Soil Zinc Transformations as Affected by Applied Zinc and Organic Materials

Information on soil zinc (Zn) distribution is essential for understanding its chemical reactions and bioavailability. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of wheat straw, cow manure, and vermicompost applied with Zn rates on Zn distribution in a calcareous soil. A sequential extraction scheme was used to fractionate Zn into soluble and exchangeable, bound to carbonate, organically bound, bound to manganese (Mn) oxide, bound to amorphous iron (Fe) oxide, bound to crystalline Fe oxide, and residual forms. In untreated soil, Zn was mainly in the residual fraction. Increasing rates of applied Zn increased all forms of Zn. Carbonate and residual forms showed the greatest increase. Organic materials application increased all fractions, except Mn-oxide form, and this increase was more pronounced for the organically bound form. Concentration of soluble, exchangeable, and organically bound forms was greatest in cow manure–amended samples as compared to other organic materials, suggesting that cow manure contained more bioavailable Zn than other organic materials.     

Mycorrhizal (Rhizophagus Intraradices) Symbiosis and Fe and Zn Availability in Calcareous Soil

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) fractionation patterns in soils of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus-inoculated and uninoculated maize plants fertilized with varying levels of Fe and Zn. Soil samples were collected for Fe and Zn fractions and available Fe, Zn and phosphorus (P) contents besides organic and biomass carbon (BMC), soil enzymes and glomalin. Major portion of Fe and Zn fractionations was found to occur in the residual form. Mycorrhizal symbiosis increased the organically bound forms of Fe and Zn while reducing the crystalline oxide, residual Fe and Zn fractions, indicating the transformation of unavailable forms into available forms. Soil enzymes, viz. dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities in M+ soils, were significantly higher than M? soil consistently. Overall, the data suggest that mycorrhizal symbiosis enhanced the availability of Fe and Zn as a result of preferential fractionation and biochemical changes that may alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in calcareous soil.

Abbreviations: AM: arbuscular mycorrhiza; Fe: Iron; Zn: Zinc; P: Phosphorous; Amox-Zn: amorphous oxide bound zinc; Cryox-Zn: crystalline oxide bound zinc; DAS: days after sowing; DTPA: diethylene Triamine Penta Acetic Acid; MnO₂-Zn: manganese oxide bound zinc; OC-Zn: organically bound zinc; WSEX: water soluble plus exchangeable zinc; MnO₂ Fe: manganese oxide bound iron; OC-Fe: Organically bound iron; WSEX Fe: water soluble plus exchangeable iron.     

Zinc speciation in phosphate‐affected soils

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) speciation was determined in a Zn pre‐treated Andosol, Inceptisol, and a Vertisol before and after adding phosphate. The fractions obtained, i.e., soluble, exchangeable, iron‐manganese (Fe‐Mn) bound, chelated and insoluble organic forms had a different distribution in the three soils. The exchangeable form predominated in the Andosol, followed by Fe‐Mn oxide bound Zn and minor amounts of the chelated forms, whereas Fe‐Mn oxide bound Zn was very abundant in the Inceptisol and Vertisol. Sizable amounts of the exchangeable form were also present. Phosphate pre‐treatment of the Inceptisol and Vertisol did not alter the distribution of the different forms of Zn, whereas in the Andosol the exchangeable as well as the Fe‐Mn oxide bound Zn increased markedly, chelated Zn also increased somewhat.     

Effects of Co-Application of Zeolites and Vermicompost on Speciation and Phytoavailability of Cadmium,Lead, and Zinc in a Contaminated Soil

In this study, we investigated, with pot experiments, whether combined application of zeolites and vermicompost is more effective than single application on plant growth and heavy metals’ uptake in a heavy metal contaminated soil. The results showed that co-application of these amendments decreased zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) availability by their redistribution from plant available forms to organic matter and metal oxide associated fractions. While, the addition of vermicompost and zeolites increased the lead (Pb) concentration significantly in the soluble/exchangeable form as compared with the control. Applying vermicompost individually or in combination with zeolites markedly increased plant biomass. Single zeolites and vermicompost reduced Zn and Pb contents of corn roots and shoots compared to un-treated soil, but less compared to the combined zeolite and vermicompost treatments. The results obtained suggest that co-application of zeolites and vermicompost could be an option for immobilizing Cd, Pb, and Zn in heavy metal contaminated soils.     

