Soil science
O. Toorajzadeh; H. Piri; A. Naserin; M.M. Chari
Abstract
IntroductionAppropriate and practical use of agricultural waste reduce the pressure on the environment. Recently, there has been significant promotion of biochar utilization in agricultural lands. It serves as a valuable source of organic material for enhancing plant growth and as an effective soil amendment ...
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IntroductionAppropriate and practical use of agricultural waste reduce the pressure on the environment. Recently, there has been significant promotion of biochar utilization in agricultural lands. It serves as a valuable source of organic material for enhancing plant growth and as an effective soil amendment to improve soil properties. Due to its unique chemical and physical properties, biochar can be used as a soil conditioner and has many benefits for optimal agricultural and environmental management. Studies have shown that biochar is a useful amendment for improving the physical and chemical properties of soil and effective in maintaining organic matter and soil moisture. Materials and Methods This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of biochar on the physical and chemical properties of soil under conditions of water stress and irrigation using saline water. The experiment was carried out in a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications in greenhouse conditions. The treatments include three irrigation water treatments (60, 80, and 100 percent water requirement of the plant, respectively, I1, I2, and I3), three treatments of biochar prepared from northern forest trees at a temperature of 300 degrees Celsius (0, 2, and 4 percent by weight of potting soil, respectively, B1, B2, and B3) and three water quality treatments (with electrical conductivity 1, 4 and 7 dS/m, respectively, S1, S2 and S3). The pots were weighed every other day and at each level of biochar and salinity, the water deficit up to the agricultural moisture level was calculated based on the changes in the pot's weight. After harvesting (in the first half of April 2022), in order to investigate the effect of biochar on the amount of soil nutrients and some physical and chemical parameters of the soil under the conditions of water stress and irrigation water salinity, sampling was done from the soil of each pot. The samples were taken to the laboratory and parameters of apparent and actual specific gravity, acidity and salinity of the soil, percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium absorbable of the soil were measured in the laboratory. Referring to the yield to irrigation water ratio, water productivity is obtained by the following relation (Payero et al., 2009): WP=Y/IR, where, WP represents water productivity (kg/m3), Y denotes the yield (kg/ha), and IR shows the amount of irrigation water (m3/ha). Analysis of variance for the results obtained from different treatments was conducted using SAS software (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The mean values of the main factors and interactive effects were compared using the Duncan method at the 1% and 5% levels of significance. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that the amount of biochar, irrigation water and water salinity and their mutual effects had a significant effect on the measured parameters at the probability level of one and five percent. Adding 2 and 4 mass percent biochar to the soil increased the amount of phosphorus (35 and 60%, respectively), potassium (57% and 61%), nitrogen (83% and 91%), pH (13% and 13%) and electrical conductivity (EC) (13% and 57%) of the soil. By adding 2% and 4% of biochar to the soil, the actual specific gravity of the soil decreased by 13% and 21%, respectively, and the apparent specific gravity decreased by 11% and 22%, respectively. The actual and apparent specific gravity of the soil decreased by adding biochar to the soil. Decreasing the depth of irrigation water and increasing water salinity increased the amount of phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, pH and EC of the soil. The amount of irrigation water had no significant effect on the apparent and actual specific gravity, however, the salinity of the irrigation water caused a significant increase in the apparent and actual specific gravity of the soil. Although the addition of biochar to the soil increased the nutrients required by plants in the soil, high amounts of biochar in the soil should be used careful, because the addition of this organic matter to the soil at high levels increased soil EC significantly. Based on the findings derived from the research, the utilization of biochar is recommended as a viable approach for enhancing both the chemical quality and productivity of nutrient-poor and sandy soils.
M. Mosapour; A. Forghani; A. Sabouri
Abstract
Introduction: Potassium is the second essential nutrient for plants. Potassium has a high abundance in the soil, but only a small part of it can be used. The principal forms of potassium in the soil are solution potassium, exchangeable potassium, non-exchangeable potassium, and structural potassium. ...
