EJSS

Eurasian Journal of Soil Science

Eurasian J Soil Sci

2147 - 4249

Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.303512

10.18393/ejss.303512

Evaluation of soil fertility status of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tarahara, Sunsari, Nepal

Dinesh Khadka dinesh.khadka92@gmail.com

Sushil Lamichhane

Shukra Shrestha

Buddhi Pant

295-306

2017-01-05

2017-03-21

2017-04-02

2017-09-18

Soil fertility evaluation of an area or region is most basic decision making tool for the sustainable soil nutrient management. In order to evaluate the soil fertility status of the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Tarahara, Susari, Nepal. Using soil sampling auger 81 soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected based on the variability of land. The collected samples were analyzed for their texture, structure, colour, pH, OM, N, P2O5, K2O, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn status. The Arc-GIS 10.1 software was used for the preparation of soil fertility maps. The soil structure was granular to sub-angular blocky and varied between brown- dark grayish brown and dark gray in colour. The sand, silt and clay content were 30.32±1.4%, 48.92±0.89% and 20.76±0.92%, respectively and categorized as loam, clay loam, sandy loam, silt loam and silty clay loam in texture. The soil was moderately acidic in pH (5.98±0.08). The available sulphur (2.15±0.21 ppm), available boron (0.08±0.01 ppm) and available zinc (0.35±0.03 ppm) status were very low, whereas extractable magnesium (44.33±6.03 ppm) showed low status. Similarly, organic matter (2.80±0.07%), total nitrogen (0.09±0.004 %), extractable calcium (1827.90±45.80 ppm) and available copper (1.15±0.04 ppm) were medium in content. The available phosphorus (39.77±5.27 ppm), extractable potassium (134.12±4.91 ppm), and available manganese (18.15±1.15 ppm) exhibits high status, while available iron (244.7±19.70 ppm) was very high. The fertilizer recommendation can be done based on determined soil fertility status to economize crop production. Furthermore, research farm should develop future research strategy accordance with the prepared soil data base.

Macronutrients, micronutrients, research strategy, soil fertility maps, soil variation

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.304519

10.18393/ejss.304519

Clay activity index as an indicator of soil erodibility

Nutullah Özdemir

Coşkun Gülser cgulser@omu.edu.tr

307-311

2017-01-04

2017-04-02

2017-04-07

2017-09-18

Activity index (AI) value characterizes the relationship between the plasticity index and clay content. In this study, AI value was investigated to determine whether it might be used as an indicator of soil structural stability or not. The AI values of 75 soil samples gave the significant negative correlations with their dispersion ratio (DR), soil erodibility factors (K) and erosion ratios (ER). Also, the AI values of the soils including clay and sandy clay loam textural class showed significant positive correlation with soil structural stability index (SSI). It seems that the AI value may be used as an indicator of soil structural stability.

AI value, erosion ratio, soil erodibility, structure stability index.

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.306535

10.18393/ejss.306535

Phosphorus release dynamics under phosphate rock and ammonium sulphate in soil amendment

Kofi Agyarko agyarkokofi@yahoo.com

Kwame Frimpong

Akwasi Abunyewa

312-318

2017-01-05

2017-04-07

2017-04-16

2017-09-18

This study was undertaken to assess the release pattern of available phosphorus in a Togo phosphate rock and ammonium sulphate soil amendment. Treatments were prepared through the combinations of soil, phosphate rock (PR) and ammonium sulphate (AS) fertilizer. The treatments were; Control, 12.5g PR, 25g PR, 12.5g PR+1g AS, 12.5g PR+2g AS, 25.0g PR+1g AS and 25.0g PR+2g AS kg-1 soil. Standard laboratory methods were used to assess pH, available phosphorus (P) and total phosphorus (P). Generally, the pH of treatments decreased to the lowest levels between the 4th and 6th weeks after amendment. The AS fertilizer treatments had significantly (p≤0.05) lower pH values than those without. Amendments with the 2gAS kg-1 soil had significantly (p≤0.05) lower mean pH values than those with the 1gAS kg-1 soil. The AS fertilizer treatments also had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher levels of the available P than those without. The higher the amount of the AS in the amendment, the higher the level of the available P concentration. Increase in the level of AS in the amendment also increased the mean value of the available P released. The peaks of available P released were observed between the 6th and the 8th weeks, after the lowest pH values had been attained. Decreased soil pH relatively increased the amount of phosphorus released (y = -12.47x + 111.4; R2=0.53). Addition of PR in the treatments increased the total P levels. In conclusion, combined application of AS and PR has the potential to increase soil P availability, which is beneficial to crop farmers.

