Remediation of Diesel-Contaminated Soils Using Persulfate Under Alkaline Condition

A laboratory study was conducted to assess the feasibility of remediating diesel-contaminated soils using sodium persulfate (SPS) oxidation under an alkaline pH. Lime (CaO) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were used as the alkaline sources, and various factors, including temperature, reaction time and concentration level, were investigated. Moreover, the combined usage of hydrogen peroxide (HP) and SPS in the presence or absence of NaOH was also studied. It was found that lime hydration resulted in rapid increases in pH (>12) and temperature (75?°C maximum) at a CaO/H₂O mass ratio of 3/20. In the NaOH or CaO/SPS system, the maximum diesel degradation achieved was approximately 30?%. It was observed that using a larger amount of alkaline increased SPS decomposition and had almost no effect on diesel degradation. Limited solubilization of contaminants may have inhibited the effectiveness of alkaline-activated persulfate oxidation during the aqueous phase and hence resulted in incomplete diesel degradation. The highest rate of diesel degradation (i.e., 56?% in 7 days) was achieved using the dual oxidation system, in which a HP/SPS molar ratio of 3.3/0.5 was used. An aggressive oxidation process, coupled with HP, may enhance desorption of diesel from soils and allow oxidation to occur during the aqueous phase.     

A Study on Al(III) and Fe(II) Ions Sorption by Cattle Manure Vermicompost

Cattle manure vermicompost has been used for the adsorption of Al(III) and Fe(II) from both synthetic solution and kaolin industry wastewater. The optimum conditions for Al(III) and Fe(II) adsorption at pH?2 (natural pH of the wastewater) were particle size of ≤250?µm, 1 g/10 mL adsorbent dose, contact time of 4 h, and temperature of 25°C. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms fitted reasonably well in the experimental data, and their constants were evaluated, with R ² values from 0.90 to 0.98. In synthetic solution, the maximum adsorption capacity of the vermicompost for Al(III) was 8.35 mg g^?1 and for Fe(II) was 16.98 mg g^?1 at 25°C when the vermicompost dose was 1 g 10 mL^?1, and the initial adjusted pH was 2. The batch adsorption studies of Al(III) and Fe(II) on vermicompost using kaolin wastewater have shown that the maximum adsorption capacities were 1.10 and 4.30 mg g^?1, respectively, at pH?2. The thermodynamic parameter, the Gibbs free energy, was calculated for each system, and the negative values obtained confirm that the adsorption processes were spontaneous.     

Effect of soil solarization on subsequent nitrification activity at elevated temperatures

Soil solarization is a nonchemical method of soil disinfection achieved by covering the soil surface with sheets of vinyl plastic to generate elevated soil temperature, generally over 45°C. Such elevated temperatures may be detrimental to some nitrifying microorganisms and favorable to others. However, little information exists to indicate how nitrification activity in soil is affected after solarization. We performed several experiments to investigate the effects of soil solarization on nitrification activity. We found that: (1) if a soil was subjected to pretreatment of 45 or 50°C for as little as 1 d, nitrification activity in a subsequent incubation at 30°C was less than that of a soil that did not receive any high-temperature pretreatment. However, if a soil received pretreatments of 45 or 50°C for more than 7 d, nitrification activity in a subsequent incubation at 45 or 50°C was greater than that of soil that did not receive high temperature pretreatment. (2) Nitrification activity in three kinds of soil taken from 0–5 cm depth after solarization treatment was greater at 45°C than 30°C. (3) Nitrification activity at 45°C in soil that had received solarization in the preceding year was greater than that in soil that had not been subjected to solarization. This was consistent with the fact that the population densities of ammonia oxidizers were greater in soils that had been subjected to solarization. These results suggest that soil solarization induces nitrifying microorganisms that are more active at 45–50°C than they are at 30°C, and that the effect of solarization on nitrification persists until the next crop season.     