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Introduction: Potassium is the second essential nutrient for plants. Potassium has a high abundance in the soil, but only a small part of it can be used. The principal forms of potassium in the soil are solution potassium, exchangeable potassium, non-exchangeable potassium, and structural potassium. To evaluate the state of potassium in the soil, three forms of soluble, exchangeable, and non-exchangeable are used. The Q/I curve is used to describe the availability of potassium, due to the competition between calcium, potassium, and magnesium ions by soil exchange sites. This curve represents the supply power of soil potassium. The objective of this study was to investigate soil potassium Q/I curve and relationships between its parameters and soil characteristics in some calcareous soils of Lorestan province.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 16 topsoil samples (0-30 cm) were obtained from the calcareous soils of Lorestan province. The experiment was carried out by a completely randomized design with three replications. To prepare the Q/I curve, six suspensions were prepared from each soil sample containing 1 g of soil and 10 ml of calcium chloride 0.01 M and 10 milliliters of potassium chloride with concentrations of 0.33, 0.66, 1, 1.33, 2 and 2.5 mmol. The solutions were shaken for one hour. They were then left for 20 hours to reach the balance. The samples were centrifuged and the soluble and solid phase were separated and then the soluble potassium solution was read using a potassium flame photometry. Calcium and magnesium concentrations were measured by titration with EDTA. Then, 20 ml of 1 M ammonium acetate (NH4OAC) was added to the solid phase of each sample. Then, the concentration of exchangeable potassium was measured using a flame photometer. Then the Q/I curve was plotted for each sample. In addition, the association analysis was performed using a stepwise multivariable regression method.
Results and Discussion: According to the Q/I curve, ARK0 (potassium activity ratio at equilibrium) ranged from 0.087-0.047 (mmol.L-1). The maximum amount of PBCK (potential buffering capacity) was observed in soil No.11 with value of 45.834 (mmol.kg-1)/(mmol.L-1)0.5 and the lowest value obtained for soil No.13 with value of 23.329 (mmol.kg-1)/(mmol.L-1)0.5. In fact, in soils with PBCK, the soluble potassium activity has a lower oscillation and is better buffered. The low amount of PBCK in soil No.13 indicates low soil power to supply potassium and the necessity of using potassium fertilizers. The lowest and most easily converted easy potassium (ΔK0) were observed for soil No.12 and 4 with a value of 1.269 and 23.243 (mmol.kg-1) respectively. There was a negative correlation between PBCK and ARK, suggesting those high-PBCK soils, lower ARK, are more stable than those with lower PBCK. The KL (available Potassium) with ΔK0 and Kx (Hardly exchangeable K) showed a significant and positive relationship (r=0.70, p<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that by increasing each of the two parameters ΔK0 and KX, the amount of potassium (KL) is increased. Also, a positive and significant correlation was found between potassium potential buffering capacity with clay content (r=0.79, p<0/01) and the cation exchange capacity (r=0.73, p<0.01). Therefore, the cation exchange capacity of soils can be used to estimate the buffering capacity of soils and therefore recommend potassium fertilizers. Available potassium (KL) showed a positive and significant correlation with soil organic matter because its organic material is a part of potassium. Also, organic matter can alter the amount of potassium by changing the pH value. Other Q/I curve parameters, such as ARK0, Kx, and ΔK0 did not show any significant correlation with any soil properties. According to regression analysis, it was determined among all soil characteristics the only amount of clay can be used as a proper attribute in order to estimate the potential of potassium in soil according to the following equation: PBCK=17.857+0.482 Clay R2 = 0.631. Also, the amount of organic carbon (O.C) was determined as the proper variable for estimating the KL value according to the following model: KL=14.468+9.017 O.C (R2 = 0.318).
Conclusion: Due to potential buffering capacity (PBCK) in these soils, it seems that soils can be able to provide the absorbable potassium relatively. Therefore, fertilizer recommendation can be performed by considering the amount of determined variables by the Q/I curve.
R. Ranjbar; Ebrahim Sepehr; Abbas Samadi; MirHasan Rasouli Sadaghiani; Mohsen Barin; behnam Dovlati
Abstract
Introduction: Potassium (K) is one of the major essential macronutrients for plant growth. Soil has rich reserves of K, among which only 1–2% can be directly absorbed by plants. It may be more economically viable to transform the fixed slow-release K into available K that can be absorbed by plants. ...
