Asian Soil Research Journal
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Developers’ Essential Footsteps for Designing Soil Monitoring and Protection Mobile Apps
No full textIt is known that mobile applications running on the Android operating system enjoy real appreciation among users around the world. These applications include those dedicated to soil monitoring and protection. Concerning the latter, we propose to discuss, step by step, mainly the phases and stages related to the configuration, design, development, implementation, testing, and validation of a mobile application with valences in the monitoring and protection of soil resources. Moreover, we analyzed from the very beginning and what are the main differences between the three possible work scenarios - native, hybrid, or web mobile application, to see what the requirements and features that we have to take into account in the development of the proposed application. In this sense, the work methodology is specific to the development of software applications, about which the results show us that the optimal option for the considered mobile application is a mix between native and hybrid development. Consequently, as a result of the analysis carried out on the entire development and life cycle of the application, it is found that our proposal for an application dedicated to soil monitoring and protection is more than welcome, the elements related to the configuration, design, development, its implementation, testing and validation being not only the prerogative of developers but also of users and customers
Agro-Waste Biochar to Reduce the Leaching of Heavy Metals from Coal Fly Ash Amended Soil
No full textThe soils added with coal fly ash may contain heavy metals potentially up to the levels of toxicity. Biochars have been successfully used in the past to reduce the bioavailability and leaching of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Therefore, the co-application of biochar together with coal fly ash could positively change the bioavailability and leaching characteristics of heavy metals in sandy soils through various fixing mechanisms. In the present study, the authors investigated the effect of agro-waste biochar in modifying the leaching loss of heavy metals from coal fly ash contaminated soils. Column leaching tests with simulated rainfall conditions were conducted for sandy Ultisol soils mixed with coal fly ash and avocado branch cut biomass biochar at 5 tons/ha rate. The results showed the presence of heavy metals in the leachate of fly ash added soil. Application of biochar significantly reduced the leachability of all the tested heavy metals in the study. The reduction rates were up to 55% compared to non-amended samples. Therefore, the agro-waste biochar can effective be used in stabilizing the heavy metals in coal fly ash contaminated soils, to minimize the risk of environmental contamination. 
Oedometers tests in Compacted Tropical Soils in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
No full textOedometers and secondary oedometric tests with controlled shear rates were performed in two soils from the Baixada Fluminense region, in the city of São João do Meriti – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The soils in question are deposited on non-compacted soft soil with the addition of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Both samples of compacted soil were excavated at a depth of 10.0 m, and undisturbed samples were collected
Quality of Tea Soil Induced by Cultivation Period
No full textTea is Bangladesh\u27s second-highest agricultural export earner, and the nation is rated 15th among all tea-exporting nations. To develop and support the tea business in Bangladesh, it is crucial to comprehend the current nutrient status of tea soils. The purpose of the study was to examine the inherent physical and chemical characteristics of tea soils in relation to the effects of soil depth, topography and cultivation periods. The results showed the significant effects of soil depths, topography, and cultivation periods on the measured physical and chemical properties, including texture, bulk density, organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), pH, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The available and total contents of major nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were also significant (P<0.001). The contents of P and K were observed to be lower than the critical values ideal for tea cultivation. However, the results indicated that the soils kept for nutrient restoration for years showed a nutrient status close to the ideal value of tea cultivation
Comparative Assessment of Crop Water Productivity of Drip Irrigated Green Pepper under Poly-House and Open-Field Conditions
