Evaluation of the Migration Capacity of Zn in the Soil–Plant System

The mobility and migration capacity of Zn in the soil-plant system were studied in a series of pot experiments with barley as a test plant. The parameters of Zn accumulation depending on the metal concentrations in soils and soil solutions were estimated by soil and water culture methods. Experiments with barley in water culture were performed on a nutrient (soil) solution extracted from soddy-podzolic soil (Albic Retisol (Loamic, Ochric)) to which Zn²⁺ was added to reach working concentrations increasing from 0.07 to 430 μM. Different responses of barley plants to changes in the concentration of Zn in the studied soil were identified. Ranges of the corresponding concentrations in the soil and aboveground barley biomass were determined. Parameters of Zn accumulation by test plants were determined depending on the metal content in soddypodzolic soil and the soil solution. A new method was proposed for evaluating the buffer capacity of soils with respect to a heavy metal (Zn) using test plants (BCS(P)_Zn). The method was used to evaluate the buffering capacity of loamy sandy soddy-podzolic soil. The considered methodological approach offers opportunities for using data obtained during the agroecological monitoring of agricultural lands with heavy metals (HMs), including the contents of exchangeable HMs and macroelements (C and Mg) in soils and concentrations of HMs and (Ca + Mg) in plants, in the calculation of the buffering capacity of the surveyed soils for HMs.     

Evaluation of Soil Tests for Plant‐available Mercury in a Soil–Crop Rotation System

A reliable soil test is needed for estimating mercury (Hg) availability to crop plants. In this study, four extraction procedures including 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl), 1 M ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) (pH 7.0), 0.005 M diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and 0.1 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (pH5.0) were compared for their adequacy in predicting soil Hg availability to crop plants of a rice–cabbage–radish rotation system. The amounts of Hg extracted by each of the four procedures increased with increasing equilibrium time. The optimal time required for extraction of soil Hg was approximately 30 min, though it varied slightly among the four extractants. The amounts of Hg extracted decreased with increasing soil/solution ratio, and a soil/solution ratio of 1:5 appeared to be adequate for soil Hg availability tests. The amounts of Hg extracted increased in the order of NH₄OAc < CaCl₂ < DTPA < HCl in silty loam soil (SLS) soil, and the order was NH₄OAc < CaCl₂ ≈ DTPA < HCl in yellowish red soil (YRS) soil. Significant positive correlations among the four extractants were obtained in SLS soil. In contrast, the correlations were poor in YRS soil, especially for HCl. There were significant correlations between concentrations of Hg in edible tissue of three plants and the amounts of soil Hg extractable to the four extractants for soil–rice system and soil–radish system, but not for soil–Chinese cabbage system. The 0.1M HCl extraction overall provided the best estimation of soil‐available Hg and could be used to predict phytoavailability of Hg in soil–crop systems.     

Distribution and Accumulation of Copper and Cadmium in Soil–Rice System as Affected by Soil Amendments

The effects of seven amendments on the distribution and accumulation of copper and cadmium in a soil–rice system were investigated using a pot experiment. Results showed that application of limestone, calcium magnesium phosphate (Ca–Mg–P fertilizer), calcium silicate (silicon fertilizer), Chinese milk vetch, pig manure, and peat significantly decreased the concentrations of Cu and Cd in rice roots by 24.8–75.3% and 9.7–49.9%, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed between zinc sulfate (zinc fertilizer) and the control treatment. The concentrations of Cu and Cd in different parts of rice followed the order: root > straw > grain, and all amendments restrained the transfer of Cu and Cd from rice root to stem. Copper and Cd concentrations in rice stems at the tillering stage were the highest, and then decreased from the tillering stage to the heading stage. However, they increased again at the ripening stage. The results also showed that application of amendments changed Cu and Cd solubility in soil and decreased their bioavailability, which resulted in the reduction of Cu and Cd uptake by rice. Significant correlations between the concentrations of Cu and Cd in soil solutions and in rice stems were found. The result demonstrated that limestone has the best efficiency among all the amendments used in reducing Cu and Cd contamination to rice production.     

