Soil testing of horticultural substrates (v) Evaluation of 1: 1.5 water extract and ammonium acetate extract for potassium and desirable potassium values

Abstract

The 1: 1.5 water extraction of horticultural substrate for K was evaluated using K uptake as the criterion. Two crops, chrysanthemum (2 trials) and verbena (2 trials) were grown in peat, peat + pumice (PP), pine bark and peat + sawdust + sand (PSS). The ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) extraction for K was evaluated in one trial. The number of K application rates varied from 9 to 23.

The relationship between both soil tests and plant uptake was very good for all substrates, although it was generally poorer in bark, particularly in the verbena trials. This was probably due to the relatively high level of native K in bark and the lower K requirement of verbena. The relationship between water extractable K and NH₄OAc extractable K was linear and very good.

Percentage maximum dry weight and net growth rate were regressed against soil test values using a quadratic function and desirable values (DV) were estimated from the response curve. The initial DV for water extractable K For maximum dry weight in the chrysanthemum trials varied from about 45 ‐ 139 ppm and for NH₄OAc extractable K in one chrysanthemum trial varied from 284 ‐ 469 ppm. The DV obtained from growth rate measurements were similar to those obtained using percent maximum dry weight. It was not possible to determine DV for plants growing in bark and in PSS in one trial.

The DV for verbena, which could be determined in peat in only one trial due to lack of response in the others was 10–11 ppm in the water extract.     

Soil testing of horticultural substrates (iv) Desirable phosphorus values for the 1: 1.5 water and Olsen's extracts

Abstract

The initial phosphorus desirable value (DV) to give maximum dry weight and maximum growth rate for various growing periods has been estimated for the 1: 1.5 water extraction procedure and Olsen's procedure by regressing dry weight and net growth rate against soil test values using a quadratic function. DV for dry weight and growth rate has been estimated for chrysanthemum and verbena (2 trials each) and for dry weight for tomato (1 trial) in a number of substrates.

The DV for water extractable P to give maximum dry weight and growth rate in the tomato, chrysanthemum and one verbena trial tended to be higher for peat than for other substrates. For tomatoes the DV for maximum dry weight ranged from about 2 ppm in JIP to about 40 ppm in peat but the range was smaller for other substrates (14.3 ‐ 24.7 ppm). The DV for Olsen's extract was much less affected by substrate; it varied from 27.6 ‐ 32.5 μg/ml to 53.8 ‐ 62.3 μg/ml. The DV to give maximum dry weight for chrysanthemum varied from 2.3 ‐ 2.4 ppm in peat + soil to 19.0 ‐ 23.6 ppm in peat for the water extract, and 14.8 ‐ 18 μg/ml in peat + sawdust + sand (PSS) to 7 4 ‐ 78 μg/ml in peat for Olsen's method. For the verbena trials the DV to give maximum dry weight for the water extract varied from 3.0 ‐ 3.2 ppm in PSS to 17.7 ‐ 20.1 ppm in peat, and for Olsen's method 12.0 ‐ 14.2 μg/ml in peat to 27.8 ‐ 33.1 μg/ml in bark. The DV estimated for maximum growth rate were similar to those for maximum dry weight for both extracts.     

Soil testing of horticultural substrates (ii) Desirable nitrogen values for the 1: 1.5 water extract

Abstract

The initial nitrogen desirable value (DV) to give maximum dry weight and maximum growth rate for various growing periods has been estimated for the 1: 1.5 water extraction procedure by regressing dry weight and net growth rate against soil test values using a quadratic function. The DV for dry weight and growth rate has been estimated for chrysanthemum and verbena (2 trials each) and for dry weight for tomato (1 trial) in a number of substrates.

The DV for maximum dry weight of chrysanthemum, grown for 48 days under winter conditions, were: Peat 151–211 ppm and greater, Bark 140‐168 ppm and Peat and Sawdust and Sand (PSS) 135–162 ppm. Under summer conditions and grown for 35 days, the DV were as follows: Peat 134 — 172 ppm, Peat and Pumice (PP) 142 ‐170 ppm, Bark 168–202 ppm and PSS 152–172 ppm.

