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The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers, as well as their combinations, on soil fertility and productivity is studied on the soddy podzolic light loamy soils in the stationary field experiment. The highest efficiency of combined application of organic (80 t/ha of peat–manure compost) and inorganic (NPK) fertilizers is determined in a six-field fodder crop rotation. The positive effect of the organic and organic–inorganic fertilizer system on the soil’s organic matter content, a decrease in exchange and hydrolytic acidity, and an increase in the mobile phosphorus content is found. A decrease in exchangeable potassium in the soil is observed due to its high removal by crops. It is determined that the above fertilizer systems contributed not only to an increase in the yield of crops in rotation but also their quality. The content of starch and vitamin C increased in potato tubers and crude protein increased in annual and perennial grasses.

A laboratory incubation experiment in a closed dynamic air flow system was conducted for 30 days to estimate the volatilization loss of NH3-N from 0, 1, 2 and 3% Nano-ZnO coated urea treated soil. The volatilized NH3-N from the soil chambers was collected and titrated every 48 hours. Another incubation experiment was carried out to study the effect of coating urea with Nano-ZnO on the inorganic nitrogen (NH4-N and NO3-N) content in the treated soils at 2, 4, 8, 14 and 21 days of incubation period. The two experiments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The results of the first experiment indicated that coating urea fertilizer with Nano-ZnO reduced the total loss of NH3-N from 22.82 % of applied N in the soil treated with uncoated urea (0 % coating) to 13.03% for the highest coating level (3%) with a reduction in NH3-N loss by 42.90%.The results of second incubation experiment showed that the average of NH4-N content increased from 86.52 mg Kg-1 for 0% Nano-Zn coated urea to 131.04 mg Kg-1 in the soil treated with 3% Nano-Zn coated urea, and the ratio of extractable NO3-N average to the extractable NH4-N average was 1: 1.06, 1: 1.17, 1: 1.50 and 1: 1.75 in the soil treated with 0, 1, 2 and 3% Nano-Zn coated urea, respectively. Also, the average of total inorganic N content increased from 168.19 mg Kg-1 in the soil treated with uncoated urea (0% coating) to 205.70 mg Kg-1 in soil treated with highest coating level (3%).Therefore, using the Nano-Zn coated urea fertilizer improves nitrogen use efficiency and reduce ammonia loss from urea fertilizer applied to loamy sand soil.

Infiltration is one of the most important hydrological process through which water enters the soil surface and plays a significant role in controlling soil water storage, crop yields, irrigation efficiency and solute entry into the soil profile. In agriculture fields, generally, the top soils are enriched with high organic matter and clay, particularly in black soils that promotes sorption, biological degradation and transformation of contaminants. During the process some of the chemicals applied to farm land, move down with the deep percolating water from the root zone and there are likely chances to pollute the underlying ground water. Such instances are reported by locals in areas dominated by black soils of Malaprabha command area. In order to understand the extent of groundwater contamination through chemical fertilizers, insecticides and manures, two agricultural plots (sugarcane and banana plantation) have been identified in parts of Malaprabha command area covering parts of Saundatti, Ramdurg (Belagavi district) and Nargund taluks (Gadag district). Hydraulic properties such as infiltration and hydraulic conductivity were determined in the field. Soil samples were collected and analysed in the laboratory for texture and porosity. The study indicated that the soils of the region are layered in structure. Further, it is noticed that the coarse textured loamy soil is present below the fine textured soils (such as silty loam or clayey loam). Due to the presence of fine soils at the top, the irrigated water get accumulated and the evaporation takes place relatively faster and results in the accumulation of excess salt. It is also noticed that the layered soils have obvious effects on solute transport and salt accumulation in the clay rich soil layer at the interface. The average salt accumulation (Total Nitrogen) observed in the study area within soil profile is 18.7g/kg. The maximum salt accumulation (21.38 g/kg) occurred in the top layer of sugarcane plots followed by banana plantation (19.85 g/kg). It is also noticed that there are remarkable changes in the interlayered soils with reference to water infiltration characteristics and salt leaching intensities. Study revealed the fact that the properties of the soil profile with a silty loam interlayer is better than with a silty clay loam interlayer.

This study was conducted during 2018 and 2019 seasons to determine the effect of foliar applications of both zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) at concentrations of 60, 120, 240 and 480 mgL -1 , and zinc chelated at 1.5 gL -1 as well as without zinc application (control) for seven-years old Flame Seedless grapevines. The chosen vines were trellised by Spanish Parron supporting system, grown in a clay loam soil, spaced at 2 x 3 meters apart, irrigated under surface irrigation system, and spur-pruned at the third week of Dec. According to the results which appear that foliar applications of ZnONPs or chelated zinc enhanced vegetative growth characteristics and quality of berries. On the other hand, the increasing ZnONPs up to 480 mgL -1 reducing the most mentioned characters compared with control or convential zinc source in both seasons. Eventually, foliar spraying of ZnONPs, at rate of 240mgL ‑1 gave the highest values of total gross return, net return and beneficial cost ratio. From results of the present study, it could be recommended the foliar application of ZnONPs for Flame Seedless grapevines to improving yield quantitatively and qualitatively, thus economic return.

In modern arable farming, beneficial properties of silicon-containing natural materials are of interest, including zeolites which have a structuring and moisture-retaining effect on soil, can optimize conditions for development of agronomically valuable microorganisms, replenish soil solution with available forms of potassium, phosphorus and trace elements, and show activity towards excessive acidity of soils. The provision of silicon makes it possible to increase adaptation of crops to stresses caused by agroecotope factors, leading to an increase in productivity and yield quality characteristics. For the first time, in the conditions of sod-podzolic soils of the Nizhny Novgorod region, we established the beneficial influence of various doses of zeolite rock of the Khotynets deposit on the main properties of effective fertility of sod-podzolic light loamy soil and content of biologically active silicon in it. The impact of the rock on accumulation of various silicon compounds in above-ground biomass of crops is evaluated. Increase of their yield due to zeolite action was revealed and optimization of quality indices of the main part of the crop was established. The purpose of the work was to determine mobility of silicon in sod-podzolic light loamy soil, to evaluate its physicochemical and agrochemical properties, and to identify patterns of bioaccumulation of various silicon compounds by above-ground parts of plants depending on the dose of zeolite rock as a high-silicon reclamation material. Studies carried out in 2015-2017 involved crop varieties zoned in the Volga-Vyatka region, the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Moscovskaya 39 and spring wheat cv. Kurskaya 2038, winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cv. Valdai, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. Veles, peas sown (Pisum sativum L.) cv. Chishminsky 95 and potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) cv. Red Scarlet. The design of the experiment included control (no treatment) and incorporation of 3, 6, and 12 t/ha zeolite of the Khotynetsky deposit (ООО Alsiko-Resurs, Russia) into the soil. The rock was introduced into soil once, manually, in the summer period of 2014. The soil of the field is a sod-podzolic medium-sod shallow-depressed ungelled light-ugly, formed on a cover loam. Plants were harvested upon complete ripeness (grain crops), the beginning (peas) and the end (potatoes) of drying of the tops. In above-ground plant biomass of all crops, the contents of organic, soluble mineral, insoluble polymer and general silicon compounds were determined. Soil was samples on harvest day from five points of each plot by envelope method and the content of mobile silicon compounds was evaluated. Also, in soil samples, the actual, exchange acidity, hydrolytic acidity, the content of exchange compounds of calcium and magnesium, the amount of exchange forms of potassium, the content of mobile phosphorus compounds according to Kirsanov and humus according to Tyurin were measures. It was shown that the use of 12 t/ha zeolite rock contributes to an increase in the content of water-soluble forms of silicon in the soil by 143 % (p < 0.05), acid-soluble forms by 2 times. The use of reclamation doses of zeolite for three years contributed to a reliable (p < 0.05) decrease of exchange soil acidity by 0.5 pH, hydrolytic acidity by 0.33 mg-eqv/100 g, significant increase of content of exchange compounds of calcium and magnesium (by 4.4 and 10.8 mg-eqv/100 g, respectively). In addition, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the amount of mobile phosphorus compounds (by 43 %) and potassium (by 46 %) vs. the control values. The accumulation of silicon in plant biomass depended on a crop, and in all tested cereals, it was higher in by-products than in the main yield. The use of zeolite led to an increase in absorption of silicon from soil, especially in silicon accumulators. Under the action of material, in grain of spring wheat, barley and peas accumulation of total silicon exceeded control values 1.8-, 2.3-, and 3.6-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). The use of zeolite activated generation of organic and mineral soluble forms of element in the grain part of crop, but did not contribute to the accumulation of insoluble silicon compounds in the plant biomass. The main yield of winter wheat increased by 0.19 t/ha, of barley by 0.98 t/ha, of sown peas by 0.24 t/ha, of potatoes by 8.6 t/ha, of spring wheat by 0.92 t/ha, and of winter rye by 0.39 t/ha (p < 0.05). Doses of 6 and 12 t/ha of zeolite had best effect on all crops, while the ratio of main and by-products narrowed towards grain (tuberous) part of crop. Optimization of silicon nutrition of cultivated plants and mobility of element in soil due to application of high doses of zeolite had a positive effect on quality of the main yield. The accumulation of raw gluten in grain of winter and spring wheat reached 35.3 and 31.1 %, respectively, and the grain levels of protein in barley and peas was 12.7 and 20.6 %, respectively. Improved quality of potato tubers under the influence of the zeolite was expressed in enrichment with vitamin C (up to 22.2 mg%) and higher accumulation of starch (up to 16.3 %). Consequently, use of zeolite as a fertilizer and reclamation material was agronomically feasible and necessary under conditions of sod-podzolic soils.

