A Comparison of Inorganic Solid Wastes as Adsorbents of Heavy Metal Cations in Aqueous Solution and Their Capacity for Desorption and Regeneration

The adsorption capacity of seven inorganic solid wastes [air-cooled blast furnace (BF) slag, water-quenched BF slag, steel furnace slag, coal fly ash, coal bottom ash, water treatment (alum) sludge and seawater-neutralized red mud] for Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ was determined at two metal concentrations (10 and 100 mg?L^?1) and three equilibrium pH values (4.0, 6.0 and 8.0) in batch adsorption experiments. All materials had the ability to remove metal cations from aqueous solution (fly and bottom ash were the least effective), their relative abilities were partially pH dependant and adsorption increased greatly with increasing pH. At equimolar concentrations of added metal, the magnitude of sorption at pH 6.0 followed the general order: Cr³⁺????Pb²⁺????Cu²⁺?>?Zn²⁺?=?Cd²⁺. The amounts of previously sorbed Pb and Cd desorbed in 0.01 M NaNO₃ electrolyte were very small, but those removed with 0.01 M HNO₃, and more particularly 0.10 M HNO₃, were substantial. Water treatment sludge was shown to maintain its Pb and Cd adsorption capability (pH 6.0) over eight successive cycles of adsorption/regeneration using 0.10 M HNO₃ as a regenerating agent. By contrast, for BF slag and red mud, there was a very pronounced decline in adsorption of both Pb and Cd after only one regeneration cycle. A comparison of Pb and Cd adsorption isotherms at pH 6.0 for untreated and acid-pre-treated materials confirmed that for water treatment sludge acid pre-treatment had no significant effect, but for BF slag and red mud, adsorption was greatly reduced. This was explained in terms of residual surface alkalinity being the key factor contributing to the high adsorption capability of the latter two materials, and acid pre-treatment results in neutralization of much of this alkalinity. It was concluded that acid is not a suitable regenerating agent for slags and red mud and that further research and development with water treatment sludge as a metal adsorbent are warranted.     

A contemporary overview of silicon availability in agricultural soils

Our current understanding of silicon (Si) availability in agricultural soils is reviewed and knowledge gaps are highlighted. Silicon is a beneficial rather than essential plant nutrient and yield responses to its application have been frequently demonstrated in Si‐accumulator crops such as rice and sugarcane. These crops are typically grown on highly weathered (desilicated) soils where soil solution Si concentrations are low. Increased yields are the result of simultaneous increases in plant tolerance to a wide range of biotic (plant pathogens, insect pests) and abiotic (water shortage, excess salts, metal toxicities) stresses. Traditionally, soil solution Si is viewed as being supplied by dissolution of primary and secondary minerals and buffered by adsorption/desorption of silicate onto Al and Fe hydrous oxide surfaces. In recent years it has become recognized that phytogenic cycling of Si [uptake of Si by plants, formation of phytogenic silica (SiO₂ · nH₂O) mainly in leaves and subsequent return of this silica to soils in plant litter] is the main determinant of soil solution Si concentrations in natural forests and grasslands. Considerable diminution of the phytogenic Si pool in agricultural soils is likely due to regular removal of Si in harvested products. A range of extractants (unbuffered salts, acetate‐based solutions, and acids) can provide valuable information on the Si status of soils and the likelihood of a yield response in rice and sugarcane. The most common Si fertilizers used are industrial byproducts (e.g., blast furnace slag, steel slag, ferromanganous slag, Ca slag). Since agriculture promotes soil desilication and Si is presently being promoted as a broad spectrum plant prophylactic, the future use of Si in agriculture is likely to increase. Aspects that require future research include the role of specific adsorption of silicate onto hydrous oxides, the significance of phytogenic Si in agricultural soils, the extent of loss of phytogenic Si due to crop harvest, the role of hydroxyaluminosilicate formation in fertilized soils, and the effect of soil pH on Si availability.     

