Ppm For Treatment Research Articles

Composting as a Cleaner Production Strategy for the Soil Resource of Potato Crops in Choconta, Colombia

Choconta is the municipality in Colombia with the greatest prevalence of potato planting, representing 70.90% of the total territory. However, this crop has been affected by the presence of pests, diseases, and chemical contaminants from pesticides and chemical fertilizers that deteriorate the soil and, therefore, the quality of the final product. Compost (organic waste with specific characteristics and made from waste generated in Choconta) was studied as a sustainable production strategy to increase soil quality and thereby the quality of the local potato crop. For this purpose, a 3 × 2 experiment design was implemented with three treatments (0%, 25%, and 50% compost) and two variables (young potato and mature potato) in duplicate for 4 months. In this experiment, the use of compost led to an improved final product, which went from a floury texture to a dense and creamy texture. The use of compost also reduced the levels of heavy metals, such as lead, with a higher removal in treatment 3 (50% composting). The estimated direct cost of the composting process was USD 280.85, slightly lower than that of the application of fertilizers at USD 294.48. The use of fertilizers has a higher environmental impact due to the use of chemical products that have environmental and health implications. Using compost did not influence tuber harvest time but had a positive impact on tuber texture quality and on soil resources through the reduction in heavy metals, especially lead (16.40–18.03 ppm for treatment 1, 17.96–18.49 ppm for treatment 2, and 15.67–17.88 ppm for treatment 3). Using compost could be environmentally and economically beneficial for local farmers, and it promotes the circular economy and sustainable communities.

The effects of hair dressing effluent irrigation on soil chemical properties, germination and growth in maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp)

The effects of hair dressing effluent on soil chemical properties, germination and growth of maize and cowpea were investigated in pot experiment. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design of 3 effluent treatments (100 ml, 200 ml and 400 ml) and control with 5 replications at University of Port Harcourt Centre for Ecological Studies. Results showed that pH ranged between 6.8±0.2 – 7.5±0.4 for both control and treatments, total organic carbon (TOC) increased from 1.56±0.4% in control to 1.95±0.09 - 2.55±0.05% in treatments. Oil and grease increased from 24.20±2.64 ppm in control to 48.70±4.10 - 129.80±3.00 ppm in treatments. Germination percentage were 98% and 48% in control for maize and cowpea respectively and ranged between 84 – 88% and 12 – 32% in treatments for maize and cowpea respectively. Shoot lengths were 27.6±5.8 cm and 20.4±1.4 cm in control for maize and cowpea respectively and ranged between 29.1±4.1 – 32.2±1.0 cm and 18.5±1.7 – 19.8±7.8 cm in treatments for maize and cowpea respectively. Fresh weights were 100.4±7.5 g and 52.3±8.7 g in control for maize and cowpea respectively while it ranged between 97.8±2.9 g – 111.0±6.4 g and 42.0±5.1 – 58.2±4.0 g in treatments for maize and cowpea respectively. In conclusion, hair dressing effluent had no effect on soil pH but increased soil TOC and O & G. It had no effect on germination percentage of maize but reduced it in cowpea and no significant effects on shoot length and biomass accumulation of the test crops.Keywords: Effluent; Soil; Maize; Cowpea; Growth, irrigation

Long-term tillage effects on a mollic ochraqualf in North-west Ohio. III. Soil nutrient profile

Soil chemical analyses were performed 12 years after initiating a tillage experiment on a poorly drained clay soil in north-west Ohio. There were four tillage treatments: (A) continuous no-till for 12 years; (B) no-till for 10 years followed by plow-till for 2 years; (C) plow-till for 10 years followed by no-till for 2 years; (D) continuous plow-till for 12 years. Tillage methods had significant effects on soil pH, cation exchange capacity, Bray-P, exchangeable Ca and K, and base saturation of Ca, Mg and K. Tillage effects on soil properties were significant for the top 0–30-cm layer. Two years of plow-till following 10 years of no-till resulted in about 5% reduction of soil organic matter in the 0–10-cm layer. In comparison, 2 years of no-till following 10 years of plow-till resulted in about 15% increase in organic matter content of the surface layer. No-till plots had high concentration of P in the surface layers — 460, 330, 252 and 190 ppm in Treatments A, B, C and D, respectively. Two years of plow-till following 10 years of no-till increased P content of 0–10-cm layer by 28%. In contrast 2 years of no-till following 10 years of plow-till increased P content of the surface layer by 33%. The surface layer of no-till plots had lower pH and exchangeable Ca, but higher concentration of P, exchangeable K and exchangeable Mg than plow-till treatments. In general, tillage treatments had lesser effects on chemical properties of this clay soil of high inherent fertility than drastic long-term effects usually reported for some coarse-textured soils of low fertility.