Effect of crop residue biochar on soil acidity amelioration in strongly acidic tea garden soils

Strongly acidic soil (e.g. pH < 5.0) is detrimental to tea productivity and quality. Wheat, rice and peanut biochar produced at low temperature (max 300 °C) and differing in alkalinity content were incorporated into Xuan‐cheng (Ultisol; initial pH_{soil/water = 1/2.5} 4.12) and Ying‐tan soil (Ultisol; initial pH _{soil/water = 1/2.5} 4.75) at 10 and 20 g/kg (w/w) to quantify their liming effect and evaluate their effectiveness for acidity amelioration of tea garden soils. After a 65‐day incubation at 25 °C, biochar application significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil pH and exchangeable cations and reduced Al saturation of both tea soils. Association of H⁺ ions with biochar and decarboxylation processes was likely to be the main factor neutralizing soil acidity. Further, biochar application reduced acidity production from the N cycle. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in exchangeable cations and reductions in exchangeable acidity and Al saturation were observed as the rate of biochar increased, but there were no further effects on soil pH. The lack of change in soil pH at the higher biochar rate may be due to the displacement of exchangeable acidity and the high buffering capacity of biochar, thereby retarding a further liming effect. Hence, a significant linear correlation between reduced exchangeable acidity and alkalinity balance was found in biochar‐amended soils (P < 0.05). Low‐temperature biochar of crop residues is suggested as a potential amendment to ameliorate acidic tea garden soils.     

Content and distribution of lithium in La Pampa soils (Argentina)

Abstract

Extractable li with ammonium acetate was determined by flamephotometry, in normal soils, alkaline soils and saline soils in the Province of La Pampa (Argentina).

The soils were originated from differents parent material, with various rainfalls (arid to subhumid climate) and management.

The higher contents were found in saline soils. In the other soils the extractable lithium content depends on the parent material, but not on rainfall.

Different patterns of vertical and horizontal distribution of extractable lithium were found.

The origin of extractable lithium is here discussed.     

The pH of bodenburg silt loam soil as related to forest cover and time under cultivation

Abstract

Soil pH's were evaluated at three time intervals following land clearing at two locations in the Matanuska Valley. Seasonal fluctuations of pH values over a seven‐year period as determined in water (pH_w,) and 0.01 M CaCl₂ (pH_s) were additionally evaluated at these locations. A statistical rise in soil pH occurred at both locations with clearing and subsequent cultivation. Soil reaction differences related to season and year were not consistent and were not related to a definite pattern. No relationship between monthly or seasonal precipitation and the soil reaction was found. The correlation coefficient between pH_w and pH_s was highly significant. Work of other investigators is discussed in the interpretation of the data collected.     

The Magnesium Status of Some Fiji Soils

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential macronutrient element for all living organisms, but literature reports of Mg deficiency in agriculture and forestry appear regularly. In many tropical areas, Mg is added to soils by using dolomitic limestone and as minor additions through impurities in some fertilizers. Minimal information is available on the Mg status of Fiji soils, and deficiencies have been observed in some crops. This study investigated the Mg status of a range of Fiji soils and found that major agricultural soils of Fiji contain variable amounts of Mg, both in the total concentrations and in the different forms of the element present. The variations can be related to the soil parent materials, degree of weathering, clay content, and mineralogy. Low plant‐available Mg concentrations are present in many of the highly weathered soils with limited reserves present. Development of intensive agriculture should consider Mg when developing fertilizer programs.     

Magnesium fixation—a possible cause of negative yield responses to lime applications

Abstract

Negative yield responses are common when highly leached soils are limed to neutrality. A number of explanations have been proposed, but very few have been experimentally verified or are entirely acceptable. In this paper the problem is re‐examined and a new possible causal mechanism is proposed.

Data assembled from the literature are used to demonstrate that a consistently observed reduction in Mg uptake by plants when soils are limed to neutrality is often accompanied by a generally ignored reduction in exchangeable soil Mg. Using data for soils of North American and African origin, it is demonstrated that when the soils were limed with pure Ca sources, the level of exchangeable soil Mg was reduced between 36 and 93%. Furthermore, after treatment with a Mg containing liming material, initial increases in the level of exchangeable Mg were followed by similarly large decreases when the soil pH approaches neutrality.

The applicability of known Mg fixation mechanisms is briefly discussed and the suggestion is made that Mg fixation may offer an acceptable explanation for some of the yield depressions observed on liming to neutrality. Research is currently in progress to gather sufficient data to answer the many questions raised.     

Adsorption-desorption behaviour of flufenacet in five different soils of India

Adsorption-desorption of the herbicide flufenacet (FOE 5043) has been studied in five soils from different locations in India (Delhi, Ranchi, Nagpur, Kerala and Assam) varying in their physicochemical properties. The organic matter (OM) content varied from 0.072 to 0.864%, clay content from 2.5 to 43.7% and pH from 4.45 to 8.35. The adsorption studies were carried out using a batch equilibration technique. Ten grams of soil were equilibrated with 20 ml of aqueous 0.01 M CaCl2 solution containing different concentrations (0-30 mg litre-1) of flufenacet. After equilibration, an aliquot of supernatant was taken out for analysis. During desorption, the amount withdrawn for analysis was replenished with fresh 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and further equilibrated. Desorption studies were carried out with the 30 mg litre-1 concentration of flufenacet only. The adsorption studies revealed that there was moderate to high adsorption of flufenacet considering the comparatively low organic carbon content in the five test soils. Average Kd values ranged from 0.77 to 4.52 and Freundlich KF values from 0.76 to 4.39. The highest adsorption was observed in Kerala soil (OM 0.786%; clay 25%; pH 4.45) followed by Ranchi, Nagpur and Delhi soils, and the lowest in Assam soil (OM 0.553%; clay 2.5%; pH 6.87). The trend in adsorption could be attributed to the chemical nature of flufenacet and the physicochemical properties of the soil such as pH, OM and clay contents. OM and clay contents were positively correlated whereas pH was negatively correlated. Soils having low pH, high OM and high clay contents showed higher adsorption. Desorption studies revealed that there was a hysteresis effect in all the soils. Hysteresis coefficient values (ratio of n(ad) and n(des)) varied from 0.09 to 0.45. The study implies that, because of its moderate to high adsorption, flufenacet is likely to persist in soil for some time. However, the possibility of its movement by leaching or surface run off is less.     

