Pub Date : 2023-12-11DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040111
S. Papa, Marta Alvarez-Romero
The ingestion of vegetables grown in soils or in cultivation substrate contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) and irrigated with wastewater is a potential problem for human health and food quality. The increasing disappearance of fertile soils has led to an increase in the practice of soil-less cultivation and the use of growing substrates, but the choice of the right substrate and its sustainable management is essential to ensure the production of quality and safe vegetables for all while minimizing the impact on the environment and human health. The present study measures the combined effects of different HMs (V, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr) on microbial biomass, respiration, and enzyme activities (EAs) in an artificially contaminated commercial growing substrate. The concentrations of HMs were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; enzyme activities via spectrophotometric assays; respiration via CO2 evolution; and microbial biomass C via the fumigation extraction method. The results showed a reduction in both respiration and all enzyme activities. The reduction in EAs highlighted a notable influence on microorganism-mediated C, N, S, and P cycles, strongly reducing substrate health. Microbial biomass did not show significant differences, but the increase in the metabolic quotient highlighted how the toxicity of HMs reduces the energy use efficiency of microbial metabolic processes.
摄入在受重金属（HMs）污染的土壤或栽培基质中生长并用废水灌溉的蔬菜，对人类健康和食品质量都是一个潜在的问题。随着肥沃土壤的日益消失，无土栽培和使用种植基质的做法越来越多，但选择合适的基质并对其进行可持续管理，对于确保生产优质安全的蔬菜，同时最大限度地减少对环境和人类健康的影响至关重要。本研究测量了不同 HMs（钒、镍、镉、铅、铜、铬）对人工污染的商业种植基质中微生物生物量、呼吸作用和酶活性（EAs）的综合影响。原子吸收光谱法估算了 HMs 的浓度；分光光度法测定了酶活性；二氧化碳进化法测定了呼吸作用；熏蒸提取法测定了微生物生物量 C。结果表明，呼吸作用和所有酶活性都有所下降。EAs 的减少对微生物介导的 C、N、S 和 P 循环产生了显著影响，大大降低了底物的健康状况。微生物生物量没有出现显著差异，但代谢商数的增加突显了 HMs 的毒性如何降低微生物代谢过程的能量利用效率。
{"title":"Biological Activities in Artificially Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Growing Substrates","authors":"S. Papa, Marta Alvarez-Romero","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040111","url":null,"abstract":"The ingestion of vegetables grown in soils or in cultivation substrate contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) and irrigated with wastewater is a potential problem for human health and food quality. The increasing disappearance of fertile soils has led to an increase in the practice of soil-less cultivation and the use of growing substrates, but the choice of the right substrate and its sustainable management is essential to ensure the production of quality and safe vegetables for all while minimizing the impact on the environment and human health. The present study measures the combined effects of different HMs (V, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr) on microbial biomass, respiration, and enzyme activities (EAs) in an artificially contaminated commercial growing substrate. The concentrations of HMs were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; enzyme activities via spectrophotometric assays; respiration via CO2 evolution; and microbial biomass C via the fumigation extraction method. The results showed a reduction in both respiration and all enzyme activities. The reduction in EAs highlighted a notable influence on microorganism-mediated C, N, S, and P cycles, strongly reducing substrate health. Microbial biomass did not show significant differences, but the increase in the metabolic quotient highlighted how the toxicity of HMs reduces the energy use efficiency of microbial metabolic processes.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"76 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138978976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-10DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040110
Heba Elbasiouny, F. Elbehiry
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a widespread global environmental concern, representing an emerging contaminant with major implications for ecosystems and human well-being. While extensive research has focused on MPs in aquatic environments, their impact on sediments and soils remains inadequately explored. Studies have confirmed the harmful effects of MPs on soil and sediment biota, as well as on the properties of these ecosystems. Furthermore, the long-term persistence of MPs within the environment contributes to their accumulation in terrestrial and marine food chains, with potential consequences for groundwater quality. Although several methods have been applied to mitigate MP pollution, some methods have drawbacks and some are not studied well, necessitating the urgent exploration of novel, sustainable, and eco-friendly approaches. Biochar is a remarkable solution for pollution removal; recently it has been used in addressing the increasingly concerning issue of microplastic contamination. This review aims to shed light on the difficulty posed by MPs in soils and sediments, while highlighting the remediation methods and the potential advantages of utilizing BC as an environmentally friendly solution for MP removal and remediation.
