Use of agricultural by-products to study the pH effects in an acid tea garden soil

The amelioration of an acid Alfisol from a tea garden was studied by incorporating various plant materials: canola straw, wheat straw, rice straw, corn straw, soybean straw, peanut straw, faba bean straw, Chinese milk vetch shoot and pea straw prior to incubation for a maximum of 65 days. Soil pH increased after incubation with all the incorporated materials with the legumes causing the largest increases. The final soil pH was correlated with ash alkalinity ( r ² = 0.73), base cations ( r ² = 0.74) and N content ( r ² = 0.93) of the applied materials. It was assumed that the incubation released the base cations in plant materials as they decomposed which ultimately increased the base cation saturation of the soil. Similarly, soil exchangeable Al was also decreased with the incorporation of the legume plant materials and corn straw and rice straw. Our investigation demonstrated that legumes are the preferred choice for controlling the soil acidity and also for reducing the toxicity of Al in acid soils.     

Principles underlying the practice of determining lime requirements of acid soils by use of buffer methods

Abstract

A buffer is generally a mixture of a weak acid and a salt of the same weak acid. Hence it can neutralize both acids and bases, and thus resists marked changes in pH of a system. Yet systematic change in pH of a buffer caused by addition of an acidic substance can be used to indicate the total acidity represented by the change in buffer pH. Since acid soil is itself a buffer, when it is added to a buffer mixture for the purpose of measuring its acidity or lime requirement (LR), the resulting double‐buffer suspension (soil‐buffer) is a relatively complex system. Much of the complication in interpreting the changes in buffer pH brought about by mixing soil and buffer stems from the facts: i) that much of the acidity is pH‐dependent, and ii) that quick‐test methodology involves reaction of only a fraction of the total soil acidity with the buffer. Marked change in relative amounts of H ions dissociating from the soil‐SMP‐buffer system at soil‐buffer pH 6.9 and above accounts for relatively wide variations between buffer‐indicated and CaCO₃ incubation‐measured LR of low LR soils. Similarly, decreased reactivity of H⁺ in high organic matter soils and increased reactivity of H in acid‐leached soils cause errors in buffer‐indicated LR. Awareness of these principles helps avoid pitfalls of existing buffer methods, and has led to incorporation of the double‐buffer feature for improving the SMP method.     

三种植物物料对两种茶园土壤酸度的改良效果

用室内培养实验研究了稻草、花生秸秆和紫云英在 5、10 和 20 g/kg 的加入量水平下对茶园黄棕壤和茶园红壤酸度的改良效果.结果表明:除了黄棕壤加入紫云英处理会降低土壤的 pH 外,其余所有加入植物物料的处理均使土壤 pH 有不同程度的增加,使土壤交换性酸和交换性Al的数量减小,使土壤交换性盐基阳离子和盐基饱和度增加.有机物料对土壤酸度的改良效果与有机物料灰化碱和N含量有关,灰化碱和有机N的矿化使土壤 pH 升高,NH4+-N的硝化使土壤 pH 降低.3种植物物料中花生秸秆对土壤酸度的改良效果优于紫云英和稻草.加入植物物料使红壤中有毒形态Al的浓度显著减小,说明植物物料能够缓解红壤中Al对植物的毒害.     

通过施用碱性矿渣和作物残茬生物炭以促进酸性老成土中盐基饱并降低土壤酸度

This investigation was conducted by using alkaline slag and crop straw biochars to reduce acidity of an acidic Ultisol through incubation and pot experiments with lime as a comparison. The soil was amended with different liming materials： lime（1 g kg^-1）,alkaline slag（2 and 4 g kg^-1）, peanut straw biochar（10 and 20 g kg^-1）, canola straw biochar（10 and 20 g kg^-1） and combinations of alkaline slag（2 g kg^-1） and biochars（10 g kg^-1） in the incubation study. A pot experiment was also conducted to observe the soybean growth responses to the above treatments. The results showed that all the liming materials increased soil p H and decreased soil exchangeable acidity. The higher the rates of alkaline slag, biochars, and alkaline slag combined with biochars, the greater the increase in soil p H and the reduction in soil exchangeable acidity. All the amendments increased the levels of one or more soil exchangeable base cations. The lime treatment increased soil exchangeable Ca^2＋, the alkaline slag treatment increased exchangeable Ca^2＋ and Mg^2＋ levels, and the biochars and combined applications of alkaline slag with biochars increased soil exchangeable Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋ and K^＋ and soil available P. The amendments enhanced the uptake of one or more nutrients of N, P, K, Ca and Mg by soybean in the pot experiment. Of the different amendments, the combined application of alkaline slag with crop straw biochars was the best choice for increasing base saturation and reducing soil acidity of the acidic Ultisol. The combined application of alkaline slag with biochars led to the greatest reduction in soil acidity, increased soil Ca, Mg, K and P levels, and enhanced the uptake of Ca, Mg, K and P by soybean plants.     

