Effect of soil amendment with bauxite Bayer process residue (red mud) on the availability of phosphorus in very sandy soils

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Snars ◽  
Robert Gilkes ◽  
Jeffrey Hughes

The chemical properties of red mud, a by-product of Bayer process refining of bauxite to alumina, make disposal of the material problematic. It is very alkaline (pH >11), contains a large amount of sesquioxides, and thus has a very high P retention capacity. These characteristics have encouraged its use as a soil amendment to enhance P retention of soils so as to reduce leaching of P. To investigate the effect of added red mud on the availability of existing P in sandy soils an incubation experiment was conducted using 3 types of red mud (untreated red mud, red mud amended with 5% gypsum, and red mud leached with dilute acid to remove all soluble salts) mixed with 12 podsol topsoils at rates of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40�t/ha. The mixtures were incubated wet for 28 days in the dark at 20°C, both with and without a microbial inhibitor. The decrease in 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate extractable phosphorus (bic-P) was 40–60% of initial bic-P at 40 t/ha of all 3 red muds after wet incubation without microbial suppressant. This decreased to 20–40% after drying or with addition of the microbial suppressant. The decrease in bic-P was not due to the increase in pH due to red mud application and appears to involve both chemical and microbial actions. The increase in soil pH of up to 3 units would be beneficial for pasture production at most rates of red mud application and the associated increase in electrical conductivity is not sufficient to affect plant growth.


2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Snars ◽  
J. C. Hughes ◽  
R. J. Gilkes

The chemical properties of red mud, a byproduct of Bayer process refining of bauxite to alumina, make disposal of the material problematic. It is very alkaline (pH > 11), contains a large amount of sesquioxides, and thus has a very high P retention capacity. These characteristics have encouraged its use as a soil amendment to enhance P retention in sandy soils. A glasshouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of red mud on plant-available P. Leached red mud (LRM) (pH 7.24) was mixed at rates of 0, 5, 10, and 20 t/ha with a very sandy soil, provided with a full basal fertiliser and various rates of phosphate, and then sown with perennial ryegrass. Five harvests were obtained over a period of 245 days. At the end of the experiment the highest rate of addition of LRM gave an increase in soil pH of less than one unit and the electrical conductivity had not changed substantially or systematically. Bicarbonate-extractable P (bic-P) had decreased considerably from the initial values. However, there were no significant differences between bic-P values at the different levels of red mud application for the same rate of P application. Plant yield was not significantly different between treatments. Addition of red mud (a) decreased the P concentration of plants for the same amount of P applied; and (b) required a larger amount of bic-P to maintain a constant level of P in the plant. The red mud had adsorbed both applied and existing P and reduced the plant availability of bic-P. The economic impact of these processes needs evaluation.



2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
D V Ige ◽  
O O Akinremi ◽  
D N Flaten ◽  
B. Ajiboye ◽  
M A Kashem

