Effect of Tillage System on Soil Strength and Bulk Density of Vertisols

Improving the soil environment for seedling emergence and plant growth is possible using a good tillage system. From March 1993 until June 1994, the effect of tillage system and plant residue incorporation practices on the bulk density and the soil strength of the surface layer of a vertisol (very fine, smectitic, thermic, chromic Haploxerert), on a less than 1 % slope, was investigated. The two tillage methods were moldboard (T1) and chisel (T2). The two plant residue incorporation dates were in August (R1) and in October (R2). Results indicated that R1 gave significantly higher bulk density than R2, while the different tillage treatments had no significant effect. Soil strength was significantly lower under T1 and R2 than under the other treatments.     

福建省变性土的性质、形成和肥力

The zonal soils in the south subtropical zone of Fujian are lateritic red soils.A type of dark clayey soils.which was historically defined as lateritic red soils,derived from weathering products of the basalts was indicated by the investigation results to be markedly different from lateritic red soils and could be classified as Typical Hapluderts.They are distributed as complex zones with the lateritic red soils.The vertisols in this region were considered as a type of lithogenic soils and the vertic characteristics delay and inhibit the soils from allitic processes and then formed an independent soil type.The vertisols have higher fertility and better agricultural production characters than the lateritic red soils.The different ways in utilizing and managing these soils according to their properties and fertility are also suggested.     

铁锰结核的元素组成及微形态特征

本文研究了钙质变性土中铁锰结核的矿质全量组成、微量元素丰度，微形态特征以及土壤和铁锰结核中各形态铁锰氧化物的组成特点，结果表明，铁锰结核中仍以ＳｉＯ２含量最高，但Ｆｅ２Ｏ３含量增加超过了Ａｌ２Ｏ３、ＭｎＯ含量大大超过了Ｋ２Ｏ、Ｎａ２Ｏ、ＴｉＯ２和ＭｇＯ的含量，所测定的９种微量元素中以Ｂａ含量最高，其次是Ｖ、Ｎｉ、Ｃｏ３种铁族元素，Ｃｕ和Ｐｂ含量也较高，但Ｚｎ和Ｃｒ含量较低，一般黑土层中的结核较小，     

The effect of potassium on yield,nutrient uptake and efficiency of teff (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter) on vertisols of North Western Ethiopian Highlands

Vertisols are characterized by deficiency of nutrients and recently, potassium (K), a major plant nutrient in crops, is gaining attention because of crop removal, fixation by clay minerals and leaching. A field experiment was conducted during the 2015 and 2016 main cropping seasons to test the effect of potash fertilizer on Vertisols of East Gojjam at Gudalima and Dejen/Tik sites using teff crop. The K rates (applied as muriate of potash) were 0, 50,100, and 150?kg ha^?1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The results indicated that the plant height, panicle length, number of effective tillers, dry matter and grain yield of teff increased significantly (P?<?0.05) with applied K. The highest dry matter and grain yield (6966.4 and 2418.2 kg ha^?1, respectively) were obtained from the application of 100 kg ha^?1 KCl. Total uptake of N, P, and K were enhanced significantly with K treated plots than those without and K efficiency was improved due to the rate of K. The present study demonstrated the importance of K application to supplement NPS for optimum dry matter and grain yield of teff on Vertisols of the study sites.     

Effect of post‐methanation effluent on soil physical properties under a soybean‐wheat system in a Vertisol

Post‐methanation effluent (PME) generated through bio‐methanation of distillery effluent, a foul‐smelling, dark colored by‐product of distillery industries, is applied to arable land in some areas near the vicinity of the distillery industries as an amendment. The PME contains considerable amount of organic matter and salt besides its high plant‐nutrient content. The present investigation was conducted for three years during 1999–2002 on soybean‐wheat cropping sequence to evaluate the effect of graded levels of post‐methanation effluent (PME) on soil physical properties and crop productivity in a deep Vertisol of central India. Six application doses of PME viz. S_2.5+W₀: 2.5 cm PME applied to soybean and wheat on residual nutrition, S_2.5+W_1.25: 2.5 cm PME to soybean and 1.25 cm to wheat, S_5.0+W₀: 5 cm PME to soybean and wheat on residual nutrition, S_5.0+W_2.5: 5.0 cm PME to soybean and 2.5 cm to wheat, S_10.0+W₀: 10 cm PME to soybean and wheat on residual nutrition, and S_10.0+W_5.0: 10.0 cm PME to soybean and 5.0 cm to wheat, were compared with 100% recommended NPK+FYM ? 4 Mg ha^–1 and control (no fertilizer, manure or PME). The application of PME increased the organic carbon content and electrical conductivity of the soil compared to control and 100% NPK+FYM treatment. The organic C content was maximum in S_10.0+W_5.0 (11.2 g kg^–1) and minimum in control (5.2 g kg^–1). Electrical conductivity increased from 0.47 dS m^–1 in control to 1.58 dS m^–1 in highest dose of PME (S_10.0+W_5.0). The PME treatments have not affected the soil pH. The application of PME showed a significant improvement in the physical properties of the soil. The mean weight diameter (MWD), percent water‐stable aggregation (% WSA), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat), and water retention (WR) at 0.033 MPa suction were significantly (P < 0.05) more while bulk density (BD) and penetration resistance was significantly less in PME‐treated plots than that of control. The MWD showed a linear and positive relationship (r = 0.89**) with the soil organic C. Soybean recorded significantly higher seed yield at all PME treatments than control. Highest average soybean yield (2.39 Mg ha^–1) was recorded in S_10.0+W₀ but yield decreased significantly in S_10.0+W_5.0 (2.08 Mg ha^–1). In wheat, all the PME‐treated plots except S_2.5+W₀ yielded significantly higher than control while the 100% NPK+FYM treatment yielded (3.46 Mg ha^–1) at par with the S_10.0+W_5.0 (4.0 Mg ha^–1) and S_5.0+W_2.5 (3.66 Mg ha^–1). Fresh application of PME to wheat resulted in significant improvement in grain yield over that grown on residual fertility. Thus, application of PME to arable land, as an amendment, could be considered as a viable option for the safe disposal of this industrial waste.     