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Introduction: Potassium (K) is one of the major essential macronutrients for plant growth. Soil has rich reserves of K, among which only 1–2% can be directly absorbed by plants. It may be more economically viable to transform the fixed slow-release K into available K that can be absorbed by plants. The ability of some microorganisms to dissolve soil K-bearing minerals, such as micas is an important feature for increasing the yield of high-K-demand crops such as tobacco. Also, these microorganisms have both economic and environmental advantage. A large number of saprophytic bacteria such as Bacillus mucilaginosus and fungal strains such as Aspergillus spp. are known for their potential in releasing insoluble native K-source in soil into a plant available nutrient pool. Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) is one of the most important industrial crops. K plays a vital role in increasing the tobacco yield and controlling quality parameters such as leaf combustibility that is one of the key criteria taken into account by the tobacco industry for assessing quality. Thus, high ranges of K fertilizers are applied in tobacco fields based on plant K requirement to build up soil K in tobacco producing countries. Increasing cost of the fertilizers and environmental risks necessitates alternate means to fertilizers such as application of microorganisms. The use of chemical K fertilizers can be reduced by exploiting the potential of bio-inoculants which are inexpensive and eco-friendly. Information related to K-solubilizing microorganisms in tobacco rhizosphere and their suitability in increasing the available K in tobacco-cultivated soils is not well-documented. Hence, the present study was conducted to screen the KSB isolates from tobacco-cultivated soils and evaluate their potential in dissolving K bearing silicate minerals and increasing soil available potassium.
Materials and Methods: Soil samples were randomly collected from the rhizosphere of tobacco from 25 different locations in northwest of Iran. The serial dilutions of the soil samples were made up to 10-4 and 5 µl of diluted soil suspension plated on Aleksandrov medium plates (on the agar-based culture medium). Aleksandrov medium contained 5.0 g Glucose, 0.5 g MgSO4.7H2O, 0.1g CaCO3, 0.006 g FeCl3, 2.0 g Ca3PO4, 2.0 g insoluble mica powder as potassium source and 20.0 g agar in 1 liter of deionized water. The plates were incubated at 28±2°C in incubator for 10 days. Finally, nine isolates of potassium silicate solubilizing bacteria were isolated and purified. Solid and liquid Aleksandrov media were applied for qualitative (Solubility Index = Diameter of zone of clearance/ Diameter of growth) and quantitative (K content) evaluation, respectively, based on the completely randomized design (CRD) with three replication. Liquid Aleksandrov medium containing 2 g L-1 of mica and feldspar mixture, was inoculated with bacterial isolates. Bacterial isolates creating high solubility index and releasing more K from K-bearing minerals into liquid medium, were selected as effective isolates. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the potent bacterial isolates for increasing soil available K, an experiment was conducted with three replication and eight potent bacterial isolates along with a control (non-inoculated soil). Sterilized soil samples were inoculated with bacterial isolates separately and incubated at 25°C, with 75% field capacity moisture levels for 90 days. After incubation, available K in soil samples were extracted with Ammonium Acetate 1M. Variance of solubility index, K concentration into liquid Aleksandrov medium and soil available K were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test comparisons were also used to compare available soil K using SPSS 16.0.
Results and Discussion: Eight KSBs isolates, including KSB20, KSB30, KSB40, KSB22, KSB42, KSB90, KSB92 and KSB10, were isolated and purified as effective isolates for dissolving mica and feldspar minerals. Most isolates were gram-positive, rod-shaped, and white in appearance. The studied isolates, except KSB22, KSB40 and KSB20, had α-amylase enzyme activity. Bacterial isolates, including KSB20, KSB30, KSB42 and KSB10, were significantly superior in sucrose and glucose hydrolysis. The isolate of KSB10 also had fluorescence properties. The highest solubility index (2.8, 2.7 and 2.5) was obtained from the activity of KSB22, KSB42 and KSB10 isolates in solid Aleksandrov medium, respectively. The highest concentration of potassium into liquid Aleksandrov medium was found for the KSB42 and KSB10 isolates (9.40 mg L-1). The KSB42 and KSB10 isolates increased medium K concentration approximately three times more than non-inoculated medium. In addition, KSB42 and KSB10 isolates were more effective in releasing potassium from soil potassium-bearing minerals. The amount of available potassium in soil incubated with KSB42 and KSB10 isolates increased by 44 and 46 mg kg-1 compared to the control, respectively.