The DV for maximum dry weight of verbena grown for 42 days under spring conditions were as follows: Peat 57 ppm, Bark 41 ppm and PSS 48–52 ppm and greater. Under summer conditions and grown for 38 days, the DV for verbena were: Peat 77–90 ppm, PP 70–85 ppm, Bark 67–73 PPm and greater, and PSS 72 ppm.

For the chrysanthemum and verbena trials, the DV for maximum growth rate over various periods were generally in the range of DV found for maximum dry weight. However, the values did tend to increase later in the life of the crop.

The DV for maximum dry weight of tomato were as follows: Peat 260–290 ppm, PP 211–240 ppm, Bark 220–254 ppm, PSS 186–236 ppm and Sawdust and Sand 190–220 ppm. This trial, in contrast to the others, was not conducted in conditions free from leaching and this may have given a higher DV.     

氮硅磷肥配施提高四川春玉米的氮磷钾吸收和产量

【目的】通过2014年和2015年两年田间定位试验,研究低磷棕紫泥土上不同硅、磷肥料组合对土壤速效磷含量、植株氮、磷和钾吸收量和利用率、产量及产量构成的影响,为利用硅肥提高该地区肥料的效应提供依据。【方法】试验采用两因素裂区设计,品种为主区,设2个品种,即正红2号和正红115;肥料组合为副区,设4种硅、磷肥组合,即:不施用磷肥和硅肥对照、单施硅（SiO₂）75 kg/hm2、单施磷（P₂O₅）60 kg/hm2、P₂O₅ 60 kg/hm2加SiO₂ 75 kg/hm2,分别记为P₀Si₀、P₀Si₇₅、P₆₀Si₀和P₆₀Si₇₅。在拔节期、吐丝期和收获期取0-20 cm和20-40 cm土壤土样,测定速效磷含量,取植株样品测定氮、磷、钾吸收量、产量。【结果】两个玉米品种收获期植株氮、磷和钾吸收量四个处理间差异均不显著,2014年正红2号产量明显高于正红115,2015年两品种间产量无显著差异。与对照相比,施硅、磷以及硅、磷肥配施均能提高0-20和20-40 cm土壤速效磷含量,提高玉米植株氮、磷、钾吸收量及籽粒产量,其中以硅、磷配施处理的效果最佳。在吐丝期、收获期,植株氮、磷和钾吸收量与土壤速效磷含量呈显著正相关,植株氮、磷和钾吸收量之间亦相互呈显著正相关;此外,籽粒产量与吐丝期和收获期玉米植株氮、磷和钾吸收量之间均呈显著正相关。与单施磷肥相比,硅、磷肥配施处理氮、磷和钾肥的吸收效率和偏生产力（两年平均）分别提高13.30%和10.25%、24.77%和10.25%、8.58%和10.25%,同时两品种2014年和2015年平均产量分别提高8.34%和12.12%。【结论】低磷棕紫泥土条件下,硅、磷肥配施能显著改善土壤供磷能力,增加玉米植株对氮、磷和钾养分吸收量,提高氮、磷和钾肥利用效率及籽粒产量。     

Soil testing of horticultural substrates (i) Evaluation of 1: 1.5 water extract for nitrogen

Abstract

The 1: 1.5 water extraction of horticultural substrates for N was evaluated using N uptake as the criterion. Three crops, tomato (1 trial), chrysanthemum (2 trials) and verbena (2 trials) were grown in a number of substrates including peat, peat + pumice, bark, peat + sawdust + sand and JIP. The number of N application rates varied from 7 in the tomato trial to 20, 22 or 25 in the chrysanthemum and verbena trials. The relationship between soil test value and N uptake was quadratic rather than linear, and was very good, especially for the chrysanthemum and verbena trials (R² nearly always greater than 0.9). The relationship varied among the substrates depending on whether N was retained (e.g. bark) resulting in overestimation of N uptake, or on whether N was released (e.g. JIP) resulting in underestimation.     