The liming effect of five organic manures when incubated with an acid soil

A laboratory incubation experiment of 6 months duration was carried out to investigate the liming effects of five organic manures (poultry, pig, and cattle manure, soybean residues, and sewage sludge) when added to an acid soil at a rate of 10 mg g^–1. Soils were sampled after 1, 7, 13, 19, and 25 weeks of incubation. For the animal manures and sewage sludge, soil pH was highest after 1 week incubation and it declined thereafter. However, for soybean residues, pH increased over the first 7 weeks of incubation after which it declined. The decreases in pH were accompanied by accumulation of NO ‐N in the soil. The addition of organic residues to the soil resulted in decreases in the concentrations of exchangeable Al and in both total (Al_t) and monomeric (Al_mono) Al present in the soil solution. The effect was most marked for poultry manure, least marked for cattle manure, and more evident after 7 than 25 weeks incubation. Concentrations of soluble C in the soil solution were elevated in manure‐amended soils. Manure additions resulted in a decrease in the percentage of Al_t present in solution as Al_mono, and this was attributed to complexation of Al by soluble organic matter originating from the manures. It was concluded that organic wastes can act as liming materials when added to acid soils and that the resulting increase in pH and decrease in Al_mono concentrations might provide a window of opportunity for establishment and early growth of crop plants.     

The amelioration effects of low temperature biochar generated from nine crop residues on an acidic Ultisol

Biochar was prepared using a low temperature pyrolysis method from nine plant materials including non‐leguminous straw from canola, wheat, corn, rice and rice hull and leguminous straw from soybean, peanut, faba bean and mung bean. Soil pH increased during incubation of the soil with all nine biochar samples added at 10 g/kg. The biochar from legume materials resulted in greater increases in soil pH than from non‐legume materials. The addition of biochar also increased exchangeable base cations, effective cation exchange capacity, and base saturation, whereas soil exchangeable Al and exchangeable acidity decreased as expected. The liming effects of the biochar samples on soil acidity correlated with alkalinity with a close linear correlation between soil pH and biochar alkalinity (R² = 0.95). Therefore, biochar alkalinity is a key factor in controlling the liming effect on acid soils. The incorporation of biochar from crop residues, especially from leguminous plants, can both correct soil acidity and improve soil fertility.     

Influence of surface‐applied poultry manure on topsoil and subsoil acidity and salinity: A leaching column study

It has been suggested that surface applications of animal manure can ameliorate both top and subsoil acidity. For that reason, the effects of surface incorporation (0–5 cm) of a high rate of poultry manure to an acid soil on pH and exchangeable and soluble Al in the top‐ and subsoil were investigated in a leaching column study. During the experimental period of 108 d, columns received a total of 875 mm with leaching events occurring after 9, 37, 58, and 86 d. Incorporation of poultry manure into the surface 5 cm resulted in a large rise in pH measured in both 1M KCl and in soil solution. This liming effect was attributed primarily to the substantial CaCO₃ content of poultry manure. In the 15–45 cm layer, pH_KCl was not significantly different between poultry manure and control treatments but surprisingly, soil‐solution pH was substantially less in the poultry‐manure treatments. Exchangeable Al was significantly less in poultry manure than in control in all soil layers although the effect was most marked in the 0–5 cm layer. However, although concentrations and activities of monomeric Al (Al_mono), and the proportion of total Al present as Al_mono, in soil solution were lower under poultry manure than in control in the 0–5 cm layer, the reverse was, in fact, the case in lower soil horizons. This was attributed to a soluble‐salt effect, originating from the large cation content of poultry manure, displacing exchangeable Al³⁺ and H⁺ back into soil solution. Indeed, electrical conductivity and concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺_, K⁺, and Na⁺ in soil solution were substantially higher in the poultry‐manure than in the control treatments at all soil depths. Poultry‐manure applications also resulted in substantial increases in the concentrations of Ca²⁺_, Mg²⁺_, K⁺, Na⁺, Al_mono, NH , and NO in leachates, particularly at the fourth leaching. It was concluded that although surface application of poultry manure can raise soil pH in the topsoil, increases in soluble‐salt concentrations in soil solution can greatly modify this effect in the subsoil.     