Conclusion: Among bacterial isolates purified from the tobacco rhizosphere, the KSB42 and KSB10 isolates increased more significantly the solubility of potassium minerals and potassium availability in soil compared to other isolates. These bacteria isolates increased potassium concentration into Aleksandrov liquid medium by more than three times and also increased soil available potassium by about 44 to 46 mg kg-1 compared with the control. As a result, these isolates (KSB42 and KSB10) can be used as a bio-fertilizer to reduce potassium fertilizer application and increase the quality of tobacco after field experiments.
Nosratollah Najafi; Rashed Ahmadinezhad; Naser Aliasgharzad; Shahin Oustan
Abstract
Introduction: Chemical fertilizers can supply all the nutrients required by plants, but their high consumptions cause environmental pollution and increased agricultural production costs. Organic fertilizers can improve the biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil and improve soil fertility ...
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Introduction: Chemical fertilizers can supply all the nutrients required by plants, but their high consumptions cause environmental pollution and increased agricultural production costs. Organic fertilizers can improve the biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil and improve soil fertility and productivity. However, these fertilizers alone cannot provide all the requirements of plants for different nutrients. In addition, these fertilizers are not sufficiently available to farmers everywhere. So, in order to increase effectiveness of organic and chemical fertilizers, to decrease environmental pollutions and to achieve sustainable agriculture, integrated application of organic and chemical fertilizers is recommended. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are essential elements for plant nutrition and growth. Wheat as a strategic crop is the most important cereal and plays a very important role in human and animal nutrition and health. The deficiencies of N, P and K in the most agricultural soils often reduce the growth and yield of wheat. Therefore, the appropriate concentrations of these nutrients in wheat seed, leaf and stem are important not only for the optimum growth of the wheat plant and its quality improvement but also for the health of humans and animals.
Materials and Methods: This research work was carried out to study the effects of combining farmyard manure (FYM), municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and municipal sewage sludge compost (MSSC) with different levels of urea on seed, leaf and stem yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Alvand and concentrations of N, P and K in seed, leaf and stem in a randomized complete blocks design with 15 treatments and three replications under field conditions at Khalatposhan Agricultural Research Station, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. The treatments included were: 1) control (without fertilizers), 2) 150 kg urea/ha, 3) 300 kg urea/ha, 4) 30 ton MSWC/ha, 5) 30 ton MSWC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 6) 60 ton MSWC/ha, 7) 60 ton MSWC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 8) 30 ton MSSC/ha, 9) 30 ton MSSC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 10) 60 ton MSSC/ha, 11) 60 ton MSSC/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 12) 30 ton FYM/ha, 13) 30 ton FYM/ha + 150 kg urea/ha, 14) 60 ton FYM/ha, 15) 60 ton FYM/ha + 150 kg urea/ha. The size of each plot was 2.0m × 1.9m. At the end of growth period, the plants were harvested and different sections of wheat plant (seed, leaf and stem) were separated and the yield of each section was determined. The concentration of N in seed, leaf and stem were then measured by Kjeldahl method. After dry ashing of the seed, leaf and stem samples, the concentrations of P and K in their extracts were measured by spectrophotometer and flame photometer instruments, respectively.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that application of 300 kg urea/ha increased the wheat grain yield and concentrations of N, P and K in seed, leaf and stem but it decreased the stem yield. Application of 150 kg urea/ha had no significant effect on the leaf yield but its integration with 60 ton MSWC/ha significantly increased the leaf yield of wheat. The combining of 150 kg urea with 30 and 60 ton FYM, MSWC and MSSC per hectare increased yields of wheat stem and seed and their N and P concentrations as compared with the control and application of solely organic fertilizers. The use of FYM, MSWC and MSSC significantly increased the wheat grain yield and concentrations of N, P and K in seed, leaf and stem relative to the control but their effects on yields of leaf and stem depended on the type and rate of organic fertilizer. The highest yields of grain, stem and leaf and the highest concentrations of N, P and K in wheat grain, stem and leaf were observed under combined application of 150 kg urea and 60 ton FYM, MSWC and MSSC per hectare. The minimum yields of seed, leaf and stem and the minimum concentrations of N, P and K in different organs of wheat plant were observed in the control treatment. The average wheat yield component was in the order of seed > stem > leaf. The mean concentrations of N, P and K in different sections of wheat were in the order of seed > leaf > stem, seed > leaf > stem and stem > leaf > seed, respectively. The grain yield of wheat had positive and significant correlations (p<0.01) with concentrations of N, P and K in different organs of wheat, which indicates the role of N, P and K nutrition of wheat plant in increasing its seed yield.
