Evaluation of spatial spreading of phyto-available sulphur and micronutrients in cultivated coastal soils

Understanding the spatial spreading patterns of plant-available sulphur (S) (AS) and plant-available micronutrients (available zinc (AZn), available iron (AFe), available copper (ACu), available manganese (AMn) and available boron (AB)) in soils, especially in coastal agricultural soils subjected to various natural and anthropogenic activities, is vital for sustainable crop production by adopting site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) strategies. We studied the spatial distribution patterns of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB in cultivated soils of coastal districts of India using geostatistical approaches. Altogether 39,097 soil samples from surface (0 to 15 cm depth) layers were gathered from farm lands of 68 coastal districts. The analysis of soil samples was carried out for soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB. Soil pH, EC and SOC varied from 3.70 to 9.90, 0.01 to 7.45 dS m-1 and 0.02 to 3.74%, respectively. The concentrations of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB varied widely in the study area with their corresponding mean values were 37.4±29.4, 1.50±1.53, 27.9±35.1, 2.14±1.74, 16.9±18.4 and 1.34±1.52 mg kg-1, respectively. The coefficient of variation values of analyzed soil parameters varied from 14.6 to 126%. The concentrations of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB were negatively and significantly correlated with soil pH and positively and significantly correlated with SOC. The geostatistical analysis indicated stable, Gaussian and exponential best-fit semivariogram models with moderate to strong spatial dependence for available nutrients. The generated spatial spreading maps revealed different distribution patterns for AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB. There were variations in spatial spreading patterns of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB in east- and west-coastal area. About 62, 35, 12, 0.4, 23 and 45% of the study area had deficiency of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB, respectively. The spatial spreading maps will be highly useful for SSNM in the cultivated coastal soils of the country. This study could also be used as a base for assessing spatial spreading patterns of soil parameters in cultivated coastal areas of other parts of the world.

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Describing Phosphorus Sorption Processes on Volcanic Soil in the Presence of Copper or Silver Engineered Nanoparticles

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11040373 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 373

Author(s):

Jonathan Suazo-Hernández ◽

Erwin Klumpp ◽

Nicolás Arancibia-Miranda ◽

Patricia Poblete-Grant ◽

Alejandra Jara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Ph Value ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Engineered Nanoparticles ◽

P Availability ◽

Agricultural Crop ◽

Phosphorus Sorption

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) present in consumer products are being released into the agricultural systems. There is little information about the direct effect of ENPs on phosphorus (P) availability, which is an essential nutrient for crop growthnaturally occurring in agricultural soils. The present study examined the effect of 1, 3, and 5% doses of Cu0 or Ag0 ENPs stabilized with L-ascorbic acid (suspension pH 2–3) on P ad- and desorption in an agricultural Andisol with total organic matter (T-OM) and with partial removal of organic matter (R-OM) by performing batch experiments. Our results showed that the adsorption kinetics data of H2PO4− on T-OM and R-OM soil samples with and without ENPs were adequately described by the pseudo-second-order (PSO) and Elovich models. The adsorption isotherm data of H2PO4− from T-OM and R-OM soil samples following ENPs addition were better fitted by the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model. When the Cu0 or Ag0 ENPs doses were increased, the pH value decreased and H2PO4− adsorption increased on T-OM and R-OM. The H2PO4− desorption (%) was lower with Cu0 ENPs than Ag0 ENPs. Overall, the incorporation of ENPs into Andisols generated an increase in P retention, which may affect agricultural crop production.