Conservation tillage and crop residues should increase the soluble organic carbon and nitrate concentration in agricultural soil, which increases the denitrification potential. Basal denitrification (72 h laboratory incubation) was 2.1–2.7 times higher in a sandy loam soil under 15 yr of conservation tillage than conventional tillage and 1.8–2.0 times higher with high-residue (additional input 8.6–9.4 Mg dry matter·ha−1·yr−1) than low-residue inputs. Adding glucose and nitrate increased the soil denitrification potential 3- to 14-fold. Denitrification was limited by carbon availability, even in soil with 15 yr of conservation tillage and high-residue inputs.

Hysteresis of soil water retention curve (SWRC hysteresis) is widely used for modeling water flux in an unsaturated soil during infiltration and irrigation processes. The aim of the work was to predict soil moisture of a wetting curve from the main drying branch based on an effective degree of saturation for the drying branch by suggesting pedotransfer functions (PTFs). Furthermore, the efficiency of the proposed PTFs (M-1) was estimated by comparing it with a model having the same purpose such as a model of Mualem (1977) (M-77). The drying and wetting branches were measured using capillary meter at soil water pressure heads lower than –1000 mbar. The effective degree of saturation for drying $$S_{d}^{e}\left( h \right)$$ and wetting $$~S_{w}^{e}\left( h \right)$$ curves was estimated at different values of soil water pressure heads. The proposed PTFs (M-1) $$S_{w}^{e}\left( h \right)~$$ = $$\frac{{\sqrt 3 }}{2}$$ $$S_{d}^{e}\left( h \right)$$ was derived by dividing the mean values of $$S_{w}^{e}\left( h \right)$$ to the mean values of $$S_{d}^{e}\left( h \right)$$ . The results show that the estimation error for the proposed PTFs (M-1) and the Mualem model (M-77) was less for estimating soil moisture of a wetting curve at the higher values of soil water pressure heads as –500, –700 and –900 mbar than their values calculated at the lower values of soil water pressure heads as –50, –150, and –300 mbar and near of saturation. While the proposed PTFs (M-1) was more accurate than the Mualem model (M-77) for calculating soil moisture of a wetting branch at a saturation point and at the lower values of soil water pressure heads as –50, –150, and –300 mbar. The proposed PTFs (M-1) $$S_{w}^{e}\left( h \right)~$$ = $$\frac{{\sqrt 3 }}{2}$$ $$S_{d}^{e}\left( h \right)$$ can be used for simulating soil moisture of wetting branch during infiltration and irrigation processes at soil water pressure heads lower than ‒1000 mbar and a near of saturation for agrosoddy-podzolic soil of silt loam and silty clay loam textures.

A comparative assessment of the effect of long-term agricultural use of gray forest and meadow chernozemic soils on their phosphorus status is performed in stationary field experiments in the western Siberian forest steppe. The content of different phosphorus compounds in the soils of extensive and intensive agrocenoses is determined. The soils under study are characterized by higher total phosphorus concentrations (0.15–0.21% in the gray forest soils, 0.15–0.17% in the meadow chernozemic soils). The continuous use of phosphorus fertilizers significantly increases the level of highly mobile forms of this mineral element in the arable layer of gray forest soils to 12.5–14.6 mg/kg and meadow chernozemic soils to 22.1–26.6 mg/kg. The fractional size distribution analysis of inorganic phosphates showed a steady increase in the reserves of its compounds with a long-term positive balance. Phosphorus applied in excess of the removal was distributed among the first four fractions, where it was available to crop uptake both in action and in afteraction. All changes in phosphorus concentrations (both with a decrease and with an increase) are less pronounced on the initially more fertile meadow chernozemic heavy clay loam soils than on the gray forest soils, indicating its higher buffering capacity. The largest relative changes in the values of diagnostic indices are characteristic of the most mobile fractions of phosphorus compounds.

This field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years during 2014-15 and 2015-16 on loamy sand soil of Agronomy Main Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Central Research Station of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. The treatments consisted of three legumes as main plot treatments taken up during the kharif season and two residue management practices as sub-plot treatments and four nitrogen levels as sub-sub plot treatments. It shows that soil microbial population increased linearly over the initial level by taking a legume-cereal sequence. Further the incorporation of legume residues improved the microbial population over no residue incorporation treatments. Decreased trend of the total microbes was seen after the harvest of maize. An increase in available N, P and K was noticed with increase in nitrogen levels during both the years of study. After the harvest, cowpea recorded the highest available soil nitrogen values of 278 and 284 kg ha-1 in the first and second year respectively as well as highest total bacterial count of 228 x 104 g-1 of soil was recorded with cowpea residue incorporation with nitrogen application at 180 kg ha-1.

A field experiment was carried out at Instructional Cum-Research Farm (ICR) of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during the year 2019 to find out the effect of INM practices to growth and yield of summer maize. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with nine treatments and replicated thrice. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon (0.72), low in available N (156.19 kg/ha) and medium in available P2O5 (23.78 kg/ha) and K2O (161.50 kg/ha). The maize seed of the variety VMH-53 was sown on 15th of March (2019) and harvested by two pickings on 10th June and 15th June. Experimental findings revealed that growth attributing characters like plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index as well as various yield attributing characters viz., weight of cob with and without husk, length of cob, number of rows/cob, grains/row, grains/cob, 1000 grain weight, weight of grain per cob was recorded highest under the treatment T3 containing 100% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + 2 sprays of vermiwash at 25 & 40 DAS which was at par with 75% RDF + 25% of N replaced by vermicompost + Azospirillum + PSB + 2 sprays of vermiwash at 25 & 40 DAS. The highest grain and stover yield being 43.04 q/ha and 89.66 q/ha respectively was produced from RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + 2 sprays of vermiwash at 25 & 40 DAS (T3) which was at par with the grain yield 41.81 q/ha and stover yield 87.42 q/ha obtained from 75% N of RDF + 25% of N replaced by vermicompost + Azospirillum + PSB + 2 sprays of vermiwash at 25&40 DAS (T6).

