Predicting potassium fertilizer requirement using exchange isotherm approach in relation to soil characteristics

Determining potassium (K) fertilizer requirement using sorption isotherms is considered more accurate than conventional soil K tests. A total of 59 surface soil samples were used to establish K exchange isotherm. To evaluate K requirement sorption test, a glasshouse experiment using perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne, cv. Roper) was carried out on 10 soil samples. The experiment was laid out as a completely randomized design with four replications and four K levels (K₀, K₂₀, K₄₀, K₈₀). Concentrations of K in solution established by adding K in the pots estimated from the sorption curve ranged from 20 to 80 mg K l^?1 including check treatment (no K). Dry matter yield of ryegrass in most soils approached maximum as adjusted K levels were increased to 20 mg K l^?1. The amounts of K required to bring the soils to 20 mg l^?1 in soil solution varied among soils and ranged from 99 to 399 mg kg^?1, on average 205 mg kg^?1 soil. It was found that a useful regression model for the prediction of standard K requirement (K₂₀) included the combination of plant available K extracted by NH₄OAc (Av-K) and clay content: K₂₀ = ?41 ? 0.63 Av-K + 9.0 Clay (R² = 0.61, p < 0.001, n = 59).     

Characterization of phytoavailable zinc in compost-peat substrates — Comparison of methods

Compost of separately collected green yard and organic household wastes may contain high amounts of Zn. Hence, substrates basing on compost can result in Zn phytotoxicity. The aim of the investigations was to identify a suitable reagent to characterize phytoavailable Zn in compost-peat substrates. Petunia hybrids were cultivated in compost-peat substrates with increasing Zn amounts (basic load, 400, 800, 1600 mg kg^?1 d.m. aqua regia soluble). Extractable Zn was determined by extraction of fresh and dried substrates with H₂O, 1 M NH₄NO₃, 0.1 M CaCl₂, 1 M NH₄OAc, and CaCl₂-DTPA (0.01 M + 0.002 M). The Zn content of plants increased significantly with increasing Zn application and decreasing pH. The result of CaCl₂ and NH₄OAc extraction reflected the influence of pH on Zn phytoavailability quite well and the correlation with the plant Zn content was very good. Extraction with H₂O and NH₄NO₃ did not give acceptable results. Extraction with CaCl₂-DTPA was inconsistent for all trials and thus not suitable. The percentage of CaCl₂-extractable Zn in relation to the aqua regia soluble content at the same pH varied over the trials. Thus, the phytoavailable content of the substrates is influenced by additional factors, besides Zn supply and pH. The result of CaCl₂ extraction of dried substrates resulted in the best reflection of Zn phytoavailability and was used for all further investigations, including determination of critical values of phytotoxic Zn. Plant yield was not influenced by the Zn treatments. However, Zn induced chlorosis of petunias occurred at a plant Zn content > 160 mg kg^?1 d.m. and a phytoavailable Zn content in the substrate > 6 mg l^?1 in CaCl₂ extract and > 2.6 mg l^?1 in NH₄OAc extract, respectively.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics of Some Benchmark Soil Series under Rice–Wheat Cropping System in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains of Northwestern India

Abstract

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important issues in long‐term sustainability of a cropping system. Fixation and release behavior of potassium were studied in the surface and subsurface horizons in five benchmark soil series, viz. Dhar, Gurdaspur, Naura, Ladowal, and Nabha, under rice–wheat cropping system in the Indo‐Gangetic plains of India. Potassium fixation was noted by adding six rates of K varying from 0 to 500 mg kg^?1 soil in plastic beakers while K release characteristics were studied by repeated extractions with 1 M HNO₃ and 1 M NH₄OAc extractants. The initial status of K was satisfactory to adequate. Potassium fixation of added K increased with the rate of added K irrespective of soil mineralogy and soil depth. Soils rich in K (Ladowal and Nabha) fixed lower amounts (18–42%) of added K as compared to Gurdaspur, Dhar, and Naura (44.6–86.4%) soils low in K. The unit fertilizer requirement for unit increase in available K was more in low‐K soils. The study highlights the need for more studies on K fixation in relation to the associated minerals in a particular soil. Potassium‐release parameters such as total extractable K, total step K, and CR‐K varied widely in different soil series, indicating wide variation in the K‐supplying capacity of these soils. K released with 1 M NH₄OAc extractant was 20–33% of that obtained with 1 M HNO₃. Total extractable K using 1 M HNO₃ varied from 213 to 528 mg kg^?1 and NH₄OAc‐extractable K ranged from 71 to 312 mg kg^?1 soil in surface and subsurface layers of different soil series. The Ladowal and Nabha series showed higher rates of K release than Gurdaspur, Dhar, and Naura series, indicating their greater K‐supplying capacity.     

