Soil Nutrient Analysis Research Articles

A mobile lab-on-a-chip device for on-site soil nutrient analysis

In this paper, a mobile sensor for on-site analysis of soil sample extracts is presented. As a versatile tool for scanning ion concentrations in liquid samples, it especially allows the analysis of NO3, NH4, K and PO4. The sensor mainly consists of a microfluidic chip in which the sample ions are separated in an electric field (capillary electrophoresis) and the individual ion concentrations are detected by a conductivity measurement. For the adaption of the device to field conditions, two major concerns were addressed. Firstly, nano-porous material was used as a barrier between the sample container and the analysis channel of the microfluidic chip. This prevents pressure driven leakage of the sample into the chip due to non-horizontal orientation of the device. Secondly, a new method for the injection of the sample into the chip was used. It reduces the number of fluidic connections between chip and operation device to three instead of the commonly used four connections. The sensor performance was tested on multi-ion solutions with calibration series for NO3, NH4, K and PO4. For the first on-site test, a quick soil nutrient extraction procedure with water was used. The sensor data was compared to standard laboratory results. The potential of the sensor for soil nutrient analysis is discussed together with required improvements of the sensor performance and of the nutrient extraction procedure.

Towards the development of multifunctional molecular indicators combining soil biogeochemical and microbiological variables to predict the ecological integrity of silvicultural practices.

SummaryThe impact of mechanical site preparation (MSP) on soil biogeochemical structure in young larch plantations was investigated. Soil samples were collected in replicated plots comprising simple trenching, double trenching, mounding and inverting site preparation. Unlogged natural mixed forest areas were used as a reference. Analysis of soil nutrients, abundance of bacteria and gas exchanges unveiled no significant difference among the plots. However, inverting site preparation resulted in higher variations of gas exchanges when compared with trenching, mounding and unlogged natural forest. A combination of the biological and physicochemical variables was used to define a multifunctional classification of the soil samples into four distinct groups categorized as a function of their deviation from baseline ecological conditions. According to this classification model, simple trenching was the approach that represented the lowest ecological risk potential at the microsite level. No relationship was observed between MSP method and soil bacterial community structure as assessed by high‐throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene; however, indicator genotypes were identified for each multifunctional soil class. This is the first identification of multifunctional molecular indicators for baseline and disturbed ecological conditions in soil, demonstrating the potential of applied microbial ecology to guide silvicultural practices and ecological risk assessment.

Effects of different microhabitas on growth and four kinds of volatile oil components of Atractylodes lancea

To investigate the suitable site environment for Atractylodes lancea, field trials in different niches was carried out, and the seedling growth, biomass and volatile oil components in different microhabitas was studied. The study found that the survival rate, plant height, volatile oil content of those which growing under the bamboo were significantly higher than those exposed in the open field. The survival rate understory was (76 ± 15.1) %, plant height understory was (77 ± 14. 8) cm and the summation of the four kinds of volatile oil content understory reached up to 4.09%; The same evaluation values of these indicators of the four faces in the open field respectively: survival rate is 30%, plant height was (77 ± 14.8) cm and the summation of the four kinds of volatile oil content was 2.24%. But, the yield of the understory (41 ± 22.3) g was significantly lower than those four faces in the open field (104.5 g) on the contrary. For the four open field towards, the yield of the east facing, which organic matter and other nutritional conditions were better than others, was significantly higher than those in the other facings. A. lancea was found to be an anti-poor and shading-like or growing in east facing slope herb through the correlation analysis of light, temperature, soil and leaf nutrients with seedling growth, biomass and volatile oil components. It also reminds us that the understory herb with high survival rate, low incidence, low management costs, and high medicinal ingredients, although it's production is not so high, but it can be improved by increased organic fertilizer. So the ecological planting patterns which can intercropping herbs with the forest was proposed.

Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendations for Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown in Reddish Brown Earth and Reddish Brown Latasolic Soils

Site specific fertilizer recommendations optimize crop production while minimizing nutrient losses. This study was conducted to identify soil fertility constraints of Reddish Brown Earth (RBE) in DL1b and Reddish Brown Latosolic (RBL) soil in IM3c and to formulate site specific fertilizer recommendations for Maize (Zea mays L.). Low productive fields from Mahailluppallama (MI) and Dodangolla (KS) in Sri Lanka were selected based on available farm records and soil fertility survey. Soil samples were analyzed for basic soil properties using standard methods and available nutrients (NH4+ -N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn and Zn) were determined using multi-element extractions. The nutrient concentrations for optimum treatments were formulated based on available nutrients and fixation capacity of nutrients. The formulated nutrient requirements were tested in a greenhouse experiment using missing element technique. Soil nutrient analysis indicated the deficient levels of N, P, S, Ca, Zn and Cu for RBE soils and N, P, K, S, Ca, Zn, Cu and Mn for RBL soil. Lower fixation capacity of P and higher fixation capacity of S were observed in RBL, than that of RBE. In the greenhouse experiment, both soils showed the highest dry matter yield in the optimum nutrient treatment and significant differences were observed in minus treatments of Ca, S and Zn for RBE and P, Ca, S and CaCO3 for RBL soil. Site specific fertilizer requirements for maize were identified for the two tested soils, which could be utilized for achieving potential yield. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 25 (3): 287-297(2014)

Macroevolutionary patterns of glucosinolate defense and tests of defense-escalation and resource availability hypotheses.

We explored macroevolutionary patterns of plant chemical defense in Streptanthus (Brassicaceae), tested for evolutionary escalation of defense, as predicted by Ehrlich and Raven's plant-herbivore coevolutionary arms-race hypothesis, and tested whether species inhabiting low-resource or harsh environments invest more in defense, as predicted by the resource availability hypothesis (RAH). We conducted phylogenetically explicit analyses using glucosinolate profiles, soil nutrient analyses, and microhabitat bareness estimates across 30 species of Streptanthus inhabiting varied environments and soils. We found weak to moderate phylogenetic signal in glucosinolate classes and no signal in total glucosinolate production; a trend toward evolutionary de-escalation in the numbers and diversity of glucosinolates, accompanied by an evolutionary increase in the proportion of aliphatic glucosinolates; some support for the RAH relative to soil macronutrients, but not relative to serpentine soil use; and that the number of glucosinolates increases with microhabitat bareness, which is associated with increased herbivory and drought. Weak phylogenetic signal in chemical defense has been observed in other plant systems. A more holistic approach incorporating other forms of defense might be necessary to confidently reject escalation of defense. That defense increases with microhabitat bareness supports the hypothesis that habitat bareness is an underappreciated selective force on plants in harsh environments.

Soil Nutrient Analysis of Different Utilization Types in Coal Mining Subsidence Area

Soil nutrient of different utilization types in coal mining subsidence area had been analyzed. Results showed that: In greenhouse reclamation area, the content of organic matter and elements was higher, the pH-value was slightly high, followed by was cropland reclamation area; but in forest reclamation area (Include new reclamation area and intercropping reclamation area), as the reclamation and cropping were prolonged, soil fertility was improved.

Soil and Leaf Nutrient Analysis of the Endangered Herb, Baptisia arachnifera, in Georgia, United States

Soil and Leaf Nutrient Analysis of the Endangered Herb, Baptisia arachnifera, in Georgia, United States

Spatial Variability Analysis of Soil Nutrients Based on GIS and Geostatistics: A Case Study of Yisa Township, Yunnan, China

Hani rice terraces system is one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) pilot sites selected by FAO. Soil nutrients are an important symbol of soil fertility, and play an important role in the sustainable utilization of land. Based on geo-statistics and GIS, the spatial variation of pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium in the soil in Yisa (a town in Honghe County, Yunnan Province) was studied. The results show that the spatial variability of pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium exhibited medium spatial variability, and the coefficients of variation are 12.54%, 40.14%, 40.00%, 34.89%, and 40.00% respectively. Available phosphorus exhibited strong spatial variability, and the coefficient of variation is 102.13%. The spatial variation of pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium fit the index mode, however, the spatial variation of available phosphorus fits the spherical model. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were greatly affected by soil structural factors, while pH, organic matter and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen were affected by both structural and random factors. The spatial distribution of soil nutrients in Yisa was intuitively characterized by Kriging interpolation. It is very important to understand the spatial distribution of soil nutrients, which will provide the guidance for adjusting agricultural management measures such as fertilization.