{"title":"Addressing the Microplastic Dilemma in Soil and Sediment with Focus on Biochar-Based Remediation Techniques: Review","authors":"Heba Elbasiouny, F. Elbehiry","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040110","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastic (MP) pollution is a widespread global environmental concern, representing an emerging contaminant with major implications for ecosystems and human well-being. While extensive research has focused on MPs in aquatic environments, their impact on sediments and soils remains inadequately explored. Studies have confirmed the harmful effects of MPs on soil and sediment biota, as well as on the properties of these ecosystems. Furthermore, the long-term persistence of MPs within the environment contributes to their accumulation in terrestrial and marine food chains, with potential consequences for groundwater quality. Although several methods have been applied to mitigate MP pollution, some methods have drawbacks and some are not studied well, necessitating the urgent exploration of novel, sustainable, and eco-friendly approaches. Biochar is a remarkable solution for pollution removal; recently it has been used in addressing the increasingly concerning issue of microplastic contamination. This review aims to shed light on the difficulty posed by MPs in soils and sediments, while highlighting the remediation methods and the potential advantages of utilizing BC as an environmentally friendly solution for MP removal and remediation.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"22 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138982087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-05DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040109
A. Maffia, F. Marra, F. Canino, Mariateresa Oliva, C. Mallamaci, Giuseppe Celano, A. Muscolo
This manuscript delves into the pivotal role of sustainable agriculture in addressing environmental challenges and meeting the nutritional demands of a burgeoning global population. The primary objective is to assess the impact of a recently developed eco-friendly fertilizer, denoted as SBO, which arises from the blend of organic and mineral components derived from agricultural waste, sulfur, and residual orange materials. These elements are bound together with bentonite. This study compares SBO with distinct fertilizer treatments, including horse manure (HM) and nitrogen–phosphorous–potassium (NPK), on two diverse tomato-growing soils, each characterized by unique chemical and biological properties. Furthermore, the research extends to evaluate the environmental implications of these fertilizers, with a specific focus on their carbon and water footprints. Soils have been chemically and biochemically analyzed, and carbon and water footprints (CF and WF, respectively) have been assessed. The results reveal substantial enhancements in soil quality with the application of SBO fertilizer. Both soils undergo a transition towards near-neutral pH levels, an increase in organic matter content, and heightened microbial biomass. SBO-treated soils exhibit notably superior enzyme activities. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results affirm the sustainability of the SBO-based system, boasting the lowest CF, while NPK demonstrates the highest environmental impact. Consistently, the WF analysis aligns with these findings, indicating that SBO necessitates the least water for tomato production. In summary, this study underscores the critical importance of adopting sustainable fertilization practices for enhancing soil quality and reducing environmental footprints in agriculture. The promising results offer potential benefits for both food production and environmental conservation.
{"title":"Comparative Study of Fertilizers in Tomato-Grown Soils: Soil Quality, Sustainability, and Carbon/Water Footprints","authors":"A. Maffia, F. Marra, F. Canino, Mariateresa Oliva, C. Mallamaci, Giuseppe Celano, A. Muscolo","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040109","url":null,"abstract":"This manuscript delves into the pivotal role of sustainable agriculture in addressing environmental challenges and meeting the nutritional demands of a burgeoning global population. The primary objective is to assess the impact of a recently developed eco-friendly fertilizer, denoted as SBO, which arises from the blend of organic and mineral components derived from agricultural waste, sulfur, and residual orange materials. These elements are bound together with bentonite. This study compares SBO with distinct fertilizer treatments, including horse manure (HM) and nitrogen–phosphorous–potassium (NPK), on two diverse tomato-growing soils, each characterized by unique chemical and biological properties. Furthermore, the research extends to evaluate the environmental implications of these fertilizers, with a specific focus on their carbon and water footprints. Soils have been chemically and biochemically analyzed, and carbon and water footprints (CF and WF, respectively) have been assessed. The results reveal substantial enhancements in soil quality with the application of SBO fertilizer. Both soils undergo a transition towards near-neutral pH levels, an increase in organic matter content, and heightened microbial biomass. SBO-treated soils exhibit notably superior enzyme activities. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results affirm the sustainability of the SBO-based system, boasting the lowest CF, while NPK demonstrates the highest environmental impact. Consistently, the WF analysis aligns with these findings, indicating that SBO necessitates the least water for tomato production. In summary, this study underscores the critical importance of adopting sustainable fertilization practices for enhancing soil quality and reducing environmental footprints in agriculture. The promising results offer potential benefits for both food production and environmental conservation.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"75 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138600437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-04DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040108
