Leaf mineral element concentrations and growth of sweet sorghum subjected to acid soil stress

Abstract

The nutritional profile of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cultivars grown under acid soil field stress conditions is a critical consideration when developing plants which are adapted to these infertile soils. Uptake and accumulation of macro‐ and micronutrients vary among genotypes and ultimately Influence plant growth and development. This study compared fourteen sweet sorghum germplasm lines and varieties for their Individual patterns of leaf nutrient concentrations and productivity when grown under acid soil field conditions (pH 4.45 to pH 4.85) at three locations over a two‐year period. Significant year x location interactions were found for Fe, K, and Ca concentrations at both Blairsville and Calhoun and for Mn and P levels at Blairsville and Calhoun, respectively. Data from Calhoun on plant height, dry weight, visual stress ratings, and rainfall indicate a possible association between drought tolerance and acid soil tolerance in sorghum. No significant differences in A1 concentrations were found among these sweet sorghum lines and varieties, which indicate that their acid soil tolerance mechanisms are probably not related to A1. MN 1054 accumulated the highest levels of Mn in the three acid soils. The highest concentrations of Mg and P were found in Brandes. MN 960 had the highest visual stress ratings (highest susceptibility) while Brandes, Ramada, Roma, and Wray were the most tolerant. All fourteen cultivars apparently have some tolerance to acid soil stress conditions.     

Leaf position and genotype differences for mineral element concentrations in sorghum grown on tropical acid soil 1

Mineral element deficiencies and toxicities are common problems associated with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production on acid soils. To better understand some of the mineral element problems and the analysis of plant tissue of sorghum plants grown on acid soils, four sorghum genotypes were grown on an acid Oxisol at Carimagua, Colombia limed with dolomite at 2 and 6 Mg ha^‐1.

Samples for mineral element analyses were obtained from leaves at different positions on the four genotypes. Concentrations of P and Mg were highest in the flag leaf (Leaf No. 1) and decreased as the position on the plant declined from the top of the plant for plants grown at 2 Mg lime ha^‐1. Similar decreases in P, Mg, K, and Zn concentrations occurred in plants grown with 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. Concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Al increased as leaf position declined from the flag leaf for plants grown at 2 and 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. The higher lime supply enhanced Ca and reduced Mn and Fe concentrations in leaves. Differences in mineral element concentrations for the four genotypes used were fairly extensive. The elements to show the greatest range among genotypes were Al and Si and the elements to show the least range among genotypes were P, K, and S. Care should be used in collecting leaf samples for plant analysis and genotypic differences for accumulation of mineral elements should be considered in interpretation of results.     

The effect of soil pH and high urea concentrations on urease activity in soil

The rate of hydrolysis of urea in soil over the wide range of concentrations, up to 10 moles N per dm³ soil solution, found in fertilizer practice, was examined in Begbroke sandy loam adjusted to different pH values. On rewetting air-dry soil, urease activity increased rapidly, reached a maximum within the first 24 h and then decreased slowly to level off after about 4 days. Pretreatment of the soil with urea or ammonium had no effect on the urease activity. Urease activity increased with substrate concentration, reached an optimum value and then decreased with rising urea concentration. The results could be explained by substrate inhibition at higher urea concentrations, and the data are well described by a modified Michaelis-Menten equation involving three parameters, V_max, K_m and K_i where K_i is an inhibition constant. K_m decreased linearily with rise in pH whereas K_i increased slightly between pH 4.9 and 7.0 and steeply between 7.0 and 8.4. V_max increased with rise in pH, reached a maximum value at pH 6.0 and then declined at higher pHs. There was a further reaction, reaching a maximum rate at a urea concentration of about 0.2 molar N in the soil solution, that followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. K_m for this high affinity reaction increased up to pH 7.2 and then decreased at higher pH values; V_max increased up to pH 6.8 and then decreased. The contribution of the high affinity reaction was small except at low concentrations of urea.     

Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on soil respiration and enzyme activities of two Mediterranean horticultural soils

The effects of municipal food waste compost addition and mineral fertilization on selected soil microbiological activities were investigated during 3 years of reiterated treatments on two Mediterranean agricultural soils with different organic carbon content. Compost at 15, 30 and 45 t ha⁻¹ (dry matter), mineral (NPK) fertilizers and combined fertilizers with 15 t ha⁻¹ of compost plus two reduced doses of mineral N were applied to both soils. At both sites, organic amendment increased soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities. The differences in soil microbial activities among treatments, found after 3 years of repeated treatments, were attributable to the variations of soil organic C content and to the impact of soil tillage. Our results show that, in Mediterranean intensively cultivated agroecosystems, annual organic amendments improve the microbial activity of soil and produce cumulative effects, suggesting the usefulness of repeated high-rate compost applications.     

Effect of soil pH and organic matter on desorption hysteresis of chlorimuron-ethyl in two typical Chinese soils

Purpose  

Chlorimuron-ethyl is a sulfonylurea herbicide widely used to control many annual broadleaf weeds, and the residue for a long period posed a heavy hazard to rotational crops or vegetables. Knowledge about effect of soil pH and organic matter on desorption processes of chlorimuron-ethyl remains obscure. In this study, desorption behavior of chlorimuron-ethyl as a function of soil pH and organic matter was investigated.     

Effect of soil pH on cation and anion solubility

Abstract

The effect of soil pH on the exchangeability and solubility of soil cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, and NH₄‐N) and anions (NO₃‐N, Cl, and P) was investigated for 80 soils, spanning a wide range in physical and chemical properties and taxonomic groups. This information is needed from environmental and agronomic standpoints to estimate the effect of changes in soil pH on leachability and plant availability of soil nutrients. Soils were incubated with varying amounts of acid (H₂SO₄) and base (CaCO₃) for up to 30 days. Although acid and base amendments had no consistent effect on cation exchangeability (as determined by neutral NH₄OAc), amounts of water‐soluble Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH₄‐N, and P decreased, while NO₃‐N and Cl increased with an increase in soil pH. The increase in cation solubility was attributed to an increase in the negative charge of the soil surface associated with the base addition. The change in surface electrostatic potential had the opposite effect on amounts of NO₃‐N and Cl in solution, with increases in N mineralization with increasing soil pH also contributing to the greater amount of NO₃‐N in solution. The decrease in P solubility was attributed to changes in the solubility of Fe‐, A1‐, and Ca‐P complexes. The logarithm of the amount of water‐soluble cation or anion was a linear function of soil pH. The slope of this relationship was closely related (R² = = 0.90 ‐ 0.96) to clay content, initial soil pH, and size of the cation or anion pool maintaining solution concentration. Although the degree in soil pH buffering increased with length of incubation, no effect of time on the relationship between cation or anion solubility and pH was observed except for NO₃‐N, due to N mineralization. A change in soil pH brought about by acid rain, fertilizer, and lime inputs, thus, affects cation and anion solubility. The impact of these changes on cation and anion leachability and plant availability may be assessed using the regression equations developed.     

Effect of chromium VI on mineral element composition of bush beans

Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Contender) were grown on perlite with nutrient solution and 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 ppm levels of Na₂CrO₄ Significant decrease of top growth and chlorosis in trifoliated leaves were observed for 2.5 and 5 ppm Cr, with Cr concentrations (μg/g) in tops:≥ 12.1, in roots:≥ 509.9. Cr decreased K, Na, Mg and Fe concentrations, and increased P and Mn concentrations in roots. In tops decreased N, K, Na and Fe concentrations and increased Mn and Ca concentrations were observed, Translocation of P, Zn, Cu and Fe was inhibited; Ca and Mn translocation was generally enhanced. P/Fe ratio was increased up to 60% in chlorotic plants, indicating a shift from Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺.     

Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on some soil properties

Abstract

NPK was applied to a Haynie, very fine, sandy loam as 89.6 MT/ha (40 T/ac) of OF (organic fertilizer as feedlot manure at 45% water content) and as MF (mineral fertilizer) with nutrients equivalent to the manure during 18 months.

