Determining critical limit of boron in soil for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Critical values of boron (B) for wheat nutrition in soil and plant were determined through a pot experiment with twenty-one surface soils of Alluvial flood plain and Red-latertic belt comprising three major soil orders (Entisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols) with four levels of boron. Application of boron significantly increased the dry matter yield as well as uptake of B by plants. Critical concentration of hot calcium chloride (CaCl₂) extractable B in soil for wheat was found to be 0.53?mg?kg^?1. The critical plant B concentration varied with growth stages and values were 7.4?mg?kg^?1 at panicle initiation and 4.18?mg?kg^?1 at maturity, respectively. The findings of this investigation also recommend the application of 2?kg?B^?1?ha^?1 for ensuring B sufficiency to wheat in Indo-gangetic alluvial and Red-Lateritic soils.     

Interlaboratory and Intralaboratory Testing of Soil Sulfate Analysis in Mollisols of the Pampas

Sulfur (S) deficiencies in grain and forage crops have been detected in many agricultural regions of the world, but soil tests are not commonly used as the basis for S fertilizer recommendation programs. Errors of measurements of soil sulfate were determined to assess whether the variation among and within soil-testing laboratories could be a factor that prevent the adoption of soil testing to assess soil sulfate availability. Subsamples of 10 selected soils (Mollisols) from the Pampas (Argentina) were sent in two batches to five soil-testing laboratories. Laboratories were unaware of the existence of subsamples and performed routine sulfate analysis as if these soils came from 60 different fields. Soil sulfate ranged from 3.3 to 20.6 mg kg^?1. One laboratory reported sulfate values greater than the other ones, having a mean bias of 4.1 mg kg^?1 S sulfate (SO₄). The other four laboratories reported similar sulfate values when soils had low sulfate availability (less than 10 mg S kg^?1), even when they used different extractants. Considering only these four laboratories, average interlaboratory coefficients of variations ranged from 6 to 24% for the 10 soils. Within-laboratory mean coefficients of variation (CVs) ranged from 12 to 22%. However, mean absolute errors of all laboratories were less than 1.2 mg kg^?1 S-SO₄. Two laboratories reported different sulfate values for the two batches of shipment (an average difference of 4.7 and 3.8 mg kg^?1 of S-SO₄). Laboratories using different extractants obtained similar results, suggesting that using the same extractant is not a prerequisite to standardize laboratory results in these soils. Differences between laboratories in our study were smaller than in other interlaboratory comparisons for soil sulfate. These differences could be easily detected and corrected if laboratories participate in an interlaboratory control system. The observed low mean absolute errors suggested that, in general, all laboratories achieve acceptable precision when evaluating within the same batch of determinations. Differences between batches of shipment (within laboratory error) stressed the importance of using reference material for internal quality control.     

Evaluation of Some Chelates in Estimating Available Zn for Soybean in Calcareous Soils

Six fertilizer trials on calcareous soils in Saudi Arabia were conducted for the prediction of Zn deficiency in soybean (Glycine max L., var Merr). Zinc level before planting was tested by using 3 different extractants, i.e. DTPA, AB-DTPA and EDTA. Zinc was applied in the form of ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kg Zn ha^?1. Plant samples were taken at early bloom and tissue was analysed for Zn. Two methods were used to judge the critical deficiency level of Zn: Cate-Nelson and chisquare models. The critical level estimated according to the Cate-Nelson method for DTPA extractable soil Zn was 0.43 mg kg^?1 in the growing season 1991. EDTA gave a much higher level (1.80 mg kg^?1) and AB-DTPA gave an intermediate level (0.68 mg kg^?1). Chi-square statistical procedure gave a very similar critical level of 0.66 mg kg^?1 for AB-DTPA but lower for either DTPA (0.38 mg kg^?1) or EDTA (1.32 mg kg^?1). The critical level based for three growing seasons ranged from 0.25 to 0.68, 0.32 to 0.82 and 1.12 to 3.4 mg Zn kg^?1 for DTPA, AB-DTPA and EDTA extractants, respectively. The values obtained by the linear regression equation with soybean leaf concentration were 0.45 and 0.70 mg Zn kg^?1 for DTPA and AB-DTPA, respectively. Such values are very close to those determined by using the Cate-Nelson method. On the other hand, the value obtained for EDTA (1.15 mg Zn kg^?1) was comparatively lower than that calculated by applying the Cate-Nelson method.     

