Effectiveness of some local liming materials in Nigeria as Ameliorants of soil acidity

The effectiveness of three local liming materials: basic slag (a byproduct of iron and steel industry), cement flue dust (a waste product of cement factory), and ground limestone was compared with that of imported hydrated lime in a greenhouse study using acid soils from two sites in Southern Nigeria. The soils were taken from Onne, near Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Epe near Lagos in Lagos State. The soils were classified as Typic paleudult and Typic udipsamment, respectively. The results show that the four liming materials were capable of neutralizing soil acidity. Their relative effectiveness was in the order: hydrated lime > basic slag > cement flue dust > ground limestone. Uptake of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca), and dry matter yield increased with increasing lime rates up to 500 and 1,000 mg Ca/kg soil for Epe and Onne soils, respectively. The lime requirements of the two soils are in the order of the aluminum (Al) saturation of the effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and are equivalent to exchangeable Al multiplied by 1.74 and 1.50, respectively. While differences among lime rates were significant for nutrient uptake and dry matter yield, there were no significant differences among the lime sources.     

Evaluation of liming and magnesium materials for increasing soil pH and available magnesium

Abstract

Four liming and Mg materials were compared in a greenhouse experiment with soybeans for their ability to raise soil pH, supply Mg, and their effect on the availability of Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn. Three materials were added at rates of 0, 1, and 2 times the lime requirement, calcitic lime, dolomitic lime, and Hydra‐Mag (an industrial by‐product containing 20% Mg). Sul‐Po‐Mag was the fourth material added as a plus Mg check at a rate based on an equivalent amount of Mg to that supplied by Hydra‐Mag. Plant growth, plant tissue element content and extractable soil elements were determined after growing the soybeans for 5 weeks. Plants in treatments where no lime/Mg materials were added were very small due possibly to Mg deficiency and Al toxicity. The 1 and 2 times rates of the materials gave about equal growth except that the high Sul‐Po‐Mag rate caused salt injury. Hydra‐Mag increased soil pH more than calcitic lime which increased soil pH more than dolomitic lime. Soil and plant Mg levels were increased more by Hydra‐Mag than dolomitic lime when applied at equivalent rates based on the lime requirement. Dolomitic lime gave very good plant growth indicating that it made adequate amounts of Mg available. Hydra‐Mag reduced plant and extractable soil Zn, Cu, and Fe but no more so than calcitic or dolomitic lime. Hydra‐Mag reduced plant Mn more than for the other limes.     

Evaluation of coal combustion byproducts as soil liming materials: their influence on soil pH and enzyme activities

There is considerable interest in the use of coal combustion byproducts as soil liming materials in agricultural production, but there is concern that such use may be detrimental to the quality of agricultural soils. To evaluate these byproducts as liming materials and address issues related to soil quality, we compared the influence of different amounts of four combustion byproducts [fly ash and bed ash from a fluidized bed combustion furnace, lime-injected multistage burner residue, and spray dryer residue] and CaCO₃ on soil pH and activities of urease, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and dehydrogenase in an acidic soil. Studies comparing the influence of the combustion byproducts and CaCO₃ on soil pH showed that on a weight basis of application, substantial differences were observed in the ability of these materials to influence soil pH but that such differences decreased markedly after the data were transformed to a CaCO₃ equivalent basis of application. Analysis of covariance for these transformed data indicated that whereas the liming abilities of fly ash and CaCO₃ were not significantly different when compared on the CaCO₃ equivalent basis, those of bed ash, multistage burner residue, and spray dryer residue were less than that of CaCO₃. Studies comparing the influence of the byproducts and CaCO₃ on soil enzyme activities showed that the effect of these liming materials on the enzyme activities studied was largely due to their influence on soil pH. The relationships obtained between soil pH and enzyme activities in soil amended with the liming materials generally demonstrated the marked similarities in the influence of the combustion byproducts and CaCO₃ on these activities when observed within the domain of soil pH. These studies showed that the combustion byproducts tested functioned as soil liming materials in a manner similar to that of CaCO₃ and seemed to have little adverse effect on soil quality.     

