CHANGES IN SOIL PROPERTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMOVAL OF IRON AND ALUMINIUM OXIDES

Red soils representing the major groups in which iron oxides are thought to exert a favourable effect on physical properties, have been treated with Na-dithionite and citrate, or Na-dithionite and 0.05 n HC1. These treatments removed the free iron oxides and some aluminium oxides and silica. Changes in the physical properties of the soils were measured by permeability, wet-sieving, mechanical dispersion, and swelling methods. These were compared with the changes induced by corresponding control treatments in which the soils were treated with Na₂SO₄ and Na-citrate, or Na₂SO₄ and 0.05 n HC1. The control treatments extracted some aluminium oxide and minor amounts of iron oxides and silica. In general, the control treatments decreased the stability of aggregates, increased the proportion of clay and silt but had little effect on the swelling. The treatments, which removed all the free iron oxide, caused no changes in excess of those due to the controls. The specific surface areas of samples treated with dithionite and acid, or sulphate and acid were determined by nitrogen adsorption methods. Removal of free iron oxides led in all but one instance to a reduction in the specific surface area, whereas sulphate and acid invariably increased the specific areas of the samples. The results show that most of the free iron oxides in these soils are present as small particles having little effect on the physical properties of the soil. The changes in physical properties brought about by dilute acid treatment indicate that the ‘active’ oxides in these soils are composed partly or wholly of the aluminium, iron, and silicon oxides which are readily soluble in dilute acid.     

MOLECULAR SIZES AND FUNCTIONAL GROUPS OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES EXTRACTED BY 0.1M PYROPHOSPHATE FROM SOIL AGGREGATES OF DIFFERENT STABILITY1

Aggregates from non-cultivated soil and from cultivated soil enriched with mineral fertilizers or farmyard manure were separated into fractions of different diameter and stability. The humic substances extracted from each type of aggregate were subjected to gel-filtration on Sephadex. The more stable aggregates had a higher content of Na₄P₂O₇-extractable humus and free iron hydroxides, and a predominance of humic substances of apparent molecular weight >100 000, whereas the less stable aggregates were richer in compounds of low molecular weight. Structure stability was lower in the cultivated soil than in the non-cultivated, and in the soil with mineral fertilizers in comparison to that with farmyard manure. Humus of m.w. >100 000 had a COOH content twice as great and a phenolic OH content five times greater per unit of molecular weight than humus with m.w. <100 000. The former is the more suitable stabilizer of soil aggregates.     

IODINE IN SOIL PROFILES IN RELATION TO IRON AND ALUMINIUM OXIDES AND ORGANIC MATTER

The iodine content in successive 10 cm horizons of eighteen soil profiles from England and Wales was determined and correlated with contents of‘free’ aluminium and iron oxides (oxalate-soluble) and organic matter. The pattern of change in iodine content with depth varied considerably with soil type. In the rendzina soils, the content was relatively high in the surface 10 cm but declined markedly with depth. In the podsols, iodine was low at the surface but increased in the B horizon: in one of these soils an iron pan of about 1 cm thickness had an iodine content as high as 37.6 mg/kg. In two soils derived from Ordovician, and one from igneous, rock material, the iodine content was relatively high (up to 25 mg/kg) with maximum values at intermediate depths. In contrast, soils derived from river alluvium and from lowland clays generally had low iodine contents (< 6 mg/kg) which showed little variation with depth in the profile. In a peat soil the iodine content was relatively high in the horizons above 60 cm but was low (1. 3 mg/kg) in the underlying clay. In all 154 samples from the eighteen sites, iodine content was closely correlated with oxalate-soluble aluminium (r= 0.834***) but not with oxalate-soluble iron (r= 0. 35) or organic matter (r= 0.37). However, in the five most acidic soils, with pH below 4. 8, the iodine content was more closely correlated with iron than with aluminium.     

VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF EXTRACTABLE IRON AND ALUMINIUM IN SOIL PROFILES FROM A BROWN EARTH-PEATY PODZOL ASSOCIATION

Fe and Al extractable by 3 per cent oxalic acid and by 0.1M potassium pyrophosphate at pH 10 have been determined in horizon samples of two soil profiles of each of three subgroups (Brown Earth, Brown Podzolic Soil, and Peaty Podzol) developed in North Wales on parent materials derived from Silurian shales. The vertical distribution of Fe and Al together with the relationship between pyrophosphate-extractable (‘fresh’ hydrous oxides) and oxalic-extract-able Fe or Al (‘fresh’+‘aged’ hydrous oxides) can assist classification and interpretation of the course of podzolization in these soils. If podzolization is defined as sesquioxide transport, then its degree of development in the soils studied differs according to whether Al or Fe are used as the index element. The evidence supports continued recognition of soils of Brown Podzolic type as an intergrade subgroup.     

麦角固醇与不同粒级团聚体土壤的相关性

土壤团聚体是由单个土粒与有机物质胶结而成的复杂结构,是构成土壤结构的基本单位,在很大程度上决定土壤的质量特征[1]。其形状、大小和稳定性直接影响土壤中水和空气的含量,决定土壤孔隙的大小分布,并由此影响土壤的其他属性以及作物生长[2]。目前对各种不同土壤团聚体的研究已受到专家们的普遍重视。土壤微生物是土壤有机组分和生态系统中最活跃的部分,被认为是最敏感的土壤质量生物学指标[3]。Bearden等[4]和Degens等[5]发现土壤团聚体中菌丝将砂粒联结在一起,证实真菌菌丝可有效提高土壤结构和土壤团聚体的稳定性;同时,在土壤团聚体形成过程中,许多菌丝体还通过分泌胶结物质(多糖类物质)使微团聚体粘结     

BRITTLE FRACTURE OF SOIL AGGREGATES AND THE COMPACTION OF AGGREGATE BEDS

A statistical theory is developed for the brittle fracture of soil aggregates. Fracture is assumed to depend on the flaws, such as cracks and holes, within the aggregates, the weakest flaw limiting strength. An equation known as the third asymptote distribution of smallest values gives the distribution of these weakest flaws. The crushing strength of aggregates of five soils from South Australia and Queens land is compared with theory and agreement is good. Larger aggregates have smaller mean values of tensile strength than smaller aggregates at both -100 kPa and -153 MPa water potential. A sudden increase in strength occurs for aggregates larger than about 6 mm in the Queens land soils which is more marked with the drier samples. This is consistent with the idea that these larger aggregates are produced by the compacting effects of machinery, whereas the smaller aggregates are produced by the self-mulching effect. Changes in the internal structure of beds of aggregates are described as a function of amount of uniaxial compaction. A statistical method gives information about the size distributions and relative positions of aggregates and voids within the compacted beds. Compaction occurred almost exclusively at the expense of inter-aggregate porosity, and the largest voids were excluded first by compaction.     

EVALUATION OF THE USE OF SYNTHETIC RED SOIL AGGREGATES (SRA) AND ZEOLITE AS SUBSTRATE FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANT PRODUCTION

This research was undertaken to evaluate the influence of zeolite and synthetic aggregates (SRA) produced with acidic red soil and paper waste, on the growth of French marigold (Tagetes patula), which is a popular ornamental plant in Japan. Five different media were studied: SRA only, SRA:Zeolite 3:1, SRA:zeolite 1:1, SRA: zeolite 1:3 and zeolite only. Mixing SRA with zeolite improved the physical and chemical properties of the media such as particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity, water holding capacity, and pH compared to zeolite. SRA and zeolite at 1:1 gave the best maximum growth parameters of French marigold. Zeolite based mixtures increased the nitrogen (N), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) concentrations in plant tissues compared to SRA medium. Addition of zeolite led to reduce K leaching from the substrate compared to SRA. SRA and Zeolite at 1:1 can be recommended as a better substrate for French marigold cultivation.     