Changes of metal forms by organic amendments to Hawaii soils

Abstract

Forms of metals in soils control their availability to plants and animals and affect the environment differently. To evaluate shifts of metal forms as affected by organic amendments, a sequential extraction procedure was used to fractionate calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in two Hawaii soils amended with three organic wastes. The designated forms are water‐soluble, exchangeable, sorbed, organically bound, carbonate, and residual fractions. The soils, a Mollisol (Waimanalo series) and an Ultisol (Paaloa series), were incubated at 25°C±2°C at field capacity with either chicken manure, sewage sludge, or green manure (cowpea leaves) at 0, 5, and 20 Mg#lbha^‐1 for one or five months. Organically bound metals decreased with time because of organic matter decomposition. Iron was mostly residual, but water‐soluble Fe also increased in the acid Paaloa soil. Unlike Fe, most forms of Ca and Mg were transformed to the exchangeable form in 5 months. There was no significant change of Mn forms during the 5‐month incubation. Virtually all organically bound Zn shifted to carbonate and residual forms in the neutral Mollisol (pH 6.2), but shifted to carbonate and exchangeable forms in the acid Ultisol (pH 4.5). The solubilities and exchangeabilities of the five metals in the two soils treated with sewage sludge were not significantly different from those treated with cowpea green manure or chicken manure during the 5‐month incubation. The results suggest that the additions of sewage sludge, chicken manure, or cowpea green manure to Hawaii soils at 20 Mg#lbha^‐1 do not have environmentally significant impacts in terms of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn. On the other hand, the amendments may decrease Ca and Mg deficiencies in highly weathered, nutrient‐poor soils such as Ultisols and Oxisols of the tropics.     

三江平原白浆土中Fe、Mn、Cu和Zn生物有效性的研究

在三江平原上,测定 42 个小区中玉米、大豆、小麦籽实 Fe、Mn、Cu 和 Zn 含量和土壤中各形态 Fe、Mn、Cu 和Zn含量.通过相关分析和通径分析,探讨了土壤中各形态Fe、Mn、Cu 和 Zn 的生物有效性,旨在为该地区合理施用微量元素提供科学依据.试验结果表明,玉米、大豆和小麦籽实含 Fe、Mn、Cu 和 Zn 量与土壤中有效态和交换态 Fe、Mn、Cu和Zn含量呈显著或极显著正相关.有机态 Fe、Mn、Cu 和 Zn含量与玉米、大豆和小麦籽实Fe、Mn、Cu 和 Zn含量也有很好的相关关系.交换态对有效态 Fe、Mn、Cu 和 Zn 影响最大,其次是有机质结合态.铁锰氧化物结合态 Fe、Cu 对有效态 Fe、Cu 及碳酸盐结合态 Mn、Zn 对有效态 Mn、Zn 具有一定正效应.而残留态 Fe、Cu 对有效态 Fe、Cu 和铁锰氧化物结合态 Mn 对有效态 Mn 产生负效应.     