Copper distribution and acid-base mobilization in vineyard soils and sediments from Galicia (NW Spain)

In northern Spain and elsewhere in the world, many vineyards are located on steep slopes and are susceptible to accelerated soil erosion. Contaminants, notably Cu, originating from repeated application of copper‐based fungicides to the vines to prevent mildew, are transported and stored in the sediments deposited close to valley bottoms. In this study, the contents and distribution of Cu in 17 soil samples and 21 sediment samples collected from vineyard stands were determined. In addition, the effect of pH on Cu release from vineyard soils and sediments was quantified. The total Cu content (Cu_T) in the soils varied between 96 and 583 mg kg^?1, and was between 1.2 and 5.6 times greater in sediment samples. The mean concentration of potentially bioavailable Cu (Cu_EDTA) in the sediments was 199 mg kg^?1 (46% of Cu_T), and was 80 mg kg^?1 (36% of Cu_T) in the soils. Copper bound to soil organic matter (Cu_OM) was the dominant fraction in the soils (on average, 53% of the Cu_T), while in sediment samples Cu_OM values varied between 37 and 712 mg kg^?1 and were significantly greater (P < 0.01) than in the soils. Copper associated with non‐crystalline inorganic components (Cu_IA) was the second most important fraction in the sediments, in which it was 3.4 times greater than in the soils. Release of Cu due to changes in the pH followed a U‐shaped pattern in soils and sediments. The release of Cu increased when the pH decreased below 5.5 due to the increased solubility of the metal at this pH. When the pH increased above 7.5, Cu and organic matter were released simultaneously.     

Potassium fertilization on sandy soils in relation to soil test,crop yield and K-leaching

To study the influence of potassium (K) fertilizer rate on soil test K values, crop yield, and K-leaching in sandy soils, four long-term fertilizer experiments (0–60–120–180 kg K ha^?1 a^?1) were initiated in 1988 in northern Germany on farmers fields. Clay content of the plow layer was about 4%, and organic matter between 2% and 5%. Plant available soil K was estimated with the double lactate (DL) method. Small grain cereals (rye and barley) did not respond to K fertilization in the 7-year period even though the soil test value of the K-0 plots decreased from ca. 90 to ca. 30 mg K_DL kg^?1 within 3 years. This value remained almost constant thereafter. Crop removal (including straw) of 75 kg K ha^?1 a^?1 was therefore apparently supplied from nonexchangeable K fractions. Compared to the optimum, no K application reduced the yield of potato by up to 21%, and that of white sugar yield up to 10%. Maximum potato yield was obtained by annually applying 60 kg K ha^?1 which resulted in a test value of 60 mg K_DL kg^?1 soil. Maximum potato yield was also obtained at 40 mg K_DL kg^?1 soil, however, with a single application of 200 kg K ha^?1. Similar results were obtained with sugar beet. This indicates that for maximum yield, even for K demanding crops, it is not necessary to maintain K_DL values above 40 mg K kg^?1 soil throughout the entire crop rotation. Soil test values increased roughly proportional to the K fertilizer level. About 120 kg fertilizer K ha^?1 a^?1, markedly more than crop K removal, was required to maintain the initial K_DL of 90 mg kg^?1. The K concentration of the soil solution in the top soil measured after harvest was increased exponentially by K fertilizer level and so was K leaching from the plow layer into the rooted subsoil. The leached quantity increased from 22 kg K ha_?1 a_?1 in the plot without K application to 42.79 and 133 kg Kha^?1 a^?1 in plots supplied with 60, 120 and 180 kg K ha^?1 a^?1 respectively. Soil test values around 100 mg K_DL kg^?1 on sandy soils, as often found in the plow layer of farmers fields, lead to K leaching below the root zone that may exceed the critical K concentration of 12 mg K T^?1 for drinking water.     