Comparison of field techniques for sampling soil solution in an upland peatland

Abstract. Results from recent studies of peatland biogeochemistry suggest that appropriate soil water sampling techniques are required in order to advance our understanding of peatland soil systems. In a comparative field experiment, concentrations of inorganic solutes and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured in soil water extracted at a depth of 10 cm beneath the surface of deep peat by three techniques: zero-tension (z-t) lysimeters, PTFE suction samplers, and polysulfone suction samplers. The majority of solute concentrations were broadly similar, but mean concentrations of silicon, DOC, iron and aluminium in water extracted by z-t lysimeters and PTFE samplers were in ratios of 1:5; 1:2; 1:5 and 1:3 respectively. Mean conductivity and concentrations of chloride and hydrogen ion were significantly larger in the z-t lysimeter samples, which had sodium, potassium and magnesium to chloride ratios that were very similar to local rainfall. The z-t lysimeters appeared to sample macropores preferentially, while the suction samplers collected micropore water.     

生物质炭及过氧化钙对旱地红壤酶活性和微生物群落结构的影响

明确生物质炭等改良剂对土壤酶活性及土壤微生物群落结构的影响,对南方红壤旱地改良剂的合理施用及评价不同改良剂对旱地红壤肥力的影响具有重要意义。针对江西旱地红壤进行室内培养试验,试验设置4个处理,即CK、Ca(过氧化钙,1.72 g/kg)、C(生物质炭,21.46 g/kg)、C+Ca(过氧化钙,1.72 g/kg;生物质炭,21.46 g/kg),利用磷脂脂肪酸方法(PLFA),研究改良剂对土壤微生物量和组成以及土壤酶活性、土壤活性有机碳的影响。结果表明:旱地红壤中添加生物质炭和过氧化钙土壤提高可溶性有机碳(DOC)和微生物量碳(MBC)含量;增加蔗糖酶(INV)、淀粉酶(AMY)及脲酶(URE)活性,特别是配施(C+Ca)显著提高土壤活性碳含量及酶活性。PLFA分析表明,土壤微生物总PLFAs量的大小顺序为:C+CaCCaCK;各处理土壤细菌的相对丰度最大,大约占微生物总含量的80%,放线菌次之,大约占微生物总含量的13%～15%,而真菌和丛枝菌根真菌的相对丰度较低。生物质炭和过氧化钙增加了革兰氏阴性菌(GN)/革兰氏阳性菌(GP)值,尤以C+Ca处理增加幅度最大。主成分分析(PCA)表明,添加生物质炭和过氧化钙能够改善土壤微生物群落结构;计算主成分的综合得分,配施(C+Ca)处理的综合得分最高,对土壤微生物群落结构的影响最大。冗余分析(RDA)表明,土壤MBC、DOC和土壤INV酶活性是影响土壤微生物数量和结构的主要因子。因此,施用生物质炭和过氧化钙能够明显提高旱地红壤微生物生物量,改变红壤微生物群落结构以及激发红壤酶活性,且配施效果最显著。     

Evaluation of immobilizing agents as soil quality conditioners in addition to their metal(loid) immobilizing effect

In trace metal (TM)-contaminated agricultural soils, management of TM availability is important for safe crop production. In addition, maintenance or improvement of soil quality is vital for sustainable crop cultivation. Decreased TM phytoavailability and increased soil quality can be achieved by the application of various immobilizing agents to soil, which can supply both macronutrients and organic matter. This study investigated the long-term influences of four common immobilizing agents on so...     

The short-term effects of cessation of fertiliser applications,liming, and grazing on microbial biomass and activity in a reseeded upland grassland soil

A field study was conducted to determine the influence of a short-term (2 year) cessation of fertiliser applications, liming, and sheep-grazing on microbial biomass and activity in a reseeded upland grassland soil. The cessation of fertiliser applications (N and NPK) on a limed and grazed grassland had no effect on microbial biomass measurements, enzyme activities, or respiration. Withholding fertiliser and lime from a grazed grassland resulted in significant reductions in both microbial biomass C (P<0.05) and dehydrogenase activity (P<0.05) by approximately 18 and 21%, respectively. The removal of fertiliser applications, liming, and grazing resulted in even greater reductions in microbial biomass C (44%, P<0.001) and dehydrogenase activity (31%, P<0.001), and significant reductions in microbial biomass N (P<0.005), urease activity (P<0.05), phosphatase activity (P<0.001), and basal respiration (P<0.05). The abundance of culturable bacteria and fungi and the soil ATP content were unaffected by changes in grassland managements. With the cessation of liming soil pH fell from 5.4 to 4.7, and the removal of grazing resulted in a further reduction to pH 4.5. A significant negative linear relationship (r ²=0.97; P<0.01) was found between increasing soil acidity and dehydrogenase activity. Possible mechanisms influencing these changes are discussed.     