Copper,Zinc, and Lead Fractions in Soils Long-Term Irrigated with Municipal Wastewater

Long-term irrigation with municipal wastewater may lead, even in spite of intense farming, to an accumulation of organic matter, nutrient elements, and trace metals in soils. Excessive increases of heavy metals may pose a potential risk to the food chain and provoke restrictions for the further cultivation of sensitive crops. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) forms in soils under long-term irrigation (for 100–120 years) with treated wastewater of Wroclaw were investigated by using selective seven-step sequential extraction (procedure of Zeien-Bruemmer) for partitioning the metals into operationally defined fractions, likely to be released in solution under various environmental conditions. The largest fraction of Cu, Pb, and particularly Zn in nonirrigated (control) soils was strongly bound in a residual form, while the percentage of exchangeable and the most labile fractions were negligible. Total concentration of metals in irrigated soils was elevated, and significant redistribution of metals among phases was observed. Percentages of residual fraction of Cu and Pb were no more than 25% (Zn < 40%), while significantly increased contribution of fractions occluded on iron (Fe) oxides and organically bound Cu. Exchangeable and readily mobile forms of Zn are predominant zinc fractions in soils irrigated with wastewater.     

Distribution of Chemical Forms for Co, Cr, Ni and V in Typical Soils of China

Co,Ni,Cr and V in 25 typical soils of China were fractionated into exchangeable,carbonate bound (calcareous soils),Mn oxide bound,organically bound,amorphous Fe oxide bound,crystalline Fe oxide bound and residual forms using a seven-step sequential extraction procedure,so as to study the distribution of chemical forms of these metals as well as the effects of soil proiperties on the distribution.The results showed that most of soil Co,Ni,Cr and V were present in residual forms,and the distribution ratio averaged 48.2% for Co,53.0% for Ni,81.5% for Cr and 68.7% for V.The speciation of heavy metals was greatly influenced by soil physico-chemical properties and the chemistry of elements.The results also indicated that the recovery of metal elements by the sequential extraction procedure was satisfactory,with the relative difference between the sum of seven forms and the total content in soils averaging 9.5% for Co,12.8% for Ni,6.6% for Cr and 7.2% for V.     

Length of Incubation for the Estimation of the Most Probable Number of Nitrifying Bacteria in Soil

Abstract

The Zn content in 8 soil chemical fractions was determined for 21 greenhouse soils and for 8 reference (open field) soils from Kochi Prefecture, Japan to investigate the forms of spontaneously accumulated Zn in the greenhouse soils associated with heavy application of fertilizers and manures. Sequential extraction method was applied to every soil and each Zn fraction was designated as exchangeable (Ex-Zn), Pb-displaceable (Pb-Zn), acid soluble (Aci-Zn), Mn oxide-occluded (MnO-Zn), organically bound (OM-Zn), amorphous Fe oxide-occluded (AFeO-Zn), crystalline Fe oxide-occluded (CFeO-Zn), and residual (Res-Zn) fractions. The Zn content of the greenhouse soils was significantly higher than that of the reference soils in every fraction, except for the CFeO-Zn, and Res-Zn fractions. The Pb-Zn, Aci-Zn, and MnO-Zn fractions showed a difference of more than 60% in the total Zn content between the two soil groups. The amounts of Zn extracted in the Pb-Zn, Aci-Zn, MnO-Zn, AFeO-Zn, and CFeO-Zn fractions of the greenhouse soils increased con-comitantly with the accumulation of applied macro-nutrients. These results indicated that the accumulation of Zn in greenhouse soils caused by intensive fertilization had proceeded through specific adsorption onto or occlusion by the oxides and hydroxides of Fe and Mn in soils.     

Distribution of Forms of Zinc and Their Association with Soil Properties and Uptake in Different Soil Orders in Semi‐arid Soils of Punjab,India

