Soil enzymatic activity under coffee cultivation with different water regimes associated to liming and intercropped brachiaria

ABSTRACT: This research evaluated the effects of coffee cultivation with two different water regimes associated or not with liming and the presence/absence of brachiaria as intercrop on the activities of the soil enzymes β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase. The study was carried out at the experimental farm of Embrapa Cerrados, using the cultivar IAC 144 (Coffea arabica L.), under a clayey dystrophic Cerrado Oxisol. Two water regimes (WR) were considered, WR1 with irrigation shifts throughout the year and WR3 with controlled water stress, for about 70 days, in the dry season. In each water regime, effects of lime application (with/without) and the presence/absence of brachiaria cultivated between the lines of coffee plants were evaluated. The activities of the enzymes β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase were evaluated during the rainy and dry seasons. Liming and intercropped brachiaria positively affected the activities of the three enzymes assessed in this study at varying degrees, depending on season and/or the WR. Our findings evidenced that intercropped brachiaria in coffee rows was the factor that most positively impacted soil enzymes activities.

The influences of lime and irrigation water on arsenic accumulation of rice, maize and mungbean in the nethouse condition

This research found the great hold of liming, soils and irrigation water on the arsenic (As) accumulation of rice, maize and mung bean in the nethouse research. Two greenhouse experiments had various plant types of rice, maize and mung bean with two soils inside and outside the dyke, two irrigated waters of 0.0 and 200 ?g As/L and three different lime ratios (0, 7.0 and 9.0 tons CaO/ha). The whole treatments were twenty one (12 treatments of experiment 1 and 9 of experiment 2) with 4 repetitions. The results of this study showed that the lime application raised both soil pH and crop yield. The arsenic (As) absorption of plant bodies in stems and seeds inside the dyke increased from 67.8 to 68.3% higher than those outside the dyke, respectively. The arsenic contents of stems and seeds with the treatments of 200 ?g As/L irrigation water were higher from 81.5 to 89.4% than that of non As irrigation water, respectively. The lime supplementation of 7.0 and 9.0 tons CaO per ha reduced the As accumulation of stems and seeds of rice, maize and mung bean was lower than the one without lime supplement from 38.6 (stems) and 54.5 (seeds). Mung bean absorbed the highest As, followed by rice and maize with the lowest As value. However, the lime supplementation of 9.0 tons CaO/ha had so high soil pH of soil that restricted the growth and yield of crops. More different lime concentrations need to search for more new details and new discovery of positive effects of this research.

​Integrated Management Protocol for Bacterial Wilt Disease of Tomato in Ralstonia solanacearum Affected Soils in Kerala State

Background: Management of bacterial wilt of tomato in Ralstonia solanacearum affected soils is a major issue in tomato cultivation in different agro-ecological regions in Kerala state which affects the production and productivity of the crop. To develop a suitable management protocol for this disease, the field experiments were conducted during 2019 and 2020 in a bacterial wilt-sick field at Kerala agricultural university, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Methods: Twelve different treatments viz. soil application of bleaching powder, soil test based lime application, streptocycline root dip, drenching of copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride at different doses, seed treatment and seedling dip with Pseudomonas fluorescens, drenching of Pseudomonas fluorescens, planting grafted seedlings and different integrations and combinations of the above treatments were assessed for the management of bacterial wilt. Result: The majority of integrations were superior over individual treatments. The higher yield with less disease incidence was obtained from the integration of soil treatment of bleaching powder (15 kg/ha) + soil test based lime application + streptocycline (@ 2 g/10 L) root dip + drenching of copper oxychloride (@ 0.3%) and therefore, this integration protocol is recommended for management of bacterial wilt of tomato in wilt affected soils in Kerala state.

The effect of mineral fertilizers on the legume-gramineous mixture and sod-podzolic soil properties on the background of lime application in the Northeast of European Russia