Evaluation of the sulphur status of some soils from Portugal

Total S, extractable SO₄, and SO₄^? retention capacity were determined in a range of soils covering the dominant soil groups in Portugal which are expected to show S deficiency. Total S was relatively low (83–435 mg S kg^?1) in all soils and KH₂PO₄^? extractable SO₄ was, in general, low for plant growth, ranging from 0.9 to 32.2 mg S kg^?1. SO₄^? retention capacity ranged from ?33.1 to 64.7 mg S kg^?1 and was negative in many (14 out of 20) of the soils. Most of the soils are expected to be S deficient and show extensive leaching of SO₄. Other selected soil properties that may affect the chemistry of SO₄ were determined. A highly significant simple correlation was obtained between SO₄ adsorbed and extractable Al by the Mehra and Jackson method (CDB-Al) (r = 0.74; P < 0.001). A multiple regression which included silt improved the correlation of SO₄ adsorbed with CDB-Al (r = 0.79; P < 0.001).     

Novel Fertilizer as an Alternative for Supplying Manganese and Boron to Soybeans

Soybean (Glycine max) commonly experience Mn deficiencies in the coarse-textured soils of Coastal Plain Virginia, especially under high pH conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of a novel coated fertilizer to provide Mn and B to soybeans in soils where Mn deficiency is common and B deficiency, although far less common than with Mn, is possible. A 60-d greenhouse experiment was conducted with three treatments: control, uncoated KCl, and Mn +B coated KCl applied to Bojac and Dragston sandy loams. Soil and whole plant tissue samples were collected throughout the experiment. Bojac and Dragston soils treated with the coated KCl contained 12.0 mg kg^?1 and 15.8 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 1 – Mn, 21.7 mg kg^?1 and 23.0 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 3 Mn, and 4.5 mg kg^?1 and 4.6 mg kg^?1 CaCl₂ – Mn than the control and uncoated KCl, respectively. Coated KCl increased above ground tissue Mn by 42.9 mg kg^?1 compared to the control and the uncoated KCl treatments in the Bojac soil, while the Dragston soil showed no significant differences in Mn tissue concentration between treatments. Above ground tissue, Mn was much lower in the Dragston soil than the Bojac, probably due to greater organic matter which chelates Mn keeping it less plant available. Boron concentrations did not differ in plant tissue or soil, regardless of the extraction method. Results indicate that the coated KCl product could consistently provide increased Mn concentration in acidic sandy soils despite varying levels of organic matter, but is not effective for B.     

Assessing the depletion of soil P following sequential extractions with Mehlich-3 and Olsen solutions

We analyzed in soils with contrasting cultivation histories the depletion of P following sequential extractions with soil testing solutions. Soil samples were collected in three experiments in eastern Canada (L’Acadie, Lévis, and Normandin) and P was sequentially extracted 16 times, once daily, using Mehlich-3 (M3) or Olsen (Ol) solution. The cumulative amount of P extracted was 252 mg P_M3 kg^?1 and 77 mg kg^?1 P_Ol for L’Acadie, 212 mg P_M3 kg^?1 and 66 mg P_Ol kg^?1 for Lévis, and 424 mg P_M3 kg^?1 and 83 mg P_Ol kg^?1 for Normandin. The depletion of P was described by a logarithmic function (Y = a ln (N) + b) for P_M3, and a power function (Y = αN^β) for P_Ol. The inorganic P pool decreased in the three soils. The organic P pool did not decrease possibly because soil testing solutions did not directly extract P from this pool. This study demonstrated that laboratory soil testing analysis using M3 or Ol solution principally target P from the inorganic pool, suggesting that P fertilizer recommendations to mineral soils relying on these methods do not account for the potential of the organic P pool to contribute to soil P availability.     

