Relation between available boron and boron extracted from soils by hot water or phosphoric acid

Abstract

A measure of biologically available B (BAB) was obtained by assaying the amount of B removed from a small volume of soil by sunflowers grown until they displayed B deficiency symptoms. Four different mineral soils and one organic soil which had been treated in the field with variable lime and B applications 2 years prior to sampling were compared. The amount of B extracted with hot water from soils before cropping was well correlated with BAB. The B extracted by the more intensive hot water extraction methods was closely related to the absolute level of BAB. Digestion of soils with concentrated H₃PO₄ resulted in the dissolution of larger amounts of B than that extracted with hot water. The proportion of H₃PO₄ soluble B that was measured as BAB was quite variable. Thus H₃PO₄ was a less suitable extractant than hot water for assaying the amount of soil B available to plants during a short growing period. In no case was the difference between the B extracted from soils before and after cropping as large as the BAB values.     

Nodulation response to molybdenum supplementation in alfalfa and its correlation with root and shoot growth in low pH soil

Molybdenum (Mo) is a critical micronutrient for nitrogen (N) fixation in legumes. Low pH limits the availability of Mo, thereby reducing nodulation and N fixation. This study investigates the effect of Mo supplementation on alfalfa nodulation and its correlation with root and shoot biomass in low-pH soil. Three experiments were conducted in the greenhouse, involving 14 genotypes of alfalfa subjected to four different treatments, unlimed low-pH soil (5.2) with Mo applied (lithium (Li)^?Mo⁺), low-pH soil (5.2) without Mo (Li^?Mo^?), limed soil (pH 7.3) with Mo applied (Li⁺Mo⁺), and limed soil (pH 7.3) without Mo (Li⁺Mo^?). Foliar application of Mo resulted in a significant increase in nodule counts in the 14 alfalfa cultivars grown in low-pH soil (5.2) even though to a lesser extent than in limed soil with neutral pH (7.3). The increase in number of nodules correlated positively with plant root weight and upper plant biomass.     

酸性红壤中磷高效大豆新种质的磷营养特性

采用一系列磷高效大豆新种质及对照材料,在华南酸性红壤地区3种不同磷水平的代表性土壤上,分春、夏两季研究了不同大豆品种的磷营养特性,探讨了不同大豆品种（系）在不同磷水平土壤上的最佳施磷量及其经济效益。结果表明, 1）土壤有效磷含量是影响酸性红壤地区大豆生产的重要因素,无论从地上部生物量、磷吸收量还是产量来看,所有供试品种均表现出高磷>中磷>低磷土壤的趋势。2）施磷对低肥力土壤上大豆产量的影响较大,对中等肥力土壤影响较小,而对高肥力土壤,施磷肥反而造成大豆减产; 过量施用磷肥会造成大豆对磷的“奢侈吸收”。3）大豆的磷营养特性具有显著的基因型差异,因而需要不同磷养分管理方式。4个磷高效大豆新种质在低肥力土壤上仅需施用少量磷肥,在中、高肥力土壤上不需施磷即可满足生长需要。经济效益分析结果表明,磷高效品种无论在低肥力还是在中、高肥力土壤上,其纯收入均远高于本地和国家大豆区域试验对照品种。     

Phosphorus (P) Uptake mechanisms of crops grown in soils with low P status

In our previous studies, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and rice (Oryza sativa L.) were found to have a higher ability to take up Fe- or Al-bound phosphorus (P) than soybean (Glycine max L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). Phosphorus absorption characteristics like I _max, K _m, C _min, and Fe^III reduction activity of roots, and root exudates in various crops were examined with a view to analyzing the mechanisms of P uptake. Phosphorus uptake ability was largely unrelated to variations in I _max, K _m, C _min, and Fe^III reduction activity of roots. Phosphorus-solubilizing activity in anionic fractions of root exudates was detected in pigeonpea but not in rice or groundnut. Malonic acid was the major component followed by oxalic and piscidic acid. These organic acids were able to release P from FePO₄ and A1PO₄. The higher P uptake ability of pigeonpea in soils with low P fertility presumably depends on the secretion of such organic acids from roots.     

Behavior of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in soils and water of reservoir Radeburg II catchment (Saxony/Germany)

The behavior of the herbicide glyphosate and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) was investigated in soils and water in a well-defined catchment of the reservoir Radeburg II near Dresden (Saxony/Germany). The half-life of glyphosate in soil ranged from 11 to 17 days. Glyphosate and AMPA completely disappeared from soil after about 5 months following application of the products ”︁Roundup Ultra” and ”︁Touchdown”. The aquatic system in the test areas (surface water, soil solution, and groundwater) was not significantly affected by direct application of the compound. In general, there was a clear indication of strong sorption of the two substances by soil particles. Settlement areas were recognized as possible sources of glyphosate and AMPA intake in aquatic systems.     

