Crops grow poorly in saline-sodic soils, and the productivity of these soils can be dramatically improved with proper amendments. Current research mainly focuses on either organic or inorganic soil amendments, whereas few studies address options of combining organic and inorganic amendments. The objective of this study was to develop new organic and inorganic soil amendments which can lower the soil pH, replace sodium, and improve soil structure.
Materials and methods
Polyhalite (PL), microporous potassium-silicon-calcium mineral fertilizer (MF), furfural residue (FR), and fulvic acid (FA) were mixed with four different ratios to produce organic and inorganic soil amendments: PLFR, PLFA, MFFR, and MFFA. And their optimum mixing ratios were determined by comparing the potassium, calcium concentrations, and pH of filtrate after dissolution. Then, a leaching experiment was conducted by packing mixtures (mass ratio of soil to amendment = 219:1, equivalent to 13 t/hm2) of the saline-sodic soil with each one of these amendments plus two contrasts, gypsum (GP), and no amendment (CK). And the remediation effect was compared by pH, EC, ESP, texture, organic recombination degree of clay, saturated hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregates fraction, and enzyme (urease, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase) activities of soil.
Results and discussion
After four times leaching experiment, soil treated with PLFR had lower pH and 25.86% lower exchangeable sodium than untreated soils. The water-stable small macroaggregate fractions and saturated hydraulic conductivity of the MFFR-treated soils were significantly increased by 133% and 31%, respectively. Also, the total soil and heavy fraction organic carbons of the soils treated with MFFR in addition to its alkaline phosphatase activity were all significantly higher than the other treatments.
Conclusions
The results revealed that MFFR has more potential as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and quality and thus help in the development and use of saline-sodic lands for agriculture.
The impacts of elevated CO2 and soil water on the population dynamics, adult fecundity and nymphal period of the bird cherry-oat aphidRhopalsiphum padi (Linnaeus) were evaluated in three experiments: (i)Combined effects of CO2and soil water on aphid populations. Spring wheat was grown in pots at three CO2 concentrations (350, 550 and 700 ppm) and three soil water levels (40%, 60% and 80% of field water capacity, FWC) in field
open-top chambers (OTC) and infested with the bird cherry-oat aphid. Aphid population dynamics were recorded throughout the
growing season; at the same time, adult fecundity and duration of the nymphal period were recorded. Chemical composition of
spring wheat leaves was also analyzed. (ii)Indirect effects of CO2concentrations and soil water on aphid adult fecundity and nymphal period. The experiment was conducted with the leaf discs method in the laboratory. Aphids were reared on leaf discs excised from
the treated wheat in OTC with different CO2 and soil water levels. (iii)Direct effects of CO2concentrations on aphid adult fecundity and nymphal period. Aphids were reared on leaf discs excised from the wheat grown under natural conditions. The experiment was conducted with
the leaf disc method in OTC with the three CO2 concentrations. It was found that the direct effect of CO2 concentration on aphid population parameters was minor. CO2 and soil water affected aphid population indirectly through their effects on wheat characteristics. The aphid population
under 550 ppm CO2 was far larger than the one under 350 ppm CO2, whereas the population under 700 ppm CO2 was slightly higher than that under 550 ppm CO2. The largest aphid population was obtained with the 60% soil water treatment, regardless of CO2 treatment. The effects of CO2 concentration on aphid population were, however, not significantly correlated with soil water level. Adult fecundity increased
with CO2 concentration, the highest fecundity being achieved under 60% FWC treatments. The nymphal period was not affected by CO2 concentration. The shortest period occurred under 60% FWC. Atmospheric CO2 and soil water had significant effects on the chemical composition of the wheat leaves. Aphid population size was positively
correlated with leaf water content, concentrations of soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates and starch, and negatively correlated
with DIMBOA and tannins concentrations.
http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. 相似文献