Iván Darío Samur Suárez, M. Valliani, Tom Hsiang, Paul H. Goodwin
Commercial harvesting of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) results in root debris in the soil, but the rate of decay is unknown. In this study, post-harvest root debris decayed mostly over the fall and winter, with almost no ginseng debris remaining in the soil by late spring of the following year. However, a small number of intact pencil-shaped roots were able to survive after harvest and sprout the following spring without any evidence of root decay. Root rot lesions were observed, which included many associated with the root rot pathogen Ilyonectria mors-panacis, with disappearing root rot symptoms observed in the following spring. Ginsenosides in soil were highest just prior to harvest, declining until an increase the following spring. Soil bacterial and fungal populations changed over time after harvest with several peaks in bacterial populations mostly in the fall, but this was less clear for fungal populations, which were dominated by only a few taxa. Harvesting ginseng can leave considerable debris in the soil, impacting its chemistry and microbiota. Ginseng replant disease, where the second crop shows high levels of root rot due to I. mors-panacis infection compared to low levels in the first crop, could be related to the decay of post-harvest crop debris, but additional research is needed to demonstrate this.
{"title":"Decay of Root Debris after Harvesting American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Changes in Soil Chemistry and Microbiology","authors":"Iván Darío Samur Suárez, M. Valliani, Tom Hsiang, Paul H. Goodwin","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040108","url":null,"abstract":"Commercial harvesting of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) results in root debris in the soil, but the rate of decay is unknown. In this study, post-harvest root debris decayed mostly over the fall and winter, with almost no ginseng debris remaining in the soil by late spring of the following year. However, a small number of intact pencil-shaped roots were able to survive after harvest and sprout the following spring without any evidence of root decay. Root rot lesions were observed, which included many associated with the root rot pathogen Ilyonectria mors-panacis, with disappearing root rot symptoms observed in the following spring. Ginsenosides in soil were highest just prior to harvest, declining until an increase the following spring. Soil bacterial and fungal populations changed over time after harvest with several peaks in bacterial populations mostly in the fall, but this was less clear for fungal populations, which were dominated by only a few taxa. Harvesting ginseng can leave considerable debris in the soil, impacting its chemistry and microbiota. Ginseng replant disease, where the second crop shows high levels of root rot due to I. mors-panacis infection compared to low levels in the first crop, could be related to the decay of post-harvest crop debris, but additional research is needed to demonstrate this.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"19 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138603357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-29DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040107
S. Al Mamun, N. Lehto, J. Cavanagh, Richard McDowell, Liv Kellermann, Brett H. Robinson
The application of Cd-contaminated phosphate fertiliser has enriched concentrations of this non-essential element in many agricultural soils. Consequently, concentrations of the metal in some agricultural products exceed the Maximum Limit in foods. Composts can reduce the transfer of Cd from soil to plants; however, it is unclear how long this beneficial effect endures. We aimed to determine temporal changes of phytoavailable Cd in two market garden soils (an Allophanic Orthic Granular Soil and a Recent Silt Loam). Soils were amended with either municipal green waste compost or sawdust and animal waste compost at a rate of 2.5% w/w under three incubation regimes: at 19 °C, at 30 °C, and at 30 °C with additional N added as urea at 0.6 g urea/kg soil added over 1 year. Each replicate was sampled after 1, 5, 9, 13, 21, 31, and 49 weeks, and phytoavailable Cd was estimated through 0.05 M Ca(NO3)2 extraction. Seed potato (Solanum tuberosum), ‘Nadine’ variety, was grown in the Pukekohe Allophanic Orthic Granular Soil, freshly amended with municipal compost and the same soil aged for one year. The concentration of Cd in all samples was analysed using an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer). The C concentration in the soil—compost mixtures decreased over the year, with the greatest decreases occurring in the soils incubated at 30 °C with added N. Unexpectedly, the concentration of Ca(NO3)2-extractable Cd in the compost-amended soils did not increase over time and in some cases even decreased. This was confirmed through a pot experiment, which showed the Cd concentration in potato was reduced by 50% in both the freshly amended soil and the amended soil aged for one year. Cadmium immobilisation in soils might be due to both the sorption of Cd by organic matter and the occlusion of sorbed Cd by oxy-hydroxides of iron and aluminium. Over 49 weeks, soluble Cd does not increase as organic matter oxidises. The application of municipal compost to soil will reduce both plant Cd solubility and plant Cd uptake for at least one year in the soils tested.