Degradation of Para-nitrochlorobenzene by the Combination of Zero-valent Iron Reduction and Persulfate Oxidation in Soil

The oxidation of para-nitrochlorobenzene (pNCB) by persulfate (PS) activated with zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) was investigated through a series of batch experiments. The pNCB reduction ratio increased with the decrease of the initial solution pH. It is found that temperature and Fe⁰ dosage could also influence the pNCB removal. Under the conditions of initial Fe⁰ dosage 0.8 mmol/g, initial pH of 6.6, and 25 °C, 66.3% of pNCB was reduced in 6 h. The pNCB was slightly degraded in the presence of PS alone. When PS was dosed after 2 h of Fe⁰ reduction, significantly higher pNCB removal (94.1%) and mineralization (36.4%) were obtained relative to the case of simultaneous dosing of Fe⁰ and PS (85.3% removal, 22.6% mineralization). This indicates that the reduction product of pNCB was more easily oxidized by PS than pNCB, suggesting that converting the nitro groups of pNCB to amino groups prior to oxidation can enhance their oxidation. These results suggest that a sequential Fe⁰ reduction–PS oxidation process may be an effective strategy to promote pNCB decomposition in contaminated soil.     

Cosolvent-enhanced Desorption and Transport of Heavy Metals and Organic Contaminants in Soils during Electrokinetic Remediation

Numerous sites are contaminated with both heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the technologies to treat such mixed contaminants are very limited. Electrokinetic remediation has the potential to remediate mixed contaminants in soils, including low permeability soils; however, the efficiency of this technology depends on the extracting solution employed. Previous studies on electrokinetic remediation have focused on the removal of heavy metals and organic compounds when they exist individually in clayey soils. In the present study, the feasibility of using cosolvents to enhance the electrokinetic removal of PAHs from clayey soils in the presence of heavy metals is investigated. A series of laboratory electrokinetic experiments was conducted using kaolin soil spiked with phenanthrene and nickel at concentrations of 500 mg/kg each to simulate typical field mixed contamination. Experiments were performed using n-butylamine (cosolvent) at concentrations of 10 and 20% and deionized water, each mixed with 0.01 M NaOH solution and circulated at the anode to maintain alkaline conditions. A periodic voltage gradient of 2 VDC/cm in cycles of 5 days on and 2 days off was applied in all the tests. During the initial stages when the soil pH was low, nickel existed as a cation and electromigrated towards the cathode. However, as the soil pH increased due to hydroxyl ions generated at the cathode and also flushing of high pH n-butylamine solution from the anode, nickel precipitated with no further migration. Phenanthrene was found migrating towards the cathode in proportion to the concentration of n-butylamine. The extent of phenanthrene removal was found to depend on both the electroosmotic flow and the concentration of n-butylamine, but the presence of nickel did not influence the transport and removal of phenanthrene.     

Influence of Pyrolysis Temperatures on FTIR Analysis,Nutrient Bioavailability,and Agricultural use of Poultry Manure Biochars

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature on chemical properties of poultry manure (PM) biochar over the range of 200–500°C. Chemical properties of biochar produced at 200°C were almost the same as PM, but significant changes were observed in higher-temperature-produced biochars. According to elemental and fourier transformation infrared analyses, the degree of carbonization in biochar was accelerated with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Biochar yield decreased, while its pH, cation exchange capacity, and P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The biochar produced at 400°C or 500°C was highly alkaline. Also, due to high electrical conductivity, these types of biochars may not be suitable for salt-sensitive crops. It was concluded that the pyrolysis temperature of more than 300°C reduces the quality of PM biochar for use in calcareous soils, although it may be suitable for acidic soils or environmental application.     

The Potential for Waste‐Derived Materials to Form Soil Covers for the Restoration of Mine Tailings in Ireland

Revegetation of mine tailings sites can require significant amounts of topsoil, the sourcing of which can be costly and have detrimental impacts. To address this problem at an Irish mine tailings site, engineered soils were created by mixing varying rates of glacial till with stockpiled peat and compost. Soil status was assessed using a range of soil parameters and vegetation growth characteristics and compared with locally sourced topsoil. Hordeum vulgare (Barley) germination and growth trials were assessed on engineered soils: compost with glacial till, peat with glacial till, compost/ peat with glacial till and topsoil. A range of soil quality parameters were examined including: nutrient status, dehydrogenase activity, metals availability and physical characteristics (bulk/particle density and porosity). Results demonstrate that compost derived soils yielded superior plant biomass and nutrient content, whilst peat derived treatments exhibited nutrient deficiency. Whilst the engineered soils offer potential as an alternative to sourcing topsoil for covering mine tailings, the phosphorus and metal content of composts should be assessed prior to inclusion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Functional dependencies of soil CO2 emissions on soil biological properties in northern German agricultural soils derived from a glacial till