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Field unit, College of Agriculture, Shivamogga during kharif 2015-2016 and 2016-17 on sandy loamy soils to evaluate performance of promising Greengram varieties (Vigna radiate (L.) Wilczek) as influenced by different dates of sowing under rain fed situation in Southern Transitional Zone of Karnataka. Among three different varieties KKM-3 gave significantly higher grain yield (806.41 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (3206.14 kg ha-1) than PDM 84-178 (675.71 kg ha-1 and 2698.55 kg ha-1, respectively) and SBM-1 (610.81 kg ha-1 and 2462.74 kg ha-1, respectively) (Table 1). Variety KKM-3 showed per cent increase in grain and straw yield over variety PDM 84-178 (16.20% and 15.83%, respectively) and SBM-1 (24.25% and 23.18%, respectively). Among different dates of sowing 15th July recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield (1252.86 kg ha-1 and 4912.04 kg ha-1, respectively) followed by sowing KKM-3 on 30th of July (878.82 kg ha-1 and 3344.05 kg ha-1, respectively) and it was found on par with PDM 84-178 sown on 15th of July (869.92 kg ha-1and 3405.49 kg ha-1, respectively) compared to variety SBM-1 on 15th July (774.98 kg ha-1 and 3033.19 kg ha-1, respectively) Among the interactions significant difference was noticed between date of sowing and variety with respect to yield components, sowing of variety KKM-3 sown on July 15th recorded significantly higher number of clusters plant-1, numbers of pods plant, numbers of seeds per pod (13.59, 53.03 and 11.10, respectively) compared to late sowing variety PDM 84-178 during August 30th (6.96, 31.31 and 8.56, respectively) and late sowing variety SBM-1 on August 30th (4.75, 17.57 and 8.03, respectively).

Fifty one soil samples werecallected from some wadis soil i.e.,(El Sheikh Soliman,Sidri,El-Arishia and Bodra) of AduRudeis district, which is lies between some mountain chains. These soil samples were collected to determined their physical and chemical properties and to assess their total and available contents of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in a fairly intanse sampling scheme.The results indicate that the texture class varies from sandy to sandy clay loam, The content of CaCO3, organic matter, soil salinity and pH value varies from 12.4 to 579 gkg-1, 6.7 to 30.2 g Kg-1,0.23 to 8.62 dSm-1 and7.6 to 9.3, respectively. The total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu ranged from 1020 to 9000,370 to 900, 190 to 500 and 90 to 280 mgkg-1, respectively. Most wadis soils of Abu Rudeis district have their DTPA available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu higher than the critical leveli.e.,4,1,1 and 0.2 mg kg-1, respectively. The respective correlated coefficients, indicate that available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu showed significant positively correlated with clay (%), (silt + clay)%, CaCO3 content, pH and ECvalues and O.M content, except availableconent of (Fe and Zn), (Mn), (Zn), (Mn) and (Fe and Zn) that showed significant negatively correlationwith clay (%), CaCO3, pH and O.M values,respectively

Cross-linked polymer hydrogels, such as polyacrylamide co-polymer (XPAM) or polyacrylate (XPAA), can alter soil chemistry and crop nutrient uptake but the persistence of these effects has been little studied. This 9-y, irrigated, outdoor pot study evaluated a single, one-time addition of XPAM or XPAA at 0.25% or 0.5% dry wt. (5.6 or 11.2 Mg ha-1) in a degraded calcareous silt loam. Controls included an unamended degraded soil and an unamended, non-degraded soil (i.e. topsoil). Soils were hand-tilled and planted to crops each year. We measured nutrients in soil and leachate water each year, and in the first 5 y, crop yields and nutrient uptake. Both hydrogels increased average soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), soil extractable K, Na, and TOC, and decreased soil extractable Mg relative to the control. Unlike XPAM, XPAA produced a greater increase in soil extractable K, increased extractable Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu, increased Olsen P, and decreased total inorganic C. Neither hydrogel affected crop yields but XPAA increased K and Zn and decreased Mg and Na uptake in crops compared to controls. Relative to the control, both hydrogels decreased cumulative Ca, Mg, and S leaching mass losses and increased mean EC of leachate. Unlike XPAM, XPAA increased cumulative leaching mass losses of K, P, NO3-N, and NH4-N relative to the control. The hydrogels’ soil effects persisted for greater than or equal to 7 years and their effect differed as a function of the quantity of included counterions and the stability of the gel structure after soil placement.

The current work aims to identifying the geomorphological, characteristics and classification of soils in some areas in Ismailia governorate, Egypt. The study area is located between longitudes 32o 06′ 45" and 32o 22′ 30" E and latitudes 30o 22' 30" and 30o 57' 00" N. The integration of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques was used to achieve this work. The geomorphic map produced by processing and identifying the Landsat 8 image indicated that,the studied area has six main geomorphic units with different landforms.These units are: 1) Depressions, 2) Terraces (including Low, and High Terraces), 3) Basins (over flow basins and Decantation basins), 4) peneplains (Low and High), 5) Sandy plains (High, Moderate and Low) and 6) Mountain (Foot slope and Crest). Twenty soil profiles were selected representing these units.The land and site features are observed and registered. The soil profiles were dug, morphologically described, and then samples were collected representing the subsequent layers in each profile for integrated physical and chemical analyses. The studied area has almost flat with deep to very deep and well drained soils. Most of the studied soils have loamy sand texture and some parts have clay loam texture. The analytical data revealed that, the studied soils are slightly alkaline, mostly non-saline and haven’t sodicity effect. The soils are moderately calcareous having Low gypsum and organic matter contents. All studies soils haven't any diagnostic horizons, therefore they affiliated to Entisols and classified as Typic Torripsaments for 89.4% and as Typic Torriorthents for 10.6%from the studied area.

Organic amendments have been known to improve soil physical and chemical properties in sub-Saharan Africa. However, research information on how organic amendments affect aggregate stability and the degree of their effects in comparison to others is inadequate in Zambia. The study was carried out to assess the effect of organic amendments on soil dry aggregate stability and organic matter on soils from Chipata, Zambia. The specific objectives were to: Assess the effect of organic amendments on soil dry aggregate stability and assess if there is a relationship between soil organic matter and soil aggregate stability on a loamy ferric luvisol soil. Soil aggregates were collected from the top 10 cm of 10 m × 10 m plots in each treatment replicated five times. These aggregates were sieved through a 9.5 mm, and the retained aggregates on an 8 mm sieve were collected and used for aggregate stability analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results showed significant differences among the means of five treatments: Sunn hemp, Tephrosia vogelii alley cropping, pigeon pea alley cropping, animal manure, and conventional treatments on a loamy ferric luvisol. Amending soils with Sunn hemp showed a significantly higher mean weight diameter (MWDd) of 2.393 compared to amending soils with T. vogelii alley cropping MWDd 1.767 (P value

The current paper has presented the study results of the effect of different dosages of the herbicide ‘Ballerina SE’ on the weediness of sorghum sowing, as well as the economic efficiency of the application. The purpose of the study was to estimate the efficiency of the use of the herbicide ‘Ballerina’ on grain sorghum and its effect on the weediness of the sowing and the amount of productivity. The field trials were carried out in 2017–2019 in the laboratory for cultivation technology of row crops of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” (Zernograd). The experimental plot is located in the southern agricultural zone of the Rostov region (with insufficient and unstable moisture). The soil of the experimental plot was ordinary heavy loamy blackearth (chernozem) on forestry loams, with 3.2% of humus, 18.5–20.0 mg of P2O5 and 342–360 mg of K2O per kg of soil. The hydrothermal coefficient during the years of study ranged from 0.32 to 0.89, which characterized the insufficient moisture supply of the growing season. There was presented the information on the varietal composition of grain sorghum in the southern zone of the Rostov region. The applied dosages of the herbicide had a significant effect on the reduction of the weediness of grain sorghum after their application (the decrease ranged from 78.3 to 96.7%). The greatest decrease in weediness was noted for dicotyledonous weeds. When using 0.5–l of the herbicide ‘Ballerina SE’ per ha, there was obtained the highest conditional net income of 22,230 rubles/ha, with the lowest production cost of 4,329 rubles/ha and the highest profitability level of 163%.