{"title":"Temporal Changes in Cd Sorption and Plant Bioavailability in Compost-Amended Soils","authors":"S. Al Mamun, N. Lehto, J. Cavanagh, Richard McDowell, Liv Kellermann, Brett H. Robinson","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040107","url":null,"abstract":"The application of Cd-contaminated phosphate fertiliser has enriched concentrations of this non-essential element in many agricultural soils. Consequently, concentrations of the metal in some agricultural products exceed the Maximum Limit in foods. Composts can reduce the transfer of Cd from soil to plants; however, it is unclear how long this beneficial effect endures. We aimed to determine temporal changes of phytoavailable Cd in two market garden soils (an Allophanic Orthic Granular Soil and a Recent Silt Loam). Soils were amended with either municipal green waste compost or sawdust and animal waste compost at a rate of 2.5% w/w under three incubation regimes: at 19 °C, at 30 °C, and at 30 °C with additional N added as urea at 0.6 g urea/kg soil added over 1 year. Each replicate was sampled after 1, 5, 9, 13, 21, 31, and 49 weeks, and phytoavailable Cd was estimated through 0.05 M Ca(NO3)2 extraction. Seed potato (Solanum tuberosum), ‘Nadine’ variety, was grown in the Pukekohe Allophanic Orthic Granular Soil, freshly amended with municipal compost and the same soil aged for one year. The concentration of Cd in all samples was analysed using an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer). The C concentration in the soil—compost mixtures decreased over the year, with the greatest decreases occurring in the soils incubated at 30 °C with added N. Unexpectedly, the concentration of Ca(NO3)2-extractable Cd in the compost-amended soils did not increase over time and in some cases even decreased. This was confirmed through a pot experiment, which showed the Cd concentration in potato was reduced by 50% in both the freshly amended soil and the amended soil aged for one year. Cadmium immobilisation in soils might be due to both the sorption of Cd by organic matter and the occlusion of sorbed Cd by oxy-hydroxides of iron and aluminium. Over 49 weeks, soluble Cd does not increase as organic matter oxidises. The application of municipal compost to soil will reduce both plant Cd solubility and plant Cd uptake for at least one year in the soils tested.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139212198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-28DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040106
Rosangela Addesso, Adriano Sofo, Mariana Amato
Climate change negatively affects crop productivity, threatening the survival of entire populations from many vulnerable hotspot regions of the world with the risk of exacerbating hunger, malnutrition and international inequality. Selecting plant species manifesting abiotic stress-tolerant adaptive traits represents a challenge towards ensuring that crops are more resistant and resilient to environmental perturbations. The rhizosheath, defined as the complex of root hair, exudates and soil that strongly adheres to plant roots, is a promising root adaptive trait in facing conditions of water and nutrient deficits, as well as acidic soil. Several beneficial ecological functions are attributed to the rhizosheath, such as enhancing water and nutrient uptake; protecting from dehydration, heat and acid stresses; and stimulating microbial activities. It has been described in several Angiosperm species, including crops grown in severe habitats. The aim of this review was to collect the relevant literature produced to date regarding rhizosheaths, focusing on (i) the various processes involved in its formation, including both physicochemical and biological ones; (ii) the evolutionary and ecological role of rhizosheaths; and (iii) the most frequently used methodologies for its investigation and characterization. The present work provides a comprehensive overview of this revolutionary root’s great agronomic importance in order to address future research aiming to fill the existing knowledge gaps and define a common and shared methodology.