Phosphorus efficiency of ornamental plants in peat substrates

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate factors contributing to phosphorous (P) efficiency of ornamental plants. Marigold (Tagetes patula) and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherima) were cultivated in a peat substrate (black peat 80% + mineral component 20% on a volume basis), treated with P rates of 0, 10, 35, 100, and 170 mg (L substrate)^–1. During the cultivation period, plants were fertigated with a complete nutrient solution (including 18 mg P L^–1) every 2 d. Both poinsettia and marigold attained their optimum yield at the rate of 35 mg P (L substrate)^–1 and the critical level of P in shoot dry matter of both crops was 5–6 mg g^–1. After planting, plant‐available P increased at lower P rates to a higher level for poinsettia than for marigold, but no significant change was observed at higher P rates. Balance sheet calculations indicated that at lower P rates more P was fertigated than was taken up by the plants. Root‐length density, root‐to‐shoot ratio, and root‐hair length of marigold were doubled compared to that of poinsettia. Root‐length density increased with crop growth, and 10 d after planting the mean half distance between roots exceeded the P‐depletion zone around roots by a factor of 3 and 1.5 for poinsettia and marigold, respectively. Thus, at this early stage poinsettia exploited only 10% of the substrate volume whereas marigold utilized 43%. Later in the cultivation period, the depletion zones around roots overlapped for both crops. Taking into account P uptake via root hairs, the simulation revealed that this was more important for marigold compared to poinsettia especially at low P‐supply levels. However, increase of P uptake due to root hairs was only 10%–20% at optimum P supply. For the two lower P levels, the P‐depletion profile around roots calculated for 10 d after planting showed that after 2 d of depletion the concentration at the root surface was below the assumed K_m value (5 μM) and the concentration gradient was insufficient to fit the demand. A higher content of plant‐available P in the substrate was observed for poinsettia compared to marigold in the treatment with P application adequate for optimum growth, because more fertigated P was accumulated during early stages of cultivation due to lower root‐length density of poinsettia. The observed difference of root morphological parameters did not contribute significantly to P‐uptake efficiency, since P mobility in the peat substrate was high.     

Leaching of Solutes from an Intensively Managed Peat Soil to Surface Water

In many peat land areas in The Netherlands target concentrations for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in surface water are exceeded. A considerable, but poorly quantified, fraction, of the N and P loading of surface water in these areas originate from the subsoil. Waterboards, responsible for the water management, are currently exploring options to improve surface water quality, whilst sustaining agricultural production. Therefore, insight into dynamics of nutrient pools in peat soils is required. The aim of this study was to measure concentration profiles (0–12 m) of the soil solution in an intensively managed grassland on peat soil and to explore the effects of a rise in surface water level on N and P loading of surface water, using budgeting approaches and two dimensional simulation modeling. The concentration profiles of N, P and Cl reflect by the presence of nutrient-rich anaerobic peat and a nearly impermeable marine clay in the subsoil. Concentrations of N, P and Cl tended to increase with depth till about 6 m and then decreased. In the top soil, inputs of N and P via fertilizers and animal manure were only partly retrieved in the soil solution, suggestion that biogeochemical processes, uptake and lateral transport processes had a dominant influence on dissolved N and P. Exploring scenario simulations showed that major drainage fluxes passed through the peat layer that transported nutrients to adjacent surface water. Raising surface water levels with 20 cm suppresses this kind of nutrient loading of surface water by more than 30%, but nutrient rich peat layers will remain persistent as a potential source of nutrients in surface water in many peat polders in the western part of The Netherlands.     

The Use of Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) as an Organic Manure and Plant Substrate Component

The effect of the addition of SMS to soil on the growth of perennial ryegrass was studied in a pot experiment. SMS raised the analyzed levels of P, K, Mg and Electrical Conductivity (EC) but not the level of NO₃-N. At the first harvest, there was a positive response of growth up to a rate equivalent to 50 t/ha but above this growth declined. By the final harvest, there was a positive response of dry matter production up to the highest rate, 400 t/ha. The calculated nitrogen efficiency of dry matter production for SMS averaged 3.1 as against 21.1 for calcium ammonium nitrate. Leaching an SMS/peat column with distilled water at 10 day intervals over a 60 day period recovered 94 percent of the K in the leachate, 33 percent of the P and only 15 percent of the N. In SMS/peat mixes, early growth of tomato seedlings did not respond to rates above five percent of SMS by volume and was reduced when the SMS rate was above 20 percent. When the plants were grown on to a more mature stage, there was a response up to 20 percent SMS. In three experiments, SMS was used as a single nutrient source to supply N, P and K respectively. When used as a source of P and K, there was little benefit from increasing the rate of SMS above five percent. However, when used as a source of N, plant growth increased up to a rate of 25 percent SMS. There was no response to the addition of trace elements to SMS/peat substrates. When an SMS/peat substrate, containing five percent SMS by volume was supplemented with extra N, plant performance was as good as in a peat substrate with inorganic fertilizers.     