Conclusions: The wheat seed had higher concentrations of N and P and lower concentration of K compared to leaf and stem. In general, in order to decrease nitrogen fertilizers use, enhance N, P and K nutrition of wheat plant, improve wheat seed quality, decline environmental pollution and increase wheat yield, application of 150 kg urea and 60 ton manure per hectare is recommended. However, if there is not enough manure, 150 kg urea and 60 ton municipal solid waste compost or municipal sewage sludge compost per hectare can be applied at similar conditions.
M. Deilamirad; Mohammad Reza Sarikhani; Sh. Oustan
Abstract
Introduction: Potassium is a major and essential plant macronutrient and the most abundant absorbed cation in higher plants. Potassium (K) plays an important role in the growth, metabolism, and development of plants. There are three forms of potassium found in the soil viz., soil minerals, nonexchangeable ...
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Introduction: Potassium is a major and essential plant macronutrient and the most abundant absorbed cation in higher plants. Potassium (K) plays an important role in the growth, metabolism, and development of plants. There are three forms of potassium found in the soil viz., soil minerals, nonexchangeable and available form. Soil minerals make up more than 90 to 98 percent of soil potassium. It is tightly bound and most of it is unavailable for plant uptake. Plants can uptake potassium only from the soil solution. Many indigenous soil microorganisms have the potential to absorb and mobilize the fixed form of nutrients from trace mineral sources. The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria including potassium-solubilizing bacteria as a biofertilizer could work as a sustainable solution to improve plant nutrient uptake and production. In this study the effect of five isolates of Pseudomonas were assessed on the growth and K uptake of tomato in two different soils with less than 200 mg/kg and more than 400 mg/kg available potassium.
Materials and Methods In this study, two different soil, Khalat pushan (K 400 mg/kg) were used. All the isolates including S6-6, S10-3, S14-3, S19-1 and S21-1 used in this study belonged to Pseudomonas genus and their potential were examined as a potassium releasing bacteria (KRB). Bacterial isolates were cultured in NB medium and were used in pot experiments. Experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in two different soils by application of five bacterial isolates and the control without inoculum. Tomato seeds were inoculated with bacterial isolates in non-sterile soil and in the presence of indigenous soil microflora and the experiment continued until the beginning of the reproductive phase. The rate of inoculation was 10 ml of bacteria per pot. Growth and nutritional parameters such as dry weight of shoot and root, chlorophyll index, content of K and P in plant tissue were measured. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software, and the means were compared at α꞊5% by Duncan test.