The establishment of the P retention capacity of soil in Manitoba is essential for effective management of P in the region. However, the methods for determining the P retention capacity for neutral to calcareous soils in the Eastern Prairies are not well developed. The objectives of this study were to determine the P retention capacity of Manitoba soils and to generate equations that relate these capacities to other soil properties. One hundred and fifteen archived surface soils were selected and their physico-chemical properties were measured. These soils were used to generate a single-point P adsorption index by equilibrating 2 g of soil in 20 mL of 0.01 M KCl solution containing either 150 (P150) or 400 (P400) mg P L-1. A subset of 26 of these soils was used for multipoint isotherms with P concentrations in the range of 0–1000 mg P L-1. The data obtained were fitted to the Langmuir isotherm and the adsorption indices were correlated with the various soil properties that were then used to developed predictive equations of the P retention capacity of the soil. The values of the adsorption index, P150, obtained from the single point adsorption study using 150 mg P L-1, ranged between 88 and 891 mg P kg-1, while that of P400 ranged between 100 and 1250 mg P kg-1. A better correlation was obtained between P150 and soil properties compared with P400. For the 26 soil subset, the adsorption indices, Smax1 to Smax 6, obtained from the Langmuir isotherm, ranged from 300 to 1330 mg kg-1. A good correlation was obtained between the single point index and the multipoint isotherm (r = 0.93). Hence, Smax for the 115 soils was estimated from the relationship between P150 and Smax 3 of the 26 soils. The best relationships between the adsorption parameters, P150 and Smax, and the soil properties were obtained with the sum of Mehlich-3 extractable Ca and Mg (R2= 0.66) and the sum of exchangeable Ca and Mg (R2= 0.64). Mehlich-3-Ca and -Mg each explained 56% of the variation, while clay content explained 40% of the variation in the P retention capacity of these soils. Unlike the widely reported influence of Al and Fe in acid soils, our study showed that the retention of P in Manitoba soils was influenced more by Ca and Mg and soil texture. Key words: Phosphorus, phosphorus retention capacity, phosphorus adsorption capacity, phosphorus sorption, single-point index



AGROFOR ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamssou KOI ◽  
Victor NAGORNY ◽  
Otilija MISECKAITE ◽  
Yuri MAZHAYSKY

During evaluation of physical and chemical properties of sandy soils and theirfertility in Southern part of Republic of Chad it has been revealed that some soilshave very high content of strontium. Its content varies from 10 to 270 mg/kg ofsoil depending on type of soil, depth of soil layers, clay and organic content.Strontium content negatively correlates with total content of calcium andphosphorus in layers of soil. Low CEC (CEC - Cation-exchange capacity) of soilmay be a reason of possible translocation of strontium from higher to lower layersof soils. Strontium content in soils do not relates with level of radioactivity of soilmeasured. The highest content of strontium has been found in soils developed onsome eolian and colluvio-alluvium deposits. Some researchers hypothesize thatsome endemic and chronic diseases such as Kashin-Beck disease, `Dysostosisenchondralis endemic`, endemic hoiter, osteoarthritis might be caused by highcontent of strontium in water and plant foods contaminated with it. Absence ofconsensus on etiological factors of these diseases confirms that it is worthconsidering necessity of further studies of different affects of high content ofstrontium in water and foods on human health directly or indirectly throughcausing misbalance in mineral nutrition.



2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdoulaye Maihatchi ◽  
Marie-Noëlle Pons ◽  
Quentin Ricoux ◽  
Frederic Goettmann ◽  
Francois Lapicque

Iron can be produced by the direct electrochemical reduction of hematite particles suspended in hot, concentrated NaOH solutions. Because various other iron sources can be considered, the present work was aimed at investigating the electrolytic treatment of the “red mud” generated by the Bayer process for alumina preparation from bauxite. Such sources contain very high amounts of impurities, in particular silicon and aluminium oxide-based minerals, in addition to other mineral phases. Electrolytic reductive treatment of the industrial red mud sample was shown to be possible but with both lower current density and current efficiency than for pure hematite. After deposition tests at a fixed current density, further experiments in simulation tests have been carried out for better understanding. In particular, hematite particles were tested with and without impurities introduced in the solution. Presence of little soluble impurities at the particle surface appear to hinder the reactivity of the suspended particles at the cathode surface, whereas side-hydrogen reaction still occurs. 



1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Barrow

Large quantities of alkaline red mud are produced as a waste product from the extraction of alumina from bauxite. Its chemical and physical properties and the way that it could be modified to produce good growth of plants were investigated. The cation exchange capacity of the red mud increased with pH, the adsorption of phosphate decreased, and the adsorption of cadmium increased. A pH of just above eight seemed to provide a good combination of desirable properties. This could be achieved by exposing the red mud to air and mixing it with gypsum - also available as a waste product. Carbon dioxide was absorbed by alkaIi in the red mud, and then precipitated by the gypsum as calcium carbonate. This released sodium sulfate which could be leached from the mud. Medic species could then be grown, provided that phosphate, potassium and manganese were supplied. Residual sodium sulfate from incomplete leaching seemed to limit the growth of other species. There seemed to be a potential to use the amended red mud to improve the waterholding properties and the chemical properties of sandy soils of the Western Australian coastal plain.



Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 979 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Summers ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland ◽  
M. F. Clarke

Bauxite residue (red mud) is the byproduct from treatment of crushed bauxite with caustic soda to produce alumina. When dried the residue is alkaline and has a high capacity to retain phosphorus (P). The residue is added to pastures on acidic sandy soils to increase the capacity of the soils to retain P so as to reduce leaching of P into waterways and so reduce eutrophication of the waterways. This paper examines how red mud influences the effectiveness of P from single superphosphate for producing subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) dry herbage, in the year of application and in the years after application (residual value). Red mud was applied at 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 t/ha and the P was applied at 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 kg P/ha. In the year of application and the year after application of red mud, dry matter yields were doubled on the soil treated with 20 t/ha of red mud compared with the untreated control. Improvements in production were initially greater in the red mud treatments than in the lime treatment (2 t lime/ha). Red mud increased the maximum yield plateau for P applied in current and previous years. When P was applied to freshly applied red mud, more P needed to be applied to produce the same yield as the amount of red mud applied increased. Red mud increased soil pH, and the increases in yield are attributed to removing low soil pH as a constraint to pasture production. This initial need for higher amounts of fertiliser P when increasing amounts of red mud were applied may be due to increased P sorption caused by increased precipitation of applied P when the fertiliser was in close contact with the freshly alkaline red mud. When P was freshly applied to red mud that had been applied to the soil 12 months ago, yield response and P content increased. This was attributed to the reduction in sorption of P due to red mud being neutralised by the soil and because sorption of P already present in the soil reduced the capacity of the red mud to sorb freshly applied fertiliser P. Residues of P in the soil and pH were also increased with application of red mud. In the years after application of red mud and lime, relative to P applied to nil red mud and nil lime treatment, the effectiveness of fertiliser P applied to the red mud and lime treatments increased. This was so as determined using plant yield, P concentration in plant tissue, and soil P test.



2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. e51801
Author(s):  
Simone Francieli Guarnieri ◽  
Elisamara Caldeira do Nascimento ◽  
Robson Ferreira Costa Junior ◽  
Jorge Luiz Brito de Faria ◽  
Francisco de Almeida Lobo

This work aimed to characterize the biochar produced from residues of coconut fruit and to evaluate how it might beneficially alter the retention capacity of water and nutrients in soils with a sandy texture. The biochar was produced in a retort furnace and later analyzed to determine its chemical and physical characteristics. Experiments to analyze the retention potential of the biochar for water and nutrients were performed in PVC columns filled to a 400 mm depth, with the upper 300 mm receiving treatments that consisted of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% (p p-1) biochar mixed with soil. For the nutrient retention experiment, in addition to the biochar concentrations, the treatments received the same NPK fertilization. The experiments were performed in a completely randomized design with four replications. The water retention in the upper 300 mm, as well as the pH, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) of the substrate, base saturation, and concentrations of P and K, increased with increasing biochar concentration. Coconut biochar demonstrated potential for increasing water retention and improving nutrient retention in sandy soils.



