Background and Objective: Human activities have produced artificial soils with pedogenesis dominated by their technological origin.This study compared Technosolsʼ physicochemical qualities at Eke Market Dumpsite, Agbani (6E18'24"N, 7E32'52"E) and Abakpa Bridge Head Dump Site (6E28'34"N, 7E31'02"E) in Enugu Southeast, Nigeria to characterize and compare differences in some of their physicochemical properties.Materials and Methods: Profile pits were dug within the dumpsite of the selected areas and corresponding control pits for both sites were dug 100 m away.Samples were collected from the depth of the observable horizon in each profile.The coefficient of variation was used to analyze the data collected.Results: The dumpsites and non-dumpsites of two sandy loam-sandy clay loam sites have similar particle size distributions.The pH (H 2 O) was slightly alkaline at dumpsites (7.4-7.6)compared to 5.6-6.3 for non-dumpsites.Soil organic carbon in the top 0-50 cm of the dump soil (1.49-4.6%)was 91-96% greater than in the same horizon of the non-dump soil (0.07-0.39%) for both sites, although topsoil OC varied greatly.The dump site has 32% higher total nitrogen in the top 100 cm of soil than the non-dump site (0.13-0.25%).The CEC values of 16.0-24.4cmol kgG 1 were greater in dumpsite soils than in non-dump site soils (12.4-14.8cmol kgG 1 ).Base saturation in the vadose zone of dumpsite soils ranged from 27.6 to 46.8%, compared to 10.9-22.8% in non-dump soils at both sites.Conclusion: The vadose zone of dump site soils has greater exchangeable cation levels than non-dump sites.Technosols alleviate land degradation and green challenges.The soil quality assessment helps track Technosol changes and evaluate pedogenetic processes.Under tropical conditions, municipal waste Technosols may have a beneficial effect on agricultural soil quality.
Background and Objective: Most of the soils of South-eastern Nigeria are strongly acidic.Liming these soils for profitable crop production requires the assessment of the soil properties and then developing model equations for calculating liming rates.This study aimed to assess the soil properties and then develop model equations and curves for quick calculations of liming rates.Materials and Methods: Soil samples were collected at 40 different locations in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States and analyzed.An incubation study was also performed to monitor changes in pH bi-weekly in the laboratory.Neutralization curves were constructed by plotting a maximum rise in pH against lime rates.Results: The soils were separated into particle-size classes, A (sandy clay loam and clay soils) and B (sandy loam and loamy sand soils).Soil properties were higher for group A than B. Multiple regression equations created provided several equations for calculating Lime Requirements (LR).The equations were: Group-A: LR = 0.33+0.28)pHxOM+0.18)pHxclay[R 2 = 0.855].Group-B: LR = 0.98+0.58)pHxOM [R 2 = 0.552].Conclusion: Over-liming can generate alkaline conditions that may create solubility problems.Therefore, both the regression equations and the curves are useful tools for quick determinations of lime requirement.
Background and Objective: Dolomite is a naturally occurring rock mineral that contains calcium and magnesium as its chief mineral/nutrients.Dolomite as a source of plant nutrients for raising poly bag coconut seedlings was evaluated at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR).Materials and Methods: The study, conducted in 2 tasks was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and consisted of four levels of dolomite namely; 0, 100, 200 and 300 g in 5 replications.Task 1 had a 45 g basal application of NPK 15:15:15, while task 2 had a 65 g basal application of urea (N = 45%).Data were collected on plant height, stem girth, leaf area and number of leaves at 4 MAP, 8 MAP and 12 MAP (Months after planting).Results: Results showed that application of 100 g dolomite with a basal NPK 15:15:15 increased plant height over control throughout the sampling period, while application of 200 g dolomite with a basal NPK 15:15:15 only increased plant height over control at 12 MAP.Increased application rate of dolomite at 300 g with a basal NPK 15:15:15 depressed plant height throughout the sampling period.Application of 200 g dolomite with a basal urea only slightly increased plant height over control at 8 MAP.Conclusion: This study has shown that dolomite can be used to complement inorganic fertilizers, specifically NPK 15:15:15 for raising coconut seedlings in a naturally leached sandy soil.
