Asian Soil Research Journal
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Bio-availability and Bio-accessibility of Lead and Zinc in Contaminated Soil from Cwymystwyth Lead Mine Site
No full textCwmystwyth Lead Mine was an abundant mine site with pugh’s and kingside water drainages shows contaminated water in the research area with no much scientific evidence to ascertain the level of the pollution. Hence this research was designed to study level of lead and zinc in contaminated soil in which the bio-availability and bio-accessibility were measured. Sixteen (16) soil samples were taken at random using soil auger and a hand trowel. The samples were dried using an oven set at a constant temperature of 400oC for 72 hours. Wire mesh (250 microns) was used to sift the samples. The Unified (BARGE) method was used. The mimics mixtures of saliva, gastric, duodenal, and bile fluids. Three-stage mimic processes were performed, in the mouth, the stomach and intestinal cavities. All mimic digestive fluids were placed in the rotator water bath for 1hr at 37oC. The bioaccessibility of the soil Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-OES) method. The results were obtained using XRF and ICP methods. The percentage concentration of lead in the topsoil was 0.64% and in the bottom soil was 1.47%, with a total mean concentration of 1.06% in combined top and bottom soil. Zinc concentrations in the top and bottom soils were 0.22 and 0.45%, respectively, with a computed total mean of 0.34%. The findings revealed a highly significant difference between lead and zinc in both the top and bottom soil samples (LSD = P0.05). The average concentrations of lead and zinc extracted in both the stomach and intestinal stages were 15.98% and 1.23%, respectivel
Role of Air Flow on Changing Soil Properties and Plant Nutrition in Egyptian Alluvial Soil
No full textStudy the effect of air flow on changing some soil properties and plant nutrition is highly important to increase crop quality and productivity. The pot experiment was carried out focusing on Agric faba bean C.V. Giza 2 in Egyptian alluvial soil (clay) during 2017-18 seasons. Two soil samples with three replicates were taken. The results revealed that hygroscopic water (HW), saturation percentage (SP) and real density (RD) have not affected by air flow, while organic matter (OM), hydraulic conductivity (HC) and bulk density (BD) have remarkable increase with air flow. The available macro and micronutrients concentrations in soil and plant are also discussed where different results have been obtained depending upon type of nutrient. The total count of bacteria (TCM) is found to be affected with air flow than without aeration techniques. The findings of this study reveal that aeration or air flow promotes healthy levels of soil gases and plays a critical role in plant growth
Changes in the Microbial Properties of Olive Cultivated Soils under Short, Medium and Long-term Irrigation with Treated Wastewater
No full textAims: In Tunisia, Climatic changes and water shortage has led to the reuse of treated municipal wastewater (TMWW) in the agricultural sector since the sixties. This work was intended to study the short, medium, and long-term impacts of this practice on soil microbial properties.
Study Design: Five different experimental fields were chosen which had been irrigated with TMWW for 10, 20, 25, and 28 years, respectively. A pluvial irrigated field was selected as a control.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Zaouit Sousse (Tunisian Sahel region) located in the south of Sousse City (longitude: 35°47′, latitude: 10°38′ and of altitudes: 20 m N.G.T.). The soil sampling campaign was carried out at the end of the dry season (September 2014). This study was undertaken in a semi-arid area that is facing a water crisis (water shortage and irreversible seawater intrusion).
Methodology: Soil fecal pollution indicators were determined with the most probable number MPN method. Bacterial and fungal enumeration was done by the plate count agar method. Pathogenic bacteria was determined using the conventional bacteria identification methods.
Results: Irrigation with TMWW (for more than ten years) induced a significant increase in soil microbial biomass (heterotrophic bacteria and filamentous fungi). Soil microbial contamination was assessed by measuring Total and Fecal Coliforms, E. coli, and Faecal Streptococci at three studied soil layers (0-20; 20-40 and 40-60 cm) show’s a significant increase in TMWW irrigated plots compared to the control. Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. screening revealed the absence of those pathogens in all studied soils. This result is true for the three soil horizons (0-20; 20-40 and 40-60 cm). This result seems to be due to the short survival period of these pathogens in the soil.
Conclusion: TMWW irrigation had positive effects on soil fertility. However, this practice has led to a deterioration of the soil sanitary quality. The quality of the wastewater treated in Sousse Sud plant must be improved to ensure the reduction of emerging bacterial pathogens to non-detectable levels or to levels that have not been associated with human health risk
Phytoextraction of Lead: Its Feasibility, Constraints and Concerns
No full textAims: With lead being one of the most common soil contaminants and phytoextraction has been reported as a prospective method for remediation of lead-contaminated soil, this review aims to examine the feasibility of lead phytoextraction as well as its constraints and concerns.
Study Design: This is a literature review.
