractant and significant with the HCl method, both 30 and 60 days after the rice was transplanted. With HCl, extractable Fe in lowland soils was highly correlated with Fe in associated rice plants, but this relationship was not as close with the DTPA extractant.

In lowland soils, extractable Zn increased significantly and consistently with increases in Cu and Mn extracted with DTPA and HCl. Extractable Zn also increased significantly with increases in Fe when the HCl extractant was used, but not with DTPA.     

Organic matter availability for denitrification in soils of different textures and drainage classes

Abstract

Soils from the A, B, and C horizons representing three natural drainage classes and differing textures were chosen to study relationships between denitrification rate and estimates of available carbon. The highest correlation with denitrification rate was obtained with total organic C. Water‐extractable C, mineralizable C and 0.1 N Ba(OH)2‐extractable C produced less satisfactory correlations. When soils of the B and C horizons only were included in the regression analysis, 0.1 N Ba(OH)₂‐extractable C was found to be unsatisfactory as a predictor of available C for soil denitrifiers. None of the four methods for estimating available C were found adequate for B and C horizon soils which were relatively low in available C. Coarser‐textured soils with relatively low C levels had correspondingly low denitrification rates. Regressions of denitrification rate on mineralizable C or water‐extractable C were nonsignificant with poorly drained soils whereas they were highly significant with well or imperfectly drained soils.     

Soil micronutrient contents and relation to other soil properties in Ethiopia

Abstract

Alfisols, Vertisols, Inceptisols, Aridisols, Mollisols, and Entisols were sampled (0–30 cm) from 32 locations across Ethiopia. The soils were analyzed for copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) contents using 0.005 M diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), 0.05 M hydrochloric acid (HC1), and 0.02 M ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) extractants. EDTA extracted more of each micronutrient than DTPA, which extracted greater amounts than HC1. The quantities of EDTA and DTPA‐extractable micronutrients were significantly correlated, and were in the order: Mn>Fe>Cu>Zn. The order of HCl‐extractable micronutrients was Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu. Micronutrient contents of Mollisols, Vertisols, and Alfisols were usually greater than those of the other soils, and Entisols usually had the lowest micronutrient contents. The contents were mostly positively correlated with clay and Fe₂O₃ contents, but negatively correlated with soil pH and A1₂O₃contents. While comparison of DTPA‐ and EDTA‐extractable micronutrients with critical levels showed that most soils had adequate amounts of the micronutrients for crops, the amounts extracted by HC1 were below critical levels in most soils. Since the critical levels that were used in the comparisons were not established in Ethiopia, calibration of the soil contents of these micronutrients with crops grown in Ethiopia is required to identify the most suitable extractant(s).     

Prediction of available heavy metals by six chemical extractants in a sewage sludge‐amended soil

Abstract

In a field experiment conducted during three years in a sandy‐loam, calcareous soil, one aerobically digested sewage sludge (ASL) and another anaerobically digested sewage sludge (ANSL) were applied at rates of 400, 800, and 1,200 kg N/ha/year, and compared with mineral nitrogen fertilizer at rates of 0, 200, 400, and 600 kg N/ha/year in a cropping sequence of potato‐corn, potato‐lettuce, and potato, the first, second, and third year, respectively. Results showed that the highest values of soil extractable metals were obtained with aqua regia, whereas the lowest levels with DTPA. All metal (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr) gave significant correlations between metal extracted with the different extractants and metal loading applied with the sludges. The metal extractable ion increased over the control for Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr extracted with DTPA, EDTA (pH 8.6) and 0.1 N HC1, for Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr extracted with EDTA (pH 4.65) and AB‐DTPA, and for Zn, Cd, Ni, and Cr extracted with aqua regia. The level of metal‐DTPA extractable resulted highly correlated with that obtained by the other methods, except the Ni‐aqua regia extractable. The soil extractable elements which showed significant correlations with metals in plant were: Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ni in potato leaves, Cd, Ni, and Pb in corn grain, and Zn and Cd for lettuce wrapper leaves. In general, all the chelate based extractants (DTPA, EDTA pH 4.6, EDTA pH 8.6, AB‐DTPA) were equally useful as indicator of plant available metals in the soil amended with sludge.     