Relationships between important soil variables in moderately acidic soils (pH ≥5.5) in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and management implications for subsistence farmers

The fertility of farmed soils in parts of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) highlands reputedly has been declining for some time owing to population pressure. To assess the extent of the problem, a survey of sweet potato gardens was conducted across four of the highlands provinces and information on soil variables was obtained for gardens on soils of volcanic and non-volcanic origins. In the absence of fertilizer application, soil fertility in the humid tropics is largely a function of soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soils of low CEC had previously been reported in this region. In the present study, relationships between effective CEC (ECEC) and other soil properties in moderately acidic soils (pH 5.5–6.3) were investigated to see if there was scope for improving soil cation retention characteristics through management of key soil variables. For volcanic soils of varying allophane content, ECEC was, unexpectedly, negatively correlated with soil C and soil C/N, most probably because of the formation of humus–allophane complexes which had facilitated organic matter accumulation whilst dramatically reducing the free negative charges on the material. Given the latter outcome, the indigenous practice of heaping compost in the centre of soil mounds appeared to be one of the best strategies for circumventing the problem of low CEC, as nutrients in the compost are held in an environment virtually independent of the surrounding soil mineralogy. Although the positive correlation between soil pH and soil ECEC was weak for volcanic soils, it was concluded that liming might nevertheless be an effective means of enhancing the nutrient retention characteristics of these soils provided the practicalities and costs were not prohibitive.     

人类活动对珠江三角洲酸性硫酸盐土壤发育的影响

In the Pearl River Delta with more than 1000 years of intensive land reclamation history,the development of acid sulphate soils has been generally limited in terms of their acid potential (pyrite content)and spatial extent.This is attributed to the rapid delta progradation,partially resulted from increasing sediment yield caused by deforestation within the catchment and the empolderment in the estuarine embayment.The empolderment practice accompanied by the clearance of mangroves stopped the upward growth of the pyritic layer on the one hand and limited the vertical accretion of non-pyritic freshwater sediments over the pyritic layer on the one hand and limited the vertical accretion of non-pyritic freshwater sediments over the pyritic estuarine sediments on the other.In such a case,the pyritic layer in the area is frequently thin and of shallow occurrence.Under forced leaching-recharge conditions for the paddy rice cultivation ,the leaching of acid sulphate materials prevails over its production and this leads to a net loss in pyrite oxidation products.Land excavation for fishpond farming accelerates pyrite oxidation due to the direct exposure of the pyrtic sediments to air on the pond bunds.Severe acidification can intensity the environmental degradation of estuarine ecosystems.     

Small-distance variation of carbon and nitrogen storage in mineral Antarctic Cryosols near Casey Station (Wilkes Land)

In the antarctic summer 1996 top soils and whole profiles were collected systematically near the Australian Casey Station (Wilkes Land) in order to specify the carbon and nitrogen storage in permafrost-affected mineral soils (Cryosols) of coastal areas of Antarctica. Cryorthents, Cryaquepts and Haplocryods are the main soil units observed. The organic matter accumulation in mineral soils of the ice-free coastal Antarctic region is similar to that of comparable Arctic regions. A small-distance storage variation is mainly due to the patch pattern of topography, geomorphology and especially soil geography. Haplocryods are important sinks of carbon and nitrogen, whereas the storage in the Cryaquepts is of minor importance. In addition, large parts of the landscape are characterized by Lilhic Cryonhents. which store nearly 50% of the organic carbon and 40% of the nitrogen. A high variability in the C and N concentration and storage complicates a calculation of soil C and N storage of the total landscape necessary for developing ecosystem models. However, the survey on landscape level suggests that in 75% of the landscape sites the soil carbon and nitrogen stock is very similar, but a wide-spread podzolization and/or extraordinary organic matter accumulation increases the stocks to a great extent. For this reason a storage estimation could be improved by a proper soil survey.     