Release of nonexchangeable NH4-N after planting of ryegrass in relation to soil content and as affected by nitrate supply

The uptake of N by ryegrass grown in pot culture on a range of soils differing widely in content of nonexchangeable NH₄-N (topsoils: 117 to 354 mg kg^?1 soil; subsoils: 117 to 270 mg kg^?1 soil) was measured to indicate whether the amounts of NH₄-N released from clay minerals were correlated with soil NH₄-N. After two cuts soil analysis revealed that the amounts of mobilized nonexchangeable NH₄-N were between 3.5 and 25.2 mg kg^?1 from topsoils and between 0 and 8.2 mg kg^?1 from subsoils. There was no correlation between soil nonexchangeable NH₄-N content and release. The NH₄-N extracted with 1 N HCl and the actual N uptake of the plants correlated highly significant. Assuming that the whole of the NH₄-N released was taken up by ryegrass, NH₄-N accounted for 11.2 to 75.0% of total N uptake from topsoils and 0 to 37.3% from subsoils. The release of nonexchangeable NH₄-N was increased by the application of nitrate.     

Evaluation of Extractants and Quantity–Intensity Relationship for Estimation of Available Potassium in Some Calcareous Soils of Western Iran

Accurate estimation of the available potassium (K⁺) supplied by calcareous soils in arid and semi‐arid regions is becoming more important. Exchangeable K⁺, determined by ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc), might not be the best predictor of the soil K⁺ available to crops in soils containing micaceous minerals. The effectiveness of different extraction methods for the prediction of K‐supplying capacities and quantity–intensity relationships was studied in 10 calcareous soils in western Iran. Total K⁺ uptake by wheat grown in the greenhouse was used to measure plant‐available soil K⁺. The following methods extracted increasingly higher average amounts of soil K⁺: 0.025 M H₂SO₄ (45 mg K⁺ kg^?1), 1 M NaCl (92 mg K⁺ kg^?1), 0.01 M CaCl₂ (104 mg K⁺ kg^?1), 0.1 M BaCl₂ (126 mg K⁺ kg^?1), and 1 M NH₄OAc (312 mg K⁺ kg^?1). Potassium extracted by 0.01 M CaCl₂, 1 M NaCl, 0.1 M BaCl₂, and 0.025 M H₂SO₄ showed higher correlation with K⁺ uptake by the crop (P < 0.01) than did NH₄OAc (P < 0.05), which is used to extract K⁺ in the soils of the studied area. There were significant correlations among exchangeable K⁺ adsorbed on the planar surfaces of soils (labile K⁺) and K⁺ plant uptake and K⁺ extracted by all extractants. It would appear that both 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 1 M NaCl extractants and labile K⁺ may provide the most useful prediction of K⁺ uptake by plants in these calcareous soils containing micaceous minerals.     

Factors affecting potassium fixation in calcareous soils of southern Iran

Potassium fixation capacity and mineralogical analysis of 24 representative soils, collected from southern Iran, were studied. Potassium fixation analysis was performed by adding six rates of K from 0 to 1000 mg kg^?1 soil in a plastic beaker and shaking for 24 h. Mineralogical analysis showed that the clay fractions were dominated by smectite, chlorite, mica, palygorskite, vermiculite and quartz. In general, the studied soils fixed 8.5–55% of the added K. The potassium fixation capacity of the studied soils was significantly correlated with smectite content (r ² = 0.87), clay content (r ² = 0.60), cation-exchange capacity (r ² = 0.79) and NH₄OAc-K. Wetting and drying treatment and incubation time had significant effects on K fixation. The average percentage increase in K fixation following the wetting and drying treatment was 24 and 30% for surface and subsurface soils, respectively. The average percentage increase in K fixation with increasing residence time was 79 and 56% for surface and subsurface soils, respectively. Because K fixation is a diffusion process, time and increased concentration of soluble K (because of soil drying) are factors affecting the rate of K diffusion from a soil solution to the interlayer positions of the expansible 2:1 clay minerals.     

