Geospatial Distribution of Iron in Major Sugarcane Growing Soils of Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, India

The present study was undertaken to assess the available DTPA iron status in the major sugarcane growing soils of Southern Sivangai district, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 500 geo referenced surface (0-30 cm) were collected from five blocks viz., Kalaiyarkovil, Padamathur, Sivagangai, Thiruppachetty and Thiruppuvanam and analyzed for basic soil properties and available DTPA iron. Simple correlation was worked out to ascertain the degree of relationship between soil properties and available DTPA iron content of soil study area. The available DTPA iron in the entire sugarcane growing soils ranged from 2.95 to 5.79 mg kg-1, 2.11 to 4.31 mg kg-1, 3.49 to 5.59 mg kg-1, 1.99 to 5.66 mg kg-1 and 3.94 to 6.39 mg kg-1 in soil samples of Kalaiyarkovil, Padamathur, Sivagangai, Thiruppachetty and Thiruppuvanam respectively. In the soil samples from Kalaiyarkovil, Padamathur, Sivagangai, Thiruppachetty, and Thiruppuvanam, the results revealed that 52, 59, 55, 53, and 51 % of the soils were deficient in available iron and 33, 29, 35, 30 and 32 % of the soils were moderate in available iron, and 15, 12, 10,5 and 17 % of the soils were sufficient in available iron. As per the nutrient index study, the soils of study area recorded very low to low fertility rating for available iron and the mean nutrient index value (NIV) ranged from 1.42 to 1.64 in the soil of the study area. SOC and CEC were found to have a beneficial impact on iron availability, whereas EC and CaCO3 levels had a negative impact on DTPA iron availability.

Nutrient index, microbial activity and soil quality depleted under sugarcane mono-sequencing in Indian subtropics

Sugarcane mono-sequencing is one of the prominent systems of Uttar Pradesh but wide variations in cane yields are the main cause of concern across the cane producing zones. Hence, 131, 198 and 122 composite soil samples (0-20 cm depth) were taken from cane producing Eastern zone (EZ), Central zone (CZ) and Western zone (WZ) of Uttar Pradesh, respectively to assess the causes of yield variations and impact of sugarcane mono-sequencing on nutrient index (NI), microbial activity and soil quality. Sugarcane mono-sequencing depleted soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (Na), potassium (Ka), sulphur (Sa) and Zn as 48.9, 98.2, 39.0, 43.3 and 26.4% soil samples falls in low categories, respectively. However, soil degradation aggregated more in EZ soils due to acute deficiency of macro-nutrients as well as high content of Cu, Fe and Mn in low-lying areas. Total microbial counts, microbial biomass of C and N, basal soil respiration, acid and alkaline phosphatase were highest in WZ, but Na, Pa, Ka, Sa, FDA, β-glucosidase and urease activity was greater in CZ soils. As a result, NI was greater in CZ (2.19) followed EZ (1.98) and WZ (1.97), but soil quality index (SQI) was found in the order of CZ (0.795) >WZ (0.785) > EZ (0.708). The sensitivity index (S) was lowest in CZ soils (1.420) indicated that WZ (1.810) and EZ (1.915) soils are more preferable and sensitive to perturbations and management practices. Na was the most vital indicator for sugarcane production followed by SOC, AZO and Sa.

Assessment of Soil Fertility Status Using Nutrient Index Approach in Cassava Farms of Rewa Province, Fiji

Background: Nutrient index methods and fertility indicators can be used to determine the fertility status of soils. The information can be used to develop soil management strategies for farmers. Methods: The research was conducted in the Rewa district of Fiji, with an aim to assess soil fertility status using the nutrient index approach. A total of 57 cassava-growing farms were selected from three sub-districts of Rewa province for the present investigation and collected soil samples were analyzed in accordance with standard procedures for evaluating chemical parameters and the status of available nutrients in the soil. Result: The study discovered that the soils of farms are acidic in reaction, have low levels of organic carbon, low to moderate levels of major primary nutrients, however, the soils had a high content of calcium and magnesium. The soil nutrient index value calculated of soil organic carbon and available phosphorus were recorded as low with 1.48 and 1.40 respectively. The NIV for nitrogen and potassium content was medium category values of 1.91 and 1.95, respectively. The nutrient index value calculated for exchangeable calcium and magnesium content was recorded as high with 2.75 and 2.35 values respectively.