Soil–landscape relationships in the basalt-dominated highlands of Tigray,Ethiopia

Though knowledge about the distribution and properties of soils is a key issue to support sustainable land management, existing knowledge of the soils in Tigray (Northern Ethiopian Highlands) is limited to either maps with a small scale or with a small scope. The goal of this study is to establish a model that explains the spatial soil variability found in the May-Leiba catchment, and to open the scope for extrapolating this information to the surrounding basalt-dominated uplands. A semi-detailed (scale: 1/40 000) soil survey was conducted in the catchment. Profile pits were described and subjected to physico-chemical analysis, and augerings were conducted. This information was combined with information from aerial photographs and geological and geomorphologic observations. The main driving factors that define the variability in soil types found were: 1) geology, through soil parent material and the occurrence of harder layers, often acting as aquitards or aquicludes; 2) different types of mass movements that occupy large areas of the catchment; and 3) severe human-induced soil erosion and deposition. These factors lead to “red-black” Skeletic Cambisol–Pellic Vertisol catenas on basalt and Calcaric Regosol–Colluvic Calcaric Cambisols–Calcaric Vertisol catenas on limestone. The driving factors can be derived from aerial photographs. This creates the possibility to extrapolate information and predict the soil distribution in nearby regions with a comparable geology. A model was elaborated, which enables the user to predict soil types, using topography, geomorphology, geology and soil colours, all of which can be derived from aerial photographs. This derived model was later applied to other catchments and validated in the field.     

Retrospective Monitoring of Soil Waterlogging on Arable Land of Tambov Oblast in 2018–1968

Eurasian Soil Science - A hypothesis about an increase in the area of waterlogged soils on arable lands of Tambov oblast in the recent decades was tested by the methods of retrospective monitoring...     

Soil–methane sink increases with soil age in forefields of Alpine glaciers

In upland soils aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) catalyze methane (CH₄) oxidation, and thus regulate the sole terrestrial sink for atmospheric CH₄. While confirmed in mature upland soils, little is known about this important function in young mountainous soils in glacier forefields, which are progressively formed as a result of glacier recession. We assessed four attributes of the soil CH₄ sink, i.e., soil-atmosphere CH₄ flux (J_atm), CH₄ oxidation activity (k), MOB abundance and variation in community composition along the 6–120-yr soil chronosequence in two Alpine glacier forefields on siliceous and calcareous bedrock. At most sampling locations soil CH₄ profiles showed stable uptake of atmospheric CH₄, with J_atm in the range of −0.082 to −2.2 mg CH₄ m⁻² d⁻¹. Multiple-linear-regression analyses indicated that J_atm significantly increased with soil age, whereas k did not. Instead, water content and CH₄ profiles in the youngest soils often indicated dry, inactive top layers with k < 0.1 h⁻¹, and active deeper layers (0.2 h⁻¹ ≤ k ≤ 11 h⁻¹) with more favorable water content. With increasing soil age the zone of highest CH₄ oxidation activity gradually moved upwards and eventually focused in the 10–40-cm layer (0.2 h⁻¹ ≤ k ≤ 16 h⁻¹). Copy numbers of pmoA genes significantly increased with soil age at both sites, ranging from 2.4 × 10³ to 5.5 × 10⁵ copies (g soil w.w.)⁻¹, but also correlated with mineral nitrogen content. Terminal restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism and cluster analyses showed differences in MOB community composition apparently related to bedrock type rather than soil age. Yet, regardless of bedrock type, the soil CH₄ sink established within a few years of soil development, and J_atm increased to values comparable to mature soils within decades. Thus, young mountainous soils have the potential to consume substantial amounts of atmospheric CH₄, and should be incorporated into future estimates of global soil CH₄ uptake.     

Soil Structuring in the Presence of the Chitosan–Polyacrylic Acid Interpolymer Complex

Eurasian Soil Science - This article presents the results of the study of a new soil structuring agent—the interpolymer complex of a chitosan biopolymer and a synthetic polymer of polyacrylic...     

Evaluation of Dolomite Phosphate Rock–N‐Viro Soil Mixtures for Growth of a Horticultural Crop in an Acidic Sandy Soil

Abstract

Most agricultural soils in the Indian River area, South Florida, are sandy with minimal holding capacity for moisture and nutrients. Phosphorus (P) leaching from these soils has been suspected of contributing to the eutrophication of surface waters in this region. Dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) and N‐viro soil are promising amendments to increase crop production and reduce P loss from sandy soils. Soil incubation and greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to examine the effects of Florida DPR–N‐viro soil mixtures on the growth of a horticultural crop in an acidic sandy soil and to generate information for developing a desired formula of soil amendments. Dolomite phosphate rock and N–viro soil application increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable P, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). N–viro soil had greater effect on soil pH, organic matter content, and microbial biomass than the DPR. Comparatively higher nitrification rates were found in the N–viro soil treatment than the DPR treatment. A systematic decrease in soil‐extractable P was found with increasing proportions of N‐viro soil from the combined amendments. Greenhouse study demonstrated that the application of DPR and N‐viro soil significantly improved dry‐matter yield and increased plant P, Ca, and Mg concentrations of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Based on dry‐matter yield and plant N uptake, the combined amendments that contained 30% or 20% of DPR materials appear to be optimal but remain to be confirmed by field trials.     

