African Journal of Soil Science

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-010, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of Sulphate Adsorption and Release Properties in Selected Soils from Malawi

J. H. A. Maida* and P. C. Nalivata

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe. Malawi.

Received 11 February 2024; Accepted 14 April; 2024

Abstract

The soils selected for this study represented major soil types in Malawi. They exhibited a wide range of physical and chemical properties. Their pH values ranged from 4.7 to 6.7 and their contents of clay fraction (<0.002 mm) ranged from 170 to 500 g kg-1, organic matter from 6.7 to 39.3 g kg -1, free Fe2O3 from 18.9 to 44.7 g kg-1, and free Al2O3 from 17.8 to 45.6 g kg -1. The soils varied widely in their SO4 sorption behaviour. Soil pH was negatively and significantly correlated (P<0.05) with the bonding energy (k) of SO4 by the soil, Langmuir sulphate sorption maximum (b) and maximum buffering capacity (MBC). Soil organic matter was positively and significantly related with k, b and MBC at the same level of significance (P<0.05). Free Al2O3 and Fe2O3 were positively and significantly related (P<0.001) with b and MBC. Free Fe2O3 and Al2O3 were positively and significantly correlated with k at P<0.01 and P<0.001 respectively. About 90 and 91% of the total variations in the sulphate sorption maxima were accounted for by free Al2O3 and Fe2O3 respectively.

Key words: Sulphate, sorption, desorption, Langmuir, hysteresis, affinity.
 

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Treated Domestic Sewage Application through Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation on Soil Solution and Chemical Properties in Orange Plantations

Reginaldo Ferreira Santos¹, Andreia Aparecida Ferreira da Silva²*, Edson Eiji Matsura³, Aline Azevedo Nazário³ and Samuel Nelson Melegari de Souza¹

¹PPGEA – State University of West Paraná – UNIOESTE, Rua Universitária, 2069, Cascavel – PR, Cascavel,
PR, Brazil.
²Agronomy Department, FCA/São Paulo State University– UNESP, Brazil.

³Agricultural Engineering Department, FEAGRI/UNICAMP, Campinas – SP, Brazil.

Received 2 March, 2016; Accepted 5 June, 2024

Abstract

The use of treated domestic sewage (TDS) in agriculture by drip irrigation in the soil subsurface can serve as an extra treatment and also provide higher availability of water and nutrients to plant roots. It represents safer and healthier cultivation for crops, producers and consumers, and allows the direction of better quality water for domestic consumption. This study aimed to analyze the possible effects of TDS irrigation on chemical and biological properties of the soil in an orange plantation. The experiment was conducted on Lagoa Bonita Farm, at the Adventist University Center of São Paulo - UNASP - Engenheiro Coelho Campus, SP. A block design with three replications was used in the following treatments: soil irrigated with TDS on the surface, soil irrigated with TDS in the subsurface, and soil with no irrigation. Soil samples were collected for chemical and biological analyzes, as well as samples of the treated domestic sewage used. The TDS characteristics were within the parameters allowed by law. Considering the chemical parameters and the types of irrigation analyzed, the highest results observed were: K: 11 mmolc.dm3, Ca: 30 mmolc.dm3, Mg: 7 mmolc.dm3, and pH: 5.5.

Key words: Reuse, citrus, soil chemistry, soil solution.
 

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Treated Domestic Sewage Application through Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation on Soil Solution and Chemical Properties in Orange Plantations

Reginaldo Ferreira Santos¹, Andreia Aparecida Ferreira da Silva²*, Edson Eiji Matsura³, Aline Azevedo Nazário³ and Samuel Nelson Melegari de Souza¹

¹PPGEA – State University of West Paraná – UNIOESTE, Rua Universitária, 2069, Cascavel – PR, Cascavel,
PR, Brazil.
²Agronomy Department, FCA/São Paulo State University– UNESP, Brazil.

³Agricultural Engineering Department, FEAGRI/UNICAMP, Campinas – SP, Brazil.

Received 2 March, 2016; Accepted 5 June, 2024

Abstract

The use of treated domestic sewage (TDS) in agriculture by drip irrigation in the soil subsurface can serve as an extra treatment and also provide higher availability of water and nutrients to plant roots. It represents safer and healthier cultivation for crops, producers and consumers, and allows the direction of better quality water for domestic consumption. This study aimed to analyze the possible effects of TDS irrigation on chemical and biological properties of the soil in an orange plantation. The experiment was conducted on Lagoa Bonita Farm, at the Adventist University Center of São Paulo - UNASP - Engenheiro Coelho Campus, SP. A block design with three replications was used in the following treatments: soil irrigated with TDS on the surface, soil irrigated with TDS in the subsurface, and soil with no irrigation. Soil samples were collected for chemical and biological analyzes, as well as samples of the treated domestic sewage used. The TDS characteristics were within the parameters allowed by law. Considering the chemical parameters and the types of irrigation analyzed, the highest results observed were: K: 11 mmolc.dm3, Ca: 30 mmolc.dm3, Mg: 7 mmolc.dm3, and pH: 5.5.

Key words: Reuse, citrus, soil chemistry, soil solution.
 