Trees have a strong influence on the chemical properties of the soil in which they grow. Establishing plantations with different tree species combinations thus potentially leads to divergence in soil chemistry. To study the degree to which differentiation already occurs during the first years after establishment, we made use of a biodiversity–ecosystem functioning experiment in Belgium, FORBIO. The multi-site experiment replicates tree species richness (1–4 species) and composition in three sites. The sites represent contrasting site contexts, mostly land-use history, soil, and climate. Soil samples (0–10 cm) were taken at the time of planting and approximately 8 years later. We measured the total C and N concentration, the Olsen P, the pH-H2O, and the concentration of base and Al cations. The change in chemical composition was strongly dependent on site conditions including former land use. Afforestation on former cropland had a positive impact on total C and Olsen P and a negative effect on base cations and pH. On sites reforested after clear-cut, soil texture and particular site preparation played an important role. On top of that, we found several significant effects of species composition. Strongest composition effects were detected in the reforested site on loamy soil with little soil disturbance. This study highlights that species choice can already affect soil chemistry in early stages of forest development, but that the nature of the effects may strongly depend on the context in which the plantations are established. Further research is needed to identify the most important contextual factors.

A field experiment was conducted in silty loam soil to study the effect of vermicompost fertilizer and inoculums Rhizobium legumenosarum on growth and yield of mung bean (Vigni radiate L.), and some soil properties after planting. The experiment consists of nine treatments as follows :T1: control , T2: full recommended mineral fertilizer, T3: vermicompost 8 t.ha-1, T4: vermicompost 16 t.ha-1, T5: vermicompost 8 t.ha-1+ rhizobia, T6: vermicompost16 t.ha-1+ rhizobia, T7: vermicompost 2 t.ha-1+ ½ recommended mineral fertilizer, T8: rhizobia + ½ recommended mineral fertilizer, T9: vermicompost 8 t.ha-1 + rhizobia +½ recommended mineral fertilizer. The experiment was conducted according to RCBD design with three replications. The results were indicated that the use of vermicompost 16 t. ha-1 with the rhizobia inoculation (T6) has improved some soil properties, as this treatment reduced the pH and EC of the soil to 7.18 and 2.20 dsm-1. While CEC and O.M increased to 47.9 Cmole Kg-1 and 2.96%, respectively. Whereas, the treatment T9 was superior in most of the traits, including plant height (70.1 cm), Root weight (5.8 g plant-1) and a number of active and total root nodes (41.3 and 36.6 nodes plant -1). The treatment T9 also gave the best characteristics of the yield components, including the number of pods plant-1, weight of pods plant-1, weight 1000 seeds (g), total yield and was 51.0 pods plant-1, 92.4 g plant -1,49.8 g.plant-1, 1216.95 kg.ha-1 respectively.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el volumen de humedecimiento (bulbo húmedo) del hidrogel aplicado en tres tipos de suelo. Se utilizaron suelos: a) arcilloso (arcilla 52%; limo 32%; arena 16%); b) franco arcilloso limoso (arcilla 36%; limo 56%; arena 6%) c) franco arenoso (arcilla 12%; limo 32%; arena 56%), a los cuales se aplicó hidrogel al 1% de potasio. La aplicación se realizó con hidrogel previamente hidratado, en tres diámetros que fueron: 4.7, 7.0 y 10.5 cm con una longitud de 10 cm donde se obtuvieron los siguientes volúmenes iniciales 173.5, 384.8 y 866 cm3 que ocupaba el hidrogel. Se midió el volumen de humedecimiento (cm3), porcentaje de humedad y la hidratación del hidrogel en el suelo. Los resultados indican que el volumen de humedecimiento depende del volumen inicial, de manera que a mayor volumen inicial se tendrá mayor volumen de humedecimiento indiferente del tipo de suelo; sin embargo, el suelo franco arenoso presenta un mayor volumen de humedecimiento, seguramente por la movilidad del agua en el mismo. La zona humedecida incrementa su humedad en un 14% indiferentemente del tipo de suelo. La hidratación del hidrogel en el suelo solo alcanza un 42% en comparación con la hidratación en agua libre. La determinación del volumen de humedecimiento permite estimar la cantidad y ubicación de hidrogel que se debe aplicar en un cultivo en función del bulbo que se requiere formar en el suelo.// The objective of the study was to determine the wetting volume (wet bulb) of the hydrogel applied to three types of soil. Soils used were: a) clay (clay 52%; silt 32%; sand 16%); b) silty clay loam (36% clay; 56% silt; 6% sand) c) sandy loam (12% clay; 32% silt; 56% sand), to which 1% potassium hydrogel was applied. The application was made with previously hydrated hydrogel, in three diameters that were: 4.7, 7.0 and 10.5 cm with a length of 10 cm where the following initial volumes were obtained 173.5, 384.8 and 866 cm3 occupied by the hydrogel. The wetting volume (cm3), moisture percent, and the hydration of the hydrogel in the soil were measured. The results indicate that the humidification volume depends on the initial volume, so the higher the initial volume, the greater the humidification volume regardless of the type of soil; however, it presents a greater volume of humidification in the sandy loam soil, probably due to mobility of the water in it. The moistened area increases its humidity by 14% regardless of the type of soil. The hydration of the hydrogel in the soil only reaches 42% compared to hydrating it in free water. Determining the volume of wetting allows estimating the amount and location of hydrogel to be applied to a crop based on the bulb that needs to be formed in the soil.

Applying proper soil amendments in arid and semi-arid areas improves soil quality and promotes plant growth. Lignite and Wheat Straw Biochar (WSB) are soil amendments that can be used to improve soil quality and plant productivity. Nitraria Schoberi L. is a halophyte shrub from Nitrariaceae family that is planted in degraded rangelands for forage production and soil conservation. In this research, we investigated the effects of lignite and WSB on structural traits (e.g., height, crown diameter, area and volume, leaf area, perimeter, etc.) of N. Schoberi and soil properties. The lignite and WSB amendments were applied at rates of 0, 1.25, 2.5, and 3.75% (weight/weight) in six replications. The experiment was conducted in pots inside a greenhouse. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way and two-way analyses of variance using the SPSS21 statistical software. Our results revealed that lignite and WSB amendments significantly improved soil properties and increased structural traits of the N. Schoberi. Trait enhancement was considerably increased by incorporating a larger ratio of amendments to soil during the experiment. In particular, we found that an application of 3.75% (w/w) of both amendments among the ones tested provided the best rate to reach the largest improvement in soil properties and the largest growth of N. Schoberi. The results demonstrated that lignite and WSB can be used to enhance soil chemical and biological properties to promote the productivity of N. Schoberi. Our results suggest that the application of lignite and WSB effectively improved poor soil properties in the studied clay loam solonchak rangeland soil. We recommend incorporating these amendments in the restoration of rangelands with alkaline soils using N. Schoberi.