Measurement of Si adsorption and “Active Si” in a soil amended with slag fertilizers by using stable isotope 30SP

The silicic acid adsorption by a soil (Eutric Gleysols) where slag fertilizers were applied was measured by the addition of a silicic acid solution labelled with ³⁰Si after soil incubation, in order to study the effect of slag application on the specific Si adsorption by the soil and to estimate the amount of Si in the soil solid phase which can easily enter the soil solution. It was evident that the application of slags increased the ability of soil to adsorb Si. It was also shown that the ³⁰Si added was diluted with not only the Si present in the soil solution but also the Si dissolved from the soil solid phase. We proposed the use of the term “active” for Si in soil which can take part in the isotopic dilution within 1 h. The amount of active Si in the soil solid and liquid phases (D ₆₀ - value) was calculated from the ³⁰Si content in the soil solution and compared with the amount of Si taken up by rice plant (Oryza sativa L.), which was determined in our previous study. The buffering capacity of the soil for Si, which can reflect the ability of soil to maintain the Si concentration in the soil solution constant when Si is added to or removed from the soil, was also determined. The D ₆₀ - value and the Si buffering capacity of the soil increased by slag application. These increases were large when the alkalinity of the applied slags was high. The correlation study revealed that the D ₆₀ - value was a better index of Si availability of the soil than the amount of Si dissolved from the soil solid phase during the incubation when the slags were previously applied.     

Coal Fly Ash and Phospho‐gypsum Mixture as an Amendment to Improve Rice Paddy Soil Fertility

Abstract

Rice is a plant that requires high levels of silica (Si). As a silicate (SiO₂) source to rice, coal fly ash (hereafter, fly ash), which has an alkaline pH and high available silicate and boron (B) contents, was mixed with phosphor‐gypsum (hereafter, gypsum, 50%, wt wt^?1), a by‐product from the production of phosphate fertilizer, to improve the fly ash limitation. Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of the mixture on soil properties and rice (Oryza sativa) productivity in silt loam (SiL) and loamy sand (LS) soils to which 0 (FG 0), 20 (FG 20), 40 (FG 40), and 60 (FG 60) Mg ha^?1 were added. The mixture increased the amount of available silicate and exchangeable calcium (Ca) contents in the soils and the uptake of silicate by rice plant. The mixture did not result in accumulation of heavy metals in soil and an excessive uptake of heavy metals by the rice grain. The available boron content in soil increased with the mixture application levels up to 1.42 mg kg^?1 following the application of 60 Mg ha^?1 but did not show toxicity. The mixture increased significantly rice yield and showed the highest yields following the addition of 30–40 Mg ha^?1 in two soils. It is concluded that the fly ash and gypsum mixture could be a good source of inorganic soil amendments to restore the soil nutrient balance in rice paddy soil.     

Increase of Available Phosphorus by Fly‐Ash Application in Paddy Soils

Abstract

Fly ash from the coal‐burning industry may be a potential inorganic soil amendment to increase rice productivity and to restore the soil nutrient balance in paddy soil. In this study, fly ash was applied at rates of 0, 40, 80, and 120 Mg ha^?1 in two paddy soils (silt loam in Yehari and loamy sand in Daegok). During rice cultivation, available phosphorus (P) increased significantly with fly ash application, as there was high content of P (786 mg kg^?1) in the applied fly ash. In addition, high content of silicon (Si) and high pH of fly ash contributed to increased available‐P content by ion competition between phosphate and silicate and by neutralization of soil acidity, respectively. With fly‐ash application, water‐soluble P (W‐P) content increased significantly together with increasing aluminum‐bound P (Al‐P) and calcium‐bound P (Ca‐P) fractions. By contrast, iron‐bound P (Fe‐P) decreased significantly because of reduction of iron under the flooded paddy soil during rice cultivation. The present experiment indicated that addition of fly ash had a positive benefit on increasing the P availability.     