Background and Objective: High concentration of heavy metals has been discovered in the vegetables in growing area of Kano posing a risk to the soil and its productivity.The feasibility of organic residues such as maize cob and rice husk as adsorbent were evaluated in heavy metal-contaminated soils.The objective of this study was to assess efficacy of using maize cob and rice husk obtained as bio-sorbents in reducing soil solution concentration of heavy metals as well as the influence of contact and residence time on the adsorption of heavy metals: Cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) by different soil fractions (silt-clay and very fine sand).Materials and Methods: Soil samples were collected from five vegetable gardens in Kano and fractionated into silt-clay and very fine sand fractions.Cu, Pb, Zn in the varying concentration 0, 50, 200 and 400 mg kgG 1 and 0, 5, 10 and 50 mg kgG 1 Cd were added to the soil along with organic residue.This was incubated for a period of 1 and 7 days.Concentration of the heavy metal after the incubation periods was determined at time intervals of 1, 2, 4 and 8 h in a batch experiment.Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA.Results: Results obtained showed that sorption increased with time, dosage of the organic residue and incubation.Amongst all the residues, maize cob had better sorption efficiency.The adsorption data obtained were perfectly fitted to the Freundlich adsorption model with an R 2 value of 0.99 for Cu, Pb and Zn and the sorption process was found to be a cooperative process between Cu, Pb and Zn.For Cd, the R 2 was >0.80 with a favorable and normal adsorption process.Conclusion: Heavy metal sorption by the organic residues at all concentrations was very high.A positive relationship between the rate of adsorption and dosage was obtained indicating that the adsorption process was influenced by increasing the dosage of the residue as well as the shaking period.These amendments which are mostly byproducts of agricultural processing can be used as an excellent source of reducing heavy metal availability in contaminated soils.
Background and Objective: Paddy soils for growing Jasmine rice in Thailand are mostly low fertile and possess some soil constraints of which efficiency of fertilization is low.Biochar and organic wastes can be used to amend these soils and a source of additional major plant nutrients.This study aimed at comparing the mineralization under incubation condition of major plant nutrients among biochar and organic wastes.Materials and Methods: Rich husk biochar (RHB), rice husk ash (RHA), cassava starch waste (CSW) and cassava tails and stalks (CTS) were applied into six soils and incubated in laboratory.The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications.No amendment application (control), cassava starch waste (CSW), cassava tails and stalk (CTS), rice husk ash (RHA) and rice husk biochar (RHB) were compared.The amounts of available N, P and K were measured at 0, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days during the incubation.One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of data was performed with mean separation and Duncan's multiple range test being considered significant at the p<0.05 level and highly significant at the p< 0.01 level using SPSS software.Results: CSW and CTS contained high OM content, 727.2 and 663.7 g kgG 1 , respectively, resulting in high C:N ratio even though they also had high total N content (6.83-7.79g kgG 1 ).The CSW also had higher total K content (10.18 g kgG 1 ) than did CTS, RHA and RHB (1.3-5.41 g kgG 1 ).Total P quantity in these organic materials varied little and was in a small amount ranging from 0.76-1.28g kgG 1 .The RHA and RHB significantly released greater available N and P than did CSW and CTS while the CSW and CTS clearly releasing more available K. Available K was constantly released from these materials throughout the incubation period whereas most of available N was freed within1 month and the amount declined markedly afterwards.Release patterns of N, P and K were similar among soils, indicating that different soil properties played a little part in the availability of major plant nutrients released from these soil amendments.Conclusion: This study suggested a potential use of biochar and organic wastes as soil amendments and an enhancement of major plant nutrients in Jasmine rice growing paddy soils.
