scholarly journals Soil Factors are the Drivers for Wetlands Colonization by Pneumatopteris afra in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-360
Author(s):  
Akomolafe Gbenga Festus ◽  
Rahmad Zakaria

The relationships between soil factors and plant community characteristics of some wetlands invaded by Pneumatopteris afra and non-invaded ones were investigated. Sixty soil samples were obtained from six wetlands comprising three invaded and three non-invaded in Lafia, Nigeria using sixty quadrants arranged on six 200 m transects. The samples, after air-dried and sieved using 2 mm mesh were analysed for the physico-chemical properties which include pH, organic matter (OM), percentage nitrogen (% N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), exchangeable acidity (EA), percentage base saturation (% BS), particle size, porosity, bulk density (BD), hydraulic conductivity (HC), and moisture content (MC) using standard methods. Direct ordination in canonical correspondence analysis was used to determine the influence of these soil factors on P. afra abundance, Shannon diversity, and species richness of both invaded and non-invaded sites. All sites differ from each other in terms of their physico-chemical parameters. The invaded sites appeared to be more acidic (pH = 3.22), less sandy, more porous (38.11%), low HC (1.23) as compared with non-invaded ones. Soil factors that favoured abundance of P. afra(% OM and EA) correlated negatively with Shannon diversity index of invaded sites which was positively influenced by % N, pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). At the non-invaded sites, Shannon index and density were influenced positively by % BS, pH, AP, and % N. All these observations showed that the soil factors played significant roles in the establishment of P. afra at the invaded sites, and also on the plant diversity at non-invaded sites.

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Liane Barreto Alves Pinheiro ◽  
Rodrigo Camara ◽  
Marcos Gervasio Pereira ◽  
Eduardo Lima ◽  
Maria Elizabeth Fernandes Correia ◽  
...  

Mound-building termites are important agents of soil bioperturbation, but these species have not been extensively studied thus far. The present study aimed to evaluate the soil particle-size and the chemical attributes of termite mounds and the surrounding soil under different land use strategies. A one-hectare plot was defined for an unmanaged degraded pasture, planted pasture, and for a eucalyptus Corymbia citriodora plantation. In each plot, the top, center, and base sections of five Cornitermes cumulans mounds, and the surrounding soil at the depths of 0-5; 5-10; 10-20 cm, were sampled in the Pinheiral, Rio de Janeiro state. In the three areas, the center of the mounds contained higher clay content, organic carbon, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium, total bases, and cation exchangeable capacity, when compared to the top, base, and the surrounding soils. However, the center had lower values of exchangeable acidity and potassium, of the three areas. In the eucalyptus plantation, the values of pH, total bases, calcium, and magnesium were lower, whereas aluminum, exchangeable acidity, sodium, and cation exchange capacity were higher both in the mounds and in the surrounding soil, in relation to the pastures. There were no differences among the three areas in terms of organic carbon, potassium, phosphorous, and total bases, in the mounds and adjacent soil. Thus, the termite activity altered the clay content and most of the soil chemical properties in all of the studied areas, but only for the center of the mounds. However, the effect of these organisms was different in the eucalyptus plantation in relation to the pasture areas.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Nasef ◽  
H. Saidi ◽  
A. H. Yahaya

Crosslinked cation exchange membranes bearing sulfonic acid groups (PE-g-PSSA/DVB) were prepared by radiationinduced grafting of styrene/divinylbenzene (DVB) mixtures onto low density polyethylene (PE) films followed by sulfonation reactions. The effect of addition of DVB (2 and 4%) on the grafting behavior and the physico-chemical properties of the membranes such as ion exchange capacity, swelling and ionic conductivity were evaluated incorrelation with grafting yield (Y%). The structural and thermal properties of the membranes were also studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Crosslinking with DVB was found to considerably affect the properties of the membranes in a way that reduces the swelling properties and enhances the chemical stability. The ion conductivity of the crosslinked membranes recorded a level of 10–2 S/cm at sufficient grafting yield (28%) despite the reduction caused by the formation of crosslinking structure. The results of this work suggest that membranes prepared in this study are potential alternatives for various electrochemical applications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-284
Author(s):  
Ricardo Antonio Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Danilo Brito da Costa ◽  
William de Paiva ◽  
Márcio Camargo de Melo ◽  
Veruschka Escarião Dessoles Monteiro

The adsorption of heavy metals by sanitary landfill liners represents a measure of protection of surface and groundwaters against contamination by metals, mitigating risks to public health. Hence, this research aimed to identify, from correlations, the influence of physico-chemical properties of soils applied in landfill liners using nickel adsorption parameters. Batch equilibrium tests with initial nickel concentrations of 45 to 1440 mg.L-1 were performed in clayey sand and bentonite clay soil, as well as in mixtures. Nickel adsorption parameters from Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were obtained, exhibiting a better adjustment in the Freundlich model based on R² and RMSE criteria. Thus, the addition of bentonite clay improved the adsorption to nickel, and the cationic exchange capacity (CEC) was the property that considerably influenced the metal retention in the studied soils.


Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Hua Yuan ◽  
Ren-Kou Xu

The chemical compositions of biochars from ten crop residues generated at 350°C and their effects on chemical properties of acid soils from tropical and subtropical China were investigated. There was greater alkalinity and contents of base cations in the biochars from legume residues than from non-legume residues. Carbonates and organic anions of carboxyl and phenolic groups were the main forms of alkalis in the biochars, and their relative contributions to biochar alkalinity varied with crop residues. Incubation experiments indicated that biochar incorporation increased soil pH and soil exchangeable base cations and decreased soil exchangeable acidity. There were greater increases in soil pH and soil exchangeable base cations, and a greater decrease in soil exchangeable acidity, for biochars from legume than from non-legume residues. The biochars did not increase the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils with relatively high initial CEC but did increase the CEC of soils with relatively low initial CEC at an addition level of 1%. The incorporation of biochars from crop residues not only corrected soil acidity but also increased contents of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in these acid soils from tropical and subtropical regions and thus improved soil fertility.


Author(s):  
Mutaz Al-Alawi ◽  
Tamas Szegi ◽  
Loubna El Fels ◽  
Mohamed Hafidi ◽  
Barbara Simon ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Green waste (GW) composting is of increasing importance to the waste management industry in addition being a useful agricultural product that is rich in nutrient and organic matter (OM). The combination of aerated static windrow with GORE(R) cover membrane and an air-floor aeration system is a relatively new industrial-scale composting technology that has not been previously explored. Therefore, the aim of this research study was to evaluate the effectiveness of composting GW using this new technology. Methods The composting process was monitored through changes in the physico-chemical properties, E4/6, and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Results Disinfection requirements were met by holding composting temperature steady in the thermophilic range for 24 days. The technology greatly improved composting conditions, and final compost product in terms of temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, OM degradation, nitrogen transformation, humification, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The FTIR spectra revealed that there was enrichment of aromatic compounds and reduction in aliphatic structures and easily assimilated peptide components by microorganisms, indicating the humification degree increased, the final compost stabilized, and confirming the efficiency of composting. Consequently, the new technology produced a mature compost in only 30 days compared with the standard period of 90–270 days for traditional composting. Conclusion Notably, the new technology may be a sustainable alternative for GW management that converts waste into compost and could be beneficial for agricultural uses.


2000 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. NOBLE ◽  
A. P. HURNEY

In many highly weathered soils of the humid tropics, crop exploitation of the subsoil environment is limited through acid soil infertility. Since the use of mechanical profile modification is often prohibitive, surface incorporation of soil amendments is often the only means available to rectify this problem. A field trial was established with sugarcane on a strongly Acidic Dystrophic Brown Dermosol (Oxic Humitropept) in 1978 to evaluate the effects of surface incorporated lime additions on yield and performance of sugarcane. Eighteen years after the establishment of this trial, significant responses in cane yield were still evident following a single application of 5 t lime ha−1 made in 1978, as well as repeated applications of 5 t ha−1 on three occasions over the past 18 years. Progressive reductions in exchangeable acidity were accompanied by increases in subsoil Ca2+ and Mg2+. Soil pH increased significantly to a depth of 100 cm, this being attributed to the formation of ion pairs with NO3 in the surface soil, the subsequent leaching of these complexes and the differential uptake of NO3 at depth by roots. The results from this long-term study indicate that surface incorporation of lime is an economically viable approach to the remediation of subsoil acidity on soils such as those studied, namely, those with a low inherent cation exchange capacity and anion exchange capacity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Osacký ◽  
Tomáš Binčík ◽  
Tomáš Paľo ◽  
Peter Uhlík ◽  
Jana Madejová ◽  
...  

Abstract In the past years an increasing demand for bentonites resulted in the opening of new bentonite deposits in the Jastrabá Formation. The shortage of information, in particular analytical data, on the bentonites from the newly opened Jastrabá Fm. deposits was the motivation for the current study. Smectite is the predominant mineral in all bulk bentonites from the new deposits. Its amount varied between 43 and 90 wt. %. The bulk bentonites also contain variable amounts (10–57 wt. %) of mineral admixtures such as feldspars, mica, opal-CT, kaolinite, quartz and sometimes goethite. The smectite mineral comprising the studied bentonites was montmorillonite. The octahedral Al in the structure of montmorillonite was partially substituted by Mg, and to a lesser extent by Fe. The interlayer space of montmorillonite is occupied predominantly by divalent exchangeable cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+). The dehydroxylation temperature of smectites (>600 °C) determined on the DTG curves indicates the presence of the cis-vacant variety of montmorillonites. The mean crystallite thicknesses of smectites (TMEAN) calculated by BWA analyses ranges from 7.2 to 11.5 nm. The shape of the crystallite thickness distributions (CTDs) for smectites is lognormal in all cases. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and total specific surface area (TSSA) increases with increasing amount of smectite. The CEC of 101 meq/100g and TSSA of 616 m2/g correspond to bulk bentonite from the Stará Kremnička III deposit containing 89 wt. % of smectite.