The relationship between soil, climate and forest development in the mid-mountain zone of the Sangong River watershed in the northern Tianshan Mountains, China

The mountainous forests in arid regions, being sensitive to climate change, are one of the key research topics related to the mechanism of interaction between climate and the terrestrial ecosystem. In this study, the spatial distribution of a mid-mountain forest and its environmental factors were investigated by using a combination of remote sensing technology, field survey, climate indices and soil nutrient analysis in the Sangong River watershed of the northern Tianshan Mountains. The forest (Picea schrenkiana) was distributed between 1,510 and 2,720 m asl. Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) exhibited a bi-modal pattern with increasing elevation, and rested at 2,450 and 2,250 m asl, respectively. The two maxima of DBH appeared at 2,000 and 2,550 m asl, and the taller trees were observed at 2,100 and 2,600 m asl. For the annual mean temperature, the difference was approximately 5.8°C between the lowest and the highest limits of the forest, and the average decreasing rates per hundred meters were 0.49°C and 0.55°C with increasing altitude between 1,500 and 2,000 m asl and above 2,000 m asl, respectively. The annual precipitation in the forest zone first increased and then decreased with the increase of altitude, and the maximum value was at 2,000 m asl. For per hundred meters, the annual precipitation increased with the rate of 31 mm between 1,500 and 2,000 m asl and decreased by 7.8 mm above 2,000 m asl. The SOM, TN and TP were high between 2,000 and 2,700 m asl and low at the lower and upper forest limits. The minimum CaCO3 concentration, pH value and EC coincided with the maximum precipitation belt at 2,000 m asl. The SOM, TN and TP were high in the topsoil (0–10 cm) and differed significantly from the values observed in the deep soil layers (>10 cm). The soil nutrients exhibited spatial heterogeneity and higher aggregation in the topsoil. In conclusion, soil and climate are closely related to each other, working synergistically to determine the development and spatial distribution of the mid-mountain forest in the study area. The order of the importance of environmental factors to forest development in this study is as follows: soil nutrients>precipitation>elevation>temperature.

Effect of Thiobacillus bacteria, sulfur and manure on the nutrient and pH of soil in Garlic (Allium sativum)

This study was conducted as split plot factorial based on randomized complete block design in 3 replicates and 18 treatments were carried out during 2011-2012 at Agronomy and Plant Breeding Department, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. In this experiment the main plots consisted of a factorial combination of manure (0, 10 and 20 tons.ha -1 ) and sulfur (0, 250 and 500 kg.ha -1 ) and subplots includes Thiobacillus bacteria (no use and use), respectively. The result of the experiment revealed that application of manure at various levels with recommended dose of Thiobacillus bacteria enhanced the growth and yield attributes in garlic over control. Analysis of soil nutrients using animal manure in organic carbon showed significant difference for traits including available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and zinc. In the all of parameters mentioned in 20 tons of manure treatment and treatments of sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, iron and zinc in soil pH caused significant difference that in all aforementioned traits other than manganese treatment 500 kg of sulfur has the amount of highest. However, we find out that the presence of Thiobacillusbacteria reduced soil pH and rate of iron absorbed is increased. The interaction between bacteria and sulfur, zinc and pH effects on the triple interaction was significant difference at the five percent

Study on the Relationship between Soil Nutrient and Yield Analysis Based on Bivariate Correlation between

Soil nutrient level is an important factor affecting the yield of corn, to find out the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium on maize yield, analysis of bivariate correlation in SPSS based on the relationship between nutrient content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium in the plot and each plot yield directly was analyzed, the experimental results show that it doesn't matter: P, K and the yield of corn, corn yield and nitrogen related.

Altered N, P and C dynamics with absence of fire in Eucalyptus forests affected by premature decline

AbstractAbsence of fire is increasingly recognized as an important driver of soil nutrient budgets in Eucalyptus forest, especially in forests affected by premature Eucalyptus decline, due to the effects of soil nutrient accumulation on nutrient balances and forest community dynamics. In this study, we present a dataset of soil and foliar nutrient analyses, and vegetation measurements from a fire chronosequence survey in native E. delegatensis forest. Measured indices include total soil and extractable soil nitrogen (N), or phosphorus (P), soil organic carbon (C), soil acid‐phosphatase (PME) activity, foliar N and foliar P, and understorey and overstorey vegetation canopy height. We show that in some cases indices are strongly linked to time since fire (2–46 years). Time since fire correlated positively with foliar N, total and extractable soil N, soil organic C, and also soil PME activity; the latter an indicator of biotic P demand. Differences in the strength of these relationships were apparent between two geology types, with stronger relationships on the potentially less‐fertile geology. The strong positive correlation with time since fire and understorey canopy height reflected increasing shrub biomass and thickening of the shrub layer. The strong positive correlation for soil or foliar N, but not P, with time since fire, indicates that P does not increase relative to N over time. P may, therefore, become limiting to growth in this plant community. Similarly, the significantly higher concentrations of soil N but not P, also found in both older and long‐unburnt forest stands (>100 years since management), may exacerbate a situation of soil nutrient limitation over several decades. A characteristic feature of long unmanaged stands is a developing tea tree (Leptospermum sp.) understorey, which may benefit from elevated soil N availability and increasing organic C accumulation with prolonged fire absence. This increased shrub biomass would outcompete Eucalyptus for resources, including soil nutrients and water.

