Molybdenum fractions and mobilization kinetics in acid forest soils

We extracted molybdenum (Mo) from eight acid forest soils (19 A, E, and B horizons) in NE-Bavaria and from one site in the Ore Mountains, using (1) anion exchange-resin, (2) 0.2 M ammonium oxalate, and (3) ascorbic acid/ammonium oxalate. The Mo concentrations in the anion exchange-resin fraction varied between 5 and 28 μg kg^-1. Oxalate-extractable Mo ranged from 44 to 407 μg kg^-1 and after reduction of iron (Fe) with ascorbic acid, 135 to 1071 μg Mo kg^-1 were extracted. The lowest concentrations of Mo were measured in acid and sesquioxide impoverished E horizons. The total concentrations of Mo in spruce needles correlated with ion exchange resin extractable Mo, indicating that this fraction represents Mo readily available to plants. The Mo and Fe dissolution kinetics during oxalate extraction were studied on 8 of the soil samples to obtain further information on Mo mobilization. Oxalate extractable iron (Fe_o) was mobilized within a few hours. A first order equation was applicable to the Fe dissolution kinetics with the rate constants ranging between 0.9 and 9.0 h^-1. The mobilization of Mo occurred in two distinct stages. An initially rapid dissolution was followed by a further increase in extractable Mo but with slower kinetics. A combined first order-diffusion equation was found to be appropriate for modelling the results. The first order rate constants for Mo mobilization ranged from 0.6 to 11.4 h^-1. However, correlations between the rates of reaction of Mo and Fe could not be established, indicating that Mo is either not distributed equally along Fe minerals or that there is another pool, possibly the organic substance of the soil, from which Mo is extractable by oxalate.     

Effect of pH of ammonium oxalate extracting solutions on prediction of plant available molybdenum in soil

Abstract

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential element of plants and animals and is of concern from human nutrition and environmental standpoints. Rational applications to soil of Mo in fertilizers, sewage sludges, or other soil amendments requires information of the concentrations of Mo in soils and plants. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted at Lexington, Kentucky, using surface samples of 12 soils (11 soil types) derived from diverse parent materials in Kentucky with soil pH ranging from 5.18 to 7.46. Molybdenum (Na₂MoO₄.2H₂O) was added at rates equivalent to 0, 0.3, and 0.6 mg Mo kg^‐1 soil. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Ky14) and soybean [Glycine max. (L.) Merrill cv. McCall] were grown to provide plant Mo data for Mo soil test correlations and comparisons. The primary purpose of these investigations was to determine the effect of pH of NH₄‐oxalate extractant solution on the relationship of soil Mo and Mo uptake by tobacco and soybeans, and to evaluate the automated KI‐H₂O₂ procedure for use in determining Mo in soil extracting solutions. The mean dry weight and Mo concentration of tobacco and soybean were increased by applications of Mo fertilizer to soil in the greenhouse. Dry matter of tobacco was increased 11 to 25% and concentration of Mo from 40 to 82% by each increment of added Mo fertilizer. The results of this study suggest that many soils in Kentucky are not meeting the requirements for Mo sufficiency for tobacco and soybean plants. The average amount of soil Mo extracted by NH₄‐oxalate decreased with increasing pH of extractant. Regression estimates for the relationship of Mo uptake by tobacco or soybean and extractable soil Mo show that the slope and the coefficients of determination increased with pH of NH₄‐oxalate solution from pH 3.3 to 6.0 and then decreased again at pH 6.4. The greatest amounts of variation in Mo uptake by plants (67% and 20%, respectively, for tobacco and soybean) were accounted for by the soil Mo data at pH 6.0. Soil Mo values for the NH₄‐oxalate extractant (pH 6.0) were related to values for anion exchange resin extractant (r² = 0.61**), but not soil pH. However, values for anion exchange resin were more closely related to Mo uptake by tobacco (r² = 0.86**) and soybean (r² = 0.60**) than were values for NH₄‐oxalate (r² = 0.65** and r² = 0.27**, respectively). Results of this study indicate that the automated KI‐H₂O₂ method used previously in analysis for plant Mo can be used to analyze Mo in soil extracts. Other instrumentation such as GFAAS and ICP may be effective in the analysis of extracts obtained by the NH₄‐oxalate (pH 6.0) or by anion exchange resin procedures when the Mo concentration of extracts falls within the detection limits of the instrument.     