Phosphate rock, ammonium sulphate, soil amendment, pH, available phosphorus, total phosphorus.

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.306698

10.18393/ejss.306698

Synergistic use of nitrogen and zinc to bio-fortify zinc in wheat grains

Muhammad Akram mianahmedakram@gmail.com

Nizamuddin Depar

Muhammad Memon

319-326

2017-01-24

2017-04-07

2017-04-17

2017-09-18

Our daily diet is largely contributed by cereals, which have low genetic abilities to amass higher concentrations of micronutrients in their grains. Hence, wide spread deficiencies iron, zinc and other essential nutrients have prevailed. Present study focuses the bio-fortification of Zn in wheat grains, taking advantage of nutrient-nutrient synergy between Zn and N. Three wheat genotypes (NIA-Amber, BWQ-4 and SD-998) were tested in a field experiment following randomized complete block factorial design with three replicates. Urea fertilizer was applied at the rates of 120 (recommended), 150 and 180 kg N ha-1 in combination with three levels of Zn (0, 5 & 10 kg ha-1). Outcomes of the experiment revealed that NIA-Amber had the highest grain yield of 6.03 tons/ha against 150 kg N ha-1 and 10 kg Zn ha-1. Maximum Zn contents of 447.86, 429.56 and 395.56 g ha-1 were observed in BWQ-4, SD-998 and NIA-Amber at 180 kg N ha-1 in combination with 10 kg Zn ha-1. Maximum enhancement in protein contents was observed in BWQ-4 (743 kg ha-1) at 180 kg N ha-1and combined with 5 kg Zn ha-1. For NIA-Amber, 180 kg N ha-1 in combination of 10 kg Zn ha-1 proved the most suitable in terms of Zn concentration and other quality attributes. Nitrogen @ 180 kg N ha-1 with 5 kg Zn ha-1 depicted appreciable zinc and protein contents in grains of BWQ-4 and SD-998.

Bio-fortification, human nutrition, nutrient management.

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.311210

10.18393/ejss.311210

Evaluating inverse distance weighting and kriging methods in estimation of some physical and chemical properties of soil in Qazvin Plain

Sayed Mousavi r_mousavi@ut.ac.ir

Feraidon Sarmadian

Somayeh Dehghani

Mahmood Sadikhani

Abass Taati

327-336

2016-12-30

2017-05-03

2017-05-09

2017-09-18

Today, the presence of accurate information about variability of soil properties been considered more than ever to apply this information in economic modeling, environmental predictions, accurate farming and natural resources management. The present research was conducted in some lands of Qazvin plain to study variability of some chemical and physical properties of soil by sampling 62 observational points in depth of 20 cm above soil surface. Initial statistical study of data indicated that the studied properties follow normal distribution in the region. Spatial variations of the studied properties showed that spherical model was the best fitted model to semivariogramin other properties than silt percent and bulk densityand total porosity. The highest radius for the studied properties was 21100 m related to bulk density, total porosity and electric conductivity and pH. Spatial dependence class was observed medium to strong in all physcial and chemcial properties. To validate intrapolation methods, three indices of evaluation, R2, MBE, MAE which indicate accuracy of each of the intrapolation methods were used and results showed that the studied properties had spatial structure, their impact range had good variability and kriging estimator better can show variability of the studied properties in the region in comparison to IDW method. At the end, considering the best interpolation method, spatial variability map of each of the properties was prepared in ArcGIS software.