Results and Discussion: The results of statistical analysis in the soil with less than 200 mg/kg available potassium (Khalatpoushan) showed the significant effect of bacterial inoculation on chlorophyll index, shoot and root dry weight and potassium and phosphorus content in shoot and root in bacterial treatments compared to the control. The highest amount of chlorophyll index, shoot dry weight and shoot absorption of potassium and phosphorus was accounted for S21-1. The highest amount of root dry weight and root absorption of potassium and phosphorus was accounted for S14-3.The results of second experiment in soil with more than 400 mg/kg available potassium (soil collected from Kandovan) showed that the measured properties were not affected by bacterial treatments. The highest amount of chlorophyll index was achieved by S14-3. The highest uptake of shoot potassium and phosphorus were recorded in plants which were inoculated by S14-3 and S21-1; however, the differences were not significant. While in this study we did not measure released K by bacteria in in-vitro condition but in the previous studies, their ability in K releasing from mica minerals such as muscovite and biotite had been measured and reported. Production of organic acid is one mechanism which proposed to explain potassium releasing ability of potassium releasing bacteria. It seems that this mechanism has the role in P solubilization, K releasing and solubilizing other nutients by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).
Conclusions: These results suggested that plant growth stimulating efficiency of bacterial inoculants affected by soil nutritional condition. The bacterial inoculation had a much better stimulatory effect on plant growth in soils with low available potassium. In this experiment, two isolates, S21-1 and S14-3 were better than the other isolates. Study in this area should be done especially in isolation and identification of potassium releasing bacteria from different soil samples. In the next step, these isolates should be tested in different soils under different climate conditions of the country, to choose robust and efficient isolate and intorduce them as KSB biofertilizer in counntry. It was the first report in Iran to test Pseudomonas isolates as KSB, while in the previous studies other genera especially bacteria belonged to Bacillus was reported in Iran.
M. Mahmoodabadi; O.L. Rashidi; M. Fekri
Abstract
This study focused on the effect of organic manures as well as potassium fertilizer on some soil properties and onion yield at the field condition. The experiments were carried out as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were poultry manure (10 t ha-1), ...
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This study focused on the effect of organic manures as well as potassium fertilizer on some soil properties and onion yield at the field condition. The experiments were carried out as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were poultry manure (10 t ha-1), alfalfa residue (10 t ha-1) and control each together with two levels of potassium fertilizer as K2O (0 and 250 kg ha-1). The results showed that application of poultry manure and alfalfa residue resulted in yield increasing about 57.7 and 40.9 % in comparison to the control, respectively. On average, the onion yield for the potassium treatment was 7.8 % higher than for the untreated one. The application of poultry manure and alfalfa residue increased final infiltration rate 73.2 and 56.1 %, respectively. Inversely, potassium fertilizer caused a significant reduction in the final infiltration rate. Moreover, application of organic manures particularly poultry manure, significant increases in saturated moisture, porosity, EC, organic carbon and available phosphorous and decrease in bulk density and pH was observed, while potassium only increased soil EC, significantly. Application of poultry manure and alfalfa residue increased soil organic carbon 129.8 and 80.2 % and available phosphorous 104.8 and 51.9 %, respectively. Among different soil properties, organic carbon showed the highest influence on yield increase.
V. Mozafari; L. Omidi
Abstract
A factorial greenhouse experiment as completely randomized design with six replications was conducted to Study the effects of potassium and salinity application on morphological and physiological parameters of pistachio seedling (cv. Badami-e-Zarand) in perlit. Treatments were 2 levels of K (0 and 1 ...
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A factorial greenhouse experiment as completely randomized design with six replications was conducted to Study the effects of potassium and salinity application on morphological and physiological parameters of pistachio seedling (cv. Badami-e-Zarand) in perlit. Treatments were 2 levels of K (0 and 1 mM KNO3) and 3 levels of salinity (0, 100 and 200 mg NaCl kg-1 soil). Prolin and redusing sugars contents whit 3 replications and on two separate time (3 and 6 days after salinity application) measured. A factorial split analyzed to test the trend of this factors so that salinity×pottasium and time were as main and sub factors respectively. Results showed that as salinity increased shoot and root dry weights 17% and 15% increased, respectively. As increasing K consentration from 0 to 1 mM, increased dry weight shoot from 0.885 to 1.007 per pot. 1 mM K application increased the leaf number and stem height. As salinity increased significantly increased Na and decreased Mg of plant. Prolin and redusing sugars contents increased three days after application of salinity treatments while K decreased prolin consentration. redusing sugars content significantly affected by time factor so that redusing sugars consentration redused after 3 days but it wasn’t correct about prolin content
