Total Soluble Salt Concentration Research Articles

Characterization, classification and physiography of Zari-NAAM river watershed of Parbhani district by using GIS, GPS and remote sensing

The present investigation “Characterization, Classification, Evaluation and Physiography of Soils of Zari-Naam River Watershed of Parbhani District By Using GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing” was carried out during the year 2015-16.The total Length of watershed was 4.2 km and it is divided into seven compartments and three Parts viz. Part I, Part II and Parts III. These three parts were surveyed and fifty representative soil samples were drawn by grid survey using topographic map, remote sensing imagery and GPS. These 50 soil samples were drawn to study the soil properties. Further three representative soil profiles were excavated on the basis of soil depth and behavior of cracks.The thematic maps of all important soil parameters were generated. The results emerged out from the present investigation revealed that soils of Naam River Watershed (part-1) are Typic Haplusterts and Vertic Haplusterts. These soils are brown to black in colour and clayey in texture. These are slightly to moderately alkaline in nature, safe in total soluble salt concentration, calcareous to highly calcareous and low in organic carbon. Typic Haplusterts have higher alkalinity than Vertic Haplusterts. Two pedons of Naam River Watershed representing Typic Haplusterts and Vertic Haplusterts.This pedon are highly to moderately suitable for growing the crops with little modification in pH. These soils support soybean, mug, jowar, Tur and cotton.

Performance of black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] varieties to different sowing dates

The field investigation entitled performance of blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] varieties to different sowing dates will be conducted during Kharif season 2012-13 at experimental farm, AICRP on Water Management, MKV, Parbhani. The experiment conducted with four sowing dates in main plot viz., D1 : Onset of monsoon (20th June), D2 : 10 days after onset of monsoon (30th June), D3 : 20 days after onset of monsoon (10th July), D4 : 30 days after onset of monsoon (20th July) and three varieties in sub plot viz., V1 -TAU-1, V2 -BDU-1, V3 -TPU-4. Gross and net plot size viz., 4.5 m x 4.4 m and 3.9 m x 4.0 m, respectively. The soil was medium black, clayey in texture, alkaline in reaction and higher in total soluble salt concentration, low in nitrogen and rich in phosphorus, potassium and lime, alkaline in reaction with high base saturation. Sowing was done by dibbling method. From the result of experiment it can be concluded that, among different sowing dates in black gram, the sowing at 20 days after onset of monsoon (10th July) was found optimum for achieving higher seed yield whenever the onset of monsoon delayed. The black gram variety BDU-1 was found highly productive as compared to TAU-1 and TPU-4.

Salinity of animal manure and potential risk of secondary soil salinization through successive manure application

To enhance animal productivity and maximize economic returns, mineral salts are routinely added to animal feed worldwide. Salinity and ionic composition of animal manure from intensive poultry and livestock farms in Guangdong province were investigated. Field experiments were conducted for six successive crops of Brassica Parachinensis to evaluate the possibility of secondary soil salinization by successive application of chicken manure (CM) and pigeon manure (PM) to a garden soil. The concentration of total soluble salts (TSS), which were mainly composed of sulfate and chloride of potassium and sodium, averaged 49.0, 20.6 and 60.3 g.kg(- 1) in chicken, pig and pigeon manure, respectively. After three crops, successive application of CM and PM increased soil concentrations of TSS, Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), SO(4)(2-), and Cl(-) with application rate, resulting in a rise in soil salinity from low to medium levels and a slight reduction in soil pH. After heavy rains during the last three crops, soil TSS was reduced considerably and pH showed a slight increase. Concentrations of Cl(-) and Mg(2+) increased and Ca(2+) decreased at the end of the experiment, all leading to changes in the ionic composition of soil salinity. Manure with higher ion concentrations appeared to play a more important role in affecting ionic composition of soil salinity. The results further suggest that even in a region with abundant rainfall like Guangzhou, there is still potential risk for secondary soil salinization when high rates of CM and PM are applied.

Chemical Characteristics of Water Used for Cranberry Production

Since up to 2.4 m (8 ft) of water may be applied annually to cranberry beds for various production purposes, water quality can alter soil chemical properties and potentially affect plant health. Many cranberry plantings have recently been developed in nontraditional production regions and on atypical sites, wherechemical properties of the available water may differ from those in cranberry sites in the traditional production regions. Water currently being used for cranberry production was sampled from farms in most major production regions to characterize its chemical characteristics. High alkalinity in many samples was a concern, since alkalinity can increase soil pH above the desired level for cranberries. Total soluble salt concentrations and sodium adsorption ratios were seldom high enough to be of concern. Water samples from long-established plantings were lower in alkalinity, pH, and soluble salt concentrations than samples from newer plantings without production histories.