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Changes in physico-chemical properties of paddy soil due to water and fertilizer management

Asian-Australasian Journal of Bioscience and Biotechnology ◽

10.3329/aajbb.v5i2.53865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 65-71

Author(s):

Israt Jahan ◽

AKM Abul Ahsan ◽

MMR Jahangir ◽

Mahmud Hossain ◽

Md Anwarul Abedin

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Total Nitrogen ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Health ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Physico Chemical

Soil physico-chemical properties are an important phenomenon for sustainable crop production and maintenance of optimum soil health. Hence, a laboratory measurement was conducted with soil samples of three years long experimental field of the Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to assess the changes in five selected soil physico-chemical properties viz. soil texture, bulk density, soil pH, total nitrogen and organic matter. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with two water regimes (continuous flooding and alternate wetting & drying) in the main plots and five fertilizer treatments (N0 - control, N1- 140 kg N/ha as PU, N2- 104 kg N/ha as USG (2× 1.8 g/ 4 hills), N3 - 5 t CD + PU @ 140 kg N /ha on IPNS basis and N4- 5 t CD + USG (2× 1.8 g/ 4 hills @ 104 kg N/ha)) in the subplots under rice-rice cropping pattern with three replications. After three years, soil samples were collected at 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil depths for measuring bulk density and at 0-10 cm depth for other soil properties and analyzed. Results found that % sand, % silt, % clay, bulk density and soil pH was not changed significantly compared to initial status. Percentage of total nitrogen and organic matter was significantly affected by irrigation and fertilization. Total nitrogen (%) was higher in AWD whereas organic matter (%) was higher in CF practice. The highest total nitrogen (%) and organic matter (%) was found in N4 treatment in which USG was applied in combination with cowdung as organic manure. It can be suggested that N4 treatment was formed good combination for sustaining chemical properties of soil. Further long- term experimentation will be needed to know the changes in soil properties for sustainable crop production and improving soil health. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2020, 5 (2), 65-71

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Spatial prediction of soil acidity and nutrients for site-specific soil management in Bedele district, Southwestern Ethiopia

Agriculture & Food Security ◽

10.1186/s40066-021-00334-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gedefa Sori ◽

Birhanu Iticha ◽

Chalsissa Takele

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variability ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Acidity ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Spatial Prediction ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Site Specific ◽

Southwestern Ethiopia ◽

Strong Acidity

Abstract Background Understanding the spatial variability of soil properties is useful to tailor site-specific agricultural inputs to enhance crop production on a sustainable basis. This study was aimed to assess and map the spatial patterns of soil acidity and nutrients using geostatistical methods and support site-specific lime and fertilizer recommendations in Bedele district, Southwestern Ethiopia. Methods Soil samples were collected from agricultural land at a depth of 20 cm using grid sampling technique. The semivariogram analysis was performed for accurate spatial prediction and the kriging technique was used for interpolation of soil parameters. Results Soil pH varied between 4.5 and 6.8. Soil organic carbon (OC) content ranged from 0.3 to 5.6% and the mean soil OC density was 0.81 kg m−2. Available phosphorus (AvP) ranged from 0.8 to 38.6 mg kg−1 and nearly 80.23% of the soils exhibited very low to low AvP that could be due to fixation by strong acidity. Soils of the study area exhibited very high exchangeable potassium (K), but very low exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The potassium to magnesium ratio (K:Mg) ranged from 0.2:1 to 10.9:1, while the values of calcium to magnesium ratio (Ca:Mg) varied between 0.3 and 3.4. Among the soil parameters, exchangeable Ca (CV = 54%) and K:Mg ratio (CV = 57.62%) were more variable than other soil parameters. Spatial variability was lowest for soil pH (CV = 10%). Conclusions Major portions of the study site were affected by strong acidity (pH ≤ 5.5). Accordingly, about 89% of the soils require lime that varied between 0.09 and 3.6 tons ha−1. In addition to soil acidity, deficiency of available P, Ca, and Mg were the major liming factors affecting crop production in the study area. Digital soil mapping was used to show the spatial variability of soil acidity and nutrients across agricultural land and applied for efficient lime and nutrients advisory works.