Availability and extractability of soil manganese in a liming experiment

Abstract

The availability of soil Mn to corn in relation to extractability of soil Mn by EDTA, Mg(NO₃)₂, CH₃COONH₄, hydroquinone, H₃PO₄, and NH₄H₂PO₄ as affected by liming was evaluated under field conditions on a single soil type. EDTA, Mg(NO₃)₂ and CH₃COONH₄‐extractable Mn were related inversely to available Mn. No useful relationships were found between hydroquinone, H₃PO₄, and NH₄H₂PO₄‐extractable soil Mn and Mn uptake by sweet corn.     

Availability of Cu and Zn in an acidic sludge-amended soil as affected by zeolite application and liming

Purpose  

Acidic soils exhibit high trace element availability compared to neutral pH soils, and thus, when trace metals are added (e.g. due to sewage sludge application), measures should be taken to reduce their mobility. In this experiment, we tested two such methods, liming and zeolite addition. The aim was to measure the availability, in ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), of heavy metals (Cu and Zn) added to soil with sewage sludge in both acidic and limed soil.     

Fractionation of copper and cadmium and their binding with soil organic matter in a contaminated soil amended with organic materials

Purpose  

The contamination of agricultural soils by heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Organic amendments can be used for the immobilization and binding of heavy metal ions in soils by complexation, adsorption, and precipitation. A field trial was carried out to evaluate the influence of some low-cost organic materials such as rice straw (RS), green manure (GM), and pig manure (PM) on the distribution of Cu and Cd and the retention of these metals by organic matter fractions in heavy metal-polluted soils.     

Effects of reduced tillage and liming on microbial activity and soil properties in a weakly-structured soil

The effects of reduced tillage and lime on crop yield and soil physical and microbial properties were studied in a weakly-structured silty clay loam soil. Two autumn primary tillage practices were compared, mouldboard ploughing to 20–25 cm and cultivation to 12 cm. Seedbed preparation was carried out by several harrowing operations in the mouldboard ploughed treatment, and with a PTO-driven harrow in the same operation as sowing in the shallow cultivation treatment. The tillage treatments were applied alone or were combined with liming aimed at soil structural improvement. Lime was added as 6.5 Mg CaO ha⁻¹ before the start of the experiment and mixed into the top 12 cm of soil with a disc cultivator. A 4-year crop rotation was used: spring barley, spring oilseed rape, spring/winter wheat and oats, and all crops were compared each year. Crop residues were retained in the experiment and incorporated at cultivation. Aggregate stability was improved by the shallower tillage depth, probably as an effect of an increase in soil organic matter and a more active microbial biomass. Liming had little effect on soil structure variables but increased microbial activity to some extent. This was reflected in higher crop yields, especially when the shallow tillage depth was combined with liming. Penetration resistance in the seedbed subsoil was highest when mouldboard ploughing was carried out in plots without liming. Data were examined with principal component analyses, and the structures in the data were presented as scores and loading plots, which revealed groupings between samples and relationships between variables, respectively.     

The effect of earthworms and liming on soil microbial communities

The effect of liming and earthworms on the composition and function of soil microbial communities was investigated in an upland soil from the UK in order to understand interactions between the biotic and abiotic components of soil systems. A factorial experiment was established using soils from the Sourhope Farm, near Kelso, with lime or no lime added, with or without earthworms added and a combined treatment of both lime and earthworm additions. The soils were incubated and destructively sampled after 180 days. Measurements of soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, phenotypic structure (by phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and responses to four carbon substrates (d-glucose, l-arginine, α-ketoglutaric acid, α-cyclodextrin) were determined. Statistically significant results were limited to the litter layers, with no significant observations in either the H or Ah horizons. There were significant decreases in the soil microbial biomass and microbial activity in the litter layers caused by the addition of earthworms; liming reduced microbial biomass only. The addition of earthworms caused a significant difference in the PLFA principle component analysis (PCA) profile, as did liming. For the PLFA PCA profile, earthworm plus lime treatment was indistinguishable from the liming result. Addition of earthworms significantly suppressed the response to glucose; this effect was removed by liming. This indicates that liming may significantly alter the ecological interactions between earthworms and the microbial community.     

