scholarly journals Effects of Lime, Vermicompost, and Chemical P Fertilizer on Selected Properties of Acid Soils of Ebantu District, Western Highlands of Ethiopia

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdissa Bekele ◽  
Kibebew Kibret ◽  
Bobe Bedadi ◽  
Markku Yli-Halla ◽  
Tesfaye Balemi

Soil acidity is one of the major factors limiting soil fertility and crop production in large areas of Ethiopia. A two-month incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of lime, vermicompost (VC), and chemical phosphorus (P) fertilizer on selected chemical properties of Dystric Nitisols in Ebantu District, Western Ethiopia. The treatments comprised of three rates of lime (2, 4, and 6 tons CaCO3·ha−1), VC (2.5, 5, and 7.5 tons·ha−1), and mineral P fertilizer (20, 40, and 60 kg·P·ha−1) each applied alone and in various combinations. The experiment was laid down in a completely randomized design with two replications. The results showed that the highest increment of pH from 4.83 at the control to 6.05 and reduction of exchangeable Al from 1.70 to 0.09 cmolc·kg−1 were obtained from combined application of lime at 4 tons CaCO3·ha−1 and VC at 7.5 tons·ha−1. The most significant decrease in exchangeable acidity (0.17 cmolc.kg-1) was observed in soil that was treated with 6 tons CaCO3·ha−1 lime applied alone (93%) and combined application of lime at 4 tons CaCO3·ha−1 with VC at 7.5 tons·ha−1 by (81%). The highest contents of OM (4.1%) and total nitrogen (0.29%) were obtained from combined application of lime at 4 tons CaCO3·ha−1 and VC at 7.5 tons·ha−1. Integrated application of chemical P (60 kg·P·ha−1) with lime (2 tons·ha−1) plus VC (7.5 tons·ha−1) resulted in Bray-II P increased by 45% relative to control. The various combinations of the treatments also improved exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+. The results indicate that integrated use of lime, vermicompost, and chemical P fertilizer can improve soil acidity and availability of nutrients. However, the real potential of the amendments used in this experiment should be further assessed under field conditions using a test crop.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bereket Ayenew Alemu ◽  
Asmare Melese

Abstract Background: In acid soils, soluble inorganic phosphorus is fixed by aluminum and iron, so that phosphorous availability to plant would be inhibited. Thus, an incubation study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lime, vermicompost, and mineral P fertilizer on the distribution of P fractions and oxalate and dithionite extractable aluminum and iron. The treatments consisted of three rates of phosphorous (0, 74.51 and 149.01 kg P ha-1), three rates of vermicompost (0, 5 and 10 ton VC ha-1) and four rates of lime (0, 5.70, 9.20, and 11.50 ton CaCO3 ha-1). The experiment was laid out as a complete randomized design in a factorial arrangement. Results: Combined application of lime, vermicompost and mineral P significantly increased (p<0.05) labile phosphorus fractions and decreased potential sorption capacities of the soil. As the increased soil pH, reduced exchangeable acidity and oxalate extractable Fe and Al the integrated applications of these amendments fixed aluminum and iron instead of phosphorus, thus rendering phosphorus available by keeping the inorganic phosphorus in a bioavailable labile phosphorus pool compared to sole application of the amendments. Conclusions: Combined applications of lime, vermicompost and inorganic P to acidic soils of Goha-1 in Cheha district could convey enhanced amount of available P and ensures the maintenance of higher levels of labile P. It might also contribute towards meeting crop P requirements.


Jurnal Solum ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herviyanti Herviyanti ◽  
Fachri Ahmad ◽  
Riza Sofiyani ◽  
Darmawan Darmawan ◽  
Gusnidar Gusnidar ◽  
...  

