Effect of depth and lime or phosphorus-fertilizer applications on the soil solution chemistry of some New Zealand pastoral soils

Soil Research ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Wheeler ◽  
DC Edmeades

Thirteen trails were sampled to investigate the effects of depth, or the surface application of lime and phosphorus (P) fertilizer, on solution composition. Soil solutions were extracted by centrifuge from field moist soils within 24 h of sampling. Solution Ca, Mg, Na and K, Al, Mn and Fe concentrations generally decreased and Al, Mn and Fe concentrations generally increased with depth; although exceptions occurred. The largest decrease occurred in the first 25-50 mm of soil. Higher solution Al concentrations occurred in a band at a depth of between 50 and 100 mm in some soils. Lime generally increased solution pH and solution Ca, Mg and HCO3 concentrations, and reduced solution Al, Fe and Mn concentrations in the topsoils. In one soil (Matapiro silt loam) 2 years after lime was applied, lime increased solution pH down to a depth of 100 mm, Ca and HCO3 down to 75 mm and Mg down to 50 mm. Lime also decreased solution Al and Mn down to 75 mm and Fe down to 50 mm. In one series of trials, lime increased solution Ca concentrations at a depth of 50-100 mm 4 years after application in six out of the eight sites. In the same trial series, the application of P fertilizer increased solution P concentrations at 0-50 mm from a mean of 5 �M in the no-added P plots up to a mean of 56 �M at the highest P rate. The highest solution P concentration recorded was 194 �M. The increase in solution P concentrations for a given application of fertilizer P varied from 0.05 to 1.03 �M P per kg P ha-1 applied. Maximum pasture yield and 90% maximum yield occurred when solution P concentrations were about 28 and 14 �M respectively. Solution P concentrations determined from P adsorption isotherms were not a good indicator of solution P concentrations measured in soil. Solution pH was higher than soil pH (1:2.5 soil:water ratio, 2 h equilibration) with a solution pH of 6.0 corresponding to a soil pH in water of about 5.2.

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Moody ◽  
T. Dickson ◽  
R. L. Aitken

Maize (Zea mays) grain yield responses to rates of lime were measured at 19 sites onseveral soil types in south-east Queensland. At some sites, one rate of gypsum or phosphogypsum was also applied. Relative grain yield (100 mean yield of nil lime treatment/maximum yield) was correlated with each of soil pH (1 : 5 water and 1 : 5 0·01 M CaCl2), soil solution pH, exchangeable (1 M KCl) Al, exchangeable (1 M NH4Cl) Ca, Al saturation of the effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), Ca saturation of the ECEC, and 0·01 M CaCl2 extractable Mn and Al. Across all soil types, Mitscherlich fits indicated that most of the variation in relative grain yield was accounted for by either Ca saturation (R2 = 0·62) or soil solution pH (R2 = 0·61), although soil pH(water) (R2 =0·53), Al saturation (R2 = 0·46), exchangeable Ca (R2 = 0·42), soil pH(CaCl2) (R2 = 0·40), and CaCl2-extractable Mn (R2 = 0·33) also accounted for significant (P < 0·05) amounts of variation. These results demonstrate that one or both of Al and Mn toxicities were having an impact on yieldat different sites. The contrast between the lack of responses to gypsum/phosphogypsum at mostlime responsive sites and the observation that Ca saturation was well correlated with relative grainyield suggested an ameliorating effect of Ca on Al toxicity. This effect was captured by an index,Al saturation/Ca saturation, which was well correlated with relative grain yield (R2 = 0·66 for a Mitscherlich fit). A step-up regression approach indicated that most variation in relative grain yield (RY) could beaccounted for by the following equation: The assessment of factors likely to limit yield on strongly acidic soils of the region will therefore needto include indices of Al and Mn toxicities as well as Ca status. Soil pH integrated the effects of these factors on yield, and as a single index, was shown to bean effective diagnostic tool. Relative grain yields of 90% were associated with pH values in the soil solution, 1 : 5 water and 1 : 5 0·01 M CaCl2 of 4·5, 5·2, and 4·4, respectively.