Organic fertilizer increased soil organic matter content 0.25% more than the MF and 0.2% more than the control. Organic fertilizer increased the CEC 0.3 m.e./100 g more than the MF and 0.4 m.e./100 g more than the control. Organic fertilizer increased exch. Mg by 32 kg/ha while MF decreased exch. Mg slightly.     

Seasonal changes in durian leaf and soil mineral nutrient element content

The 3–4 year monitoring study showed that fluctuations in durian (Durio zibethintts Murray) leaf and soil nutrient element levels were closely related to seasonal changes in the crop phenology. The leaf sampling method was standardized taking the 5th and 6th mature green leaf from the shoot tip. The best sampling time was determined to be in November where the coefficient of variability for most nutrient elements were the lowest at or lower than 20%. Tentative standards for durian leaf nutrient elements were set up taking the 95% confidence interval of the means at this sampling stage. All the leaf macro elements, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), and the micro elements, zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) declined or were lower during fruit set and development from September to end of fruit harvest in January. Leaf N was also the lowest in July and leaf P at the tail end of harvest. Soil N, P, and the bases K, Ca, and Mg also exhibited similar trends, lower during fruit development especially in October‐November and were lower during active leaf flushing from March to May.     

Effect of rewetting air-dried soils on pH and accumulation of mineral nitrogen

The effect of rewetting a number of air-dried soils on pH and on accumulation of mineral-N was examined in a laboratory incubation study. When rewetted-soils were incubated at 25°C three patterns of change in soil _pH and in accumulation of mineral-N were observed. Ammonification and nitrification proceeded together in soils with pH values greater than 6.0; soil pH decreased whilst concentrations of nitrate rose and those of ammonium remained low. By contrast, in soils with pH values less than 5.0, although ammonification proceeded there was no appreciable nitrification; soil pH increased whilst concentrations of ammonium rose and those of nitrate remained very low. In a third group of soils with pH values between 5.0 and 5.5, there was a delay in nitrification, but ammonification was not retarded; soil _pH initially rose as concentrations of ammonium increased, but when nitrification subsequently commenced the _pH decreased, concentrations of nitrate rose and those of ammonium declined. When microbial activity in rewetted soils was inhibited by incubation at 3°C, or in a chloroform atmosphere at 25°C, there was little change in concentrations of ammonium and nitrate, and soil pH remained relatively constant.
Such changes in soil _pH, induced by ammonification and nitrification, are likely to have important consequences to soil chemical studies where _pH-dependent reactions are being studied using rewetted soils. Changes in pH can be minimized by using field moist rather than air-dried soils.     

Effect of microbial decomposition of mature leaves on soil pH

The hypothesis that the microbial decomposition of organic matter low in organic nitrogen leads to an increase in soil pH was tested and confirmed in a pot experiment with two different soils into which mature cherry leaves were incorporated.     

Growth traits and mineral concentrations of maize hybrids grown on unlimed and limed acid soil

Growing crop plants tolerant to acid soils is an alternative for successful production on acid soils with limited inputs, especially lime. Acid soil‐ or aluminum (Al)‐tolerant plants offer considerable protection against soil acidity problems. Thirteen maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids developed for production under various environmental conditions were grown (greenhouse) on two acid soils (unlimed and limed) to determine differences among hybrids for growth traits, mineral acquisition, and relative tolerance to acid soil. Porters soil induced greater acid soil stress on maize than did Lily soil, although shoot/root dry matter (DM) ratios were affected more in plants grown on Lily than on Porters soil. Shoot and root DM and total root length (RL) over all hybrids followed sequences of Limed Lily ≥ Limed Porters > Unlimed Lily > Unlimed Porters, and the trait with the greatest variation among hybrids was total RL. Specific RL (total RL/root DM) over all hybrids followed a sequence of Limed Lily=Limed Porters=Unlimed Lily>Unlimed Porters, with relatively small variations among hybrids. Shoot DM/RL among hybrids followed a sequence of Unlimed Porters ≥ Unlimed Lily > Limed Lily = Limed Porters, and had the least variation among hybrids. Two Brazilian hybrids (HD 91102 and HD 9176) had highest DM and total RL to indicate relatively high tolerance to acid soil stresses, while other hybrids (ten from the United States and one from Brazil) had relatively small differences for growth traits to indicate moderate to low tolerance to acid soils. Although genotypes differed widely for mineral element concentrations, no significant differences in mineral elements between more and less tolerant genotypes were noted.     