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Bioavailability of Sulfur from Waste Obtained during Biogas Desulfurization and the Effect of Sulfur on Soil Acidity and Biological Activity

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8070863 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 863 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Monika Tabak ◽

Aneta Lisowska ◽

Barbara Filipek-Mazur

Keyword(s):

Soil Ph ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Acidity ◽

Elemental Sulfur ◽

Sulfur Oxidation ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Soil Enzymatic Activity ◽

Waste Reuse

Sulfur deficiency has been recognized as a limiting factor for crop production in many regions of the world. A 120-day incubation experiment was conducted to assess the effect of the applied waste elemental sulfur on sulfur bioavailability in soil. Four doses of sulfur were applied: 10, 20, 30 and 60 mg S kg−1 dry matter (d.m.) of soil. In order to assess the effect of soil pH adjustment on sulfur oxidation, the research was conducted on two sets of soil samples: one set of soil samples had natural pH, and the second one was limed before sulfur application. Application of waste sulfur slightly affected the soil pH, and increased the content of available sulfur in soil proportionally to sulfur dose. A beneficial effect of waste sulfur application on soil dehydrogenase and catalase activity was found. Liming reduced soil acidity, and significantly increased sulfate content and soil enzymatic activity. Waste elemental sulfur may be an alternative source of sulfur, supplementing the deficiencies of this element in soils. The described way of sulfur waste reuse corresponds with the increasingly common approach to create waste-free technologies in all economy.

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The Distribution and Abundance of Vesicular Arbuscular Endophytes in Some Western Australian Soils

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9770515 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 515 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

LK Abbott ◽

AD Robson

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Western Australia ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Root Infection ◽

Spore Type ◽

Va Mycorrhizas ◽

Vesicular Arbuscular ◽

Western Australian

The distribution and abundance of large-spored vesicular arbuscular (VA) endophytes was examined at three localities in Western Australia. Within each locality, soil samples were collected from sites with a range of soil properties and superphosphate histories. Vesicular arbuscular endophytes were widespread. Spores were found in all but five of 104 samples. In two of the samples where spores were not found, plants grown in the soils formed VA mycorrhizas. Root infection by a fine endophyte resembling Rhizophagus tenuis was also frequently observed. Five spore types were found. Honey-coloured sessile spores were present in 85% of the samples. The yellow vacuolate spore type was the second most common endophyte, but its distribution was mostly limited to cultivated and fertilized soils. Endophytes other than the yellow vacuolate spore type occurred on both virgin and agricultural soils. The distribution of honey-coloured sessile and yellow vacuolate spores in cultivated soils appeared to be associated with variation in soil pH. The total numbers of spores collected on a 106 μm sieve were not correlated with soil pH, NaHCO3-extractable phosphorus or superphosphate history.

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Assessment of metal(loid) contamination and genotoxicity of agricultural soils

10.21203/rs.3.rs-213694/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vaneet Kumar ◽

Sandip Singh ◽

Avinash Nagpal

Keyword(s):

Allium Cepa ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystem ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Pollution Assessment ◽

Industrial Effluents ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Strong Positive Correlation

Abstract Soil, a connecting link between biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystem, receives different kinds of pollutants through various point and nonpoint sources. Among different sources of soil pollution, contaminated irrigation water is one of the most prominent sources affecting soils throughout the globe. The irrigation water (both surface and groundwater) are increasingly getting polluted with contaminants such as metal(loid)s due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study was conducted to analyze metal(loid) contents in agricultural soil samples (N = 24) collected from fields along the banks of rivers Beas and Sutlej flowing through Punjab state of India, using Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Florescent (WDXRF) Spectroscopy. The soil samples were also analysed for their genotoxic potential using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. The rivers Beas and Sutlej are contaminated with municipal and industrial effluents in different parts of Punjab. The soil samples analyzed were found to have higher contents of Arsenic, Cobalt and Chromium when compared with reference values given by various international agencies. Pollution assessment using different indices like Index of geo-accumulation, Enrichment factor and Contamination factor revealed that the soil samples were highly polluted with cobalt and arsenic. The Allium cepa assay revealed that maximum genotoxicity was found in soil samples having higher contents of As and Co. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlation between the different metal(loid)s which indicated common sources of these metal(loid)s. Therefore, efforts must be taken to reduce the levels of these metal(loid)s in these agricultural soils.