Abstract

Profiles of semi‐arid–zone soils in Punjab, northwest India, were investigated for different forms of zinc (Zn), including total, diethylenetriamine penta‐acetic acid (DTPA)-extractable, soil solution plus exchangeable (Zn), Zn adsorbed onto inorganic sites, Zn bound by organic sites, and Zn adsorbed onto oxide surfaces. Irrespective of the different fractions of Zn present, its content was higher in fine‐textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than in coarse‐textured Entisols. In general, the higher content of Zn was observed in the surface horizon and then decreased in the subsurface horizons. However, none of the forms of Zn exhibited any consistent pattern of distribution. Organic matter and size fractions (clay and silt) had a strong influence on the distribution of different forms of Zn. Based upon the linear coefficient of correlation, the soil solution plus exchangeable Zn, adsorbed onto inorganic sites, and DTPA‐Zn increased with increase in organic carbon but decreased with increase in pH and calcium carbonate content. Total Zn increased with increase in clay and silt content. Among the different forms, Zn bound by organic sites, water soluble plus exchangeable Zn and Zn adsorb onto oxide (amorphous surfaces) were all correlated with DTPA extractable Zn. The uptake of Zn was more in recent floodplain Entisols than very fine textured Alfisols and Inceptisols. Among the different forms soil solution +exchangeable and DTPA‐extractable Zn was positively correlated with total uptake of Zn.     

Effect of Organic Residues and Their Derived Biochars on the Zinc and Copper Chemical Fractions and Some Chemical Properties of a Calcareous Soil

ABSTRACT

Addition of more resistant organic materials, such as biochars, to soils not only enhances soil C sequestration but also can also benefit soil fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two organic materials (sheep manure and vermicompost) and their biochars produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (300 and 500°C) applied at 5% (w/w) on the chemical fractions of Zn and Cu and some chemical characteristics of an unpolluted, light textured calcareous soil. Addition of the raw organic materials and their-derived biochars significantly enhanced plant available K, P, and Zn but significantly decreased plant available Cu in the soil. Sheep manure biochar produced at 300°C was most effective at increasing plant available P (13-fold) and K (1.9 fold) likely due to formation of more soluble forms of P and K compared to raw material or biochar produced at higher temperature (500°C). Whereas, raw vermicompost and sheep manure were most effective at enhancing plant available Zn, by increasing water soluble and exchangeable Zn fraction likely due to organic complexation. All amendments, especially biochars produced at 300°C reduced water soluble and exchangeable Cu mainly attributed to increased soil P availability. The results of this study showed that in the short-term, addition of the low-temperature biochars was best for enhancing soil P and K availability, but concomitantly reduced Cu availability the most, whereas, addition of the raw organic materials was better for enhancing Zn availability compared to the biochars.     

Zinc fractions in soil and uptake by wheat as affected by different preceding crops

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in alkaline and calcareous soils. Limited information is available on the effect of preceding crops on the distribution of Zn in soil solid phase. This field study was conducted to investigate the changes in Zn chemical forms in soil solid phase as affected by four preceding crops [Sunflower (Heilianthus annuus L. cv. Allstar), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. cv. Speed Feed), Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. Koseh-e-Isfahan)] in a calcareous soil. A control treatment with no preceding crop (fallow) was also used. Our results showed that the preceding crops increased Zn concentration in exchangeable fraction (EXCH-Zn), the organically bound zinc form (ORG-Zn) and zinc bound to iron and manganese oxides (FeMnOX-Zn) while decreased carbonates bound-zinc (CAR-Zn) and residual zinc forms (RES-Zn). However, the changes in Zn fractions were dependent on the preceding crop type. The EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn pools can be considered labile pools that play significant roles in supplying Zn for plants. Among the preceding crops used in this experiment, clover (Clo) had the highest effect on transforming CAR-Zn form to EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn labile forms and thus resulted in the highest Zn accumulation in tissues of the target wheat (Triticumaestivum L. cv. Back Cross). Although the changes in chemical forms of Zn in the soil solid phase are complex and dependent on various factors, our findings showed that the preceding crops significantly increased the concentration of Zn in exchangeable and organic matter pools and in turn resulted in higher uptake of Zn by the target wheat.     

