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

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Tabak ◽  
Aneta Lisowska ◽  
Barbara Filipek-Mazur

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.

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabal S. Gill ◽  
Sukhdev S. Malhi ◽  
Newton Z. Lupwayi

<p>Wood ash may be used to mitigate soil acidity and improve crop production. We compared effects of wood ash and recommended fertilizers on soil properties of a Gray Luivsol, crop yields and contribution margins in southeast Peace, Alberta, Canada. The CHK (no fertilizer, inoculation or wood ash), FRT (recommended fertilizers or inoculation), ASH (wood ash rate to supply amounts of phosphorus equivalent to the FRT treatment); and ASH+N (same as ASH + N fertilizer or inoculation) treatments were applied in 2006 and 2007. Their effects were studied from 2006 to 2014. Wood ash had all the essential plant nutrients, except nitrogen. Soil samples collected in 2007, 2008 and 2013 had or tended to have higher pH, P, K, Ca, Ca:Mg ratio, S, Cu, Zn and B levels for the ASH and ASH+N treatments than the CHK and FRT treatments. In the 2006 and 2007, the seed yields were ASH+N &gt; FRT &gt; ASH &gt; CHK. The seed yields in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were greater from both the wood ash treatments than other treatments. Extra contribution margin from the ASH+N over the FRT treatment was $751/ha, i.e. $97 Mg<sup>-1</sup> of applied wood ash. Overall, wood ash reduced fertilizer expenditure and improved seed yield, contribution margin and soil properties, with residual effects observed up to seven years and likely for few more years.</p>


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaha-Al Baquy ◽  
Jiu-Yu Li ◽  
Chen-Yang Xu ◽  
Khalid Mehmood ◽  
Ren-Kou Xu

Abstract. Soil acidity has become a serious constraint in dry land crop production systems of acidic Ultisols in tropical and subtropical regions of southern China, where winter wheat and canola are cultivated as important rotational crops. Regardless of other common existing concerns in acidic Ultisols of southern China, it needs to be investigated whether soil acidity has any effect on wheat and canola growth. There is little information on the determination of critical soil pH as well as aluminium (Al) concentration for wheat and canola crops. The objective of this study was to determine the critical soil pH and exchangeable aluminium concentration (AlKCl) for wheat and canola production. Two pot cultures with two Ultisols from Hunan and Anhui were conducted for wheat and canola crops in a controlled growth chamber, with a completely randomized design. A soil pH gradient ranging from 3.7 (Hunan) and 3.97 (Anhui) to 6.5, with three replications, was used as a treatment. Aluminium sulfate (Al2(SO4)3) and hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) were used to obtain the target soil pH levels. Plant height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of wheat and canola were adversely affected by soil acidity in both locations. The critical soil pH and AlKCl of the Ultisol from Hunan for wheat were 5.29 and 0.56 cmol kg−1, respectively. At Anhui, the threshold soil pH and AlKCl for wheat were 4.66 and 2.36 cmol kg−1, respectively. On the other hand, the critical soil pH for canola was 5.65 and 4.87 for the Ultisols from Hunan and Anhui, respectively. The critical soil exchangeable Al for canola cannot be determined from the experiment of this study. The results suggested that the critical soil pH and AlKCl varied between different locations for the same variety of crop, due to the different soil types and their other soil chemical properties. The critical soil pH for canola was higher than that for wheat for both Ultisols, thus canola was more sensitive to soil acidity. Therefore, we recommend that liming should be undertaken to increase soil pH if it falls below these critical soil pH levels for wheat and canola production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Israt Jahan ◽  
AKM Abul Ahsan ◽  
MMR Jahangir ◽  
Mahmud Hossain ◽  
Md Anwarul Abedin

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


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gedefa Sori ◽  
Birhanu Iticha ◽  
Chalsissa Takele

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.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joann K Whalen ◽  
Chi Chang ◽  
George W Clayton

