Silicate rock powder: effect on selected chemical properties of a range of soils from Western Australia and on plant growth as assessed in a glasshouse experiment

Hydrochar is a carbon-based material that can be used as soil amendment. Since the physical-chemical properties of hydrochar are mainly assigned to process parameters, we aimed at evaluating the organic fraction of different hydrochars through 13C-NMR and off-line TMAH-GC/MS. Four hydrochars produced with sugarcane bagasse, vinasse and sulfuric or phosphoric acids were analyzed to elucidate the main molecular features. Germination and initial growth of maize seedlings were assessed using hydrochar water-soluble fraction to evaluate their potential use as growth promoters. The hydrochars prepared with phosphoric acid showed larger amounts of bioavailable lignin-derived structures. Although no differences were shown about the percentage of maize seeds germination, the hydrochar produced with phosphoric acid promoted a better seedling growth. For this sample, the greatest relative percentage of benzene derivatives and phenolic compounds were associated to hormone-like effects, responsible for stimulating shoot and root elongation. The reactions parameters proved to be determinant for the organic composition of hydrochar, exerting a strict influence on molecular features and plant growth response.

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Farmers’ Perceptions about the Effect of Farm Land Management Practices and Soil Depth on the Distribution of Major Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in Eroded Soils of Aboy Gara Watershed, Gidan District, North Wollo Zone

Nigerian Journal of Environmental Sciences and Technology - March 2018 ◽

10.36263/nijest.2018.02.0085 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 186-195

Author(s):

Gebeyaw Tilahun Yeshaneh

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Soil Fertility ◽

Land Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Soil Drainage ◽

Fertility Status ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Black Color

The study was conducted at the Abuhoy Gara Catchment, which is located in the Gidan District of North Wello Zone. The aim of the study was to study farmers’ perceptions about the effect of farm land management practices and soil depth on the distribution of major soil physico-chemical properties in eroded soils of Aboy Gara watershed. To address this issue, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 64 households to gain insight into soil fertility management practices, local methods were used to assess the fertility status of a field, and perceived trends in soil fertility. Thirty-three farmers were then asked to identify fertile and infertile fields. According to farmers response, farmers’ fields were characterized as fertile where it comprise black color, cracks during dry season, good crop performance, vigorous growth of certain plants and presence of plants in a dry environment whereas the infertile is where it shows yellow/white and red colors, compacted soils, stunted plant growth, presence of rocks and stones and wilting or dying of crops in a hot environment. A total of eight indicators (soil color, texture, soil depth, topography, soil drainage, and distance from home, type of weeds grown and cultivation intensity) were found to be used by farmers to evaluate and monitor soil fertility. The results of administered questions showed that the principal indicators mentioned by farmers as very important were soil colour (82.8%), continuous cropping land (72.2%), soil texture (62.8%), distance from home (61%), type of weeds grown (56%), soil depth (55.6%), topography (51.1%), and soil drainage (28.7%) as very important. So, among sixty four interviewed farmers: deep soil (60 farmers), soils near to home (60 farmers), forest soil (59 farmers), smooth fine soil (59 farmers), black color soil (58 farmers) and gentle slope soil (57farmers) are categorized as fertile whereas 59, 57, 56, 55, and 44farmers said that Sandy/coarse soil, shallow soil depth, steep slope soils and yellow/white, red soils and continuously cultivated soils are infertile, respectively. The overall result showed that there was good agreement between farmers’ assessment of the soil fertility status of a field and a number of these indicators. The soil laboratory analysis also corresponded well with farmers’ assessment of soil fertility. Therefore, to design more appropriate research and to facilitate clear communication with farmers, researchers need to recognize farmers’ knowledge, perceptions about assessments of soil fertility. Because, as they included all soil factors affecting plant growth, farmers’ perceptions of soil fertility were found to be more long term day-to-day close practical experience finding than those of researchers.

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Can we improve soil properties and plant biomass using rock powder as soil amendment?