No full textCrop water productivity (CWP) is a crucial factor in determining the sustainability of agricultural practices. Drip irrigation is a method that has shown potential in improving CWP in crop production. The study aimed to compare the crop water productivity of green pepper production under poly-house and open-field environments during 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 growing seasons. The experiment was conducted during the dry seasons of 2020.2021 and 2021/2022 at the Teaching and Research Field of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The beds were prepared, nursery was established, drip irrigation system was installed and fumigation was carried out before transplanting. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCBD) with nine replications in each environment. The same design was applied to both poly-house and open-field conditions. The factors are environment (poly-house and open-field) and irrigation intervals of 5, 6 and 7 days (I5, I6 and I7). Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) was used for multiple comparison. Drip irrigation was applied to all plots at different irrigation intervals. The results showed that the crop water productivity under poly-house and open-field environments in 2020/2021 growing season were: I5: 29.67, I6: 36.97, I7: 20.92 and I5: 17.06, I6: 21.45, I7: 12.21 kg/m3. Similarly, in the 2021/2022 growing season, the CWP values were I5: 16.90, I6: 23.27, I7: 12.95 and I5: 9.60, I6: 14.01, I7: 6.81 kg/m3 under poly-house and open-field, respectively. The results revealed that water productivity was more efficient at low levels of water supply in the poly-house during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 growing seasons. The production of green pepper under poly-house increased water conservation, reduced nutrient leaching, enhanced crop productivity for sustainable agricultural practices and water management
Physico-chemical Properties in Rhizosphere of Some Field Crops at Different Growth Stages in a Sandy Clay Loam Soil in Sourthern Nigeria
No full textThe effects of different cultivated crops and their growth periods on some hydraulic and chemical properties of a sandy clay loam soil at the University of Port Harcourt, Teaching and Research Farm, in Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria was studied. The objective was to understand the changes in soil physical and chemical properties near the plant environment during the growing period for optimum management. Four (4) crops: Maize (Zea mays L.), Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Pepper (Capsicum annuum), and Garden egg (Solanum melongena F.) were planted to native fallowed soil and the soil properties measured at three (3) growth stages of the crops viz: Establishment, Flowering, and Maturity. Results revealed that the plants did not modify the soil textural class. Significant changes in bulk densities and saturated hydraulic conductivity were found during the flowering stage of the crops. Bulk density of 1.36 and 1.34 g cm-3 were significantly (p<0.05) low at during flowering and maturity stages, respectively, in Garden egg soils. The highest saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) values of 22.9 and 27 cm h-1, respectively, were significant (p<0.05) during the same periods for garden egg, followed by Maize and Okra. Results also revealed that Okra, Pepper and Garden egg significantly (p<0.05) reduced the soil acidity at flowering growth period. Maize contributed significant additions of soil organic matter to the soil at flowering and maturity periods. Maximum removal of available plant nutrients was at flowering stage for maize when more than 80% of the plant had shown tasselling and cob formation. Therefore, monitoring the growth stages of specific plant could help in nutrient and soil management and changes in soil physical and chemical properties
Soil Analytics: Inter-conversion of Units among Different Parameters in Soil Science
No full textSoil analytics involves a variety of chemical processes that determine that amount of available plant nutrients in the soil, including their physico-chemical and biological properties important for plant nutrition. The chemical analysis determines plant nutrients content and other physical characteristics. Based on quality soil analysis, it is easier to determine the required fertilizer needed by plants for quality growth and yield. Analytical procedures in soil science vary from one method to another, each with its peculiar unit of measurement. This article seeks to provide some inter-unit conversion or provide conversion factors to satisfy the yearnings of all interest groups. The calculation and conversion of units of measurement of different soil parameters will unify conclusions of different analytical results, such as in fertilizer application and experimental reactionary systems. The outcome of this article has provided meaningful inter- unit conversion through simple derivation principles, by the derivation of conversion factors, and in the practice of fertilizer calculation for fertility studies
Optimization of Culture Conditions for Gibberellic Acid Production by Fusarium solani KUSF0301