The purpose of this research is to study interaction of humic substances extracted from subbituminus coal with P fertilizer on the chemical properties of Ultisol and crop production of corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was designed in completely randomized design having 2 factors (4 x 4) with 3 replications. The first factor was dose of humic substances (A) which consists of 4 levels (A1 = 0 ppm, A2 = 400 ppm, A3 = 800 ppm, and A4 = 1200 ppm). The second factor was level of fertilizer P (B) (B1 = 100% recommendation, B2 = 75% recommendation, B3 = 50% recommendation, and B4 = 25%). The result showed that : 1) There is no interaction between humic substances and P fertilizer on the chemical nature of Ultisol and crop production of corn (Zea mays L.) 2) Use of humic substance for 800 ppm with some level of P fertilizer could improve some chemical properties of Ultisol such as decreased in content of Al-exch by 0,38 me/100 g soil, increased in P-available by 22,16 ppm, CEC by 8,42 me/100 g soil and P nutrient by 0,10 %, as well as corn yield by 25,67 g/pot compared to soil without humic substances 3) The use of SP-36 for 50 % with some level of humic substances increased in plant height by 26,58 cm, P nutrient by 0,11 %, and the use of 75 % SP-36 increased corn yield by 5,84 g/pot compared to 25% of P recommended.Keywords : humic subtances, subbituminus coal, P fertilizer.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaha-Al Baquy ◽  
Jiu-Yu Li ◽  
Chen-Yang Xu ◽  
Khalid Mehmood ◽  
Ren-Kou Xu

Abstract. Soil acidity has become a serious constraint in dry land crop production systems of acidic Ultisols in tropical and subtropical regions of southern China, where winter wheat and canola are cultivated as important rotational crops. Regardless of other common existing concerns in acidic Ultisols of southern China, it needs to be investigated whether soil acidity has any effect on wheat and canola growth. There is little information on the determination of critical soil pH as well as aluminium (Al) concentration for wheat and canola crops. The objective of this study was to determine the critical soil pH and exchangeable aluminium concentration (AlKCl) for wheat and canola production. Two pot cultures with two Ultisols from Hunan and Anhui were conducted for wheat and canola crops in a controlled growth chamber, with a completely randomized design. A soil pH gradient ranging from 3.7 (Hunan) and 3.97 (Anhui) to 6.5, with three replications, was used as a treatment. Aluminium sulfate (Al2(SO4)3) and hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) were used to obtain the target soil pH levels. Plant height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of wheat and canola were adversely affected by soil acidity in both locations. The critical soil pH and AlKCl of the Ultisol from Hunan for wheat were 5.29 and 0.56 cmol kg−1, respectively. At Anhui, the threshold soil pH and AlKCl for wheat were 4.66 and 2.36 cmol kg−1, respectively. On the other hand, the critical soil pH for canola was 5.65 and 4.87 for the Ultisols from Hunan and Anhui, respectively. The critical soil exchangeable Al for canola cannot be determined from the experiment of this study. The results suggested that the critical soil pH and AlKCl varied between different locations for the same variety of crop, due to the different soil types and their other soil chemical properties. The critical soil pH for canola was higher than that for wheat for both Ultisols, thus canola was more sensitive to soil acidity. Therefore, we recommend that liming should be undertaken to increase soil pH if it falls below these critical soil pH levels for wheat and canola production.


Author(s):  
Esther Mwende Muindi

Liming and phosphorus (P) applications are recommended practices for improving crop production in acid soils of the tropics. Although considerable work has been done to establish liming rates for acid soils in many parts of the world, information on the effects of lime on the forms of aluminium which actively sorb P in such soils is minimal. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted at Waruhiu Farmers Training Centre, Githunguri to evaluate the effect of liming on oxalate and dithionate extractable aluminium in acid soils. Extremely (pH 4.48) and strongly (pH 4.59) acidic soils were evaluated. Four liming (CaO) rates namely 0, 2.2, 5.2 and 7.4 tonnes ha-1 for extremely acidic and 0, 1.4, 3.2, and 4.5 tonnes ha-1 for  strongly acidic soils were evaluated. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Data collected included: initial soil chemical properties, oxalate (Alo) and dithionate (Ald) aluminium levels. The tested soils had high exchangeable Al (> 2 cmol Al kg-1), Al saturation of (> 20% Al) and low extractable P values (< 15 mg P kg-1 soil). Liming significantly (p=.05) reduced Alo by 70% and 68% in extremely and strongly acidic soils respectively and Ald by 78% in both extremely and strongly acidic soils compared to control. Use of 7.4 tonnes ha-1 of lime in extremely acidic soils and 4.5 tonnes ha-1 of lime in strongly acidic soils significantly (p=.05) reduced both Alo and Ald by > 68% compared to no lime. It was, therefore, concluded that liming contributes to the reduction of soluble Alo and Ald in acid soils of the Kenya highlands leading to increased soluble P availability. Studies are required to provide short and long term optimal liming rates that reduce Alo and Ald without distabilizing availability of other nutrients in field conditions under wide range of acid soils.


Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Hua Yuan ◽  
Ren-Kou Xu

The chemical compositions of biochars from ten crop residues generated at 350°C and their effects on chemical properties of acid soils from tropical and subtropical China were investigated. There was greater alkalinity and contents of base cations in the biochars from legume residues than from non-legume residues. Carbonates and organic anions of carboxyl and phenolic groups were the main forms of alkalis in the biochars, and their relative contributions to biochar alkalinity varied with crop residues. Incubation experiments indicated that biochar incorporation increased soil pH and soil exchangeable base cations and decreased soil exchangeable acidity. There were greater increases in soil pH and soil exchangeable base cations, and a greater decrease in soil exchangeable acidity, for biochars from legume than from non-legume residues. The biochars did not increase the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils with relatively high initial CEC but did increase the CEC of soils with relatively low initial CEC at an addition level of 1%. The incorporation of biochars from crop residues not only corrected soil acidity but also increased contents of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in these acid soils from tropical and subtropical regions and thus improved soil fertility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mesfin Kassa Cholbe ◽  
Fassil Kebede Yeme ◽  
Wassie Haile Woldeyohannes

Information on soil fertility status of acid soil of a particular area as affected by land use type is important for developing sound soil management systems for improved and sustainable agricultural productivity. The main objective of this study was to assess the fertility status and effect of land use change on soil physicochemical properties. In this study, adjacent three land use types, namely, enset-coffee, crop, and grazing land use were considered in four districts (i.e., Bolos Sore, Damot Gale, Damot Sore, and Sodo Zuria) of Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–20 cm from each land use type of the respective districts for physicochemical analyses. The results showed that land use types significantly affected ( P ≤ 0.05 ) soil properties such as bulk density, available P, exchangeable potassium, exchangeable acidity, exchangeable bases (Na, K, Ca, Mg), exchangeable acidity, and CEC. Besides, soil pH, OC, and TN were influenced significantly ( P ≤ 0.05 ) both by districts and land use types. The very strongly acidic soils were found predominantly in the crop and grazing lands whereas a neutral acidity level was found in the enset-coffee land use type of four districts. In conclusion, the study proves that land use type change within the same geographic setting can affect the severity of soil acidity due to over cultivation and rapid organic matter decomposition. Finally, the study recommends an in-depth study and analysis on the root causes in aggravating soil acidity under crop and grazing land use types.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 1231-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adônis Moreira ◽  
Nand Kumar Fageria

Alfalfa is an important forage crop with high nutritive value, although highly susceptible to soil acidity. Liming is one of the most efficient and prevailing practices to correct soil acidity and improve alfalfa yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate response to liming of alfalfa grown in a greenhouse on a Typic Quartzipsamment soil. The treatments consisted of four lime rates (0, 3.8, 6.6 and 10.3 Mg ha-1) and two cuts. Alfalfa dry matter increased quadratically with increasing lime rates. In general, dry matter yield was maximized by a lime rate of 8.0 Mg ha-1. Except for the control, the dry matter nutrient contents in the treatments were adequate. The positive linear correlation between root and nodule dry matter with lime rates indicated improvement of these plant traits with decreasing soil acidity. The soil acidity indices pH, base saturation, Ca2+ concentration, Mg2+ concentration, and H + Al were relevant factors in the assessment of alfalfa yield. The magnitude of influence of these soil acidity indices on yield as determined by the coefficient of determination (R²) varied and decreased in the order: base saturation, H + Al, pH, Ca and Mg concentrations. Optimum values of selected soil chemical properties were defined for maximum shoot dry matter; these values can serve as a guideline for alfalfa liming to improve the yield of this forage on acid soils.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-17
Author(s):  
Suwarno . ◽  
Itsuo Goto ◽  
Hiroshi Masujima