Soil erosion is a challenging environmental hazard that can be reduced by conservation practices. The study aimed to estimate the soil erosion rate using different digital elevation models (DEMs) data. We have applied the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) to assess soil erosion in the Ghaghara river basin. We have also estimated morphometric parameters to understand the susceptibility of sub-basin to soil loss. The estimated rates of soil erosion by RUSLE are 21.39, 18.31, 4.35, and 4.64 ton/ha/year for SRTM 30 m, ALOS 30 m, MERIT 90 m, and SRTM 90 m, respectively. In addition to this water retention curve of soil was estimated using Hydrus-1D model. Result show that a clay_loam soil has highest water holding capacity as 0.284 cm3/cm3 and glacier (GLACIER-6998) has lowest as 0.22 cm3/cm3, respectively in the basin. Further the basin hypsometry analysis was performed using Q-GIS, which indicate that sub-basins age from young to mature due to soil erosion. In last, the prioritized map was generated by the integration of RULSE, water holding capacity, and morphometry showed that the upper and middle portions of the basin need better conservation measures to control the excess soil erosion compared to the lower portion of the basin.

Water harvesting (WH) and aquifer recharge (AR) have been promoted in recent decades as solutions to the overexploitation of groundwater resources in many countries around the world. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies with multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) enable the analysis of many parameters to identify potential WH and AR sites and suitable zones for site-specific and cost-effective recharge structures. Iraq is located within an arid and semiarid region and thus suffers from water scarcity and absent surface water resources. The use of RS and GIS technology for detection of appropriate sites for WH and AR could potentially increase water availability. The criteria selected for determining appropriate WH and AR areas were runoff, drainage, geology, groundwater depth, slope, soil texture, and land use/land cover. The selection of these criteria was found to be more important and more frequent in a literature review for WH and AR, and the weightage of each criterion should be based on the opinion of experts. The obtained results indicated only five optimum sites for check dam construction for WH, due to their locations in suitable land class, slope (

In recent years, cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils and its subsequent transfer to crops is one of the high-priority environmental and public health issues of global concern, especially in densely populated developing countries like Bangladesh. However, no effective strategy has been introduced or implemented yet to manage Cd-contaminated soils in order to sustain agricultural production with no human health risks. In this study, agricultural soil samples were collected from 60 locations of 10 upazilas from Tangail district to assess the extent of soil Cd contamination. The Cd concentration ranged from 0.83 to 4.08 mg kg−1 with a mean of 2.17 mg kg−1 in topsoil (0–15 cm), and from 0.67 to 3.74 mg kg−1 with a mean of 2.10 mg kg−1 in subsoil (16–30 cm). The values of contamination factor (CF) indicated that all the sampling locations were found to be highly contaminated with Cd. Pot trials with the application of different doses of biochar and vermicompost in Cd-contaminated soil (0.8 mg kg−1 Cd) revealed that integrated application of biochar (5 t ha−1) and vermicompost (5 t ha−1) was the best treatment that significantly (p

The study was carried out in 2018 and 2019 in the southern forest-steppe area of the Omsk region. The soil of the experimental plot was chernozem-meadow, medium and heavy loamy. The crop rotation was as follows: ‘black’ fallow – spring wheat – spring wheat – spring wheat – barley, the forecrop was second wheat. It was a two-factor field trial, the area of the plots was 50 and 25 m2, with three-fold sequence. The purpose of the current work was to estimate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer as a basic one and in the form of top dressing combined with fungicidal and herbicidal treatment on the productivity of spring wheat grain. There was identified a positive effect of the factor of nitrogen fertilization N35 on the productivity of spring wheat grain when sown in ‘black’ fallow. In 2018 there was productivity increase on 0.43, and in 2019 it was 0.74 t/ha, or 25.1 and 39.2%, respectively, according to the control. The utilization of the mixture of herbicides and carbamide (5 kg/ha) had only a tendency to productivity increase in comparison with herbicide control. The additional top dressing of 5 and 10 kg/ha of carbamide in ‘head formation period’ increased productivity by 0.32 and 0.42 (in 2018) and 0.45 and 0.47 t/ha (in 2019). The best results were obtained from the combination ‘herbicides + carbamide (tillering) + fungicide (head formation)’, the average productivity increase was 0.60 (in 2018) and 1.83 t/ha (in 2019).

Long-term fertilization and crop rotation can influence both organic C sequestration as well as the C composition of soils and the more resistant organic C compounds contained in humic acid (HA). This study examined the effects of fertilization and cropping type (monoculture corn (MC) and Kentucky bluegrass sod (KBS) and corn-oat-alfalfa-alfalfa rotation (RC)) on the HA composition of soil from a 52-year field study in southern Ontario, Canada. Humic acid samples were extracted from soil, and elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and electron paramagnetic resonance methods were used to determine the influence of the cropping type on the characteristics of HA. Both fertilization and cropping type affected the chemical characteristics of HA. Fertilization led to a 5.9% increase in C, a 7.6% decrease in O, and lower O/C and (N + O)/C ratios in HA as compared to the corresponding non-fertilized treatments. Rotation resulted in a lower proportion of C (48.1%) and a greater (N + O)/C ratio (0.7) relative to monoculture cropping. Infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that HA contained more C-O groups in fertilized soil than in non-fertilized soil under MC and KBS. Fertilization increased the O-alkyl-C, phenolic-C, and free radical contents of HA relative to non-fertilization treatments. Rotation decreased the aliphatic and carboxyl groups and increased the O-alkyl, carbohydrate, aryl, and phenolic groups and free radicals, relative to MC and KBS. Both long-term crop rotation and fertilization dramatically modified the soil HA composition. Significant relationships were observed between the molecular composition of HA and soil organic C. Hence, humic acid characterization could be used as an indicator of the long-term sustainability of crop management practices.

Extensive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture can induce high concentration of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) in soil. Desorption and leaching of NH4+-N has led to pollution of natural waters. The adsorption of NH4+-N in soil plays an important role in the fate of the NH4+-N. Understanding the adsorption characteristics of NH4+-N is necessary to ascertain and predict its fate in the soil-water environment, and pedotransfer functions (PTFs) could be a convenient method for quantification of the adsorption parameters. Ammonium nitrogen adsorption capacity, isotherms, and their influencing factors were investigated for various soils in an irrigation district of the North China Plain. Fourteen agricultural soils with three types of texture (silt, silty loam, and sandy loam) were collected from topsoil to perform batch experiments. Silt and silty loam soils had higher NH4+-N adsorption capacity than sandy loam soils. Clay and silt contents significantly affected the adsorption capacity of NH4+-N in the different soils. The adsorption isotherms of NH4+-N in the 14 soils fit well using the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin models. The models’ adsorption parameters were significantly related to soil properties including clay, silt, and organic carbon contents and Fe2+ and Fe3+ ion concentrations in the groundwater. The PTFs that relate soil and groundwater properties to soil NH4+-N adsorption isotherms were derived using multiple regressions where the coefficients were predicted using the Bayesian method. The PTFs of the three adsorption isotherm models were successfully verified and could be useful tools to help predict NH4+-N adsorption at a regional scale in irrigation districts.

The effects of fertilizer-N application and cutting frequency on the herbage yield of Panicum maximum pasture were investigated in 2001 through 2004 in a sandy loam soil at Nsukka. The experiment was a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments comprised four levels of Nitrogen of 0, 150, 300, and 450 kg N ha-1 and four harvesting frequencies of 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-weekly intervals, resulting in sixteen treatment combinations per block. Grass dry matter yield increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 7,799 to 10,993 kg ha-1 and from 5,715 to 14,220 kg ha-1 when the interval between cuts extended from 3 to 12 weeks at the first and fourth harvest years, respectively. Pasture plots cut at 3- or 6- weeks intervals exhibited much greater weed proportion than those cut at 9-, or 12-week interval. The total annual herbage dry matter yield increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 8,564 to 11,312 kg ha-1 and from 6,814 to 10,268 in 2001 and 2004, respectively, when fertilizer N was increased from 0 to 450 kg N ha-1. A combination of 12-weekly interval of cut with 300 kg N ha-1 gave a significantly higher forage grass herbage dry matter yield compared with the values got from 3- or 6-weekly interval combined with any N rate. Fertilizing at 300-450 kg N ha-1 when combined with cutting at 9 to 12-weekly interval between cuts was more effective in suppressing growth and proportion of weeds. Keywords: Defoliation frequency, pasture, fertilizer-N, dry matter yield.