No full textThe current study reports the effect of various cultural parameters on the gibberellic acid (GA) by Fusarium sp. isolated from an agricultural field of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Gibberellin is one of the principal plant growth regulators that influence the overall developmental processes in angiosperms. The Fusarium sp. was isolated by soil dilution plate technique on selective pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) medium. The isolate was identified and subsequently characterized by the routine morphological studies and molecular analysis. Various physiological parameters viz., growth media, carbon and nitrogen sources, incubation temperature and pH of the culture medium were taken into consideration for determining their effect on the phytohormone production and subsequent optimization of the culture conditions. GA production was found to be highest in CD broth. Among the carbohydrate sources used, sucrose (7300 µg/ml), dextrose (7150 µg/ml) and maltose (6650 µg/ml) were found to be most conducive for GA production. Among the nitrogen sources, glycine (7360 µg/ml) and sodium nitrate (7250 µg/ml) were found to be most stimulatory in GA production. Interestingly, with the increase in pH, GA production was also found to be increased. Maximum GA production was recorded at pH 10 (7800 µg/ml). GA production was found equally well in temperature range 14-32°C (7000-7160 µg/ml)
Evaluating the Influence of Palm Kernel Shell Ash on Ire Clay Geopolymer Concrete Cured at Ambient Temperature
No full textThere is an abundance of clay deposit in Ire Ekiti which can serve as geopolymer source material and Palm kernel shell exists as a massive agro waste in South Western Nigeria. This study evaluates the effect of palm kernel shell ash (PKSA) as an additive on the compressive strength of Ire clay geopolymer concrete. The objective of the study is to determine the selected properties of the obtained concrete at room temperature. Palm kernel shell was burned at 650oC for 2 hours in a furnace. Natural clay collected from Ire Ekiti was manually pulverized, air dried and calcined in a furnace at 750o for 2 hours. The geopolymer concrete was prepared at a mixing ratio of 1:2:3. The material constituents were calcined clay (source material), 12M of NaOH and Na2SiO3 (ratio of NaOH to Na2SiO3 was 2:5), river sand and 12.5mm granite were the fine and coarse aggregates respectively while PKSA of 0%,7.5% and 15% of the calcined Ire Clay content were used as additive in preparing the geopolymer concrete. geopolymer concrete specimens were cured at ambient temperature till testing at different maturity ages of 7, 14 and 28 days. It was generally observed that increasing the percentage of PKSA as additive strongly improved the compressive strength gain with maturity of the Ire clay geopolymer concrete. At 28 days maturity, 7.5% PKSA addition improved the compressive strength by 166% while 15% PKSA addition improved the strength by 181% increase. The highest compressive strength was 7.67N/mm2 at 15% PKSA addition on 28 day. Conclusively, Ire clay and PKSA are viable source material and additive respectively for geopolymer concrete production. The Ire clay geopolymer concrete can be practically applied like conventional concrete in structural work especially in a rural community like Ire Ekiti where cement needs to be transported over kilometers. Also, the concrete performing well at ambient temperature makes it cost effective compare to most geopolymers that require heating at high temperature. It is recommended that further study on the durability should be done
Tillage Effects on Soil Moisture and Sulfur use Efficiency by Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) on Vertisol of North Ethiopia
No full textSesame, produced in Humera is among the highest quality seeds grown in Ethiopia and even in the world. However, its productivity is by far less than the production potential due to nutrient depletion, moisture stress and lack of crop response to applied fertilizer. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of tillage practices and sulfur fertilizer rates on moisture conservation and agronomic sulfur use efficiency of sesame crop in 2015. The treatments were tied ridges (M1) and flatbed tillage practices combined with five rates of sulfur fertilizer at a split plot design with three replications. M1 and flatbed treatments were assigned to the main plots, while sulfur fertilizer rates were assigned to the sub-plots. Measurements of soil moisture content at 0-20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm depth were conducted throughout the growing season at an interval of 13 days using the gravimetric method. The results showed that M1 increased the soil moisture content up to 44% compared to the flatbed. The highest amount of agronomic sulfur use efficiency 14.4 kg kg-1 was also obtained from M1 tillage at 10 kg S ha-1. On the other hand, the highest amount of agronomic sulfur use efficiencies under flatbed tillage was 9.5 kg kg-1 at 10 kg S ha-1. M1 increased agronomic sulfur use efficiency by 51.6%. Tied ridging is the best option to significantly increased soil moisture availability in the root zone and as a consequence it increased agronomic sulfur use efficiency of the sesame. Therefore, in-situ moisture conservation using tillage practices like M1 at farm level should be demonstrated at farmer’s field in the semi-arid Humera areas for improving sulfur fertilizer use efficiency