Pore shrinkage capacity of Shajiang black soils (Vertisols) on the North China Plain and its influencing factors

Different pore sizes present different pore shrinkage capacities in a nonrigid soil. However, the shrinkage capacities of different pore sizes and their influencing factors are not clear. We aimed to quantify the shrinkage capacities of different pore sizes (large pores, > 50 μm; medium pores, 0.2–50 μm; fine pores, < 0.2 μm) and determine how soil properties impact soil shrinkage capacity at the regional scale. Two sampling transects from west to east (360 km long, 35 samples) and from north to south (190 km long, 29 samples) were selected to investigate soil shrinkage capacity and physicochemical properties of at 0–20 cm depth in the Vertisol (locally known as Shajiang black soil) region of the North China Plain. The results showed that soil total shrinkage capacity, indicated by the coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE), had a mean value of 0.041–0.051 in the west-east and north-south transects. Large pores had higher pore shrinkage index (PSI) values (0.103–0.109) than medium (0.077–0.096) and fine (0.087–0.091) pores. The PSI of fine pores showed a fluctuating increasing trend from northwest to southeast, and the fine pore shrinkage capacity determined the COLE (r² = 0.789, P < 0.001). The PSI of large pores had a significant relationship with soil bulk density (r = 0.281, P < 0.05) and organic carbon (r = -0.311, P < 0.05), whereas those of medium and fine pores were correlated with soil clay content (r = 0.381 and 0.687, respectively, P < 0.001). In addition, the PSI of fine pores was also correlated with montmorillonite content (r = 0.387, P < 0.01). It can be concluded that the PSI of large pores is related to anthropogenically influenced soil properties with low stability, whereas those of medium and fine pores are related to pedogenic properties. The high variability in anthropogenic and pedogenic factors explains the spatial pattern of Vertisol shrinkage capacity on the North China Plain.     

Determination of organic and inorganic carbon, δ13C,and nitrogen in soils containing carbonates after acid fumigation with HCl

In carbonate‐containing soils a reliable determination of organic C requires a method that effectively separates organic and inorganic C without altering the organic matter. This study was conducted to determine whether HCl vapor completely removes carbonates even in dolomite‐rich soils and to what extent a widely used acid‐fumigation method has to be modified for humus‐rich soils. Furthermore, it was tested whether HCl fumigation alters organic‐C content. Since C and N parameters are often analyzed simultaneously we also tested the influence of acid‐vapor treatment on N content and on δ¹³C of soil organic matter. We applied fumigation with 37% HCl for 8 and 32 h using 9 carbonate‐containing soil samples. Inorganic C ranged from 7 to 124 and organic C from 9 to 267 g kg^–1. The maximum contents of dolomite and calcite were 940 and 640 g kg^–1, respectively. A time of 8 h was enough to completely remove all carbonates. Neither the content nor the δ¹³C of organic C were significantly affected by fumigation. In contrast, N contents were altered by acid treatment. Based on these results and on our experience in analyzing more than 1000 soil samples, a recommended procedure for acid fumigation of carbonate‐containing soils with a wide range of organic‐ and inorganic‐C contents was derived. Samples pretreated in this way can be analyzed reliably for their organic‐C content and δ¹³C. Furthermore, N and inorganic‐C contents can be determined with a quality sufficient for many purposes.     

滩涂土壤有机碳空间分布与围垦年限相关性分析

中国具有治理和修复潜力的滨海滩涂盐土面积约为2000hm2。滨海滩涂盐土作为新成土壤,土体发育不明显、理化性状差、肥力水平低下。该文通过对东台境内表层土壤有机碳的采样分析,在ArcGIS地理信息系统及SPSS16.0系统平台上,利用地统计分析模块中的克里格法分析东台市表层土壤有机碳的空间变异规律,并分析不同滩涂围垦年限下表层土壤有机碳、总氮、pH值、EC1:5的变化特征及其相关关系,结果显示滨海表层土壤有机碳含量与总氮、围垦年限呈极显著正相关,相关系数r分别为0.959和0.749,与pH值、电导率EC1:5呈极显著负相关,相关系数r分别为-0.478和-0.649。围垦3a以上表层土壤有机碳可增加0.24%左右,总氮质量分数增加0.02%左右;围垦时间大于52a,有机碳质量分数自0.1%增加到1.6%,全氮质量分数自0.03%增加到0.12%,养分等级也相应从6级增加到3级。该文研究表明,滨海盐土随着围垦年限的增长,土壤碳储量与总氮含量随之增加、pH值与EC1:5随之降低,耕地质量也相应提高。     

Temporary storage of soil organic matter and acid neutralizing capacity during the process of pedogenetic acidification of forest soils in Kinki District,Japan

