二种钾肥对海泡石钝化修复镉污染土壤效应影响的研究

为了揭示钾肥对Cd污染土壤钝化修复效果的影响,为土壤钝化修复过程中合理施钾肥提供理论依据。本文选取不同剂量(含量以K2O计算,分别为0.1 g·kg~(-1)、0.2 g·kg~(-1)和0.3 g·kg~(-1))的KCl和K_2SO_4作为典型钾肥,以海泡石(10 g·kg~(-1))作为钝化材料,通过油菜盆栽试验,研究了两种钾肥在海泡石钝化条件下对Cd污染土壤修复效应的影响。结果表明:K_2SO_4显著增加了油菜的生物量,其增幅为6.06%~10.05%。与单施海泡石钝化相比,在海泡石钝化时施用KCl和K_2SO_4两种钾肥,油菜地上部茎叶Cd含量分别增加16.38%~60.73%和15.62%~25.19%;施用KCl和K_2SO_4对土壤p H未产生显著性影响,却显著地增加了土壤有效态Cd含量,其增幅分别为25.51%~34.65%和18.5%~24.96%。添加海泡石可使土壤的Zeta电位向负值方向移动,提高土壤对Cd的负载能力;但添加海泡石下施用KCl和K_2SO_4均能提高土壤的Zeta电位,降低土壤对Cd的负载能力。等温吸附试验同样表明,添加KCl和K_2SO_4均能降低海泡石对Cd的吸附量,在水溶液中海泡石对Cd的最大吸附量为5.30 mg·kg~(-1),添加KCl和K_2SO_4后吸附量分别降低至2.87 mg·g~(-1)和4.92 mg·g~(-1)。KCl和K_2SO_4显著改善了土壤中K、Mn、Cu和Zn等营养元素的有效态含量。从上述结果可以发现,在海泡石钝化修复Cd污染土壤过程中,施K_2SO_4对钝化效果的影响小于施KCl。     

High‐Energy Milling Improves the Effectiveness of Silicate Rock Fertilizers: A Glasshouse Assessment

Abstract

The effectiveness of intensively milled gneiss and potassium (K-feldspar) as K fertilizers was evaluated through a glasshouse experiment with ryegrass. Plant were grown on two soil types for 12 months. Results show that the agronomic effectiveness of milled gneiss was nearly as great as potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), but milled K‐feldspar was much less effective because of the relatively small extent of dissolution of K‐feldspar in the soil. The positive effects of K‐silicate rock fertilizers (K‐SRFs) included increases in plant biomass, uptake of K and silicon (Si), and soil pH with increasing application rate of the K‐SRFs. The application of K‐SRFs will be most advantageous for amending K‐deficient soils, and high‐energy milling provides a simple method for manufacturing effective multinutrient SRFs.     

Effects of controlled‐release potassium fertilizer on available potassium,photosynthetic performance,and yield of cotton

Potassium (K) is one of the major mineral elements required for normal growth of cotton. However, understanding the effect of controlled‐release K fertilizer on leaf photosynthesis and K use efficiency (KUE) of cotton is currently limited. A two‐year pot experiment was consecutively conducted in 2014 and 2015 with three kinds of K fertilizer including K₂SO₄, KCl, and polymer‐coated KCl (CRK), each at four application rates (0.00, 0.86, 1.73, and 2.59 g K plant⁻¹, respectively). For each type of K fertilizer, the yield and K uptake of cotton increased but the KUE decreased with higher K fertilizer application. The release characteristics of K from CRK corresponded well to the K requirements during cotton growth. Plant‐available soil K, as well as leaf SPAD values, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) in CRK treatments were increased after full bloom stage compared to conventional K fertilizers under the same potassium application rate. Consequently, the CRK treatments significantly increased lint cotton yields by 8.1–32.7% and 3.7–20.8%, while the KUE increased by 15.5–54.8% and 14.5–45.4% compared to KCl and K₂SO₄ treatments, respectively. The results indicate that the application of CRK is intensively recommended to replace conventional potassium fertilizers for gaining greater yields and higher KUE of cotton.     