Plant mineral composition and tolerance to low pH in species of Tribe Triticeae

Abstract

Mineral composition of straw in a number of species from Genera Aegilops, Triticum, and Dazypyrum (Tribe Triticeae) has been established under conditions of different soil pH. Nitrogen (N) content has strongly been influenced by ploidy level and has been maximal in diploids. Wild (T. boeoticum) and early cultivated (T. dicoccum) species surpassed domesticated ones T. monococcum and T. durum, respectively. Maximal phosphorus (P) values were shown in Ae. squarrosa and bread wheat cultivars—Chinese spring and Pliska grown on strongly acid soil. T. aestivum cultivars confirmed partially, previously reported effects of low pH on mineral composition. Diploids and tetraploids showed specific changes in elemental content. Progenitors of common wheat with genomes A (T. boeoticum and T. monococcum) and B (Ae. speltoides), and D. villosum (V) accumulated more manganese (Mn), like the cultivars Chinese spring and Prostor. Ae. squarrosa (D genome) accumulated high aluminum (Al) concentrations in the straw. A iron (Fe): Mn ratio was used to characterize the effect of low pH on element content.     

Trace element concentrations in fish from three Adirondack lakes with different pH values

Concentrations of 29 elements were detected in the axial muscle, and 44 elements were detected in the gut contents of white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) and yellow perch (Perca favescens) from three lakes located in the New York State Adirondack Preserve. The study lakes were acidic Darts Lake, variable pH Lake Rondaxe, and circumneutral Moss Lake. For the majority of the elements, there were no clear differences in the muscle concentrations among fish inhabiting the three types of lakes. Two notable exceptions were Hg and Pb. With some exceptions, the highest muscle tissue Pb concentrations were found in fish from the acidic lake. For both species, the Hg was higher in the muscle than in the gut regardless of lake acidity. Other elements potentially toxic to humans (As, Cd, Ga, Pb, Se, and TI) were not accumulated in the muscle relative to the gut.     

Effect of soil pH and N fertilization on uptake and fractions of Ca and Mg in two barley cultivars

Abstract

A study has been made of the amounts of Ca and Mg removed from dry matter of young barley plants by sequential extraction with water, M NaCl, 0.4 M acetic acid and 0.6 M HCl. Two contrasting cultivars were examined and other factors included the effects of the soil pH in which the plants were grown and the form of N‐fertilizer used. The distribution of total Ca and Mg and the different fractions between young and old tissues was also examined.

Water and NaCl between them removed the bulk of the Ca and Mg (between 80 and 90%) and broadly, where uptake of total Ca or Mg increased with increase in soil pH, there was little change in the percentage of either cation appearing in the fractions, indicating a constant removal by the extractants, irrespective of content.

Only about a third of the total Ca was found in the upper half of the plants, against over 60% in the case of Mg and the same distribution was found for the percentages of the water‐soluble and the exchangeable fractions.

Small differences between cultivars and between N forms in respect of fractions and their distribution in the plant were found, but these did not affect the overall general pattern.     

Influence of compost and lime on population structure and element concentrations of forest soil invertebrates

