Influence of soil moisture stress and soil bulk density on the imbibition of corn seeds in a sandy soil

The imbibition of corn seeds (Zea mays L.) was examined in a sandy soil compacted to simulate the effect that might be expected from pressure wheels behind a planting machine.Water uptake was found to be exponential and to be the only factor contributing to the increase in volume of the seed during imbibition. Changes in bulk density of the soil over the range from 0.90 to 1.31 Mg cm^?3 produced no significant effects on water uptake.It was therefore concluded that the degree of contact between seed coat and soil particles is not an important factor in influencing the rate of imbibition of corn seeds under the specific conditions which were examined.Water flux into the seeds was calculated to be several orders of magnitude lower than bulk soil water flux at all soil water potentials tested. Estimates of seed coat permeability suggest that, for corn, this factor is the major restriction on entry of water into the seed during imbibition.At a field level, the widespread use of pressure wheels behind corn planters as a means of increasing seed/soil contact appears not to be necessary in sandy soils.     

Spring barley growth, grain quality and soil physical conditions in a cultivations experiment on a sandy loam in Scotland

Widely differing cultivations for spring barley, ranging from conventional ploughing to direct drilling and including broadcasting on to undisturbed soil, were examined over two seasons (1979 and 1980), conventional ploughing yielding highest and either chisel ploughing or direct drilling lowest. Yield differences were associated with plant population differences; they were significant only in the abnormally wet season of 1980. Broadcasting before tine cultivation to 50 mm resulted in lower seedbed strength and higher yield than drilling after a similar cultivation. Compaction by the same level of seedbed traffic was greater in a treatment cultivated to 50 mm depth than in the conventional ploughing treatment. Grain milling energy, which is inversely related to endosperm suitability for malting, and grain nitrogen content both decreased with increasing yield. Total nitrogen removed per ha in the grain in 1979 was similar in all treatments (about 72% of applied). In 1980, it was generally lower (about 62% of applied). After allowing for differences in plant populations it was lowest after direct drilling, broadcasting and very shallow tine cultivation (60% of applied), highest after conventional ploughing (70% of applied) and intermediate after rotary cultivating and shallow tine cultivation (65% of applied). Soil water release characteristics were described by logistic equations. Treatment differences were greatest at matric potentials greater than -3 kPa at 10 and 60 mm depth. The porosities of the cultivated soils were similar to each other, and were greater than those of the direct drilled treatments.     

Effect of leaching of DOC on pore characteristic of a sandy soil

Changes of microstructural properties of a sandy soil from a former sewage farm due to the leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were studied. The leaching of DOC at various pH values was induced using sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid solutions. The removal of DOC altered the pore properties of the remaining solid. The average pore radius measured from water vapor desorption isotherms (micropores range) increased with the increase of the removed DOC under alkaline conditions and did practically not alter under acid treatment. The average pore radius measured by the mercury intrusion porosimetry (mesopores range), decreases, however, for low amounts of the DOC extracted and increases on extracting higher DOC amounts. The mesopores appeared to be fractal. At moderate amounts of the DOC leached the finer mesopores occurred having the higher fractal dimensions than the coarser mesopores.     

Modeling and correction of soil penetration resistance for varying soil water content

For this study penetration resistance (PR) was measured within the profiles of four Oxisols for a wide range of water contents (θ) and bulk densities. Obtained data were utilized to parameterize 23 previously applied regression models. The most promising models were selected to illustrate effects of soil texture on PR. Finally, a new correction method based on normalization of PR with θ corresponding to a matric potential of − 10 kPa was introduced. Evaluation of texture effects revealed that for very wet soils PR was lowest, but increased with clay content. PR at − 1500 kPa exhibited a maximum at clay content of 35% and at − 10 kPa PR was least affected by texture. From all regression models three- and two-parametric exponential and power functions yielded closest matches to measured data. The proposed correction significantly dampened the influence of θ on PR, which allows better comparison for a specific soil or among different soils.     