Effect of potassium fertilizer composition on the potassium status of soddy-podzolic soils under model experimental conditions

A model experiment was conducted with samples from arable horizons of loamy sandy and loamy soddy-podzolic soils under laboratory conditions. The samples were stored with KCl, K₂SO₄, and Potassium-E was added at rates of 240 and 960 kg/ha under alternating moistening and drying for 90 days. The contents of nonexchangeable, exchangeable, and easily exchangeable potassium and the K⁺ activity in 1: 2.5 water suspensions were measured in the original samples and after the end of the experiment. The contents of nonexchangeable, exchangeable, and easily exchangeable potassium were found to not be reliably affected by the composition of potassium fertilizers; the K⁺ activity was lower when potassium was added as K₂SO₄ than in the cases of KCl and Potassium-E.     

有机无机复混肥优化化肥养分利用的效应与机理研究III.有机物料与钾肥复混对玉米产量及肥料养分吸收利用的影响

【目的】将有机物料与化学钾肥按不同比例复混制成有机无机复混钾肥,研究其对优化化肥钾的吸收利用效应和机理,可为复混肥的科学应用提供依据。【方法】以味精厂制糖形成的糖渣作为有机原料,与硫酸钾按照3:1、1:1、1:3(w/w)比例复混,采用团粒法制成含钾量分别为K2O 12.2%、24.7%和37.3%的有机无机复混钾肥。采用土柱栽培方法,设置K2O低(75 kg /hm2)、中(150 kg /hm2)、高(225 kg /hm2) 3个施钾水平,每个施钾水平下,采用不同含钾量的有机无机复混钾肥为供试肥料,以硫酸钾为对照,同时设置与钾处理等量的糖渣施用量处理作为对照,以消除有机物料可能带来的影响。以玉米为供试作物,玉米收获后,分别测定叶片、茎鞘、籽粒中的含钾量,并根据生物量计算钾的累积量和化肥钾的利用率。【结果】1)低钾、高钾水平下,复混钾肥比硫酸钾处理分别增产27.75%和10.77%;而中钾水平下,复混钾肥没有表现出明显的增产效果;低钾、中钾和高钾水平,复混钾肥玉米植株籽粒平均产量较硫酸钾增产11.36%。2)低钾、高钾水平下,复混钾肥玉米植株钾素吸收量比硫酸钾处理分别提高31.32%和16.11%;中钾水平下,复混钾肥植株钾素吸收量较硫酸钾处理没有明显增加;有机无机复混钾肥处理在低钾、中钾和高钾水平下的植株平均吸钾量较硫酸钾处理提高11.43%。3)低钾、中钾、高钾水平复混钾肥玉米植株平均吸钾量较等量有机物料处理提高11.92%,而硫酸钾处理较不施钾肥的对照处理(CK)仅提高3.31%,有机物料与钾复混后,显著提高了玉米植株吸钾量。4)低钾、高钾水平下,复混钾肥的平均化肥钾表观利用率比硫酸钾有所提高;中钾投入水平下,复混钾肥处理钾的表观利用率与硫酸钾处理基本相同;低钾、中钾和高钾水平,复混钾肥平均钾素表观利用率比硫酸钾处理提高17.92个百分点。【结论】有机物料与硫酸钾复混,可以优化硫酸钾的肥效和玉米对其中钾的吸收利用。综合考虑玉米产量和钾肥利用率,糖渣与硫酸钾的适宜复混比例可定为1:3(w/w),其施用量在与本试验类似的土壤条件下应低于硫酸钾的施用量。     

Cadmium accumulation and partitioning in Ocimum basilicum as influenced by the application of various potassium fertilizers