{"title":"Rhizosheath: Roles, Formation Processes and Investigation Methods","authors":"Rosangela Addesso, Adriano Sofo, Mariana Amato","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040106","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change negatively affects crop productivity, threatening the survival of entire populations from many vulnerable hotspot regions of the world with the risk of exacerbating hunger, malnutrition and international inequality. Selecting plant species manifesting abiotic stress-tolerant adaptive traits represents a challenge towards ensuring that crops are more resistant and resilient to environmental perturbations. The rhizosheath, defined as the complex of root hair, exudates and soil that strongly adheres to plant roots, is a promising root adaptive trait in facing conditions of water and nutrient deficits, as well as acidic soil. Several beneficial ecological functions are attributed to the rhizosheath, such as enhancing water and nutrient uptake; protecting from dehydration, heat and acid stresses; and stimulating microbial activities. It has been described in several Angiosperm species, including crops grown in severe habitats. The aim of this review was to collect the relevant literature produced to date regarding rhizosheaths, focusing on (i) the various processes involved in its formation, including both physicochemical and biological ones; (ii) the evolutionary and ecological role of rhizosheaths; and (iii) the most frequently used methodologies for its investigation and characterization. The present work provides a comprehensive overview of this revolutionary root’s great agronomic importance in order to address future research aiming to fill the existing knowledge gaps and define a common and shared methodology.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139216717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Africa, specifically Nigeria, has witnessed a dramatic increase in population over the last century, prompting efforts to ensure sustainable food production and quality. Concerns for soil sustainability and food security have led to the exploration of cost-effective methods, such as biochar, to enhance soil quality. Researchers in Nigeria and Africa as a whole have investigated biochar’s potential to improve soil fertility and crop performance across various agroecological zones. This paper aims to review recent biochar research priorities on soil fertility and crop performance with an emphasis on various sole biochar applications and combinations with fertilizers to determine the research gaps that need to be developed more in biochar research in Nigeria. From the papers reviewed, sole biochar applications and biochar + macronutrients and biochar + manure combinations were studied more dominantly, while biochar + micronutrients research projects were scanty despite their low content in the semi-arid soils of Nigeria. The studies were spread across the country with the majority taking place in derived savanna and humid forest, while Sudan savanna and Sahel savanna received less research attention despite being characterized by a low-fertile soil and vast area of land. Research involving BC in the context of Sahel savanna (SLS) and Sudan savanna (SS) soils is strongly encouraged in Nigeria. This research should encompass a wide range of investigations, including sole BC applications and combinations of BC with macronutrients, micronutrients, and manure, as well as exploring its potential as a slow-release fertilizer. Incorporating exclusive biochar in substantial amounts appears economically unfeasible within the context of local biochar production. However, it can be utilized in the synthesis of slow-release fertilizers, requiring smaller quantities and potentially offering cost-effectiveness. This approach enhances soil condition and crop productivity. Challenges are faced due to less commercial production as a result of inadequate power and structural facilities. Exploring the modification of local biochar for slow-release fertilizers through future research offers potential profitability.
{"title":"Biochar Improves Soil Fertility and Crop Performance: A Case Study of Nigeria","authors":"Abdulrahman Maina Zubairu, Erika Michéli, Caleb Melenya Ocansey, Norbert Boros, Gabriella Rétháti, Éva Lehoczky, Miklós Gulyás","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040105","url":null,"abstract":"Africa, specifically Nigeria, has witnessed a dramatic increase in population over the last century, prompting efforts to ensure sustainable food production and quality. Concerns for soil sustainability and food security have led to the exploration of cost-effective methods, such as biochar, to enhance soil quality. Researchers in Nigeria and Africa as a whole have investigated biochar’s potential to improve soil fertility and crop performance across various agroecological zones. This paper aims to review recent biochar research priorities on soil fertility and crop performance with an emphasis on various sole biochar applications and combinations with fertilizers to determine the research gaps that need to be developed more in biochar research in Nigeria. From the papers reviewed, sole biochar applications and biochar + macronutrients and biochar + manure combinations were studied more dominantly, while biochar + micronutrients research