Impact of soil fumigation practices on soil nematodes and microbial biomass

This study was designed to understand the impact of methyl bromide (MB) (CHaBr) and its alternatives on both free-living and root-knot nematodes in the soil. A randomized complete block experiment with six treatments and 4 replicates (each replicate in a separate greenhouse) was established in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, China. In addition to MB and untreated control (CK) treatments there were four alternative soil fumigation practices including MB virtually impermeable films (VIF), metam sodium (MS), MS VIF and soil solarization combined with selected biological control agents (SS BCA). Two tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) cultivars, cv. Maofen-802 from the Xian Institute of Vegetable Science, China, and cv. AF179 Brillante from the Israeli Hazera Quality Seeds, were selected as test crops. The results indicated that Rhabditidae was the most dominant population with percentage abundance as high as 85% of the total number of identified free-living nematodes, followed by that of Cephalobidae. Methyl bromide and its alternatives except for the non-chemical SS BCA treatment controlled the target pest, root-knot nematodes. Also, the impact of the three chemical alternatives on free-living nematode number and functional group abundance was similar to the impact associated with a typical methyl bromide application. Chemical fumigation practices, especially that with MB, significantly reduced the number of nematodes in the soil and simultaneously significantly reduced the number of nematode genera thereby reducing nematode diversity. All the four soil chemical fumigation activities decreased soil microbial biomass and had an obvious initial impact on microorganism biomass. Furthermore, both plant-parasitic and fungivore nematodes were positively correlated with soil microbial biomass.     

Using micro focus industrial computed tomography to characterize the effects of soil type and soil depth on soil pore characteristics,morphology, and soil compression in Xi’an,China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Land subsidence has caused serious geological damage in many countries, including China. Soil pore number, size, shape, and pore size distribution affect soil...     

Effects of soil compaction and water‐filled pore space on soil microbial activity and N losses

Abstract

Soil compaction is a significant production problem for agriculture because of its negative impact on plant growth, which in many cases has been attributed to changes in soil N transformations. A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil compaction and water‐filled pore space on soil microbial activity and N losses. A hydraulic soil compaction device was used to evenly compress a Norfolk loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Kandiudults) soil into 50 mm diameter by 127 mm long cores. A factorial arrangement of three bulk density levels (1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 Mg/m³) and four water‐filled pore space levels (60, 65, 70, 75%) was used. Fertilizer application of 168 kg N/ha was made as 1.0 atom % ¹⁵N as NH₄NO₃. Soil cores were incubated at 25°C for 21 d. Microbial activity decreased with both increasing water‐filled pore space and soil bulk density as measured by CO₂‐C entrapment. Nitrogen loss increased with increasing bulk density from 92.8 to 334.4 g N/m³ soil at 60% water‐filled pore space, for 1.4 and 1.8 Mg/m³, respectively. These data indicate that N loss and soil microbial activity depends not only on the pore space occupied by water, but also on structure and size of soil pores which are altered by compaction.     

Integrated effect of potassium humate and α-tocopherol applications on soil characteristics and performance of Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown on a saline soil

Soil salinity is one of the major problems of agriculture that limits plant performance, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Therefore, the effect of potassium humate (KH) and α-tocopherol (TOC), used singly or in integration, on soil characteristics, and on plant performance, physio-biochemical attributes and antioxidative defense system of Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants grown under salt stress (EC = 6.35–6.42 dS m^?1) was investigated. Half g KH kg^?1 soil was used as soil amendment before sowing and 1.0 mM TOC was used as foliar spray twice; at 25 and 40 days after sowing. Results showed that, KH significantly improved soil physical and chemical properties, which positively reflected on plant growth and productivity, physio-biochemical attributes, mineral nutrients (N, P, K and Ca), osmoprotectants (soluble sugars and proline), non-enzymatic (ascorbic acid, glutathione and TOC) and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX)) antioxidants compared to untreated controls. The single TOC foliar application recorded the same positive results of KH. Integrated KH + TOC treatment was most effective compared to the single treatments. The above results recommended benefits of this integrated KH + TOC for the possibility of sustainable agronomic performance of common beans grown on saline soils.     

