EJSSEurasian Journal of Soil ScienceEurasian J Soil Sci2147 - 4249Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societieshttp://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.161879710.18393/ejss.1618797Impact of Cadmium-contaminated water and irrigation levels on microbiological properties of soils with different texturesTariverdi Islamzade Islamzade@yahoo.comRahila İslamzade Rufat Azizov Tunzala Babayeva Azade Aliyeva Xayala Haciyeva Nergiz Ashurova 142107-1152024-07-112024-12-282025-01-132025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a significant threat to soil health and agricultural productivity, particularly under varying water availability and soil textures. This study examines the effects of water levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% field capacity) and soil textures (sandy clay loam, silty loam, and clay) on key microbiological properties, including basal soil respiration (BSR), microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and catalase activity (CA), in Cd-contaminated soils. An incubation experiment was conducted under controlled conditions at 20 ± 0.5°C for 10 days. Microbiological properties were assessed using standard methods: alkali absorption for BSR, substrate-induced respiration for Cmic, spectrophotometric assays for DHA, and volumetric determination for CA. Optimal microbial activity across all parameters was observed at 75% field capacity, highlighting the importance of balanced soil moisture. Clay soils consistently exhibited the highest activity due to their superior organic matter content and buffering capacity, while sandy clay loam soils showed the lowest activity due to limited water retention and nutrient availability. Excessive moisture at 100% field capacity reduced oxygen diffusion, suppressing microbial activity, while insufficient moisture at 25% field capacity constrained microbial metabolism. These findings provide critical insights into the interplay between soil texture, water availability, and Cd contamination, offering valuable guidance for sustainable soil and water management practices to mitigate heavy metal toxicity in agricultural systems. Cadmium contamination, soil microbiology, water levels, soil texture, enzymatic activity.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.161884610.18393/ejss.1618846Development and adaptation of methods for PAHs extraction from bottom sediments using subcritical water extraction, saponification, and ultrasound extractionTamara Dudnikova Evgenyi Shuvaev Anastasia Nemtseva Andrey Barbashev Elena Antonenko Tatiana Minkina Svetlana Sushkova terra_rossa@mail.ruKristina Prokopeva Sergey Chalov 142116-1242024-07-152024-12-282025-01-132025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that pose significant environmental and health risks due to their widespread distribution and carcinogenic properties. Developing efficient and environmentally friendly extraction methods for PAHs from complex matrices like bottom sediments is essential for advancing pollution monitoring and mitigation efforts. The influence of temperature and time parameters of water in a subcritical state on the extraction of widespread, contrasting in physicochemical properties polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from bottom sediment samples of the Lena River with varying initial pollutant content was studied. It was shown that the optimal extraction parameters for naphthalene are 240°C for 20 minutes, for phenanthrene and fluoranthene – 240°C for 30 minutes, for benzo(a)pyrene – 250°C for 30 minutes, and for benzo(g,h,i)perylene – 260°C for 40 minutes. Under these conditions, the proportion of extracted PAHs varies from 76% to 85%. A comparison was conducted of widely used PAH extraction methods based on the use of toxic solvents from standard techniques. It was established that the efficiency of extraction methods can be ranked as follows: ultrasound extraction > subcritical extraction > saponification method. In this case, the value of the PAH extraction coefficient during subcritical extraction was 1.23-1.29, during saponification - 1.35 and 1.34, and during the ultrasonic extraction method - 1.10 and 1.08.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic pollutants, bottom sediments, pollution, naphthalene, phenanthrene, benzo(a)pyrene, extraction method, high-performance liquid chromatography.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.161886110.18393/ejss.1618861Mitigation of earthworm behavior against lithium pollution using biocharPaula Cristina Marinho Silva Francisco Saraiva Rupesh Kumar Singh rupesh@utad.ptVishnu D. Rajput Henrique Trindade João Ricardo Sousa Marina Burachevskaya 142125-1322024-09-122024-12-242025-01-132025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Application of lithium has been increased in recent years due to its use in various modern gazettes and forced to find new reserves and extraction through mining. The mining process and improper disposal of lithium containing gazettes significantly added this element to the surrounding areas, especially to the terrestrial and soil ecosystems. The increasing concentration of lithium affected the soil biodiversity and altered behavior was expected for macro-organisms. Present study aimed to investigate the different concentrations of lithium salt (Li₂CO₃) on the behavior of the species of earthworm (Eisenia fetida), according to ISO 17512-1:2008 