Potassium‐fertilizer management in winter oilseed‐rape production in China

Optimal potassium (K) fertilization is beneficial for oilseed‐rape (Brassica napus L.) yield and quality. However, the discrepancy between the high K demand of winter oilseed rape and low soil fertility and insufficient potassium input has limited the sustainable development of oilseed‐rape production. A series of on‐farm experiments in the key winter oilseed‐rape domains of China was conducted from 2004 to 2010 to evaluate K‐fertilizer management for winter oilseed rape. Currently, the average NH₄OAc‐extractable K content in the 0–20 cm soil layer is 89.1 mg kg^–1 indicative of “slight deficiency”. In addition, farmers in China usually fail to use sufficient K fertilizer in oilseed‐rape production, the average mineral‐potassium‐fertilizer input in 2010 being only 35 kg K ha^–1, far lower than the recommended rate of potassium for winter oilseed rape. Adequate potassium fertilization significantly raises seed yield. The average yield‐increase rate for the major production regions due to K‐fertilizer application was 18.5%, and the average K fertilizer–use efficiency 36.1%. Based on the negative correlation between yield response to potassium fertilization and available soil K content, a soil‐K‐test index was established for winter oilseed rape with a threshold value for NH₄OAc‐extractable soil K of 135 mg kg^–1. When available soil K‐content is below this threshold value, more K fertilizer should be applied to achieve high seed yield and to increase soil fertility. The major challenge for K‐fertilizer management in winter oilseed‐rape production in China will be to guide farmers in the different regions in making reasonable use of K fertilizer through soil K‐testing technology in order to maintain both seed yield and soil fertility.     

伴随阴离子对马铃薯种植冲击土中钾素固持与淋溶的影响

A column study was carried out to assess the influence of accompanying anions on potassium (K) leaching at potato growing sites with different soil textures (sandy loam and clay loam) in northwestern India. Potassium was applied in the top 15 cm layer of soil column at 30 and 60 mg K kg^-1 through different sources having different accompanying anions (Cl^-, SO₄^2-, NO₃^- and H₂PO₄^-). Maximum K was retained in the top 0--15 cm layer with a sharp decrease in K content occurring in 15--30 cm layer of the soil column. The trend was similar for both levels of applied K as well as frequency of leaching and soil type. The decrease of K content in soil column after four leaching events was maximum in case of Khanaura sandy loam, while only minor decrease was observed in Hundowal clay loam when K was applied at 60 mg K kg^-1, indicating higher potential of clay rich soil to adsorb K. In general, the K leaching in presence of the accompanying anions followed the order of SO₄^2- ≤ H₂PO₄^2- < NO₃^- = Cl^-. Highest 1 mol L^-1 CH3COONH4-extractable K was retained when K was applied along with SO42- and H2PO4- anions, and the least was retained when accompanying anion was Cl^-1. The influence of anions was more pronounced in the light textured soil and at high amounts of K application. Higher levels of K application resulted in higher losses of K, especially in sandy loam soil as observed from the leachate concentration. Among the different K sources, the maximum amount of K leaching was noticed in the soil column amended with KCl. After four leachings, the maximum amount of K leached out was 6.40 mg L^-1 in Hundowal clay loam and 9.29 mg L^-1 in Khanaura sandy loam at 60 mg K kg^-1 of soil application through KCl. These concentrations were lower than the recommended guideline of the World Health Organisation (12.00 mg L^-1).     

Different Fractions of Soil Potassium,Olsen Phosphorus,and Available Sulfur Status of Intensively Cultivated Berpura Soil Series of India and Nutrient Indexing of Rice Crop