Microbial biomass and respiration in soils derived from lignite ashes: a profile study

Microbial biomass C and soil respiration measurements were made in 17–20 yr old soils developed on sluiced and tipped coal‐combustion ashes. Topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–100 cm) samples were collected from three soil profiles at two abandoned disposal sites located in the city area of Halle, Saxony‐Anhalt. Selected soil physical (bulk density and texture) and chemical (pH, organic C, total N, CEC, plant available K and P, and total Cd and Cu) properties were measured. pH values were significantly lower while organic C and total N contents and the C : N ratio were significantly higher in the topsoil than in the subsoil indicating the effects of substrate weathering and pedogenic C accumulation. Likewise, microbial biomass C, K₂SO₄‐extractable C, and soil respiration with median values of 786 μg biomass C g^–1, 262 μg K₂SO₄‐C g^–1, and 6.05 μg CO₂‐C g^–1 h^–1, respectively, were significantly higher in the topsoil than in the subsoil. However, no significant difference was observed in metabolic quotient between the topsoil and the subsoil. Metabolic quotient with median values of 5.98 and 8.54 mg CO₂‐C (g biomass C)^–1 h^–1 for the 0–30 cm and 30–100 cm depths, respectively, was higher than the data reported in the literature for arable and forest soils. Microbial biomass C correlated significantly with extractable C but no relationship was observed between it and total N, Cd, and Cu contents, as well as plant‐available K and P. We conclude that the presence of the remarkable concentration of extractable C in the weathered lignite ashes allowed the establishment of microbial populations with high biomass. The high metabolic quotients observed might be attributed to the heavy‐metal contamination and to the microbial communities specific to ash soils.     

Quantification of long‐chain fatty acids in dissolved organic matter and soils

The objective was to develop and adapt a versatile analytical method for the quantification of solvent extractable, saturated long‐chain fatty acids in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Fulvic (FA) and humic (HA) acids, dissolved organic matter (DOM) in water, as well as organic matter in whole soils (SOM) of different horizons were investigated. The proposed methodology comprised extraction by dichloromethane/acetone and derivatization with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and library searches. The C_10:0 to C_34:0 methyl esters of n‐alkyl fatty acids were used as external standards for calibration. The total concentrations of C_14:0 to C_28:0 n‐alkyl fatty acids were determined in DOM obtained by reverse‐osmosis of Suwannee river water (309.3 μg g^—1), in freeze‐dried brown lake water (180.6 μg g^—1), its DOM concentrate (93.0 μg g^—1), humic acid (43.1 μg g^—1), and fulvic acid (42.5 μg g^—1). The concentrations of the methylated fatty acids (n‐C_16:0 to n‐C_28:0) were significantly (r² = 0.9999) correlated with the proportions of marker signals (% total ion intensity (TII), m/z 256 to m/z 508) in the corresponding pyrolysis‐field ionization (FI) mass spectra. The concentrations of terrestrial C_10:0 to C_34:0 n‐alkyl fatty acids from four soil samples ranged from 0.02 μg g^—1 to 11 μg g^—1. The total concentrations of the extractable fatty acids were quantified from a Podzol Bh horizon (26.2 μg g^—1), Phaeozem Ap unfertilized (48.1 μg g^—1), Phaeozem Ap fertilized (57.7 μg g^—1), and Gleysol Ap (66.7 μg g^—1). Our results demonstrate that the method is well suited to investigate the role of long‐chain fatty acids in humic fractions, whole soils and their particle‐size fractions and can be serve for the differentiation of plant growth and soil management.     