​Impact Assessment of Oil Exploration Activities on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria

Background: Limited information on impact of oil exploration on soil fertility in Nigeria is hindering the efforts toward soil improvement. Hence, the impact of oil exploration on soil fertility in four local government areas (LGA), Delta State, Nigeria was evaluated in 2020. Methods: Two LGAs in oil producing (Ukwani, Ndokwa) and non oil producing (Aniocha South, Ika South) and three communities in each LGA and one crop largely cultivated was purposely chosen. Soil samples were taken from 0-30 cm depth at 10 meters intervals along transverses cut at 100 m apart. The samples were air-dried at room temperature, crushed and made to pass 2 mm sieve. Soil pH, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium were measured. Data were statistical analyzed and least significance difference at α0.05 was used to separate means while Parker’s nutrient index was used to rate the fertility. Result: Ukwani soil was strongly acidity (5.30), Ndokwa was moderately acidity (5.83) while Ika (6.61) and Aniocha (6.27) were slightly acidity. Organic matter (2.54 and 2.48%) and phosphorus (16.98 and 14.51 mg/kg) were medium in Ika and Aniocha whereas, both were low in Ukwani (1.49%, 10.14 mg/kg) and Ndokwa (1.74%, 12.52 mg/kg), respectively. Nitrogen was high in Ika (0.27%) and Aniocha (0.42%), medium in Ndokwa (0.18%) and low in Ukwani (0.15%). Potassium and sodium were high in Ika, Aniocha and Ukwani but medium in Ndokwa. Calcium was high in Ika, medium in Aniocha but low in Ndokwa and Ukwani. Magnesium was high in Ika, Aniocha and Ndokwa but was medium in Ukwani.

Critical indexes of compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) and its validation in wheat fields

Plant nutrient composition of can be used as an evaluation criterion for optimum plant growth. The objectives of present study were to (a) derive critical compositional nutrient (CND) norms for survived wheat fields and sufficiency ranges as CND nutrient index for validation samples, (b) provide a squared CND threshold nutrient imbalance index (CND r2) and compare with DRIS nutrient imbalance indices, (c) determine balanced nutrients concentration with CND indices. The yield cutoff value was 4,232 kg.ha-1. The CND indexes results indicate that Zn is the most deficient nutrient in wheat, followed by Cu, Fe, Mn and B, whereas N is the most excessive nutrient, followed by K, Ca, Mg and P. In the validation trials, the yield cutoff value were reported 5.023 kg.ha-1. The calculated CND r2 in the validation population was lower than that of the survey wheat fields, indicating a more balanced concentration of nutrients due to the application of fertilizer treatments. Significant principal component (PC) loadings were obtained after the varimax rotation. The first three PCs in high- and low-yielding subgroups and whole data set indicated 52.8, 54.6 and 48.8 % total variance, respectively. This study revealed that the decline in the wheat yield was due to the nutrient imbalance associated with multi nutrient deficiency (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and B) and multi nutrient excess (N, K, Ca, Mg and P).

Assessment of soil fertility under northern light soil area of FCV tobacco in Andhra Pradesh

An assessment of soil fertility of Northern Light Soil area of FCV tobacco was carried out to study the status of soil macro and micronutrients. Soils of the study area are mostly moderately acidic in nature with low organic carbon and available nitrogen with a mean value of 0.29 % & 110 kg ha-1, respectively. Available phosphorus was high (88% samples) with a mean value of 92.6 kg ha-1. While the average available potassium content was 297 kg ha-1 with 48 % samples in medium class. Among available micronutrients, the available zinc content in 73 % of samples was very low – low (0.0 to 0.6 ppm). Whereas the availability of copper in 25 % samples was very low to low as per the fertility class (0.0 - 0.30 ppm). Available iron (18.8 -35.03 ppm) and manganese (17.03-21.5 ppm) contents were high in the region. Nutrient index of available nitrogen was 1.00 (Low) while, NI was 2.83 (High) & 2.36 (Medium) for available phosphorus and available potassium, respectively.

