scholarly journals Physical and Chemical Properties of Substrates Containing Earthworm Castings and Effects on Marigold Growth

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1474-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo R. Hidalgo ◽  
Frank B. Matta ◽  
Richard L. Harkess

The effects of various substrates with or without earthworm [Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826] castings on growth of marigolds were evaluated. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of such substrates were determined. Castings had a greater nutrient content than the remaining substrates. The 4 pine bark: 1 sand treatment (v/v) (PBS) had higher P, K, and Zn than 7 peat moss: 3 perlite (v/v) (PP). PP had the lowest nutrient content of all substrates. Castings (C) had the highest pH followed by 1 PBS: 1 C (v/v), 2 PBS: 1C (v/v) and 3 PBS: 1C (v/v). Sunshine Mix 1 and PP had the lowest pH. EC (ER) was increased by castings, which had high ER. Castings and PP had the greatest percentage pore space. Water-holding capacity was greatest for 2 PBS: 1C (v/v) compared with Sunshine Mix 1 followed by castings. Earthworm castings increased plant growth index, stem diameter, root growth, dry weight, and flower number of marigolds compared with PP, Sunshine Mix 1, and PBS. All mixtures of castings (C) with PP, PBS, except 3 PBS: 1C (v/v), increase the growth index of plants. 1 PP: 1 C (v/v), increased flower number compared with all substrates without castings. Castings alone increased number of open flowers, but did not differ from 1 PP: 1 C or 3 PP:1 C.

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
Renata Mikalauskienė ◽  
Donatas Butkus ◽  
Ingrida Pliopaitė Bataitienė

The present article describes changes in specific activities and fluctuations in the ratio of natural 40K and artificial 137Cs radionuclides in soil samples taken from different places of Lithuanian territory. The samples of soil have been selected from the districts polluted after the accident in Chernobyl nuclear plant performing nuclear testing operations. The study has established the main physical and chemical properties of soil samples and their impact on the concentration of 40K activities. 137Cs/40K specific activities in soil have been observed under the dry weight of the sample that varied from 0.0034 to 0.0240. The results of the study could be used for establishing and estimating 137Csand 40K transfer in the system “soil-plant”. Santrauka Straipsnyje nagrinėjama gamtinės (40K) ir dirbtinės (137Cs) kilmės radionuklidų savitųjų aktyvumų ir jų santykio kaita skirtinguose Lietuvos teritorijos dirvožemiuose. Dirvožemio mėginiai parinkti iš vietovių, kurios buvo labiau užterštos po Černobylio atominės elektrinės avarijos ir buvusių branduolinių bandymų. Tyrimo metu nustatytos pagrindinės fizinės cheminės dirvožemio savybės ir jų poveikis 40K aktyvumų koncentracijai. 137Csir 40K savitieji aktyvumai dirvožemyje tirti esant sausam mėginio svoriui. 137Cs savitieji aktyvumai sausame dirvožemyje svyravo nuo 1,1±1,0 iki 14,3±0,9 Bq/kg, o 40K savitieji aktyvumai – nuo 326±29 iki 740±15 Bq/kg. 137Csir 40K savitųjų aktyvumų santykis skirtingų vietovių dirvožemiuose kito nuo 0,0034 iki 0,0240 Bq/kg. Tyrimo rezultatai gali būti panaudoti, nustatant ir įvertinant 137Csir 40K pernašą sistemoje dirvožemis–augalai.


Author(s):  
Nardi ◽  
Syaiful Anwar ◽  
Mohamad Yani ◽  
Nurholis ◽  
Muhammad Hendrizal

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-lived greenhouse gas with a warming potential of 300 times higher than CO2. Conserving of intact peat swamp forest can hold the natural physical and chemical properties of the soil, such that the N2O emission occurs naturally. To quantify N2O emission from peatland ecosystems, data availability is highly needed. The objectives of this study were to quantify the emission of N2O and determine the main factors controlling N2O emission from peatland conservation forests. This research was conducted from January to December 2020 in the Kampar Peninsula, Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province. This study found that N2O emission at peatland conservation forest was 0.23 ± 0.19 kg-N/ha/year. Substantial changes in soil and environmental factors such as water table, soil temperature, soil moisture, water-filled pore space, NH4-N, and NO3-N significantly affect the exchange of N2O between peatlands and the atmosphere.


2012 ◽  
Vol 241-244 ◽  
pp. 204-207
Author(s):  
Nongnaphat Khosavithitkul ◽  
Kenneth J. Haller ◽  
Nares Chuersuwan ◽  
Thananchai Wannasook

One hundred and thirty-seven samples of agricultural residue were taken from the study area of forty subdistricts in twenty districts of ten provines in the Northeastern region of Thailand. The samples were analyzed for major physical and chemical properties and subjected to simulated burning. Rice straw had the highest dry weight and bagasse the lowest. Bagasse had the highest moisture content and the highest carbon content. Results from simulated burning found that sugarcane leaf emitted more CO2 than the other residues. Weight loss on combustion was in the range of 75-92 %, and the simulated burn of agricultural residues showed CO2 emission values at 67% of the IPCC values.