Sequentially extracted phosphorus fractions in peat‐derived soils

Phosphorus (P) forms were sequentially extracted from peat derived soils (Eutric Histosols and Gleysols) at eight sites in Saxony‐Anhalt (Germany) to disclose general differences in P pools between mineral and organic soils and to investigate effects of peat humification and oxidation in conjunction with land use and soil management on the P status of soils. Overall 29 samples providing a wide variety of basic chemical properties were subjected to the Hedley fractionation. The Histosol topsoils contained more total P (P_t) (1345 ± 666 mg kg^—1) than the Gleysol topsoils (648 ± 237 mg kg^—1). The predominant extractable fractions were H₂SO₄‐P (36—63 % of P_t) in calcareous and NaOH‐P_o (0—46 % of P_t) in non‐calcareous Histosols. These soils had large pools of residual P (13—93 % of P_t). Larger contents and proportions of P_o and of labile P fractions generally distinguished organic from mineral soils. Regression analyses indicated that poorly crystalline pedogenic oxides and organic matter were binding partners for extractable and non‐extractable P. Intensive management that promotes peat humification and oxidation results in disproportional enrichments of labile P fractions (resin‐P, NaHCO₃‐P_i, and NaHCO₃‐P_o). These changes in P chemistry must be considered for a sustainable management of landscapes with Histosols and associated peat derived soils.     

Different Fractions of Soil Potassium,Olsen Phosphorus,and Available Sulfur Status of Intensively Cultivated Berpura Soil Series of India and Nutrient Indexing of Rice Crop

Berpura alluvial soil series of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains is situated in the Ambala District of the Haryana State of India. Soils of this series had medium concentrations of both potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) and large concentrations of sulfur (S) before 1970. To study different fractions of K, Olsen P, and 0.15% calcium chloride (CaCl₂)–extractable (available) S of soils of the Berpura series and to create nutrient indexing of rice crops growing on this series, surface soil samples were collected from 100 farmers' fields after the harvest of the wheat crop in 2005. During kharif season of same year, samples of upper two leaves at anthesis growth stage of rice crop were also collected from the same 100 farmers' fields that had earlier been sampled for soil analysis. Analysis of soil samples showed more K depletion in soils of this series, of which 86% of farmers' fields were deficient in ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) K (available K). Thirty and 62% of leaf samples of the rice crop growing on the 100 fields of this series were extremely and moderately deficient in K, respectively. The mean values of water‐soluble, exchangeable, nonexchangeable, lattice, and total K were 10.6, 30.3, 390.0, 8204, and 8635 mg kg^?1, respectively. In soils of this series, 0.123, 0.351, 4.517, and 95.009% of total K were found in water‐soluble, exchangeable, nonexchangeable, and lattice K forms, respectively. On the other hand, long‐term farmers' practice of more application of P fertilizer in wheat crop has resulted in P buildup in the soils of the Berpura series. Olsen P in soils of farmers' fields of this series ranged from 9.0 to 153.0 mg kg^?1, with the mean value of 41.8 mg kg^?1. Eighty‐two percent of leaf samples of rice crops grown on this series without application of P fertilizer were sufficient in P. The analysis of soil and rice crops for P and K proved the suitability of 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and 1 N NH₄OAc for extracting available P and K, respectively, in alluvial soils of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. The 0.15% CaCl₂–extractable S in this soil ranged from 9.6 to 307 mg kg^?1 with a mean value of 34.6 mg kg^?1. Four and 26% of soil samples had low and medium, respectively, in 0.15% CaCl₂–extractable S. S deficiency was recorded in rice crops, as 29% of the leaf samples were extremely deficient in S and 58% were moderately deficient in S. This indicated the unsuitability of the 0.15% CaCl₂ to extract available S from the Udic ustochrept utilized for cultivation of rice crops.     

Speciation of cadmium,copper, lead,and zinc in contaminated soils

Abstract

To investigate the activity of free cadmium (Cd²⁺), copper (Cu²⁺), lead (Pb²⁺), and zinc (Zn²⁺) ions and analyze their dependence on pH and other soil properties, ten contaminated soils were sampled and analyzed for total contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn (Cd_T, Cu_T, Pb_T, and Zn_T, respectively), 0.43 MHNO₃‐extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn (Cd_N, Cu_N, Pb_N, and Zn_N, respectively), pH, dissolved organic matter (DOC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), ammonium oxalate extractable aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe), and dissolved calcium [Ca²⁺]. The activity of free Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions in soil solutions was determined using Donnan equilibrium/graphite furnace atomic absorption (DE/GFAA). The solubility of Cd in soils varied from 0.16 to 0.94 μg L^‐1, Cu from 3.43 to 7.42 μg L^‐1, Pb from 1.23 to 5.8 μg L^‐1, and Zn from 24.5 to 34.3 μg L^‐. In saturation soil extracts, the activity of free Cd²⁺ ions constituted 42 to 82% of the dissolved fraction, for Cu²⁺the range was 0.1 to 7.8%, for Pb²⁺ 0.1 to 5.1% and for Zn²⁺2 to 72%. The principal species of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the soil solution is free metal ions and hydrolyzed ions. Soil pH displayed a pronounced effect on the activity of free Cd²⁺, Cu^2t, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions.     