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Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Rhizobia Nodulating Cowpea (Vigna unguiculataL.) from Agricultural Soils of Lower Eastern Kenya

International Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1155/2017/8684921 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Damaris K. Ondieki ◽

Evans N. Nyaboga ◽

John M. Wagacha ◽

Francis B. Mwaura

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Repetitive Element ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Cowpea Rhizobia ◽

Selection Of

Limited nitrogen (N) content in the soil is a major challenge to sustainable and high crop production in many developing countries. The nitrogen fixing symbiosis of legumes with rhizobia plays an important role in supplying sufficient N for legumes and subsequent nonleguminous crops. To identify rhizobia strains which are suitable for bioinoculant production, characterization of rhizobia is a prerequisite. The objective of this study was to assess the morphological and genetic diversity of rhizobia that nodulates cowpea in agricultural soils of lower eastern Kenya. Twenty-eight rhizobia isolates were recovered from soil samples collected from farmers’ fields in Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties in lower eastern Kenya and characterized based on morphological characteristics. Thirteen representative isolates were selected and characterized using BOX repetitive element PCR fingerprinting. Based on the dendrogram generated from morphological characteristics, the test isolates were distributed into two major clusters at a similarity of 75%. Phylogenetic tree, based on BOX repetitive element PCR, grouped the isolates into two clusters at 90% similarity level. The clustering of the isolates did not show a relationship to the origin of soil samples, although the isolates were genetically diverse. This study is a prerequisite to the selection of suitable cowpea rhizobia to develop bioinoculants for sustainable crop production in Kenya.

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Status and Spatial Variability of Trace Elements in the Low Ganges River Floodplain Soils of Bangladesh

Journal of Environmental Science and Natural Resources ◽

10.3329/jesnr.v9i2.32160 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 71-78

Author(s):

MD Islam ◽

MM Rahman ◽

MH Kabir ◽

GKMM Rahman ◽

MS Hossain

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Spatial Variability ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Crop Production ◽

Spatial Diversity ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Ganges River ◽

River Floodplain ◽

Distribution Maps

Soils of the Low Ganges River Floodplain encroaching Faridpur district of Bangladesh have immense contribution to crop production, while little information available focusing the spatial variability of trace elements in the area. Therefore, the study was conducted to quantify the trace elements collecting a total of 122 representative soil samples from rice fields of Faridpur district. Soil samples were analyzed and found that Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and B were ranged from 0.80-6.80, 24295, 10129, 0.122.20 and 0.5-9.05 ppm, respectively. The pollution indexes are noteworthy features which revealed that only Mn may exhibit a risk for environmental pollution. The concentrations of trace elements, pH and organic carbon in soils displayed a significant spatial diversity because of anthropogenic and geogenic contribution. The distribution maps of soil pH, organic carbon and trace elements might be useful to farmers, researchers and planners in designing and planning agricultural programs in the study area.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 9(2): 71-78 2016

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Direct prediction of site-specific lime requirement of arable fields using the base neutralizing capacity and a multi-sensor platform for on-the-go soil mapping

Precision Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s11119-021-09830-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastian Vogel ◽

Eric Bönecke ◽

Charlotte Kling ◽

Eckart Kramer ◽

Katrin Lück ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Ph ◽

Optical Sensors ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Sensor Data ◽

Agricultural Fields ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Site Specific ◽