1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. S. Sadana ◽  
P. N. Takkar

SummaryIn a greenhouse experiment, the effect of soil sodicity (exchangeable Na percentage 3, 10, 20, 40 and 60) and Zn (0 and 10 mg Zn/kg soil) on soil solution chemistry of Mn was investigated under submerged conditions. Calculated amounts of NaHCO3 were added to Typic Ustifluvent sandy loam soil to obtain required sodicity levels. The soil solutions collected under the atmosphere of N2 gas by gravity were analysed for pH, pE, EC and Mn. Soil submergence decreased pH and pE, and increased Mn concentrations in all the treatments. Maximum Mn concentration was obtained at 14-day submergence. Increasing sodicity levels increased soil solution pH and decreased Mn concentrations. A significant negative correlation (r = -0·74**) was observed between soil solution Mn and pH. Despite large variations in pH, pE, ionic strength and Mn concentration in soil solution, the values of expressions: pH+½log Mn2+ + ½log Pco2 and pMn+2pOH were fairly constant and close to the theoretical values of 4·4 and 17·2 respectively, indicating that the MnCO3-Mn2+ system regulated the solubility of Mn2+ in the sodic soils. Addition of ZnSO4 did not have appreciable effects on the soil solution pH, Mn and solid phases of Mn.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4799
Author(s):  
Wenting Jiang ◽  
Xiaohu Liu ◽  
Xiukang Wang ◽  
Lihui Yang ◽  
Yuan Yin

Optimizing the phosphorus (P) application rate can increase grain yield while reducing both cost and environmental impact. However, optimal P rates vary substantially when different targets such as maximum yield or maximum economic benefit are considered. The present study used field experiment conducted at 36 experiments sites for maize to determine the impact of P application levels on grain yield, plant P uptake, and P agronomy efficiency (AEP), P-derived yield benefits and private profitability, and to evaluated the agronomically (AOPR), privately (POPR), and economically (EOPR) optimal P rate at a regional scale. Four treatments were compared: No P fertilizer (P0); P rate of 45–60 kg ha−1 (LP); P rate of 90–120 kg ha−1 (MP); P rate of 135–180 kg ha−1 (HP). P application more effectively increased grain yield, reaching a peak at MP treatment. The plant P uptake in HP treatment was 37.4% higher than that in P0. The relationship between P uptake by plants (y) and P application rate (x) can be described by the equation y = −0.0003x2 + 0.1266x + 31.1 (R2 = 0.309, p < 0.01). Furthermore, grain yield (y) and plant P uptake (x) across all treatments also showed a significant polynomial function (R2 = 0.787–0.846). The MP treatment led to highest improvements in P agronomic efficiency (AEP), P-derived yield benefits (BY) and private profitability (BP) compared with those in other treatments. In addition, the average agronomically (AOPR), privately (POPR), and economically optimal P rate (EOPR) in 36 experimental sites were suggested as 127.9 kg ha−1, 110.8 kg ha−1, and 114.4 kg ha−1, which ranged from 80.6 to 211.3 kg ha−1, 78.2 to 181.8 kg ha−1, and 82.6 to 151.6 kg ha−1, respectively. Economically optimal P application (EOPR) can be recommended, because EOPR significantly reduced P application compared with AOPR, and average economically optimal yield was slightly higher compared with the average yield in the MP treatment. This study was conducive in providing a more productive, use-effective, profitable, environment-friendly P fertilizer management strategy for supporting maximized production potential and environment sustainable development.


Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. McLaughlin ◽  
K. G. Tiller ◽  
M. K. Smart

Fifty commercial potato crops and associated soils were sampled. Soil solutions were extracted from rewetted soils by centrifugation, and solution composition was related to Cd concentrations in tubers. Soils were also extracted with 0·01 M Ca(NO3)2 and 0·01 M CaCl2 solutions, and Cd2+ activities in the extracts were calculated by difference using the stability constants for formation of CdCl2-nn species. The soils had saline solutions (>4 dS/m), and Cl- and SO2-4 in solution markedly affected the speciation of Cd in soil solution, with chloro-complexes, in particular, dominating. While low soil pH was associated with high (>25 nM) concentrations of Cd in soil solution, chloro-complexation also led to high concentrations of Cd in solution, even at neutral to alkaline soil pH values. Tuber Cd concentrations were not related to activities of Cd2+ in soil solution or to activities in dilute salt extracts of soil. Tuber Cd concentrations were related to the degree of chloro-complexation of Cd in solution. The relationship of tuber Cd concentrations to chloro-complexation in soil solution suggests that Cd species other than the free Cd2+ ion are involved in the transport through soil and uptake of Cd by plants.


