Methane emission from two Indian soils planted with different rice cultivars

In a greenhouse study, methane emissions were measured from two diverse Indian rice-growing soils planted to five rice cultivars under similar water regimes, fertilizer applications and environmental conditions. Significant variations were observed in methane emitted from soils growing different cultivars. Total methane emission varied between 8.04 and 20.92gm^–2 from IARI soil (Inceptisol) and between 1.47 and 10.91gm^–2 from Raipur soil (Vertisol) planted to rice. In all the cultivars, emissions from IARI soil were higher than from Raipur soil. The first methane flux peak was noticed during the reproductive phase and the second peak coincided with the grain-ripening stage of the rice cultivars. Received: July 7, 1996     

Sulfur mineralization in two soils amended with organic manures,crop residues,and green manures

The mineralization of sulfur (S) was investigated in a Vertisol and an Inceptisol amended with organic manures, green manures, and crop residues. Field‐moist soils amended with 10 g kg^—1 of organic materials were mixed with glass beads, placed in pyrex leaching tubes, leached with 0.01 M CaCl₂ to remove the mineral S and incubated at 30 °C. The leachates were collected every fortnight for 16 weeks and analyzed for SO₄‐S. The amount of S mineralized in control and in manure‐amended soils was highest in the first week and decreased steadily thereafter. The total S mineralized in amended soils varied considerably depending on the type of organic materials incorporated and soil used. The cumulative amounts of S mineralized in amended soils ranged from 6.98 mg S (kg soil)^—1 in Inceptisol amended with wheat straw to 34.38 mg S (kg soil)^—1 in Vertisol amended with farmyard manure (FYM). Expressed as a percentage of the S added to soils, the S mineralized was higher in FYM treated soils (63.5 to 67.3 %) as compared to poultry manure amended soils (60.5 to 62.3 %). Similarly the percentage of S mineralization from subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) loppings was higher (53.6 to 55.5 %) than that from gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) loppings (50.3 to 51.1 %). Regression analysis clearly indicated the dependence of S mineralization on the C : S ratio of the organic materials added to soil. The addition of organic amendments resulted in net immobilization of S when the C : S ratio was above 290:1 in Vertisol and 349:1 in Inceptisol. The mineralizable S pool (S_o) and first‐order rate constant (k) varied considerably among the different types of organic materials added and soil. The S_o values of FYM treated soils were higher than in subabul, gliricidia, and poultry manure treated soils.     

LOWLAND RICE GENOTYPES EVALUATION FOR PHOSPHORUS USE EFFICIENCY IN TROPICAL LOWLAND

Lowland rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the world's population and phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the main constraints in rice production in tropical lowlands. A field experiment was conducted for two years consecutive with the objective to evaluate 12 lowland rice genotypes for P use efficiency. The P rates used were 0, 22, 44, 66, and 88 kg P ha^?1 (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1) applied to an Inceptisol. The genotypes used were BRS Jaçanã, CNAi 8860, BRS Fronteira, CNAi 8879, CNAi 8880, CNAi 8886, CNAi 8885, CNAi 8569, BRSGO Guará, BRS Alvorada, BRS Jaburu and BRS Biguá. There were significant and quadratic responses of genotypes to phosphorus fertilization. Adequate P rates for maximum grain yield varied from genotype to genotype. However, across 12 genotypes, maximum grain yield was obtained with the application of 54 kg P ha^?1. Genotype BRS Jaçanã was most efficient and genotype CNAi 8569 was most inefficient in P use efficiency. Shoot dry weight and panicle number was also increased significantly and quadratically with increasing P rates in the range of 0 to 88 kg P ha^?1. These two plant parameters were positively associated with grain yield. Agronomic efficiency (kg grain produced per kg P applied) was significantly decreased with increasing P rates in the range of 22 to 88 kg P ha^?1.     