North East ◽

Neutralizing Capacity

AbstractLiming agricultural fields is necessary for counteracting soil acidity and is one of the oldest operations in soil fertility management. However, the best management practice for liming in Germany only insufficiently considers within-field soil variability. Thus, a site-specific variable rate liming strategy was developed and tested on nine agricultural fields in a quaternary landscape of north-east Germany. It is based on the use of a proximal soil sensing module using potentiometric, geoelectric and optical sensors that have been found to be proxies for soil pH, texture and soil organic matter (SOM), which are the most relevant lime requirement (LR) affecting soil parameters. These were compared to laboratory LR analysis of reference soil samples using the soil’s base neutralizing capacity (BNC). Sensor data fusion utilizing stepwise multi-variate linear regression (MLR) analysis was used to predict BNC-based LR (LRBNC) for each field. The MLR models achieved high adjusted R2 values between 0.70 and 0.91 and low RMSE values from 65 to 204 kg CaCO3 ha−1. In comparison to univariate modeling, MLR models improved prediction by 3 to 27% with 9% improvement on average. The relative importance of covariates in the field-specific prediction models were quantified by computing standardized regression coefficients (SRC). The importance of covariates varied between fields, which emphasizes the necessity of a field-specific calibration of proximal sensor data. However, soil pH was the most important parameter for LR determination of the soils studied. Geostatistical semivariance analysis revealed differences between fields in the spatial variability of LRBNC. The sill-to-range ratio (SRR) was used to quantify and compare spatial LRBNC variability of the nine test fields. Finally, high resolution LR maps were generated. The BNC-based LR method also produces negative LR values for soil samples with pH values above which lime is required. Hence, the LR maps additionally provide an estimate on the quantity of chemically acidifying fertilizers that can be applied to obtain an optimal soil pH value.

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Evaluating Slow Pyrolysis of Parthenium hysterophorus Biochar: Perspectives to Acidic Soil Amelioration and Growth of Selected Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Varieties

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2022/8181742 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 2022 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Meseret Muche ◽

Eyayu Molla ◽

Sultan Mohammed ◽

Esubalew Sintie ◽

Ahmed Hassen

Keyword(s):

Soil Ph ◽

Crop Production ◽

Principal Component ◽

Parthenium Hysterophorus ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Agronomic Performance ◽

Acidic Soils ◽

Functional Variation ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Slow Pyrolysis

Application of biochar on acidic soils may improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This study aimed to explore the relevance of parthenium biochar-induced changes in the physicochemical properties and agronomic performance of the selected wheat varieties in acidic soils. A pot trial was used in determining the effect of slow pyrolysis parthenium biochar on acidic soils and the agronomic performance of wheat varieties. A general linear model (GLM) of multivariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare functional variation among soil assayed parameters with biochar dosages and years. Biochar-treated acidic soils did not show significant differences in their physical properties. However, a significant incremental trend was observed in the soil moisture content. The biochar-amended acidic soils showed noticeable differences in the soil pH, available phosphorous, and exchangeable bases (Ca, K, and Na) compared to the control. In all soil samples, a decreasing trend in the soil micronutrients was observed with an increase in the biochar amounts. The analysis also unveiled significant changes in root length, root and shoot dry biomass, and plant height of wheat varieties in response to the biochar amendments. The application of 19.5 t/ha and 23 t/ha dosages of biochar gave the maximum changes in the agronomic performance of Kekeba and Ogolcha varieties, while the minimum was obtained in the 26.5 t/ha and the control. Furthermore, PCA axis 1 accounted for 74.34% of the total variance within a higher eigenvector value (10.4076), and most of the soil parameters were positively correlated with CEC (0.29), available phosphorous (0.29), and soil pH (0.28); however, the micronutrients were negatively correlated. In conclusion, Parthenium hysterophorus biochar has the potential to amend acidic soils, and thus, the application of 16.0, 19.5, and 23 t·ha−1 biochar dosages are considered suitable to reduce the soil acidity level and improve the agronomic performance of wheat varieties. However, extensive research will be needed to determine the effects of biochar on soil properties and crop production in field conditions.

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