Morchella spp. are wild edible mushrooms growing ephemerally under particular environmental conditions in temperate regions of the world. The present study was aimed to outline some principal eco-edaphic characteristics influencing distribution of these mushrooms from three different forest types of Swat, Pakistan. A randomized circular plots were laid down along the transect line in 14 stands in study areas. Environmental variables were recorded and soil characteristics were determined, analyzed and compared. Five species were collected from N to NW slope at elevation range of 1100-2695m asl. Mean relative humidity of 58.7%, range of air temperature 13 °C-27 °C and soil temperature 6-26 °C were recorded at morel growing sites. A higher canopy cover (average 57%) favours sporocarp formation in morels. Soil analysis showed that morel preferably appeared in sandy loam to loamy textured soil at slightly acidic to neutral pH (mean=6.4) and with consistently higher organic matter (1.5%) and salt activities (mean = 38.8 μS) in the soil. IVI calculation showed that Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson, Juglans regia L., Abies pindrow Royle, Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D. Don) G. Don were dominant trees and Viburnum grandiflorum Wall. ex DC, Hedra nepalensis K. Koch, Hert and Sarcococca saligna (D. Don) Muell. Arg. were shrub species associated with morels. Whilst Fragaria nubicola (Hook.f.) Lindl., Viola canescens Wall ex Roxb. and Podophyllum hexandrum Roylae were the predominant herbs in morel habitat. This study will help to understand the natural habitat and to provide a base line information for the future conservation and management planning in the area.

To investigate the potential link between toxic heavy elements in soil with soil physiochemical properties and oxides, as well as their impact on the bioaccumulation of these elements in wheat grains. Agriculture soil and wheat grains were sampled from Yaychi area, Kirkuk northeast of Iraq. Soil physiochemical properties, oxides and toxic heavy elements contents were determined. The average concentration of toxic heavy elements in soil was in this order Ni> Cr> Pb> As> Cd> Hg, and some of these elements had exceeded their average in earth's crust and Canadian Agricultural Soil Quality Guidelines. While in wheat grains the toxic heavy elements, contents were in the following order Cr> Ni> Pb> As> Cd> Hg. The soil physiochemical properties in the study area are shown to be medium alkaline, non-saline, calcareous, non-gypsiferous, inorganic and loam texture. It became clear from the correlation matrix that the toxic heavy elements except for arsenic have significant relationships with different soil physiochemical properties and major oxides. In turn, oxides and the physiochemical properties of the soil and its type reduced the bioaccumulation of these elements in wheat grains except for arsenic, as appeared in the present study, that toxic heavy elements do not accumulate in wheat grains. And among the studied elements, arsenic had the highest bioaccumulation rate in wheat grains, because its concentration in soil has been affected by only human activities.

In urban green spaces, it is important to maintain a suitable soil moisture content, an important indicator of plant growth. The management of urban green spaces faces great challenges in semi-humid areas of China, which are featured by interannual changes in rainfall and the alternation between droughts and floods. This paper aims to select suitable Organic Ground Cover (OGC) materials for urban green spaces in such areas, as the OGC can effectively absorb water and suppress the evaporation of soil moisture. For this purpose, 16 OGC materials were selected for our experiments, and 33 identical holes were dug on a field of silty loam. Next, 16 holes were separately covered by a 5 cm-thick layer of the 16 materials, 16 holes were separately covered by a 10 cm-thick layer of the 16 materials, and 1 hole was taken as the control sample (CK). On this basis, the authors explored how the 16 materials in two different thicknesses affect the soil moisture contents in four different soil depths. The results show that: When the OGC layer was 5 cm thick and 10 cm thick, CK had the lowest soil moisture content at any soil depth. In most cases, the soil moisture content under the same OGC material changed insignificantly with the material thicknesses, except FPB2 and CP. The layer of OGC materials should be 5 cm, if the only purpose is to increase the soil moisture content and enhance the landscape effect, and 10 cm if rainwater absorption is also taken into account. The above results provide a reference for selecting the OGC materials suitable for urban greening.

A 15N tracing incubation study was carried out using a sandy loam soil without (control) and with field-aged biochar (biochar) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of field-aged biochar on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. During the incubation, carried out at 40%, 60%, and 80% water-filled pore space (WFPS), cumulative N2O emission decreased from 24.13–26.40 μg N kg−1 in the control soil to 18.27–23.94 μg N kg−1 in the biochar soil, with a reduction of 9.3–24.3%. The contribution of autotrophic nitrification to total N2O production was 81.8–87.6% in the control soil under 40–80% WFPS, which was significantly reduced by field-aged biochar to 67.1–78.6%. Under 60% WFPS, the gross rates of autotrophic nitrification and gross mineralization were reduced from 11.95 and 4.43 μg N g−1 d−1, respectively, in the control soil to 7.32 and 0.60 μg N g−1 d−1, respectively, in the biochar soil. The field-aged biochar increased the NH4+ immobilization rate by 440%, primarily by immobilizing NH4+ into the recalcitrant organic N pool. Both the turnover rate of NH4+ mineralization-immobilization and the ratio of nitrification to NH4+ immobilization were reduced under biochar amendment, consequently lowering the supply of NH4+ for nitrifiers. In addition, compared with the control soil, the gross rate of NH4+ adsorption was significantly higher in the biochar soil. Taken together, our results suggest that field-aged biochar contributes to mitigating N2O emissions, primarily by decreasing the autotrophic nitrification rate through a reduced NH4+ supply due to increased mineral N immobilization and adsorption and lowered organic N mineralization.

This study investigated maize-soil biota interactions as well as the soil legacy effects of continuous monoculture (CM) on maize performance. We conducted a glasshouse experiment that compared the performance of maize inoculated with living or sterilized soil inocula collected from experimental field plots with cropping histories of 1 to 5 years of continuous maize monoculture, where the soil type is Nicollet clay loam with moderate fertility. We measured the biomass, yield, root traits and leaf nutrients of maize as well as eukaryotic soil organisms. Inoculation with living soil dramatically reduced maize biomass and yield compared to inoculation with sterilized soil, showing CM to have strong negative soil biotic legacy effects on maize. Nonetheless, the strength of soil biotic effects on most maize variables were relatively stable over time under CM. The response of maize total biomass to living soil inoculation correlated positively with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal abundance but negatively with soil fauna abundance, whereas it did not relate with the abundance of plant pathogenetic fungi or herbivorous nematodes. The roots showed acquisitive syndromes (high specific root length but low root diameter) in sterilized soil but conservative syndromes (opposite traits) in living soil. The responses in root system structure were tightly related with AM fungal diversity and community composition. Our study shows strong and stable negative effects of soil biota on maize under CM. The complex effects of soil biota on maize performance highlight the need to explore the functions of different groups of soil organisms to better understand and control negative soil legacy effects in agroecosystems.

Five-year observations of the water-physical properties of the soil showed a significant increase (by 14.5%) in the density of the arable layer after the minimum tillage, where this indicator was 1.26 g / cm3. On the control and on the variant with combined tillage, the soil density was minimal - 1.10 g / cm3. The water permeability of the dark chestnut medium loamy soil varied from 78.7 mm / h (at minimum tillage) to 132.5 mm / h (at the dump). Before sowing chickpeas, higher soil moisture in the meter layer was after non-moldboard tillage - 16.7% of the mass of absolutely dry soil, which is 0.4 and 0.9% higher relative to the control variant and minimum tillage, respectively. The maximum yield of chickpea grain (0.94 t / ha) was after the combined processing of the Boykov PBS-8M plow to a depth of 23–25 cm. Minimization of the main tillage reduced the yield by 18.7% compared with the control. Calculation of the share influence of the studied factors on the yield of chickpea grain showed that the determining factors are the moisture content of a meter layer of soil in the branching phase, the amount of precipitation during the growing season, soil moisture before sowing, and the density of the arable layer.

