A quick method of soil moisture determination

Abstract

The method described here is useful for the quick determination of soil moisture, especially when many determinations are to be made at a time. The only pieces of apparatus required are some wide‐mouthed conical flasks, a few pieces of glass rod and a balance. The principle involves recording the weight of the flask filled with water and soil sample of known weight (A). This flask weight (H), and the predetermined soil particle density (D_p) and weight of the water‐filled flask (G) are then used to calculate moisture percentage (MP) in the soil sample from the formula:

The method was compared with conventional oven‐drying technique for a wide range of soil textures, moisture contents and other contrasting soil properties. The results obtained showed that the accuracy, precision and simplicity of the method are good, particularly for rapid practical uses.     

Accumulation and Mobility of Salts in Soil as Influenced by Primary Biomethanated Spentwash

A soil column laboratory experiment was carried out at the central campus, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, India during 2008–2009 to study the accumulation and mobility of salts in Typic Haplusterts as influenced by primary biomethanated spentwash (PBSW). The PBSW was applied in three different levels (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 cm) and then tap water with low salinity and low sodium hazard (C₁S₁ class) was used to carry out leaching in four different levels of water at the pore volume of soil (WPVS) (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0). The electrical conductivity (EC) in the soil increased significantly with increasing levels of PBSW and decreased with increasing levels of WPVS in surface (0–15 cm deep) and subsurface (15–30 cm deep) soil layers. The exchangeable calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), and potassium (K⁺) increased, whereas exchangeable sodium (Na⁺) decreased with increasing levels of PBSW and WPVS in surface and subsurface layers of soil. The organic carbon content increased with increasing levels of PBSW and decreased with increasing levels of WPVS in both the soil layers. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased with increasing levels of PBSW and WPVS in both the soil layers. The exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) decreased with increasing levels of PBSW and WPVS over the initial values of soil in both the layers. The pH of saturated paste (pHs) was reduced and electrical conductivity of extract (ECe) was increased with increasing levels of PBSW and WPVS in both the layers. The Na⁺ content of saturation paste extract increased significantly with increasing levels of PBSW and WPVS in both the soil layers.     

Relationship between Olsen P and Ammonium Lactate–Extractable P in Portuguese Acid Soils

The soil phosphorus (P) test in Portugal is based on extraction with ammonium lactate (AL) at acidic pH. Because this test is rarely used in other countries, it is desirable to see whether the AL-P values correlate with the more commonly used P tests. In this work, we compared AL-P with bicarbonate-extractable P (Olsen's method) for a group of 48 samples from Portuguese acidic soils differing widely in P status. Despite their contrasting composition, both reagents extracted phosphate from the same sources, albeit in different proportions. Both Olsen P and AL-P were strongly correlated with resin-extractable and dilute electrolyte-desorbable P, which are respectively related to the soil contents in phytoavailable P and P that can be released to runoff or drainage water. Olsen P and AL-P were strongly correlated (R² = 0.870), the correlation became stronger when three overfertilized soils were excluded (Olsen P = 2.35 + 0.45 AL-P; R² = 0.908; P ≤ 0.001, n = 45). No correlation was observed for a group of soils recently fertilized with Gafsa phosphate probably because the acidic AL reagent dissolved residual calcium phosphate, thus overestimating the soil content in desorbable P. On the basis of the present results and the AL-P-based fertility classes used for fertilizer recommendation purposes, Olsen P–based fertility classes were tentatively proposed for Portuguese acidic soils.     

Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer Rate on Irrigated Russet Burbank Potato

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is routinely applied to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Manitoba, Canada; however, little information is available regarding P responses in this region. Field studies were conducted from 2003 through 2006 to determine the impact of P rate [0, 15, 29, 43 kg P ha^?1 as broadcast incorporated monoammonium phosphate (MAP)] on Russet Burbank potato. Increasing P rate resulted in a linear increase in marketable yield in 2005, a quadratic increase in 2006, and no effect in 2003 and 2004. Phosphorus application had no effect on the yield of tubers <85 g, tuber number, or quality, but petiole P concentration and postharvest soil-test P levels increased with increasing P rate. Results of this and other studies show that P fertilization may improve potato yields, although increases are not completely predictable. Additional research is required to refine soil-test guidelines and petiole P sufficiency levels for this region.     

Effect of high rates of zinc on several crops grown on an irrigated plainfield sand

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to determine whether Zn applied for pathogen control could accumulate to a level which would be toxic to snapbeans, cucumbers, or corn. Zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) was applied at rates varying from 0 to 363 kg Zn/ha on a Flainfield loamy sand to approximate 3, 9, 27 and 81 years of fungicidal treatment.