Environmental risks for application of iron and steel slags in soils in China: A review

Iron and steel slags are smelting wastes, mainly including blast furnace slag(BFS) and steel slag(SS) produced in the iron and steel industry. Utilization of iron and steel slags as resources for solving the problem of slag disposals has attracted much attention with increasing iron and steel smelting slags in China. Because the iron and steel slags contain calcium(Ca), magnesium(Mg), phosphorus(P), and silicon(Si), some have tried to use them as Si-and P-fertilizers, for producing Ca-Mg-P fertilizers, or as soil amendments in agriculture. However, in the iron metallurgical process, several pollutants in iron ores can inevitably transfer into iron and steel slags, resulting in the enrichment of pollutants both in BFS(mainly nickel(Ni), copper(Cu), mercury, zinc(Zn),cadmium(Cd), chromium(Cr), arsenic, lead, selenium, fluorine(F), and chlorine(Cl)) and in SS(mainly Ni, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, F, and Cl), in which some of pollutants(especially Cr, Ni, F, and Cl) exceed the limits of environmental quality standards for soils and groundwater. The elements of manganese, barium,and vanadium in iron and steel slags are higher than the background values of soil environment. In order to ensure soil health, food safety, and environmental quality, it is suggested that those industrial solid wastes, such as iron and steel slags, without any pretreatment for reducing harmful pollutants and with environmental safety risk, should not be allowed to use for soil remediation or conditioning directly in farmlands by solid waste disposal methods, to prevent pollutants from entering food chain and harming human health.     

Phytolith‐rich biochar increases cotton biomass and silicon‐mineralomass in a highly weathered soil

Non‐essential silicon (Si) is beneficial to plants. It increases the biomass of Si‐accumulator plants by improving photosynthetic activity and alleviating stresses. Desilication, however, takes place because of natural soil weathering and removal of harvested biomass. Pyrolysis transforms Si‐rich biomass into biochar that can be used to supply bioavailable Si. Here, we applied two biochar materials differing in Si content on soils differing in weathering stage: a young Cambisol and a highly weathered Nitisol. We studied the impact of biochar supply on the bioavailability of Si, cotton biomass, and Si mineralomass. The biochar materials derived from, respectively: Miscanthus × giganteus (Mi; 34.6 g Si kg^?1 in biochar) and soft woody material (SW; 0.9 g Si kg^?1 in biochar). They were compared to conventional Si fertilizer wollastonite (Wo; CaSiO₃). Amendments were incorporated in soils at the rate of 3% (w/w). The content of bioavailable Si in soil was determined through 0.01 M CaCl₂ extraction. In the Cambisol, the proportion (CaCl₂ extractable Si: total Si content) was significantly smaller for Mi (0.9%) than for Wo (5.2%). In the Nitisol, this proportion was much larger for Mi (1.4%) than for Wo (0.7%). Mi‐biochar significantly increased Si‐mineralomass relatively to SW‐biochar in both soils. This increase was, however, much larger in the Nitisol (5.9‐fold) than in the Cambisol (2.2‐fold). Mi biochar is thus an alternative Si fertilizer to Wo to supply bioavailable Si, increase plant biomass, and promote the biological cycle of Si in the soil‐plant system in the Nitisol. Besides, it increased soil fertility and soil organic carbon content.     