standards. In recent years, researches on biochars are drastically increased due to its unique role in soil health improvement. Thus, the biochar has been included in this work as a conditioning material to study the mitigation effects of lithium on earthworm (E. fetida) behaviour. The findings suggested that lithium promoted the earthworm avoidance on dose dependent manner while 1% (w/w) addition of biochar in soil mitigated the avoidance behaviour. These mitigating effects were corelated to certain soil physio-chemical properties change, better soil's buffering capacity against stress by lithium in presence of biochar. The findings of present study may force new investigation to restore the soil health and earthworm behaviour near the mining areas. Biochar, Earthworm behaviour, Emerging contaminant, Lithium, Mitigation.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.162962610.18393/ejss.1629626Effect of foliar fertilization applied at different phenological stages on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and grain nutrient content under greenhouse conditionsTariverdi Islamzade Sahil Guliyev Zumrud Guliyeva Samira Qaribova Rahila Islamzade rahila.islamzade@sdu.edu.az142133-1392024-07-302025-01-272025-01-302025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar fertilization applied at different phenological stages on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, yield components, and grain nutrient content under controlled greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replications. Foliar fertilization treatments were applied at three key phenological stages: tillering (T), stem elongation (SE), and heading (H), along with their combinations (T+SE, T+H, SE+H, and T+SE+H). A control treatment without foliar fertilization was also included. Foliar fertilizers containing essential macro- and micronutrients were applied at a 0.5% concentration using a hand sprayer. The results demonstrated that foliar fertilization significantly improved wheat grain yield and nutrient composition compared to the control. The highest grain yield increase was observed in the T+SE and T+SE+H treatments, which enhanced yield by 71.01% and 73.45%, respectively, compared to the control. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between these two treatments, suggesting that foliar fertilization at the tillering and stem elongation stages alone is sufficient to achieve maximum yield and nutrient uptake efficiency. Significant increases in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and micronutrients such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) were observed in response to foliar applications, while copper (Cu) content remained unchanged. These findings highlight the effectiveness of foliar fertilization in enhancing wheat productivity and nutrient content. Considering practical and economic aspects, the T+SE application is recommended as the most efficient approach. Nevertheless, further field trials are necessary to validate these results under real-world conditions and optimize foliar fertilization strategies for sustainable wheat production.Foliar fertilization, wheat yield, phenological stages, macro and micronutrients, greenhouse experiment.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.163036310.18393/ejss.1630363The enhancement of soil fertility and baby maize output by Streptomyces panayensis and vermicompostNguyen Ngoc Phuong Trang Nguyen Van Chuong nvchuongagu@gmail.com142140-1482024-07-302025-01-282025-01-312025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Gradual reduction to chemical fertilizer application by adopting sustainable alternatives that naturally harness, nutritional sources from endophytic actinobacteria processes in combination with vermicompost (VP) is capable of improving the available nutrients of farmland and baby maize (BM) output. This field research observed the combined efficiency of Streptomyces panayensis (S. panayensis) inoculum and three VP rates on available nutrients and BM productivity. it was carried out by mean of two factors, consisting of factor 1: three VP levels (0, 4 and 8 t ha-1) in a combination with factor 2 (supplementation and no supplementation of S. panayensis) on the BM variety "SG-7", utilizing a completely random block with six experimental plots with four replications. All plots of both S. panayensis and VP supplementation raised soil nutrients and ear number, weights of fresh ear and plant biomass compared to those with no S. panayensis and VP supplementation. The research emphasizes the supplementation of S. panayensis and VP application to increase availably nutritional concentrations in soil and augment BM productivity. The results of the research showed a 50% reduction in VP supplementation that could maintain productivity and soil fertility. These findings provide valuable insights for sustainable agriculture, presenting a promising approach to increase BM production, improve soil fertility, and protect the environment. The combination of endophytic actinobacteria inoculation and organic manure management in this integrated approach is proven to be a right pathway in modern agriculture, enhancing both soil health and biomass yields. Actinobacteria, addition, animal manures, cob yield, nutrition, outputhttp://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.163412510.18393/ejss.1634125Effects of nitrogen application