scholarly journals Effect of termite activity on soil under different land management strategies

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.

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.


1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Shimizu ◽  
S. Yamazaki ◽  
Y. Terashima

The sorption of pentachlorophenol (PCP, pKa’ = 4.75) onto natural solids from aqueous phase was investigated by batch sorption experiments. The experimental aqueous phase was prepared for set values of pH (2 to 12) and ionic strength (0.1 M). Experimental results indicated that the sorption decreased with increasing pH over the entire pH range tested. A simple mathematical model, based on the hypotheses that the sorption coefficients of non-ionized and ionized species are different and the pH has only negligible effect on the natural solid characteristics, was applied to the pH range between 6 and 8, and the sorption coefficients (Kd) of both species were estimated. The Kd of ionized species (phenolate anion) was smaller than that of non-ionized species. The Kd of both species had poor correlation to the organic carbon content of natural solids. The Kd, however, correlated well with the swelling clay content and cation exchange capacity of natural solids. These results indicated that the sorption of PCP was not controlled by the organic carbon referenced hydrophobic sorption. For broader pH range (i.e., below 6 or above 8), the dependence of the natural solid characteristics on pH must be additionally included in the model.


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.


Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 418 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Morrison ◽  
J. S. Gawander

Sugarcane production plateaued in Fiji at ~4 million tonnes annually (average ~55 t/ha) during the latter part of the 1980s but, in recent years, despite the continuing release of high yielding varieties, the total production has decreased to under 3 million tonnes (average ~45 t/ha). This study was initiated to study the changes in the properties of Oxisols following sugarcane cultivation to ascertain whether yield declines were due to degradation of soil biophysical and chemical properties. The study lasted from 1978 (when the soils were first cleared for agriculture) to 2009. Soil (0–15, 30–40 and 70–80 cm) properties including pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, water retention, bulk density, phosphate retention and exchangeable bases were monitored. The observed topsoil changes could generally be related to changes in organic matter and associated ion exchange properties. The major changes occurred in the first three years after clearing, but some changes continued for many years. Subsoil samples (30–40 cm) showed an increase in organic carbon after cane cultivation, probably due to soil mixing during land preparation, organic matter movement during cropping and decay of sugarcane roots. At 70–80 cm, small but significant increases in organic carbon were observed along with small decreases in pH. Overall, these changes indicate that careful management of topsoils is essential for maintaining soil fertility and hence sugarcane productivity on these highly weathered soils.


Agropedology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Vasu ◽  
◽  
K. Humadevi ◽  
G. Neha ◽  
P. Tiwary ◽  
...  

Five representative pedons (P1 Umarsadi; P2 Segvi; P3 Chikla; P4 Bagal; and P5 Faldhara) from different landforms of Valsad taluka in the coastal region of Valsad district, Gujarat were studied for their morphological, physical, and chemical properties. The soils were deep to very deep, well to imperfectly drained, slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (pH 7.8 to 9.7), non-saline tosaline (0.1 to 4.4 dS m-1), low to high in organic carbon (2.4 to 12.3 g kg-1) and CaCO3 (0.2 to 19.5%), and medium to high in CEC [21.8 to 69.9 (p+) kg-1]. Soil texture varied from sandy clay loam to clay with clay content ranging from 21.2 to 53.5 %. Bulk density was lower in P5 (1.28-1.33 Mg m-3) than the other pedons (1.21-1.48 Mg m-3). Saturated hydraulic conductivity (sHC) was less than the critical limit of 1.0 cm hr-1 in P3, and generally low due to high (>15) exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and exchangeable magnesium percentage (EMP). Pedon P1 was classified as Sodic Haplusterts and P4 as Typic Haplusterts. The pedon P2 with an argillic horizon(<35 cm thickness) in the deeper layerswas classified as Inceptic Haplustalfs. The pedon P3 with lithological discontinuity was classified as Typic Ustifluvents and P5 as Vertic Haplustalfs. The pedons P1, P3 and P4 were developed in the basaltic alluvial parent material, and their subsurface properties were influenced by the paleosols. The pedons P1, P2, and P5 under perennial crops such as mango and eucalyptus have higher organic carbon and lower bulk density. Management measures are required to reduce subsoil sodicity, and sustain crop production in the heavy textured soils.