Assessment of nickel's sufficiency critical levels in cultivated soils,employing commonly used calibration techniques

Although Ni has been officially recognized as an essential micronutrient for all higher plants since 2004, research on assessing its sufficiency critical levels with different soil tests is missing in the literature. The objective of the study was to determine Ni critical levels in unpolluted cultivated soils utilizing four methods, employing three commonly used calibration techniques. Ten soils with different physical–chemical properties and low Ni content were treated with Ni at rates of 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg kg^?1. After equilibration for one month, the soils were analyzed for extractable Ni by four methods, namely DTPA, AB‐DTPA, AAAc‐EDTA, and Mehlich‐3. Response to soil‐applied Ni was assessed by a greenhouse pot experiment, with the untreated and Ni‐treated soils in three replications, using ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The aboveground biomass of ryegrass was harvested two months after sowing, dry weight of biomass was measured and relative biomass yield was calculated. Nickel's critical levels were determined employing the: (a) graphical technique of Brown and co‐workers, (b) Mitscherlich–Bray equation, and (c) Cate and Nelson graphical technique. According to the first technique, Ni critical levels were ≈ 2 mg kg^?1 for the DTPA and AB‐DTPA methods, and 6.0 and 5.3 mg kg^?1 for the AAAc‐EDTA and Mehlich‐3 methods, respectively. Similar levels were obtained by the Mitscherlich–Bray equation. However, the critical levels assessed by the Cate and Nelson technique were lower and ranged from 0.5 to 1.3 mg kg^?1 for all four methods. Conclusively, Ni sufficiency critical levels for all four methods are expected to range at levels of a few mg Ni kg^?1 of soil. As far as the three calibration techniques are concerned, a distinct boundary between Ni response and non‐response was accomplished by none. However, the fact that 60–74% of the soils were correctly separated into responsive and non‐responsive to added Ni by the graphical technique of Brown and co‐workers suggests that this is the most suitable technique.     

Genese und Klassifikation von Organomarschen der Wesermarsch

Formation and classification of humus-rich marshland soils of the Weser marshland, Germany The formation and classification of marshland soils are still controversial. To improve the knowledge on the formation of humus-rich marshland soils 11 soil profiles have been investigated. The soils mostly showed Phragmitis in the subsoil. The Gr-horizons began at low depths (40–60 cm). The clay content was often about 60% and the C_org content up to 480 g kg^?1. The amount of total sulfur was up to 29.6 g kg^?1, that of exchangeable sulfate up to 4608 mg kg^?1 and that of sulfate in the saturation extract 51.2 mg l^?1. With pH (H₂O) values between 2.0 and 7.4, Carbonate/S ratios < 3 and total sulfur contents > 7.5 g kg^?1 some soils showed “Actual Acid Sulfate Soil” (AASS) properties. The pH(per) values varied between 2.4 and 7.1, thus some profiles showed “Potential Acid Sulfate Soils” (PASS) properties. Brakish as well as marine environments with an intensive sulfur dynamics and carbonate leaching are likely within the geogenetic phase of soil development. Via the control of the water regime the pedogenetic phase is mainly of anthropogenic influence. We propose to classify humus-rich marshland soils into “Organomarsch” and “Thiomarsch” on the soil type level of the German systematics.     

Laboratory Assessment of Nostoc 9v (Cyanobacteria) Effects on N2 Fixation and Chemical Fertility of Degraded African Soils

The potential of Nostoc 9v for improving the nitrogen (N)₂–fixing capacity and nutrient status of semi‐arid soils from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa was studied in a laboratory experiment. Nostoc 9v was inoculated on nonsterilized and sterilized soils. Inoculum rates were 2.5 mg dry biomass g^?1 soil and 5 mg dry biomass g^?1 soil. The soils were incubated for 3 months at 27 °C under 22 W m² illumination with a photoperiod of 16 h light and 8 h dark. The moisture was maintained at 60% of field capacity. In all soils, Nostoc 9v proliferated and colonized the soil surfaces very quickly and was tolerant to acidity and low nutrient availability. Cyanobacteria promoted soil N₂ fixation and had a pronounced effect on total soil organic carbon (SOC), which increased by 30–100%. Total N also increased, but the enrichment was, in most soils, comparatively lower than for carbon (C). Nitrate and ammonium concentrations, in contrast, decreased in all the soils studied. Increases in the concentration of available macronutrients were produced in most soils and treatments, ranging from 3 to 20 mg phosphorus (P) kg^?1 soil, from 5 to 58 mg potassium (K) kg^?1 soil, from 4 to 285 mg calcium (Ca) kg^?1, and from 12 to 90 mg magnesium (Mg) kg^?1 soil. Positive effects on the levels of available manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were also observed.     