on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield and soil nitrate dynamics in a sandy loam soilRakhmetulla Zhapparbergenov Naziya Suleimenova Elmira Yeleuova Aizhan Akmullayeva akmullayeva78@mail.ruGulzhan Kussainova Liza Zhussupova Azamat Mussirep Bakhytzhan Shayanbekova 142149-1562024-07-222025-02-012025-02-052025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Nitrogen (N) is a crucial nutrient for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production, but excessive application can lead to environmental degradation and reduced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This study evaluated the effects of different nitrogen application rates (0, 60, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 kg N/ha) on tuber yield, nitrogen uptake, and soil nitrate accumulation over two growing seasons. The results showed that the highest tuber yield (20.8 t/ha) was obtained at 150 kg N/ha, beyond which further increases in nitrogen application did not result in significant yield improvements (P<0.05). Nitrogen uptake increased with application rates but reached a saturation point beyond 150 kg N/ha, leading to declining NUE. Soil nitrate levels significantly increased at higher N rates, particularly in deeper soil layers (40–60 cm), posing a potential risk of nitrate leaching. Apparent nitrogen balance calculations indicated substantial nitrogen surpluses at rates above 180 kg N/ha, further emphasizing the risk of nitrogen losses to the environment. These findings suggest that applying nitrogen at 150 kg/ha optimizes potato yield while minimizing environmental risks. Precision nitrogen management strategies, including split applications and slow-release fertilizers, should be adopted to enhance NUE and reduce nitrate leaching. Further long-term studies are needed to refine nitrogen recommendations under varying soil and climatic conditions to ensure sustainable potato production. Nitrogen fertilization, Tuber yield, Soil nitrogen dynamics, NUE, Sandy loam soil, Fertilizer management. http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.164681210.18393/ejss.1646812Enhancing of Early Seedling Vigour (ESV) parameters in Lentils through integrated priming with silicic and humic acidDeepak Rao Sangita Yadav Ravish Choudhary raviranu1110@gmail.comSvetlana Sushkova Jyoti Ahlawat Chandra Prakash Sachan Shiv Kumar Yadav 142157-1672024-08-112025-02-202025-02-252025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Seed priming has emerged as an innovative and economical technique to elevate seed quality, fostering uniform, swift, and robust germination under both stress and non-stress conditions. This study endeavors to scrutinize the effects of organic (silicic acid, SA) and inorganic (humic acid, HA) acids, alongside their synergistic combinations, on seed quality parameters in three distinct lentil (Lens culinaris) genotypes: IPL-316 (tolerant), PSL-9, and PDL-1 (sensitive). Critical parameters assessed encompass germination percentage, root and shoot length, seed vigor indices I and II, and dry weight under meticulously controlled laboratory conditions. The priming agents were standardized across a spectrum of concentrations and durations. Sterilized seeds were immersed in silicic acid (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mM), humic acid (100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 ppm), and their combinations over varying durations (2 to 18 hours), including control and hydropriming treatments. Following treatment, seeds were air-dried and subjected to growth assessments. The findings reveal that priming significantly bolsters early-stage plant growth across all three lentil genotypes, with the combined application of silicic and humic acids yielding remarkable enhancements in all seed quality parameters, intricately influenced by genotype and treatment combination.Seed priming, Silicic acid, Humic acid, Lentil (Lens culinaris), Germination percentage, Seed vigor indices, Root and shoot length, Dry weight, Integrated priming.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.164731410.18393/ejss.1647314A comparative study of fresh and residual biochar effects on wheat growth and yield metricsShigeto Sudo Kazuyuki Inubushi Eiji Nishihara Chandra M. Mehta chandra.18376@lpu.co.inDiptanu Banik Gaurav Sharma Sachiko Hayashida Prabir K. Patra Tatiana Minkina Vishnu D. Rajput 142168-1772024-08-192025-02-212025-02-262025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies Biochar is a highly stable carbon compound produced through pyrolysis, and it has been widely studied for its potential to enhance soil fertility and carbon sequestration. However, the impact of fresh and residual biochar is not thoroughly explored. Therefore, a comparative study on fresh and residual biochar were conducted at filed conditions on wheat cultivation, using a randomized block design. A fresh biochar (S1), residual biochar of previous season crop (S2) and two season old residual biochar (S3) with nine different treatments using varied amounts of rice husk and rice straw biochar along with the fertilizers (recommended doses of N, P, K) were considered in triplicate. Result clearly indicates that biochar application significantly improved plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry biomass of plant, internodal length, node & internode diameter, as well as biological yield, grain and straw yield of wheat crop. S1 had the most significant impact on plant growth and yield-attributing characteristics compared to S2 and S3, even at higher doses. In S1, the most significant results were observed at a biochar application rate of 5 tons/ha, while S2 showed maximum impact at 10 tons/ha. In S3, the highest impact was recorded at the highest biochar dose of 15 tons/ha. The present findings conclusively showed the efficiency of fresh biochar to enhance soil fertility for agricultural production as well as the residual impact of biochar in succeeding crop.Biochar application, Soil amendment, Residual effects, Wheat productivity.