Agropedology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Srinivasan ◽  
◽  
R. Vasundhara ◽  
M. Lalitha ◽  
B. Kalaiselvi ◽  
...  

Four typical pedons representing major mango growing soils, developed from granite gneiss parent material were studied for their morphological, physical and chemical properties. The soils were moderately shallow (50-75 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) in depth, loamy sand to sandy clay loam in texture, sub-angular blocky in structure, reddish brown to dark red in colour, slightly acidic to moderately alkaline in reaction, non-saline, very low to high in organic carbon content (0.09 to 1.29%), low AWC (3.36 to 7.80%), low to medium in cation exchange capacity (2.90 to 19.36 cmol (p+) kg-1) and high base saturation (78 to 98%). The soils also had high amounts of coarse fragments in P1 and P2 and high clay content in P4 and P2. Among the exchangeable cations, calcium was found to be high in most of the soils, followed by magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Based on the soil characteristics, the mango growing soils were classified as Typic Haplargids and Typic Paleargids in subgroup level. Varying soil and site characters i.e., poor rainfall, shallow soil depths, excess gravel contents, low AWC, poor nutrient status and severe soil erosion are limiting the growth and development of mango plantation. Developing site-specific soils based suitable management practices can improve the productivity of mango crops.


Weed Science ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Dutt ◽  
R. G. Harvey

Pronamide [3,5-dichloro-(N-1, 1-dimethyl-2-propynyl) benzamide] phytotoxicity was compared in 10 Wisconsin soils and the relationship of activity to soil physical and chemical properties appraised. Twelve soil properties were measured and correlated with pronamide I50(50% fresh weight inhibition) values using oats (Avena sativaL. ‘Portal’) as the indicator plant in bioassays conducted under greenhouse conditions. Organic matter was the soil variable most inversely correlated with pronamide phytotoxicity. Cation exchange capacity, field moisture capacity, and Mg content were also inversely correlated with pronamide phytotoxicity, but probably reflect changes in soil organic matter levels. Clay content did not significantly affect pronamide phytotoxicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (AAEBSSD) ◽  
pp. 147-149
Author(s):  
P.N. Tripathi ◽  
U.S. Mishra ◽  
Pawan Sirothia ◽  
R.P. Singh

Three representative soil pedonsof northern hills of Chhattisgarh, M.P were morphologically studied, characterized and classified. The soils are very deep, colour ranges from brown (10YR5/3) to dark brown (10YR3/3) and very dark greyish brown (10YR3/2) in different horizons. Fe and calcretes are observed in sub surface horizons. The texture in surface soils varied from clay loam to clay while in pedon 2, the texture was observed sandy clay loam throughout the profile. The soils are calcareous and pH ranged from 7.0 to 7.5. The organic carbon content in these soils were (4.4 g kg-1), low to medium (6.1 g kg-1) in surface and decreased with depth. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) were found high in horizons where clay content was more. Based on morphological, physical and chemical properties P1 and P3 were classified as VerticHaplustalfs and pedon (P2) was placed under Typic Haplustepts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Ratna Taher ◽  
Makruf Nurudin ◽  
Eko Hanudin

Understanding the nature of the soil is very important to know the potential and the proper management of the soil. This study aimed to determine the differences in morphological, physical, and chemical properties of the soils developing from gabbro, phylitte and chert parent materials. The soil profile was made to represent each parent rock of gabbro, phyllite and chert located on the upper and middle slopes with pine-dominated vegetation and mixed gardens. Observation in the field is a professional description to observe soil morphology. Soil samples were taken at each horizon to analyze soil physical properties (bulk density, particle density, and texture), soil chemical properties (pH, exchanged cations, cation exchange capacity, available P, organic C, and total N). Texture analysis results showed that clay content of the soil developing from parent rock of Gabro 1 is the highest, followed by the soil clay content from  Chert 1, Phyllite 1, Chert 2, Phyllite 2, and Gabbro 2, respectively. The order of soil acidity level (pH) is Gabbro 2 > Gabbro 1> Chert 1 ~ Chert 2 > Phyllite 1 ~ Phyllite 2. Meanwhile, the order of the cation exchange capacity is Gabbro 1> Gabbro 2> Phyllite 1> Chert 1> Phyllite 2> Chert 2, and the order of the base saturation is Chert 2> Gabbro 2> Chert 1> Phyllite 2 > Phyllite1> Gabbro 1.


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