IDW method, kriging estimator, physcial and chemcial properties, Qazvin plain, spatial variability

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.314701

10.18393/ejss.314701

Determination of engineering properties of soil on railway track routes (An example of Turkey between the cities of Sivas and Erzincan)

Sevda Gören sgoren@ktu.edu.tr

Kenan Gelisli

337-349

2017-02-02

2017-05-11

2017-05-18

2017-09-18

Subsurface structure and engineering properties of the Sivas and Erzincan railway route were investigated by using velocities of seismic wave, electrical resistivity, standard penetration test (SPT) data and laboratory results, which were collected from survey sites referred to in this study. For this reason, 62 seismic refraction and vertical electrical resistivity (VES) measurements at 59 points were done along the survey route. Moreover, 11 mechanical boreholes with SPT were drilled. Laboratory tests were applied on soil samples taken from boreholes for geotechnical features. Longitudinal, shear wave velocities and elastic parameters were determined by seismic refraction method, and underground resistivity distribution was calculated by VES and geotechnical data and SPT results were evulated for the subsurface integrity. Engineering properties of a 6.8 km stretch of planned railway alignment in southeastern Sivas were calculated in this study. According to these results, unsuitable segments of the high-speed alignment which have low groundwater level and low bearing capasities which depend on dynamic properties were examined.

High speed railway track, railway alignment, geophysical methods, SPT test, soil engineering paramet

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.318795

10.18393/ejss.318795

Nutrient release dynamics of an accelerated compost: A case study in an Alfisol and Ultisol

Olufemi AyanfeOluwa ayanfeoluwaolufemi@yahoo.com

Olugbenga AdeOluwa

Vincent Aduramigba-Modupe

350-356

2017-02-02

2017-05-22

2017-06-05

2017-09-18

Acceleration of composting process could influence fertilizer-efficiency of the accelerated composts. This study therefore evaluated the nutrient release dynamics of different rates of a commercial accelerated compost (OBD-plus ) in two soils described as Alfisol and Ultisol, under laboratory incubation study, in order to generate information for simulation under field conditions. Accelerated compost (AC) at the rates of 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 kg N ha-1, mineral fertilizer (NPK 15-15-15) and conventional compost (CC) at 60 kg N ha-1, were each mixed with 2 mm sieved soil (Alfisol and Ultisol) in cups, and arranged in a completely randomised design with three replications. Soils without amendment served as control. The treated soils were retrieved at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of incubation (WOI), air dried and analysed for pH, organic C, N, P and K, and data analysed using regression test. The results revealed that the 60 kg N ha-1 AC improved the pH, OC, N. P, K by -2%, 11%, 3%, 141% and 4% respectively, across the WOI, on the average of performance in the two soils, comparable with mineral fertilizer (-5%, 8%, -1%, 76%, 4% respectively) and CC (11%, 40%, 3%, 773%, 10% respectively). The 60 kg N ha-1 AC significantly correlated (p<0.05) with time of incubation only with respect to P (0.934) and gave a similar nutrient release pattern compared with mineral fertilizer and CC, in terms of C, N, P and K in both soils. It therefore showed that the accelerated compost evaluated could mineralize in a way similar to conventional compost and mineral fertilizers, despite its shorter composting duration to maturity.

Accelerated compost, Alfisol, incubation study, Ultisol.

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.319198

10.18393/ejss.319198

Effect of salt stress on concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in root and leaf of strawberry plant