Estimation of Nitrogen Fixation by the Natural 15N-abundance Technique and Nitrogen Uptake by Pigeonpea Genotypes of Different Maturity Groups grown in an Inceptisol1

The modulation, nitrogen fixation and nitrogen uptake of four pigeonpea genotypes belonging to extra short duration, short duration and long duration maturity groups grown on an Inceptisol were studied to examine why, despite the poor nodulation of pigeonpea in this soil, it still produces greater yields, than in Alfisols and Vertisols. The percentage nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) was estimated by ¹⁵N natural abundance and N-difference methods using a long duration sorghum as the non-fixing reference crop. In general, nodulation of pigeonpea in the Inceptisol was much lower than that reported in Alfisols and Vertisols. The above-ground dry matter ringed from 3.1 to 17.1 t ha^?1 while the N uptake ranged from 62.3 to 215 kg ha^?1 The fallen plant parrs of pigeonpea genotypes ranged from 1.4 to 4.9 t ha^?1 and their N contents ranged from 25 to 84 kg ha^?1. The estimates of percentage Ndfa obtained by the two methods were different. Those obtained by the ¹⁵N natural abundance appeared more appropriate as the δ¹⁵N of sorghum harvested along with short duration pigeonpea and later when it was mature did not change significantly. The extra short duration pigeonpea genotype ICPL 84023 contained very little N from atmospheric N₂, while the short duration pigeonpea cv. ICPL 151 had 17% Ndfa and the long duration genotypes. ICPL 366 and T7 had up to 36 % Ndfa. It can be concluded that one of the causes of high yields of pigeonpea on Inceptisols compared to Alfisols and Vertisols despite poor nodulation could be the high N supplying capacity of these Inceptisols. Strategies have been suggested as to how pigeonpea genotypes grown in Inceptisols could improve their nodulation and nitrogen fixation and thus better contribute to a sustainable agriculture.     

Changes in Fractions of Iron,Manganese, Copper,and Zinc in Soil under Continuous Cropping for More Than Three Decades

The effect of continuous cropping with maize and wheat on soil characteristics and various forms of micronutrient cations in an Incetisol over the years was studied in an ongoing long‐term experiment in New Delhi, India. The soil samples collected in the years of 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004 were analyzed for different fractions of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) by following a sequential extraction procedure. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) content of the soil varied from 8.28 to 8.53, 0.40 to 0.43 dSm^?1, and 0.92 to 1.05%, respectively. Organic carbon content ranged from 0.38 in the control to 0.67% in 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM). Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Fe and Mn (but not Zn and Cu) in soil declined from their respective initial (1971) values as a result of intensive cropping for more than three decades. It also resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of all the four metallic cations bound to organic matter, in addition to Fe and Zn, associated with carbonates in all the treatments in surface soil.     

Effects of Graded Levels of Cadmium on Spinach and Cabbage Grown in an Inceptisol

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of the soil and its concentrations in spinach and cabbage were studied in a pot culture experiment. Eight levels of Cd (0–100 mg kg^?1 soil) were applied singly. Application of Cd of up to 10 and 15 mg kg^?1 resulted in safe Cd concentrations (1.56 and 1.38 mg kg^?1) in the shoots of spinach and cabbage, respectively, at the consumable stage. The total chlorophyll content gradually decreased with the addition of Cd, and the maximum decreases were 31.7 and 32% in spinach and cabbage, respectively, at 60 days of crop growth in the treatment Cd₁₀₀ over the control. The greatest diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Cd contents in the postharvest soil of spinach and cabbage were 22.09 and 24.22 mg kg^?1, respectively, in the treatment Cd₁₀₀. The DTPA Cd was significantly negatively correlated with leaf area and total chlorophyll content while positively correlated with root and shoot Cd concentrations of spinach and cabbage.     

Fractions of Copper in Soil under a Long-Term Experiment and Their Contribution to Copper Availability and Uptake by Maize—Wheat Cropping Sequence

ABSTRACT

Soil and plant samples were collected from on-going long-term experiment at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi farm to study the distribution of various forms of copper (Cu) and their contribution to availability and plant uptake in maize (Zea mays L.)—wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) sequence. The optimum dose-based treatments selected for the study were nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK), NPK + Farmyard manure (FYM), NPK+ zinc (Zn) and control (no fertilizer or manure). Uptake of Cu by maize and wheat varied from 17.0 to 37.5 and 60.8 to 149.3 g ha^?1, respectively, under different treatments. Copper uptake by wheat was significantly higher under 100% NPK + FYM than that with 100% NPK. There was no significant difference among the treatments with respect to diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cu in 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm soil layers. However, with increasing depth of soil, it showed declining trend under all the treatments. Mean value of total Cu was 28, 32, 25, and 21 mg kg^?1 in 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm depths, respectively. Major part of the total Cu was present as residual form. Sorbed copper (SORB–Cu) contributed directly towards its availability both in pre-sowing maize and post-harvest wheat soil samples. SORB–Cu and organic matter bound Cu (OM–Cu) contributed directly towards the uptake by the component crops. Copper associated with easily reducible manganese, carbonate, and iron and aluminum oxides were most recalcitrant forms present in soil and their effects on availability and crop uptake were adverse.     