projects were scanty despite their low content in the semi-arid soils of Nigeria. The studies were spread across the country with the majority taking place in derived savanna and humid forest, while Sudan savanna and Sahel savanna received less research attention despite being characterized by a low-fertile soil and vast area of land. Research involving BC in the context of Sahel savanna (SLS) and Sudan savanna (SS) soils is strongly encouraged in Nigeria. This research should encompass a wide range of investigations, including sole BC applications and combinations of BC with macronutrients, micronutrients, and manure, as well as exploring its potential as a slow-release fertilizer. Incorporating exclusive biochar in substantial amounts appears economically unfeasible within the context of local biochar production. However, it can be utilized in the synthesis of slow-release fertilizers, requiring smaller quantities and potentially offering cost-effectiveness. This approach enhances soil condition and crop productivity. Challenges are faced due to less commercial production as a result of inadequate power and structural facilities. Exploring the modification of local biochar for slow-release fertilizers through future research offers potential profitability.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139246515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-16DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040104
J. Pandiyan, Radjassegarin Arumugam, K. Al-Ghanim, N. Sachivkina, Marcello Nicoletti, M. Govindarajan
Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that provide feeding and nesting grounds for diverse species of waterbirds. The quality of wetland habitat may have an impact on the density, diversity, and species richness of waterbirds. Toxic metal contamination is one of the most significant threats to wetland habitats. Feathers are a key indicator of heavy metal contamination in avian communities as a non-invasive method. We examined the levels of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) using ICP-AAS and standards of digestion procedure from the primary feathers of 10 distinct species of waterbirds. The study was conducted at four wetlands, viz., Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar site); Pallikaranai Marshland (Ramsar site); Perunthottam freshwater lake (unprotected wetland), Tamil Nadu and the Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, (Ramsar site), India. The Large crested tern had higher concentrations of As, Co, Cr, and Ni. Cu was greater in the Indian pond heron, and Zn was higher in the Grey heron. The accumulation of metals differed among the waterbirds (p < 0.05), and the inter-correlation of metals found positive influences between the tested metals, i.e., Co was positively associated with As, Cr had a positive correlation with As and Co, and Ni was positively correlated with As, Co, Cr, and Cu. In contrast, Pb had a positive association with Cu and Ni. The Zn was associated with Co, Cr and Cu. The level of metals in waterbirds was Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > As. The results showed that metal levels in the primary feathers of waterbirds were greater than the other species of waterbirds examined across the world. Thus, the study emphasizes that managing wetlands and controlling pollution is crucial to saving waterbirds; otherwise, the population and diversity of waterbirds will decline and become a significant threat to waterbird communities.
湿地是一个动态的生态系统，为各种水鸟提供觅食和筑巢的场所。湿地栖息地的质量可能会对水鸟的密度、多样性和物种丰富度产生影响。有毒金属污染是湿地生境面临的最主要威胁之一。羽毛作为一种非侵入性方法，是鸟类群落重金属污染的关键指标。我们使用 ICP-AAS 和标准消化程序检测了 10 种不同水鸟初级羽毛中砷（As）、镉（Cd）、钴（Co）、铬（Cr）、铜（Cu）、铅（Pb）、镍（Ni）和锌（Zn）的含量。研究在四个湿地进行，即印度泰米尔纳德邦的 Point Calimere 野生动物保护区（拉姆萨尔湿地）、Pallikaranai 沼泽地（拉姆萨尔湿地）、Perunthottam 淡水湖（未受保护湿地）和安得拉邦的 Pulicat 湖（拉姆萨尔湿地）。大冠燕鸥体内的砷、钴、铬和镍浓度较高。印度池鹭体内的铜含量较高，灰鹭体内的锌含量较高。不同水鸟的金属积累量存在差异（p < 0.05），金属的相互关系发现，受测金属之间存在正向影响，即 Co 与 As 呈正相关，Cr 与 As 和 Co 呈正相关，Ni 与 As、Co、Cr 和 Cu 呈正相关。相反，铅与铜和镍呈正相关。锌与钴、铬和铜相关。水鸟体内的金属含量为 Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > As。结果表明，水鸟初级羽毛中的金属含量高于全球其他水鸟物种。因此，该研究强调，管理湿地和控制污染对拯救水鸟至关重要；否则，水鸟的数量和多样性将下降，成为水鸟群落的重大威胁。
{"title":"Heavy Metals in Wetland Ecosystem: Investigating Metal Contamination in Waterbirds via Primary Feathers and Its Effect on Population and Diversity","authors":"J. Pandiyan, Radjassegarin Arumugam, K. Al-Ghanim, N. Sachivkina, Marcello Nicoletti, M. Govindarajan","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040104","url":null,"abstract":"Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that provide feeding and nesting grounds for diverse species of waterbirds. The quality of wetland habitat may have an impact on the density, diversity, and species richness of waterbirds. Toxic metal contamination is one of the most significant threats to wetland habitats. Feathers are a key indicator of heavy metal contamination in avian communities as a non-invasive method. We examined the levels of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) using ICP-AAS and standards of digestion procedure from the primary feathers of 10 distinct species of waterbirds. The study was conducted at four wetlands, viz., Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar site); Pallikaranai Marshland (Ramsar site); Perunthottam freshwater lake (unprotected wetland), Tamil Nadu and the Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh, (Ramsar