甘肃主要农业土壤中Cu、Zn、Mn、Fe的形态及有效性研究

本文对甘肃省主要农业土壤中Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ的形态及其有效性进行了研究。结果表明，供试土壤的全Ｃｕ含量范围为２２－２４ｍｇ／ｋｇ，全Ｍｎ为５４２－７７２ｍｇ／ｋｇ，全Ｆｅ为３５６８５－３８３５５ｍｇ／ｋｇ。四种元素均以灌漠土的含量最低，褐土最高。土壤中Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ的大部分以残留矿物态和氧化铁结合态存在。生物试验和统计分析表明，Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｆｅ的交换态和松结有机态对植物最为有效，     

Chemical Speciation of Heavy Metals in the Fractionated Rhizosphere Soils of Sunflower Cultivated in a Humic Andosol

Chemical speciation and bioaccumulation factor of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were investigated in the fractionated rhizosphere soils and tissues of sunflower plants grown in a humic Andosol. The experiment was conducted for a period of 35 days in the greenhouse, and at harvest the soil system was differentiated into bulk, rhizosphere, and rhizoplane soils based on the collection of root-attaching soil aggregates. The chemical speciations of heavy metals in the soil samples were determined after extraction sequentially into fractions classified as exchangeable, carbonate bound, metal–organic complex bound, easily reducible metal oxide bound, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)–extractable organically bound, amorphous mineral colloid bound, and crystalline Fe oxide bound. Iron and Zn were predominantly crystalline Fe oxide bound in the initial bulk soils whereas Mn was mainly organically bound. Heavy metals in the exchangeable form accumulated in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane soils, comprising <4% of the total content, suggesting their relatively low availability in humic Andosol. Concentrations of organically bound Fe and Mn in soils decreased with the proximity to roots, suggesting that organic fraction is the main source for plant uptake. Concentrations of Mn and Zn in the metal–organic complex also decreased, indicating a greater ability of sunflower to access Mn from more soil pools. Sunflower showed bioaccumulation factors for Zn, Fe, and Mn as large as 0.39, 0.05, and 0.04 respectively, defining the plant as a metal excluder species. This result suggests that access to multiple metal pools in soil is not necessarily a major factor that governs metal accumulation in the plant.     

海南岛砖红壤中铅、镉的化学形态与转化

采用土培实验和连续提取.原子吸收分光光度法,研究了重金属Pb、Cd在海南岛花岗岩砖红壤中的形态组成、外源Pb、Cd污染及化学修复剂磷、钙、硫对土壤重金属形态的影响.结果表明:在供试原土壤中,重金属Pb的化学形态以结合态和残余态为主,土壤有效态Pb含量较低,其中残余态Pb>有机质结合态Pb>铁锰氧化物结合态Pb>碳酸盐结合态Pb>交换态Pb>水溶态Pb,说明土壤Pb的环境风险较低;重金属Cd的化学形态以铁锰氧化物结合态和碳酸盐结合态为主,土壤中交换态Cd含量较高,其中铁锰氧化物结合态Cd>碳酸盐结合态Cd>交换态Cd>有机结合态Cd>残余态Cd>水溶态Cd,说明土壤Cd的环境风险较高.当外源Pb、Cd污染土壤时,有铁锰结合态Pb>残余态Pb>有机态Pb>碳酸盐结合态Pb>交换态Pb>水溶态Pb,交换态Cd>铁锰氧化物结合态Cd>碳酸盐结合态Cd>残余态Cd>有机态Cd>水溶态Cd的趋势.向污染土壤施加化学改良剂过磷酸钙、硫化钠和石灰,能显著降低水溶态Pb、Cd和交换态Pb、Cd的含量,并使有机结合态Pb、碳酸盐结合态Pb和铁锰氧化物结合态Pb含量下降,但残余态Pb、碳酸盐结合态Cd、铁锰氧化物结合态Cd和有机态Cd有增加的趋势,残余态Cd的含量基本稳定.     