Anisotropy of penetration resistance in four soil profiles in Chile

Penetrometer resistance was measured horizontally and vertically down to a depth of 150 cm with individual penetrations of no more than 12 cm in four soils in pastures and arable land near Valdivia, Chile, cleared from natural forest approximately 40 years ago. Maximum vertical resistance was found near the soil surface and attributed to recent soil development. Downward the values decreased sharply at first and then became constant or increased slightly. Relations of horizontal to vertical resistance increased generally downward in the profiles and was greatest in the plough-sole area of the profile in arable land.     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on zinc nutrition of corn in a calcareous soil

Different factors affect zinc (Zn) nutrition of plants, among which pH and phosphorus (P) have been studied widely but nitrogen (N) has not received much attention. The present experiment was designed to study the effect of N and P on growth and Zn nutrition of corn (Zea mays L.) in a highly calcareous soil of Iran. The experiment was a 3x3x2 factorial in randomized complete blocks with three replications which was conducted in greenhouse for eight weeks. Treatments consisted of three levels of N (0,75, and 150 mg/kg), three levels of P (0, 50, and 100 mg/kg), and two levels of Zn (0 and 20 mg/kg). Application of N increased dry matter (DM), N concentration and uptake, Zn concentration and uptake, and N: P and N: Zn ratios of plant tops; but it decreased P concentration and uptake and P: Zn ratio. Application of P increased DM, P concentration and uptake, N uptake, and P: Zn and N: Zn ratios; but it decreased N and Zn concentrations and N: P ratio. Dry matter and Zn concentration and uptake increased but P: Zn and N: Zn ratios decreased following the application of Zn. Multiple regression equations obtained showed the influence of N application on increasing Zn concentration and uptake and lowering the P: Zn ratio of plant tops. It was concluded that N application improves Zn nutrition of corn in highly calcareous soils by increasing plant Zn concentration and uptake and decreasing P concentration. This lowers the P: Zn ratio of plant tops to a more optimum range for plant growth.     

Effect of the addition of sewage sludge as a fertilizer on a sandy vineyard soil

Purpose

The application of sludge from wastewater in agriculture has increased in recent years, and it is therefore important to assess the effect that such treatment has on both the soil and the plant. The aim of the study described here was to ascertain whether there is a variation in the properties of the soil and to determine if this addition has an impact on the plant.

Materials and methods

The area of investigation was close to the municipality of Villarrubia de los Ojos (Ciudad Real). In this work, six samples were taken from the surface horizon in the studied plot at a depth of 35 cm. A further three samples were taken: (i) a surface horizon of a soil close to the area under investigation but without treatment (control sample), (ii) a sample of sludge from the wastewater treatment plant and (iii) a sample of the mixture used by farmers as fertilizer. Laboratory tests were conducted in accordance with the SCS-USDA (1972) guidelines. Trace element samples were analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry (Philips PW 2404).

Results and discussion

The parcel of land studied is dominated by a sandy texture (88.3 % sand), and a decrease in pH was observed in areas in which the mixture (manure + sludge) was added (pH?=?8.0) compared to areas in which fertilizer was not applied (pH?=?8.5). It was observed that the addition of the compound led to an increase in the electrical conductivity of the soil. The trace elements can be organized into two groups based on the results obtained in this study. One group contains the trace elements that were only present in the rows that were treated with the fertilizer. The other group of trace elements was mobilized throughout the whole plot.

Conclusions

The application of sewage sludge on agricultural soils can be very useful as an organic amendment because it produces an increase in soil organic matter. However, sewage sludge must be applied with caution due to the changes in soil chemical properties (for example, pH and E.C.). The use of this type of waste for prolonged periods of time can cause problems of contamination in the soil.

     

Determination of erodibility of a subtropical clay soil: a laboratory rainfall simulator experiment

Erodibility of tropical soils changes according to land use and management. It is important to monitor these changes so that farming practices can be designed to conserve the soil. On a fersiallitic clay soil in Zimbabwe, the mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates was highly significant in explaining variations in both soil loss and runoff. Percent water-stable aggregates > 2 mm diameter was also significant and had the practical advantage of being easier to measure. Organic carbon in the soil largely explains the proportion of water-stable aggregates. These indices will aid management decisions on arable and grazing lands on this soil type, within the limits of the ranges tested.     

Effects of algae and fertilizer-nitrogen on pH, Eh and depth of aerobic soil in laboratory columns of a flooded sandy loam