Pressurized Hot Water and DTPA‐Sorbitol as Viable Alternatives for Soil Boron Extraction. II. Correlation of Soil Extraction to Responses of Boron‐Fertilized Alfalfa

Abstract

Pressurized hot water and DTPA‐Sorbitol are two relatively new, proposed alternative soil boron (B) extraction methods for which no data on yield or plant nutrient uptake have been reported for validation. Both methods initially have shown significant correlation with the hot water extraction method in untreated soils as well as soils incubated with various levels of B. The objective of the research was to extract samples of B‐treated soils by using all three extraction methods and correlate the B values obtained to yield, B tissue concentration, and total B removal of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Greenhouse and field experiments on alkaline and limed acid soils naturally low in hot water‐extractable B were conducted to test alfalfa response to B fertilizer. In the greenhouse, highly significant relationships exist between plant uptake and extractable B with all three methods at varying levels of applied B, but no alfalfa yield response was observed. All three methods result in accurate predictions of plant B tissue concentrations and total B removal. The field experiment exhibited a significant positive relationship between total alfalfa yield and extractable B using hot water and pressurized hot water extractions. Extractable B using DTPA‐Sorbitol was not related to total alfalfa yield in the field experiment. This work, coupled with the earlier incubation studies, supports the pressurized hot water extraction method as an improvement over hot water in diverse soil types. The lack of relationship in the acid soil supports DTPA‐Sorbitol as an improvement over hot water in alkaline soils.     

Etude de la nutrition potassique du sorgho II‐ incidence du remplacement du potassium par le sodium sur la teneur en acides organiques des feuilles

Abstract

An Investigation was conducted to determine the content and distribution of total and DTPA‐extractable Zn in the genetic horizons of 72 agriculturally important soils from the six major mineral soil areas in Louisiana.

The concentration of total Zn appeared to vary more with the clay constituents of the soils and the amount of the element in the parent materials than with soil depth. The majority of the soils had the largest amounts of total Zn in the subsurface horizons. The range in total Zn for all soils and horizons was from 7.0 to 150.0 ppm.

The DTPA‐extractable Zn in all of the soils and horizons ranged from 0.08 to 4.22 ppm. In the majority of the soil profiles the highest concentration of extractable Zn was in the surface horizons. There was a decrease in the extractable Zn with increasing soil depth. The alluvial soils along the Ouachita and Mississippi Rivers, and the Mississippi Terrace soil areas contained relatively large amounts of DTPA‐extractable Zn.

In some soils the extractable Zn significantly correlated with total Zn. There was also a close relationship between extractable Zn and organic matter content, especially in the Ap horizons.     

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Zinc Accumulation in Fescue

Abstract

This research evaluated effects of nitrogen fertilizers on availability of zinc (Zn) in soils. Two slit loams of the Hadley series (Typic Udifluvents) were used. Zinc sulfate was mixed with the soils to give Zn at 125, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg and incubated for 14 days. Fertilizers (compost, cow manure, urea) were mixed with the soils to supply N at 200 mg/kg. Fourteen days after the fertilizers were mixed with the Zn‐treated soils, soil samples were taken for analysis of plant‐available Zn by extraction with Morgan's solution or water. After the soil samples were taken, fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) seeds were placed into pots to assess germination, growth, and Zn accumulation. Higher concentrations of Morgan's extractable Zn were detected in soils treated with compost (201 mg/kg) than with calcium nitrate (179 mg/kg), manure (153 mg/kg), or urea (152 mg/kg). However, with water extraction, higher Zn concentrations were detected in soils treated with calcium nitrate (36 mg/kg) with the lowest concentrations being extracted from soils treated with urea (8 mg/kg). Extraction of Zn by Morgan's solution or water increased as the soil‐Zn levels increased. Fescue germinated and grew at all of the soil‐Zn levels. The highest concentration of Zn occurred in plants grown in soils amended with calcium nitrate or urea, and the lowest concentration was in plants grown in soils amended with compost or manure. Fescue grown in soils amended with urea had the largest dry mass, and plants grown with compost or manure had the smallest. Zinc concentration and accumulation for fescue shoots increased as the soil‐Zn levels increased. These results suggest that accumulation of Zn in fescue can be enhanced by selection of nitrogen‐containing fertilizers that affect the solubility of Zn in soils.     