GROWTH AND IRON-MANGANESE RELATIONSHIPS IN DRY BEAN AS AFFECTED BY FOLIAR AND SOIL APPLICATIONS OF IRON AND MANGANESE IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL

Manganese (Mn) deficiency may be induced by adding large quantities of iron (Fe), provided that soil manganese is marginally deficient. Results of a greenhouse study showed that iron soil application did not influence shoot dry matter yield of dry bean due to the fact that the iron:manganese ratio in aerial parts of dry bean was higher than 0.4. A foliar spray of 2% iron sulfate significantly reduced it probably due to the high level of shoot iron and iron:manganese ratio greater than 4. Iron application decreased concentration/uptake of shoot manganese due to the iron-manganese antagonistic relationships. Mangenese soil application is not an effective method in correction of manganese deficiency induced by iron fertilizers. Iron did not affect root manganese uptake, indicating that manganese absorption was not affected by iron application. Both manganese/iron soil tests are recommended in calcareous soils with manganese soil test in marginal range.     

DIRECT MEASUREMENTS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF OXYGEN IN SOIL AGGREGATES AND IN COLUMNS OF FINE SOIL CRUMBS

The micro electrode of Evans and Naylor was modified to permit measurements of oxygen concentration in soil and was used to determine the distribution of oxygen in (a) agar which contained yeast and glucose and served as a model of a respiring water-saturated soil; (b) saturated spherical soil aggregates; (c) partly saturated columns of fine soil crumbs. Measurements in (a) and (b) but not in (c) agreed closely with predictions by diffusion theory. The disagreement appeared to result from water being unevenly distributed in the columns.     

SYNTHETIC SOIL AGGREGATES AS A POTTING MEDIUM FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANT PRODUCTION

Synthetic aggregates (SA) were developed as alternative potting media for ornamental plant production. Four different types of SA were developed from low productive acidic soil and paper waste with adding different types of compost amendments. Compost amendments used in the experiment were cattle manure compost, chicken manure compost, and leaf manure compost. Popular ornamental plant french marigold (Tagetes patula) was used in this experiment. SA with different compost amendments gave considerable physical and chemical parameters compared to commercial zeolite media. Moreover, plant grown in SA media showed better growth and nutritional parameters compared to plant grown in zeolite media. The plant height, number of flowers per plant, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh weight and root dry weight obtained from three different compost based SA were increased by in the ranges of 8.14--14.41%, 5.66--9.46%, 25.52--31.47%, 9.44--16.13%, 6.14--9.23%, 2.40--8.47% and 8.85--17.05%, respectively, compared to zeolite control.     

不同利用方式和肥力红壤中水稳性团聚体分布及物理性质特征

研究了不同土地利用方式和土壤肥力对红壤水稳性团聚体及土壤物理性质的影响。结果表明,同一肥力水平下不同土地利用方式的土壤中,>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量变化趋势相同,均以旱地土壤含量最低,林地土壤最高。不同肥力水平下,林地、果园、水田中>5 mm水稳性团聚体含量变化均为:高肥力>低肥力。说明随土壤肥力的逐渐增高,有机质胶结物质含量增加,有利于形成更多的水稳性大团聚体。土壤团聚体稳定性与>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量呈极显著正相关,这表明>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量是影响土壤团聚体稳定性的主要因素。不同土地利用方式下的土壤物理性质(土壤容重、土粒密度、土壤孔隙度)存在较大差异,变化规律也不一致。但土壤容重和土壤孔隙度与>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量有很好的相关性。     

化学除草剂对土壤中微生物生态和物质转化过程的影响

近年来,黑龙江垦区使用化学除草剂进行土壤处理的耕地面积与日俱增,在防除田间杂草上有着显著效果.但是,由于除草剂对生物具有毒性,它又必将对土壤微生物区系及其所引起的土壤中物质转化的生物化学过程产生影响,从而对土壤肥力和农作物生长可能产生潜在的后果.     