利用放射性碳对中国变性土的年代确定

Vertisols,which are mainly developed on fluvial and lacustrine deposits and basalt,are extensively distributed in China.66 samples of them for radiocarbon dating were collected across 5 porvinces and 1 autonomous region,ranging from warm-temperate to subtropical and tropical zones in China.The soil organic matter was dated via surface horizon,black soil horizon and dark-colour horizon of the vertisols,whereas carbonate through calcareous concretions and dispersed carbonate in soil profile using radiocarbon method.The present article elucidates the dates of genetic horizons,and of surface and buried vertisols as well.14C dating indicates that the surface vertisols were formed during the end of the late Pleistocene.ca.15600 years ageo.Correlation between depth of sampling and measured 14C age shows that age characteristics of the vertisols of China are close to those of West Germany,Italy,TUrnisia,Australia and Argentina,However,two buried vertisols developed on fluvial and lacustrine deposits were formed during different geological periods,The buried soils in warm-temperate zone were formed in the mid Holocene,while those in subtropics were buried at 12930 years B.P., and formed in the end of the late Pleistocene.     

山东暗色粘性土的特性及发生学研究

本文对山东省主要暗色粘性土进行了形态学、粘土矿物学、物理化学特性以及发生学的研究。结果表明,大部分粘质砂姜黑土和暗色粘质湿潮土具有明显的变性特征,表现为干时开裂、湿时膨胀,剖面上部土体中有大量的滑擦面和明显的土壤翻转现象。土壤微形态以具有因强烈胀缩而产生的光性定向粘粒和裂纹裂隙为主要特征,并有较多铁锰和碳酸盐的浓聚物。土壤粘粒的硅铁铝率较高,粘土矿物以蒙脱石为主,蒙脱石的发生与其所处的地球化学环境密切相关。耕层之下的黑土层粘粒含量最高,且以蒙脱石占绝对优势,因此胀缩性最强,是具有变性特征最明显的层次。土壤的强烈胀缩性是这些暗色粘性土形态发生的内在原因,干湿交替的土壤水分状况则是其形态发生的必要条件。     

Growth Promotion and Increased Potassium Uptake of Tobacco by Potassium-Mobilizing Bacterium Frateuria aurantia Grown at Different Potassium Levels in Vertisols

Potassium-mobilizing bacterial strain Frateuria aurantia was examined for plant-growth-promoting effects and nutrient uptake on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown in vertisols as a field experiment for two crop seasons, 2009–2010 and 2010–2011. Inoculation with bacterial strain Frateuria aurantia was found to increase biomass, nutrient content, and leaf quality of flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco. Bacterial strain F. aurantia was able to enhance potassium uptake efficiently in tobacco plants when sulfate of potash was added to the soil. In tobacco, the ultimate product is the leaf that is consumed and has commercial value. In tobacco-growing soils treated with soluble potassium and inoculated with strain F. aurantia, the potassium content of the leaf was increased by 39%. Bacterial inoculation also resulted in greater nitrogen and phosphorus contents of aboveground plant components. The bacterial isolate was also able to colonize and develop in the rhizosphere soil of tobacco after root inoculation. Solubilization of potassium containing minerals by potassium-mobilizing bacteria in vertisols and their effect on tobacco plant growth, yield, and quality are reported in this study.     

Morphophysiological Traits Imparting Salinity Tolerance in Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids under Saline Water Irrigation in Vertisols

Maize is categorized as a salt-sensitive crop and identification of fairly salt-tolerant lines is of paramount importance for increasing its production on saline soils. Experiments were conducted in randomized block design with three replications to identify maize accessions showing response to saline water irrigation, traits imparting tolerance, and their effect on yield attributes of maize. Significant variation was present among genotypes for specific leaf area (SLA), potassium (K) content, cob characteristics, yield, biomass, and harvest index. High amount of heritability with large genetic advance indicated the presence of additive gene action for traits like leaf water potential and leaf dry weight. Association analysis revealed high correlation between key traits and direct as well as positive effect of these traits on yield. Principal component analysis resolved three principal components, and high leaf area and water potential were conferring salt tolerance and thus higher yield.