Current research on the impacts of biochar (BC), an organic compound used as soil amendment, focuses on soil physical and chemical properties, such as nutrient or water retention, while little attention is paid to the effects on soil mechanical behavior, especially on the microscale. Our objective was to investigate how BC amendment impacts the microscale mechanical behavior of a weathered soil under oscillatory stresses. Substrates were prepared by mixing soil with two BC types obtained from rice and soybean straw (application rate: 10 t ha−1) and incubating the mixture. Disturbed soil samples were collected 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after mixing to conduct rheological tests to characterize the soil microstructural stability and shear behavior. Along the incubation (except for at 45 days), the BC amendment decreased the soil shear strength in the order of treatments: rice BC-amended soil = soybean BC-amended soil > unamended soil (control). A possible cause, the lubricating impact of increased water retention and low aggregation potential of BC, is discussed. The soil viscoelasticity was not affected by biochar application. Already shear stresses of moderate intensity caused structural breakdown of the BC-amended soil, making it more susceptible to deformation and erosion processes.

Potassium use efficiency (KUE) in faba bean production is often low, and the luxury of fertilization has negative environmental impacts. The current study aims to reduce the recommended dose of potassium (K) for faba bean by potassium solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and humic acid (HA). The studied treatments were 50 and 100% of K recommended dose with or without PSB and 40 kg of HA ha−1. The studied treatments were applied to faba bean ((Vicia faba L., cv. Giza 843) plants grown in sandy loam soils for two successive seasons. In this study, the maximum KUE (40%) was obtained in the soil treated with HA and PSB while the lowest one (14%) was found in the case of the full recommended dose of mineral form. Humic acid and PSB that were applied to the plants fertilized with 50% of the recommended dose gave the maximum growth and yield. Humic acid and PSB increased the soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) by 6% and the soil organic matter (SOM) by 12%. Chlorophyll and carbohydrates in the leaves were increased by 36 and 50%, respectively, above the control, as results of HA and PSB application. Adding half of K requirements for faba bean in a mineral form with 40 kg of HA and PSB led to 14% and 19% increases in the seed and straw yield compared to the full mineral fertilization without bacterial inoculation. Humic acid and potassium solubilizing bacteria can be used to improve soil quality and increase the availability and uptake of nutrients, and thus increase the yield of faba bean plants. The experimental results from our 2-year research on faba bean grown on sandy loam soils establish a deductive scientific basis for using bio-fertilizers and organic materials to produce cleaner food and better environment conditions.

The adverse effects of exposure to microcystins in terrestrial crops have been well documented. However, the retention and bioavailability of microcystin-LR, one of the most prevalent cyanotoxins, from soil to plants, is poorly understood. In the present study, the amount of free microcystin-LR from two soil types, a silty sand and clayey loam, with exposure to three toxin concentrations and time was investigated. Using the two soil types, the effects on Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) growth after microcystin-LR exposure via irrigation with spiked water and pre-spiked soil was investigated and the amount of microcystin-LR taken up by the plant quantified. After 3 weeks of growth, the amount of free microcystin-LR remaining in the two soil types with each treatment was quantified. The results indicated that in clayey loam more microcystin-LR is bound to the soil. However, the growth of Alfalfa was only affected in the clayey loam with microcystin/LR exposure via irrigation. Nevertheless, microcystin-LR was detected in Alfalfa grown in both soil types exposed by both irrigation and via pre-spiked soil. Interestingly, more microcystin-LR remained in the silty sand after 3 weeks; yet, more microcystin-LR was taken up by the Alfalfa grown in the silty sand, with a larger concentration in the roots compared to the shoots. The results indicate that the soil type substantially influences the bioavailability and uptake of microcystin-LR and present some insight into the ecological risk posed by microcystin-LR.

El objetivo de este estudio fue: cuantificar la cantidad de carbono orgánico del suelo (COS) almacenado en tres profundidades y relacionar varios atributos topográficos sobre la densidad del COS en el sitio El Progreso, provincia El Oro-Ecuador. El estudio se realizó en cuatro usos del suelo: banano, cacao joven, cacao maduro y cacao viejo, con valoresde COS entre cero a 0,10 m de 25,6 g kg, 35,8 g kg, 13,2 g kg y 10,5 g kg respetivamente, y las clases textural predominante son: franco arcillo limosa (0-0,10 cm) y franco arcillosa (0,30-0,40 cm). En cada suelo se delimitó 1 ha para tomar muestras de suelo a: cuatro profundidades cada 10 cm. Los atributos topográficos: area drenada (AS), factor de transporte de sedimentos (LS) y humedad del suelo (WTI), fueron tomados de un modelo de elevación digital (MDE) con una resolución de 12x12m. Los rangos de COS disminuyeron desde parte media de la zona en estudio (banano 38,4-8,1 Mg ha-1; cacao joven 36,20-10,50 Mg ha-1; cacao viejo 13,80-0,94 Mg ha-1) con mayor pendiente (10 a 20 %) hacia la parte baja (cacao maduro 18.80-08.40 Mg ha-1). El uso de suelo cacao joven mostró el mayor valor de AS (10 286,5) y en LS (11,44). También se determinó diferencias significativas con el factor LS por cultivo y se correlacionó con el total de COS. Por tanto, LS (escorrentia) es el atributo topográfico que más influyo en el almacenamiento de COS.

Goal. To determine the influence of agrophysical parameters of arable soil layer on the productivity of spring barley varieties of different types of intensity under conditions of application of mineral fertilizers on the example of typical deep low humus deep-boiling heavy loam on loess-like loam chernozem of the Left Bank part of Forest-steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Laboratory-analytical, laboratory-model, field (small-area), mathematical-statistical, computational. Results. The improvement of conditions of germination, development, and increase of biological mass of cultivars of the studied culture at soil density and humidity at the level of 1.2 g/cm3 and 80% of the lowest moisture content (LMC) in comparison with compacted soil is established. The optimal values of structure density and soil moisture are determined, which ensure the maximum biomass of intensive variety of spring barley Vzirets: 1.2 g/cm3 and 100% of LMC (at the application of 90 kg/ha of the active substance (a.s.) of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers); semi-intensive variety Zdobutok: 1.2 g/cm3 and 80% of LMC (at the application of 45 kg/ha of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and 90 kg/ha of potassium fertilizers). In the course of field research, a decrease in the use of nutrients from the soil was revealed: nitrogen by 4.0% — for intensive and 2.0% — for semi-intensive varieties; phosphorus — by 3.4 and 4.7%; potassium — by 10.7 and 6.3%, respectively, at a high (1.4 g/cm3) level of compaction compared to its low (1.0 g/cm3) level. Under the same conditions, a decrease in the yield of spring barley grain was revealed: intensive variety — by 25, semi-intensive — by 22%. Conclusions. According to the results of experimental studies, the complex influence of soil moisture and compaction levels was revealed and their optimal parameters were established for growing intensive and semi-intensive varieties of spring barley, which achieved their maximum yield in soil fertilization.

We studied the effects of tillage, crop residues, and green manure on soil carbon pools and hydrolytic enzyme activity in a sandy loam after five cycles of the rice-wheat system (RWS). Four main pl...