Efficiency of Phosphogypsum and Mined Gypsum in Reclamation and Productivity of Rice–Wheat Cropping System in Sodic Soil

In this study, efficacies of mined gypsum and phosphogypsum (PG), when applied at equivalent doses, were compared for sodic soil reclamation and productivity of rice–wheat system. Application of PG, followed by karnal grass as first crop, resulted in the greatest reduction of soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) followed by PG applied at 10 Mg ha^?1 alone. Application of PG at 10 Mg ha^?1 resulted in greater yields of both rice and wheat than other treatments. Ditheylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable micronutrients of PG-treated soil were greater than in mined gypsum–treated soil. A greater portion of applied P entered the calcium (Ca)–phosphorus (P) fraction in PG-treated soil, which also resulted in more soluble P than the mined gypsum–treated soil. Phosphogypsum effected greater increase in aggregation, soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and aggregate associated carbon and decrease in zeta potential, leading to increased hydraulic conductivity and moisture retention capacity in soil over mined gypsum–treated soil.     

Record of Holocene Changes in High-Mountain Landscapes of Southeastern Altai in the Soil–Sedimentary Sequence of the Boguty River Valley

Eurasian Soil Science - The results of morphosubstantive genetic study of a soil–sedimentary sequence with four buried soils in the Boguty River basin (southeastern Altai) are discussed. A...     

Soil–Phosphorus Mobilization Potential of Phytate Mineralizing Fungi

Four most efficient phytase and phosphatase producing fungi belonging to genera Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Penicillium were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of leguminous, cereal, and vegetable crops. Efficacy order of fungi in terms of phytate hydrolysis under laboratory conditions was Aspergillus > Penicillium > Trichoderma. The test fungi released more of extracellular (E) phytase than intracellular (I) phytase (E: I- 3.44 - 6.03:1) and produced acid phosphatase activity ranging from 367- 830 μmol pNP ml^?1 h^?1. Aspergillus niger possessed the twin ability of phosphate mineralization and solubilization. The incubation studies in compost-amended soil exhibited the higher competence of Penicillium chrysogenum to improve the soil available P and increase the level of extractable organic P under alkaline soil to benefit P nutrition. Developing microbial inoculant using P. chrysogenum strain and its subsequent application to soil may help the marginal farmer to replenish soil P more economically compared to chemical fertilizer.     

Integration of Soil pH with Soil‐Test Values of Zinc for Prediction of Yield Response in Rice Grown in Mollisols

Seventeen Mollisols having pH_(1:2) in the range of 6.00 to 8.42 were analyzed with five extractants, and the extractable zinc (Zn) ranges were 0.84 to 2.75 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) (pH 7.3), 0.91 to 2.72 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for DTPA + ammonium bicarbonate (pH 7.6), 1.82 to 7.18 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for Mehlich 3, 1.22 to 3.83 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) + ammonium carbonate, and 0.88 to 1.18 mg Zn kg^?1 soil for 1 mol L^?1 magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) (pH 6.0). Zinc extracted by DTPA (pH 7.3) and Mehlich 3 showed significant positive correlation with sand content, whereas only Mehlich 3 showed negative correlation with soil pH. All extractants showed significant positive correlation with each other except for 1 mol L^?1 MgCl₂‐extractable Zn, which had significant positive correlation with only Mehlich 3– and EDTA + ammonium carbonate–extractable Zn. A greenhouse experiment showed that Bray's percentage yield of rice was poorly correlated to extractable soil Zn but had a significant and negative linear correlation with soil pH (r = ?0.662, significant at p = 0.01). Total Zn uptake by rice had a significant positive correlation with 1 mol L^?1 MgCl₂– and Mehlich 3–extractable Zn. A proposed parameter (p extractable Zn + p OH^?) involving both soil extractable Zn and pH terms together showed significant and positive correlation with Bray's percentage yield and total Zn uptake of rice. The calculated values of critical limits of soil Zn in terms of the proposed parameter were 14.1699 for DTPA (pH 7.3), 13.9587 for DTPA + ammonium bicarbonate, 13.7016 for Mehlich 3, 13.9402 for EDTA + ammonium carbonate, and 14.1810 for 1 mol L^?1 MgCl₂ (pH 6.0). The critical limits of Zn in rice grain and straw were 17.32 and 22.95 mg Zn kg^?1 plant tissue, respectively.     