Cadmium soil sorption at low concentrations: VIII. correlation with soil parameters

Cadmium distribution coefficients, K _d were determined at low Cd concentrations (solute: 0.2 to 3.0 μg Cd dm^?3, soil: 0.044 to 1.1 mg Cd kg^?1) for 63 Danish agricultural soils. The K _d values ranged from 15 to 2450 L kg^?1. About 40% of the soils had K _d values below 200 L kg^?1. The observed K _d values correlated very well with soil pH (r ² = 0.72). Introducing soil organic matter content as a second parameter improved the correlation some (r ² = 0.79). No further improvements were obtained by introducing traditional soil parameters as clay, silt, fine sand, coarse sand and CEC or ‘reactive’ parameters as oxyhydroxides of Mn, Fe and Al. The identified regression equation for predicting K _d values indicates that K _d approximately doubles for each 0.5 unit increase in pH or 2% increase (weight basis) in organic matter content.     

Heterotrophic nitrification is the predominant NO3 − production pathway in acid coniferous forest soil in subtropical China

To date, occurrence and stimulation of different nitrification pathways in acidic soils remains unclear. Laboratory incubation experiments, using the acetylene inhibition and ¹⁵N tracing methods, were conducted to study the relative importance of heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification in two acid soils (arable (AR) and coniferous forest) in subtropical China, and to verify the reliability of the ¹⁵N tracing model. The gross rate of autotrophic nitrification was 2.28 mg?kg^?1?day^?1, while that of the heterotrophic nitrification (0.01 mg?kg^?1?day^?1) was negligible in the AR soil. On the contrary, the gross rate of autotrophic nitrification was very low (0.05 mg?kg^?1?day^?1) and the heterotrophic nitrification (0.98 mg?kg^?1?day^?1) was the predominant NO₃ ^? production pathway accounting for more than 95 % of the total nitrification in the coniferous forest soil. Our results showed that the ¹⁵N tracing model was reliable when used to study soil N transformation in acid subtropical soils.     

Mobility of Cd and Zn in polluted and unpolluted Spodosols

Leaching of Cd and Zn in polluted acid, well‐drained soils is a critical pathway for groundwater pollution. Models predicting future groundwater contamination with these metals have rarely been validated at the field scale. Spodosol profiles (pH 3.2–4.5) were sampled in an unpolluted (reference) field and in a field contaminated with Cd and Zn through atmospheric deposition near a zinc smelter. Average metal concentrations in the upper horizons were 0.2 mg Cd kg^?1 and 9 mg Zn kg^?1 in the unpolluted field, and 0.8 mg Cd kg^?1 and 71 mg Zn kg^?1 in the contaminated field. Isotopic dilution was used to measure the labile concentration of Cd and Zn, and the metal transport was modelled using measured sorption parameters that describe the distribution between the labile metal pool (instead of the total metal pool) and the solution phase obtained by centrifugation. Solutions were also collected by wick samplers in two polluted and one unpolluted profile at a depth of 70 cm. Concentrations in these solutions were in the order of 15 µg Cd litre^?1 and 0.8 mg Zn litre^?1 for the polluted profiles, and 1 µg Cd litre^?1 and 0.04 mg Zn litre^?1 for the unpolluted profile. The concentrations in these solutions agreed well with those in soil solutions obtained by centrifugation, which supported the use of the local equilibrium assumption (LEA). Present‐day Cd profiles in the polluted field were calculated with the LEA, based on the emission history of the nearby smelter and taking spatial variability into account. Observed and predicted depth profiles agreed reasonably well, but total Cd concentrations in the topsoil were generally underestimated by the model. This may be attributed to the presence of non‐labile Cd in the atmospheric deposition, which was not accounted for in the retrospective modelling. The large concentrations of non‐labile Zn in the topsoil of the polluted field were also indicative that metals in the atmospheric deposition were (partly) in a sparingly soluble form, and that release of these non‐labile metals is a slow process. The presence of non‐labile metals should be taken into account when evaluating metal mobility or predicting their transport.     