Anatomization of Soil Fertility Status of Chaka Block, Yamuna River Bank, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

The present investigation was carried at Sam Higginbottom university of Agriculture Technology and Sciences in the department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry lab. In this study, a total of 24 soil samples were collected from eight different villages on 01 November 2020 in Chaka block of Prayagraj district and from each village 3 soil samples were collected and analyzed for their Physico-chemical parameters by using standard laboratory techniques. According to the critical limits of soil nutrients the results observed, 70 to 80% soil samples were in low to medium range for Nitrogen (N) (51-648 kg ha-1), Phosphorus (P) (0 – 48 kg ha-1) and Potassium (K) (78.4 – 392 kg ha-1). The micro-nutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) of soil samples are observed deficiency range due to inverse relationship with pH i.e., increase in pH causes reduction in availability of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu. According to the Nutrient Index Values, Chaka block was found to be medium category for Organic carbon (2.25), Nitrogen (1.70), Phosphorous (2.29), and Manganese (1.70). Low category was found in Potassium (1.37), Sulphur (1.29), Zinc (1.08) and Iron (1.41). High category was found in Copper (2.66). The results showed that improvement has to be done for improving soil fertility and quality by practicing the improving cropping pattern, decomposition of organic waste, mulching and tillage practices.

Examining the Validity of the Total Nutrient Index for Assessing Intakes of Nutrients From Foods, Beverages, and Dietary Supplements

Objectives To develop and validate the total nutrient index (TNI), a nutrient-based scoring system that assesses nutrient exposures from foods/beverages and dietary supplements (DS). Methods The TNI includes 8 shortfall micronutrients identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: calcium, magnesium, potassium, choline, and vitamins A, C, D, E. Predicted usual intake is expressed as a percentage of the appropriate Recommended Dietary Allowance or Adequate Intake and truncated at 100 to compute component scores. The average of the component scores yields the total TNI score (range 0–100). Usual intakes from foods/beverages and DS of U.S. adults (≥19y) were estimated using a multivariate extension of the National Cancer Institute method. Data sources were two 24-hour recalls and a questionnaire/in-home inventory on DS use, collected in the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 9,954). Concurrent criterion validity was evaluated by comparing TNI scores between subpopulations with known differences in diet quality and by correlating component scores for vitamins A, C, D, and E with biomarker data. Due to data availability, biomarker analysis for vitamins A, C, and E used data from 2003–2006 NHANES (N = 8,861). Convergent validity was determined by correlating the TNI with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015). Results The estimated mean total TNI score was 75.4; the same index calculated using foods/beverages only was 69.0. The TNI scores were significantly different (p < 0.001) for DS-users (83.5) vs. non-users (67.1), non-smokers (76.8) vs. smokers (70.3), and by food security status (food-secure: 76.6 vs. food-insecure: 69.1). The Pearson correlation of the TNI and HEI-2015 total score was 0.48, suggesting that the TNI captures dimensions of nutrient intake that are correlated with but distinct from those captured with the HEI-2015. Correlations of component scores with the available biomarkers ranged from 0.12 (α-tocopherol) to 0.36 (25(OH)D) and were all < 0.10 when DS were not included. Conclusions The TNI identifies total usual intake of shortfall nutrients and extends existing measures of diet quality by including nutrients obtained from DS. Tests of validity suggest the TNI is an effective tool in assessing total nutrient exposures of shortfall nutrients among U.S. adults. Funding Sources National Institutes of Health.

Assessment of Soil Fertility Status of Kanwara Minor Lift Canal Command Area in Banda District of Bundelkhand using Nutrient Index Values

A study was conducted to assess the fertility status of Kanwara minor lift canal command area using Nutrient Index values of different soil parameters under study in 2019-20. A systematic set of two hundred and eleven georeferenced soil samples were collected and analysed following the standard sampling and analytical procedure. The analysed values of different parameters were categorized in low, medium and high and further used in determination of the nutrient index. NI value of soil organic carbon was 1.16, 1.00 for available N, 1.47 for available P and 2.55 for available K respectively. Regarding the fertility class based on Nutrient Index values it was deficient in organic carbon, available N and available P while, sufficient in soil available K. This requires immediate attention towards the management of nutrients to restore the soil fertility and sustain crop productivity.