Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of gypsum powder from the gypsum plant in Adigudem on chemical properties of soil as well as the yield of two major crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Three mixes of 10kg of soil with 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% proportion of gypsum powder were used for pot experiments under glasshouse conditions at Mekelle University. One bulk soil sample was collected from a spot at 4 km from the eastern side of the plant. The chemical concentration of major elements Ca, K, Na, Mg, and Mn, and trace elements, Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Fe in soil and plant parts were determined using an Atomic absorption spectrometer as well as NO3, PO4 and SO4 using UV-spectrometer. The results suggest that the gypsum powder enhances metals and anion content in soil and in crop parts compared to the control sample. The chemical constituents in soil and crop parts showed negligible variation with increasing proportions of gypsum powder. Gypsum loaded Ca, SO4, Mn, and Pb onto the soil, which exhibited higher Mg, Cu, Mo, Cd, NO3, and PO4 but the comparable concentrations of Fe, K, Zn, and Cr in decreasing order. However, a direct relationship was noted in chemical constituent loadings along the pathway: powder-soil-crop in a similar fashion in the three mixes. Factor analyses revealed that wheat parts have a higher accumulation of nutrients than the barley parts with higher content in its growth soil blends. As an extension of this research, the in-situ investigation is recommended to assess the direct impact of the gypsum powder emitted over the soil and crops.
Highlights
Sustainability of soil and crop production is a function of soil physical, chemical and biological properties
The result of chemical analysis for major, trace and anions constituents determined from the four levels of soil-gypsum mixes, gypsum powder and water used for watering the crops are presented in table 1 and figure 3
Accumulation of trace metals in the experimental pots is generally higher than the reference control
Summary
Sustainability of soil and crop production is a function of soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Small changes in these properties cause large impacts on crop growth and development, and crop yields. To maintain or improve soil properties for continuous longterm agricultural production, it is important to add inputs or soil amendments. Soil chemical characteristics are affected by soil amendments and the crop production system (Ekholm et al., 2012). Gypsum has been used as a soil amendment for a long time to provide Ca and S for plant nutrition, and this occurs any time gypsum is used as a soil amendment. Gypsum amendments significantly increased the growth and yield components of Wheat crop under soil salinity (Mamun et al, 2019). Other uses include remediating sodic soils by displacing Na with Ca; ameliorating subsoil acidity by displacing Al3+ with Ca2+ followed by the Al3+ combining with
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