Silicon fractions in Histosols and Gleysols of a temperate grassland site

The importance of silicon (Si) in nutrition is currently being recognized by its beneficial effects on many crops. Therefore, it is important to determine the soil Si status and to examine different extractants for testing plant‐available Si. Little information is available about the Si status of Histosols and C_org‐rich Gleysols in temperate climate. This study was undertaken (1) to characterize different Si pools in C_org‐rich groundwater soils of an experimental site and (2) to study the influences of small‐scale variability on element distribution. At the experimental site, the thickness of the C_org‐rich layer ranges between 4 and 5 dm overlying fine‐sandy fluvial sediments. Four extractants were evaluated: 0.01 M CaCl₂, 0.5 M acetic acid, 0.1 M sodium pyrophosphate, and 0.1 M Tiron (C₆H₄Na₂O₈S₂ · H₂O). Further, total element content was determined following HNO₃/HF digestion. Calcium chloride–soluble Si shows no significant relations to other parameters analyzed. On the basis of published data, the soils investigated could be classified as Si‐deficient. The Si fraction extracted with acetic acid displays relations to C_org content of the soil and a weak correlation to CaCl₂‐soluble Si, indicating that both solutions extract overlapping but not the same fractions. Sodium pyrophosphate extracts mainly organo‐mineral Fe and Al complexes in the soils studied, which is reflected in a highly positive correlation to C_org. Pyrophosphate‐soluble Si showed a negative relationship to C_org, which means a closer relation of this Si fraction to mineral matter than to C_org. The Tiron solution extracted most Si of all extractants, but this amounts only 1% of the total Si content. Taking into account the element‐specific relationship between pyrophosphate and Tiron‐extractable Fe, Al, and Si, it can be concluded that Tiron dissolves mainly the opaline silica present in Histosols and C_org‐rich Gleysols. The distribution of C_org and ash content shows clear spatial trend at the experimental site, which is correlated to pyrophosphate‐extractable as well as total Si. This small‐scale variability of soil parameters itself is related to a distinct microrelief.     

Sesquioxidic components of selected Taiwan soils

Twenty two surface soils, representing six parent materials and four soil groups, were sampled in Taiwan for the present study.Except in the soil derived from volcanic ash, the sesquioxidic components and relatively easily extractable Si were present only in small amounts in the NaOAc and H₂O₂- NaOAc extractable fractions. In addition to Fe, both Si and Al were present in the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate extracts in considerable amounts, indicating that Si and Al were either present separately or in association with Fe in the sesquioxidic fractions of the soils. The amounts of Si, Al and Fe extracted by the dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate and boiling KOH treatments differed from sample to sample, indicating that they are important variables in the nature of the soils studied.The amounts of the ammonium oxalate-extractable Al and Fe, representing the noncrystalline sesquioxidic products of relatively recent weathering, also differed with parent materials and pedogenic processes. The statistical data indicate that the ammonium oxalate-extractable Al and Fe are related to the contents of organic matter but not to acidity and the contents of clay. The percentage distribution of the extractable Al in the > 2 μm fractions of the selected soil samples ranged from 22.0 to 52.5% and that of the extractable Fe from 11.1 to 38.1%, indicating that the active non-crystalline Al and Fe components in the non-clay fractions deserve close attention in the study of pedogenesis and other soil physicochemical reactions in relation to soil fertility and environmental protection.     

Bagasse Ash Application Stimulates Agricultural Soil C Sequestration Without Inhibiting Soil Enzyme Activity

Disposal of ashes from agro-industrial waste has become an important issue that can cause serious environmental problems. These materials may be used in agriculture for soil fertility improvement and carbon sequestration. The effect of applying bagasse ash (BA), rice husk ash (RHA), and RHA mixed with fly ash (MA) to wheat was evaluated on soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial activity in a loamy sand soil after four years of wheat-rice cropping. BA application resulted in C accrual at 525 kg ha^?1 y^?1 in soil, whereas RHA and MA did not have a significant effect. BA increased coarse particulate (cPOC) and mineral-associated organic matter (MinOC) and extractable C pools viz. hot water soluble, potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)-oxidizable, easily oxidizable, non-oxidizable, and microbial biomass C. BA application also improved overall microbial and oxidative activity and stimulated fluorescein diacetate (FDA), dehydrogenase, and cellulase enzyme activities in soil. Application of RHA though did not lead to net C sequestration, yet it increased dehydrogenase and cellulase activities. Compared to unamended soil, MA application increased MinOC and FDA activity in soil. After 4 years of their application, none of the ashes adversely influenced soil biological activity expressed in terms of enzyme activities suggesting that these ashes can be disposed to agricultural soils. However, effects of their long-term application on soil biological processes need to be further investigated.     