Response of greenhouse cucumber to mineral fertilizers on a high phosphorus and potassium soil

The response of greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Lolita) to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers on a soil high in available P and K was studied during 1986. The greenhouses were located in the Beqa Valley, central Lebanon, and their soil chemical properties before planting were: NO₃‐N = 52 ppm, P(NaHCO₃ ext.) = 100 ppm, K (ammonium acetate ext.) = 650 ppm, ECe = 1.6 dS/m, pH = 7.5. Nitrogen at 200 kg/ha, P at 85 kg/ha and K at 150 kg/ha were applied in the following combinations: N, N+K, N+P+K and an unfertilized control. The rates were split into four equal weekly applications starting on the fourth week after transplanting the seedlings to the greenhouse. The treatments were applied through the drip irrigation system of the greenhouses. Fruit yield over the two months of harvest was highest in plants receiving N alone, which yielded 57 ton/ha. Yields of the plots receiving N+K, N+P+K and the control were 55.0, 54.0 and 39.5 ton/ha, respectively. Yield during the first month of harvest was comparable in all fertilized treatments and was substantially higher than the control.     

Optimum nutrient levels in a container growing medium determined by a saturated aqueous extract

Abstract

Red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings were grown for 15 weeks over a range of nutrient regimes to calibrate a test procedure used for monitoring nutrient status of a common container growing medium. The test was based on a saturated aqueous extract of the growing medium, obtained by suction displacement. Seedling growth and nutrition exhibited typical responses of deficiency, sufficiency, luxury consumption and toxicity over the range of substrate fertility examined. Water extractable nutrients of the growing medium were related to yield and nutrient uptake of the seedlings. Ranges of nutrient levels associated with maximum dry matter production were selected as provisional values for optimum growth of containerized red pine seedlings. The following critical nutrient levels were considered optimum for red pine seedlings managed under similar cultural conditions: 15–65 ppm N (as NH₄ ⁺), 35–95 ppm P, 25–115 ppm K, 30–60 ppm Ca, 15–35 ppm Mg, and electrical conductivity of 1.0–2.2 dS/m.     

化肥减量配施黄腐酸降低盐渍农田NaCl含量提高氮磷养分有效性的协同效应

[目的]土壤盐渍化以及肥料过量施用严重限制着黄河三角洲盐渍化地区农业的可持续发展.综合分析氮、磷肥优化减量及其与黄腐酸配施对盐渍农田土壤肥力、冬小麦产量以及养分吸收利用的影响,可为该区盐渍农田化肥减施增效提供理论依据.[方法]以黄河三角洲中度盐土[pH 7.73、电导率 (EC) 1.18 dS/m]为研究对象进行室内...     

Physical and Chemical Changes in Container Media in Response to Bark Substitution for Peat

Physical and chemical properties of container media are important factors in controlling the supply and movement of water and nutrients for nursery plant growth. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physical and chemical properties and quality of media formulated with systematic substitution of composted pine bark (bark) for sphagnum peat (peat) in the presence of sand. Ten formulations were prepared that contained 40-90% bark, 0-50% peat, and 10 or 20% sand by volume. Increasing the percentage of bark increased the percentage of coarse particles, and linearly decreased the medium-sized particles in media in either 10% or 20% sand. Increasing the percentage of bark in the media significantly decreased water holding capacity, whereas bulk and particle densities and total porosity were influenced by the interaction of bark x peat x sand. Increasing the percentage of bark increased electrical conductivity and total C, P, K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn. Availability of nutrients were also increased by increasing percentages of bark. Substitution of bark for peat did not influence the pH of the formulated media. Our results suggest that formulated media with 70 to 80% composted pine bark and 10 to 20% peat (V/V) exhibited physical and chemical properties considered optimum for the growth of container nursery plant crops.     