茶树叶和刺槐叶对茶园土壤酸度的改良效果

通过培养实验,比较研究了茶树老叶和刺槐叶对2种酸化茶园土壤的改良效果。结果表明,在酸性茶园土壤中分别加入5、10和20g·kg^-1。茶树老叶和剌槐叶培养35d后,相对于对照,土壤pH值有不同程度的提高,土壤交换性酸减小,土壤交换性钙和镁等交换性盐基离子数量有所提高,土壤毒性铝离子的数量减少。2种树叶对土壤酸度的改良效果随其加入量的增加而增加,刺槐叶的改良效果好于茶树老叶,2种树叶对红壤的改良效果优于其对黄棕壤的改良效果。植物物料所含的灰化碱及豆科植物所含大量有机氮的矿化是导致土壤酸度下降的主要原因。     

Lime requirement for agricultural soils: A review of the current and potential methods for routine use

Liming is one of the key agronomic practices to improve crop yields in acid soils because, among other things, it reduces aluminum toxicity and creates favorable conditions for crop growth. For an effective liming program, the methods to determine lime requirement should be as precise as possible. This paper reviews the existing lime requirement methods and discusses the potential of a new one suitable for routine use in the laboratory to test most agricultural soils. The most widely used lime requirement methods can be categorized into four groups: titration, incubation, buffer, and field methods. Other methods such as spectroscopy method or the use of empirical equations have also been adopted. Although some methods are highly reliable, they are not optimal for routine use because they are inconvenient during the laboratory procedures or cannot be validated for all conditions. Based on the linearity between soil pH and the added base in the pH range from 4.5–6.5 in most agricultural soils, a titration-based method on 1:1 soil:0.01 M CaCl₂ slurry of a single sample appears to be a promising candidate for routine use. In further studies, this generally applicable method should be evaluated to provide a better comparison to established methods for lime requirement determination.     

秸秆生物质炭对红壤酸度的改良作用:回顾与展望

回顾了近年来用秸秆生物质炭改良红壤酸度和钝化污染红壤中重金属等方面的研究进展,并对该领域未来的发展趋势作简要展望。     

Sorghum growth,root responses,and soil‐solution aluminum and manganese on pH‐stratified sandy soil§

A stratified subsurface layer of acidic soil can develop in minimally disturbed soil such as no‐till receiving injection of N fertilizer (e.g., anhydrous ammonia). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of subsurface band treatments in alleviating soluble Al³⁺ and Mn²⁺ toxicities on sorghum growth. Soil columns 40 cm in length were packed with soil (Valentine fine sand mixed mesic Typic Ustipsamment and Thurman loamy sand mixed Mesic Udorhentic Haplustoll) with treatments applied at the 10–18 cm depth to mimic soil pH stratification. The treatments at this depth were: (1) entire layer at soil pH of 3.7; (2) band of soil 6 cm wide at pH of 5.8 with the rest of the soil at pH 3.7; (3) band of soil 6 cm wide at pH of 6.3 with the rest of the soil at pH 3.7; and (4) entire layer at soil pH of 5.8. The soil above and below the 10–18 cm depth was at pH 5.8. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) was grown in the soil columns under a controlled environment for 6 weeks. High concentration of Al in soil solution was found in soil at soil pH 3.7 which was overcome by either banding to pH 5.8, 6.3, or having the soil layer at pH 5.8. Treatment with pH of 5.8 throughout the soil 10–18 cm depth produced significantly greater top growth, although all other pH or liming strategies performed better than the soil pH 3.7 treatment. The banded treatments at pH 5.8 and 6.3 allowed roots to grow below the 10–18 cm layer of soil, but root growth was still significantly less than in the soil where the entire soil treatment layer was at pH 5.8. The increase in biomass yield with soil pH of 5.8 in the entire treatment layer was higher compared to band treatment at pH 5.8; however, the lime requirement would be 3.4 times more with liming the entire layer compared to banding a portion of the soil to pH 5.8 and would thus be translated into a higher liming cost.     