Effects of climate factors and soil properties on soil nutrients and elemental stoichiometry across the Huang–Huai–Hai River Basin,China

Purpose

Soil nutrients, elemental stoichiometry, and their associated environmental control play important roles in nutrient cycling. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate soil nutrients and elemental stoichiometry, especially potassium and its associative elemental stoichiometry with other nutrients under different land uses in terrestrial ecosystems; (2) to discuss the impacts of climate factors, soil texture, and soil physicochemical properties; and (3) to identify the key factors on soil nutrient levels and elemental stoichiometry.

Materials and methods

Soil data, including pH, bulk density (BD), cation exchange capacity (CEC), volumetric water content (VMC), clay, silt and sand contents, total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorous (TP) and potassium (TK), available nitrogen (AN), phosphorus (AP), potassium (AK), and soil organic matter (SOM) under different land-use types, were collected, and their elemental stoichiometry ratios were calculated. Climate data including temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind speed, and evapotranspiration were collected. The least significant difference test and one-way analysis of variance were applied to investigate the variability of soil nutrients and elemental stoichiometry among land-use types; the ordinary least squares method and the general linear model were used to illustrate the correlations between soil nutrients, elemental stoichiometry, and soil properties or climate factors and to identify the key influencing factors.

Results and discussion

Woodlands had the highest SOM, TN, AN, and AK contents, followed by grasslands, croplands, and shrublands, while the TP and TK contents only varied slightly among land-use types. SOM, TN, AN, N/P, and N/K were strongly negatively correlated to soil pH (p <?0.05) and were strongly positively correlated to soil CEC (p <?0.05). For soil texture, only C/N was moderately negatively correlated to silt content but moderately positively correlated to sand content (p <?0.05). For climate factors, SOM, TN, AN, N/P, and N/K were significantly negatively correlated to evapotranspiration and temperature (p <?0.05), and the correlations were usually moderate. Soil pH explained most of the total variation in soil nutrients, and climate factors explained 5.64–28.16% of soil nutrients and elemental stoichiometry (except for AP (0.0%) and TK (68.35%)).

Conclusions

The results suggest that climate factors and soil properties both affect soil nutrients and elemental stoichiometry, and soil properties generally contribute more than climate factors to soil nutrient levels. The findings will help to improve our knowledge of nutrient flux responses to climate change while also assisting in developing management measures related to soil nutrients under conditions of climate change.

     

Cultivation of potato – use of plastic mulch and row covers on soil temperature,growth, nutrient status,and yield

Potato is one of the most important crops in the world because of its high nutritional value; however, traditional cultivation in bare soil may render low yields and poor quality. Crop production efficiency can be increased by using plastic mulching and row covers to modify root zone temperature and plant growth, in addition to reduction in pest damage and enhance production in cultivated plants. However, there is little information demonstrating the effect of row covers in combination with plastic mulch on potato. The aim of this study was to assess the change in root zone temperature and its effect on growth, leaf nutrient, and yield of potato using plastic mulch of different colors, in combination with row covers. Seed of cultivar Mondial was planted in May 2012. The study included four plastic films: black, white/black, silver/black, aluminum/black, and a control with bare soil, which were evaluated alone and in combination with row covers removed at 30 days after sowing in a split-plot design. Higher yields were obtained when no row cover (43.2 t ha^?1) and the white/black film (42.2 t ha^?1) were used. Leaf nitrogen, sulfur, and manganese concentration were higher in plants when row cover was used; in contrast, no–row cover plants were higher in Fe and Zn. Mulched plants were higher in Mn concentration than control plants. There was a quadratic relationship between mean soil temperature and total yield (R² = 0.94), and between plant biomass and total yield (R² = 0.98), between leaf area with total yield (R² = 0.98).     