东北棕壤长期不同施肥处理轮作大豆氮素吸收和土壤硝态氮特征

【目的】在玉米–玉米–大豆轮作体系下,基于棕壤肥料长期定位试验,研究不同施肥处理对东北地区大豆生物量、产量、各部位吸氮量及收获期土壤0―100 cm硝态氮累积的影响,为该地区合理施肥提供理论依据和科学指导。【方法】棕壤肥料长期定位田间试验始于1979年,包括不施肥(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷钾肥配施(NPK)、低量厩肥(M1)及其与化肥配施(M1N和M1NPK)、高量厩肥(M2)及其与化肥配施(M2N和M2NPK)9个处理。厩肥为猪厩肥,1992年后大豆季不施猪厩肥,仅在玉米季相关处理中施用。39年后,调查分析了大豆生物量、产量、氮素吸收利用及大豆收获期0―100 cm土壤硝态氮累积特征。【结果】高量、低量厩肥配施化肥处理大豆生物量、产量、总吸氮量及各部位吸氮量均显著高于单施氮肥和不施肥处理,其中,M1NPK处理大豆生物量、产量和总吸氮量最高,分别为9107、2979和314.2 k g/h m^2,较其他处理分别提高了6.1%~133.6%、23.9%~232.5%和11.7%~359.4%。施肥提高了大豆氮收获指数,但氮素生理效率降低。NPK和M1NPK处理的氮素收获指数最高,均为63.5%,而氮素生理效率较CK分别降低了30.6%和28.1%。大豆收获期各处理土壤硝态氮累积量随土层深度的增加而降低。与播前相比,大豆收获期单施氮肥处理的0―100 cm土层硝态氮积累量显著增加,NPK处理变化不显著,M1、M1N和M1NPK处理显著降低。低量厩肥配施化肥处理收获期0―100 cm土壤硝态氮积累量远低于高量厩肥配施化肥处理,较播前平均降低了79.2%。所有处理中,土壤硝态氮积累量以M1NPK处理最低,比其他处理平均降低了58.2%。【结论】在东北棕壤地区玉米–玉米–大豆轮作体系下,玉米季低量厩肥(13.5 t/hm^2)与氮磷钾化肥配合施用时,大豆季仅施氮磷钾化肥既可提高大豆生物量、产量,促进氮素吸收,同时还可降低大豆收获期土壤硝态氮累积量,降低环境风险,是该轮作体系较为合理的施肥方式。     

Biochar derived from dairy cattle carcasses as an alternative source of phosphorus and amendment for soil acidity

Two pot experiments were conducted to evaluate biochar derived from dead dairy cattle as a mineral fertilizer, especially phosphorus (P) fertilizer, and to clarify the effect of particle size of biochar on plant growth (Zea mays L.) and P uptake. To produce the biochar, body parts of dead cattle were placed in a charring chamber and allowed to char at 450°C for 4 h. The biochar was of high pH and rich in major plant nutrients, especially P. Application of fine biochar (< 1 mm) increased P uptake by the corn plants grown in soil of low available P status. As a result, plant growth was improved following biochar application and dry matter production was also increased. The effect of the biochar application on the P uptake and plant growth was promoted by the application of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Soil analysis after harvest indicated that the biochar application increased soil pH, available P and exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) compared with the soil before seeding, while soil available N and exchangeable potassium (K) were considerably decreased. The decrease in the soil available N was incomprehensible, because the result of the mass balance given by the difference between input as the applied N from the biochar and fertilizer N and output as the N uptake by the plants was positive. We observed a similar result in the mass balance of K to the case of N. The medium (2–4 mm) and coarse (> 4 mm) grade biochar did not significantly affect plant growth, because P uptake was not, or was only slightly, increased by the application of these biochars. Dissolution of P from the coarser biochars was probably slower than that of the fine biochar. The lower dissolution of P from the medium and coarse biochars was supported by the lower P absorption efficiency of these biochars compared with that of the fine biochar and superphosphate. The effect of fine biochar on plant growth and P uptake was similar to that of superphosphate. We can therefore conclude that fine biochar derived from cattle carcasses is an effective source of P fertilizer and amendment for soil acidity. The N and K contents in the biochar, although relatively high, cannot be relied upon as a mineral fertilizer. Further studies are needed to assess whether the N and K contents of the biochar indicate it can be regarded as a useful fertilizer.     