Predicting Liming Needs of Soybean Using Soil pH,Aluminum, and Manganese Soil Tests

Abstract

Whether a tropical soil should be limed or not for a particular crop is strongly dependent on the levels of soil aluminum (Al) which can be determined with soil tests. Soil pH is used to predict whether lime is needed in less‐weathered soils, although some evidence indicates a soil Al test would be more accurate. The objectives of this study were to determine and to compare the accuracies of four soil tests to separate soils requiring lime from those that do not, and to determine the cause of acid‐soil injury to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soybean was grown in the greenhouse on four surface soils representing the major land resource areas of Louisiana and were amended with eight rates of lime, yields determined, and soils analyzed for soil pH, extractable Al, CaCl₂‐extractable Al, CaCl₂‐extractable manganese (Mn), and Al saturation. Acid‐soil injury in soybean grown on the Litro clay and Stough fsl was probably caused by soil‐Al effects while low soil calcium (Ca) and high soil Mn was likely responsible for lower yields from the Mahan fsl. Leaf Ca from the limed Mahan‐soil treatment was 5‐fold greater and leaf‐Mn 7‐fold less than control levels. Regression analyses’ R² values were similar for all soil tests except for CaCl₂‐extractable Mn, which was lower. Soil tests were compared across soil type by selecting treatments that had the same 85% relative yield. Using this data subset, there was no difference in the soil pH among the four soils, while there were significant differences among soils for all other soil test measurements indicating the superiority of soil pH for identifying acid‐soil injury. Critical test values were 5.1 soil pH, 30 mg kg^‐1 extractable Al, 7% Al saturation, 0.7 mg‐kg^‐1 CaCl₂‐extractable Al, and 9 mg‐kg^‐1 CaCl₂‐extractable Mn.     

Mobile and readily available C and N fractions and their relationship to microbial biomass and selected enzyme activities in a sandy soil under different management systems

Within different land‐use systems such as agriculture, forestry, and fallow, the different morphology and physiology of the plants, together with their specific management, lead to a system‐typical set of ecological conditions in the soil. The response of total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities involved in C and N cycling to different soil management was investigated in a sandy soil at a field study at Riesa, Northeastern Germany. The management systems included agricultural management (AM), succession fallow (SF), and forest management (FM). Samples of the mineral soil (0—5, 5—10, and 10—30 cm) were taken in spring 1999 and analyzed for their contents on organic C, total N, NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^—‐N, KCl‐extractable organic C and N fractions (Corg_(KCl) and Norg_(KCl)), microbial biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With the exception of Norg_(KCl), all investigated C and N pools showed a clear relationship to the land‐use system that was most pronounced in the 0—5 cm profile increment. SF resulted in greater contents of readily available C (Corg_(KCl)), NH₄⁺‐N, microbial biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost 5 cm of the soil compared to all other systems studied. These differences were significant at P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001. Comparably high C_mic:C_org ratios of 2.4 to 3.9 % in the SF plot imply a faster C and N turnover than in AM and FM plots. Forest management led to 1.5‐ to 2‐fold larger organic C contents compared to SF and AM plots, respectively. High organic C contents were coupled with low microbial biomass C (78 μg g^—1) and N contents (10.7 μg g^—1), extremely low C_mic : C_org ratios (0.2—0.6 %) and low β‐glucosidase (81 μg PN g^—1 h^—1) and L‐asparaginase (7.3 μg NH₄‐N g^—1 2 h^—1) activities. These results indicate a severe inhibition of mineralization processes in soils under locust stands. Under agricultural management, chemical and biological parameters expressed medium values with exception for NO₃^—‐N contents which were significantly higher than in SF and FM plots (P ≤ 0.005) and increased with increasing soil depth. Nevertheless, the depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under SF. Microbial biomass C and N were correlated to β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase activity (r ≥ 0.63; P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities were related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (i.e. Corg_(KCl)) with r ≥ 0.41 (P ≤ 0.01), suggesting that (1) KCl‐extractable organic C compounds from field‐fresh prepared soils represent an important C source for soil microbial populations, and (2) that microbial biomass is an important source for enzymes in soil. The Norg_(KCl) pool is not necessarily related to the size of microbial biomass C and N and enzyme activities in soil.<?show $6#>     