Soil-forming materials and soil texture as shown on small-scale soil maps

Information about the soil-forming materials and soil texture shown on pages of the State Soil Map (SSS) on a 1: 1 M scale, the Soil Map of the Russian Federation on a 1: 2.5 M, and several other small-scale soil maps is analyzed. Certain discrepancies exist in the approaches used to display this information, in the names of the soil textural classes and genetic groups of soil-forming materials, and in the degree of detail of their representation on separate pages of the SSS and on other soil maps compiled by different authors. To eliminate these discrepancies, it is suggested that the soil classification should be supplemented with a special section containing systematized information on the soil-forming materials existing in Russia. The manuals on soil mapping on different scales should be supplemented with recommendations on showing the soil texture and the composition of the soil-forming materials on the maps.     

Speciation and calcium competition effects on cadmium sorption by sandy soil at various pHs

The effects of Ca competition, ionic strength, inorganic complexation and pH on cadmium adsorption by a sandy soil were studied. Sorption of Cd was measured using four different electrolytes CaCl₂, Ca(NO₃)₂, NaNO₃ and NaCl at a constant ionic strength (I) of 0.003 M at three different pHs, at variable Ca/Na ratio with a constant ionic strength of 0.03 and at variable ionic strengths between 0.003 and 0.3 M for two different pHs for Ca(NO₃)₂ and NaNO₃. The measured Cd sorption isotherms were non-linear. In the case of Cl as electrolyte anion, 13% of the Cd in solution is complexed at I= 0.003 (0.002 M Cl) and 91% of Cd is complexed at I= 0.3 (0.2 M Cl). If NO₃ is the anion, none of Cd is complexed at I= 0.003 and 11% at I= 0.3. The Cd complexes do not adsorb significantly. Calcium competition, at an ionic strength of 0.03, reduced the Cd adsorption by 60–80% compared with the case that Na is the cation. Increasing the ionic strength from 0.003 to 0.3 decreased Cd sorption by 60% for Ca(NO₃)₂ and 25% for NaNO₃ due to a decrease of the activity coefficient, increase of inorganic complexation and increase of Ca competition. A decrease of one pH unit reduces Cd sorption of about 75%. Sorption of Cd by soil could be described adequately with the three-species Freundlich (3SF) equation in which pH, complexation, Ca competition and ionic strength effects were taken into account.     

Effect of soil application of cadmium contaminated lime on soil cadmium distribution and cadmium concentration in strawberry leaves and fruit

Heavy metal environmental pollution which occurs as a result of lime contaminated with cadmium (Cd) poses a potential health hazard. This investigation was undertaken to study uptake of Cd by strawberry plants grown in soil amended with three different sources and two different rates of industry waste lime containing 3.4, 14.3, and 60.0 mg Cd/kg, respectively. The effects of Cd applied to the soil were investigated, including its distribution in the soil and effect on Cd concentration in strawberry cv. Senga Sengana (Fragaria anassa) leaves and fruit in response to soil organic matter content and lime rates. Cadmium accumulated mainly in the plough layer, increasing from 0.170 mg Cd/kg (background level) to a maximum of 1.2 mg Cd/kg. Fruit had very high, hazardous Cd concentrations regardless of its content in the soil. This indicates that Cd was easily taken up by strawberry plants and accumulated in upper plant parts, including the fruit. Soil Cd content had no effect on concentration of this element in strawberry fruit. However, plant Cd uptake and fruit concentration was increased in acid soils even when soil Cd concentration was low.     

Effect of liming central European loess soils on soil extractable phosphorus and potassium as determined by electro-ultrafiltration

The benefits of liming acidic or calcium (Ca)-deficient soils for soil structure and fertility are well documented. However, little is known about the effect of liming nearly neutral loess soils – lacking Ca – on interactions between soil nutrients. Over a 2-year period, 62 field trials were conducted in Germany and Austria with three treatments (0, 3 and 12 t CaO ha^?1) on slightly acidic loess soils. Soil samples from the top soil layer were taken 4, 8, 16 and 24 weeks after liming. In addition to the pH_CaCl2, the phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and Ca contents were analysed using electro-ultrafiltration (EUF). The application of lime increased the pH in average from 6.6 up to 7.0 and 7.2, but did not decrease EUF extractable P and K below the level of untreated control. Contrary to our expectations, EUF extractable P increased 4 weeks after liming in the treatment with 3 t CaO ha^?1. At the end of incubation period, 24 weeks after liming, the EUF extractable K in treatment 12 t CaO ha^?1 remained still 1.3 mg K 100 g^?1 soil above the untreated control.     