Potassium (K) is one of the major essential nutrient elements whose application of organic or nano-chelate-fertilizers has received increased attention recently. Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils and environment is increasing due to the over-application of Cd-containing phosphate fertilizers. But few studies have been carried out on the environmental influences of K-nano-chelate fertilizers especially on Cd-polluted soils. Therefore, the effects of K-fertilizer application in different rates (0, 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 soil) and forms (KCl, K₂SO₄ and K-nano-chelate) on Cd content and partitioning in Ocimum basilicum grown on an artificially Cd-contaminated calcareous soil (with 40 mg Cd kg^?1 soil) were studied under greenhouse conditions. Cadmium decreased shoot dry weight (SDW), but did not affect root dry weight (RDW) and no consistent trend was observed with applied K. Cadmium increased shoot and root Cd concentration or uptake. KCl and K₂SO₄ increased shoot Cd concentration compared to that of control, whereas K-nano-chelate did not affect it. In Cd-treated soils the mean value of Cd translocation factor (ratio of Cd concentration in shoots to that of roots) decreased by 60% as compared to that of the control. Application of 100 mg K-K₂SO₄ and 100 and 200 mg K-nano-chelate increased the Cd translocation factor by 49, 59 and 112% in Cd-treated soils, respectively. In Cd-treated soils, greater amounts of Cd accumulated in roots. K-nano-chelate could mitigate the adverse effect of Cd on SDW and Cd accumulation in plants grown on Cd-polluted soils, so the risk of Cd entrance to the food chain is reduced (however, in Cd-untreated soils, K-nano-chelate increased the Cd translocation factor higher than other K sources). In Cd-polluted soils KCl was the most inappropriate fertilizer that may intensify Cd accumulation in plants. However, it may be useful in the phytoremediation of Cd-polluted soils.     

5年定位试验条件下钾肥用量对双季稻产量和施钾效应的影响

通过5年定位试验（2008~2012年）, 研究不同钾肥施用量对水稻产量、植株钾素含量、钾素积累量、钾肥利用率、土壤钾素含量、钾素平衡和钾肥经济效益的影响。试验施钾量（K2O）从低到高设K0（不施钾）、K1（早稻84 kg/hm2、晚稻105 kg/hm2）、K2（早稻120kg/hm2、晚稻 150 kg/hm2）、K3（早稻156kg/hm2、晚稻195 kg/hm2）和K4（早稻192kg/hm2、晚稻 240kg/hm2）5个处理。5年的试验结果表明, 施钾能显著提高早、晚稻产量,在一定施钾量范围内,水稻产量随施钾量的增加而增加;施钾能促进水稻植株对钾素的吸收和积累,尤其是稻草对钾素的吸收和积累;早、晚稻的钾肥农学效应均以K2处理最高（早稻3.12 kg/kg、晚稻3.70 kg/kg）;钾肥利用率以K1处理最高（早稻41.2%、晚稻76.4%）,并随施钾量提高而降低;不同施钾量对土壤钾素含量有明显影响,土壤速效钾、缓效钾和土壤全钾均随施钾量的增加而增加,且不同处理间土壤速效钾含量差异达极显著水平（P＜0.01）;连续种植5年10季水稻后,K0、K1和K2处理的土壤钾素亏缺（K 127.1kg/hm2、 58.3kg/hm2和10.8kg/hm2）,亏缺量随施钾量的增加而降低; K3和K4处理的土壤钾素盈余（48.0 kg/hm2 和109.2kg/hm2）,盈余量随施钾量的增加而增加。在经济效益上,早、晚稻产投比均以K2处理最高（早稻1.04、晚稻1.27）。综合考虑施钾的增产效应、经济效益和土壤钾素养分平衡等因素,建议该双季稻区早稻施钾量在K2O 120~156 kg/hm2、晚稻施钾量在K2O 150~195kg/hm2范围内较为适宜。     

Adsorption and translocation of sulfur in some tropical acid soils

In view of growing concern about sulfur (S) deficiency, we attempted to study the effect of soil characteristics on the adsorption and translocation of S in soils. Laboratory experiments were conducted with five surface soils collected from three regions in the state of Orissa (Eastern India). In an adsorption study, all the soils were equilibrated with graded doses of potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄). Freundlich adsorption isotherms provided good fit to S adsorption data. Free Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ in the soils were primarily responsible for retaining added S in soils. Further, studies on the movement of sulfate‐S in 30‐cm plexiglass columns, where radio‐labeled S along with water (5 cm) was applied as gypsum and K₂SO₄, showed that K₂SO₄‐S migrated deeper than gypsum‐S. Sulfur moved deeper in case of initially water‐saturated soils than in initially air‐dry soils.     