基于旱地小麦高产优质的氮肥用量优化

  【目的】  探讨长期定位施氮条件下小麦产量与籽粒养分含量的变化,及土壤硝态氮、有效磷和速效钾的变化,为旱地小麦合理施用氮肥,保持土壤肥力,提高产量和改善品质提供理论依据。  【方法】  本研究基于2004年在黄土高原开始的长期定位施肥试验,2015—2017连续3年取样,研究了施氮量对土壤硝态氮、有效磷、速效钾含量,小麦氮磷钾素吸收利用,籽粒氮、磷、钾含量,地上部生物量、籽粒产量及其构成的影响。  【结果】  与不施氮相比,长期施氮小麦平均增产67.1%,生物量提高52.0%,收获指数提高9.5%;穗数和穗粒数平均分别提高32.5%和40.0%,千粒重下降7.1%。施氮量与产量、生物量呈抛物线关系,获得最高产量6587 kg/hm2的施氮量为N 215 kg/hm2。籽粒氮含量随施氮量增加而增加,磷含量降低,钾含量变化较小。土壤硝态氮含量与施氮量呈显著正相关,小麦获得最高产量时播前和成熟期硝态氮含量分别为7.2和10.3 mg/kg;有效磷含量随施氮量增加而降低,速效钾含量变化较小。氮收获指数、生理效率、偏生产力、农学效率均随施氮量增加而降低。  【结论】  综合考虑小麦的籽粒产量和籽粒关键养分含量,研究区域旱地冬小麦产量目标应为6300 kg/hm2,施氮量为N 150 kg/hm2、施磷量为P₂O₅ 100 kg/hm2,播前或收获期表层 (0—20 cm) 土壤硝态氮保持在6.0～8.0 mg/kg、土壤有效磷12.0～15.0 mg/kg、土壤速效钾139～140 mg/kg。     

CO2浓度升高、氮和水分对春小麦养分吸收和土壤养分的效应

研究了 2种CO2浓度水平 ,2种土壤水分处理和 5种N肥施用水平对春小麦 (TriticumaestivumL cv DingxiNo. 8654)养分吸收和土壤速效养分的影响。结果表明 ,高CO2浓度 (700 molmol-1)明显降低春小麦对氮(N)的吸收 ,低N时降低更为明显 ,但对磷 (P)、钾 (K)吸收的影响不明显。小麦对N、P、K吸收 ,干旱处理明显比湿润处理低。CO2浓度增高对土壤速效N的影响与土壤水分状况有关。湿润处理 ,CO2浓度增加的处理速效N量比当前CO2浓度的处理低 ;而干旱处理 ,施N 50、100、150mgkg-1时 ,速效N则较高。高CO2 浓度对土壤速效P、K量的影响不明显 ,而低N和水分不足 ,土壤速效P、K量较高     

Nutritional Environment of Tropical Peat Soils in Sarawak,Malaysia Based on Soil Solution Composition

It has been considered that natural peat soils and swamp forest ecosystems in the tropics are quite oligotrophic. This concept seems to be related to the low mineral contents in the soil solid phase of the peat soils. However, some nutritional elements such as K, Mg, Ca, and/or P may be abundant in the soil solution phase and could easily migrate in peat soils. In order to analyze the nutritional environment of peat soils, chemical composition of the soil solid phase and soil solution was compared.

This study was carried out in Naman Forest Reserve, Sibu and in/around Sg. Talau Peat Research Station, Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia. In both areas, each of the three study sites with a different depth of underlying mineral layer was selected for sampling of soil and soil solution. All the soils studied except for one shallow peat profile were classified into Oligotrophic peat based on Fleischer’s criteria. The soil solution collected monthly showed the following characteristics in its composition.

1. Concentrations of Al, Si, and Fe were higher in the soil solution from the shallow peat than in that from the deep peat, reflecting the effect of underlying mineral layers on the soil solution composition.