印度酸性耕作土中总锰、铁以及可提取态锰、铁的水平、分布及其与土壤性质的关系研究

A total of 400 surface soil(0–15 cm) samples were collected from cultivated soils representing four soil series,namely,Hariharapur,Debatoli,Rajpora and Neeleswaram in Orissa,Jharkhand,Himachal Pradesh and Kerala states of India,respectively,and were analyzed to measure the contents of total and extractable Mn and Fe,to establish the relationship among total and extractable Mn and Fe and soil properties,and to characterize the spatial distribution pattern of Mn and Fe in some cultivated acid soils of India. The contents of total as well as extractable Mn and Fe varied widely with extractants and soil series. However,the amounts of Mn or Fe extracted by diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid(DTPA),Mehlich 1,Mehlich 3,0.1 mol L-1 HCl and ammonium bicarbonate DTPA(ABDTPA) were significantly correlated with each other(P 0.01). Based on the DTPA-extractable contents and the critical limits(2 mg Mn kg-1soil and 4.5 mg Fe kg-1 soil) published in the literature,Mn and Fe deficiencies were observed in 7%–23% and 1%–3% of the soil samples,respectively. The content of soil organic carbon(SOC) had greater influence on total and DTPA-extractable Fe than did soil pH. Geostatistical analysis revealed that total and DTPA-extractable Mn and Fe contents in the acid soils were influenced by soil pH,SOC content,and exchangeable cations like potassium,calcium and magnesium. Spatial distribution maps of total and DTPA-extractable Mn and Fe in soil indicated different distribution patterns.     

Chemical fixation of ammonia to soil organic matter after application of urea

Chemical fixation of NH₃ to soil organic matter was studied in two Swedish soils with different contents of organic matter: a clay soil with 2.3% C and an organic soil with 36.6% C. ¹⁵N‐labelled urea was applied at different rates to both sterilized and non‐sterilized soils. After 10 days, the soils were extracted and washed with K₂SO₄ and determined for total N and atom% ¹⁵N excess. Urea N was recovered as non‐extractable N in sterilized soil corresponding to 9.7% of supplied ^l5N‐labelled urea in the organic soil and 2.2% in the clay soil. Since no biological immobilization is thought to occur in the sterile soil, this non‐extractable N is suggested to be chemically fixed to soil organic matter. Owing to urea hydrolysis in the clay soil, pH increased from 6.3 to 9.3 and in the organic soil from 5.7 to 6.9 and 8.8, respectively, at the low and high urea supply.     

Comparison of MnSO4 and MnEDTA for soybeans grown on two soils in the greenhouse

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to compare MnSO₄ and MnEDTA as Mn sources. Four soil‐applied rates of each source were applied to two Coastal Plain soils, a Leefield s (pH 6.3) and an Alapaha is (pH 7.0). Plants were grown for 40 days and dry tissue weights were recorded along with leaf contents of Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu. The same ions were extracted from the soil with DTPA. The chelate source caused no differences in either extractable soil Mn or plant Mn between soils or among rates even when added at its highest rate of 2 μgMn/g. The sulfate source increased extractable soil Mn and plant Mn over the various rates but more so for the Alapaha soil than for the Leefield. Plant weights were not different between sources except on the averages for the Leefield soil. However, for the Leefield soil and the sulfate source, plant weights were lower for the check than for intermediate Mn rates due to Mn deficiency and lower for the high Ma rate (50 μg/g) presumably due to toxicity. A correlation coefficient of 0.866** was obtained for soil‐extracted Mn versus plant Mn concentration indicating that the DTPA was a good extractant for these two soils. High correlations between plant and soil Mn versus plant and soil Zn, Fe, and Cu for the chelate source showed that the MnEDTA affected metal ion availabilities other than just Mn. It was concluded that the MnSO₄ was the better source at the rates used and that for these soils the best rate was S μgMn/g applied to the soil.     