Agricultural soil CO₂ emissions and their controlling factors have recently received increased attention because of the high potential of carbon sequestration and their importance in soil fertility. Several parameters of soil structure, chemistry, and microbiology were monitored along with soil CO₂ emissions in research conducted in soils derived from a glacial till. The investigation was carried out during the 2012 growing season in Northern Germany. Higher potentials of soil CO₂ emissions were found in grassland (20.40 µg g^?1 dry weight h^?1) compared to arable land (5.59 µg g^?1 dry weight h^?1) within the incubating temperature from 5°C to 40°C and incubating moisture from 30% to 70% water holding capacity (WHC) of soils taken during the growing season. For agricultural soils regardless of pasture and arable management, we suggested nine key factors that influence changes in soil CO₂ emissions including soil temperature, metabolic quotient, bulk density, WHC, percentage of silt, bacterial biomass, pH, soil organic carbon, and hot water soluble carbon (glucose equivalent) based on principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Slightly different key factors were proposed concerning individual land use types, however, the most important factors for soil CO₂ emissions of agricultural soils in Northern Germany were proved to be metabolic quotient and soil temperature. Our results are valuable in providing key influencing factors for soil CO₂ emission changes in grassland and arable land with respect to soil respiration, physical status, nutrition supply, and microbe-related parameters.     

Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test Method Optimization for Analysis of Temperate Mineral Grassland Soils

ABSTRACT

A reliable and practical test that can provide timely measurements of the levels of mineralizable nitrogen (MN) in soil is critical for improving the accuracy of N fertilizer applications for grassland and crops. The Illinois soil N test (ISNT) is considered to be a good estimate of MN, once soils are grouped according to soil characteristics such as the drainage type and sampling depth. To date, development and evaluation of the ISNT method has been conducted using arable soils mainly in North America where, in general, soils have lower levels of soil organic matter (SOM) compared to temperate grassland soils. We evaluated the effects of two pre-treatment soil aggregate sizes of <1 mm and <2 mm on the yield and recovery of MN (1) across temperate grassland soil types, and (2) across a 6-h interval diffusion period. No significant difference existed in the concentrations of ISNT-N between the two soil aggregate sizes of each soil type. For both aggregate sample sizes, the recovery of spiked amino sugar-N glucosamine from a temperate grassland soil was generally linear until hour 5, after which the quantities of recovered N diminished. Although N recovery after 6 h of diffusion at 50°C (±1°C) was less than 100% in both aggregate size samples, the response models indicated that the standard ISNT protocol using a 5-h diffusion period is appropriate for temperate grassland soils. The incomplete recovery of N in these mineral soils suggested that the protocol could be further optimized for temperate soils with high organic matter content and additional evaluation of the temperature during diffusion within an enclosed environment may be required using N (spiked glucosamine-N) recovery studies.     

Amendments of Activated Carbon and Biosolid on the Growth and Cadmium Uptake of Soybean Grown in Potted Cd-Contaminated Soils

Cadmium-contaminated soils can be re-used and also produce biomass energy if we plant soybeans or other biomass crops in the contaminated sites. In this study, two soils with pH values of 5.9 and 6.7 were artificially spiked to make their final total concentration as CK (about 1.0), 3.0, and 5.0 mg Cd kg^?1. Different amendments were mixed with these artificially Cd-contaminated soils to study the effect on the growth and Cd uptake of soybean, which include control (without amendment addition), powder-activated carbon (1%), and biosolids (sludge, 5%), respectively. Three kilograms of the treated soils was added into each pot and sowed 10 seeds of soybean (Leichardt species). The experiment was conducted in a 25°C greenhouse and controlled the soil water contents in the levels of 50–70% water holding capacity during the experimental period. Plants were harvested after growing for 90 days, and their fresh weights, dry weights, and plant heights were determined and recorded. Compared with the lower pH soil (5.9), soybeans were higher and have higher fresh weights and dry weights when growing in the higher pH soil (6.7). For most of the treatments, the two amendments had no significant effects on the plant heights of soybeans. For 3.0 or 5.0 mg Cd kg^?1 soil, the application of biosolids has significant effect on increasing the fresh weights and dry weights of soybeans (p?<?0.05). However, there were no specific effects of applying activated carbons on the fresh weights and dry weights of soybeans.     