 A sandy loam was incubated under floodwater in the laboratory either in the dark or in the light (7 h day, 20  °C; 17 h night, 15  °C) and with four N sources [control, ammonium carbonate [(NH₄)₂CO₃], ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), potassium nitrate (KNO₃)]. In the dark, floodwater pH rose steadily from 6.4 to about 7.5 over 60 days in the control, KNO₃ and (NH₄)₂CO₃ treatments, but with NH₄Cl pH decreased to 5.8. In the light, algal growth began to affect the floodwater pH after 9 days. At the end of the night, pH values were similar for all treatments to those kept in the dark. During the day, pH changes depended on the morning pH value: the daily increase was zero at pH 5.6 rising to a maximum of about 2 units at pH 6.3 and falling again at higher pH values. Changes in the carbonate equilibria in response to CO₂ removal by algal photosynthesis partly explain the results, but increasing inputs of acid are also implicated below pH 6.3 possibly due to reduced volatilization and increased nitrification. Redox potential (Eh) in the floodwater was little affected by N treatment until algal growth began. Eh then decreased each day as pH rose and recovered during the night. The daily decrease in Eh per unit increase in pH rose from about 10 to 90 mV pH^–1 over the incubation period. Initially, therefore, O₂ concentration must have been increased during the day by algal photosynthesis (values <59 mV pH^–1), but later O₂ concentration must have fallen, due possibly to the decomposition of algal cells. The presence of algae initially increased the depth of the aerobic soil layer, but eventually an algal mat settled on the soil surface acting as a zone of O₂ demand as the algae decomposed. Received: 7 July 1997     

Medium-term effects of corn biochar addition on soil biota activities and functions in a temperate soil cropped to corn

Biochar addition to soil has been generally associated with crop yield increases observed in some soils, and increased nutrient availability is one of the mechanisms proposed. Any impact of biochar on soil organisms can potentially translate to changes in nutrient availability and crop productivity, possibly explaining some of the beneficial and detrimental yield effects reported in literature. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the medium-term impact of biochar addition on microbial and faunal activities in a temperate soil cropped to corn and the consequences for their main functions, litter decomposition and mineralization. Biochar was added to a corn field at rates of 0, 3, 12, 30 tons ha⁻¹ three years prior to this study, in comparison to an annual application of 1 t ha⁻¹.Biochar application increased microbial abundance, which nearly doubled at the highest addition rate, while mesofauna activity, and litter decomposition facilitated by mesofauna were not increased significantly but were positively influenced by biochar addition when these responses were modeled, and in the last case directly and positively associated to the higher microbial abundance. In addition, in short-term laboratory experiments after the addition of litter, biochar presence increased NO₂ + NO₃ mineralization, and decreased that of SO₄ and Cl. However, those nutrient effects were not shown to be of concern at the field scale, where only some significant increases in SOC, pH, Cl and PO₄ were observed.Therefore, no negative impacts in the soil biota activities and functions assessed were observed for the tested alkaline biochar after three years of the application, although this trend needs to be verified for other soil and biochar types.     

Field-scale and laboratory study of factors affecting N2O emissions from a rye stubble field on sandy loam soil

Emission of N₂O from cultivated and fertilised soils may contribute significantly to the total global N₂O emission. This study included laboratory and field investigations of the N₂O production from a dry stubble field as influenced by addition of water, nitrogen and glucose. N₂O fluxes were measured using a closed-chamber technique, and the O₂ content in the soil was measured using soil probes. Results from a laboratory soil core technique were correlated to the relative N₂O emission observed in the field. When the soil water content in the field increased from 14% to 60% water-filled pore space, the N₂O emission increased from non-significant to a constant emission of 30 μg N m^–2 h^–1. At this soil water content the production of N₂O was limited by the availability of nitrogen and carbon. Application of nitrogen at soil temperatures of 13 and 21°C in a pre-wetted soil increased the N₂O emission 3.1- and 3.7-fold, respectively, whereas nitrogen plus carbon application increased the N₂O emission 13.3- and 7.3-fold, respectively. In both treatments the N₂O emission rates were affected by fluctuations in soil temperature and O₂ content. The results indicate that even in a soil producing very little N₂O under dry conditions, the soil microbial community maintains a potential to produce N₂O when favourable conditions occur in terms of availability of water, nitrogen and carbon. Received: 21 October 1996     

Evaluation of a combined penetrometer for simultaneous measurement of penetration resistance and soil water content

A combined penetrometer is an appropriate tool to measure the soil cone resistance and the water‐content profile. As a relatively new technique, a combined capacitance‐penetrometer for the simultaneous measurement of cone index and soil water content was developed at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of Bonn University in 2002. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the effectiveness and applicability of the innovated penetrometer with a focus on three aspects: (1) A capacitance sensor with two electrode configurations was calibrated for silt loam, sandy loam, and sand. The calibration results show that both electrode configurations have sufficient water‐content sensitivity, but soil‐specific calibrations seem necessary. (2) Under laboratory conditions, the dynamic resolution and response of the capacitance‐penetrometer were validated, and its radius of influence was determined. (3) The field measurement results demonstrate that this measurement technique can be used to improve the interpretation quality of soil cone index data.     