Methods for determining labile cadmium and zinc in soil

Isotopically exchangeable cadmium and zinc (‘E values’) were measured on soils historically contaminated by sewage sludge and ones on zinc‐rich mine spoil. The E‐value assay involves determining the distribution of an added metal isotope, e.g. ¹⁰⁹Cd, between the solid and solution phases of a soil suspension. The E values for both metals were found to be robust to changes in the position of the metal solid?solution equilibrium, even though the concentration of dissolved metal varied substantially with electrolyte composition and soil:solution ratio. Concentration of labile metal was also invariant over isotope equilibration times of 2–6 days. The use of a submicron filtration procedure, in addition to centrifuging at 2200 g , proved unnecessary if 0.1 m Ca electrolyte was used to suspend the soils. The proportion of ‘fixed’ metal, in non‐labile forms, apparently increased with increasing pH, although there was considerable variation in both sets of contaminated soil. Zinc and cadmium in the sludged soils were similarly labile. Several possible methods for the measurement of chemically reactive metal were explored for comparison with E values, including single extraction with 1 m CaCl₂ and a ‘pool depletion’ (PD) method. The latter involves comparing solid?solution metal equilibria in two electrolytes with differing degrees of (solution) complex formation, 0.1 m Ca(NO₃)₂ and CaCl₂. Both the single extraction and the PD method gave good estimates of E value for Cd, although the single extraction was more consistent. Neither technique was a useful substitute for determining labile Zn, because of weak chloro‐complexation of Zn^2+. We therefore suggest that 1 m CaCl₂ extraction of Cd alone be used as an alternative to E values to avoid the inconvenience of isotopic dilution procedures.     

有机物料对淹水土壤中施入的镉形态的影响

The effect of three organic materials(rice straw,Chinese milk vetch and pig manure)on the fractionation of cadmium added into two soils(a red soil and a fluvo-aquic soil) was studied using submerged incubation experiment.The organic materials increased soil soild organic carbon(SOC),pH value,the concentration of active Si in all the treatments and active Fe and Mn in some treatments.Accumulated SOC caused directly the increase of Cd bound to solid organic matter and consequently the decrease of exchangeable Cd.Higher active Si and pH,as well as lower Eh,were also responsible for the reduction of exchangeable Cd.Cd bound to mn oxide was positively correlated with pH values and rose significantly after one-month incubation,but decreased after three-month incubation.Cd bound to amporphous Fe oxide increased with the incubation time,but was not affected significantly by adding organic materials.     

表面活性剂与EDTA对紫色土镉的化学行为影响

Elemental composition and geochemical characteristics of iron-manganese nodules from nine main soils in China were studied by chemical and multivariate statistical analyses to better understand the reactions and functions of ironmanganese nodules in soils and sediment. Compared to the corresponding soils, Mn, Ba, Cd, Co and Pb had strong accumulation, Ni had moderate accumulation, while Ca, Cu, Fe, Na, P, Sr and Zn accumulated to a minor degree in the iron-manganese nodules. In contrast, Si, Al, K, Mg and Ti were reduced in the iron-manganese nodules. The contents of Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were positively and significantly correlated with that of MnO2 in the iron-manganese nodules, while the contents of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were positively and significantly correlated with that of Fe2O3 in soils. Based on a principle component analysis, the elements of iron-manganese nodules were divided into four groups： 1） Mn, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb and Zn that were associated with Mn oxides, 2） Fe, Cr and P that were associated with Fe oxides, 3） Si, K, and Mg that were included in the elemental composition of phyllosilicate, and 4） Ca, Na, Al and Ti that existed in todorokite, birnessite, lithiophorite and phyllosilicate. It was suggested that accumulation, mineralization and specific adsorption were involved in the formation processes of soil iron-manganese nodules.