Influence of trenching,soil amendments,and mulching on the mineral content,growth, yield,and quality of “Italian” prunes

Abstract

Yields were evaluated three years after applied treatments to determine if responses that were not evident during earlier years eventually occurred. Potassium sulfate was applied to established, non‐irrigated, K deficient trees on fine textured soil by banding, placing in augered holes, adding to the backfilled trenches, and by injecting into the soil. Trenches were dug in the fall beside trees to break roots and ammended during backfilling with K₂SO₄, dolomite lime or combinations of the two. Additional trees received a heavy compost mulch in the early fall. Trenching treatments were generally detrimental. Trenching alone reduced yield and leaf Ca but increased fruit soluble solids content. Trenching plus K₂SO₄, trenching and lime, all soil amendments, and mushroom compost elevated leaf K from deficient or below normal to the normal range, but decreased leaf Mg. Most K application techniques eventually increased yield, but simple surface applications of K₂SO₄ in a narrow band were as effective as other more costly procedures. Mulching treatments appear to be as effective as K additions and produce quicker yield responses. Mushroom composts and alfalfa increased leaf N and yield in two years. Mushroom compost doubled yield even three years after a single application.     

Land use effects on microbial biomass C, β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase activities,and availability,storage, and age of organic C in soil

Microbial biomass, β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase activities, and availability, storage, and age of soil organic C were investigated after 26 years of conversion from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) to forest (Eucaliptus robusta or Leucaena leucocephala), pasture (mixture of tropical grasses), and to vegetable cropping (agriculture) in a vertisol in Puerto Rico. Soil organic C (SOC) at 0–100 cm was similar under Leucaena (22.8 kg C/m²), Eucalyptus (18.6 kg C/m²), and pasture (17.2 kg C/m²), which were higher than under agriculture (13.0 kg C/m²). Soil organic N (SON) at 0–100 cm was similar under the land uses evaluated which ranged from 1.70 (under agriculture) to 2.28 kg N/m² (under Leucaena forest). Microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) of the 0–15-cm soil layer could be ranked as: pasture > Leucaena = Eucalyptus > agriculture. The percentages of SOC and SON present as MBC and MBN, respectively, were nearly 1% in pasture and less than 0.50% in forest under Leucaena or Eucalyptus and agricultural soil. The activity of β-glucosidase of the 0–15-cm soil layer could be ranked as: Leucaena = Eucalyptus > pasture > agriculture; while β-glucosaminidase activity was ranked as: Eucalyptus > Leucaena = pasture > agriculture. The soil δ ¹³C changed from 1996 to 2006 in forest under Eucalyptus (18.7‰ to 21.2‰), but not under Leucaena (20.7‰ to 20.8‰). The soil under Leucaena preserved a greater proportion of old C compared to the forest under Eucalyptus; the former had an increased soil mineralizable C from the current vegetation inputs. The soil under agriculture had the lowest enzyme activities associated with C cycling, lowest percentage of SOC as MBC, highest percentage of SOC present as mineralizable C, and highest percentage of MBC present as mineralizable C compared to the other land uses.     

Effects of freeze–thaw cycles and the soil water content on carbon and nitrogen changes in different soil types of Heilongjiang Province,China

To reveal the influence of freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) on soil carbon and nitrogen changes, six typical soils in Northeast China were selected as the research objects to conduct a FTC simulation test in an artificial climate chamber. Three soil volumetric water contents (10%, 20%, 30%) and eight FTCs (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20) were set. The results showed that the soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) contents of different soil types under the FTCs initially exhibited a downward and then an upward trend, while the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content exhibited an upward and then a downward trend. Otherwise, the fourth and sixth FTCs were the key points of change. The SOC, MBC and DOC contents in paddy fields were higher than those in dry fields, showing upward and then downward trends spatially from northeast to southwest. The SOC and MBC contents in each soil type were the highest at the 20% water content, and the DOC content gradually increased with increasing water content. The ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) content in different soil types at different water contents under the FTCs showed an upward trend first, then a downward trend and finally an upward trend. The NH₄⁺-N content in paddy fields was higher than that in dry fields. The nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^‒-N) content showed a downward trend first, then an upward trend and finally a downward trend. The NO₃^‒-N content in dry fields was higher than that in paddy fields. The NH₄⁺-N contents in the three soil types on the Sanjiang Plain were significantly higher than those on the Songnen Plain. The NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^‒-N contents showed upward trends with increasing water content, but the differences were not significant. The results have implications for the study of different types of soils and provide references for research on the mechanism of soil carbon and nitrogen transformation in typical farming areas in Northeast China.     