Исследования эффективности минеральных удобрений на фоне последействия извести, внесённой в 1983 году, проводили в 1983–2020 годах на опытных полях Института агробиотехнологий ФИЦ Коми НЦ УрО РАН. Целью исследований было изучение влияния минеральных удобрений на продуктивность и качество бобово-злаковой травосмеси, а также выявление изменений агрохимических показателей почвы под влиянием удобрений и мелиорантов. В результате установлено, что наиболее значительный средний урожай бобово-злаковой травосмеси получен при использовании минеральных удобрений (N60P75K75) на фоне последействия извести (2,0 г.к.). Он составил 6,6 т/га сухого вещества (СВ) и превышал вариант без удобрений на 153,8%. Близкая урожайность трав получена при использовании NPK по фону извести 1,0 г.к. — 6,2 т/га СВ. Установлено, что при использовании удобрений и мелиоранта содержание сухого вещества в травах снижалось на 1–2%. Наибольшее количество сырого протеина было в травах при совместном применении NPK и извести (12,3–13,9%), как и содержание фосфора, калия и кальция (0,91–0,94; 2,82–2,93; 0,77–0,79% соответственно). Наши исследования показали: наиболее оптимальным приёмом воздействия на кислую дерново-подзолистую почву является применение минеральных удобрений (N60P75K75) по фону последействия двух доз извести. К 2010 году содержание гумуса повысилось на 0,4–0,5%, обменная кислотность снизилась на 0,6–0,8 ед. pHKCL, гидролитическая кислотность — на 1,3–1,9 ммоль/100 г почвы, содержание подвижного алюминия — на 1,1–2,2 ммоль/100 г почвы. Значительно повысилось количество подвижного фосфора (156–184 мг/кг почвы) и калия (до 141 мг/кг почвы), в большей степени — при применении NPK по фону последействия извести 2,0 г.к. The effectiveness of mineral fertilizers was tested on the background of lime applied in 1983 at the Institute of Agrobiotechnology from 1983 to 2020. The aim was to analyze the impact of mineral nutrition on productivity and quality of a legume-gramineous mixture as well as on soil chemistry. The mixture showed the best productivity (6.6 t DM ha-1) on the background of N60P75K75 and pH of 2.0. The yield increase amounted to 153.8%. Mineral fertilization under soil pH of 1.0 resulted in 6.2 t DM ha-1. The use of ameliorant decreased DM accumulation by 1–2% under fertilization. Combination of NPK and liming led to the highest content of crude protein (12.3–13.9%) as well as P, K and Ca (0.91–0.94; 2.82–2.93; 0.77–0.79%, respectively). Application of N60P75K75 had the best effect on acid sod-podzolic soil on the background of double liming. By 2010 humus content increased by 0.4–0.5%, pHKCL — by 0.6–0.8 units, hydrolytic soil acidity — by 1.3–1.9 mmol/100 g of soil, soluble Al concentration — by 1.1–2.2 mmol/100 g of soil. Concentrations of soluble P and K grew significantly — 156–184 and up to 141 mg/kg of soil, respectively, mostly due to the NPK application under soil pH of 2.0.

Growth and Mineral Nutrition of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Grown on Tannery Effluent Polluted Soil Amended With Cowdung and Lime

Pot experiments were carried out with rice (Oryza sativa L.) to evaluate the plant response of different amendments to ameliorate heavy metal toxicity. Cowdung and lime were applied at the rate of 10 ton/ha. Both cowdung and lime application led to an increase in growth of rice and significant reductions of Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr in plant. The length, fresh and dry weight and N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg concentrations in rice plants were increased significantly. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cr in rice grown on contaminated soils were significantly higher as compared to the control. Cowdung and lime significantly reduced Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cr concentrations in comparison to control. Chromium concentrations in lime treated plants were reduced by 57.89% in rice as compared to cowdung. Lime proved to be more efficient in reducing the concentration of metals in rice plants. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2020, 6(2): 47-54

Soil Chemical Properties and Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield influenced by Lime and Fern (Pteris vittata)

This study aimed to investigate the influence of liming and fern on reducing the absorption of arsenic (As) by maize and As content in the soil. The single-factor experiment was designed in a completely random block (4 treatments and 4 replicates). Treatments were followed: Treatment 1 (NT1) liming (3tons CaO.ha-1); NT2: Plant ferns alternately with maize (without liming); NT3: Plant ferns alternately with maize and liming (3 tons CaO.ha-1); NT4: Control (no liming or ferns). The results showed that the applications of liming and ferns have positive influences on the soil pH, EC, OM, yield, and yield components of the maize tested in this study. The yield difference between the application of liming and intercropped ferns was increased from 5.4 to 22.3 %. Moreover, the arsenic contents in soil, stems, and seeds were 25.7, 32.0 and 50 % lower than that of the control, respectively. soil to roots and stems, which significantly caused reduction of a large amount of As content in soils. Therefore, to reduce the production cost, and enhance soil and maize quality, application of lime (3 ton.ha-1) and intercropped ferns is recommended. HIGHLIGHTS Increasing pH, EC and organic matter by the lime application combined with ferns Decreasing the soil arsenic concentration by intercroping maizes and ferns The lime application combined with ferns raising the yield components and yield of maize The high As accumulation of stems and shoots of ferns intercroping maizes and ferns The lowest As accumulation of stems and seeds of maizes applying the lime combined with ferns

Reforestation of Degraded Landscapes in Micronesia

Wildfires on degraded grasslands cause extensive soil erosion and cause environmental and economic damage worldwide. We conducted fertilizer, lime, and mulch trials to improve growth of trees planted in acid soils in degraded grasslands on the Micronesian islands of Guam, Rota, and Yap. Fertilizer application had no effect on height growth of Acacia auriculiformis seedlings on a Mollisol on Guam while lime application had a small but significant positive effect on height growth. Fertilizer application had a significant positive effect on height growth of Acacia confusa seedlings planted on an Oxisol on Rota but lime had no effect. Mulch application increased height growth of Swietenia macrophylla seedlings planted on an Oxisol on Yap but lime application had no effect. Collaboration between university researchers and local forestry agencies can improve reforestation success, but researchers need to consider local capabilities and local knowledge.