Tea Plantation–Induced Activation of Soil Heavy Metals

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in tea leaves is of concern because of its impact on tea quality. This study characterized long‐term changes of soil properties and heavy‐metal fractions in tea gardens and their effect on the uptake of metals from soils by the plants. Soil and tea leaf samples were collected from five plantations with a history of 2–70 years in Jinghua, Zhejiang Province, southeast China. The six chemical fractions (water‐soluble, exchangeable, carbonate‐bound, organic‐matterbound, oxide‐bound, and residual forms) of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the soils were characterized. Dissolved organic‐matter accumulation in the soils and effects of low‐molecular‐weight organic acids on solubility of soil heavy metals were also tested. Long‐term tea plantation use resulted in accumulation of dissolved organic matter, decrease of soil pH, and elevation of water‐soluble and exchangeable metal fractions, thereby increasing metal contents in leaves. The influence was more significant when soil pH was less than 4.4. The results indicated that both acidification and accumulation of dissolved organic matter induced by tea plantations were also important causes of increased accumulation of the metals in the tea leaves. This was particularly true for the soils polluted with low concentration of heavy metals, because availability of the metals in these soils was mainly controlled by pH and dissolved organic matter.     

Status of Soil Zn in Citrus-Cultivated Area of South China

INTRODUCTION In recent 10 years,citrus production has developed rapidly in China.The citrus-cul-tivated area of our country is among the largest and its yield occupies the third place inthe world(Shen,1991).     

Soil loss tolerance limits for planning of soil conservation measures in Shivalik–Himalayan region of India

Soil loss tolerance limit is defined as the threshold upper limit of soil erosion that can be allowed without degrading long term productivity of specific soils. In India a default soil loss tolerance limit (SLTL) of 11.2 Mg ha^− 1 yr^− 1 is followed for planning soil conservation activities. The objective of this investigation is to provide a methodology to estimate quantitative SLTL for the Shivalik–Himalayan region in India for suggesting suitable soil conservation measures. A quantitative model was used to integrate potential soil indicators such as infiltration rate, bulk density, water stable aggregate, organic carbon and fertility status to assess soil quality governing soil resistibility to erosion. Scaling functions were used to convert soil parameters to unit less 0 to 1 scale. Normalized values of soil parameters were then multiplied by assigned weights based on relative importance and sensitivity analysis of each indicator. Soils were grouped into 1, 2 and 3 depending on overall additive score. A general guideline developed by the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) was followed with certain modifications in depth category for estimation of SLTLs. Soil loss tolerance limits varied from 2.5 to 12.5 Mg ha^− 1 yr ^− 1 compared to single value of 11.2 Mg ha^− 1 yr ^− 1 being followed earlier. Consideration of the newly estimated SLTLs would facilitate site specific conservation planning and prioritising areas for watershed management activities in India.     

Dichromate Digestion–Spectrophotometric Procedure for Determination of Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon in Association with Fumigation–Extraction

A dichromate digestion and spectrophotometric procedure is proposed for estimating soil microbial biomass carbon (C) in association with fumigation–extraction. The recommended procedure uses a volume (1.6 ml) of 0.5 M potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) soil extracts and oxidant solution (dichromate–sulfuric acid, 2.4 mL), mixed with a volume (4 mL) for digestion at 140 °C for 30 min. The digested solution is then directly read for absorbance at 350 nm using a spectrophotometer, and the C in the digested soil extracts is measured against glucose standards. The K_EC (indicating the extractable part of microbial biomass C after fumigation) value is estimated as 0.33 for the proposed method. There are good correlations between soil microbial biomass C measured by the proposed method, the dichromate digestion titration, and oven oxidation by total organic C (TOC) analytical method. This method is a simple, rapid, and economical procedure associated with fumigation–extraction for biomass C analysis.     

Review of Trends in Soil Fertility Research (2007–2016) using Scopus Database

A critical analysis of publications on soil fertility was carried out using data from Scopus database for the period of 2007–2016. A total of 16,612 articles were found relating to soil fertility. An exponential increase was evident from the review of published literature and scientists involved in the soil fertility research also increased over period of time. The journals Soil Science and Plant Nutrition and Acta Ecologica Sinica were major publishers of the soil fertility research. Giller K. E. from Wageningen University, The Netherlands was a major contributor followed by Salvati L. of Centro Per Lo Studio Delle Relazioni Piñata-Suolo, Italy. China was the most productive country with 3323 articles. Cluster analysis of author-supplied keywords showed five clusters, namely, desertification, soil organic carbon, plant nutrition, nitrogen, and geostatic. This work will be useful to researchers to know the trends in soil fertility research.     