生物钾肥的增产作用及对土壤钾平衡的影响

生物钾肥是指具有高钾低氮磷养分组成的植物的绿色体或秸杆。生物钾肥作用的实质是:植物不断吸收并活化土壤钾,富集土壤和水体中钾,通过以绿色体或秸秆形式归还,促进土壤钾的良性循环和再利用。生物钾肥中钾的溶解度和利用率都较高,其供钾性能类似矿质钾肥。在等钾量下,各种生物钾肥的增产效果和矿质钾肥接近。     

Monitoring the combined action of controlled‐release fertilizers and a soil conditioner in soil

Abstract

The combined action of a soil conditioner and a controlled‐release fertilizer was followed by conducting soil column leaching and tomato growth experiments. The change in soil water‐holding capacitiy and the release of potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) from conventional and controlled‐release forms was evaluated using leaching experiments in soil columns. Tomato growth was followed by the comparison of biomass yields on a dry matter basis with experiments where different combinations of controlled‐release or conventional fertilizer rates and soil conditioner applications. It was demonstrated that the combined usage of controlled‐release fertilizers and soil conditioners increased tomato yield and enhanced the nutritional status of the tomato plants in comparison to conventional fertilizer materials.     

Additional application of aluminum sulfate with different fertilizers ameliorates saline-sodic soil of Songnen Plain in Northeast China

Purpose

Serious soil salinization, including excessive exchangeable sodium and high pH, significantly decreases land productivity. Reducing salinity and preventing alkalization in saline-sodic soils by comprehensive improvement practices are urgently required. The combinations of aluminum sulfate with different types of fertilizer at different rates were applied on rice paddy with saline-sodic soils of the Songnen Plain in Northeast China to improve soil quality and its future utilization.

Materials and methods

Experiments were carried out in a completely randomized block design. Twelve treatments with aluminum sulfate at the rates of 0, 250, 500, and 750 kg hm^?2 with inorganic, bio-organic, and organic-inorganic compound fertilizers were performed. Soil pH, electronic conductivity (EC), cation exchangeable capacity (CEC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), total alkalinity, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soil organic carbon (SOC), available nutrients, soluble ions, rice growth, and yield in the saline-sodic soils were measured across all treatments. The relationships among the measured soil attributes were determined using one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and systematic cluster analysis.

Results and discussion

The pH, EC, ESP, total alkalinity, SAR, Na⁺, CO₃^2?, and HCO₃^? in saline-sodic soil were significantly decreased, while CEC, SOC, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), K⁺, and SO₄^2? were significantly increased due to the combined application of aluminum sulfate with fertilizer compared with the fertilizer alone. The most effective treatment in reducing salinity and preventing alkalization was aluminum sulfate at a rate of 500 kg hm^?2 with organic-inorganic compound fertilizer. This treatment significantly decreased the soil pH, EC, ESP, total alkalinity, SAR, Na⁺, and HCO₃^? by 5.3%, 28.9%, 41.1%, 39.3%, 22.4%, 23.5%, and 35.9%, but increased CEC, SOC, AN, AP, AK, K⁺, SO₄^2?, rice height, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight, and yield by 77.5%, 115.5%, 106.3%, 47.1%, 43.3%, 200%, 40%, 6.2%, 43.9%, 20.3%, and 42.2%, respectively, compared with CK treatment in the leaching layer.

Conclusions

The combined application by aluminum sulfate at a rate of 500 kg hm^?2 with organic-inorganic compound fertilizer is an effective amendment of saline-sodic soils in Songnen Plain, Northeast China. These results are likely related to the leaching of Na⁺ from the soil leaching layer to the salt accumulation layer and desalination in the surface soil, and the increase of SOC improved the colloidal properties and increased fertilizer retention in soil. In addition, the environmental impact of aluminum sulfate applied to soil needs to be further studied.