Effect of amplitude and frequency on soil break-up by an oscillating tillage tool in a soil bin experiment

Experiments were conducted in a soil bin to study the effect of amplitude and frequency of an oscillating tillage tool on fragmentation of Kharagpur sandy clay loam soil. It was observed that the maximum utilization of energy occurs at an oscillation frequency close to the natural frequency of the soil. Therefore, optimum values of frequency and amplitude of oscillation were determined on the basis of maximum clod surface produced per unit of energy input. The oscillating tillage tool produced smaller soil aggregates than a non-oscillating one. At a given amplitude of oscillations, increase in frequency above the natural frequency of soil did not increase soil break-up further. At any frequency, soil break-up increased with increase in amplitude. At a tool oscillation frequency equal to the natural frequency of soil the equation MWD = A₀exp(−K₀r), where MWD is the mean weight diameter of soil aggregates, r is the amplitude of the oscillations, A₀ is MWD of soil aggregates produced by an identical rigid tool and K₀ is a constant, described the data on soil break up adequately.     

Measurements and modeling of tracer transport in a sandy soil

A physically-based dual-porosity model of water and solute transport under transient field conditions was used to simulate³H transport in seven undisturbed monoliths of a coarse-textured sand under bare soil conditions over a period of 15 months. A double-tracer application of³H and³⁶Cl was performed to test whether sidewall flow occurred in this experimental set-up. The objectives of this study were: to identify any impacts of preferential flow in this type of soil, to quantify³H losses from the soil due to evaporation, and to assess the suitability and relative behavior of³H and³⁶Cl as tracers of water. The model input parameter values were obtained by a combination of direct measurements and model calibration. One domain flow simulations of water flow and tracer concentrations in seepage agreed fairly well with those observed, indicating convective-dispersive behavior in this sandy soil. From the observed tracer and water balance for the entire observation period, the recovery of³H and³⁶Cl in seepage was 33 and 91% respectively, with 67% of the applied H lost by evaporation. Both³H and³⁶Cl broke through in seepage simultaneously, showing that³⁶Cl is equally suitable as a tracer of water as³H. The double-tracer test showed that sidewall flow did not occur.     

Relationships between soil penetration resistance and soif nematode burden in barley on Prince Edward Island

Fifty sloping fields of barley with different short-term cropping histories across Prince Edward Island were examined for variations in root-zone depth and the severity of soil parasitic nematodes as part of a wider study of relationships between cropping sequence, topographic position, soil physical conditions and crop performance. Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans) density in the roots was significantly greater (13%) at foot slopes than at top slopes, and stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus spp.) was significantly greater (8%) at top slopes where the soil was drier. The density of stunt nematodes and root lesion nematodes in the soil was significantly greater (>15%) under miscellaneous cereals-barley sequences than under potato-barley or hay-barley, attributable to level of carryover. Root lesion nematode density in the roots was significantly greater (12%) under hay-barley than either of the other two sequences. This nematode also showed a strong tendency to increase in number with increasing root-zone depth, and may be explained on the basis that increased root-zone depth provides increased host root mass (substrate). Stunt nematodes, on the other hand, increased with decreasing root-zone depth and may be explained by the known propensity of these organisms for drier, shallower soil conditions.     

Extractability of 15N-labeled corn-shoot tissue in a sandy and a clay soil by 0.01 MCaCl2 method in laboratory incubation experiments

Management of N fertilization depends not only on the mineral N measured at the beginning of the growing season but also on the status of the low-molecular-weight organic-N fraction. Our study was conducted to analyze how much of the ¹⁵N applied in labeled cornshoot tissue would be recovered in 0.01 M CaCl₂-extractable ¹⁵N fractions and wheter a decrease in the CaCl₂-extractable ¹⁵N fraction quantitatively followed the trend in net mineralization of the ¹⁵N applied in corn-shoot tissue during an incubation period. The effects of adding ¹⁵N-labeled young corn-shoot tissue to a sandy soil and a clay soil were investigated for 46 days in an aerobic incubation experiment at 25°C. The application of 80 mg N kg^-1 soil in the form of labeled corn-shoot tissue (24.62 mg ¹⁵N kg^-1 soil) resulted in a significant initial increase, followed by a decrease the labeled organic-N fraction in comparison with the untreated soils during the incubation. The labeled organic-N fraction was significantly higher in the sandy soil than in the clay soil until the 4th day of incubation. The decrease in labeled organic N in the sandy soil resulted in a subsequent increase in ¹⁵NO _inf3 ^sup- during the incubation. Ammonification of applied plant N resulted in a significant increase in the 1 M HCl-extractable non-exchangeable ¹⁵NH _inf4 ^sup+ fraction in the clay soik, owing to the vermiculite content. The ¹⁵N recovery was analyzed by the 0.01 M CaCl₂ extraction method; at the beginning of the incubation experiment, recovery was 37.0% in the sandy soil and 36.7% in the clay soil. After 46 days of incubation, recovery increased to 47.2 and 43.8% in the sandy and clay soils, respectively. Net mineralization of the ¹⁵N applied in corn-shoot tissue determined after the 46-day incubation was 6.60 mg ¹⁵N kg^-1 soil (=34.9% of the applied organic ¹⁵N) and 4.37 mg ¹⁵N kg^-1 soil (=23.1% of the applied organic ¹⁵N) in the sandy and the clay soils, respectively. The decrease in the labeled organic-N fraction extracted by 0.01 M CaCl₂ over the whole incubation period was 3.14 and 2.33 mg ¹⁵N kg^-1 soil in the sandy and clay soil, respectively. These results indicate that net mineralization of ¹⁵N was not consistent with the decrease in the labeled organic-N fraction. This may have been due to the inability of 0.01 M CaCl₂ to extract or desorb all of the applied organic ¹⁵N that was mineralized during the incubation period.     