Background and Objective: The lack of information concerning morphology and chemical characteristics of different amorphous materials still there, particularly from Indonesian Andisols.This study was conducted to find out the soil chemical properties, amorphous materials content, infrared spectral characteristics and morphology of amorphous materials derived from different parent materials.Materials and Methods: Three soil samples were collected from B horizon from Mt. Merapi which has an and esitic volcanic ash and Mt.Slamet which has a basaltic volcanic ash (1 soil sample and 1 sediment sample).Soil and sediment samples were analyzed for soil chemical properties such as pH-H 2 O, pH-KCl, pH-NaF, C-org, CEC, SO 4 , P retention and F reactivity, Fe-Al-Si with selective dissolution (NH 4 -oxalate pH3, Nap-pyrophosphate and DCB), IR spectral characteristics and TEM image.Results: The content of allophane, imogolite, ferrihydrite and Al/Si ratio from Mt. Merapi were obtained at range of 15.2-27.3,2.4-6.8,0.04-0.06and 1.14-1.39%,respectively.While soil samples from Mt. Slamet were obtained at range of 15.8-40.5, 0.6-25.6,0.1-0.6 and 0.1-1.71%,respectively.Infrared spectral characteristics of clay from Mt. Merapi and Mt.Slamet were observed that absorption band peaks appeared at three mean areas, namely: 3433-3456/3417-3456, 1635/1627 and 972-1010/972-987 cmG 1 , respectively.Allophane possess hollow sphere morphology with a diameter of 2.9-5.0 nm for samples from Mt. Merapi and 3.5-5.4nm for samples from Mt. Slamet.While imogolite shaped like a long tubes with length of 536-1100 nm for samples from Mt. Merapi and 50-150 nm for Mt.Slamet.Conclusion: In average the content of allophane and imogolite in the soils from Mt. Merapi were higher than from Mt. Slamet, except for clay sediment sample.This sample contains more than 66% of amorphous minerals.Very surprisingly the soil samples from Mt. Merapi are found to contain imogolites of up to 1100 nm length, meaning these are the longest ever immogolites compared to anywhere else.
Background and Objectives: In Oxisols, soluble inorganic phosphorus is fixed by aluminium and iron.Humic substances is an extraction of organic matter contains functional compounds which could adsorp Al become organo-mineral.It could be more effective for time, cost and amount of organic matter by using humic substances.This study was conducted to improve phosphorus availability using humic substances from lignite and rice straw compost.Materials and Methods: The treatments consist of lignite 300 ppm (H1), lignite 600 ppm (H2), lignite 900 ppm (H3), straw compost 300 ppm (H4), straw compost 600 ppm (H5), straw compost 900 ppm (H6) with 3 replications using completely randomized design.The parameters measured in this study were some of the chemical properties of soil, mainly phosphorus availability and plants growth.Results: The findings suggested that the humic substances could altered soil chemical properties and the humic substances from rice straw compost 900 ppm is the most effective increased available phosphorus, soil pH, CEC of clay, C-organic and decreasing exchangeable aluminium.But, based on maize growth results such as plants height and dry matter weight, the plants still showed phosphorus deficiency symptoms.Conclusion: These results indicated that needed higher dose of humic substances above 900 ppm to fixed the chemical properties of Oxisols.Humic substances from rice straw compost more effective than lignite to improve available phosphorus in Oxisols.
Background and Objective: Soil available boron can be the limiting factor for rice production in rainfed lowland condition.This study aimed to identify the external boron requirement of the rainfed lowland rice varieties.Materials and Methods: A field experiment was conducted during June-October, 2016 at Purkot, Tanahun, Nepal to assess the performance of rice varieties grown under rainfed condition.Using split plot design, three replicates of four rice varieties (Sukkhadhan-2, Sukkhadhan-4, DRR-44 and Ciherang sub-1) under four levels of soil boron (B) application (0, 1, 2 and 3 kg haG 1 ) were cultivated.Results: We found that the significant effects of B application among rice varieties on yield and its associated traits; the genotypic differences, however, varied.On average, B application at the upper level -as compared to the control of no B application-increased the plant height, effective tiller numbers and effective grain numbers by 7, 3 and 5%, respectively.Similarly, it increased grain yield and straw yield by 38% and 12%, respectively.While, Sukkhadhan-2 appeared to be the highest grain yielding variety, the straw yield was the premier for Ciherang sub-1.Such B induced grain yield increment corresponded to the decline in unfilled grains proportion (43%)-the highest for Sukkhadhan-2.B also induced the 1000 grains weight (12%) and harvest index (15%).Conclusion: Hence, not only the genetic makeup but also the soil B application controls rice production under rainfed condition.