     

不同钾肥对再生水灌溉条件下土壤-作物系统Cd的影响

为了探明再生水灌溉条件下不同施钾肥处理对土壤-作物系统Cd的影响及差异性,通过田间微区试验研究了不同施钾肥处理对再生水灌溉番茄植株、果实以及根际土与非根际土Cd含量的影响。结果表明:再生水灌溉条件下,施钾肥处理可提高番茄果实产量,施加KCl较K2SO4增产效果明显,分别较不施肥处理可增产6.10%～24.00%和1.36%～13.16%;不施钾肥较不施肥处理番茄果实Cd含量降低,但降低幅度小于施加钾肥处理,施加KCl较K2SO4处理番茄果实Cd含量较低,Cd含量分别较不施钾肥处理分别减少58.33%和8.33%,且各处理均未超0.05mg/kg的限值标准;不施钾肥处理较不施肥处理土壤pH、Cd含量有所降低,降低幅度小于施钾肥处理,有效态Cd有所增加,施加KCl和K2SO4较不施肥处理有效态Cd降低,施加KCl和K2SO4较不施钾肥处理根际土和非根际土pH、Cd含量和有效态Cd含量均有所降低,其中施加KCl根际土和非根际土Cd含量分别降低2.96%～3.11%和5.75%～14.22%,施加K2SO4分别降低4.14%～5.90%和8.10%～8.29%;施加KCl根际土和非根际土有效态Cd含量分别降低10.75%～16.19%和13.98%～28.74%,施加K2SO4分别降低15.97%～20.55%和19.91%～24.70%。因此,再生水灌溉条件下,可通过选择施加适宜的钾肥种类,调控重金属Cd在土壤-作物系统的分布及其生物有效性,施加K2SO4较KCl相比,可一定程度降低土壤Cd全量及有效态Cd含量。     

Ameliorative Effect of Hydro Gel Substrate on Growth,Inorganic Ions,Proline, and Nitrate Contents of Bean under Salinity Stress

The effect of varying hydrogel (0, 0.5, and 1.0% w/w) supply on some agro-physiological properties, such as dry matter, nutrient contents, chlorophyll contents, proline content, and ionic balance of bean plants in different salt sources and stress due to doses were investigated. Plants were treated with eight salt sources [sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄)] and four concentrations (0, 30, 60, and 120 mM doses) for 60 days in a growth media. Salt type, doses, and hydrogel (HG) affected the soil electrical conductivity. Soil salinity affected the parameters considered, and changed the nutrient balance of plants. High salt concentration caused substantial reduction in plant growth. Different salt concentrations negatively affected plant dry weight. The highest decrease of plant root dry weight was obtained with NaCl application followed by Na₂SO₄, CaCl₂, CaSO_4, MgCl₂, MgSO₄, KCl, and K₂SO₄, and similarly NaCl, Na₂SO₄, CaCl₂, CaSO_4, KCl, K₂SO₄, MgCl₂, and MgSO₄ in root dry weight. Total chlorophyll and nitrate contents of plants decreased with increasing salt doses, and the lowest value was obtained for NaCl application. Proline contents of plants were increased with increasing salt doses, and the highest value was obtained with the NaCl application. The effects of salt concentrations in nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) content of plants were significant. The presence of salt in the growth medium induced an important decrease the macro nutrient of the root and shoot part of plant such as N, P, K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) content, but the N and P content of root and shoot part of the plant were increased with increasing of the HG application doses. The highest N and P increases were obtained with the 1.0 HG application for all salt types for both the root and shoots of plants. The HG added to saline soil significantly improved the variables affected by high salinity and also increased plant N and P, reduced soil electricity conductivity, nitrate, proline, and electrolyte leakage of plants, enhanced plant root and shoot dry weight by allowing nutrients and water to release to the plant as needed. The results suggested that HG has great potential for use in alleviating salinity stress on plant growth and growth parameters in saline soils of arid and semi-arid areas. This HG appears to be highly effective for use as a soil conditioner in vegetable growing, to improve crop tolerance and growth in saline conditions. It is intended to confirm the results of these studies by field trials.     