Extractability and plant uptake of heavy metals in alum shale soils

Abstract

Fifty soil samples (0–20 cm) with corresponding numbers of grain, potatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower crops were collected from soils developed on alum shale materials in Southeastern Norway to investigate the availability of [cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn)] in the soil and the uptake of the metals by these crops. Both total (aqua regia soluble) and extractable [ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) and DTPA] concentrations of metals in the soils were studied. The total concentration of all the heavy metals in the soils were higher compared to other soils found in this region. Forty‐four percent of the soil samples had higher Cd concentration than the limit for application of sewage sludge, whereas the corresponding values for Ni, Cu, and Zn were 60%, 38%, and 16%, respectively. About 70% the soil samples had a too high concentration of one or more of the heavy metals in relation to the limit for application of sewage sludge. Cadmium was the most soluble of the heavy metals, implying that it is more bioavailable than the other non‐essential metals, Pb and Ni. The total (aqua regia soluble) concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni and the concentrations of DTPA‐extractable Cd and Ni were significantly higher in the loam soils than in the sandy loam soils. The amount of NH₄NCyextractable metals did not differ between the texture classes. The concentrations of DTPA‐extractable metals were positively and significantly correlated with the total concentrations of the same metals. Ammonium nitrate‐extractable metals, on the other hand, were not related to their total concentrations, but they were negatively and significantly correlated to soil pH. The average concentration of Cd (0.1 mg kg^‐1 d.w.) in the plants was relatively high compared to the concentration previously found in plants grown on the other soils. The concentrations of the other heavy metals Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Pb in the plants were considered to be within the normal range, except for some samples with relatively high concentrations of Ni and Mn (0–11.1 and 3.5 to 167 mg kg‘¹ d.w., respectively). The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Mn in grain were positively correlated to the concentrations of these respective metals in the soil extracted by NH₄NO₃. The plant concentrations were negatively correlated to pH. The DTPA‐extractable levels were not correlated with plant concentration and hence DTPA would not be a good extractant for determining plant availability in these soils.     

Distribution of Forms of Zinc and Their Association with Soil Properties and Uptake in Different Soil Orders in Semi‐arid Soils of Punjab,India

Abstract

Profiles of semi‐arid–zone soils in Punjab, northwest India, were investigated for different forms of zinc (Zn), including total, diethylenetriamine penta‐acetic acid (DTPA)-extractable, soil solution plus exchangeable (Zn), Zn adsorbed onto inorganic sites, Zn bound by organic sites, and Zn adsorbed onto oxide surfaces. Irrespective of the different fractions of Zn present, its content was higher in fine‐textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than in coarse‐textured Entisols. In general, the higher content of Zn was observed in the surface horizon and then decreased in the subsurface horizons. However, none of the forms of Zn exhibited any consistent pattern of distribution. Organic matter and size fractions (clay and silt) had a strong influence on the distribution of different forms of Zn. Based upon the linear coefficient of correlation, the soil solution plus exchangeable Zn, adsorbed onto inorganic sites, and DTPA‐Zn increased with increase in organic carbon but decreased with increase in pH and calcium carbonate content. Total Zn increased with increase in clay and silt content. Among the different forms, Zn bound by organic sites, water soluble plus exchangeable Zn and Zn adsorb onto oxide (amorphous surfaces) were all correlated with DTPA extractable Zn. The uptake of Zn was more in recent floodplain Entisols than very fine textured Alfisols and Inceptisols. Among the different forms soil solution +exchangeable and DTPA‐extractable Zn was positively correlated with total uptake of Zn.     

A stable‐isotope methodology for measurement of soil‐applied zinc‐fertilizer recovery in durum wheat (Triticum durum)

A growth‐chamber study was used to develop a zinc stable‐isotope (⁶⁷Zn) tracing technique to directly measure the amount of soil‐applied zinc (Zn) granular fertilizer taken up by durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) in four different soil types. The ⁶⁷Zn‐tracer technique was then applied under field conditions at one site to test the ability of the method to measure the crop recovery of soil‐applied Zn granular fertilizer (⁶⁷Zn). The technique was developed by comparing plants treated with nil Zn fertilizer to natural‐abundance‐Zn‐coated fertilizer and ⁶⁷Zn‐coated fertilizer with plant parts analyzed for Zn isotopic composition using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Zinc‐fertilizer recovery under growth‐chamber conditions was inversely related to the concentration of labile Zn in soils, with the plants on the most Zn‐deficient soils having the greatest amount of Zn derived from the added fertilizer. Zinc derived from fertilizer ranged from 0.3% (Luvisol) to 0.6% (Solonetz) to 13% (Calcisol) and 18% (Lixisol) for soils with DTPA‐extractable Zn of 3.5–0.21 mg kg^–1. Across the experiments, fertilizer recovery was measurable but very low (< 1% of added fertilizer being recovered by durum wheat). The recovery of Zn added to the Luvisol was slightly higher in the field than in the glasshouse (but all < 0.1%). Using this stable‐isotope technique, it was possible to directly assess the supply of soil‐applied Zn fertilizers to crop plants.