Summary We tested the effects of two organic fertilizers (composts) and lime on the soil fauna of a spruce stand. One compost was obtained from chopped wood and the other from household garbage. At the time of distribution the pH of the control plots averaged 3.2, the garbage compost had a pH of 7.5, and the wood compost of 6.2. During the experimental period the pH of the compost layers decreased. The pH of the former litter layer beneath the composts showed a steep increase after 5 months, but beneath the treatment with wood compost this effect did no persist. Liming increased the pH only slightly in the litter layer. The two types of compost, the litter layer, and lumbricids (Lumbricus rubellus) were analyzed for concentrations of essential and potentially toxic elements. The element burden was highest in the garbage compost with 7- to 11-fold concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb, Mg, and Cu compared to the needle litter. K, Ba, and Ca were 4 times more concentrated. L. rubellus showed an increased Cu concentration after extraction from the highly contaminated sites of garbage compost. Despite the differences in Pb contamination in the needle litter and in the two compost types, all investigated individuals of L. rubellus contained similar concentrations of Pb. In contrast to Pb, Cd accumulated in this lumbricid. Seasonal fluctuations of microarthropods, their total abundance, and differences in the colonization of the compost layers were observed. Collembola abundance was significantly increased in the garbage compost plots in July 91. There were generally more Prostigmata in the control and limed plots than in the compost plots. Oribatid numbers fell under all treatments compared to the controls. Mesostigmata were identified to species level and 33 species were found in the experimental areas. Certain species, such as Arctoseius cetratus and Uropoda minima, were only found in the treated sites.     

Effect of soil pH on plant growth and nodulation of cowpea

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil pH on rhizobium inoculation, plant growth and nodulation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Both inoculated and non‐inoculated seeds of the cultivar ‘California Blackeye No. 5’ were grown in the greenhouse in plastic pots with growth medium being a Norfolk sandy loam (Fine, loamy siliceous, thermic, Typic Palendult) soil under different pH levels. Both soil pH and rhizobium inoculation significantly affected root length, plant height, nodule and pod number per plant. Within the pH range of 6.6 to 7.6, these growth parameters generally were at their maximum, decreasing above or below this pH range. Non‐inoculated plants produced some nodules, indicating failure of the methyl bromide to totally destroy all residual soil rhizobta before inoculation treatment.

The inoculated plants produced more seeds and the increased number of nodules of treated plants was directly related to increased seed weight. Since nodule number was highest at the approximate pH range of 6.6 to 7.6, this range was considered optimum for nodulation of cowpea by this strain of rhizobium under greenhouse conditions. At pH 7.5 and above, roots tended to be more fibrous and nodules were generally smaller in size.     

生物质炭对不同pH值土壤矿质氮含量的影响

为了揭示生物质炭作为土壤调理剂添加后对土壤矿质氮形态、含量等土壤性质的影响,该研究利用芒草分别在350和700℃裂解制得生物质炭,发现2个温度尤其是700℃制得的生物质炭,对NH4+有很强的吸附能力,但对NO3-的吸附能力很弱。将生物质炭分别加入到酸性(pH值为3.8)和碱性(pH值为7.6)土壤中,25℃下室内培养180d。结果表明,生物质炭提高了土壤全氮含量,酸性和碱性土壤分别平均提高了22%和17%;但使土壤铵态氮含量大幅降低至接近仪器检测限水平;生物质炭对土壤硝态氮含量的影响因生物质炭和土壤类型而异。生物质炭对土壤矿质氮形态和含量的影响,显然与生物质炭对铵的吸附作用、提高土壤pH值、增强氨挥发损失,以及形成微生物量氮等密切相关。该研究可为开展生物质炭基氮素新型肥料及制剂等方面的科学研究提供参考。     

酸性根际肥对石灰性土壤pH和铁有效性的影响研究

在无植物栽培的条件下通过肥料在土壤中的扩散试验研究酸性根际肥对石灰性土壤 pH值、有效铁含量的影响 ,利用盆栽试验验证对石灰性土壤上花生缺铁失绿黄化症的矫正效果。结果表明 ,酸性根际肥 (pH 1.0～ 2 .0 )中的酸在土壤中扩散的影响半径可达 6cm ,但对土壤pH降低作用最显著的是在距肥料 2cm内 ;在施肥 2 8d内 ,距肥料 2cm处 ,土壤 pH值降低了 0 .9个单位 ,土壤铁有效性 (DTPA浸提量 )增加了 5 .9mg kg ;施用酸性根际肥可使花生叶绿素SPAD值与叶片活性铁含量显著提高 ,克服了花生缺铁黄化症状 ,使施肥区 (肥料周围 2cm内 )土壤pH值显著降低 ,并显著提高了该区土壤铁的有效性和花生对土壤Fe的吸收量。