Author(s):  
Loredana Stabili ◽  
Roberto Schirosi ◽  
Angela Di Benedetto ◽  
Alessandro Merendino ◽  
Luciano Villanova ◽  
...  

Although mucus plays many different roles among marine invertebrates, relatively little is known about the link between biochemical structure and function. In the present study we focused on some physical and chemical properties of the polychaeteSabella spallanzanii's mucus such as viscosity, osmolarity, electrical conductivity, elemental composition, the protein and carbohydrate content, the total lipids and fatty acid composition, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination. Moreover, an antimicrobial activity of the mucus was investigated. The water content ofS. spallanzaniimucus was 96.2±0.3%. By dry weight 26±1.2% was protein, 8±0.21% was carbohydrate and only 0.1% lipid, much of the remainder of the dry weight was inorganic (about 65.2%). The estimated PCBs content was <0.005 μg g−1. The mucus ofS. spallanzaniiexerted a natural lysozyme-like activity and producedin vitrothe growth inhibition ofVibrio anguillarum, Vibrio harveyi, Pseudomonas aeruginosaandCandida albicans.The findings from this study contribute to improve the limited knowledge available on the mucus composition in invertebrates and have implications for future investigations related to employment ofS. spallanzaniimucus as a source of compounds of pharmaceutical and marine technological interest.


AGRICA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Paulus O Lana ◽  
Charly Mutiara

This study aims to determine the effect of bokashi fertilizer dosage on the physical and chemical properties of soil on tomato plants and the optimum dose of bokashi fertilizer which can provide the best influence on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The research design used was a randomized block design (RBD) with a single factor pattern consisting of five treatments namely B0 = 0 tons ha-1 bokashi fertilizer (control), B1 = 5 tons ha-1 bokashi fertilizer, B2 = 10 tons ha-1 bokashi fertilizer, B3 = 15 tons ha-1 bokashi fertilizer, B4 = 20 tons ha-1 bokashi fertilizer. The observation variables in this study were soil volume/bulk density (gr /cm3), total soil pore space (%), N- total soil, available P-soil, available K-soil, soil C-organic, and soil pH. The results showed that the administration of bokashi fertilizer was able to improve the physical properties of soil in tomato plants, namely the weight of the soil volume decreased by 1,120 gr / cm³, water holding capacity increased by 30.24%, and soil pore space increased by 57.74%, so that the soil aggregate became good Giving doses of bokashi fertilizer can improve soil chemical properties in tomato plants, namely C-organic 0.91% very low, N-total soil 0.32% medium, P-available 37.25 ppm very high, and K-available 425.64 ppm very high and soil pH to 6.81 neutral. The supply of 20 tons/ha of bokashi fertilizer can improve soil physical and chemical properties optimally in tomato plants.


Agropedology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Himabindu ◽  
◽  
P. Gurumurthy ◽  
P.R.K. Prasad ◽  
◽  
...  

Physical and chemical properties of the soils were assessed for the ayacut area of Thotapalli major irrigation project of North-Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Six representative soil pedons were studied in Devarapalli, Gujjangivalasa, Patikivalasa, Gangada, Aamiti and Maddivalasa villages falling in ayacut area of Thotapalli major irrigation project. The soil texture ranged from sandy loam to sandy clay loam in upland pedons while sandy clay loam to clay in pedons under cultivated plains. In general, relatively low bulk density was recorded at surface horizons compared to sub-surface layers. Maximum water holding capacity, pore space and volume expansion increased with soil depth. The soils were acidic to alkaline in reaction, non-saline, low to medium in organic carbon content. The CEC ranged from 6.4 to 32.5 cmol (p+) kg-1. The soil exchange complex was dominated by calcium followed by magnesium, sodium and potassium. The soils were found to be low in nitrogen, low to medium in phosphorus and medium to high in available potassium status. Manganese and copper were sufficient but zinc and iron were deficient in soils. The total silica (SiO2) content of pedons varied from 48.10 to 71.40 per cent. Sesquioxide (R2O3) and the molar ratio of SiO2 / R2O3 ranged from 19.01 to 32.4 per cent and varied from 3.74 to 6.59, respectively in different pedons. The SiO2 / Al2O3 ratio and the SiO2 / Fe2O3 ratio varied from 4.43 to 7.65 and from 13.7 to 47.8, respectively. A significant positive correlation of clay content with cation exchange capacity (CEC), maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) was observed. Sand content was positively correlated with silica and negatively correlated with MWHC and volume expansion. Soil organic carbon had a significant positive correlation with soil pore space, available nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper and iron, but a negative correlation with soil bulk density. Soil pH was positively correlated with CaCO3 but negatively correlated with available phosphorous, potassium, zinc, manganese, and copper and iron. Soil CaCO3 content was negatively correlated with available phosphorous, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper and iron of the soil.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maristela Watthier ◽  
Magnólia AS Silva ◽  
José E Schwengber ◽  
Maria H Fermino ◽  
Tiago V Custódio