Chemical properties of Pretreatment center slag (PTC-slag) were analyzed and compared to those of converter slag (C slag) and blast furnace slag (BF slag). PTC slag had a high EC value as well as citric acid soluble P and contained more Ca, Si, P, K, and Na but less Mg and Fe than C slag. Compared to BF slag, PTC slag contained more Fe, Ca, Mg, P, Mn, and Na but less Si, Al, and K. Although neutralizing value of PTC slag was lower than that of C slag, its ability to neutralize soilacidity was markedly higher. A pot experiment using Andisol from Tochigi Prefecture and komatsuna plant was carried outto evaluate PTC slag as liming material as well as P fertilizer. PTC slag, C slag, and dolomite were applied as liming materials and combined with super phosphate (SP). Addition of SP of 2.5 and 5.0% phosphate absorption coefficient (PAC) to PTC slag significantly improved the yield of komatsuna.This result, however, only apply for PTC slag adjusting soil pH to 6.5. Addit~ono f the same dosage of SP to PTC slag adjusting soil pH to 7.5 did not give significant effect. On the other hand, addition of SP of 2.5 and 5.0% PAC to C slag or dolomite significantly improved the yield for both C slag ordolomite adjusting. the soil pH to 6.5 and 7.5. Results of the experiment also indicated that P'TC slag and C slag significantly increased soil pH; exchangeable Ca, and Mg and improved available P, B, and Mn in Andisol. The magnitudes ofthese effects of the two slags, however, were difference. As compared to C slag and dolomite, PTC slag increased lower exchangeable Mg but higher available P. These results suggest that for acid soil amendment, PTC slag was better than dolomite and C slag due to the fact that this material supplymore P and B. Application of PTC slag as acid soil amendment will reduce the demand of P fertilizer, and even in high dosage can meet the P demand of komatsuna plant.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1799
Author(s):  
Nur Hidayah Hamidi ◽  
Osumanu Haruna Ahmed ◽  
Latifah Omar ◽  
Huck Ywih Ch'ng

Highly weathered tropical acidic soils are characterized by low pH, low organic matter, and aluminium and iron toxicity. These factors pose a challenge to achieving sustainable agriculture. The continued increase in the human population with the accompanied increasing food demand have negatively impacted the global N cycle partly because of excessive use N fertilizers particularly urea which is commonly used in agriculture. Ammonia volatilization from urea as an example, negatives the environmental quality. This study focuses on soil-N availability, pH, exchangeable acidity, Al3+, and H+ of a highly weathered acid soils (Bekenu series) through the combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea. To this end, an incubation study was conducted for 90 days through the combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea to determine if this approach could improve soil N availability and pH at the same time reducing exchangeable acidity, and Al3+, and H+ toxicity. The amount of urea used was fixed at 100% as the recommended rate. Charcoal and sago bark ash were varied by 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, respectively of the recommended rate. Selected soil physico-chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. This study revealed that combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea increased soil pH and base cations simultaneously the approach also reduced exchangeable acidity, exchangeable Al3+, and exchangeable H+. There were no significant differences in soil total N, exchangeable NH4+, and available NO3− for the combined use of charcoal, sago bark ash, and urea and urea alone because of the acid neutralizing effect of the amendments. Apart from the sago bark ash’s liming effect, the high affinity of the functional groups of the charcoal for Al3+ might have impeded Al3+ from undergoing hydrolysis to produce more H+ because a complete one mole of Al3+ hydrolysis produces three moles of H+. Thus, the combined use of charcoal and sago bark ash can mitigate soil acidity and aluminium toxicity, although this approach has minimal effect on-N.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joann K Whalen ◽  
Chi Chang ◽  
George W Clayton

Crop production on acid soils can be improved greatly by adjusting the pH to near neutrality. Although soil acidity is commonly corrected by liming, there is evidence that animal manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Fresh cattle manure and agricultural lime were compared for their effects on soil acidity and the production of canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a greenhouse study. Canola and wheat yield, the nutrient content of grain and straw, and selected soil properties were determined on a Gray Luvisol (pH 4.8) from the Peace Region of Alberta. Soil pH increased with lime and manure applications, and canola and wheat yields were higher in limed and manure-amended soils than unfertilized, unlimed soils. Macronutrient uptake by canola and wheat was generally improved by liming and manure applications, and micronutrient uptake was related to the effects of lime and manure on soil pH. An economic analysis compared the costs of using cattle manure and lime to increase soil pH to 6.0. The costs of applying lime and fresh cattle manure to increase soil pH were compared, based on the fees for purchasing and applying lime or loading, hauling and applying manure. The nutrient value of manure was calculated based on the quantities of plant-available N, P and K in fresh manure. At distances less than 40 km, it is economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for agricultural lime to increase soil pH of acidic soils. However, good manure management practices should be followed to minimize the risk of nutrient transport and environmental pollution from agricultural land amended with cattle manure. Key words: Agricultural economics, canola production, cattle manure, lime, soil pH, wheat prodution


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