Berpura alluvial soil series of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains is situated in the Ambala District of the Haryana State of India. Soils of this series had medium concentrations of both potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) and large concentrations of sulfur (S) before 1970. To study different fractions of K, Olsen P, and 0.15% calcium chloride (CaCl₂)–extractable (available) S of soils of the Berpura series and to create nutrient indexing of rice crops growing on this series, surface soil samples were collected from 100 farmers' fields after the harvest of the wheat crop in 2005. During kharif season of same year, samples of upper two leaves at anthesis growth stage of rice crop were also collected from the same 100 farmers' fields that had earlier been sampled for soil analysis. Analysis of soil samples showed more K depletion in soils of this series, of which 86% of farmers' fields were deficient in ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) K (available K). Thirty and 62% of leaf samples of the rice crop growing on the 100 fields of this series were extremely and moderately deficient in K, respectively. The mean values of water‐soluble, exchangeable, nonexchangeable, lattice, and total K were 10.6, 30.3, 390.0, 8204, and 8635 mg kg^?1, respectively. In soils of this series, 0.123, 0.351, 4.517, and 95.009% of total K were found in water‐soluble, exchangeable, nonexchangeable, and lattice K forms, respectively. On the other hand, long‐term farmers' practice of more application of P fertilizer in wheat crop has resulted in P buildup in the soils of the Berpura series. Olsen P in soils of farmers' fields of this series ranged from 9.0 to 153.0 mg kg^?1, with the mean value of 41.8 mg kg^?1. Eighty‐two percent of leaf samples of rice crops grown on this series without application of P fertilizer were sufficient in P. The analysis of soil and rice crops for P and K proved the suitability of 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and 1 N NH₄OAc for extracting available P and K, respectively, in alluvial soils of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. The 0.15% CaCl₂–extractable S in this soil ranged from 9.6 to 307 mg kg^?1 with a mean value of 34.6 mg kg^?1. Four and 26% of soil samples had low and medium, respectively, in 0.15% CaCl₂–extractable S. S deficiency was recorded in rice crops, as 29% of the leaf samples were extremely deficient in S and 58% were moderately deficient in S. This indicated the unsuitability of the 0.15% CaCl₂ to extract available S from the Udic ustochrept utilized for cultivation of rice crops.     

Recovery of 15N Labelled Urea as Affected by Fixation of Ammonium by Clay Minerals

A greenhouse experiment was conducted with Lolium perenne to determine whether ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) fixation by clay minerals can increase the recovery of nitrogen following application of ¹⁵N labelled urea. A silty loam subsoil, B_t horizon from an Alfisol derived from loess, pH (CaCl₂) 7.9, was chosen for the experiment. The NH₄⁺-N fixation capacity was altered by varying the distribution of potassium (K) in the upper and lower soil layer. In the K₀ treatment (control), the upper soil layer fertilized with urea was not supplied with K, whereas the lower soil layer was fertilized with 300 mg K kg^?1 soil. In the K₁^?, K₂^? and K₃ treatment the upper soil was supplied with 100-, 200- and 300 mg K kg^?1 soil, respectively. The soil in the lower layer of the K₃ treatment was not supplied with K. The recovery of ¹⁵N from applied urea (¹⁵N uptake of Lolium perenne plus residual soil ¹⁵N_t) was 86.1% in the K₀ treatment and 75.2%, 69.1% and 69.6% in K_1-, K_2- and K₃ treatments, respectively, showing that ¹⁵N losses were smallest in the K₀ treatment. Two weeks after applying ¹⁵N labelled urea the amounts of nonexchangeable ¹⁵NH₄⁺-N in the upper soil layer were significantly higher in the K₀ treatment than in the treatments with K application. Apparently, NH₄⁺-N fixation by clay minerals can reduce NH₃ volatilization after urea fertilization, if the amount of exchangeable K is low.     

A Study on the Quantity/Intensity Relationships of Potassium of Sugarcane Growing Soils,Eastern Thailand

Surface and subsurface horizons of 16 representative sugarcane growing soils with varying soil properties in the eastern region of Thailand were collected to determine the potassium (K) fertility status and its availability by using the quantity/intensity relationship (potential buffering capacity of K (PBC_k)). The results showed that most soils had a low K fertility status and lack of reserved K from K-bearing minerals. The PBC_k values of the studied soils ranged from 3.75 to 168 cmol kg^?1/(mol L^?1)^1/2, and the coarse-textured soil group showed much lower PBC_k values; these results suggested a low capability of these soils to replenish K removal by plant uptake compared with that of the fine-textured soil group. The negative delta K (ΔK°) values of the coarse-textured soil group also indicated a large quantity of readily available K for plant uptake that easily leaches at the same time. The higher K activity ratio (AR^k_e) of the coarse-textured soil group (>0.001 mol L^?1)^1/2) than that of the fine-textured soil group (<0.001 mol L^?1)^1/2) suggested that readily available K was desorbed from the non-specific sites of 1:1 clay minerals and specific sites of 2:1 clay minerals, respectively. The ΔK° value of the studied soils was more significantly correlated to K concentration in sugarcane stalks (R² = 0.64) than that of readily available K content (R² = 0.54). Therefore, the results of this study suggested that ΔK° represents a better parameter to estimate K availability in these soils compared to conventional ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc)-extractable K content.     