ABSTRACT Different properties of substrates based on tung compost (TC), carbonized rice husk (CRH) and earthworm humus (H) were analyzed, besides the effect of the formulations on the production of lettuce seedlings, cv. Veneranda. The experiment was carried out in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, from December 2012 to February 2013, in a greenhouse, using completely randomized design with seven treatments and three replications. The used substrates were formulated on a volume basis: T1= commercial substrate S10® (control); T2= 90% carbonized rice husk (CRH) + 10% humus (H); T3= 75% CRH + 15% tung compost (TC) + 10% H; T4= 55% CRH + 35% TC + 10% H; T5= 35% CRH + 55% TC + 10% H; T6= 15% CRH + 75% TC + 10% H; T7= 90% TC + 10% H. Seedlings were produced in polystyrene trays with 200 cells, being evaluated 35 days after sowing. The substrate with larger proportion of CRH (T2 with 90% CRH) showed suitable dry density (DD) and total porosity (TP), high pH and aeration space (AS), low easily available water (EAW), electric conductivity (EC), and nutrient content, constituting an inert substrate, not being indicated as substrate due to the lower development of the seedlings. Using 15% TC, an increase was noticed in DD, AEW, EC and nutrients and, a decrease in TP, AS and pH due to, mainly, the size of tung compost particles, which accommodated themselves and altered physical and chemical properties of the substrates. Substrates with 90% and 75% TC (T7 and T6) provided the greatest shoot length, fresh and dry shoot mass and leaf area for lettuce seedlings due to higher nutrient content, also considering physical and chemical properties of these substrates. Pure CRH is not indicated to be used as substrate, but mixed with tung compost (T6), it provides high quality seedlings. Tung compost was effective in producing lettuce seedlings, since the composting is able to eliminate phytotoxic substances from this material which can hinder the seedling growth.


Revista CERES ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
João Nacir Colombo ◽  
Mário Puiatti ◽  
Jaime Barros da Silva Filho ◽  
Ricardo Henrique Silva Santos ◽  
Luiz Antônio dos Santos Dias

ABSTRACT Intercropping using legumes is one of the ways to protect the main crop, and in long term improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The aim of this work was to evaluate the intercropping of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (taro) and the tropical legume Crotalaria juncea L. (sunn hemp), cutting sunn hemp at ten periods during the cycle. The experiment was carried out under field conditions between 09/23/2010 and 06/04/2011. It consisted of 11 treatments related to the 10 cutting times of sunn hemp (55, 70, 85,100, 115, 130, 145, 160, 190, and 220 days after sowing - DAS) plus a control of taro with no sunn hemp. During the cycle, taro was evaluated for plant height and incidence of leaf burn. At the time of cutting the sunn hemp, the plant height, fresh and dry matter masses, and nutrient content of the biomass were calculated. During taro harvest, we evaluated the productivity of the mother rhizomes and classified the cormels. Taro plants shaded by sunn hemp showed a lower incidence of leaf burn. The sunn hemp cut from 145 DAS onwards affected the yield of comercial rhizomes and total and agroeconomic indexes. Sunn hemp cut up to 130 DAS provided better performance of taro, without compromising productivity and economic indicators, with the highest amounts of N and K observed in the biomass cut at 115 DAS.


Author(s):  
Ioan PACURAR ◽  
Teodor RUSU ◽  
Doina CLAPA ◽  
Anca SOTROPA ◽  
Mircea DUNCA

Peat lands or histosoils occupy more than 6000 ha in Romania. Tinovul Mohos having more than 80 ha and a peat store more than 3 millions ton, is one of the most representative from Europe for his fauna and flora biodiversity. It is a peat land beggarly in nutritive and mineral substance, having a powerful acid character (pH 3,20-4,07).Tinovul Mohos is formed on the basis of peat moss Sphagnum, having a thickness of 10 m, more than 99% organic substances, specific weight between 0,69 and 0,84, and a percent of carbon 49-51%. Tinovul Mohos shelter many survival species like Lycopodium inundatum, Drosera obovata, Drosera intermedia, Andromeda polifolia, Meesea longiseta, Sparganium minimum, Calamagostris neglecta, Eriophorum gracile,Mitopus morio.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 730e-730
Author(s):  
April D. Edwards ◽  
Steven E. Newman ◽  
Adolph J. Laiche

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is an alternative fiber crop being grown in Mississippi that maybe used as a tree-less fiber substitute for making paper. A by-product in this process is the pithy light-weight fiber core. The objective of this study was to examine the chemical and physical properties of kenaf fiber core as a medium component in growing woody ornamentals and compare to pine bark. Comparisons of media in which Ilex crenata `Cherokee' and Rhodoendron eirocarpum `Wakabuisi' were grown were made. The physical and chemical properties including bulk density, total pore space, water retention, pH and soluble salt concentrations were determined. Aged kenaf had lower pH values than fresh and both aged and fresh kenaf had higher pH values than pine bark. The total pore space of kenaf was lower than the pore space of pine bark. At the termination of the study, the kenaf media had considerable shrinkage, which was considered unsuitable for a long-term crop.


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