scholarly journals Composting of Calotropis gigantea Leaves In Presence of Sheep Dung

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayur Shah ◽  
Jaldip Kansara ◽  
Prateek Shilpkar

Calotropis gigantea is a plant grown almost everywhere and has no economic use. Leaves of Calotropis gigantea plants were composted with sheep dung. Composting conditions were maintained and samples were withdrawn at 30, 60 and 90 days of composting and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl1-, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium. Results show that contents of these parameters changes with time and at 90 days nutrient rich compost is obtained with decreased concentration of chloride.

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1044-1047
Author(s):  
Mayur Shah ◽  
Devang Upadhyay ◽  
Prateek Shilpkar

Under shed at Biogas Research and Extension Centre, Gujarat Vidyapith, Sadara, District- Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, a composting pit was prepared by bricks and filled with mixture of 10 kg dung (2.5 kg each of cow, buffalo, sheep and goat) and 2 kg leaves of Calotropis gigantea. The mixture was well mixed at 15 days interval and samples were analysed for various physico-chemical properties at monthly interval of composting upto 90 days. Results show that compared to values of various physico-chemical parameters before composting the values of available phosphorus, available potassium and total nitrogen increased by 2.89, 2.18 and 3.15 times whereas content of pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, total organic carbon and ratio of C:N decreased by 1.12, 4.13, 2.68, 2.38 and 8.13 times after composting. The study highlights the conversion of leaves of C. gigantea into valuable compost.


Author(s):  
H.K. Sachan ◽  
Deeksha Krishna

This study was conducted in dalo (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) growing areas of Rewa district in Fiji to know nutrient status and their relationship with soil properties. Representative soil samples were collected to determine soil properties and nutrient status. The soils of the study area were found acidic in nature with the mean pH of 5.6. The electrical conductivity varied from 0.07-0.31 dSm-1with a mean 0.17 dSm-1. Organic carbon varied from 0.30 to 5.5 % with the mean value of 2.1%. Total nitrogen varied from 0.07-0.43 % with a mean of 0.19%. The values of available phosphorus (mg kg-1) varied from 1.0-44.0 mg kg-1 with a mean value 12.9 mg kg-1and that of potassium varied from 27.37-762.45 mg kg-1 with a mean of 169.56 mg kg-1. It was concluded that soils of the dalo growing areas of Rewa district are moderately acidic, having low electrical conductivity and are characterized as non-saline soils. Soils are high in organic carbon, medium in total nitrogen and low in available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium.


Author(s):  
G. Omar ◽  
B. Tasi’u

A multi-locational field trial was conducted at two locations (Orchard of the Bayero University Gezawa village in Gezawa Local Government area) in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria to investigate the effect of applications of paraquat and atrazine herbicides on soil physico-chemical properties and maize performance. Pre-planting and plot-by-plot soil samples was taken 24 hours after herbicides application, vegetative growth period, reproductive stage and at harvest were taken and subjected to routine analyses using standard laboratory methods. Crop growth and yield characters were measured using standard methods. The experiment consisted of 7 treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated 3 times. Results indicated highly significant differences between the locations in the content of the sand, silt and clay separates but no significant differences were observed between the treatments. There were highly significant variations in soil reaction, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and all the exchangeable bases, except calcium at both locations. Soil reaction, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and cation exchange capacity showed no significant differences with all the treatments across the locations. Electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and sodium were low across the locations but were higher at Bayero University Kano. The soils at both locations were generally acid. Thus, the soils at both locations were non-saline and non-sodic. Only the yield varied with the treatments. The highest yield was obtained at Bayero University Kano. Application of the highest treatment (4 kg/ha Atrazine + 4 kg/ha Paraquat was associated with high sand content and strong soil acidity). Combined application of 3 kg/ha Atrazine + 3 kg/a Paraquat was associated with low total nitrogen and exchangeable potassium and with the highest yield of maize. Application of Atrazine at 3 kg/ha corresponded with low organic carbon and low leaf area. Paraquat applied at 4 kg/ha was associated with very low concentration of exchangeable Na and moderate concentration of available P. Combined application of paraquat at 4 kg/ha was associated with low cation exchange capacity. Combined application of 3 kg/ha atrazine and 3 kg/ha paraquat is recommended for higher maize yield. Integrated soil fertility management is recommended in the study areas.