Thermal analysis of organic matter in cryogenic soils (Central Siberian Plateau)

The thermal degradation of organic matter was studied in cryogenic soils with methods of thermal analysis: differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC and TG, respectively). The DSC curves of most of the samples within the temperature range from 221–247°C to 600°C were characterized by the presence of one wide exothermic peak (at 311–373°C) with a shoulder (or without it) on the descending branch at a temperature of about 400°C. This was connected mostly with the destruction of thermolabile compounds (oligo- and polysaccharides) and with the oxidation of low-aromatic complexes of plant residues and humus substances. Two exothermic peaks at 337–373°C and 448–492°C were found for some samples from the organic horizons. The high-temperature peaks were caused by the thermal destruction of lignin. The fraction of the thermolabile organic matter of the soil (237–261…331–377°C) reached 59–73% in the organic and 52–59% in the organomineral and mineral horizons.     

Prior exposure to diurnal heating influences soil respiration and N availability upon rewetting

On sunny summer days, the top 10 cm of soil in southern Australia are heated to temperatures between 50 and 80 °C for a few hours a day, often for several successive days. These extreme temperature events are likely to have profound effects on the microbiota in these soils, but we do not know how this recurrent heat exposure influences microbial dynamics and associated nutrient cycling. In this study, an air-dry soil from southern Australia was exposed to one or two diurnal heating events with maximum temperature of 50 or 70 °C. The control was left at ambient temperature (Amb). All soils were rapidly rewet. Soil respiration was measured for 7 days after rewetting; microbial biomass C, available N and P were determined before rewetting and 1 and 7 days after rewetting. After heating and before rewetting compared to Amb, microbial biomass C (MBC) was 50–80% lower, but available P was 25% higher in heated soils. Available N differed little between Amb and heated soils. Rewetting resulted in a flush of respiration in Amb and soils heated once, but there was no respiration flush in soils heated twice. Cumulative respiration compared to Amb was about 10% higher in soils heated once and about 25% lower in soils heated twice. In Amb, MBC 1 day after rewetting was similar as before rewetting. But in heated soils, MBC increased from before rewetting to 1 day after rewetting about fourfold. Compared to Amb, available N 1 day after rewetting was 20–30% higher in soils heated to 70 °C. Seven days after rewetting, available N was 10% higher than Amb only in soils heated twice to 70 °C. It can be concluded that diurnal heating kills a large proportion of the microbial biomass and influences soil respiration and nutrient availability after rewetting of soils. The effect of heating depends on both maximum temperature and number of events.     

Metam Sodium (MS) in Water and Cane Juice at Different Processing Conditions According to the Industrial Case. Part 1. Effects of Matrix,pH, Temperature,Processing Time,and Photolysis

The process for extracting sugarcane juice (Saccharum officinarum) represents the point of greatest contamination in sugarcane mills. Sodium dithiocarbamate also known as metam-sodium or MS is added to inhibit the growth of microorganisms especially Leuconostoc mesenteroides which is responsible for forming polysaccharides. Metam-sodium, upon decomposition, produces highly toxic byproducts. According to literature, under acidic conditions, MS is hydrolyzed resulting in methylamine (MA), CH₃NH₂, and carbon disulfide (CS₂), and in dilute alkaline solutions, MS produces an oxidation reaction characterized by the formation of elemental sulfur (S) and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC). In this paper, it was studied how MS decomposes to MITC and/or MA considering the effects of the matrix (methanol and water); of temperature (4 and 25 °C); of processing time (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 days); and of pH (4.0, 4.5, 7.0). A second experimental design considering the effects of the matrix (water and sugarcane juice); of temperature (4, 25, 35, 45 °C); of processing time (30, 300 min); and of pH (4.0, 4.5, 7.0) was derived from the results obtained considering MITC and/or MA formation. According to the statistical analysis of these results (p < 0.05), the order of the influential factors was as follows: time > matrix > pH > temperature. Results also indicated that the water matrix at pH = 4.5 and 45 °C had the lowest degradation rate (k), with a value of 8.82 day^?1, while for the sugarcane juice matrix at the same pH and temperature conditions was larger, with a k value of 30.07 day^?1. These results show that the matrix is also important for the degradation of dithiocarbamate to MITC and to MA.     