Effects of permafrost thawing on vegetation and soil carbon pool losses on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau,China

Bearing a total organic carbon (TOC) content of 9.3–10.7 kg C/m², alpine grassland soils of the Qinghai–Tibet plateau's permafrost region bear a greater organic carbon pool than do grassland soils in other regions of China or than tropical savannah soils. The easily released light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) accounts for 34–54% of the TOC and is particularly enriched in the topsoil (0–0.10 m). The LFOC in the organic carbon pool of alpine cold meadow and alpine cold steppe soils decreased at exponential and quadratic rates, respectively, as the vegetative cover decreased. When the vegetative cover of alpine cold meadows decreased from > 80 dm²/m² to 60 dm²/m², the topsoil TOC and LFOC dropped by 20.4% and 38.4%, respectively. Similarly, when the vegetative cover of alpine cold meadow decreased from 50 dm²/m² to 30 dm²/m² and < 15 dm²/m², the topsoil LFOC content dropped by 60% and 86.7%, respectively. Under climatic warming, the degradation of permafrost and vegetation have resulted in serious soil organic carbon (SOC) loss from the carbon pool. Land cover changes that occurred between 1986 and 2000 are estimated to have resulted in a 1.8 Gg C (120 Mg C/yr) loss in SOC, and a concomitant 65% decrease in the LFOC, in the 0–0.30 m soil layer in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau's permafrost regions. Since the region's ecosystems are quite sensitive to global climate changes, if global warming persists, alpine cold grassland ecosystems are expected to further degrade. Hence, the influence of global climatic change on soil carbon emissions from alpine grasslands should receive more attention.     

Studies on soil fumigation—III: Effects on enzyme activities,bacterial numbers and extractable ninhydrin reactive compounds

Fumigation of a field soil with chloropicrin and methyl bromide, either singly or in combination, differentially decreased soil enzyme activities and viable bacterial numbers and increased the amounts of ninhydrin reactive compounds extractable with acidified Tris buffer. Chloropicrin treatment was more effective than methyl bromide.The rates of hydrolysis of both an amide and a peptide derivative were decreased by chloropicrin treatment and remained relatively low despite changes in activities over 325 days. By contrast, caseinase activity initially was decreased by both chloropicrin and methyl bromide fumigation, but activities of the fumigated soils recovered to exceed those of untreated soils. Thereafter, caseinase activities of fumigated and untreated soils exhibited relatively large fluctuations, which were partly associated with seasonal drying of the soils in the field.Chloropicrin but not methyl bromide fumigation markedly depressed the viable bacterial populations, which subsequently increased to be above those of the untreated soils. There was no consistent relationship between the release of ninhydrin reactive compounds following fumigation and changes in bacterial numbers or changes in enzyme activity. Autolytic reactions are probably important in the early stages of amino-nitrogen release in fumigated soils. Net gains in caseinase activity may be partly due to the production de novo of extracellular proteases by microorganisms or to the release of intracellular proteases from killed cells.     

More people,more erosion? Land use,soil erosion and soil productivity in Murang'a district,Kenya

Intensification of land use can become a threat to agricultural sustainability if they lead to increased soil erosion. This study examines land‐use changes, soil and water conservation, soil erosion and soil productivity in the Highlands of Kenya. In addition, it examines farmers' perception of livelihood changes. Land‐use changes were determined from interpretations of aerial photographs taken in 1960 and 1996. Additional information on land use, soil and water conservation and livelihood changes were obtained from discussions and interviews with farmers, as well as from field verifications of the most recent aerial photographs. Soil samples were analysed and soil erosion assessed according to the PLUS classification scheme. The results indicate that substantial changes in land use, such as introduction of coffee and high‐yielding maize, and fragmentation of land holdings have taken place. Less land was conserved in 1996 as compared to 1960. Moreover, SWC practices have changed from fanya chini terraces and shifting cultivation to bench terraces and permanent cultivation. Rates of soil nutrients (organic C, N and K) and maize‐yield levels decreased significantly with increasing erosion. Farmers' perception of livelihood changes was differentiated according to farmers' off‐farm resource 60 per cent of the farmers depended on income from the land and thought livelihoods were better in the 1960s. It is concluded that more efforts to decrease soil erosion and investments in land and labour are necessary to sustain soil productivity and hence secure rural livelihoods. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interactions of gamma‐irradiated sewage,nitrogen and phosphorus for Sorghum on a calcareous soil

Abstract

The interaction of gamma‐irradiated sewage sludge, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on dry matter production, phosphorus concentration and phosphorus uptake of sorghum was examined. Three crops of sorghum were grown in the greenhouse in 19 1 plastic buckets. The phosphorus and sludge treatments were applied at the initiation of the experiment only. Nitrogen was applied to the corresponding nitrogen treatment pots before each of the three croppings.