Mineralization and Nutrient Release of an Organic Fertilizer Made by Flour,Meat, and Crop Residues in Two Vineyard Soils with Different pH Levels

The mineralization and nutrient evolution of an organic fertilizer compost of flour, meat, and crop residues was evaluated in two vineyard soils. A lysimetric testing, using 2.2-L Büchner funnels, was carried out to study the evolution of pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrients during the 400-day experiment. The net mineralization for two different doses of the fertilizer mixed with the soils was compared with an unfertilized control. The pH value of the acidic soil decreased to values less than 4.5 because of the yield of hydrogen (H⁺) in the organic fertilizer mineralization, whereas the soluble aluminium (Al³⁺) increased quickly in the leachates. The mineralization process was quicker in the alkaline soil (with a maximum mineralization rate of 0.83 mg nitrogen (N) kg^?1 day^?1 for the 8 Mg ha^?1 dose and 0.43 mg N kg^?1 day^?1 for the 4 Mg ha^?1 dose) in comparison with the acidic soil, which reduced these rates up to 50%. The N-nitrate (NO₃) amounts yielded in a year were 150 and 79 kg N ha^?1 for the 8 and 4 Mg ha^?1 doses respectively in the alkaline soil, enough to cover the vineyard N demand. These values were reduced to 50% and 60% of N-NO₃ for the acidic soil, indicating the important effect of pH in the mineralization.     

Evaluation of Extractants and Quantity–Intensity Relationship for Estimation of Available Potassium in Some Calcareous Soils of Western Iran

Accurate estimation of the available potassium (K⁺) supplied by calcareous soils in arid and semi‐arid regions is becoming more important. Exchangeable K⁺, determined by ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc), might not be the best predictor of the soil K⁺ available to crops in soils containing micaceous minerals. The effectiveness of different extraction methods for the prediction of K‐supplying capacities and quantity–intensity relationships was studied in 10 calcareous soils in western Iran. Total K⁺ uptake by wheat grown in the greenhouse was used to measure plant‐available soil K⁺. The following methods extracted increasingly higher average amounts of soil K⁺: 0.025 M H₂SO₄ (45 mg K⁺ kg^?1), 1 M NaCl (92 mg K⁺ kg^?1), 0.01 M CaCl₂ (104 mg K⁺ kg^?1), 0.1 M BaCl₂ (126 mg K⁺ kg^?1), and 1 M NH₄OAc (312 mg K⁺ kg^?1). Potassium extracted by 0.01 M CaCl₂, 1 M NaCl, 0.1 M BaCl₂, and 0.025 M H₂SO₄ showed higher correlation with K⁺ uptake by the crop (P < 0.01) than did NH₄OAc (P < 0.05), which is used to extract K⁺ in the soils of the studied area. There were significant correlations among exchangeable K⁺ adsorbed on the planar surfaces of soils (labile K⁺) and K⁺ plant uptake and K⁺ extracted by all extractants. It would appear that both 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 1 M NaCl extractants and labile K⁺ may provide the most useful prediction of K⁺ uptake by plants in these calcareous soils containing micaceous minerals.     

Effects of Broiler Litter Management Practices on Phosphorus,Copper, Zinc,Manganese, and Arsenic Concentrations in Maryland Coastal Plain Soils

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the long‐term effects of broiler litter applications on soil phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and arsenic (As) concentrations in Chesapeake Bay watershed Coastal Plain soils. Litter and soil samples were collected from 10 farms with more than 40 years of broiler production and from wooded sites adjacent to fields and were analyzed for P and metal contents. Averaged over farms, total P and metal concentrations in the litter were 12.8 g kg^?1 P and 332, 350, 334, and 2.93 mg kg^?1 Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively. Surface (0–15 cm) soil pH values were greater than (5.7–6.4) the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth at wooded sites (3.5–4.3). Surface soil Bray 1 P values (149–796 mg kg^?1) in amended fields were greater than wooded sites (4.4–17 mg kg^?1). The 1N nitric acid (HNO₃)–extractable metal concentrations were higher in amended soils than in wooded areas and were 7.7–32, 5.7–26, 12.3–71, and 0.6–3.0 mg kg^?1 for Cu, Zn, Mn, and As, respectively, compared to 0.76–14, 4.6–22, 1.6–70, and 0.14–0.59 mg kg^?1 for the same metals, respectively, in wooded areas. Results from this study demonstrated that long‐term broiler litter applications have altered the chemical properties of the Coastal Plain soils of the Maryland Eastern Shore. Metal concentrations were low in the surface layer of amended fields and typically decreased with depth. Phosphorus additions rather than metals are most likely to contribute to the degradation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.     