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-011, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Different Tillage Techniques and Wood Ash Application on Soil pH, Available Phosphorus in Ultisol, and Performance Metrics for Castor Beans

Nweke, I. A.¹*, Mbah, C. N.², Oweremadu, E. O.³, Dambaba, N.⁴, Orji, E. C.⁵, Ekesiobi, A. I.⁵ and Nnabuife, E. L. C.⁶

¹Department of Soil Science, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
²Department of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
³Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
⁴National Cereal Research Institute, Baddagi, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
⁵Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
⁶Faculty of Agriculture Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Received 15 April, 2024; Accepted 23 July, 2024

Abstract

The effect of tillage methods and rates of wood ash on soil chemical properties and castor bean plant performance was studied in field trial at Abakaliki in three planting seasons. The experiment was a split plot in randomized complete block design with three tillage methods (mound, ridge, flat) and four rates of wood ash (0, 2t, 4 and 6 tha-1) replicated three times. Crop start version 7.2 was used to analyze data collected and mean separation was done using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% alpha level. The results of soil pH and available P showed that tillage method (TM) increased the values of the nutrients in 2nd year, but decreased in the 3rd year planting. The values of these parameters observed in Ridge method was found to be higher when compared to the values of Mound and Flat except for the result of available P in 1st and 3rd year planting periods. The wood ash (WA) amendment was found to change the soil from slightly acidic in 1st year to alkaline in 2nd year to slightly acidic in 3 rd year. The control soil remained acidic throughout the three years of study. The available P obtained from Rd6 consistently gave the highest values among the TM and rates of WA. Tillage methods had no effect on leaf area index (LAI) at 50 days after planting (DAP) and 100 DAP in 1st and 2nd year planting periods, but had significant effect on the parameters in 3rd year planting season. Flat showed highest plant height in 1st and 2nd years but decreased in the 3rd year. While the least value in plant height for the 3 years’ of study was recorded in Mound. The findings from this study has clearly shown that soil application of wood ash and tillage practices has the potential to cause positive and useful changes in the fertility and productivity status of the soil by improving the soil properties and yield component of castor.

Key words: Ash, available P, castor plant, leaf area, plant height, soil reaction, tillage.

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-011, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative Analysis of Habitat Effects on Phytochemical Constituents in Miswak (Salvadora persica L.)

Amal Ahmed Mohammed Al-Ghamdi¹* and Manal El-Zohri^1,2

¹Department of Botany, Environment Program, Faculty of Biological Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box
35009, Jeddah 21488, Saudi Arabia.

²Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt.

Received 15 May, 2024; Accepted 23 July, 2024

Abstract

Salvadora persica is a popular medicinal plant in the Middle East countries. It is well adapted to a wide range of habitats. In this study we have compared the effect of two different habitats (Al-ahsabah valley and Shada Mountain) in Al-Baha City, south west of Saudi Arabia on the content of some primary and secondary metabolites in S. persica. The results show that soil texture, soil moisture and organic matter contents varied in the studied regions. This variation was accompanied by differences in total count and distribution of Mycorrhizal spores in both studied habitats. Soil total count of mycorrhizal spores and root colonization percentage in Shada Mountain was significantly higher than that in Al-Ahsabah valley. Moisture content, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids concentrations in leaves and roots of plants collected from Al-ahsabah valley were significantly higher than those collected from Shada Mountain. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that benzene, (isothiocyanatomethyl) was the most abundant analyt in both extracts. There was a slight variation in the secondary metabolites pattern, where benzene, 1-isocyano-2-methyl- in extract of S. persica roots collected from Al-Ahsabah valley substituted with Benzyl nitrile in S. persica roots of Shada Mountain. Taken together we could conclude that, different habitats in the studied regions affect markedly the concentration of its primary metabolites and to less extent the secondary metabolites. Isolation of the active phytochemical constituents from plants of different habitats and studding of its biological activity will definitely give fruitful results.

Key words: Miswak, soil factors, mycorrhiza, carbohydrates, protein, amino acids, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 11 (9), pp. 001-009, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phosphorus Distribution and Sorption Characteristics in Soils of Fincha Sugar Estate, Western Ethiopia

Fekadu Fanjana¹, Wassie Haile²* and Gashaw Mitike²

¹Ethiopian Sugar Corporation, Omo Kuraz Sugar Estate, Ethiopia.
²College of Agriculture, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

Received 23 April, 2024; Accepted 18 May, 2024

Abstract

Soil chemical forms of Phosphorus and P sorption capacities of Fincha Sugar Estate soils were studied using samples collected from luvisols, vertisols and fluvisols of the farm. P forms were sequentially extracted following standard P fractionation procedure. In sorption study, 3 g of soil sample was equilibrated with 30 ml of 0.01 M CaCl2 containing various amounts of KH2PO 4. Data were fitted into Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Results revealed that organic P (Po) accounted for the larger proportion of total P than total active inorganic P fraction in 66.7% of soils. The ratio of organic carbon to Po was < 200 in all soils indicating net mineralization of Po. Ca-P was dominant in luvisols and vertisols whereas Fe-P was dominant in fluvisols. P sorption data of all soils fitted well with Langmuir equation but the P sorption data of these soils were found not to fit with Freundlich equation. Langmuir adsorption maxima and external P requirement (EPR) of soils ranged from 227.3-344.8 and 63-153.8 mgkg-1 respectively. Luvisols and vertisols which account for more than 95% of the farm had EPR values < 150 mgkg-1 and hence they were classified as low P sorbing soils. This implies that high P sorption is not P limiting factor in the estate. The result further indicates that current P fertilizer application rate of 30 kg P ha-1 being practiced across all soil types of the farm needs to be revised after validating the EPR values estimated in this study for each soil both in greenhouse and in the field at Fincha Sugar Estate.

Key words: P fractions, P sorption, Langmuir equation, Freundlich equation.