农业废弃物及其制备的生物质炭对酸性土壤的改良作用

The liming potential of some crop residues and their biochars on an acid Ultisol was investigated using incubation experiments. Rice hulls showed greater liming potential than rice hull biochar, while soybean and pea straws had less liming potential than their biochars. Due to their higher alkalinity, biochars from legume materials increased soil pH much compared to biochars from non-legume materials. The alkalinity of biochars was a key factor aflecting their liming potential, and the greater alkalinity of biochars led to greater reductions in soil acidity. The incorporation of biochars decreased soil exchangeable acidity and increased soil exchangeable base cations and base saturation, thus improving soil fertility.     

Effects of surface‐applied and soil‐incorporated lime on some physical attributes of a Dystrudept soil

It is generally accepted that liming ameliorates soil acidity. However, the method of lime application is thought by many to influence its effectiveness in acid soils. In this study, we wanted to assess the degree of effectiveness of surface‐applied lime and lime incorporated into the soil on soil structural attributes and water retention of a Dystrudept soil in the SE region of the State of Paraná, Brazil. Lime was added at the rate of 15 t/ha to soil through: (i) surface broadcasting, (ii) incorporation via ploughing and harrowing, (iii) incorporation via subsoiling and harrowing. A control treatment with zero lime application was included in the experiment. The addition of lime by surface broadcasting resulted in significant reductions in soil bulk density (BD) and macroporosity (Ma) and increases in total porosity (TP) and microporosity (Mi) of the top soil layer (0–0.10 m). The reverse was the case in the 0.10‐ to 0.20‐m soil layer; where lime was incorporated via ploughing and harrowing, increases in BD and reductions in TP and Ma were observed. Addition of lime also significantly increased soil water retention, with maximum retention recorded from soil amended with surface broadcast lime. Changes in soil chemical attributes (increases in pH, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ contents; reductions in potential acidity and Al³⁺ content) were responsible for the changes observed in structural and physical attributes, and water retention. Bearing in mind the lower application costs, improvement in the soil chemical attributes for plant development and soil physical quality, surface broadcast lime can be considered a promising alternative for no‐till farmers.     

烟田土壤酸化原因及调控技术研究进展

烟田土壤酸化问题已成为我国烟田土壤质量和烟草生产的主要限制因素,然而,到目前为止对烟田土壤酸化机理及调控技术尚缺乏系统性研究及总结,极大地限制了我国烟田土壤酸化改良进程和烟叶可持续生产.本文综述了近些年来国内外烟田土壤酸化机理及调控技术的研究进展,定量分析了不同致酸因子对烟田土壤酸化的贡献,揭示了盐基离子的投入和输出不...     

Amelioration of a highly degraded tropical alfisol by planting I. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties 1989-91

This paper examines soil amelioration by planting 15 leguminous and graminaceous plant species, including herbaceous annuals, perennials and biennials, and woody perennials and biennials. Disturbed and undisturbed natural regrowth were planted with leguminous species, in some cases with fertilizer applied at planting (400 kg ha⁻¹ of 15:15:15 NPK). The studies were made on two highly degraded sites in southwestern Nigeria which had been subjected to intensive mechanized cropping for a period of 10 years. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties were monitored from 1989 to 1991. Acacia difficilis, Brachiaria lata and Mucuna utilis had the lowest survival rates by the following growing season. Soil fertility and compaction levels differed between sites. Planting had no effect on the latter. The decreases in compaction (i.e. macroporosity) between 0.00 and 0.10 m depth at both sites one month before and five and 17 months after planting were 43, 59 and 61 per cent, respectively were attributed to exclusion of heavy machinery from the sites. Large decreases in fertility occurred at both sites and were attributed to a combination of nutrient extraction and to leaching. Between fallow species, exchangeable Ca, pH and the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) were greater and total acids lower for herbaceous cover compared with woody perennials, and was attributed to a higher Ca demand by the latter. Highest and lowest values of Ca, CEC and pH occurred in plots where plant material was returned to the soil (i.e. by cutting or die-back) and in cropped plots, respectively. Natural regrowth was as effective or better than planted species in improving soil physical and chemical properties. Therefore the use of exotic plant species for ameliorating highly degraded alfisols is unnecessary. Amelioration of highly degraded alfisols may be best effected by allowing natural regrowth to occur while excluding all mechanized traffic from the site.     