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES FROM DIFFERENT ORIGIN ON LUPIN AS RELATED TO IRON SOURCES

Humic substances improve the efficiency of different iron (Fe) sources overcoming Fe deficiency chlorosis of plants. However, applied at high rates, they can promote negative effects on plants. The main objective of this work was to study the potential adverse effect of three humic acids from different origin when they were applied with two effective Fe sources for plants: Fe- ethylenediaminedihydroxyphenylacetic acid (EDDHA) and Vivianite. To this end, an experiment with lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was performed involving two factors: (i) Fe source, and (ii) humic substances from three different origin (composted cork, leonardite, and compost obtained from a mixture of olive husk with cotton gin trash) applied at 0, 0.1, and 0.5 g organic carbon (C) kg^?1 of growing media. At the rates used, humic substances promoted adverse effects on plant development, chlorophyll meter readings, and Fe content in lupin grown in calcareous media. Overall, the effect on dry matter and Fe content in plants was more relevant when Fe was supplied with Vivianite, the effect on chlorophyll meter readings being more significant when Fe was applied as Fe-EDDHA. Differences were also observed depending on the source of humic substances, those from leonardite promoting the greatest decrease in dry matter in roots and shoots. These humic substances possessed the highest values of spectroscopy index for aromaticity (A₂₅₄ ). On the other hand, the application of humic substances from olive husk compost, which exhibited the lower aromaticity index, resulted in the smallest decrease in dry matter production and chlorophyll meter readings. Dry matter in roots decreased logarithmically with increased values of the estimates of the amounts of aromatic compounds accumulated in the growing media (R² = 0.92; P < 0.01) with Vivianite as Fe source. Thus, the effects decreasing dry matter production, particularly in roots, and chlorophyll meter readings can be ascribed at least partially to the presence of phytotoxic aromatic compounds in humic substances.     

不同肥力黑土、棕壤微团聚体组成及其胶结物质的研究

本文通过对黑土、棕壤各级微团聚体组成及其胶结物质的研究表明,不同肥力水平的土壤各级微团聚体组成不同,随着肥力水平的提高,大于10μm微团聚体含量增加,增加幅度为2—5%;土壤团聚度增大,增大范围为2—8%。相关分析表明,土壤有机质含量,特别是松结合态有机质含量与大于10μm的微团聚体含量呈显著正相关,而紧结合态有机质含量及土壤中小于2μm的粘粒则与小于10μm的微团聚体含量呈正相关。去除各种胶结物质以后各级微团聚体的破坏率也证实了这一点。由此认为,各种胶结物质对不同粒级微团聚体的形成影响各异,小粒级微团聚体的形成主要受紧结合态有机质和粘粒的影响,大粒级微团聚体的形成则主要与松结合有机质以及多糖类物质有关。     

水和离子在不同粒径团聚体的土柱中的移动

用重水(D_2O)和KC1作示踪剂,在间断灌水条件下,研究了D_2O和阴、阳离子在不同粒径土柱中的移动。结果表明,在同一粒径下,D_2O和C1~-在两种土壤中的分布相似。在<2mm团聚体的土柱中呈凸型分布,在2—5mm团聚体的土柱中呈自上而下逐渐减少的分布状态。团聚体粒径<2mm的草甸土,对C1-移动的影响表现为负吸附作用,火山性土则表现为吸附作用。粒径为2—5mm的火山性土和草甸土,对C1~-移动均表现为吸附作用。土壤大团聚体显著地降低了对K~+的吸附作用,很大程度上支配着土壤阳离子代换量。土壤大团聚体可以抑制施肥盐阴,阳离子的淋溶,有利于提高对肥料的利用。     

不同施肥处理对旱地红壤团聚体中有机碳含量及其组分的影响

借助筛分、浮选等物理分组和化学分析方法研究了不同施肥处理下旱地红壤团聚体中不同有机碳组分的差异.结果表明：长期施肥显著地提高了土壤中总有机碳含量（TOC）和团聚体中轻组有机碳（LF-C）、团聚体内粗颗粒有机碳（CF-C）、团聚体内细颗粒有机碳（FF-C）和矿物结合态有机碳（mSOC）的含量,且各有机碳组分与TOC均呈极显著相关;团聚体中有机碳含量随团聚体的粒级减小而降低,厩肥处理的促进效果最明显;团聚体中有机碳主要以mSOC形式存在.有机肥的施入降低了大团聚体的周转,秸秆处理对团聚体的形成和稳定效果优于厩肥处理;在红壤地区有机无机肥配施使得有机碳在团聚体形成及稳定方面的作用得以加强.