Silicon nutrition of rice is affected by soil pH,weathering and silicon fertilisation

Silicon (Si) is a beneficial element for tropical grasses such as rice (Oryza sativa) and responses to applications of Si are common on highly weathered soils. However, the importance of pH (and hence Si speciation), weathering and fertilisation on Si uptake is still poorly understood. The responses of rice to Si fertilisation were studied in two variably weathered basalt soils (Red Ferrosol, Grey Vertosol) adjusted at different pH values (5.5–9.5) with three levels of acidulated wollastonite. Soil Si was extracted using deionised water (H₂O), 0.01 M CaCl₂, or 0.5 M NH₄OAc. Significant increases in Si uptake and rice biomass were observed in the Red Ferrosol following fertilisation (p < 0.01). Greater biomass production was observed at lower pH, due to decreased Si sorption and higher solution Si concentrations. Silicon uptake by rice was greater at low pH, despite similar extractable Si concentrations; suggesting a relationship between Si speciation and uptake. In contrast, Si uptake and rice shoot dry matter in the less weathered Grey Vertosol were unaffected by Si fertilisation (p > 0.05) except at the highest rate and lowest pH (5.5). Solution Si concentrations were controlled by precipitation/polymerisation reactions in equilibrium with specific soil pH values rather than adsorption processes. Silicon speciation effects (monosilicic acid vs. silicate ions) were unable to be measured due to an induced phosphorus deficiency in both soils at pH values > 8.5. In conclusion, weathered soils are more responsive to Si fertilisation and Si uptake is increased at low pH.     

掺合料和水胶比对水泥基材料水化产物和力学性能的影响

掺合料和水胶比是影响混凝土性能发展的重要因素。该研究结合纯硅酸盐水泥和掺合料的水化反应机理,推导出复合水泥基材料的水化产物、理论最大掺量和孔隙率的计算公式,探究粉煤灰、钢渣和锂渣掺量对水化产物、孔隙率以及砂浆力学性能的影响,并推算出3种掺合料在混凝土中的理论最大掺量。结果表明:同掺量的粉煤灰、钢渣和锂渣掺入后,复合胶凝材料水化产物CH、CSH和总孔隙率较纯水泥砂浆要小;相比4种砂浆中水化产物而言,按水化产物CSH含量排序为水泥砂浆水泥-锂渣砂浆水泥-钢渣砂浆水泥-粉煤灰砂浆;按总孔隙率大小排序为水泥-钢渣砂浆水泥-粉煤灰砂浆水泥-锂渣砂浆水泥砂浆;按理论最大掺量值大小排序为粉煤灰锂渣钢渣。经砂浆力学性能测试发现:当掺量为20%时,水泥-锂渣砂浆后期的抗压强度优于纯水泥砂浆,若掺量再增加时,水泥-粉煤灰砂浆、水泥-锂渣砂浆和水泥-钢渣砂浆的力学性能均低于纯水泥砂浆。综合上述研究发现锂渣的活性较钢渣和粉煤灰要好,该研究可为掺合料在砂浆和混凝土中的使用提供参考。     

粉煤灰的理化性质与农业化学行为的研究

对粉煤灰的理化性质和农业化学行为研究结果表明，粉煤灰颗粒以物理性砂粒为主体，主要物相为玻璃体（或无定形物质）。硅、铁、铝、磷、钙、镁的含量与土壤大致相同;锌、铜、钼、硼等微量元素高于土壤中的含量;重金属元素含量均未超过国家规定的控制标准，并以集合体的形态存在，活性低。粉煤炭有效硅（SiO2）含量在2.56～11.57g／kg之间，其硅的释放速度比土壤高2.0～11.0倍，施用量在75t／hm2以上能为水稻等禾本科作物提供相当数量的硅素。Elovich方程比较适合描述粉煤灰硅的释放过程，其b值能反映硅释放能力的大小。粉煤灰中磷的有效性低，对加入磷具有较强的吸附固定作用，并随粉煤灰含水量增加而显著增大。粉煤灰无论是作为土壤改良剂还是复合肥填充料，都必须考虑粉煤炭对磷的固定作用。     