2. Concentrations of Na, Mg, and Cl in the soil solution and Na and Mg contents in the soil solid phase reflected the distance from the sea. In the Naman series, accumulation of K and Ca in the soil solution was larger in the surface layer in the deep peat than in the shallow peat, though such clear trend was not observed for the K content in the soil solid phase.

3. The concentrations of N and P were fairly high in the soil solution in all the profiles except for P in the profile near the center of the peat dome. Dissolved P consisted mostly of ortho-phosphate, whereas a larger part of N was in the organic form.

4. At the Sago plantation farm on deep peat, depletion of K and P was observed during the rainy season. Such instability in the concentrations in the soil solution was attributed to forest clear-cutting and subsequent disturbance of nutrient cycling.

In general, the concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in the soil solution were not low even in the Oligotrophic peat. However, in taking account of the fact that the peat soils showed low mineral contents in the available forms and that the bulk density was also quite low, the potential capacity to supply K, Ca, and/ or P was not necessarily high in spite of the apparent high intensity observed for the soil solution composition. Therefore, from the viewpoint of nutrient dynamics, the potential for the use of reclaimed peat land was considered to be rather limited especially under low input management.     

The effect of mineral fractions on physical and phosphorus-related chemical properties of peat-based substrates for pot plants

Physicochemical traits of peat-based pot substrates prepared from mixing of 20 or 40?vol.% of some different mineral fractions (sub. 1 to 7, subjected to decreasing amount of clay content of 66.1, 61.2, 49.7, 38.5, 26.0, 23.7 and 19.4%, respectively) with black peat were evaluated and then phosphorus uptake of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherima) simulated mechanistically as a case study pot plant. For preparation of substrate number 8, pure peat was mixed with 40?vol.% of the same mineral component as substrate number 6 (with 23.7% clay). Result revealed that adding different mineral fractions up to 40?vol.% to pure peat, water-holding capacity and total pore volume were reduced only by 11 and 15?vol.%, respectively. It was found that keeping the moisture content of peat-based substrates with 20?vol.% of mineral soils around 60%–70%, the optimum ventilation and enough free space of about 15%–25% will be provided around the root system. In addition, simulated P uptake did not change significantly with addition of 20?vol.% of different mineral components in peat-based substrates. As a result, P uptake mainly was dependent on the amount of plant available P level than different mineral fractions.     

Do different agronomic soil tests identify similar nutrient deficiencies?

Traditionally, locally calibrated soil tests were used for fertilizer and lime recommendations. Farmers and advisors are increasingly using new ‘universal’ soil tests without local calibration. The objective of this study was to compare five commercially available soil tests and to determine whether they would provide similar recommendations. In total, 24 fields in Western Finland were sampled for 4 years while being treated with fertilizers, lime and manure. The soil samples were analysed with Mehlich-3, ammonium acetate, H3A, hydrochloric acid and mild acetic acid (Spurway) extractants. In addition, Soil Health Tool (CO₂ burst, water-soluble C and N) and tissue testing were conducted. The different tests extracted different orders of magnitude of nutrients (especially P and Mg), but the results from the different extractions were correlated. Mehlich-3 degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS) presented a threshold, below which soluble phosphorus was not detected. Similar thresholds were found for P, S and Mg. Mehlich-3 and ammonium acetate provided similar results for Ca, Mg and K and can be used interchangeably for liming recommendations. Mehlich-3 identified more fields with Zn, Cu, B and S deficiencies and less fields with Mn deficiencies compared with ammonium acetate + EDTA and tissue testing. The tests had strong correlation, but the determination of nutrient deficiencies needs local calibration of deficiency limits.     

冀中地区桃树优质高产的叶片氮磷钾临界值范围及化肥投入量

[目的]研究叶片养分含量与产量、品质的关系,并依据该关系确定冀中地区桃树优质高产的叶片氮磷钾临界值范围,及实现该目标所需的化肥投入量与土壤养分保证量.[方法]在冀中地区选取60个小型桃园进行了连续3年的跟踪监测.于盛花期后60天采集桃树叶样,测定氮磷钾含量.收获后,调查果实产量、单果重和可溶性固形物含量(SSC),将各...