Prediction of phosphorus requirements of Desmodium intortum cv. greenleaf using a phosphorus sorption index and extractable phosphorus

Abstract

The rates of applied phosphorus required for 90% maximum yield of Desmodiim intortum cv. Greenleaf were calculated from pot experiments using 24 fertilized and unfertilized soils from the Atherton Tableland, Queensland, Australia.

Phosphorus required was highly correlated (r² = 0.94) with the phosphorus sorbed (P sorbed) by the soils at a supernatant solution P concentration of 0.08 ppm. P sorbed was found to be a function of phosphorus buffer capacity at 0.08 ppm ("PBC") and phosphorus extractable by acid (0.005 M H₂S0₄) or bicarbonate (0.5 M NaHCO₃). PBC was highly correlated (r² = O.84) with a phosphorus sorption index ("PSI") derived from one addition of 500 μg P g^‐1 soil.

Combining PSI with acid or bicarbonate extractable P in a multiple regression equation allowed the estimation of phosphorus required with multiple correlation coefficients of R² = 0.80 and R² = 0.83 respectively.     

Microbial C,N, and P relationships in moisture‐stressed soils of Potohar,Pakistan

In 11 rain‐fed arable soils of the Potohar plateau, Pakistan, the amounts of microbial‐biomass C (C_mic), biomass N (N_mic), and biomass P (P_mic) were analyzed in relation to the element‐specific total storage compartment, i.e., soil C_org, N_t, and P_t. The effects of climatic conditions and soil physico‐chemical properties on these relationships were highlighted with special respect to crop yield levels. Average contents of soil C_org, N_t, and P_t were 3.9, 0.32, and 0.61 mg (g soil)^–1, respectively. Less than 1% of P_t was extractable with 0.5 M NaHCO₃. Mean contents of C_mic, N_mic, and P_mic were 118.4, 12.0, and 3.9 µg (g soil)^–1. Values of C_mic, N_mic, P_mic, soil C_org, and N_t were all highly significantly interrelated. The mean crop yield level was closely connected with all soil organic matter– and microbial biomass–related properties, but showed also some influence by the amount of precipitation from September to June. Also the fraction of NaHCO₃‐extractable P was closely related to soil organic matter, soil microbial biomass, and crop yield level. This reveals the overwhelming importance of biological processes for P turnover in alkaline soils.     

Availability of extractable boron in some acid soils,west Bengal,India

Abstract

A relatively small range between deficiency and toxic limits of boron (B) necessitates precise evaluation of the availability of extractable boron before applying B in deficient soils. Keeping this in view, laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the availability of native B in soils. For this purpose, 25 acid soils with diverse properties and varying hot water extractable B content, were selected from lateritic and alluvial tracts of Southern West Bengal. A greenhouse pot experiment with four rates of B (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg kg^‐1) was conducted in completely randomized design to study the response of soybean (Glycine max L.) to native and applied B in all 25 soils. The suitability of nine extractants for determining available soil B was assessed by correlating the amount of extractable B in untreated soils with Bray's percent yield, uptake, and tissue B concentration of soybean plants. Optimization of salicylic acid concentration is described and the advantages of this extractant are discussed. The interference of amethyst color (produced by iron and salicylic acid) with the colorimetric estimation of B is studied. Hot CaCl₂ was found to be the most suitable extractant for the determination of available B in these soils, followed by hot water, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate. However, salicylic acid appeared to be the most efficient extractant for routine soil analysis for available B, where a large number of samples are analyzed. The critical values in respect to sufficiency of extractable B for soybean plants were 0.51 for hot water, 0.61 for hot CaCl₂, 0.27 for ammonium acetate and 0.45 mg kg^‐1 for salicylic acid. The critical B concentration in soybean plants was 18 mg kg^‐1 on dry weight basis. Multiple regression equations relating soil properties to native soil B extracted by various extractante were developed. It was observed that organic carbon and clay contributed positively to B extracted by hot water, hot CaCl₂, and ammonium acetate, while salicylic acid extractable B showed positive relationships with cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay. The CEC and Fe₂O₃ were found to have positive influence on tartaric acid extractable B. Implications of the influences of soil properties on the extractable B content of soils are discussed.     