Mehmet Ali Demiral mademiral@yahoo.com

357-364

2017-03-02

2017-05-23

2017-06-06

2017-09-18

In this study the effect of salt stress on the concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the leaves and the roots of two strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) cultivars (Camarosa and Sweet Charlie) was investigated on cold stored bare-rooted seedlings grown in buckets filled with coarse sand. The treatments consisting of no-NaCl control, 1760, 2400, and 3040 mg L-1 of NaCl in half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution were applied to the plants for six months. During the experiment, leaf and root sampling were performed two times with five months interval. Roots and leaves of the plants were analyzed for Na, Cl, N and P. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures was performed in Three Factors Completely Randomized Design for plant analysis results. Additionally orthogonal comparison was applied to the significant salinity effects. Cultivar and sampling time affected N, P, Na and Cl concentrations of the roots significantly. Cultivar-sampling time and sampling time-salinity interactions were significant for the N, P and Na concentrations of the roots. Salinity solely affected Cl concentrations of the roots significantly. All the treatments affected the concentrations of P, Na and Cl of the leaves significantly. The N concentrations of the leaves were affected significantly by only sampling time. Cultivar-salinity and sampling time-salinity interactions were found significant in the leaf N concentrations of the plants. The results show that the cultivars probably have different strategies in arrangement of N and P composition under salinity.

NaCl salinity, Fragaria vesca L., Camaraso, Sweet Charlie, mineral nutrients

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.319208

10.18393/ejss.319208

Prediction of soil organic carbon using VIS-NIR spectroscopy: Application to Red Mediterranean soils from Croatia

Boško Miloš

Aleksandra Bensa abensa@agr.hr

365-373

2017-03-09

2017-05-24

2017-06-07

2017-09-18

The objectives of this research were: (i) to assess the accuracy of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in predicting the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, and (ii) determine the importance of wavelength ranges and specific wavelengths in the SOC prediction model. The reflectance spectra of a total of 424 topsoils (0-25 cm) samples were measured in a laboratory using a portable Terra Spec 4 Hi-Res Mineral Spectrometer with a wavelength range 350-2500 nm. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) with leave-one-out cross validation was used to develop calibration models for SOC prediction. The accuracy of the estimate determined by the coefficient of determination (R2), the concordance correlation coefficient (ρc), the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD), the range error ratio (RER) and the root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.83, 0.90, 2.22, 14.2 and 2.47 g C kg-1 respectively, indicated good model for SOC prediction. The near infrared (NIR) and the short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrums were more accurate than those in the visible (VIS) and short-wave near-infrared (SWNIR) spectral regions. The wavelengths contributing most to the prediction of SOC were at: 1925, 1915, 2170, 2315, 1875, 2260, 1910, 2380, 435, 1960, 2200, 1050, 1420, 1425 and 500 nm. This study has shown that VIS-NIR reflectance spectroscopy can be used as a rapid method for determining organic carbon content in the Red Mediterranean soils that can be sufficient for a rough screening.

Chemometrics, PLSR, Spectral regions, wavelengths

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.319952

10.18393/ejss.319952

Effect of different irrigation systems on root growth of maize and cowpea plants in sandy soil

Noha A. Mahgoub namhgoub@gmail.com

Ahmed M. Ibrahim

Ozories M. Ali

375-379

2016-11-28

2017-06-06

2017-06-13

2017-09-18

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University to study the influence of different irrigation systems on root length density and specific root length of maize and cowpea plants cultivated in sandy soil. Three irrigation systems (Surface, drip and sprinkler irrigation) were used in this study. The NPK fertilizers were applied as recommended doses for maize and cowpea. Root samples were collected from the soil profile below one plant (maize and cowpea) which was irrigated by the three irrigation systems by using an iron box (30 cm× 20 cm) which is divided into 24 small boxes each box is (5× 5 × 5 cm). At surface irrigation, root length density of cowpea reached to soil depth 30-40cm with lateral distances 5-10 cm and 15-20 cm. Vertical distribution of root length density of maize was increased with soil depth till 20-25 cm, and then it decreased till soil depth 35-40cm. Under drip irrigation, root length density of cowpea increased horizontally from 0-5cm to 10-15cm then it decreased till soil depth 25-30 cm and below this depth root length density disappeared. For the root length density and specific root length of maize under drip irrigation, the data showed that root length density and specific root length decreased with increasing in soil depth. The root length density of cowpea under sprinkler irrigation at 0-5cm disappeared from horizontal distance at 25-30 cm. The data showed that root length density of maize under sprinkler irrigation was higher at the soil top layers 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm than other layers from 10-40 cm.

Root length density, specific root length, irrigation systems, maize, cowpea