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-4512 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lena Reifschneider ◽

Vinzenz Franz Eichinger ◽

Evelin Pihlap ◽

Noelia Garcia-Franco ◽

Anna Kühnel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Large Scale ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

New Mineral ◽

Severe Drought ◽

Rock Powder ◽

Overburden Material ◽

Neutral Soil ◽

Mitigate Climate Change

<p>The application of rock powder is an option to improve soil fertility while valorising the overburden material produced by industries. The &#8220;enhanced weathering&#8221; of silicate rock has also gained recent interest in the scientific community for its potential to mitigate climate change. However, the effect of rock powder on the soil physical properties remains unclear, especially under climate change (e.g., increasing drought events). Prior to any large scale application of rock powder, it is crucial to disentangle the potential effects of rock powder application on its environment. In a mesocosm experiment, we explored the effect of three rock powders on plant biomass, soil aggregation and organic carbon (OC) allocation within aggregates, in two soils with clayey and sandy textures, under regular watering or severe drought conditions. We demonstrate that the rock powder was the third factor after drought and soil texture significantly affecting the plant growth, resulting in a significant plant biomass decrease ranging from - 13 % to - 42 % compared with the control. We mainly attribute this effect to the increase of the already neutral soil pH, along with the release of excessive heavy metal amounts at a toxic range for the plant. Yet, we found that adding rock powder to the soil resulted in an increase of the relative amount of microaggregates in the soil by up to + 70 %, along with a re-distribution of OC within the fine fractions of the soil (up to + 32 % of OC in < 250 &#181;m fractions). The new mineral-mineral and organo-mineral interactions promoted by the rock powder addition could potentially favour OC persistence in soil on the long term. With our results, we insist on the potential risks for plant growth associated to the application of rock powder when not handled properly. In addition to the current enthusiasm around the capacity of rock powder to enhance carbon sequestration in the inorganic form, we also encourage scientists to focus their research on its effect on soil structure properties and OC storage.</p>

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Unveiling the Efficiency of Vermicompost Derived from Different Biowastes on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plant Growth and Soil Health

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9120791 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 791 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zubair Aslam ◽

Safdar Bashir ◽

Waseem Hassan ◽

Korkmaz Bellitürk ◽

Niaz Ahmad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Soil Health ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Test Plant ◽

Cow Dung ◽

Aphid Infestation ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Chemical Attributes ◽

The Impact

The present study was conducted to explore the role of different types of vermicomposts (VCs) prepared from different substrates to improve soil health (physical and chemical properties) and wheat plant growth under field conditions. Different combinations of vermicompost prepared from different substrates (cow dung, paper waste, and rice straw) and inorganic fertilizers were applied in soil using wheat as a test plant. The impact of three different VCs on physico-chemical characteristics and nutrient availability in soil was evaluated to examine their efficacy in combination with chemical fertilizers. Temporal trends in vermicomposting treatments at various stages showed significant improvement in physico-chemical attributes of the VCs substrates. All the plant physiological attributes showed significant response where N:P:K 100:50:50 kg ha−1 + 10 t ha−1 cow dung vermicompost was applied. In addition, post-harvest analysis of soil not only revealed that different combinations of the vermicomposting treatments improved the soil health by improving the physico-chemical attributes of the soil. Conclusively, application of cow dung vermicompost along with recommended NPK not only improved crop yield, soil health, reduced insect (aphid) infestation but also fortified grains with Zn and Fe.

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Improving water use of annual crops and pastures—limitations and opportunities in Western Australia

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar00005 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 171 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

David Tennant ◽

David Hall ◽

David Hall

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Western Australia ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Water Infiltration ◽

Root Penetration ◽

Depth Limit ◽

Annual Crops ◽

Loamy Sand Soil ◽

Selection Of

As part of a wider analysis of the potential role for lucerne in farming systems being developed for containing the spread of salinisation, we have reviewed information generated in Western Australia on opportunities for improving the water use of annual crops and pastures. Substantial increases in water use have been shown to be possible in a number of situations and rainfall environments. Best gains, of the order of 40–70 mm, were reported on deep sand and loamy sand soil types. These were achieved from selection of deep-rooted and longer growing crop and pasture species, and from amelioration of widespread traffic pans and subsoil acidity, and/or selection of tolerant species. On more widespread gradational and duplex soils, soil physical and chemical properties that restrict water infiltration and/or root penetration to depth limit the potential to increase water use. Increases in production and water use are still possible, depending on the permeability of the lower horizons of these soils and on rainfall distribution. At best, recorded increases on these soils were of the order of 5–15 mm in short season, low rainfall environments, and around 40 mm in long season, high rainfall environments. These increases in water use were not invariable. Increases in water use were not noted in dry years on all soils and in all years on shallow duplex soils with impermeable B horizons. Seasonality impacts on all outcomes and is a key issue on all soils and in all rainfall environments.