Ameliorating acidity of an extensively‐managed permanent pasture soil

Acid soil amelioration was measured annually over an 11 year experiment. Lime, and superphosphate were surface‐applied under combinations of three rates of lime, viz. nil, lime to raise pH_{C a} of 0–10 cm to 5.0 (low rate) and 5.5 (high rate) respectively, two rates of superphosphate (125 kg/ha every 2 to 3 yr, 250 kg/ha/yr) and two sheep stocking rates. Soils were sampled at 0–2.5, 2.5–5, 5–7.5, 7.5–10, 10–15 and 15–20 cm. Soil pH stratification developed after lime application. By 11 yr lime had not raised pH_{C a} to either 5.0 or 5.5 in the 5–10 cm profile. However, pH_{C a} >5.0 or >5.5 were observed in the 0–5 cm profile. Under high P, low lime application, soil pH_{C a} was higher in the 0–2.5 cm profile at low stocking rate. Effects of applied lime on pH_{C a} declined with time and depth under low lime and the relationship with Al_ex which increased as pH_{C a} declined, was modelled. A rarely reported relationship showed that as soil C increased the apparent solubility of Al decreased. At the lowest pH_{C a} considered, there was a strong negative association between Al_ex and total C, becoming weaker with positive pH_{C a} increments. Higher P rates increased pH_{C a} under low lime contrasting with lesser effects on pH_{C a} under low P at the same lime rate. Slow and limited lime movement means that farmers growing acid sensitive plants must apply lime early enough and at rates and frequencies sufficient to ensure downward movement.     

极浅型潜流人工湿地用于污水处理和风沙土改良的中试研究

[目的]就利用极浅型潜流人工湿地同步处理污水和改良风沙土的可行性进行中试,为后续相关工程的设计、建设和运行提供科学依据。[方法]以污水处理厂初沉池出水为原水,以取自毛乌素沙漠的风沙土为湿地填料,以高羊茅、黑麦草和狗牙根为湿地栽培植物,研究并分析湿地对水中污染物的去除效果和在风沙土的富集特征。[结果]经过15个月的运行,各湿地对污水中COD,TN以及TP的平均去除率分别高于原土68.75%,70.09%和62.74%。运行完毕后,各湿地风沙土较原土有机质、全氮含量显著增加(p0.05),全磷含量虽呈增加趋势但增幅不显著(p0.05),其中风沙土有机质、全氮及全磷含量分别较原土增加了10.64~18.77,8.74~13.98,0.34~0.55倍。[结论]利用极浅型潜流人工湿地同步处理污水和改良风沙土可行。它既能高效净化污水,又可快速提升风沙土的生产力。     

Evolution of Chemical Characteristics of Technosols in an Afforested Coal Mine Dump over a 20‐year Period

Coal mining in areas containing pyritic materials frequently leads to a remarkable impact on the environment because of sulphide oxidation. We studied the evolution of chemical characteristics of Technosols derived from sterile materials, in a lignite mine located in As Pontes (northwest Spain), over a 20‐year period. Three plots, which had different management practices, were selected. The mine spoil was deposited randomly in two of the plots (CSP with low S concentration and CSA with high S concentration), while it was selectively managed in the other one (P206). Twenty years after the first sampling, CSA continued to show the highest acidity (pH_water 3∙7–3∙9), whereas the lowest acidity was that of P206 (pH_water 5∙0). Regarding the surface layer, C increased 1∙1% in P206, 0∙3% in CSP and 0∙2% in CSA. Nitrogen increased 1% in P206. The C/N ratio increased in all plots. Phosphorus, Ca, Mg, K and effective cation exchange capacity decreased in 2002 and experienced a slight increase in 2012. Exchangeable Al and Al saturation increased in CSP and P206 and decreased in CSA. Electric conductivity levels of Ca, Mg, Na, Al and SO₄²⁻ concentrations decreased in the soil solution in all plots during the 20‐year period. Twenty years after the first monitoring, the plots that were built based on selective management of the mine spoil showed lower acidity and acidity‐derived consequences. These facts confirm the necessity of an appropriate selection of sterile materials, avoiding the placement of pyrite‐rich spoils on the surface or near‐surface zones, which is essential to facilitate proper restoration of this kind of dumping areas. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

我国西北地区2010年农产品需求预测

研究分析预测了我国西北地区2010年农产品需求状况,结果表明该区2010年农产品口粮缺口70.2万t,饲料粮缺口479.5万t,油料缺口205.2万t,甜菜缺口384.3万t,水产品几乎全部(157.3万t)缺口;而水果、蔬菜与棉花分别剩余547.5万t、460.6万t和116.5万t。