site), India. The Large crested tern had higher concentrations of As, Co, Cr, and Ni. Cu was greater in the Indian pond heron, and Zn was higher in the Grey heron. The accumulation of metals differed among the waterbirds (p < 0.05), and the inter-correlation of metals found positive influences between the tested metals, i.e., Co was positively associated with As, Cr had a positive correlation with As and Co, and Ni was positively correlated with As, Co, Cr, and Cu. In contrast, Pb had a positive association with Cu and Ni. The Zn was associated with Co, Cr and Cu. The level of metals in waterbirds was Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > As. The results showed that metal levels in the primary feathers of waterbirds were greater than the other species of waterbirds examined across the world. Thus, the study emphasizes that managing wetlands and controlling pollution is crucial to saving waterbirds; otherwise, the population and diversity of waterbirds will decline and become a significant threat to waterbird communities.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"4 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139269109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-14DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040103
Francielli Aloisio Moratelli, Marco Aurélio Barbosa Alves, Daniela Roberta Borella, Aline Kraeski, Frederico Terra de Almeida, Cornélio Alberto Zolin, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide, Adilson Pacheco de Souza
Changes in land use can cause degradation of soil physical quality with negative effects on the environment and agricultural production. The effects of different land uses on soil physical-hydric attributes were studied in the Renato River and Caiabi River watersheds in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Three conditions of land use were evaluated: native forest, crops, and pasture in the headwater, middle, and mouth of each watershed. Particle size, particle density, bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point, and available water capacity in soil were evaluated in three soil layers down to 0.4 m. Data collected were subjected to the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Pearson’s correlations. Multivariate analyses were also performed using the principal component method. In the Renato watershed, in comparison with native forest, conventional management of pasture and crops caused soil physical degradation, increasing soil density in the surface layer and reducing macroporosity and total porosity. In the Caiabi watershed, converting native forest areas into pasture and crops altered water quality, influencing the water dynamics in the soil, by reducing soil water conductivity. Soil attributes varied by watershed, with texture variations between the headwater and mouth, indicating that changes in soil properties result from both management and the granulometric composition of the soil in different regions of the same watershed. Adoption of crop and pasture conservation practices can improve soil physical attributes in regions bordering agricultural areas in the southern Amazon.
{"title":"Effects of Land Use on Soil Physical-Hydric Attributes in Two Watersheds in the Southern Amazon, Brazil","authors":"Francielli Aloisio Moratelli, Marco Aurélio Barbosa Alves, Daniela Roberta Borella, Aline Kraeski, Frederico Terra de Almeida, Cornélio Alberto Zolin, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide, Adilson Pacheco de Souza","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040103","url":null,"abstract":"Changes in land use can cause degradation of soil physical quality with negative effects on the environment and agricultural production. The effects of different land uses on soil physical-hydric attributes were studied in the Renato River and Caiabi River watersheds in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Three conditions of land use were evaluated: native forest, crops, and pasture in the headwater, middle, and mouth of each watershed. Particle size, particle density, bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point, and available water capacity in soil were evaluated in three soil layers down to 0.4 m. Data collected were subjected to the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Pearson’s correlations. Multivariate analyses were also performed using the principal component method. In the Renato watershed, in comparison with native forest, conventional management of pasture and crops caused soil physical degradation, increasing soil density in the surface layer and reducing macroporosity and total porosity. In the Caiabi watershed, converting native forest areas into pasture and crops altered water quality, influencing the water dynamics in the soil, by reducing soil water conductivity. Soil attributes varied by watershed, with texture variations between the headwater and mouth, indicating that changes in soil properties result from both management and the granulometric composition of the soil in different regions of the same watershed. Adoption of crop and pasture conservation practices can improve soil physical attributes in regions bordering agricultural areas in the southern Amazon.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"78 23","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134900732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-11DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems7040102