Evaluation of Si availability in slag fertilizers by an extraction method using a cation exchange resin

A new extraction method for the evaluation of Si availability in slag fertilizers was developed based on findings on the dissolution process of the slags in paddy fields. In the method, the slags were dissolved in water with the addition of a weakly acidic cation exchange resin (H form). The effects of the slag/water ratio, the amount of resin, and temperature on the Si dissolution from the slags were examined in order to determine adequate extraction conditions. The Si dissolution from the slags was enhanced by the addition of the resin. The pH of the extractant was well controlled between 6 and 7 during the extraction. The percentage of the amount of Si extracted by traditional evaluation methods using 0.5 м HCl or an acetate buffer solution to the total amount of Si in the slags was much higher than the Si recovery rate by rice plant (Oryza sativa L. var. Nihonbare) which was measured in our previous study. Moreover, there was no correlation between these values. On the other hand, the percentage of Si extracted by the new method was in the same range as that of the Si recovery rate and a positive correlation was obtained. As a result, Si availability in the slags could be evaluated more precisely by using the method proposed here than by using the traditional methods.     

Sorption of atrazine, 2,4‐D,nitrobenzene and pentachlorophenol by urban and industrial wastes

This study was carried out to investigate the sorption properties of man‐made soil developed from sewage sludge, municipal wastes, brick and mortar debris, harbour sludge, sand fills, fly ash, and wastes from coking plants and coal mines. The composition of organic matter in the samples was analysed, and the sorption isotherms of four reference chemicals (nitrobenzene, atrazine, 2,4‐D, pentachlorophenol) were determined. Fly ash, which contains up to 89% of its carbon as Black Carbon, showed a strong affinity to all four chemicals. For the other waste materials, a strong correlation between the logarithm of the Freundlich adsorption constant, K_f, and the logarithm of organic carbon, C_o, was established (r = 0.85–0.96). This holds for the non‐ionic nitrobenzene and also, within a certain pH range depending on the pK_a of the compound, for the three ionizable organic compounds (atrazine: pH > 4; 2,4‐D: pH > 5; PCP: pH > 6). At pH near the pK_a value the sorption is sensitive to pH. There were no statistically significant differences between the waste materials and the natural soils in the relations between logK_f and logC_o for either ionic or non‐ionic chemicals. This result suggests that the method devised for estimating the sorption of organic chemicals in natural soils based on their content of organic carbon is equally valuable for the waste materials, with the exception of fly ash which contains a large amount of Black Carbon.     

Water repellency of fly ash‐enriched forest soils from eastern Germany

Fly ash‐enriched soils occur widely throughout the industrial regions of eastern Germany and in other heavily industrialized areas. A limited amount of research has suggested that fly ash enrichment alters the water repellency (WR) characteristics of soil. This study concentrates on the influence of fly ash enrichment on WR of forest soils with a focus on forest floor horizons (FFHs). The soils were a Technosol developed from pure lignite fly ash, FFHs with lignite fly ash, and FFHs without lignite fly ash enrichment. Three different methods (water drop penetration time, WDPT, test; water and ethanol sorptivity measurement and the derived contact angle, θ_R; and the Wilhelmy‐plate method contact angle, θ_wpm) were used to characterize soil WR. Additionally, carbon composition was determined using ¹³C‐NMR spectra to interpret the influence of the organic matter. This study showed that the actual WR characteristics of undisturbed, fly ash‐enriched soils can be explained in terms of the composition of soil organic matter, with the fly ash content playing only a minimal role. Regardless of the huge amounts of mainly mineral fly ash enrichment, all undisturbed FFHs were comparable in their WR characteristics and their carbon compositions, which were dominated by recently‐formed organic substances. The pure fly ash deposit was strongly influenced by lignite remains, with the topsoil having a greater content of recent plant residues. Thus, the undisturbed topsoil was more repellent than the subsoil. When homogenized samples were used, we found a distinct effect of fly ash enrichment and structure on WR. Water repellency of the pure fly ash horizons did not differ distinctly, while the fly ash enrichment in the FFHs caused a significant reduction in WR. The methods used (WDPT, θ_R and θ_wpm) identified these differences similarly. These results led to the assumption that water‐repellent structures of the topsoils were probably the result of hydrophobic coatings of recently formed organic substances, whereby the initially high wettability of the mainly mineral, hydrophilic fly ash particles was reduced.     