Crop production on acid soils can be improved greatly by adjusting the pH to near neutrality. Although soil acidity is commonly corrected by liming, there is evidence that animal manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Fresh cattle manure and agricultural lime were compared for their effects on soil acidity and the production of canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a greenhouse study. Canola and wheat yield, the nutrient content of grain and straw, and selected soil properties were determined on a Gray Luvisol (pH 4.8) from the Peace Region of Alberta. Soil pH increased with lime and manure applications, and canola and wheat yields were higher in limed and manure-amended soils than unfertilized, unlimed soils. Macronutrient uptake by canola and wheat was generally improved by liming and manure applications, and micronutrient uptake was related to the effects of lime and manure on soil pH. An economic analysis compared the costs of using cattle manure and lime to increase soil pH to 6.0. The costs of applying lime and fresh cattle manure to increase soil pH were compared, based on the fees for purchasing and applying lime or loading, hauling and applying manure. The nutrient value of manure was calculated based on the quantities of plant-available N, P and K in fresh manure. At distances less than 40 km, it is economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for agricultural lime to increase soil pH of acidic soils. However, good manure management practices should be followed to minimize the risk of nutrient transport and environmental pollution from agricultural land amended with cattle manure. Key words: Agricultural economics, canola production, cattle manure, lime, soil pH, wheat prodution


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258166
Author(s):  
A. K. Shukla ◽  
S. K. Behera ◽  
R. Tripathi ◽  
C. Prakash ◽  
A. K. Nayak ◽  
...  

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-78
Author(s):  
MD Islam ◽  
MM Rahman ◽  
MH Kabir ◽  
GKMM Rahman ◽  
MS Hossain

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, 24–295, 10–129, 0.12–2.20 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


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Asif Ahmed Ratul ◽  
Tahsina Sharmin Hoque ◽  
Md Rafiqul Islam ◽  
Md Anamul Hoque

Soil reaction is an important issue that adversely affects soil fertility and crop productivity. Twenty five representative soil samples from farmers’ fields of Ramchandrakura, Bishgiripar, Andharupara and Nayabil villages of Nalitabari upazila under Sherpur district (AEZ 22-Northern and Eastern Piedmont Plains) and twenty soil samples from farmers’ fields of Bakta, Nishchintopur, Boril and Kaladaho villages of Fulbaria upazila under Mymensingh district (AEZ 28-Madhupur Tract) were collected and analyzed to study the physico-chemical properties of acid soils. Among 45 samples, 13 were sandy loam, 17 were silt loam, 10 were loam, 2 were clay loam and 3 were loamy sand in texture. Soil pH was very strongly acidic to strongly acidic. The soil pH of AEZ 22 varied from 3.81 to 4.78 and that of AEZ 28 varied from 3.96 to 5.11. The organic C of Nalitabari soil varied from 0.50 to 1.35% and that of Fulbaria soils ranged from 0.50 to 1.27% showing low to medium status. The status of nutrient elements viz. N, P, K and S in most of the samples was very low or very low to medium. Total N contents of AEZ 22 varied from 0.06 to 0.14% and that of AEZ 28 varied from 0.07 to 0.16%. Available P in soils of AEZ 22 varied from 3.25 to 26.45 ppm and that in soils of AEZ 28 ranged from 2.45 to 16.62 ppm. Exchangeable K in AEZ 22 soils varied from 15.13 to 92.41 ppm and that in AEZ 28 soils varied from 16.09 to 98.41 ppm. Available S in AEZ 22 soils varied from 1.68 to 33.70 ppm and that in AEZ 28 soils from 3.95 to 27.52 ppm. Therefore, these acid soils should be amended with liming materials and fertilized with inorganic fertilizers and organic manures for successful crop production. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2021, 7(1): 12-20