Determination of Soil Feature Effects on Plant-Available Phosphorus Extraction using Response Surface and Cate–Nelson Methodology

In this study, four soil extraction methods (Olsen, Soltanpour, Mehlich 3, and water saturation) were used to identify optimal concentrations of phosphorus (P) required for plant growth. Olsen soil extraction for P was the most appropriate method for soil types of this study as the greatest correlation coefficient for soil-test P and with plant factors was achieved. The optimal amount of soil features (pH, organic carbon, lime, gypsum, and clay) determined by using response surface methodology (a new optimization method) were 7.49, 0.66, 41.82, 4.21, and 31.34, respectively. More soil P was extracted when the soil had optimal amounts of these features, showing each feature had a significant effect on extracted soil P. Furthermore, the graphical method of Cate–Nelson determined the optimal amounts of P using Olsen, Soltanpour, Mehlich 3, and saturation extract methods for wheat as 15, 6.5, 35, and 1.5 mg kg^?1 soil in nongypsic soils and 17, 3.5, 45, and 2.5 mg kg^?1 soil in gypsic soils.     

Critical limit of boron for maize (Zea mays L.) in red and lateritic soil of Jharkhand,India

ABSTRACT

To establish a critical limit in soils and plant, an experiment was conducted in red and lateritic soil (Alfisols) of farmer’s field in tribal-dominated Panchayat Kurum, Palkot block, Gumla district, Jharkhand, India. Based on the results of the field experiment, the critical limits were determined as 0.48, 0.50, 0.47, and 0.42 mg kg^?1 in the soil, respectively, for hot water, hot calcium chloride, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate-extractable B, while a critical limit of 12.00 mg kg^?1 was observed in maize tissue using the graphical method. In an analysis of variance method, the critical limits of B in soils were found as 0.45, 0.54, 0.49, and 0.43 mg kg^?1 using hot water, hot calcium chloride, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate extractants, respectively. Maize plants were highly responsive to B application where soil B level was below the critical limit (0.50 mg kg^?1). In a field experiment, grain yield of maize increased with increasing levels of B application, while soil application at 1.0 kg ha^?1 + two foliar application (at the knee and pre-flowering stages) of borax at 0.2% were showed significantly higher grain yield of the maize crop. The hot water, hot calcium chloride, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate-extractable B were significantly and positively correlated with organic carbon and negatively correlated with the electrical conductivity of soils.     

Arsenic Concentrations in Groundwater,Soils, and Irrigated Rice in Southwestern Bangladesh

Arsenic (As) poisoning of groundwater in Bangladesh has become a major environmental and health issue. The extensive use of groundwater in irrigation of rice has resulted in elevated As in soils and crops. A study was undertaken to determine As concentrations in groundwater, soils, and crops in 16 districts of southwestern Bangladesh. Groundwater samples were collected from shallow-tube and hand-tube wells (STW and HTW) used for irrigation and drinking water. Soil and rice plants were sampled from the command area of the tube wells. Arsenic concentrations were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with flow injection hydride generator. Groundwater samples contained <10 to 552 μg As L^?1. Arsenic concentrations in 59% of STW samples exceeded 50 μg As L^?1, the national standard for As in drinking water. Unlike groundwater, most of the surface water samples contained <10 μg As L^?1. Concentrations of As in the soils from the command area of the tube wells ranged from 4.5 to 68 mg kg^?1. More than 85% of the soils contained <20 mg As kg^?1. The mean As concentration in the rice grain samples was 0.23 mg kg^?1, which is much less than the maximum food hygiene standard. A positive relationship was observed between groundwater and soil As, implying that soil As level increases as a result of irrigation with contaminated water. However, irrigation water As did not show any relation with rice grain As. The findings suggest that surface water bodies are a safe source of irrigation water in the As-contaminated areas.