1970 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-182
Author(s):  
KF Akhter ◽  
ZH Khan ◽  
MS Hussain ◽  
AR Mazumder

The seasonally flooded soils of Bangladesh are unique in respect of several specific characteristics and contribute toward producing bulk of its staple food - mainly rice. Having fine texture these soils are similar to the “paddy soils” of Southeast Asian floodplains and have high production potential under proper management. Six representative soil series, viz. Arial, Debidwar, Naraibag, Jalkundi, Siddirganj and Tippera from the central region of Bangladesh have been studied to evaluate some of their intrinsic physico-chemical properties and their sustainable management requirements. These soils are slightly acidic to neutral and are negatively charged with ΔpH values ranging between –0.2 and –1.2. The organic matter content in the surface soil is relatively low that decreases steadily with depth. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils varies on the basis of their clay and organic matter contents while base saturation per cent (BSP) is high. The contents of available N, P, K and S and DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in soils are moderate and are commensurate with the contents of colloidal fractions. These soils receive several mineral nutrients annually with the sediments deposited during the monsoon floods. The characteristics like organic matter content, particle size distribution, CEC, pH and BSP that have important management implications have been discussed. Key words: Seasonally flooded soils; Physical and chemical attributes; Management implications DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujbs.v20i2.8978 DUJBS 2011; 20(2): 173-182


Author(s):  
Z. Abdulhamid ◽  
E.B. Agbaji ◽  
C.E. Gimba ◽  
A.S. Agbaji

Physico-chemical properties and heavy metals content of soils were determined from seven farms in Minna, central Nigeria. Conventional analytical methods were employed to determine the physico-chemical properties and the heavy metals were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The result showed that pH values ranged from 6.64 - 7.70 indicating slight acidity to slight alkalinity of the soils. The total organic carbon values ranged from 0.95-2.25 % resulting in the presence of organic matter (1.63-3.87). The electrical conductivity values ranged from 17-37 μS/cm. The cation exchange capacity of the soil samples ranged from 3.68-5.15 cmol/kg. The heavy metals levels were in the following range: Cd (0.00018-0.00134 mg/g), Cu (0.0069-0.0476 mg/g), Fe (1.942-2.2059 mg/g), Mn (0.1825-0.3696 mg/g), Ni (0.0065-0.0069 mg/g) and Zn (0.0157-0.2252 mg/g). The concentration of the metals in the soil samples varied according to the following trend: Fe>Mn>Zn> Cu>Ni>Cd. The average concentration of all the metals in each farm also gave the trend Farm B>Farm G>Farm E>Farm C>Farm F>Farm D>Farm A. The findings indicate the presence of heavy metals in all the farms but only Fe was above the FAO/WHO standards.


Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Manuel Mirás-Avalos ◽  
María Fandiño ◽  
Benjamín J. Rey ◽  
Jorge Dafonte ◽  
Javier J. Cancela

Soil properties show a high spatio-temporal variability, affecting productivity and crop quality within a given field. In new vineyard plantations, with changes in the initial topographic profile, this variability is exacerbated due to the incorporation of soil from different origins and qualities. The aim of the current study was to characterize the variability of soil properties in a newly established vineyard, and delineating zones for site-specific management of fertilization. For this purpose, the soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) in the first 150 cm was measured with an electromagnetic induction sensor. A soil sampling was performed following a regular grid (35 × 35 m, 149 samples), collecting samples down to 40 cm depth for determining soil chemical properties. Spatial variability was assessed through semivariogram calculation and ordinary kriging. The soil properties that better represent the variability in this newly established vineyard were pH, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), carbon content, clay and ECa. The ECa was homogeneous all over the vineyard, except for the area closer to the river where a greater human intervention had occurred, with contributions of external soil at a greater depth. Soil properties showed a great spatial variability. Interpolated maps allowed for detecting areas with a lack of nutrients in which a differential fertilization could be performed in search of a sustainable and balanced production. The information provided by the maps of pH, ECEC and carbon and potassium contents allow for performing a differential management of the vineyard in terms of fertilization. In addition, the results obtained suggest that the vineyard should be divided into two sectors for a differential irrigation management. The ECa was not significantly correlated to most of the soil properties determined in the current study; however, it allowed for a low-cost mapping of the vineyard soil and established large areas of management within the vineyard.


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