Row-centred log ratios as nutrient indexes for saturated extracts of organic soils

Composition of soil solution was investigated in the top layer of a Typic Mesisol across seven crop sequences. Each sequence started and ended with carrots (C) and included onions (O), barley (B) and weeded fallow (F) as follows: CCCC, CCBC, CBCC, CCOC, COBC, CBOC and CFFC. The soil showed adequate pH and electrical conductivity values. Soil solution composition was assessed by the saturated soil extraction procedure. The changing levels of nutrients in the saturated soil extracts over seasons, years and crop sequences were analyzed using absolute values of nutrient concentrations, nutrient percentages relative to total soluble salts (the nutrient intensity and balance concept) and row-centred log ratios of nutrient concentrations or activities (compositional data analysis). The row-centred log ratio is the log-transformed ratio of a given element to the geometric mean of soluble elements. Nutrient percentages were highly correlated with row-centred log ratios. The three relative nutrient expressions reduced seasonal variations as compared with raw nutrient concentrations by incorporating component proportions. Concentration of total soluble salts was significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with concentrations of NO3-N (r = 0.37), P (r = 0.80), K (r = 0.80), Ca (r = 0.96) and Mg (r = 0.92) in saturated soil extracts. Between-years homoscedasticity as well as reduced skewness and kurtosis for all nutrients were obtained using row-centred log ratios of ion activities. Other advantages of using row-centred log ratios are discussed. Key words: Saturated soil extract, compositional nutrient diagnosis, seasonal variability

Soil Characteristics of Oak Stands along an Urban‐Rural Land‐Use Gradient

AbstractUrban‐rural land‐use gradients are environmental gradients determined by human‐built structures and human activity. Although gradients of land use are readily measurable, little is known about the effects of urbanization on forest soil properties. In this research, soil properties were quantified in oak stands (Quercus sp.) along an urban‐rural transect in the New York City metropolitan area. A suite of 25 soil chemical properties were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis to ordinate stands. The first principal component (PC1) accounted for 42.3% of the variation. Positive loadings of PC1 corresponded to high concentrations of Pb, Cu, Ni, Ca, Mg, and K; high total soluble salt concentrations; high organic matter; high total N; and slightly more soil acidity. Stands located closer to the urban core had positive loadings on PC1; sites located beyond 30 km of the urban core had negative loadings. The variation accounted for by PC1 was significantly explained (P < 0.005) by measures of urban development quantified along the transect, including percent urban cover (r2 = 0.735), population density (r2 = 0.700), traffic volume (r2 = 0.778), and road density (r2 = 0.700). Of the heavy metals measured, Cu and Pb showed a 2.5‐ to fourfold increase in concentration from the rural to the urban land use types, with maximum concentrations for Cu reaching 49.3 mg kg−1 and Pb 181.4 mg kg−1 in the urban sites, repectively. More transects must be established in this and other metropolitan areas to build a data base to develop predictive models of ecosystem change, given the amount and type of urban development in a landscape.

Effect of salinity and K/Na ratio of irrigation water on growth and solute content of Atriplex amnicola and Sorghum bicolor

Total salinity and K/Na ratios in the irrigation water were varied for two different types of plants; sorghum, a moderately salt tolerant crop plant whose growth is inhibited by high NaCl levels, and Atriplex, an extreme halophyte whose growth is stimulated by high NaCl levels. Sorghum growth was significantly reduced at all salinity levels from 50 to 150mM, but Atriplex growth was not reduced until salinity exceeded 100 mM. In both species, growth reductions were increased by increasing the ratio of K to Na from 1/100 to 1/1 in the irrigation water. The amount of K and Na accumulated in the leaves of Atriplex reflected the relative amounts in the irrigation water, but in sorghum most of the increase in the concentration of K + Na was due to the increase in K regardless of the ratio of K/Na in the irrigation water. Nitrate levels in leaves of sorghum were little affected by salinity but were decreased in Atriplex by the combination of high salinity and K/Na ratio. The lower amount of salt accumulation in sorghum was compensated for by greater accumulation of soluble organic compounds, such as proline and soluble carbohydrates, that presumably were osmotically active and could contribute to osmotic adjustment. All of the results supported the general conclusion that, despite differences between glycophytes, such as sorghum, and halophytes, such as Atriplex, in sensitivity to the total soluble salt concentration in irrigation water, in both species growth was reduced more by K/Na ratios of 1/1 and 1/10 than by a ratio of 1/100 at those salinity levels that significantly reduced growth in each species.

Numerical classification of saline groundwater chemistry in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area

Numerical classification techniques were used to examine the chemical composition of 169 shallow groundwater samples in relation to their geographical distribution within the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The ionic proportions are very similar throughout the whole area, but the total soluble salt concentrations are very variable. The classification was more coherent when primary variables were used rather than derived variables such as Saturation Indices.