Effects of pH and ionic strength on elemental sulphur oxidation in soil

Elemental S oxidation in soil is a microbially mediated process and is hypothesised to be influenced by changes to soil chemical properties such as acidity and ionic strength, which may arise from co-granulation with macronutrients or elemental S oxidation itself. Soil incubation was conducted with a sandy soil from South Australia to assess the effect of acidification and increased ionic strength on bacterial abundance and community composition and on elemental S oxidation during a 14-week incubation at 25 °C and 70% field capacity. Prior to incubation, the soil was treated with HNO₃ to bring the pH to 6.7–4.4 or with KH₂PO₄ to increase the ionic strength by 0–0.7 M. Elemental S was applied at 200 mg kg^?1 air-dried soil. Acidification or increased ionic strength had no or little effect on elemental S oxidation but decreased the abundances of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rRNA) and soxB genes and changed the bacterial community composition. A second experiment with two other soils also showed that acidification did not, or only slightly, decreased elemental S oxidation, even though acidification strongly reduced 16S rRNA and soxB gene abundances in one of the soils. This study suggests that shifts in bacterial population brought about by temporary changes in pH and ionic strength, as may occur around fertiliser granules, have no or little effect on elemental S oxidation, indicating that the S-oxidising bacterial community in these agricultural soils contains functionally redundant taxa, which responded to changing conditions.     

Quantifying the Effect of Temperature on Ammonium Bicarbonate Diethylene Triamine Penta‐acetic Acid Extractable Potassium and Developing a Novel Correction Factor to Express the Data

Soil testing is an important diagnostic tool in determining nutrient imbalances and providing a basis for fertilizer application. The reliability and reproducibility of nutrient determination in soils is affected by the temperature of the extracting solution. We carried out laboratory investigations to account for the effect of temperature of the extractant on ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine penta‐acetic acid (ABDTPA)–extractable potassium (K), and developed a correction factor to standardize the results to a standard temperature. Forty soil samples with a wide range of characteristics were analyzed for ABDTPA‐extractable K at five laboratory temperatures, ranging from 15 to 35 °C. The soils represented soil textures varying from loamy sand to heavy clays. The electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 0.14 to 47.8 dS m^?1 (average 2.78 dS m^?1), pH from 7.2 to 8.4 (average 8.0), lime from 3.7 to 22.4% (average 12.9%), organic matter from 0.25 to 1.43% (average 0.72%), and ABDTPA‐extractable K at 25 °C from 42 to 489 mg kg^?1 (average 167 mg kg^?1). The ABDTPA‐extractable K was positively correlated with temperature. Average values increased from 129 mg kg^?1 at 15 °C to 225 mg kg^?1 at 35 °C with R² ranging from 0.63 to 0.997, and regression coefficient “b” ranged from 2.14 to 8.94. From the data, a temperature correction factor, Y = 2.85 + 0.01X (R² = 0.46), was developed to convert ABDTPA‐extractable K determined at room temperature to a standard temperature of 25 °C.     

EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE MEASURED CATION-EXCHANGE CAPACITIES OF ANDO SOILS

The CEC was measured by a method which eliminates washing for removal of excess saturating salt. The effect of temperature on the CEC of soils and clays varied and depended on their major cation-exchange materials; the ratio of the CEC measured at 10–20 °C to that measured at 50–60 °C was 0.36 to 0.59 for allophane, imogolite, and/or humus, 0.62 to 0.75 for kaolin minerals, and 0.90 to 0.99 for montmorillonites. The CEC, increased at higher temperature in a neutral n acetate solution, was only partly reduced by lowering the temperature again. There was no evidence for an acceleration of cation diffusion with increasing temperature. A structural alteration in which some ‘bound’ functional groups are set free for ionization is proposed as a major cause of the large CEC increase observed for Ando soils at higher temperature.     

Chicken-manure-derived biochar reduced bioavailability of copper in a contaminated soil

Purpose

Copper (Cu) contamination has been increasing in land ecosystems due to economic development activities. Excessive amount of Cu in soils is toxic to both plants and microorganisms. Biochar (BC) is known to immobilize soil Cu. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effects of chicken-manure-derived BC (CMB) on Cu immobilization, and growth of native metallophyte Oenothera picensis in a Cu-contaminated soil.

Materials and methods

A Cu-contaminated sandy soil (338 mg Cu kg^?1) was spiked and equilibrated with additional Cu (0, 100, and 500 mg Cu kg^?1). The spiked soil was then amended with CMB (0, 5, and 10 % w/w) and incubated for 2 weeks. The metallophyte was grown on these treatments under greenhouse conditions for 3 months. Pore water solutions were collected from the plant pots every 30 days. After the harvest, soil and pore water pH, soil Cu fractions, pore water Cu concentration, soil microbial activity, plant biomass weight, and Cu concentration in plant parts were determined.