Analysis of Citrus Orchard Efficiency in Relation to Soil Properties

ABSTRACT

Orchard efficiency (OE) is one of the indices of evaluating the sustainability in production behavior of citrus orchards. A wide range of soil properties broadly categorized into particle size distribution, water soluble and exchangeable cations, and soil available nutrients were investigated in relation to efficiency of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) orchards established on smectite rich three soil orders (Entisols, Inceptisols, and Vertisols) representing 18 locations of central India. The soil properties, viz., free calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), clay content, water soluble- and exchangeable-calcium (Ca^{2 +}), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn) contributed significantly towards variation in OE. The threshold limit of these limiting soil properties was further established using multivariate quadratic regression models as: 132.1 g kg^{? 1} free CaCO₃, 418.1 g kg^{? 1} clay, 149.9 mg L^{? 1} water soluble Ca^{2 +}, 25.9 cmol(p⁺) kg^{? 1} exchangeable Ca^{2 +}, 114.6 mg kg^{? 1} available N, 12.8 mg kg^{? 1} available P, and 0.96 mg kg^{? 1} available Zn in relation to optimum OE of 82.1%. These reference values were very close to those obtained from best fit models, and could be effectively utilized in addressing soil related production constraints for precision-aided citriculture.     

Transformation of Lead Solid Fraction in the Rhizosphere of Elsholtzia splendens: The Importance of Organic Matter

The rhizosphere, enriched in organic matter, is the bottleneck of metal transfer in the soil–plant system. However, the transformation of metal fractions in the rhizosphere and the mechanisms that are involved, notably the role of organic matter, are poorly known. In this study, the solid-phase fractionation of lead (Pb) in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil of Elsholtzia splendens in a Pb-contaminated soil was investigated using a nine-step selective sequential extraction method in a pot experiment. Compared to the non-rhizosphere soil, there were measurable increases in Pb-fulvic complexes, Pb-humic complexes, organic Pb, and amorphous Pb but no significant changes in other forms of Pb in the rhizosphere soil. Pb-fulvic complexes and organic Pb, increasing from 397 to 438 mg kg^?1 and 229 to 258 mg kg^?1, respectively, showed a stronger accumulating trend than Pb-humic complexes and amorphous Pb, with an increase from 15.9 to 17.3 mg kg^?1 and 6.04 to 7.80 mg kg^?1 respectively, in the rhizosphere soil relative to non rhizosphere soil. These results may be mainly due to the enrichment of organic matter in the rhizosphere soil, resulting from root exudation and the enhanced turnover of microorganisms. The accumulation of Pb-fulvic complexes in the rhizosphere soil increases the potential phytoavailable pool, thus likely facilitating the phytoextraction of Pb in metal-contaminated soil.     

POTASSIUM FIXATION IN SOME KENYAN SOILS

Potassium fixation was measured for 13 Kenyan soils with a range of applied potassium (0 to 1000 mg kg^?1). The fixed potassium was measured, and hence is defined in this study, by the difference between the amount of applied K and the increase in the extractable K after equilibration, using a single ‘equilibrium’ extraction procedure with 0. 25 M Cad, as the extractant. At application rates of 50 and 1000 mg kg^?1 the fixed potassium varied from ?52% to 64% and 7% to 39% respectively. A correlation was found between the K fixation and % clay content at the 1000 mg kg¹ application rate. Estimates of the % fixation by the clay fractions gave 53 to 80% for montmorillonites, 48 to 66% for amorphous clays and 19 to 32% for kaolinites. It is suggested that the amorphous clays may fix potassium by a ‘sieve’ mechanism.     

Assessing the Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer Levels on Soil Phosphorus Fractionation in Rhizosphere and Non-Rhizosphere Soils of Wheat

This study evaluated the effects of phosphorus (P) fertilizer levels on inorganic P fractions. Wheat cultivars (Azadi and Marvdasht) were grown in the soils amended with the four rates of P fertilizer levels (no fertilizer, 10, 15, and 25 mg available P kg^?1 soil). Soils were sampled from rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere areas after 6 weeks. The mean of all P fractions was significantly different in various P fertilizer levels. The smallest and the largest amounts of all P fractions were observed in the soil with no P and in 25 mg kg^?1 soil P level, respectively. The Azadi cultivar, as P-efficient, showed the smallest increase in soil P fractions with increasing soil P levels. The means of all P fractions except Al-phosphates (Al-P) were significantly higher in non-rhizosphere soil. There were differences between these cultivars associated with the more inaccessible fractions at the 15 mg P kg^?1 soil level.     

