Background and Objective: Particle size distribution (PSD) is the main predictor variable used in Pedotransfer functions (PTFs).Verification of PTF requires a specialized database.These databases contain PSD measured by sedimentation methods either using pipette or hydrometer method.Recently, laser diffraction method (LDM) is widely used for particle size distribution measurement.The aim of the research was to validate usage of laser diffraction method instead of pipette method for estimating soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, using PTFs.Materials and Methods: Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS) was measured by constant head method technique and calculated by PTFs.The calculated PTFs were based on PSD measured by laser diffraction method (LDM) and by pipette method (PM) for estimating KS.Saturated hydraulic conductivity (KSPM) was calculated by pipette methods (PM), while KSLDM was calculated by LDM, using PTFs.Results: The results observed that lower clay fraction measured by LDM than that measured by the PM, while higher silt fraction measured by LDM than that measured by PM.In spite of, there is no agreement between the PSD obtained by LDM and PM.However, it didn't change soil type texture.The root mean square error (RMSE) of KSLDM (2.41×10G 6 m secG 1 ) was relatively close to RMSE of KSPM (2.63×10G 6 m secG 1 ).Conclusion: LDM technique can be successfully used for estimating soil hydraulic properties using PTFs, without any modification or recalculations for silty loam and silty clay loam soils under study.
The application of bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizer is considered a promising alternative for mineral fertilizers to decrease the production costs and environmental pollution with good yield. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the benefits of rice straw compost, humic acid and effective microorganism alone or in combination as an alternative to mineral-N fertilizer on the growth, foliar NPK content and yield of the local variety of bottle gourd. The study was carried out at Barramoon experimental farm, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during the two summer seasons of 2012 and 2013. The experiment consisted of eight treatments of soil amendments and NPK fertilizers arranged in a complete randomized blocks design with three replicates. The study's treatments had significant effects on all studied traits in both seasons. The lowest values of these traits were recorded with the 75% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers with humic acid treatment. Whereas, the treatment of 75% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers in combination with rice straw compost, humic acid and effective microorganism had the highest values of foliage dry weight, number of leaves, stem length and number of fruits per plant as well as seeds weight per fruit, 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant and per hectare. So, this treatment could be recommended as an alternative method for bottle gourd fertilization. It might give the chance for increasing NPK-use efficiency and producing satisfactory and good seed yield with keeping the health and safety of human and environment.
Sustainable crop production in the Nigerian Sudan Savanna biome requires a good understanding of the fertility status of the soil in order to impose appropriate nutrient management strategies.Field surveys were conducted to assess the fertility status of selected soils from Shanono and Bunkure Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State in the Northern Nigerian Sudan Savanna.All the surveyed fields had soil organic C, total N and ECEC within very low and low fertility classes.Very low and low available P was also found in the majority of fields with only 25.0 and 8.7% of the fields falling in the moderate P fertility range in Shanono and Bunkure LGA respectively.About 75.0% of fields in Shanono LGA and 39.1% in Bunkure LGA fell within the low exchangeable K class, with the rest of the fields having moderate level.Despite moderate to high content of exchangeable Ca and Mg in most of the fields, 4.3-8.7% of the fields had depleted status of the two basic cations.Micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) levels in all the fields were in the moderate and high classes, except the subsurface soil of Shanono LGA where 4.2% of the fields had low Cu contents.Correlation analysis between northerly latitude and soil properties showed a northward increase in sand, pH and Zn levels and a decrease in silt and available Fe levels.The low status of Ca, Mg and Cu in some of the fields indicates the insufficiency of the current fertilizer recommendations which focus mainly on primary macronutrients (N, P and K).Therefore, apart from recommending all strategies that will enhance and stabilize organic matter, current fertilizer recommendations need to be reviewed and should contain other nutrients in addition to primary macronutrients.
The study was conducted at the Kirakufis and Rekatafura in Tulu district of Hirna watershed of West Hararghe zone, Oromiya regional state.The district is among areas highly affected by land degradation and soil nutrient depletion problem.Therefore, aims of the study were to assess the changes in selected soil physicochemical properties of the closure.Surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected from the experimental fields using stratified sampling technique.Data analyses were carried out using GLM with 3 replications.Accordingly, clay textures were dominantly observed at the closed areas where as sandy loam was in the open land.The ANOVA test indicated that there was significant different (p#0.05) between closed area to open lands for all parameters, except available phosphorous.Based on this, it is possible to conclude that the establishment of area closures in the degraded lands is a viable option of soil physico-chemical properties improvement.
Superabsorbent polymers, a group of new water saving materials and soil conditioners that have been widely adopted in agriculture but little is known about their effects on soil physical and chemical properties.A novel Poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) AlZnFe 2 O 4 /sodium humate superabsorbent Hydrogel Nanocomposite (PSHNC) was synthesized and its physical properties characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques.Air dried sandy soil was amended with 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4% (w/w) of the prepared PSHNC to evaluate its soil moisture retention attributes.Additionally, the effect of PSHNC on pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Bulk Density (BD), Total Porosity (TP) and Hydraulic Conductivity (HC) of sandy soil was studied.Results revealed that, the soil amended with 0.1-0.4% (w/w) of PSHNC enhanced the moisture retention significantly at field capacity as compared to the untreated soil.Application of PSHNC from 0.1-0.4% (w/w) increased significantly the plant available water (from 10.94-19.22%(v/v)), field capacity (from 22.45-33.13%(v/v)) and wilting point (from 11.51-13.91%(v/v), respectively.Addition of PSHNC reduced soil BD while soil TP was increased.Soil pH was reduced significantly and it was 7. 28, 7.19, 7.11 and 7.02 at concentration of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4%, respectively.Meanwhile, the soil EC was significantly increased with PSHNC application.In a separate experiment, seed germination and seedling growth of the Regular Seed Mixtures (RSM) grass was found to be notably improved with the application of PSHNC.
Soils derived from some parent materials in South-Western Nigeria covering 219,580 ha of land were mapped at a scale of 1:50,000 using a combination of conventional and remote sensing methods of soil survey.The aim is to generate detailed information on the properties, genesis and land characteristics of these soils for their sustainable use and management.Seven soil series were identified and classified (Kulfo series, Typic Paleudalf; Ibeshe series, Typic Rhodudalf; Idesan Series, Fluventic Eutrudept; Iweke Series, Typic Udipsamment; Alagba Series, Typic Haphudalf; Ondo Series, Typic Ferrudalf and Fago Series, Typic Plinthudult).Soils of Ondo and Fagbo series contain a lot of iron manganese concretions, quartz stones and gravels.The soils are very strongly acidic (4.50) to moderately acidic (5.70).The soils have moderately low inherent natural fertility with low exchange basic cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na), organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen but moderate to high micro-nutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn).Soils of the sedimentary origin (Alagba, Iweke, Idesan, Kulfo and Ibeshe) were observed to be more fertile and more variable in soil properties than those derived from the basement complex (Ondo and Fagbo series).Dominant pedogenic processes which influence the rate of soil development within the study area include hydrolytic weathering, lessivation, plinthization, pedoturbation, braunification, induration, leaching, erosion and colluvial deposition.The soils were classified into land capability classes.Only four (I, II, III and IV) out of the eight capability classes were encountered.Recommendations for sustainable use and management of these soils are discussed.