施污土壤与污泥中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn的形态分布

污泥中的重金属元素是限制其大规模农田利用的重要因素。施污土壤和污泥中重金属的形态研究可以用来评价土壤中重金属的生物有效性以及它们在土壤中的移动性。用修正BCR三步连续提取法进行分步提取研究了污水污泥和施污后的西红柿地土壤中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn的形态分布状况。施用污泥堆肥10t hm-2后的土壤中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn的全量与各种形态含量无明显增加,Cu、Pb、Zn含量远低于国家土壤环境质量标准。土壤中Cu的各种形态分布关系是:残渣态>可还原态=可氧化态>可交换态和弱酸溶解态,Cu在土壤中的存在是以最稳定的残渣态为主。堆肥污泥与干化污泥相比,残渣态Cu的比例明显增加。土壤中Pb的各种形态分布关系是以残渣态和可还原态为主,但可氧化态的分布比例最小。土壤中Cd的可交换态、可还原态和残渣态各占据相等的含量,但可氧化态Cd的含量几乎为零。Zn在土壤中的各种形态分布关系是:可交换态和弱酸溶解态>可氧化态>可还原态>残渣态,Zn在土壤中的存在是以最易迁移的可交换态和弱酸溶解态为主。这些金属元素在土壤中的相对稳定性顺序为:Cu>Pb>Cd>Zn。Zn在土壤中的移动性要远高于Cu。     

Effect of sewage sludge application on cotton yield and contamination of soils and plant leaves

Abstract

In a two‐year field experiment, dry sewage sludge was applied to fields plots at rates of 0,26,42,58, or 77 tons ha^‐1 year^‐1 on a clay loam soil (calcixerrolic xerochrept), well drained with a pH value of 8.15. Cotton was the cultivated plant (Gossypiumhirsutum variety korina). Sequential extraction was used to separate the different forms of the metals (exchangeable, organically bound, carbonates and residual) in the soil‐sludge mixtures. Cotton yield increased in the second year of experimentation compared with the control treatment (without fertilization and no application of sewage sludge). Most of the metals studied [cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni)] were found in the organically bound, carbonate or residual forms. From the elements in the soil fractions, only Zn in the residual form was correlated with the Zn content of cotton leaves. The diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extraction of the plant‐available levels of the elements showed only for Cd a simple linear correlation, between concentration in soils and cotton leaves.     

Effects of zinc complexes on the distribution of zinc in calcareous soil and zinc uptake by maize

The movement and availability of Zn from six organic Zn sources in a Typic Xerorthent (calcareous) soil were compared by incubation, column assay, and in a greenhouse study with maize (Zea mays L.). Zinc soil behavior was studied by sequential, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, and Mehlich-3 extractions. In the incubation experiment, the differences in Zn concentration observed in the water soluble plus exchangeable fraction strongly correlated with Zn uptake by plants in the greenhouse experiment. Zinc applied to the surface of soil columns scarcely moved into deeper layers except for Zn-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) that showed the greatest distribution of labile Zn throughout the soil and the highest proportion of leaching of the applied Zn. In the upper part of the column, changes in the chemical forms of all treatments occurred and an increase in organically complexed and amorphous Fe oxide-bound fractions was detected. However, the water soluble plus exchangeable fraction was not detected. The same results were obtained at the end of the greenhouse experiment. Significant increases were found in plant dry matter yield and Zn concentration as compared with the control treatment without Zn addition. Increasing Zn rate in the soil increased dry matter yield in all cases but Zn concentration in the plant increased only with Zn-EDTA and Zn-ethylenediaminedi-o-hydroxyphenyl-acetate (EDDHA) fertilizers. Higher Zn concentration in plants (50.9 mg kg(-)(1)) occurred when 20 mg Zn kg(-)(1) was added to the soil as Zn-EDTA. The relative effectiveness of the different Zn carriers in increasing Zn uptake was in the order: Zn-EDTA > Zn-EDDHA > Zn-heptagluconate >/= Zn-phenolate approximately Zn-polyflavonoid approximately Zn-lignosulfonate.     