There was a significant nitrogen x sewage interaction for dry matter production, phosphorus concentration and phosphorus uptake in each harvest. There was a significant phosphorus sewage sludge interaction in the first harvest for phosphorus uptake. All other possible interactions were not statistically significant. The 67 metric ton/ha sludge rate produced nearly the same yield as the nitrogen treatment. In the first harvest, sludge significantly increased plant phosphorus uptake from the fertilizer phosphorus. The phosphorus uptake in sorghum from 472 and 944 kg P/ha from the sludge treatments was comparable to that from 1299 and 2598 kg P/ha from triple superphosphate.     

Zinc,copper, and nickel availabilities as determined by soil solution and DTPA extraction of a sludge‐amended soil

Abstract

Extracting sludge‐amended soil with DTPA does not always give a reliable measure of plant‐available heavy metals. The major purpose of this greenhouse pot study was to help explain why. Two anaerobically digested sludges from sewages treated with either Ca(OH)₂or FeCl₃were applied to 3‐kg samples of a Mollic Albaqualf previously limed with Ca(OH)₂rates of 0, 2.5, and 10g/pot that resulted in pHs in the check pots of 5.4, 6.2, or 7.7 after the first harvest. Sludge rates provided 0, 200, 40, 800, and 1600 mg Zn kg^‐1of soil. Two consecutive crops of soybeans (Glycine MaxL.) were grown for 42 d each in the greenhouse. DTPA‐extractable, soil‐solution, and plant concentrations of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺were measured.

Dry matter yields were depressed due to salt toxicity, while DTPA‐extracted Cu²⁺correlated with plant uptake of Cu²⁺for both sludges. DTPA‐extracted Ni²⁺also correlated with plant Ni²⁺from the Ca(OH)₂‐sludge‐amended soil, although DTPA‐extracted Ni²⁺did not correlate with plant uptake of Ni²⁺from the FeCl₃‐sludge‐amended soil, DTPA‐extracted Zn did not correlate with plant uptake of Zn²⁺from any sludge‐amended soil. Soil‐solution composition correlated with plant uptake of Cu²⁺and Ni²⁺in both sludges; it also correlated with plant uptake of Zn²⁺from FeCl₃‐sludge‐amended soil but not from Ca(OH)₂‐sludge‐amended soil. DTPA extraction probably failed with Ni²⁺and Zn²⁺because of (i) its ineffectiveness at low pH, (ii) the inability of DTPA to buffer each soil extract near pH 7.3, and (iii) increased amounts of soluble chelated micronutrients at higher sludge rates and higher soil pHs. Soil‐solution composition seemed to fail only where micronutrient cations in solution probably were present largely as organic chelates     

The impact of vegetation and soil on runoff regulation in headwater streams on the east Qinghai–Tibet Plateau,China

Vegetation type is one of many factors that affect watershed hydrology and is an especially important influence on surface hydrological processes. Canopy and ground cover vegetation provide a natural cushion against the impact energy of rainfall in headwater portions of a stream basin, increasing water filtration into the soil and reducing surface runoff, but effects of different vegetation types are not fully understood. We sought to evaluate the capacity of different vegetation communities to regulate surface runoff in an alpine landscape. We collected water samples for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic analyses from precipitation, throughfall, soils, streams, and rivers and compared their isotopic signatures. Results indicated that different vegetation types had different capacities for water conservation. Forested vegetation types were best able to regulate surface runoff. Land use changes have dramatically affected water conservation in the study area in the past several decades; if forested land cover existed at the levels present in 1986 or 1974, the ability of the watershed to intercept surface runoff would increase by about 7% and 3%, respectively, over its capacity in 2000.     