Evaluation of sodium tetraphenylboron (NaBPh4) as a soil test of potassium availability

Non-exchangeable potassium (K_nex) contributes to soil K availability and several extractants are used to access its contribution. This study evaluated sodium tetraphenylboron (NaBPh₄) as a soil test of K availability in 20 soils from Northern Greece. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. ‘Yecora’) was sown in a greenhouse pot experiment and five cropping cycles were carried out until K-depletion. Soils were analyzed with NH₄OAc and NaBPh₄ (1 and 5 min incubation periods). Critical levels of K ranged between 130–140 and 330–340 mg K kg^?1 of soil for NH₄OAc and NaBPh₄ (1 min incubation period), respectively, and between 32 and 35 g K kg^?1 of wheat dry matter. NaBPh₄-K (1 min) related better with K concentration and uptake compared to NH₄OAc for each cropping cycle (r² = 0.45–0.83 and 0.44–0.89) and for all soils (r² = 0.58 and 0.51). Similar results obtained in soils low in exchangeable K (r² = 0.41 and 0.39). Correlation between NH₄Oac- and NaBPh₄-extractable K was weaker among soils below the critical level (r = 0.70) compared to those above (r = 0.93). Inclusion of illitic K and cation exchange capacity in a multiple linear regression between NH₄OAc- and NaBPh₄-extractable K showed that they significantly contributed to NaBPh₄-extractable K.     

Effects of Different Rates of Ca2+ Addition on Respiration and Sorption of Water-Extractable Organic C to a Vertisol Subsoil

It is well known that calcium (Ca²⁺) plays an important role in binding organic matter to clay. However, most previous studies were conducted with either topsoil or pure aluminosilicates. Less is known about the effect of Ca²⁺ on binding of organic matter to clay-rich subsoils, which have lower organic-matter contents than topsoils, and their clays are more strongly weathered than pure aluminosilicates. Two experiments were conducted with a Vertisol subsoil (69% clay): a laboratory incubation and a batch sorption. The mineral substrate in the incubation experiment was pure sand alone or sand amended with 300 g clay kg^?1. Powdered calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) at rates of 0, 5, 10, and 15 g Ca kg^?1 and mature wheat residue at a rate of 20 g kg^?1 were added to this mineral substrate and the water content was adjusted to 70% of water-holding capacity. Carbon dioxide release was measured for 28 days. Cumulative respiration per g soil organic carbon (C) (SOC from clay and residues) was increased by clay addition. Increasing Ca²⁺ addition rate decreased cumulative respiration in the sand with clay but had no effect on respiration in the pure sand. Clay and Ca²⁺ addition had no significant effect on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) per g SOC but clay addition reduced the concentration of potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄)–extractable C per g SOC. For the batch sorption experiment, the subsoil was mixed with 0 to 15 g Ca kg^?1 and water-extractable organic C (WEOC) derived from mature wheat straw was added at 0, 1485, 3267, and 5099 mg WEOC kg^?1. Increasing Ca²⁺ addition rate increased sorption of WEOC, particularly at the greatest concentration of WEOC added, and decreased desorption. This study confirmed the importance of Ca²⁺ in binding organic matter to clay and suggests that Ca²⁺ addition to clay-rich subsoils could be used to increase their organic C sequestration.     

Evaluation of universal extractants for determining plant available potassium in intensively cultivated soils

Abstract

Eighteen soils from northwestern Switzerland were used to study the value of seven universal extractants (CaCl₂; DB‐DTPA; Mehlich 1, 2, and 3; Morgan‐Wolf; and NH₄OAc‐EDTA) for predicting plant available potassium (K) as compared to a bioassay (a modified Neubauer test with winter rye). These extractants were evaluated on the basis of K uptake by the bioassay test and the soil K status. In order to create the sufficiency level of exchangeable K for plant growth, soils were treated with 0, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg K/kg of soil. The range of K uptake by the bioassay tests was between 89.2 and 403.0 mg/kg of soil for the control pots, and 136.6 to 495.8 for the K treatments with optimal conditions for plant growth. The average amounts of K extracted by the seven universal extractants, in ascending order, were: CaCl₂ < Morgan‐Wolf < Mehlich 1 < Mehlich 2 < NH₄OAc‐EDTA < Mehlich 3 < DB‐DTPA. The highest simple correlation with K uptake versus the bioassay test was obtained with the DB‐DTPA (r = 0.89) extractant and the lowest with the Mehlich 1 (r = 0.53) extractant. The DP‐DTPA, NH₄OAc‐EDTA and Mehlich 3‐K procedures showed an advantage over K procedures based on water soluble and exchangeable K pools in the investigated soils in order to predict the amount of plant‐available K. A simple regression and the Cate‐Nelson graphic method offer the possibility of assessing the soil‐K status using K values obtained by these universal extractants and to calibrate them against K forms as follows: exchangeable, water soluble, and non‐exchangeable.     