2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-30
Author(s):  
Božena Šoltysová ◽  
Martin Danilovič

Tillage in Relation to Distribution of Nutrients and Organic Carbon in the SoilChanges of total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium and soil organic carbon were observed on gleyic Fluvisols (locality Milhostov) at the following crops: grain maize (2005), spring barley (2006), winter wheat (2007), soya (2008), grain maize (2009). The experiment was realized at three soil tillage technologies: conventional tillage, reduced tillage and no-tillage. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0-0.15 m; 0.15-0.30 m; 0.30-0.45 m). The ratio of soil organic carbon to total nitrogen was also calculated.Soil tillage affects significantly the content of total nitrogen in soil. The difference between the convetional tillage and soil protective tillages was significant. The balance showed that the content of total nitrogen decreased at reduced tillage by 5.2 rel.%, at no-tillage by 5.1 rel.% and at conventional tillage by 0.7 rel.%.Similarly, the content of organic matter in the soil was significantly affected by soil tillage. The content of soil organic carbon found at the end of the research period was lower by 4.1 rel.% at reduced tillage, by 4.8 rel.% at no-tillage and by 4.9 rel.% at conventional tillage compared with initial stage. The difference between the convetional tillage and soil protective tillages was significant.Less significant relationship was found between the soil tillage and the content of available phosphorus. The balance showed that the content of available phosphorus was increased at reduced tillage (by 4.1 rel.%) and was decreased at no-tillage (by 9.5 rel.%) and at conventional tillage (by 3.3 rel.%).Tillage did not significantly affect the content of available potassium in the soil.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashim Kumar Saha ◽  
Apu Biswas ◽  
Abdul Qayyum Khan ◽  
Md. Mohashin Farazi ◽  
Md. Habibur Rahman

Long-term tea cultivation has led to degradation of the soil. Old tea soils require rehabilitation for restoring soil health. Soil rehabilitation by growing different green crops can break the chain of monoculture of tea. An experiment was conducted at The Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) Farm during 2008-2011 to find out the efficiency of different green crops on the improvement of soil properties. Four green crops such as Guatemala, Citronella, Mimosa and Calopogonium were grown to develop the nutritional value of the degraded tea soil. Soil samples were collected and analyzed before and at the end of experiment. Soil pH was increased in all four green crops treated plots with the highest increase in Citronella treated plots (from 4.1 to 4.5). Highest content of organic carbon (1.19%) and total nitrogen (0.119%) were found in Mimosa and Calopogonium treated plots, respectively. Concentration of available phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in all green crops treated plots were above the critical values, while available potassium content was above the critical value in Guatemala, Citronella and Mimosa treated plots. Changes in soil pH and available potassium were significant, while changes in organic carbon content, total nitrogen and available calcium were insignificant. Changes in available phosphorus and magnesium were significant. The Agriculturists 2014; 12(2) 34-38


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 603-609
Author(s):  
Jeong-Hwan Choi ◽  
Dong-Hun Shin ◽  
Hye-Bin Kim ◽  
Jong-Gook Kim ◽  
Kitae Baek

Objective:This study proposed the simultaneous multi-oxidation of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorous using modified wet chemical oxidation method.Methods:The multi oxidation process was based on the dual radical system with sulfate and hydroxyl radicals. The sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were activated at 40℃ and UV irradiation with 254 nm to generate the sulfate radical and hydroxyl radical. The organic matters were oxidized by the dual radicals, and TOC, TN, and TP values were compared with the control group.Results and Discussion:The dual radical system oxidized organic carbon to carbon dioxide effectively, and the TOC values were similar to the value obtained from the high-temperature combustion technique. However, the residual persulfate after oxidation process interfered the absorbance for TN and inhibit the complexation in TP measurement. The residual persulfate was effectively converted to sulfate by longer heating and UV irradiation, and the interferences were more sensitive to reaction temperature than UV irradiation time. As a result, a higher temperature condition was more effective and enhanced the applicability of multi-oxidation.Conclusions:The multi oxidation of TOC, TN, and TP was demonstrated by wet chemical oxidation, and the proposed method is expected to secure the sample and reduce the analytic time. However, the more suitable condition to enhance the accuracy of TOC, TN, and TP in the multi-oxidation system should be studied further.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 101452
Author(s):  
Luis H. Poersch ◽  
William Bauer ◽  
Mônica Wallner Kersanach ◽  
Wilson Wasielesky

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