Effects of supplemental nitrogen rate and source on biomass production by three weed species in fallow vegetable land

In 1983, a study was conducted to evaluate three weed species for their biomass yield potential on a fallowed tomato land with various nitrogen (N) rates and sources. Dogfennel ( Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.)Small), sida ( Sida rhombifolia L.), and pigweed ( Amaranthus hybridus L.), were grown with three N rates: residual, 1x and 2x (1 x = 56 kg ha −1 N) and with two N sources: NH 4NO 3 and isobutylidene diurea (IBDU). Sida produced the greatest fresh and dry biomass yields and percentage dry matter, 43·3, 23·3 Mg ha −1 and 54·1%, respectively. Yields of the three crops increased with increasing N rates and were higher with NH 4NO 3 than with IBDU. Overall, sida at the 2x N rate with NH 4NO 3 had the highest fresh, 73·8 Mg ha −1, and dry biomass, 37·9 Mg ha −1, yield. Lowest residual soil total soluble salt concentration, 170 ppm, was found after pigweed, in plots which did not receive additional N. Additional N application increased residual soil total soluble salts after each of the three weeds. Thus, additional N, in NH 4NO 3 form, was necessary for high yields in a fallowed vegetable land, but the additional fertilizer also increased soil total soluble salts, regardless of the plant species.

Influence of total soluble salt concentration on growth and elemental concentration of winged bean seedlings, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.

Abstract Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (L.) DC) seedlings of the accession TPT‐1, were grown in a greenhouse with graded, balanced total soluble salt (TSS) concentrations. After 4.5 days, plant height increased quadratically, with a maximum (149 cm) at 3000 ppm TSS. Seedlings were shortest at 1000 and 10,000 ppm TSS, 44.0 and 79.0 cm, respectively. Fresh weight of shoots increased quadratically with greatest weight, 29.03 g, at 5000 ppm TSS. Percent dry matter increased linearly with increasing TSS. Concentration of N, K and P increased quadratically with an increase in the TSS concentration in the growth medium. Concentration of Ca decreased quadratically with increasing TSS. Among the micronutrients, Fe and Mo concentration was quadratic, both elements were highest in the seedlings at 1000 and 10,000 ppm TSS rates. Concentrations of Mn and Zn increased linearly with increasing TSS. Winged bean seedlings at the 1000 to 3000 ppm TSS rates had spindly stems and a sparse, yellow foliage, typical...

Microhabitat Relationships of Six Major Shrubs in Navajo National Monument, Arizona

Six shrub species were studied to determine their microhabitat relationships as well as their effect on the immediate environment. Analysis of site characteristics and mineral composition of soils in open areas adjacent to shrubs and beneath shrubs allowed for comparison of the different habitats following shrub establishment. Soil pH differs beneath the various shrubs and all six species tended to create more alkaline soils beneath their canopy. All species showed increased soil salinity beneath their canopy. However, the concentration of total soluble salts in the soil surface beneath the shrubs varied with the species and was highest beneath fourwing saltbush. Significant increases in the concentration of magnesium and potassium ions beneath shrubs were observed. Nitrogen and phosphorus were also found in greater concentration beneath the shrub canopy. Soil depth differed beneath the shrub species, with sagebrush and fourwing saltbush growing on the deeper more highly developed types. There was a positive relationship between the presence of shrubs and the depth of the soil profile. It has long been known that shrubs influence the soil characteristics beneath their canopy (Fireman and Hayward 1952). Studies done in the last decade show that shrubs influence both the horizontal and vertical patterning of soil chemicals (Charley and West 1975). Sharma and Tongway (1973) studied the effects of two species of saltbush (Atriplex nummularia and Atriplex vesicaria) on soil salinity and related properties. They recognized an accumulation zone beneath the shrubs, a zone of compensation where leaching of minerals replaced those absorbed, and ‘a depletion zone from which mineral absorption exceeded the rate of replacement. Salt accumulation under shrubs, therefore, represents a redistribution of salts from peripheral regions of root activity (Charley and West 1975). Plants employ several “strategies” for the removal of mineral wastes. Leaching of minerals from leaves is accomplished when the solution of the leaf surface connects with that of the intercellular spaces of the mesophyll and ions are lost by diffusion. Salts are also excreted with the aid of salt glands, as is the case with many Atriplex species. Salts are also concentrated in the extracellular spaces of leaves during the process of transpiration, thus accumulating minerals in leaves. Leaf fall subsequently serves as a mechanism for the elimination of mineral wastes (Epstein 1972). Charley and West (1975) used the distributional patterns of carbon and nitrogen under and between shrubs as a measure of