Soil degradation during the period 1967–1995 in Bangladesh

Long-term changes in carbon and nitrogen storage in the top 100 em layers of soils from different physiographic units in Bangladesh were evaluated using 460 soil samples from 43 profiles collected in 1967 and 1994/95. The study area consisted of ten physiographic units, viz.: Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain (OHP), Tista Floodplain (TF), Barind Tract (BT), Ganges Floodplain (GF), Madhupur Tract (MT), Brahmaputra Floodplain (BF), Meghna River and Estuarine Floodplain (MF), Surma-Kushiyara Floodplain (SKF), Northern and Eastern Piedmont Plain (NEP), and Chittagong Coastal Plain (CCP).

During the period 1967–1995, mean values of soil carbon and nitrogen declined by 16.2 t C ha^-1 and 1.38 t N ha^-1 in Bangladesh. The total carbon and nitrogen budgets showed a fall of 42.8 × 10⁶ t C and 3.36 × 10⁶ t N within the 27 y period in Bangladesh. All the physiographic units showed a decline in carbon and nitrogen contents except for BT which showed an increase of 3.76 t C ha^-1 and 0.77 t N ha^-1 for these elements. MT showed the highest decline in carbon (30.5 t C ha^-1) and nitrogen (3.25 t N ha^-1). The lowest decline in carbon was observed in SKF (7.18 t C ha^-1) while the same applied to nitrogen in GF (0.50 t N ha^-1). The other physiographic units showed a moderate decline in the contents of these elements.

Based on the land area occupied by the sampled soil series of each physiographic unit, GF showed the highest decline of 13.7×10⁶ t C and a moderate decline of 0.52 × 10⁶ t N. Decrease in the carbon level for BF was moderate (9.31 × 10⁶ t C) but the decline in the nitrogen level was the highest (0.95 × 10⁶ t N). Decrease in the amount of carbon and nitrogen stored for the other physiographic units was: OHP (0.67 × 10⁶ t C, 0.03 × 10⁶ t N), TF (2.54 × 10⁶ t C, 0.25 × 10⁶ t N), MT (4.28 × 10⁶ t C, 0.45 × 10⁶ t N), MF (6.06 × 10⁶ t C, 0.61 × 10⁶ t N), SKF (2.87×10⁶ t C, 0.24×10⁶ t N), NEP (2.68×10⁶ t C, 0.22×10⁶ t N), and CCP (0.81 × 10⁶ t C, 0.11 × 10⁶ t N). Increase in carbon and nitrogen contents was only observed in BT (0.08 × 10⁶ t C, 0.02 × 10⁶ t N).     

Effect of Amorphous Silicon Dioxide on Cadmium Behavior in the Soil–Rice Plant System

The effect of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂) on cadmium behavior in the soil–plant system was studied in a field experiment on a flooded paddy soil slightly contaminated by cadmium. The application of amorphous SiO₂ results in a 1.3- to 1.8-fold smaller cadmium accumulation in the aboveground organs of rice and a 1.8- to 2.6-fold decrease in the content of its available compounds, which can be explained by metal sorption on the surface of applied silicon dioxide and by the reaction of monosilicic acid, which forms in the SiO₂ solution, with cadmium. The decrease in cadmium availability is most intensive in the first 2 weeks after SiO₂ application. Amorphous silicon causes a 26.6% increase in rice productivity in the first season and 72.9% in the second. The data obtained testify to the fact that the application rates of traditional mineral fertilizers can be decreased without risk to rice productivity if silicon compounds are used. They should become an integral and important part of implementing the 4R-STRATEGY for fertilizer application and plant nutrition optimization.     

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Grown in Sewage Sludge–Amended Soil

The assessment of heavy metals in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in sewage sludge–amended soil was investigated. The results revealed that sewage sludge significantly (P < 0.01) increased the nutrients and heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in the soil. The contents of metals were found to be below the maximum levels permitted for soils in India. The most agronomic performance and biochemical components of S. oleracea were found at 50% concentrations of sewage sludge in both seasons. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn in S. oleracea were increased from 5% to 100% concentrations of sewage sludge in both seasons. The order of contamination factor (Cf) of different heavy metals was Mn > Cd > Cr > Zn > Cu for soil and Cr > Cd > Mn > Zn > Cu for S. oleracea plants after application of sewage sludge. Therefore, use of sewage sludge increased concentrations of heavy metals in soil and S. oleracea.