Influence of potassium and magnesium fertilizer application on the yield and nutrient accumulation of maize genotypes under field conditions

The use of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes that are able to utilize nutrients efficiently is an important strategy in the management of plant nutritional status; it is of particular importance with regard to potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg), due to their high requirement and influence on plant growth. The influence of K and Mg fertilizers on certain growth parameters of maize genotypes TM.815 and KL.72.AA, including length, seed in ear, seed weight growth, and nutrient concentration, was determined under field conditions over two successive years. The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of different rates of K and Mg fertilizers on maize genotype plant growth parameters, grain yield, and nutrient accumulation under field conditions.

A split plot design with three replicates was used and each block contained three treatments of 0, 100, and 200 kg ha^?1 of K₂O and 0, 10, and 20 kg ha^?1 of Mg; K₂SO₄ was used to supply K, and MgSO₄ was used for Mg.

Plants that responded to the K fertilizer had an increase in height, yield, and the concentration of K in the leaves and seeds. The addition of K fertilizer increased the concentration of nitrogen (N), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and K in the plant leaves and increased seed K concentration. Mg fertilizer increased the concentration of N, Fe, copper, and Mn in the leaves; however, it exerted no significant influence on K concentration. The KL.72.AA maize genotype had a higher mean plant height, number of seeds in ear, yield, and N, K, Fe, and Zn concentrations compared to the TM.815 maize genotype. In the experiment, the K fertilizer exerted a statistically significant effect on the leaf and seed K concentration; however, on a statistical basis, the Mg fertilizer did not affect the Mg concentration.     

Sulfate and Calcium Movement in an Allophanic Soil—The Relevance of Ion‐Pair Adsorption in the Soil–Plant System

Cooperative adsorption involving anions and cations, termed ion‐pair adsorption (IPA), is reported to increase the retention of some ions in certain soils. Sulfate and calcium can exhibit such interaction, and this affects their movement through the soil. Ion‐pair adsorption is shown here in miscible displacement experiments with a variable‐charge soil. The relevance of IPA under more realistic conditions is further investigated in a pot experiment. Rapeseed (Brassica napus) was grown at two different irrigation regimes and with two sulfur fertilizer sources. Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄·2H₂O) was used to induce IPA in contrast to potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄). The results suggest that IPA reduces sulfate and calcium leaching only in the short term. Continued irrigation dissipates the differences between the two fertilizer sources. Final soil ion concentrations and the plant uptake could not be related to IPA, evidencing the short‐term relevance of IPA. The influence of IPA on the bioavailability of calcium and sulfate to plants still demands further study.     

Response of tomato to polyhalite as a multi-nutrient fertilizer in southeast Brazil

Abstract

Limited information on the agronomic performance of polyhalite (K₂SO₄.MgSO₄.2CaSO₄.2H₂O) motivated us to establish two field trials in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the comparative responses of tomato to muriate of potash (MOP), sulfate of potash, potassium magnesium sulfate, and polyhalite at different graded doses of potassium (K) application supplying varied amount of secondary nutrients. Under very low soil K conditions, polyhalite resulted in significantly higher marketable fruit yield, and higher foliar and fruit K and sulfur (S) concentrations than other K sources. This was not the case under medium soil K levels, that is, 101?mg?kg^?1. Likewise, polyhalite enhanced postharvest residual soil calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and S than other evaluated sources. Depending on soil nutrient status and the cost of polyhalite, tomato farmers of Brazil could consider polyhalite as an option to meet crop K and secondary nutrient requirements.     

Sorption of calcium and sulfate by sandy soils from flue‐gas desulfurization gypsum and phosphogypsum