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.165215210.18393/ejss.1652152Seasonal effects on growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniaeKazi Sanjida Begum sanjida.ag@student.sau.ac.bdMd. Abul Kashem Md. Mosharaf Hossain Sarker 142178-1882025-10-052025-03-012025-03-052025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies An experiment was conducted during the winter and summer seasons at Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU), Sylhet, Bangladesh, to examine the seasonal variations in the life cycle, growth, and reproduction of two epigeic earthworm species, Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae. Earthworm species were reared in plastic containers filled with cow dung as the feeding medium, maintaining a moisture level of 60%–80%. Growth and reproductive characteristics were recorded at various stages. The results indicated that Eisenia fetida exhibited a longer incubation period (24±4.69 and 23.0±4.16 days), a higher number of hatchlings per cocoon (2.4±1.19 and 2.7±0.96), and greater hatching success rates (82.5% and 87.5%) during both winter and summer seasons, respectively. In contrast, Eudrilus eugeniae attained the greatest body length (12.98±0.69 cm and 13.09±0.54 cm per worm) and the highest weight (775.67±66.40 mg and 703.5±55.56 mg per worm) in winter and summer, respectively. Both species reached sexual maturity relatively earlier in winter. Additionally, E. fetida produced a higher number of cocoons per worm per week (2.35 ± 0.30 in winter and 3.00 ± 1.35 in summer). Cocoon production per worm per week in E. fetida showed a significant positive correlation with temperature (r=0.61**) during winter.Seasonal effects, life cycle, growth, reproduction, Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.165733710.18393/ejss.1657337Effect of foliar-applied humic acid-based fertilizers on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield, tuber quality, and nutrient uptake efficiency, with implications for sustainable fertilizationBagdagul Abitova Aliya Maxotova Elmira Yeleuova eleuovaelmira@mail.ruGulnara Tastanbekova Gulsun Bayadilova Saltanat Ibadullayeva Liza Zhussupova Bakhytkul Kenzhaliyeva 142189-1972024-08-142025-03-092025-03-142025-03-26 Copyright © 2016 The authors and Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies This study investigated the effects of foliar-applied humic acid-based fertilizers on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield, tuber quality, and nutrient uptake efficiency under irrigated conditions in Western Kazakhstan. A three-year field experiment (2021–2023) was conducted using the Silvana potato variety, a medium-early cultivar with high yield potential. The randomized complete block design included five treatments: (1) Control (no fertilizers), (2) Reasil Micro Hydro Mix, (3) Reasil Micro Hydro Mix + Reasil Forte Carb-Nitrogen-Humic, (4) Potassium Humate, and (5) Potassium Humate + Reasil Forte Carb-Nitrogen-Humic. All fertilizers were applied as foliar sprays at three critical growth stages: stem formation, bud appearance, and tuber formation. The humic acid-based fertilizers used in the study were produced by LLC "Life Force Group". Potassium Humate is an 80% alkaline extract of humic and fulvic acids from leonardite. Reasil Micro Hydro Mix contains various essential micronutrients, including N, Mg, B, Fe, Zn, and amino acids. Reasil Forte Carb-Nitrogen-Humic is rich in N (20%, including 18% amide-N) and also contains humic acids (6.2%), hydroxycarboxylic acids (6.2%), and amino acids (6%). Results showed that foliar humic acid application significantly increased potato yield and improved tuber quality. The highest average marketable yield (28.79 t/ha) was obtained with Potassium Humate + Reasil Forte Carb-Nitrogen-Humic, reflecting a 20% increase over the control. Starch content was also highest in this treatment (16.9%), while vitamin C content was better maintained in treated plots under stress conditions. Additionally, nitrate accumulation in tubers was reduced, improving food safety. Nutrient uptake efficiency was significantly enhanced by humic acid-based foliar treatments. The Potassium Humate + Reasil Forte Carb-Nitrogen-Humic treatment recorded the highest N, P, and K absorption levels, confirming the role of foliar humic applications in optimizing nutrient translocation. These findings demonstrate that humic acid-based foliar fertilization is an effective strategy for increasing potato productivity while reducing reliance on conventional fertilizers. These findings highlight the potential of foliar-applied humic substances as a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilization, particularly in semi-arid agricultural systems. Foliar fertilization, humic substances, potato yield, nutrient uptake, starch content, sustainable agriculture.