Abstract

Pedogenetic acidification processes in forest soils derived from sedimentary rocks under mesic and thermic soil temperature regimes (MSTR and TSTR; corresponding to mean annual soil temperatures of 8–15°C and 15–22°C, respectively) in the Kinki District were investigated based on titratable alkalinity and acidity characteristics and soil solution composition. According to statistical analyses of the soil properties, the titratable alkalinity required to acidify soils to pH 3.0 was considered to be derived from reactions occurring at the surface of amorphous Al oxides, while titratable acidity at a pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.3 results from dissociation of acidic functional groups of soil humus and/or deprotonation of oxide surfaces. These reactions were generally more prevalent in MSTR soils. Based on the soil solution composition and titratable alkalinity and acidity in the soil profiles, two processes were postulated for pedogenetic acidification, that is, eluvi-illuviation of inorganic Al followed by subsequent adsorption of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) onto the precipitates of Al hydroxides and comigration of Al and DOC in the form of organo-mineral complexes. Both processes were conspicuous in MSTR soils and significantly contributed to soil organic matter storage in the subsoil layers. Pedogenetic acidification in forest soils with MSTR was characterized by an accumulation of acidity in the form of amorphous compounds and/or organo-mineral complexes in the B horizon. It seems, to some extent, similar to podzol formation, at least in terms of Al translocation. Amorphous Al hydroxides protect against further acidification through protonation and/or partial monomerization and can, thus, be regarded as a temporary storage of acid neutralizing capacity of the soil, which would be otherwise leached out directly from the soil profile. In contrast, the acid-buffering reactions of TSTR soils seemed to occur, if at all, mostly at or near the soil surface and the contribution of the B-horizon soils was limited.     

Identifying critical limit in soil and plant for determining response of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) to boron application in Madurai soils of Tamil Nadu,India

To establish critical limit in soils and plant, soil samples were collected from twenty; 12, 5 and 3 soil locations of low, medium and high boron (B) status from Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, India for pot culture experiment. Based on the results of pot culture experiment, the critical limit was determined to be 42.7 mg kg^?1 for groundnut plants and 0.39 mg kg^?1 in Madurai soils. Groundnut plants were highly responded to B application in soils below the critical limit whereas soils with B greater than 0.51 mg kg^?1 did not respond. For the confirmation of pot culture results, a field experiment was conducted with different B treatments comprised of soil and foliar applications and results revealed that the pod yield of groundnut increased with increasing levels of B and the soil application of 20 kg ha^?1 as borax has showed significantly higher pod yield in the district.     

Critical limit of boron for maize (Zea mays L.) in red and lateritic soil of Jharkhand,India

ABSTRACT

To establish a critical limit in soils and plant, an experiment was conducted in red and lateritic soil (Alfisols) of farmer’s field in tribal-dominated Panchayat Kurum, Palkot block, Gumla district, Jharkhand, India. Based on the results of the field experiment, the critical limits were determined as 0.48, 0.50, 0.47, and 0.42 mg kg^?1 in the soil, respectively, for hot water, hot calcium chloride, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate-extractable B, while a critical limit of 12.00 mg kg^?1 was observed in maize tissue using the graphical method. In an analysis of variance method, the critical limits of B in soils were found as 0.45, 0.54, 0.49, and 0.43 mg kg^?1 using hot water, hot calcium chloride, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate extractants, respectively. Maize plants were highly responsive to B application where soil B level was below the critical limit (0.50 mg kg^?1). In a field experiment, grain yield of maize increased with increasing levels of B application, while soil application at 1.0 kg ha^?1 + two foliar application (at the knee and pre-flowering stages) of borax at 0.2% were showed significantly higher grain yield of the maize crop. The hot water, hot calcium chloride, salicylic acid, and ammonium acetate-extractable B were significantly and positively correlated with organic carbon and negatively correlated with the electrical conductivity of soils.     

Measurement of the fate of acetic acid form carbon in soil solution of flooded soils using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Carbon-14 (¹⁴C) which can be taken into low molecular weight organic compounds (e.g. acetic acid, formic acid, methanol and ethanol) is one of the most important radionuclides released from transuranic waste disposal sites. To understand the fate of organic compounds in the soil environment, a stable carbon isotope, ¹³C, can be used as a tracer of ¹⁴C. In this study, ¹³C-labeled acetic acid was added to six soil-water mixture samples and the chemical form changes in the soil solutions were measured by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The ¹³C-labeled acetic acid in the soil solutions was detected for the first 24 h, but could not be detected afterwards for any soil samples. Thus, in any soils that have similar properties to the soil samples used in the present study, most of the ¹³C-labeled acetic acid would likely be changed to other physico-chemical forms and be removed from the soil solutions in a very short time period. Less than 3% of the carbon added as acetic acid remained in the soil solutions, and was possibly mainly in inorganic forms. Carbon from acetic acid would not be retained in soil solutions for 48 h.     