2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-200
Author(s):  
Anca-Luiza Stanila ◽  
Catalin Cristian Simota ◽  
Mihail Dumitru

Highlighting the sandy soil of Oltenia Plain calls for a better knowledge of their variability their correlation with major natural factors from each physical geography. Pedogenetic processes specific sandy soils are strongly influenced by nature parent material. This leads, on the one hand, climate aridity of the soil due to strong heating and accumulation of small water reserves, consequences emphasizing the moisture deficit in the development of the vegetation and favoring weak deflation, and on the other hand, an increase in mineralization organic matter. Relief under wind characteristic sandy land, soil formation and distribution has some particularly of flat land with the land formed on the loess. The dune ridges are less evolved soils, profile underdeveloped and poorly supplied with nutrients compared to those on the slopes of the dunes and the interdune, whose physical and chemical properties are more favorable to plant growth.Both Romanati Plain and the Blahnita (Mehedinti) Plain and Bailesti Plain, sand wind shaped covering a finer material, loamy sand and even loess (containing up to 26% clay), also rippled with negative effects in terms of overall drainage. Depending on the pedogenetic physical and geographical factors that have contributed to soil cover, in the researched were identified following classes of soils: protisols, cernisols, cambisols, luvisols, hidrisols and antrosols.Obtaining appropriate agricultural production requires some land improvement works (especially fitting for irrigation) and agropedoameliorative works. Particular attention should be paid to preventing and combating wind erosion.



Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 873-880
Author(s):  
Marzieh Mokarram ◽  
Dinesh Sathyamoorthy

Abstract. Soil genesis is highly dependent on landforms as they control the erosional processes and the soil physical and chemical properties. The relationship between landform classification and electrical conductivity (EC) of soil and water in the northern part of Meharloo watershed, Fars province, Iran, was investigated using a combination of a geographical information system (GIS) and a fuzzy model. The results of the fuzzy method for water EC showed 36.6 % of the land to be moderately land suitable for agriculture; high, 31.69 %; and very high, 31.65 %. In comparison, the results of the fuzzy method for soil EC showed 24.31 % of the land to be as not suitable for agriculture (low class); moderate, 11.78 %; high, 25.74 %; and very high, 38.16 %. In total, the land suitable for agriculture with low EC is located in the north and northeast of the study area. The relationship between landform and EC shows that EC of water is high for the valley classes, while the EC of soil is high in the upland drainage class. In addition, the lowest EC levels for soil and water are in the plains class.



Soil Research ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
CDA Mclay ◽  
GSP Ritchie ◽  
WM Porter ◽  
A Cruse

Two field trials were sampled to investigate the changes to soil solution chemical properties of a yellow sandplain soil with an acidic subsoil following the application of gypsum and lime to the soil surface in 1989. The soils were sandy textured and located in a region of low annual rainfall (300-350 mm). Soil was sampled annually to a depth of 1 m and changes in soil solution composition were estimated by extraction of the soil with 0.005 M KCl. Gypsum leaching caused calcium (Ca), sulfate (SO4) and the ionic strength to increase substantially in both topsoil and subsoil by the end of the first year. Continued leaching in the second year caused these properties to decrease by approximately one-half in the topsoil. Gypsum appeared to have minimal effect on pH or total Al (Al-T), although the amount of Al present as toxic monomeric Al decreased and the amount present as non-toxic AlSO+4 ion pairs increased. Magnesium (Mg) was displaced from the topsoil by gypsum and leached to a lower depth in the subsoil. In contrast, lime caused pH to increase and Al to decrease substantially in the topsoil, but relatively little change to any soil solution properties was observed in the subsoil. There was an indication that more lime may have leached in the presence of gypsum in the first year after application at one site. Wheat yields were best related to the soil acidity index Al-T/EC (where EC is electrical conductivity of a 1:5 soil:water extract), although the depth at which the relationship was strongest in the subsoil varied between sites. The ratio Al-T/EC was strongly correlated with the activity of monomeric Al species (i.e. the sum of the activities of Al3+, AlOH2+ and Al(OH)+2 in the soil solution. An increase in the concentration of sulfate in the subsoil solution (which increased the ionic strength, thereby decreasing the activity of Al3+, and also increased the amount of Al present as the AlSO+4 ion pair) was probably the most important factor decreasing Al toxicity to wheat. The results indicated that gypsum could be used to increase wheat growth in aluminium toxic subsoils in sandy soils of low rainfall regions and that a simple soil test could be used to predict responses.



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