Determination of the fate of 13C labelled maize and wheat exudates in an agricultural soil during a short-term incubation

A broader knowledge of the contribution of carbon (C) released by plant roots (exudates) to soil is a prerequisite for optimizing the management of organic matter in arable soils. This is the first study to show the contribution of constantly applied ¹³C‐labelled maize and wheat exudates to water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), microbial biomass‐C (MB‐C), and CO₂‐C evolution during a 25‐day incubation of agricultural soil material. The CO₂‐C evolution and respective δ¹³C values were measured daily. The WEOC and MB‐C contents were determined weekly and a newly developed method for determining δ¹³C values in soil extracts was applied. Around 36% of exudate‐C of both plants was recovered after the incubation, in the order WEOC < MB‐C < CO₂‐C for maize and MB‐C < WEOC < CO₂‐C for wheat. Around 64% of added exudate‐C was not retrieved with the methods used here. Our results suggest that great amounts of exudates became stabilized in non‐water extractable organic fractions. The amounts of MB‐C stayed relatively constant over time despite a continuous exudate‐C supply, which is the prerequisite for a growing microbial population. A lack of mineral nutrients might have limited microbial growth. The CO₂‐C mineralization rate declined during the incubation and this was probably caused by a shift in the microbial community structure. Consequently, incoming WEOC was left in the soil solution leading to rising WEOC amounts over time. In the exudate‐treated soil additional amounts of soil‐derived WEOC (up to 110 μg g⁻¹) and MB‐C (up to 60 μg g⁻¹) relative to the control were determined. We suggest therefore that positive priming effects (i.e. accelerated turnover of soil organic matter due to the addition of organic substrates) can be explained by exchange processes between charged, soluble C‐components and the soil matrix. As a result of this exchange, soil‐derived WEOC becomes available for mineralization.     

Effects of air-drying on the adsorption and desorption of phosphate and levels of extractable phosphate in a group of acid soils,New Zealand

The effects of air-drying field-moist soils on the adsorption and desorption of added phosphate and on the levels of extractable native soil phosphate were examined using the A and B horizons of a group of four acid soils.Air-drying increased the capacity of all the soil samples to adsorb phosphate. At an equilibrium solution concentration of 0.5 μg P ml^?1, the increase in the quantity of phosphate adsorbed following drying ranged from 23% to 70% of that adsorbed by the moist samples. Considerable hysteresis in phosphate adsorption—desorption isotherms was observed for both moist and dried soil samples indicating that the additional phosphate adsorbed by the dried samples was held with the same strength as that held by the moist samples.Air-drying the soil samples caused a small decrease in soil pH of approximately 0.1 pH unit and a general increase in levels of EDTA-extractable Fe, Al and organic matter. Quantities of native soil phosphate extractable with EDTA, resin and NaHCO₃ were also increased. Concentrations of oxalate- and pyrophosphate-extractable Fe and Al and exchangeable Al were, however, unaffected by drying.It was also shown that when the phosphate content of NaHCO₃ extracts is measured using the conventional molybdenum blue method, orthophosphate plus a differing amount of acid-hydrolysable organic P present in the extract is measured.     