Iron fertilizers applied to calcareous soil on the growth of peanut in a pot experiment

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L., Fabceae) to evaluate iron compound fertilizers for improving within-plant iron content and correcting chlorosis caused by iron deficiency. Peanuts were planted in containers with calcareous soil fertilized with three different granular iron nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers (ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄)–NPK, Fe–ethylendiamine di (o-hydroxyphenylacetic) (EDDHA)–NPK and Fe–citrate–NPK). Iron nutrition, plant biomass, seed yield and quality of peanuts were significantly affected by the application of Fe–citrate–NPK and Fe–EDDHA–NPK to the soil. Iron concentrations in tissues were significantly greater for plants grown with Fe–citrate–NPK and Fe–EDDHA–NPK. The active iron concentration in the youngest leaves of peanuts was linearly related to the leaf chlorophyll (via soil and plant analyzer development measurements) recorded 50 and 80 days after planting. However, no significant differences between Fe–citrate–NPK and Fe–EDDHA–NPK were observed. Despite the large amount of total iron bound and dry matter, FeSO₄–NPK was less effective than Fe–citrate–NPK and Fe–EDDHA–NPK to improve iron uptake. The results showed that application of Fe–citrate–NPK was as effective as application of Fe–EDDHA–NPK in remediating leaf iron chlorosis in peanut pot-grown in calcareous soil. The study suggested that Fe–citrate–NPK should be considered as a potential tool for correcting peanut iron deficiency in calcareous soil.     

Transformation of corn plant residues in loamy and sandy substrates

The mineralization and humification dynamics of corn plant residues in loamy and sandy substrates have been studied under laboratory conditions. It has been shown that the dynamics are determined by the undulating development laws of the microbial community under constant temperature and moisture conditions. At the same time, the intensity and final results of the processes significantly differ depending on the composition and properties of the mineral substrate. The loss of C_org during the mineralization and the content of newly formed humic substances reached the maximum values a month after the beginning of the experiment. The mineralization is more intensive in sand at the early stages, and the humification is more active in loam throughout the incubation period. The loamy substrate has better protective properties compared to the sand; therefore, it favors the accumulation of significant amounts of fulvic acids (FAs), along with humic acids (HAs), and causes the relative fulvatization of the humic substances. It has been found using densimetric fractionation and Fourier IR spectroscopy that the different mineralogy of the fractions results in differences in the chemical composition of the formed mineral-organic compounds of newly formed humic substances, mainly due to carboxyl and nitrogen-containing groups. The similarity of the humification products in the heavy fractions of the loamy and sandy substrates has been revealed.     

Growth and nitrogenous excretion of a common soil flagellate Spumella sp.—a laboratory experiment

The growth and nitrogenous excretion of a common soil flagellate, Spumella sp., isolated from a Scottish podzol and fed with the common soil bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, were investigated. Video-enhanced light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the digestion process. Ingestion of the bacteria occurred rapidly at the base of the two flagella and involved the formation of a small protrusion, which surrounded the prey. The first signs of digestion appeared a few minutes after ingestion with the degradation of the outer membrane of the bacteria. Digestion was complete within 30–60 min, and the indigestible bacterial residues were then released into the medium. Ammonium nitrogen was the major form of nitrogen excreted. Some apparently intact P. fluorescens bacteria were also egested. For each division 130 bacteria were required. No feeding activities were observed at 5°C. Of the total bacterial protein, 42% was incorporated into biomass of flagellates.