1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Bruce ◽  
LA Warrell ◽  
DG Edwards ◽  
LC Bell

In the course of three experiments, soybean (Glycerine max (L.) Merr.) cv. Forrest was grown in 21 soils (four surface soils and 17 subsoils) amended with liming materials (CaCO3 and Mg CO3) and soluble Ca salts (CaSO4.2H20 and CaCl2.2H2O). In most soils, the soluble salts increased concentrations and activities of Al species in solution to levels that restricted root growth, and MgCO3, induced a Ca limitation to root growth. Root lengths after three days were related to so11 and soil solution attributes.Suitable diagnostic indices for the prediction of Ca limitations to root growth were either Ca saturation of the effective cation exchange capacity or Ca activity ratio of the soil solution, which was defined as the ratio of the activity of Ca to the sum of the activities of Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Values corresponding to 90% relative root length (RRL) of soybean were 0.05 for the Ca activity ratio and 11% for Ca saturation. Calcium activity and Ca concentration in the soil solution and exchangeable Ca were less useful for this purpose.Soil Al saturation was not a good predictor of Al toxicity, but soil solution measurements were. The activities of Al3+ and AlOH2+ gave the best associations with RRL, and values corresponding to 90% RRL were 4 8M and 0.5 8M respectively. The results suggested that Al(OH)3� , Al(OH)2+, and AlSO4+, were not toxic species. Soil solution pH and soil pH measured in water were more sensitive indicators of root growth than soil pH measured in 0.01 M CaCl2.Using a Ca activity ratio of 0.05 and an Al3+ activity of 4 8M as diagnostic indices, none of the 20 soils in two experiments were toxic in Al, while 13 (all subsoils) were deficient in Ca. Thus the first limitation on root growth was Ca deficiency and not Al toxicity, in spite of high Al saturations and relatively low pH in these soils. However, Al toxicity could be induced by increasing the ionic strengths of soil solutions.


Soil Research ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
YP Dang ◽  
KG Tiller ◽  
RC Dalal ◽  
DG Edwards

Soil solutions were obtained by a centrifugation method from 14 unfertilised and fertilised Vertisols. The soil solutions were analysed for all major cations and anions and organic carbon (C). Chemical speciation of zinc (Zn) in the soil solutions calculated with the aid of the computer program GEOCHEM showed that Zn in tile soil solution exists mainly as free Zn2+ ions in these soils. Complexation of total soluble Zn by organic and inorganic ligands constituted 40% and 50%, respectively, of total soluble Zn in fertilised and unfertilised soil solutions. The organo-Zn complexes constituted <10% of the total soluble Zn. The inorganic Zn complexes, ZnHCO3+ and ZnCO3, constituted 60–75% of the total inorganic Zn complexes. The Zn complexes with SO24- and OH- were less than or equal to 5% each of the total inorganic species in unfertilised soils; ZnSOo4 complexes were more common in fertilised soils. The activities of Zn were extremely low (0.01–0.1 µM) in unfertilised soils and were inversely related to soil solution pH. The experimentally determined solubility lines for Zn2+ in the soil solution were undersaturated with respect to the solubility of any known mineral form of Zn. Zn2+ activity was mainly determined by adsorption-desorption reactions. The weak acid ion exchangers, Chelex-100 and Bio Rex-70, retained smaller amounts of Zn front the soil solutions than the strong acid exchangers, AG 50W X2, AG 50W X4, and AG 50w X8. Soil solution pH strongly affected Zn concentrations in soil solutions. The amount of total soluble Zn present as Zn2+ ions as calculated by GEOCHEM was highly correlated with tile amount of soluble Zn retained by the cation exchange resins. In the case of Chelex-100, these amounts were equal, confirming the usefulness of Chelex-100 to estimate Zn2+ ions.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunming Su ◽  
L. J. Evans

Soil acidity is a limiting factor for forage production. Liming is a common agricultural practice for acid soils, yet there is limited information on the effects of soil solution chemistry in response to liming. Soil from the Ap horizon of an Orthic Humic Gleysol was amended with 0, 2.5 or 5.0 g CaCO3 kg−1 and 2.1 or 4.2 g MgCO3 kg−1 to determine the changes due to liming in soil solution composition before planting and after three cuts of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The soil solution samples were extracted by immiscible displacement with C2Cl4. The low equivalent rate of CaCO3 and MgCO3 decreased the concentrations of Fe from 889 to less than 22 μM, Mn from 286 to less than 6 μM, Al from 45 μM to undetectable level before plant growth. Soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Cu and NH4-N concentrations in the soil solutions extracted after the third cut of alfalfa were increased compared with those measured before planting. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Zn, Fe, Al, NO3-N, SO4 and Si were all decreased after the third cut compared with those measured before planting. Step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that the dry matter (DM) yield of the first cut was positively correlated to NO3-N and negatively correlated to Mn concentration in the soil solutions (R2 = 0.65**); whereas the DM yield of the second and third cuts and of the roots were negatively correlated with Mn concentrations (R2 = 0.75**, 0.63**, and 0.60**, respectively). The regression analysis supported visual Mn toxicity, suggesting that Mn toxicity, not Al concentration, was the main limitation to alfalfa growth in unlimed soil. Key words: Alfalfa, liming, soil solution chemistry, immiscible displacement, plant nutrition