Author(s):  
H. A. D. D. T. Gunasekera ◽  
R. C. L. De Silva

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. In soil, aluminum is mainly found in the mineral form as aluminosilicates and aluminum oxides and this aluminium is in stable inactive form. In addition, Al can be found as precipitates or in very minute quantities appear in soluble forms such as conjugated organic and inorganic, and molecular ions. Aluminium mobility and as a consequence aluminium toxicity, is mainly restricted to acid environments. Depending on the soil pH these mobile forms are capable of influencing biological systems. Aluminium has low mobility under most environmental conditions. However, below a pH of 4.0 its solubility increases and aluminium is released from silicate rocks under such acidic conditions. The levels of dissolved aluminium in natural groundwater samples are generally low, probably due to its low solubility at neutral pH values. Release of acids by anthropogenic activities influence the soil acidity levels. Therefore, elevated levels of aluminium have been found in acidified soil solutions and surface waters causing harmful effects to living organisms. The present study was aimed at proving the above theoretical hypothesis and existence of a possible relationship between soil salinity and soil acidity on the concentration of mobile aluminium ions in samples obtained during the location surveys. Samples were collected from selected locations in Ratnapura, Rathupaswala, Marawila, Mabima and Muthurajawela to get different soil types and the survey results were used to test the hypothetical relationship between the presence of the stated factors, and the existence of a high concentration of mobile aluminium in the soil water samples. The analysis covered basic parameters such as soil pH, soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic matter, soil electrical conductivity and the influence of the concentration of mobile aluminium at different pH and Na+ concentration levels. The total aluminium concentration in the soil was assayed by digesting samples with strong acid. Concentration of mobile aluminium in soil samples were analyzed using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicated that there is no clear relationship between mobile aluminium and total aluminium in the soil. It was also found that the concentration of mobile aluminium released increased with decrease in soil pH and that the increase was marked when the pH of soil water was less than 4.0. Highest mobile aluminium release to the soil solution was found from Mabima sites [at pH 5.00 was 0.54 (±0.06) mg kg-1 of dry soil, at pH 0.00 was 90.12 (±7.01) mg kg-1] and least in samples from Marawila sites [at pH 5.00 was 0.48 (±0.03) mg kg-1, at pH 0.00 was 4.52 (±0.36) mg kg-1]. This result confirmed that there is an effect of soil acidity on the concentration of mobile aluminium in the soil but with no direct correlation. Results also showed that the concentration of mobile aluminium released increased with increasing soil salinity and that the increase was rapid when the Na+ ion concentration was higher than 2.0 %. Highest mobile aluminium release to the soil solution was found from Muthurajawela sites [Na+ 1.0% = lower than detection limit, Na+ 5.0% = 9.87 (±0.67) mg kg-1] and least found from Marawila sites [Na+1.0% = lower than detection limit, Na+ 5.0% = 2.24 (±0.23) mg kg-1] confirming the effect of soil salinity on the concentration of mobile aluminium in the soil. The study also points towards the future opportunities for research to confirm these findings using wider samples and employing more vigorous research methodologies.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Lawrence ◽  
J.J. Germida

Heterotrophic and autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing populations in 35 Saskatchewan agricultural soils were enumerated. These populations included heterotrophs that produce thiosulfate and or sulfate during elemental sulfur (S°) oxidation, heterotrophic thiosulfate oxidizers, and autotrophic thiosulfate oxidizers. Populations of Thiobacillus thiooxidans and T. ferrooxidans were not detected in any of the soils tested. Heterotrophs that oxidized S° to thiosulfate as the major oxyanion were the most abundant oxidizers enumerated (107–108 cells g−1) and were found in all soils. Autotrophic thiosulfate-oxidizers were detected in 10 of the soils surveyed. Heterotrophic S° and thiosulfate-oxidizing populations exhibited positive trends with soil pH, total-S, hydriodic reducible-S, and clay content, whereas populations of autotrophic thiosulfate oxidizers were negatively correlated with these factors and positively related to sand content and increasing C:S ratios. In soils containing autotrophic thiosulfate oxidizers the amount of thiosulfate relative to sulfate detected was reduced although no effect on S° oxidation rate was detected. Amendment of 15 selected agricultural soils with 0.5% S° significantly reduced total heterotrophic populations, whereas autotrophic thiosulfate oxidizers increased from undetectable levels to 104 cells g−1. Therefore most Saskatchewan soils contain abundant populations of heterotrophic S° oxidizers, and populations of autotrophs that respond to S° applications. Key words: Sulfur oxidation, autotrophic sulfur oxidizers, heterotrophic sulfur oxidizers, soil properties


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