Long-term fertilizer trials on loam soil at M⊘ystad,south-eastern Norway: Crop yields,nutrient balances and soil chemical analyses from 1983 to 2003

Abstract

Factorial combinations of N, P and K fertilizer have been compared with the use of farmyard manure at M?ystad since 1922 in a seven-year crop rotation (3 ley, oat, potato, wheat, barley). Until 1982, low inputs of N fertilizer (22 kg ha^?1) were used. In 1983, they were brought into line with current farming practice. This paper presents the results of three subsequent rotations. Yields without any fertilizer were on average 48% of those with 100 kg N ha^?1 in compound fertilizer, whilst those with 20, 40 and 60 Mg ha^?1 farmyard manure were 81, 87 and 90%, respectively. Yields with other combinations of N, P and K declined in the order NP, NK, N, PK and K. When NPK fertilizer was used, apparent recoveries of applied fertilizer were close to 50% for N and K, and around 40% for P. Much lower values were found for nutrients applied singly. Balance between N supply and removal was indicated at rates of about 60 kg N fertilizer ha^?1 in potatoes, 75 kg ha^?1 in cereals and 90 kg ha^?1 in leys. A surplus of P was found in all crops at all N levels, and of K in cereals and potatoes. In leys, K balance was achieved with an N supply of 90 kg N ha^?1. Nutrient balance was indicated at a little below 20 Mg ha^?1 yr^?1 farmyard manure. Larger manure applications gave large nutrient surpluses, particularly of N. Soil reaction remained close to neutral with the use of calcium nitrate and manure, but declined with the use of ammonium nitrate. Manure use gave the highest amounts of available P, K and Mg in soil. Similar increases in total inorganic P were found with manure use as with fertilizer use, but amounts of organic P and total K were little affected.     

Studies on microörganisms and their activities in soil Part. 2. Virgin and cultivated soil of the same origin

The nature of soil is modified differently depending upon the artificial condition such as its utilization or management. It is therefore expected that the microbiological characteristic of soil is changed also. Greaves¹⁾ and Williams²⁾ reported that the reclamation of virgin soil brought about a change of bacterial count. Suzuki et al³⁾ observed that the kind of fungi differed between a virgin and a cultivated soil and that the vegetative mycelium was numerous in the former than in the latter. On the other hand, according to W aksman and Starkey⁴⁾, the bacterial count differed depending upon the fertility of soil. Singh⁵⁾ reported also that the number of fungi and actinomycetes was higher in a fertile than in an infertile soil. Lochhead⁶⁾, and Lochhead and Chasen studied the bacterial flora of a fertile (long-continued application of manure) and an infertile (no fertilizer for many years) soil and found that a certain difference could be observed when morphological, physiological and nutritional classification are tried.     

Effect of soil amendments on fractionation of Selenium‐enriched soil

Abstract

This study was to determine the effect of soil amendments on the fractionation of selenium (Se) using incubation experiments under simulated upland and flooded conditions. The treatments were as follows: 1) control [soil + sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) (1 mg Se kg^‐1)]; 2) control + calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) (5 g kg^‐1); 3) control + alfalfa (40 g kg^‐1); and 4) control + CaCO₃ (5 g kg^‐1) + alfalfa (40 g kg^‐1). After a 90‐day incubation, soil was sampled and fractionated into five fractions: 1) potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄)‐soluble fraction (available to plants); 2) potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄)‐exchangeable fraction (potentially available); 3) ammonium hydroxide (NH₃H₂O)‐soluble fraction (potentially available); 4) hydrochloric acid (HCl)‐extractable fraction (unavailable); and 5) residual fraction (unavailable). Compared with the control, CaCO₃ increased the K₂SO₄ fraction at the expense of the NH₃H₂O fraction. Alfalfa increased both the K₂SO₄ and residual fractions but reduced the KH₂PO₄ and NH₃H₂O fractions. The CaCO₃‐alfalfa treatment had a similar effect to the alfalfa treatment alone. The comparison between the upland and flooded conditions showed that the flooded condition generally increased the residual fraction and decreased the potentially‐available fractions. In general, CaCO₃ was a better amendment because it not only increased the available fraction but also maintained the potentially available fractions at a high level. The application of Na₂SeO₃ and use of appropriate soil amendments can improve Se availability in soil.