Effect of tebuthiuron on soil N mineralization and nitrification

Abstract

Herbicides have potential for economical and efficient site preparation following timber harvest. The effects of tebuthiu‐ron, one of the herbicides approved for this use, on soil nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification were determined in laboratory incubations. Tebuthiuron was added at rates from 0 to 1000 μg g^‐1 to three soils. There was no effect of tebuthiuron additions of less than 1 μg g^‐1 on soil N mineralization and nitrification. Tebuthiuron reduced nitrification in all soils at 1000 μg g^‐1 and in two of the soils at 100 μg g^‐1 . All soils had increased net mineralization with tebuthiuron added at 100 and 1000 μg g^‐1. The addition of 50 μg NH⁺ ₄‐N and 1000 μg tebuthiuron g^‐1 resulted in increased net mineralization in the three soils. Nitrification was affected differently in each of the three soils by the addition of both NH⁺ ₄‐N and tebuthiuron. The added NH⁺ ₄‐N either removed the inhibition of nitrification by the herbicide or had no effect on the inhibition in two of the soils. In the third soil, nitrification was reduced by the addition of NH⁺ ₄‐N.

The presence of NO^‐ ₃‐N in these acid soils and the effects of added NH⁺ ₄‐N on NO^‐ ₃‐N production suggest that heterotrophic nitrification occurs in at least two of the soils. The findings of this study indicate that any effects of tebuthiuron on N mineralization and nitrification at the currently recommended application rates are likely to be transient and localized.     

Rate of nitrapyrin and soil ph effects on nitrification of ammonium fertilizer and growth and composition of burley tobacco

Abstract

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of rate of nitrapyrin and soil pH on nitrification of NH₄ ⁺ fertilizer in soil, and growth and chemical composition of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. ‘KY ‐14'). Such experiments were needed to develop information for increasing efficiency of N fertilizer use and to lessen the fertilizer‐induced soil acidity and salt effects on tobacco plants.

Results for laboratory and greenhouse incubations indicated that nitrification proceeeded slowly below pH 5.0 and the nitrapyrin necessary to delay nitrification increased with both increasing soil pH and length of incubation time. Generally, nitrification could be delayed 30 days by nitrapyrin rates of 0.25 or 0.5 μg g^‐1 regardless of soil pH. but rates of 1 μg g^‐1 nitrapyrin or higher were required for 60 days and longer incubation times, particularly at higher soil pH.

Growth and morphology of tobacco plants were either unaffected, or affected positively, by low rates of nitrapyrin (up to 2 μg g^‐1). However, rates of 4 μg g^‐1 and above reduced total plant dry weight, reducing sugars and contents of mineral elements. Concentrations and content of plant NO₃ ^‐ N and Mn were greatly decreased by application of nitrapyrin. Values for most parameters measured increased with increasing soil pH. The data show that low rates of nitrapyrin may be used to alter the ratio of NO₃ ^‐ to NH₄ ⁺ N absorbed by tobacco and possibly improve growth and safety of tobacco.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics of Some Benchmark Soil Series under Rice–Wheat Cropping System in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains of Northwestern India

Abstract

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important issues in long‐term sustainability of a cropping system. Fixation and release behavior of potassium were studied in the surface and subsurface horizons in five benchmark soil series, viz. Dhar, Gurdaspur, Naura, Ladowal, and Nabha, under rice–wheat cropping system in the Indo‐Gangetic plains of India. Potassium fixation was noted by adding six rates of K varying from 0 to 500 mg kg^?1 soil in plastic beakers while K release characteristics were studied by repeated extractions with 1 M HNO₃ and 1 M NH₄OAc extractants. The initial status of K was satisfactory to adequate. Potassium fixation of added K increased with the rate of added K irrespective of soil mineralogy and soil depth. Soils rich in K (Ladowal and Nabha) fixed lower amounts (18–42%) of added K as compared to Gurdaspur, Dhar, and Naura (44.6–86.4%) soils low in K. The unit fertilizer requirement for unit increase in available K was more in low‐K soils. The study highlights the need for more studies on K fixation in relation to the associated minerals in a particular soil. Potassium‐release parameters such as total extractable K, total step K, and CR‐K varied widely in different soil series, indicating wide variation in the K‐supplying capacity of these soils. K released with 1 M NH₄OAc extractant was 20–33% of that obtained with 1 M HNO₃. Total extractable K using 1 M HNO₃ varied from 213 to 528 mg kg^?1 and NH₄OAc‐extractable K ranged from 71 to 312 mg kg^?1 soil in surface and subsurface layers of different soil series. The Ladowal and Nabha series showed higher rates of K release than Gurdaspur, Dhar, and Naura series, indicating their greater K‐supplying capacity.