Methodology: Peer-reviewed papers were sourced from scholarly databases. The papers included in the review were mainly those about phytoextraction of lead, particularly with the shoot, soil and root concentrations of lead mentioned as well as the bioconcentration and translocation factors stated. Besides, papers discussing the limits, for instance, the duration of lead phytoextraction, and concerns of the approach were also included.
Results: This review found only 11 plants have been reported to accumulate lead in shoots at nominal threshold of near or above 1,000 mg Pb/kg dry weight and in certain cases, soil amendment was required to achieve this. Only two of the plants had bioconcentration factor > 1 and another two had translocation factor > 1. None of the plants fulfilled all three criteria of a successful hyperaccumulator, indicating the constraints and a lack of feasibility of lead phytoextraction. Besides, lead phytoextraction has been predicted to require significant amount of time, hence increasing the risk of exposure to lead.
Conclusion: This review highlights that lead phytoextraction may not be feasible for the remediation of lead-contaminated soil. It recommends phytostabilization as a more viable alternative to immobilize lead in rhizosphere and reduce lead exposure
Influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae on Callusing and root colonization of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Clones in Kenya
No full textMycorrhizal fungi are a major component of the soil micro flora in many ecosystems, but usually have limited saprophytic abilities. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an important component of soil life and soil chemistry. In soil, phosphorus may be present in relatively large amounts, but much of it is poorly available because of the very low solubility of phosphates by formation of complexes with iron, aluminum, and calcium, leading to soil solution concentrations of 10μm or less and very low mobility. Tea is a major income earner in the country, but yields are declining since high yielding tea varieties have a major problem with rooting and take so long in the nursery. The current study was initiated to investigate the role between Mycorrhizae and plants to explain rooting and growth rates during early stages of tea establishment. It was conducted at James Finlay in Kericho County, Kenya. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial arrangements. Phosphorus treatments consisted of a standard rate of 107.66kg ha -1, two clones of the tea (S15/10 and SC 12/28) and two mycorrhizal strains (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) plus one control without mycorrhizae. Data was collected on rate of callusing, chlorophyll content and rate of root infection by mycorrhizal fungus. Application of 50kg Mycorrhizae ha-1 exhibited the highest callusing rate on clone SC 15/10 with significant differences (P≤0.05) observed on the chlorophyll content from week 1 to week 30 where the standard application of phosphorus plus 50kg Mycorrhizae ha-1 on clone S 15/10 had the highest content consistently throughout the trial. The highest frequency of mycorrhizae colonization in the rhizosphere was observed when 70kg ha-1 was added under clone SC 12/28. AMF strains are recommended for use on tea propagation in improving callusing rate and the chlorophyll content at a rate of 50kg Mycorrhizae ha-1
Soil Survey and Land Suitability Evaluation for Sugar Cane Production at Zagga District, Bagudo Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria
No full textSemi-detail soil survey and land suitability evaluation for sugarcane production was carried out in Zagga, Bagudo LGA of Kebbi State Nigeria at scale of 1:25,000 on 8,000 ha of land. The objectives were to describe the morphological and chemical properties of the soils. The entire study area was classified in to five soil units named as ZG1, ZG2, ZG3, ZG4, and ZG5. Surface soil samples were examined and collected from 0-15cm, 15-30cm depth using soil auger at 200x200m interval. Five soil profile pits were dug, described and soils sampled from bottom up, to minimized contamination by falling debris. Each soil profile pit was described based on horizon thickness, depth, colour of matrix and mottles, consistency, included materials, roots, horizon boundary, vegetation/ land use, slope, depth to water table and drainage status. The soils are slightly acidic (6.30) to moderately acidic (5.60). The total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus, and basic cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were low to moderately low according to guidelines for nutrient rating and interpretation for Nigerian soils. The soils were moderately drained. According to USDA soil taxonomy classification the soils of ZG 1 and ZG 2 were classified as Dystrustepts while ZG 3, ZG 4 and ZG 5 were classified as Haplustepts and correlated with World Reference Based System as Arenosols and Luvisols. ZG1 and ZG2 were named as moderately suitable (S2) while ZG3, ZG4 and ZG5 were marginally suitable (S3) according to the guidelines of land suitability evaluation for sugarcane production
Vegetative Growth and Ion Relations in Soybean with Potassium Sulphate Application under Saline Environment
No full textAims: To evaluate the effect of K2SO42- application on growth of soybean cultivars besides chemical parameters under salt stress.
Study Design: Laid out the experiment in Complete Randomized Design in triplicates. Analyzed the data statistically by using the statistical software Statistix 8.1.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Soil Salinity and Bio-saline Research
green house and in the laboratory of Land Resources Research Institute at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (under PARC), Pakistan for three months.
Methodology: To study germination parameters under salt stress, NaCl was used @ 0, 100, 120 and 140 mmol L-1. At seedling stage, interactive effect among salt stress (0 and 4.5 dSm-1), potassium sulphate (KS) application @ 10 mmol L-1 and soybean (Cvs. NIBGE-301 and NIGBE-158) was recorded for growth and ion relations.