Carbon mineralization patterns of cotton leaves and stems in vertisols and inceptisols

In India, cotton crop residues available after cotton picking are considered as waste materials and disposed off the field. For developing better residue management practices, knowledge of the decomposition kinetics is needed. Short-term laboratory incubations were conducted to determine the pattern of C mineralization from cotton leaves and stems [stem pieces (ca. 2 cm) vs. ground stem (0.25 mm)] in the two major soil groups (vertisols and inceptisols) on which cotton is grown to a large extent. The amount of C mineralized was significantly greater from leaf- (18.3% of added C) and ground stem-C (19% of added C) when compared to stem pieces-C (13.2% of added C). Differences between the residues were not seen in the inceptisols. The cumulative amount of C mineralized ranged from 9.6-11.5% of the added C. Narrowing the C:N ratio of stem did not enhance C mineralization.     

Soil-Plant-Fertilizer Relationships in Turmeric Assessment of Soil-Plant-Fertilizer-Nutrient Relationships for Sustainable Productivity of Turmeric under Alfisols and Inceptisols in Southern India

Field experiments were conducted during 2005–2007 to test effects of nineteen treatments on turmeric rhizome yield in Alfisol at Utukur and Inceptisol at Jagtial in India. The treatments were comprised of nitrogen (N) at 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha^?1; phosphorus (P) at 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha^?1; and potassium (K) at 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha^?1. Application of 180-120-100 kg ha^?1 NPK gave maximum yield of 4302 kg ha^?1 in Alfisols, whereas application of 120-80-100 kg ha^?1 gave 4817 kg ha^?1 in Inceptisols. Regression and principal component (PC) models were calibrated through soil-plant-fertilizer variables. The regression model gave significant R² of 0.75 in Alfisols compared to 0.88 in Inceptisols, whereas the PC model explained variance of 66.5 percent in Alfisols and 76.3 percent in Inceptisols. Regression model through PC scores gave R² of 0.54 in Alfisols and 0.47 in Inceptisols. Maximum sustainability yield indexes of 58.8 and 55.5 percent by 180-120-120 kg ha^?1 (Alfisol) and 67.1 and 60.6 percent by 120-80-100 kg ha^?1 (Inceptisol) were attained based on regression and PC models respectively.     

Differentiation of upland soils on the Palawan ophiolitic complex, Philippines

The morphological and chemical features of upland soils derived from ophiolitic parent materials in Palawan, Philippines, are summarised from soil survey data, and compared with those on geosynclinal sedimentary rocks. Although the ophiolitic crystalline rocks are lithologically heterogeneous, the soils have similar morphologies, with reddish colours, clay textures, and friable crumb structures. However, their chemical characteristics differ considerably, with a pH range of over one unit, and exchangeable base status ranging from 95% dominance by Mg in soils derived from ultramafic rocks to 75% dominance by extractable Al in soils from felsic rocks. There are also differences in the total contents of most heavy metals, but less for the extractable forms of Mn and Cu. The soils on nearby geosynclinal sedimentary parent materials are also finely textured but are morphologically distinct, with more yellowish subsoil colours, blockier structures, some clayskins and ‘corned beef’ saprolite. They are also more acid and base-deficient, with Al occupying up to 95% of their exchange complexes. In view of the morphological similarities, chemical criteria are needed to separate the edaphically different groups of ophiolitic soils. Exchangeable Mg/ECEC is the best simple criterion. Soil Taxonomy and the FAO World Reference Base fail to distinguish between the mafic and ultramafic ophiolitic soils at subgroup level. Interactions between droughtiness, cation imbalances, phosphate immobilisation, and heavy metal toxicities may determine the stunted vegetation characteristic of some of the ultramafic soils.