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The growth of Yellow Bells (Geleznowia verrucosa) seedlings in response to additions of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus fertiliser

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea97139 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 385

Author(s):

R. F. Brennan ◽

A. M. Crowhurst ◽

M. G. Webb

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Western Australia ◽

Growth Response ◽

Shoot Growth ◽

Native Plants ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Critical Concentrations ◽

Phosphorus Fertiliser ◽

N Fertilisers ◽

Optimum Production

Summary. Native plants are increasingly grown in Western Australia to produce flowers for export. The nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) requirements for optimum production of one of these species, Geleznowia verrucosa (Yellow Bells), was measured for 17-week-old seedlings in a glasshouse experiment reported here. There was a significant (P<0.05) growth response to all levels of N fertilisers. At all levels of P and K, except for the nil K treatments, the lowest level of applied N (20 mg N/kg soil) gave the maximum dry weight of shoots. The dry weight of shoots increased with the addition of P fertiliser to the highest level (160 mg P/kg soil), particularly for the lower levels of applied K (0 and 30 mg/kg soil) and the lowest level of applied N (20 mg/kg soil). Combinations of high levels of P (P160) and N (N80) fertiliser severely depressed shoot growth. When applied at greater than 30 mg K/kg soil, K fertiliser depressed plant growth at all levels of N and P when compared with the lower levels of applied K. At the seedling stage of growth, critical concentrations for deficiency of both N and K were 1.3% in shoots. The critical concentrations for toxicity in whole shoots of Yellow Bells appeared to be about 1.7% for N and about 2.2% for K. Adequate concentrations of N were 1.4–1.5%, while 1.7% K appeared adequate for growth of Yellow Bell shoots.

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Water use efficiency, photosynthesis and plant growth of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.): a glasshouse experiment

Acta Physiologiae Plantarum ◽

10.1007/s11738-018-2795-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stella Lovelli ◽

Maria Valerio ◽

Tim D. Phillips ◽

Mariana Amato

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Salvia Hispanica ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Glasshouse Experiment ◽

Salvia Hispanica L

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Changes in chemical properties of 48 intensively grazed, rain-fed dairy paddocks on sandy soils over 11 years of liming in south-western Australia

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr09199 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 48 (8) ◽

pp. 682 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

M. D. A. Bolland ◽

W. K. Russell

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Root Zone ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Soil Testing ◽

Soil Test ◽

Organic Carbon Content ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Soil P ◽

Soil Test P

Soil testing was conducted during 1999–2009 to determine lime and fertiliser phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) requirements of intensively grazed, rain-fed, ryegrass dairy pastures in 48 paddocks on sand to sandy loam soils in the Mediterranean-type climate of south-western Australia. The study demonstrated that tissue testing was required in conjunction with soil testing to confirm decisions based on soil testing, and to assess management decisions for elements not covered by soil testing. Soil testing for pH was reliable for indicating paddocks requiring lime to ameliorate soil acidity, and to monitor progress of liming. Soil P testing proved reliable for indicating when P fertiliser applications were required, with no P being required when soil-test P was above the critical value for that soil, and when no P was applied, tissue testing indicated that P remained adequate for ryegrass production. Soil testing could not be used to determine paddocks requiring fertiliser K and S, because both elements can leach below the root-zone, with rainfall determining the extent of leaching and magnitude of the decrease in pasture production resulting from deficiency, which cannot be predicted. The solution is to apply fertiliser K and S each year, and use tissue testing to improve fertiliser K and S management. Research has shown that, for dairy and other grazing industries in the region, laboratories need measure and report every year soil pH and soil-test P only, together with measuring every 3–5 years the P-buffering index (estimating P sorption of soil), organic carbon content, and electrical conductivity.

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