Results: Germination, biomass, bio vigor, mass vigor and sap vigor of the seedlings and ion relations were affected highly significantly (p≤ 0.01). Under interactive effect of KS and salt stress at vegetative stage, Na+/K+ in the plants declined with KS application. Sulphur and phosphorus concentration in the plants changed under the same conditions.
Conclusion: Induced salt stress revealed germination, seed bio vigor, seeding mass vigor, and seedling sap vigor seedling and other vegetative parameters of soybean cultivars. Potassium sulphate application revealed genotypes differential response to ion relations and growth under salt stress. NIBGE-301 was more tolerant to salt stress and more responsive to potassium sulphate application than NIGBE-158
Evaluation of Lead, Cadmium and Nickel Contamination in Lactuca Sativa Cultivated in Savadkooh Region, Iran
No full textAims: To investigate the level of heavy metal contamination in the lettuce cultivated in
Place: Savadkooh County in Mazandaran, Iran.
Methodology: five samples were taken from the lettuce produced in this area and also from the soils in which they were cultivated, and the concentrations of Nickel, Lead, and Cadmium were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the measured data. Data analysis was performed by SPSS ver.16 at the 0.05 significance level.
Results: The highest lead concentration, 0.07ppm, was observed in the sample No. 5 (Lettuce 5), the highest cadmium concentration, 0.008ppm, was measured in the sample No. 2 (Lettuce 2), and the highest nickel concentration, 0.07ppm, was observed in the samples No. 1 and 4 (Lettuce 1 and Lettuce 4).
Conclusion: The results of this study show that while all the lettuces cultivated in the Savadkooh region contain some amounts of nickel, cadmium, and lead, these amounts are much lower than the limits specified in Iran’s national standard, and therefore these products are perfectly safe to consume. Also, the concentration of each heavy metal in the lettuces was found to be directly correlated with the corresponding concentration in the soil in which they were grown, indicating that the heavy metal content of the products increases with the increasing heavy metal content of the soil
Minor Cereal Crops Production and their Future Prospects in Bangladesh
No full textDifferent kinds of cereals are the dominant carbohydrate source for the global population of which minor cereals, a group of neglected crops, play an important role in proving substitute of rice or wheat in the harsh environment of the globe. These crops have been replaced in many areas with the advent of irrigation facilities, availability of modern crop varieties and improvement of fertilizer management systems. In the present investigation, we have delineated production zones and established relationships of minor cereal cultivation with selected social character and future climatic conditions based on existing literature and survey data. In most cases, six minor cereals are cultivated in Bangladesh. Panicum miliaceum and Setaria italic cover larger areas and are mainly grown in north, north-west, central parts and hilly regions of the country and provide 400-1500 kg ha-1 grain yield. Although low grain yields, farmers having 0.2-0.8 ha land holdings mostly cultivate minor cereals because of its high profit within a short period of time, can be grown in poor soil and does not require special care. Besides, the product can be utilized in different ways, such as food and feed with social aristocracy. Because of climate change impacts, the optimum temperature windows for studying minor cereals will be narrowed down to 15 November through 15 February by 2050 although the critical maximum temperature range might not be a problem for growing minor cereals in Bangladesh. If high-yielding varieties of minor cereals are available, it would be a climate-smart technology in the future
Effect of Nano, Bio and Organic Fertilizers on Some Soil Physical Properties and Soybean Productivity in Saline Soil
No full textA field experiment was carried out at Khaled Ibn El-waleed village, Sahl El-Hussinia, El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, during two summer seasons 2019 and 2020 to study the effect of NPK nanofertilizers, biofertilizers and humic acid combined with or without mineral fertilizers different at rates on some soil physical properties and soybean productivity and quality under saline soil conditions. The treatments consisted of: NPK-chitosan, NPK-Ca, humic acid, biofertilzer and control (mineral NPK only). In both seasons, the experiment was carried out in a split plot design with three replicates. The results indicated a significant increase in the soybean yield parameters as compared to control. There was also a significant increase in dry and water stable aggregates in all treatments as compared to control. The treatment NPK-Chitosan was the best in improving dry and stable aggregates. Also, hydraulic conductivity and total porosity values were significantly increased in all treatments due to increase in soil aggregation and porosity that led to increase in values of hydraulic conductivity. Values of bulk density were decreased, the lowest values of bulk density were found in NPK-chitosan treatment as a result of the high concentration of organic matter resulted from NPK-chitosan is much lighter in weight than the mineral fraction in soils. Accordingly, the increase in the organic fraction decreases the total weight and bulk density of the soil. Concerning soil moisture constants, all treatments significantly increased field capacity and available water compared to control. This increase was due to improvement of the soil aggregates and pores spaces which allowed the free movement of water within the soil thereby, increasing the moisture content at field capacity