Establishing Soil Silicon Test Procedure and Critical Silicon Level for Rice in Louisiana Soils

Calibration of crop responses to applied silicon (Si) serves as a basis for developing Si fertilizer recommendation guidelines. A greenhouse experiment was set up in a randomized complete block design with five replications, two sources of Si (wollastonite and slag) and four Si rates (0, 170, 340 and 680 kg ha^?1) to calibrate plant-available Si for growing rice in Louisiana soils. Silicon concentrations were determined in soils using seven different extraction procedures. Based on a quadratic model (p < 0.05), the estimated soil Si critical level using 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) for Sharkey clay soil was 110 mg kg^?1 while for Crowley silt loam and Commerce silt loam, levels were 37 and 43 mg kg^?1, respectively. These results suggest that suitability of an extractant that gives the best estimate of plant-available Si could considerably depend on soil type and it is unlikely that there is a universal extractant for all soils.     

施用废渣后土壤硅素释放特性及其影响因子的研究Ⅱ土壤硅素释放特性及其与pH的关系

选取5种工矿废渣进行室内模拟试验,研究不同种类工矿废渣作为硅肥施用对土壤硅素释放特性及pH的影响。结果表明:y=kxm方程可以很好地描述土壤硅素释放的动力学特征;施用废渣可显著提高水田土壤硅素释放速率,增加土壤硅素释放量,提高土壤溶液的pH值,土壤溶液pH与培养127天硅素累积释放量间呈极显著直线正相关关系;三种高炉渣(A、B、F)的施用效果明显好于粉煤灰(H)和金刚石矿渣(J),即三种高炉渣更适于作为生产硅肥的原料。     

Determination of Critical Soil Silicon Levels for Rice Production in Louisiana Using Different Extraction Procedures

While silicon (Si) fertilization is widely practiced in rice production, establishing critical soil Si levels has remained understudied. Field trials were established at 12 sites across Louisiana from 2013 to 2015 to determine critical soil Si for rice cultivation. Five silica slag (14% Si) rates at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 Mg ha^?1 and two lime rates (2 and 4 Mg ha^?1) were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Post harvest soil samples were analyzed for Si using seven extraction procedures. The critical soil Si levels established by the linear plateau model using 0.5 M acetic acid-1 hr (OAc-1) extraction procedure were 36, 41 and 50 mg kg^?1 for plant Si uptake, grain yield, and relative yield as response variables, respectively. Generally, soils having high initial Si and pH had minimal responses to Si fertilization, whereas Si content of soils with low initial Si was significantly increased.     

Effect of biochar amendment on soil‐silicon availability and rice uptake

Rice growth and its resistance to pests had been often constrained by soil‐silicon (Si) availability. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of biochar soil amendment (BSA) to improve Si availability in paddy soils. A cross‐site field trail with BSA was conducted in six locations with different climatic and crop‐production conditions across S China. Plant‐available Si content before field‐trials establishment and after rice harvest, as well as Si content in rice shoot were determined. Varying with site conditions, plant‐available Si content of soil was observed to increase significantly with BSA in most sites. Significant increase in rice shoot Si was detected in four out of the six sites, which was well correlated to the concurrent increase in soil pH under BSA treatment. This study demonstrates an important role of BSA to improve Si availability and uptake by rice mainly through increasing soil pH of the acid and slightly acid rice soils.