Results and discussion

The CMB increased the pH of soils and soil pore water, and probably also soil major nutrients. It reduced the exchangeable fraction of Cu but increased its organic matter and residual fractions. At the same time, it decreased the Cu concentration in the soil pore water. The CMB increased basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity. The CMB application produced up to three and seven times more root and shoot biomass, respectively. In addition, shoots accumulated lesser Cu than control but roots did more. Plants survived in soil that was spiked with 500 mg Cu kg^?1, only when CMB dose was 10 %.

Conclusions

The CMB affected the Cu uptake in plant by altering the mobility, bioavailability, and spatial distribution of Cu in soils. The increase in available nutrients and decrease in Cu toxicity facilitated plant growth. The increased microbial activity probably also promoted the plant growth and reduced the Cu bioavailability. Therefore, CMB can be used to remediate Cu-contaminated soils.

     

Tillage Effects on Soil Quality Indicators and Nematode Abundance in Loessial Soil under Long‐Term No‐Till Production

Abstract: Soil quality indicators and nematode abundance were characterized in a loessial soil under long‐term conservation tillage to evaluate the effects of no‐till, double‐disk, chisel, and moldboard plow treatments. Indicators included soil electrical conductivity (EC), soil texture, soil organic matter (SOM), and total particulate organic matter (tPOM). Nematode abundance was positively correlated with EC, silt content, and total POM and negatively correlated with clay content. Clay content was the main source of variation among soil quality indicators and was negatively correlated with nematode abundance and most indicators. The gain in SOM in the no‐till system amounted to 10887 kg over the 24 years or 454 kg ha^?1 year^?1, about half of this difference (45%) resulting from soil erosion in plowed soils. The balance of gain in SOM with no till (249 kg ha^?1 year^?1) was due to SOM sequestration with no till. No‐till management reduced soil erosion, increased SOM, and enhanced soil physical characteristics.     

Effect of Field Aging on Nickel Concentration in Soil Solutions

Abstract

The effect of field aging on nickel (Ni) concentration in soil solutions was studied on three soils, with pH 4.5, 6.1, and 7.6, that were spiked with Ni and aged outdoors for 5, 10, and 15 months. Field aging resulted in a minor decrease in total Ni content and a dramatic decrease in Ni concentration in soil solution. Nickel release isotherms in field‐aged soils differ from those in freshly spiked ones. The decrease in soluble Ni in noncalcareous soils at Ni loadings from 25 to 4800 mg kg^?1 followed a first‐order kinetic equation. In calcareous soil the observed relationships imply that soluble Ni may be controlled by dissolution of a surface precipitate either on the surface of soil carbonates [NiCO₃ or NiCO₃ · 2Ni(OH)₂] or on the surface of clay minerals (Ni‐aluminum double‐layer hydroxide).     

Impact of organic matter addition on pH change of paddy soils

Purpose

The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of initial pH on the decomposition rate of plant residues and the effect of residue type on soil pH change in three different paddy soils.

Materials and methods

Two variable charge paddy soils (Psammaquent soil and Plinthudult soil) and one constant charge paddy soil (Paleudalfs soil) were used to be incubated at 45 % of field capacity for 105 days at 25 °C in the dark after three plant residues (Chinese milk vetch, wheat straw, and rice straw) were separately added at a level of 12 g?kg^?1 soil. Soil pH, CO₂ escaped, DOC, DON, MBC, MBN, NH ₄ ⁺ , and NO ₃ ^? during the incubation period were dynamically determined.

Results and discussion

Addition of the residues increased soil pH by 0.1–0.8 U, and pH reached a maximum in the Psammaquent and Plinthudult soils with low initial pH at day 105 but at day 3 in the Paleudalfs soil with high initial pH. Incorporation of Chinese milk vetch which had higher concentration of alkalinity (excess cations) and nitrogen increased soil pH more as compared with incorporation of rice and wheat straws. Microbial activity was the highest in Chinese milk vetch treatment, which resulted in the highest increase of soil pH as compared with addition of rice and wheat straws. However, nitrification seemed to be inhibited in the variable charge soils of Psammaquent and Plinthudult but not in the constant charge soil of Paleudalfs.

Conclusions

The effectiveness of increasing soil pH after incorporation of the plant materials would be longer in low initial pH soils of Psammaquent and Plinthudult than in high initial pH soil of Paleudalfs. In order to achieve the same degree of pH improvement, higher amounts of plant residues should be applied in constant charge soils than in variable charge soils.