High biochar rates may suppress rice (Oryza sativa) growth by altering the ratios of C to N and available N to P in paddy soils

Although most studies have indicated that biochar can boost rice (Oryza sativa) growth, the material may also suppress it, depending on ratios of carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) and available N to available phosphorous (P). The current study sought to examine the impacts of biochar on rice growth and to identify underlying mechanisms. A pot experiment was conducted using two soils of high (3.05%) and low (0.54%) organic carbon (OC) content, mixed with 0, 1.5, 3, 6, and 12% biochar and planted with rice. Rice growth components, five rice tissue nutrients, and nine soil properties were measured. The results showed that the response of rice growth to biochar rates could be described using an exponential-growth function in high-OC soil but an inverted U-shaped curve in low-OC soil. In high-OC soil, the 12% biochar rate led to the greatest total biomass, increased by 47%, whereas in low-OC soil, the 3 and 6% rates exhibited the highest total biomass, increased by 44%, compared to the no-biochar added soils. Biochar elevated the C:N ratio from 11.5 to 39.1, with an optimal range of 20–30 corresponding to the highest rice growth. Biochar declined the ratio of NH₄-N to Mehlich-1 P, causing N deficiency. In brief, high biochar rates may suppress rice growth when the soil C:N ratio exceeds 30. The applied biochar rate should be considered based on soil properties typically OC and N content to obtain the C:N ratio between 20 and 30 for optimal rice growth.     

Compatibility of the ammonium lactate (AL) and sodium bicarbonate (Olsen) methods for determining available phosphorus in Swedish soils

Abstract

Plant-available P was first extracted in soils 114 years ago and a number of different analytical methods have since been developed, but for good reasons none of these methods has been adopted as a standard for all soils. With increasing cooperation within research, there is a need to harmonise the interpretation of analytical data for fertiliser recommendations, research, and environmental control. This paper evaluates the compatibility of the Swedish standard ammonium lactate (P_AL) method and the widely used Olson's sodium bicarbonate (P_Ols) method in 82 topsoil samples taken from Swedish long-term soil fertility field trials. The P_AL-values were usually larger than P_Ols, with a mean P_AL/P_Ols quotient of 2.30±1.04 (0.67–6.58). The P_AL and P_Ols means and ranges were 126±89 (5–360) and 55.1±33 (3.1–122.8) mg P kg^?1 dry soil, respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between P_AL and P_Ols and how this relationship was affected by clay content, pH, and soil organic carbon content (SOC). After statistical transformation, it emerged that the square root of clay content (17.4%±13.82, range 1–54.4) and pH (6.45±0.54, range 5.5–7.7) significantly affected the relationship at partial R ²-values of 2 and 12%, respectively, while ln(SOC) (2.54%±1.21, range 1–6.03) did not, apparently due the narrow range. The regressions of predicted vs. measured values explained 95 and 94% of the variation in P_AL and P_Ols, respectively. The mean deviation of predicted compared with measured values was 21.3 and 8.3 mg P kg^?1 dry soil for P_AL and P_Ols, respectively, corresponding to 20 or 19% of the measured values. We conclude that a data set consisting of P_AL-values can be converted into P_Ols-values and vice versa with reasonably high accuracy when accounting for clay content and pH.     

铁铝土泥浆包覆与淬灭强化荔枝木炭化物的碳固存率

生物质炭作为一种富碳多孔材料,具有固碳、减污和培肥等多重功效。基于当前限氧高温热裂解制炭技术及炭改性方法,该研究以亚热带地区常见的荔枝木为原材料、选取铁铝土制成泥浆,通过泥浆包覆和淬灭实现生物质“自限氧”和“水”淬灭,探讨铁铝土泥浆在荔枝木炭化过程中的作用及其对炭质的影响机理。结果表明：铁铝土泥浆包覆和淬灭制得的荔枝木炭的碳含量和碳固存率最高,分别为83.5%和83.9%,较无包覆水淬灭炭品的碳含量和碳固存率提高了16.7和37.8个百分点。扫描电镜-能谱分析的结果表明,铁铝土泥浆包覆和淬灭生成的炭品的碳骨架结构规整且其表面有铁铝矿物负载。一方面,泥浆通过涂层包覆形成了包覆壳,以物理阻隔作用截留了碳（防止炭化物中的碳在持续燃烧中生成CO_X）;另一方面,铁铝矿物在高温热裂解过程中与炭化物结合,形成了矿质（Fe/Al）-碳质复合体,实现了碳固存。研究可为生物质炭的制备提供新的便捷、廉价的技术思路,以生物质就地炭化和应用的碳负排放方案助力碳中和。