Forms and Uptake of Manganese in Relation to Soil Taxonomic Orders in Alluvial Soils of Punjab,India

Different forms of manganese (Mn) were investigated, including total, diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) extractable, soil solution plus exchangeable (Mn), Mn adsorbed onto inorganic sites, Mn bound by organic sites, and Mn adsorbed onto oxide surfaces, from four soil taxonomic orders in northwestern India. The total Mn content was 200–950 mg kg^?1, DTPA-extractable Mn content was 0.60–5.80 mg kg^?1, soil solution plus exchangeable Mn content was 0.02–0.80 mg kg^?1, Mn adsorbed onto inorganic sites was 2.46–90 mg kg^?1, and Mc adsorbed onto oxide surfaces was 6.0–225.0 mg kg^?1. Irrespective of the different fractions of Mn their content was generally greater in the fine-textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than in coarse-textured Entisols and Aridisols. The proportion of the Mn fractions extracted from the soil was in the order as follows: Adsorbed onto oxide surfaces > adsorbed onto inorganic site > organically bound > DTPA > soil solution + exchangeable. Based on coefficient of correlation, the soil solution plus exchangeable Mn, held onto organic site and oxide surface (amorphous) and DTPA-extractable Mn, increased with increase in organic carbon of the soil. The two forms, adsorbed onto inorganic site (crystalline) and DTPA extractable, along with organic carbon, increased with increase in clay content of the soil. DTPA-Mn and Mn adsorbed onto oxide surfaces and held on organic site decreased with increased with an increase in calcium carbonate and pH. Total Mn was strongly correlated with organic carbon and clay content of soil. Among the forms, Mn held on the organic site, water soluble + exchangeable and adsorbed onto oxide surface were positively correlated with DTPA-extractable Mn. DTPA-extractable Mn seems to be a good index of Mn availability in soils and this form is helpful for correction of Mn deficiency in the soils of the region. The uptake of Mn was greater in fine-textured Inceptisols and Alfisols than in coarse-textured Entisols and Aridisols. Among the different forms only DTPA-extractable Mn was positively correlated with total uptake of Mn. Among soil properties Mn uptake was only significantly affected by pH of the soil.     

Forms of Iron and Their Association with Soil Properties in Four Soil Taxonomic Orders of Arid and Semi‐arid Soils of Punjab,India

Profiles of arid and semi‐arid zones soils of Punjab, northwestern India, were investigated for different forms of iron (Fe): total Fe, diethylenetriamine penta‐acetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Fe, soil solution plus exchangeable Fe, Fe adsorbed onto inorganic sites and oxide surfaces, and Fe bound by organic sites. Irrespective of the different fractions of Fe present, its content was higher in the fine‐textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than in the coarse‐textured Entisols and Aridisols. Lower content of total Fe was observed in the surface horizon and then increased in the subsurface horizons, whereas no set pattern was observed in Entisols. Also, irrespective of the soil orders, the contents of different forms of Fe were higher in the surface horizon and then decreased by depth. None of the forms of Fe exhibited any consistent pattern of distribution.

Organic matter and the content of clay and silt fractions had a strong bearing on the distribution of forms of Fe. Based on a linear coefficient of correlation, the soil solution plus exchangeable Fe adsorbed onto inorganic sites and DTPA‐extractable Fe increased with increase in soil organic carbon but decreased with increase in soil pH and calcium carbonate content. Total Fe increased with increase in cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay and silt content. The results also revealed that there was equilibrium in different fractions of this element. Among the different Fe forms, Fe bound by organic sites, water‐soluble plus exchangeable Fe, and Fe adsorbed onto oxides (amorphous surfaces) were positively correlated with the DTPA‐extractable Fe. Though some forms are interrelated, none of the forms had any relationship with the total Fe.