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Percival

The disposal of wastewater treatment sewage sludge onto agricultural land in New Zealand has led to the development of guidelines for the upper limit concentrations for total heavy metals in the underlying soil. However, those soil biological and biochemical processes now known to be most sensitive to environmental change are being used internationally to set new soil limits. The soil solution chemistry of a pasture soil amended with heavy metals has been used to assess the bioavailability of several important heavy metals. Field trial plots were treated with both spiked (Cu, Ni, or Zn) and unspiked sewage sludge to raise total soil metal concentrations, both above and below the current New Zealand guideline values. Soils were sampled pre-amendment in 1997 and post-amendment in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Soil solutions were extracted by centrifugation and analysed for pH, for concentrations of heavy metals, major cations and anions, and dissolved organic carbon. Heavy metal speciation was calculated with the GEOCHEM-PC model.Soil solution concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Zn increased with increasing levels of metal in the spiked sludge, reflecting increases in total soil metal concentrations. Cu concentrations changed little with time, but those of Ni and Zn tended to decrease. Cu was much more adsorbed by the soil than was Ni or Zn. The free metal ions, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ (representing the most 'bioavailable' fraction), were the dominant metal species in the soil solutions. Variations in free metal ion percentages with metal-spiking level depended on the balance between organic and sulfate complexation for Cu, but on sulfate complexation alone for Ni and Zn. Cu and Ni free metal-ion activities in soil solution were relatively low even at the highest metal loadings in the soil, but may be high enough to cause toxicity problems. Zn activities were very much higher, and at the regulatory limit for zinc likely to affect sensitive biological and biochemical properties of the soil.


Soil Research ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guodong Yuan

Soil plots on a pasture were amended with biosolids spiked with copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), or zinc (Zn), resulting in maximum concentrations of 181 mg Cu, 58 mg Ni, and 296 mg Zn/kg in soil. Soil solutions from the plots were obtained by centrifugation for chemical analyses, and free metal ion activities (Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+) were computed from the Windermere Humic Aqueous Model (WHAM). In the 3 years after biosolids amendment, the concentrations and activities of Cu, Ni, and Zn in soil solution increased with their amounts in biosolids. Copper and Ni concentrations in soil solution were higher than their critical concentrations recently reported in the literature. While Cu in soil solution was dominated by Cu-humic complexes, Ni2+ and Zn2+ were the majority species of the metals. Liming the soil plots to increase pH from 5.5 to ~7 greatly reduced the concentrations of the trace metals, particularly Zn; Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ni2+ were decreased by orders of magnitude 2–3, 2, and 1, respectively. Metal concentrations and activities fluctuated in the next 2 years as soil pH changed slightly and then after the use of elemental sulfur to acidify soil to pH ~6.5. Eight years after application of biosolids and through soil pH adjustment by lime and sulfur, Cu2+ and Zn2+ were very close to, and Ni2+ was a few times higher than, their corresponding baseline values. Maintaining a near neutral pH thus would be the key to keeping bioavailable metal concentrations low in a soil with an organic carbon content of 23.8 g/kg.


Soil Research ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Diatloff ◽  
CJ Asher ◽  
FW Smith

Total, exchangeable, and soil solution concentrations were measured for 15 rare earth elements (REEs) in 9 soils from Queensland and New South Wales. In a further 10 acid soils, effects of amendment with CaCO3 or CaSO4 . 2H2O were measured on the concentrations of REEs in soil solution. The total concentration of the REEs in soil solutions from unamended soils ranged from below the detection limit (0.007 µM) to 0.64 µM. Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) were the REEs present in the greatest concentrations, the highest concentrations measured in the diverse suite of soils being 0.13 µM La and 0.51 µM Ce. Rare earth elements with higher atomic numbers were present in very low concentrations. Exchangeable REEs accounted for 0.07 to 12.6% of the total REEs measured in the soils. Addition of CaCO3 increased soil solution pH and decreased REE concentrations in soil solution, whilst CaSO4 . 2H2O decreased soil solution pH and increased the concentrations of REEs in soil solution. Solubility calculations suggest that CePO4 may be the phase controlling the concentration of Ce in soil solution.


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