Even at the high rate of Zn, yields of snapbeans, cucumbers, or corn generally were not reduced. As rates of applied Zn increased, there was a corresponding increase in the level of Zn in the leaf tissue of all crops grown. At the high Zn rate, snapbean and cucumber leaf tissue accumulated over 350 ppm Zn. Available soil Zn was extracted with 0.1N HCl, EDTA, or DTPA. Highly significant correlations were observed between the Zn removed by each extractant and plant tissue Zn, thus, indicating that the various extractants were equally effective in predicting Zn uptake.

Very little downward movement of Zn was observed. Two and one‐half years after application, the Zn had leached to a depth of only 30 cm in the soil profile at the higher Zn rates.

These data indicate that application of Zn‐containing fungicides and bactericides should not cause a Zn toxicity problem on the Plainfield sand in the foreseeable future.     

The effect of gamma‐radiation on the release of carbon dioxide from fresh soil

Abstract

The release of CO₂ from fresh soil at medium moisture was examined for 14 days after the application of gamma‐radiation over the range 0.025 ‐ 10 Mrad. All doses stimulated the release of CO₂ compared with non‐irradiated soil, but there was no extra yield of gas between 4 and 10 Mrad. Rapid evolution occurred during irradiation and over the next 24 hours, but towards the end of incubation both irradiated and untreated soil produced CO₂ at similar rates.

Studies to elucidate the origin of CO₂ indicated that the contribution from enzymes was predominant up to 2 Mrad, but at 10 Mrad, 45% of the gas could be formed by radiolytic decarboxylation of soil organic matter. Consequently, heavy irradiation of soil cannot stop production of CO₂, and if high concentrations do interfere with the application of radiation to specific soil research investigations, the gas should be displaced or allowed to diffuse from the sample.     

The Sustainability of Quinoa Production in Southern Bolivia: from Misrepresentations to Questionable Solutions. Comments on Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390–399)

Reviewing the situation of quinoa production in southern Bolivia, Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390) argues that the booming export market has a negative effect on the environment and on the home consumption of quinoa, thereby leading to an environmental disaster in the region. In view of the scarcity of scientific knowledge on the rapid social and environmental dynamics in the region, we consider that Jacobsen’s review misrepresents the situation of quinoa production in southern Bolivia. Specifically, we argue that (i) the data presented by Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390) do not support any drop in quinoa crop yield supposed to reflect soil degradation and (ii) his demonstration regarding home consumption of quinoa is ill‐founded from both a nutritional and a cultural point of view. We suggest that the diffusion of the arguments exposed by Jacobsen (2011, J. Agron. Crop Sci. 197: 390), because of their flaws, might have strong negative impacts on those concerned with sustainable food production and fair‐trade with developing countries. We conclude that, rather than reinforced agro‐technical controls on local farmers, the rising competition in the international quinoa market requires a shift towards an ethical economy and ethical research cooperation with quinoa producers.     

Effects of a plastic cover on soil moisture change in a Mediterranean climatic regime

Water deficit is a serious problem for most agricultural crops, especially in arid–semiarid regions, and limits sustainable development. Production can be improved by reducing evapotranspiration and loss of infiltrated water by the use of a plastic cover. We monitored soil moisture fortnightly over 1 yr using a neutron probe near four trees in an olive grove (Olea europaea, var. Arbequina), two of which had a plastic cover buried in the topsoil around them. These trees were monitored using three neutron probe access tubes per tree to compare the behaviour of soil moisture over time with two other identically instrumented and nearby trees with no cover. Analysis was based on the resultant moisture profiles. The plastic cover retained moisture and increased soil water residence time. During the dry season, the amount of water retained in the plots was at most 15–20% greater in the mid‐season and at least 5–6% greater at the end of season than in the central part of the plots near the trunk. The plastic cover was effective to ca. 50 cm with maximum water content near the soil surface. During the wet season, the cover did not affect soil water. Soil moisture was greater near the tree trunk as a result of stemflow and throughfall.     

广西富川纽荷尔脐橙园土壤和植株叶片营养状况研究与评价

对广西富川县60个纽荷尔脐橙园土壤和叶片样品进行营养成分检测分析。结果表明，所调查纽荷尔脐橙园土壤偏酸，土壤有机质、有效钾、有效锌、交换性钙含量较高；碱解氮、有效磷、有效铁和有效铜含量中等；交换性镁、有效锰和有效硼含量较低。脐橙叶片中磷、钾和铁含量大部分处于高量水平，少量处于适量范围，但是铜和锌的含量多数处于低量水平。纽荷尔脐橙园土壤pH值与交换性镁呈极显著正相关性，与有效钾呈极显著负相关，土壤有机质与有效锌呈极显著正相关。土壤交换性钙与叶片钙含量呈显著正相关、交换性镁与叶片镁的含量呈显著正相关，土壤交换性钙、镁与叶片锰含量呈极显著负相关，土壤酸度和土壤中营养元素的有效含量对树体营养元素的吸收和营养水平有较大影响，各个果园的氮、磷、钾肥施用极其不均，大部分果园钾肥施用过量。本研究对指导富川县纽荷尔脐橙园配方施肥和营养调节具有重大意义。