Background and Objective: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of an important food and cash generating crop in the northwestern parts of Ethiopia and particularly of Awi zone where it is grown three times per annum.However, its productivity is very low since, separate use of fertilizer, absence of balanced fertilizer and no recommendation on integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers for the area.The aim of study was to investigate the best combination of blended NPSZnB fertilizer and cattle manure for the better production of potato.Materials and Methods: For this purpose, an experiment was conducted at Banja district, Awi Zone during rainy season of 2017.Four different levels of blended NPSZnB fertilizer (0, 65.7, 133 and 199 t haG 1 ) and four levels of cattle manure (0, 10, 20 and 30 t haG 1 ) were factorially combined and tested for effect on the yield and yield component of potato in a randomized complete block design (RCBD).Results: Results of analysis of variance revealed that significant effect of treatments on marketable and total tuber yield and total dry biomass yield.The combined application of 199 kg haG 1 blended NPSZnB fertilizer and 30 t haG 1 cattle manure significantly affected the indicated parameters.However, marketable tuber number and total tuber number were significantly affected by blended NPSZnB fertilizer (199 kg haG 1 ) alone, Harvest index (%) and total dry biomass were significantly affected by cattle manure (30 t haG 1 ) alone, while average tuber weight was significantly affected by blended NPSZnB fertilizer (199 kg haG 1 ) alone and cattle (30 t haG 1 ) manure alone but not interaction.Conclusion: Application of 199 kg haG 1 blended NPSZnB fertilizer level with 30 t haG 1 cattle manure should be used for better yield and yield component performance of dagim potato variety at study area.
Background and Objective: The design of high-rise buildings often necessitates ground excavation, where buildings are in proximity to the construction, thus there is a potential for damage to these structures.As a result, various researchers have studied different aspects of excavations both in design and construction methods.In present study, it is aimed to evaluate the performance of constitutive soil models in a case study of anchored wall by using a finite difference analysis software.Materials and Methods: For this purpose, implications of the use of some advanced soil models to simulate the behavior of in-situ soil on the overall response of excavated wall have been studied and compared with respect to the most prevalent used Mohr-Coulomb (MC) soil model.The analyses concentrated on predicting three major behavior of tieback walls, i.e., excavation basal heave, horizontal displacement and deflection pattern of the wall.Results: The results indicated that Duncan-Chang (DC) model can reasonably predict the movements induced by excavation projects, while the modified Mohr-Coulomb (MMC) model also can be an alternative in estimating base heave and horizontal displacement at top of the wall when insufficient data is available.Conclusion: The findings of this research could be of interest to the engineers in order to achieve an optimum compromise between model accuracy and geotechnical survey efforts employed in deformation analysis of excavation problems.
Background and Objective: Availability of adequate phosphorus (P) for plant uptake is a major problem in acid soils worldwide.Characterization of soils in terms of phosphorus (P) sorption capacity is, therefore, fundamental for effective soil phosphorus fertility management and for efficient utilization of phosphorus fertilizers.A study was conducted to investigate the phosphorus sorption characteristics of selected acid soils from Meru, Embu, Kirinyanga, Nyeri, Kiambu and Kinangop and evaluate the external phosphorus requirements (EPR) for soil phosphorus fertility management.Materials and Methods: Sorption data was obtained by equilibrating the nine soil samples with 30 mL of KH 2 PO 4 in 0.01 M CaCl 2 , containing 0, 80, 100, 150, 180, 200, 250 and 300 µg mLG 1 for 48 h with shaking for 30 min at intervals of 8 h.Langmuir adsorption model was fitted to the test results and relationship between P Langmuir adsorption model was fitted to the test results and relationship between P adsorption Langmuir constants and soil properties determined by simple regression and correlations using Genstat statistical software.Results: The result of this study showed that the Nitisols were extremely acidic (pH 3.7-4.5),had low extractable P (<15 mg kgG 1 Bray 1) and the maximal phosphorous adsorption varied from 2986.73-2992.58mg kgG 1 soil.The external phosphorus requirement (EPR) varied from 434.78-208.33 mg kgG 1 soil in the order: Nyeri = Embu>Kirinyanga>Meru = Kiambu>Kinangop.Correlation analysis revealed that Langmuir adsorption maxima (bL) and binding energy constant (kL) positively correlated with clay content and EPR and negatively correlation with organic carbon and soil pH.Conclusion: Due to differences in phosphorus fixation rates EPR within the study sites, different phosphate fertilization rates are required for optimum plant growth in such soils.Also management practices involving the use of organic matter and liming as basis for P adsorption reduction would be useful for improved crop production in the soils.There is, therefore, need for further research to determine optimal phosphorus requirements for soils in each research site under field conditions.