Effects of thiamine and nitrogen fertilizer form on the number of N2−fixing and total bacteria in the rhizosphere of maize plants

The effects of thiamine (vitamin B1) application as seed dressing and of N form supplied (NH₄⁺ versus NO₃^?) on rhizosphere pH and on rhizosphere microorganisms were evaluated in two different soils. Imbibition of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds with thiamine (1 g kg^?1) increased seed thiamine content by a factor of 370. Maize plants from untreated and treated seeds were cultivated in a growth chamber under controlled conditions for 10 d in a sandy loam soil, pH 7.1 (Mascherode soil) or in a sandy soil, pH 4.8 (Niger soil) fertilized with two different N sources (NO₃?N or NH₄?N with dicyandiamide, 100 and 250 mg N kg^?1 soil). The rhizosphere pH was not affected by thiamine, only slightly affected by N source in the Mascherode soil, but markedly affected in the Niger soil. Thiamine application and N source affected the most probable number (MPN) of diazotrophs and total bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere soil of 10 d old maize plants. In the Mascherode soil, thiamine application increased MPN of diazotrophs 4-fold and total bacteria 2-fold when the soil was fertilized with 100 mg NO₃?N compared to untreated seedlings. Compared to Mascherode soil, in the Niger soil, MPN of diazotrophs was extremely low, especially after NH₄?N treatment which significantly decreased pH of the rhizosphere. Thiamine application had only marginal effects on the MPN of diazotrophs and total bacteria. Total bacteria isolated from Niger soil fertilized with NH₄?N were about 10-fold lower compared to the soil from Mascherode. However, in the other two treatments, total bacteria were higher in the Niger soil compared to the Mascherode soil. In the Niger soil, apparently some of the heterotrophs (the Actinomycetes dominated in this soil) might have suppressed the diazotrophs. The results of the present study demonstrate that in many cases seed treatment with thiamine enhances MPN of diazotrophs and total bacteria in the rhizosphere of maize seedlings.     

Die Rolle der mikrobiellen Biomasse und des mineralisch fixierten Ammoniums bei den Stickstoff-Transformationen in niedersächsischen Löß-Ackerböden unter Winter-Weizen. I. Poolgrößenveränderungen

Significance of microbial biomass and non-exchangeable ammonium with respect to the nitrogen transformations in loess soils of Niedersachsen during the growing season of winter wheat. I. Change of pool sizes Nitrogen transformations in loess soils have been examined by laboratory and field experiments. After straw application (· 8 t · ha^?1), N in microbial biomass (N_mic) increased by about 20 mg · kg^?1 soil (· 90 kg N · ha^?1 · 30 cm^?1) after 9 days of incubation (20 °C). Another laboratory experiment yielded an increase of about 400 mg of NH₄+-N · kg^?1 fixed by minerals within 1 h after addition of 1 M NH₄+-acetate. Defixation of the recently fixed NH₄+ after addition of 1 M KCl amounted to only 60 mg · kg^?1 within 50 days. In a field experiment with winter wheat 1991, an increase in N_mic of about 80 kg N · ha^?1 · 30 cm^?1 was observed from March to June. After July, growth of the microbes was limited by decreased soluble carbon concentrations in the rhizosphere. Different levels of mineral N-fertilizer (0, 177 and 213 kg N · ha^?1) did not affect significantly the microbial biomass. The same field experiment yielded a decrease of non-exchangeable ammonium on the “zero”-fertilized plot in spring by 200 kg N · ha^?1 · 30 cm^?1. The pool of fixed ammonium increased significantly after harvest. After conventional mineral N-fertilizer application (213 kg N · ha^?1). NH₄+-defixation was only about 120 kg N · ha^?1 · 30 cm^?1 until July.