The potential of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and other biological control organisms for suppressing fusarium wilt of banana

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of nonpathogenic F. oxysporum and Trichoderma isolates from suppressive soils in South Africa to suppress fusarium wilt of banana in the glasshouse. Several biological control agents and commercial biological control products were included in the study. The isolates were first screened in vitro on potato dextrose agar. In glasshouse evaluations, the fungal and bacterial isolates were established on banana roots before they were replanted in pathogen-infested soil, while the commercial biocontrol agents were applied as directed by the supplier. Banana plantlets were evaluated for disease development after 7 weeks. In vitro tests showed none of the nonpathogenic isolates suppressed Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense ( Foc ), while slight suppression was observed with the two Trichoderma isolates. Results of the glasshouse evaluations revealed that two of the nonpathogenic F. oxysporum isolates, CAV 255 and CAV 241, reduced fusarium wilt incidence by 87·4 and 75·0%, respectively. The known biological control agent Fo47 did not suppress Foc significantly. Pseudomonas fluorescens strain WCS 417, known for its ability to suppress other fusarium wilt diseases (WCS 417), reduced disease incidence by 87·4%. These isolates should be further evaluated for potential application in the field, independently and in combination.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</Emphasis>: a new potential biocontrol agent of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ralstonia solanacearum</Emphasis>, causal agent of potato brown rot

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated from the rhizosphere of eggplant in the Nile Delta of Egypt, and its antagonistic potential against Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2, the causal agent of potato brown rot, was in vitro evaluated on KB agar medium and in vivo on potato plants. In vitro, four isolates of S. maltophilia (PD3531, PD3532, PD3533, and PD3534) appeared antagonistic. The isolate (PD3533) was screened as the most promising antagonist for the in vivo tests. In the greenhouse, the antagonist was applied directly to soil or by bacterization of potato eyepieces. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia significantly suppressed potato brown rot in Egyptian clay soil but not in Dutch clay soil. Survival of a rifampicin and chloramphenicol-resistant S. maltophilia strain PD4560 was investigated in two pairs of clay soils, conventionally and organically managed, from Egypt and the Netherlands. The survival of S. maltophilia was significantly less in Dutch than in Egyptian soils, while the converse occurred for R. solanacearum. These results are in agreement with those obtained in the in vivo biocontrol tests. In conclusion, S. maltophilia may be useful for control of brown rot in the area where it was originally isolated, the Nile Delta in Egypt.     

Soil Potassium Indices and Clay‐Sized Particles affecting Banana‐Wilt Expression Caused by Soil Fungus in Banana Plantation Development on Transported Volcanic Soils

Abstract

Relations among the expression of banana disease symptoms caused by the soil fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, soil potassium (K)–sodium (Na) properties [soluble K‐Na ratios (SK/SS), potential buffering capacity for K (KBC), potassium adsorption ratio (KAR)], and clay‐sized particles were evaluated in Sorribas plots from the Canary Islands. Soils were sampled in areas of Sorribas where banana plants show positive or negative wilting symptoms characteristic of Panama disease. The Bartoli method was used for soil dispersion (Na resin). This method was able to show a clear separation between diseased and disease‐free areas by the amount of clay‐sized particles. Results also show that the greatest SK/SS ratios and clay‐sized particles in soils from diseased areas could explain the increase of water‐stable aggregate mass in these soils and the release of available iron (Fe) to soil solution in diseased areas, at least in Sorribas cultivated soils under the arid climate conditions of the Canary Islands.     

苦水玫瑰产地土壤重金属污染评价与溯源解析

探明特色农产品产地土壤重金属污染特征及其污染来源可促进特色农作物产业的健康有序发展,对于助力乡村振兴和发展乡村特色产业具有重要意义。该研究以苦水玫瑰产地土壤为研究对象,应用内梅罗综合污染指数法、污染负荷指数法和改进物元可拓模型来量化土壤重金属As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb和Zn的污染水平并进行对比分析,还利用正定因子矩阵模型(positive matrix factorization, PMF)进行土壤重金属溯源解析。结果表明:1)研究区土壤除Hg和Cr的均值低于兰州市和甘肃省土壤背景值之外,其余As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的均值都高于二者的背景值,但所有元素的测定值均低于《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准(试行)(GB 15 618-2018)》(pH值大于7.5)的筛选值。2)内梅罗综合污染指数和污染负荷指数分别处于0.71～2.02和0.64～1.48之间,均值为1.41和1.17,土壤总体上为轻度污染。改进物元可拓模型评价结果显示研究区土壤总体上处于尚清洁状态,与内梅罗综合污染指数与污染负荷指数评价结果基本一致,但改进物元可拓模型的评价结果更具有实际指导意...