Background and Objective: Phosphorus (P) deficiency is mainly due to P occlusion in the iron and aluminum oxides in the highly weathered soils of many African countries.The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of combined manure and inorganic fertilizer on soil P availability for plant uptake, enhanced soil microorganism activity and improved crop yields.Materials and Methods: To test whether increasing microbial biomass protects immobilized phosphorus from fixation and ultimately increases P availability to plants, 33 P turnover 63 days and DNA concentrations were measured using the Multi terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure in the two Kenyan soils (high and low P fixing soil) with 4 treatments: (1) control, (2) + Farmyard manure (FYM) (10g kgG 1 ), (3)+ Superphosphate (g kgG 1 ) and 33 Phosphorus and (4) FYM+superphosphate (g kgG 1 ) and 33 Phosphorus.The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on different treatments of both studied soils to evaluate 33 P turnover and difference in DNA concentrations.Results: The 33 P specific activity of Soil Microbial Biomass P (SMB-P) was much higher in the high P fixing soil (KH 2 PO 4 and FYM+KH 2 PO 4 ) than in the low P fixing soil at Day 21 and 63, showing an enhanced 33 P turnover.DNA concentrations were higher in the low P fixing soil (>14 ng µLG 1 ) relative to the high P fixing soil (<10 ng µLG 1 ) at 63 days suggesting the difference in the microbial groups of the two studied soils.Combination of KH 2 PO 4 and FYM benefited to P turnover and DNA concentrations of the high fixing Kenyan soil.Conclusions: This study highlighted the useful effects of combining manure with inorganic fertilizer to both reduce P adsorption and increase P availability i.e., improve soil fertility, to increase crop growth and yields in weathered soils.
Background and Objective: The use of treated wastewater (TWW) for agricultural irrigation becomes increasingly important in water stressed regions like Gaza Strip for substituting potable water (PW) resources.This study aimed to assess the impact of TWW irrigation on soil properties and production of Cucumis melo inodorus in Gaza Strip.Materials and Methods: Melon was planted in a design of one block with randomized treatments plots scattered within.Six treatments were used: 4 treatments included application of PW and TWW to the field by above surface drip irrigation, with and without plastic ground cover and 2 treatments of TWW sub-surface drip irrigation at depth of 20 cm with and without ground cover.Each treatment was replicated in 5 plots.PW and TWW samples were analyzed for physico-chemical and biological properties.Soil samples were collected from 0-10 and 10-30 cm depths and also analyzed for physico-chemical properties.The weight of the harvested melon fruit (total fruit weight/total fruit quantity) as well as the plant biomass (total plant biomass/total plant quantity) were determined.Data was analyzed by SPSS.Results: Water analysis showed that biological oxygen demand (BOD) of TWW meets the World Health Organization (WHO) standards whereas chemical oxygen demand (COD) was higher than the acceptable WHO limit.The pH, total alkalinity, P and K levels were significantly increased in TWW compared to PW whereas electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), NO 3 , S, Cl, total hardness, Ca, Mg and Na were significantly decreased in TWW.However, EC and TDS values were higher than the WHO acceptable range.Heavy metals were below the detected limit.Total and fecal coliforms contamination in TWW exceeds that of the WHO standards.Irrigation with PW and TWW increased soil EC, TDS, NO 3 , S, Cl, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg, with the highest effect of TWW.The weight of the harvested melon fruit as well as the plant biomass were higher in plots irrigated with TWW than those irrigated with PW.Conclusion: This study suggests a future possibility of TWW reuse in Gaza Strip in terms of its low content of heavy metals, enhancement of soil fertility and crop yield.