Soil salinity is deleterious for the growth and biological N2 fixation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), but nitrogen fertilization has been beneficial in some cases. This study was conducted to investigate the potential benefit of N fertilization on alfalfa growth and N2 fixation under saline conditions. Solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl) and hydrous calcium chloride (CaCl2.2H2O) were added to induce ECe (electrical conductivity of the saturated paste extract) targeted at 0.5, 5, 10, and 15 dS m−1 in a sandy loam soil. 15N-labeled ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) was added to the soil at 30, 60, and 120 mg N kg−1 soil. Alfalfa shoot and root dry weights, root nodule counts, shoot total nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and sodium (Na+), and the amount of N derived from air (%Ndfa) were determined. Shoot Na concentration increased, and plant biomass, shoot N and K concentration, root nodules, and nitrogen Ndfa decreased as soil salinity increased. At all salinity levels, the highest plant biomass, shoot total N content, and K/Na ratio were recorded at 120 mg N kg−1 soil. Root nodulation and %Ndfa were highest at 60 mg N kg−1 soil under nonsaline conditions while under saline conditions, the highest nodulation and %Ndfa were recorded at 30 mg N kg−1 soil. Plant biomass, nodule number, and %Ndfa were greater in the third cut than in the first cut. Addition of nitrogen fertilizers seemed to have a positive effect in alleviating salt stress in alfalfa and maintaining shoot biomass production, but N fertilization may limit the plant’s ability to fix atmospheric N.

Nutrient losses through leaching and surface runoff are the main problems in no-till upland soils in Mississippi. A two-year study was conducted in 2016 and 2017 on an Atwood silt loam soil to eval...

The experiment was conducted at screen house of Centre for Dry land Agriculture, Bayero University Kano, in the year 2016. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of poultry manure and nitrogen rates from battery cage and deep litter systems on dry matter yield, morphological characteristics and forage quality of Columbus grass (Sorghum almum). Sorghum almum seeds were sown in 32 plastic containers (dimensions 26 cm height, 28 cm top width and 20cm base width) perforated at the bottom containing 12 kg mixture of sandy and loamy soil in ratio of 1:3. The treatments consisted of poultry manure from two production systems (Battery cage and Deep litter) and nitrogen rates (50, 60, 70 and 80kgN/ha) in a 2×4 factorial combined in a completely randomized design. Parameters measured were dry matter yield, number of tillers and stem diameter at the late boot stage of Sorghum almum, in addition, forage quality parameters (CP, ADF, NDF, digestible dry matter (DDM) dry matter intake as a percentage of body weight (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV)) were also evaluated. The results revealed no significant (p>0.05) difference between battery cage and deep litter fertilized Sorghum almum but deep litter fertilized Sorghum almum had numerically higher dry matter yield (5062.30 kg/ha) than battery cage (4400.40 kg/ha) Number of tillers and stem diameter were found to be significantly greater (p

The article investigates the effect of crude oil on soil microorganisms and the enzymatic activity of chernozem soils. Experiments were carried out on podzolized medium loamy chernozem in the Samara region using high-sulphur crude oil of medium density. Per 1 kg of soil, 10.00 g (1%), 30.00 g (3%) and 50.00 g (5%) of oil were applied. According to the obtained results, the native soil microbiota contains a wide variety of microorganisms capable of oxidizing both individual hydrocarbons and crude oil in general. Bacteria of the Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas and Streptomyces genera, filamentous fungi of the Aspergillus and Penicillium genera, as well as Candida yeast showed the greatest activity in the degradation of both individual hydrocarbons and crude oil in general. The soils freshly polluted with oil demonstrated an increase in the number of bacteria that consume organic forms of nitrogen, actinomycetes, fungi and hydro-carbon-oxidizing microorganisms. In addition, a growing trend in the number of autochthonous microorganisms participating in the mineralization of humic substances was observed. Following 3 months of experiments, a decrease in the number of bacteria consuming organic forms of nitrogen and actinomycetes was revealed. The number of fungi showed the most pronounced decrease upon addition of 3 and 5% of oil, while the number of autochthonous microorganisms participating in the mineralization of humic substances and hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms grew with an increase in the degree of oil pollution. Inhibition of various microorganisms by means of physical or toxic action of hydrocarbons contained in crude oil can cause a decrease in the activity of enzymes present in chernozem soils. Oil hydrocarbons inhibit the activity of polyphenol oxidase, catalase, invertase, phosphatase and lipase present in chernozem soils, although slightly stimulating the peroxidase activity. A decrease in the soil humification coefficient indicates that the oxidation of humic substances prevail over the decomposition of organic aromatic compounds into soil humus components, as well as a decrease in soil fertility as a result of its contamination with crude oil hydrocarbons.

Calcareous and sandy soils generally have soil fertility problems, and these problems have been revealed to be improved by applying compost and biochar produced from the distinct biomass. However, ...

In this study, Pb was added to the soil at rates of 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg kg−1 as Pb (NO3)2 and then incubated at 27 °C and soil moisture of 0.7 field capacity for 180 d. Soil biologica...

Vegetative filter strips (VFSs) have been recommended as the best management practice for reducing runoff nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. The efficiency of VFSs located adjacent to water bodies can vary with shallow water table depths (WTD). A vegetated soil tank containing silt loam soil and Shortleaf Lilyturf vegetation was designed to study the effects of VFSs under shallow WTD (0.08, 0.22, and 0.36 m) on retentions of surface runoff, sediment, phosphorus, and bromide. Experiments were conducted with a simulated rainfall intensity of 28 mm h−1 and inflow rates of 4.02–4.56 L min−1. The results revealed that a deep WTD, low grass spacing, and low slope had high VFS retention efficiencies. The retention efficiencies varied greatly from 35%, 70%, 64%, and 55% at the 0.08-m WTD in the experimental group with high grass spacing (6.69 cm) and low slope (5%) to 96%, 98%, 96%, and 95% at the 0.36-m WTD in the experimental group with low grass spacing (4.18 cm) and low slope (5%) for surface runoff, sediment, phosphorus, and bromide, respectively. A steeper slope (at the same grass spacing) increased the effects of the WTD on VFS performance. For each experimental group, the average surface runoff outflow rate decreased with the WTD, whereas the average subsurface lateral flow rate increased. The transport of phosphorus in the surface runoff almost resembled that of bromide, and the average concentration (C/C0 Ave) of phosphorus and bromide decreased with the WTD. For the subsurface lateral flow, the transport of bromide and phosphorus exhibited typical breakthrough behaviors during each experiment, and both the normalized phosphorus and bromide concentrations in increasing limbs could be described by power equations. The high concentration of pollutants in the subsurface lateral flow may have affected the adjacent water bodies and groundwater. In quantification of the impact of WTD on effectiveness of VFS, we can effectively control the NPS pollutants in a watershed.

Within the growing greenhouse cultivation that we are facing these years, the use of phosphorus (P) fertilizers will inevitably increase. In this study, we used five different sewage sludges (SSs) as a P fertilizer, and studied the effect of these SSs on P uptake by cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus var. Negin L.), and specified their effects on availability and speciation of P in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. A sandy clay loam texture soil was used and treated with 100 mg P kg−1 of five different SSs. Cucumber plants were grown under greenhouse conditions and after nearly 2 months, the plants were harvested. The plant’s parts, root, shoot, and fruit were separated. Rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils for each treatment were also separated. The addition of different SSs increased shoot dry weight and also increased P content in root and shoot compared to control soil. The results showed that rhizosphere soil had a lower content of P extracted by water or Olsen compared to the non-rhizosphere soil. The mean proportion of HPO4−2 in the SS-treated soils in the rhizosphere soil (74.3%) was significantly higher than non-rhizosphere soil (66.3%), while the proportion of H2PO4− in non-rhizosphere soil (29.8%) was significantly higher than rhizosphere soil (21.2%). Generally, the HPO4−2 and H2PO4− were the dominant species of P in all treatments. The water-extractable P was better correlated to P content in shoot compared to Olsen-extractable P. This research offers additional insights into the effects of SS on soil solution characteristics and the availability of P in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils which will be useful in understanding P uptake from soils treated with SS.