Abstract

Increasing concern on sulfur dioxide (SO₂) pollution has prompted many coal‐fired electric power generating plants to install SO₂ scrubbing units which generate large amounts of flue‐gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG). This source of gypsum can be an excellent amendment to supply calcium (Ca) and/or sulfate (SO₄) to sandy soils which are deficient in these nutrients. In this study, reactions of FGDG, phosphogypsum (PG), reagent grade calcium sulfate (CaSO₄), and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) were investigated using a Candler fine sand (uncoated, hyperthermic, Typic Quartzipsamment), a typical well‐drained deep sand, and a Pineda fine sand (loamy, siliceous, hyperthermic, Arenic Glossaqualf), a typical shallow poorly drained sand. Concentrations of various water‐soluble elements were similar in FGDG as well as PG, except the latter contained 11 and 15 g/kg phosphate (PO₄) and fluoride (F), respectively, while these ions were undetectable in the former. In batch‐equilibration (4 h) technique using soilrsolution ratio of 1:2, pH of equilibrium solution decreased by 0.2 and 0.8 units, while ionic strength increased by 5‐ and 15‐fold in the Pineda and Candler sand, respectively, when using FGDG or PG solution as compared to using water for equilibration. Sorption of Ca by the two soils varied from 0.56 to 0.71 Cmolc/kg regardless of source of gypsum. As compared to sorption of SO₄, that of Ca was greater by 2.5‐ and 2.6 to 4.3‐fold by the Candler and Pineda sand, respectively. With the exception of SO4 sorption by the Pineda sand, this study demonstrated that the reactions of FGDG with these sandy soils were very similar to those of PG or reagent grade CaSO4. Since much of the past research on agricultural use of gypsum was done using PG and CaSCU, we could conclude that similar response could be expected with use of FGDG.     

THE POTASSIUM STATUS OF MALAWI SOILS

Twenty surface soils from four main Soil Groups in Malawi and their sub-soils were divided into three groups based on cation exchange capacity (group I, CEC < 50; group II, 50–100; and group III > 100μeq g^–1). In each soil group the maximum amounts of K removed by successive extraction with 0.005 M CaCl₂ solution were well related to the potassium potential pK–0.5p(Ca + Mg), exchangeable K, ‘step K’, and the quotient ‘step K’/CR.K, where CR.K is ‘constant-rate’potassium. In Group III soils only, ‘step K’/CR.K values were significantly correlated with pH, clay, and CEC, and this suggested that the soils were relatively rich in K⁺ specific binding sites. In 27 soils from an NPK factorial experiment on tea, the rate of depletion of extractable K reserve increased with ammonium sulphate treatment, whereas K fertilizers tended to off-set significantly (P= 0.001) the depletion of K reserve. The values for the change in free energy ΔG =RT In a_K/ (a_(Ca+Mg)) ^½, ranged from –12 to –16 kJ mol^–1, and field observations showed that tea plants growing on soils having ΔG values less than –15 kJ mol^–1 responded to K fertilizers. The investigation has indicated that heavily cropped soils are likely to show crop responses if the intensive cropping system does not include supplementation of K.     

钾肥用量和品种对桑叶生产及蚕茧质量的影响

通过为期 4年的田间施肥试验和 1季养蚕试验 ,研究了钾肥用量和钾肥品种对桑叶产量、品质、养分吸收和蚕茧质量的影响。结果表明 ,施K2 O 1 5 0、30 0、375kghm-2 a-1 处理分别比不施K肥年均增产桑叶 2 3.9%、31 .7%、36 .0 %;等量钾肥时 ,KCl对桑叶增产效果基本等同于K2 SO4;施钾增产效果有逐年增加趋势 ,同时钾肥施用表现后效。施钾明显提高桑叶中N、K和S(K2 SO4为钾源时 )含量 ,而降低Ca、Mg和Zn含量 ,对P含量影响不大。结果显示 ,钾肥施用大幅度促进了桑树对各种养分的吸收 ,从而提高了肥料利用率。施钾明显促进桑叶品质的改善 ,随着钾肥用量增加 ,桑叶中必需氨基酸、氨基酸总量、蛋白质、糖分和油脂含量均呈增加趋势。KCl施用也能提高桑叶品质 ,但效果比K2 SO4差。蚕茧质量测试结果表明 ,桑树施钾后对喂养的蚕茧品质产生正面影响 ,蚕重、全茧量、上茧率、茧丝长、解舒率、茧丝净度等指标均因施钾而提高 ,高量钾比低量钾效果好 ,在等量钾用量时K2 SO4对蚕茧质量的促进作用明显好于KCl。