Samar Swify, Romas Mažeika, Jonas Volungevičius
Controlled-release urea fertilization is an innovative approach and effective means to reduce the loss of nitrogen and enhance fertilizer use efficiency to optimize crop yield while minimizing the environmental impact. The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic process of mineral nitrogen (Nmin) release in Luvisols, Cambisols, Retisols, and Arenosols to understand the interaction between soil characteristics and mineral nitrogen release and evaluate the impact of conventional urea compared to coated urea potassium humate on barley biomass production. A pot experiment was conducted under glasshouse conditions (20 ± 2 °C and 60% Humidity). Five treatments including no fertilization as a control (C), 100 kg·N·ha−1 of urea (U100), 200 kg·N·ha−1 of urea (U200), 100 kg·N·ha−1 of coated urea potassium humate (UPH100), and 200 kg·N·ha−1 of coated urea potassium humate (UPH200) were applied to four soil and texture types. Our findings indicate that there are different patterns of mineral nitrogen release across the different soil and texture types. Ammonium levels reached their peak point in all soils within 2–7 days after application. On the other hand, the concentration of nitrate NO3−–N showed a linear increase over 45 days during the experiment. The Retisol, which had a sandy clay texture, obtained the highest concentration of mineral nitrogen in both forms (NH4 and NO3), while the sandy texture of Arenosol showed the lowest accumulation of mineral nitrogen and its forms. The application of potassium humate caused a delay of 1–4 days in the peak of soil ammonium, which at peak accounted for approximately 25–44% of the mineral nitrogen in the soil. Furthermore, the application of urea and coated urea potassium humate exhibited significant effects on barley biomass with an increase of approximately 14–91% compared to the unfertilized treatment (control). This research contributes to our understanding of nutrient dynamics in diverse soil environments and provides insights into optimizing sustainable fertilization strategies such as controlled-release fertilizer application. The implications of these findings highlight the significance of tailored nutrient management practices based on soil texture type, which can lead to improved agricultural productivity and environmental impact.
{"title":"Mineral Nitrogen Release Patterns in Various Soil and Texture Types and the Impact of Urea and Coated Urea Potassium Humate on Barley Biomass","authors":"Samar Swify, Romas Mažeika, Jonas Volungevičius","doi":"10.3390/soilsystems7040102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040102","url":null,"abstract":"Controlled-release urea fertilization is an innovative approach and effective means to reduce the loss of nitrogen and enhance fertilizer use efficiency to optimize crop yield while minimizing the environmental impact. The objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic process of mineral nitrogen (Nmin) release in Luvisols, Cambisols, Retisols, and Arenosols to understand the interaction between soil characteristics and mineral nitrogen release and evaluate the impact of conventional urea compared to coated urea potassium humate on barley biomass production. A pot experiment was conducted under glasshouse conditions (20 ± 2 °C and 60% Humidity). Five treatments including no fertilization as a control (C), 100 kg·N·ha−1 of urea (U100), 200 kg·N·ha−1 of urea (U200), 100 kg·N·ha−1 of coated urea potassium humate (UPH100), and 200 kg·N·ha−1 of coated urea potassium humate (UPH200) were applied to four soil and texture types. Our findings indicate that there are different patterns of mineral nitrogen release across the different soil and texture types. Ammonium levels reached their peak point in all soils within 2–7 days after application. On the other hand, the concentration of nitrate NO3−–N showed a linear increase over 45 days during the experiment. The Retisol, which had a sandy clay texture, obtained the highest concentration of mineral nitrogen in both forms (NH4 and NO3), while the sandy texture of Arenosol showed the lowest accumulation of mineral nitrogen and its forms. The application of potassium humate caused a delay of 1–4 days in the peak of soil ammonium, which at peak accounted for approximately 25–44% of the mineral nitrogen in the soil. Furthermore, the application of urea and coated urea potassium humate exhibited significant effects on barley biomass with an increase of approximately 14–91% compared to the unfertilized treatment (control). This research contributes to our understanding of nutrient dynamics in diverse soil environments and provides insights into optimizing sustainable fertilization strategies such as controlled-release fertilizer application. The implications of these findings highlight the significance of tailored nutrient management practices based on soil texture type, which can lead to improved agricultural productivity and environmental impact.","PeriodicalId":21908,"journal":{"name":"Soil Systems","volume":"24 21","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135087040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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