Foliar and litter needle carbon and oxygen isotope compositions relate to tree growth of an exotic pine plantation under different residue management regimes in subtropical Australia

Background and aim Significant differences in tree growth were observed in an exotic pine plantation under different harvest residue management regimes at ages 2–10 years. However, the variations in tree growth between residue management treatments could not be explained by soil and foliar nutrient analyses, except by potassium (K) concentration. Therefore, this study determined the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) and oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of current and archived foliar samples from the exotic pine plantation to establish relationships with foliar K concentration and tree growth indices as a means to determine changes in stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic rate (Amax) or water use efficiency (WUE), and therefore understand the variations in tree growth across treatments.

Community composition and cellulase activity of cellulolytic bacteria from forest soils planted with broad-leaved deciduous and evergreen trees

Cellulolytic bacteria in forest soil provide carbon sources to improve the soil fertility and sustain the nutrient balance of the forest ecological system through the decomposition of cellulosic remains. These bacteria can also be utilized for the biological conversion of biomass into renewable biofuels. In this study, the community compositions and activities of cellulolytic bacteria in the soils of forests planted with broad-leaved deciduous (Chang Qing Garden, CQG) and broad-leaved evergreen (Forest Park, FP) trees in Wuhan, China were resolved through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. All of the isolates exhibited 35 RFLP fingerprint patterns and were clustered into six groups at a similarity level of 50 %. The phylogeny analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that these RFLP groups could be clustered into three phylogenetic groups and further divided into six subgroups at a higher resolution. Group I consists of isolates from Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis complex (I-A) and from Paenibacillus amylolyticus-related complex (I-B) and exhibited the highest cellulase activity among all of the cellulolytic bacteria isolates. Cluster II consists of isolates belonging to Microbacterium testaceum (II-A), Chryseobacterium indoltheticum (II-B), and Flavobacterium pectinovorum and the related complex (II-C). Cluster III consists of isolates belonging to Pseudomonas putida-related species. The community shift with respect to the plant species and the soil properties was evidenced by the phylogenetic composition of the communities. Groups I-A and I-B, which account for 36.0 % of the cellulolytic communities in the CQG site, are the dominant groups (88.4 %) in the FP site. Alternatively, the ratio of the bacteria belonging to group III (P. putida-related isolates) shifted from 28.0 % in CQG to 4.0 % in FP. The soil nutrient analysis revealed that the CQG site planted with deciduous broad-leaved trees has a richer organic nutrient (total organic carbon and total nitrogen) than the FP site planted with evergreen broad-leaved trees. Against this background, the population density and the diversity of cellulolytic bacteria in the CQG site are clearly higher than those in the FP site, and the latter was dominated with high-cellulase-activity Bacillus- and Paenibacillus-related bacteria. The canonical correspondence analysis further indicated that the distribution of these groups is correlated with the FP site, whereas groups II and III are correlated with the organic nutrient-rich CQG site.

Relational analysis of soil enzyme activities, nutrients and microbes in <I>Robinia pseudoacacia</I> plantations in the Yellow River Dalta with different degradation degrees

由人为及自然多种因素的影响造成很多地区人工林地出现衰退现象。本研究选择黄河三角洲不同退化程度的刺槐人工林, 对林地土壤酶、养分和微生物及其相关性进行了研究, 探讨人工刺槐林退化的原因。结果表明: 随着人工刺槐林退化程度加重, 土壤脲酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性下降; 过氧化氢酶活性则先上升, 重度退化林地下降。脲酶与多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性显著相关, 过氧化物酶与多酚氧化酶活性显著相关, 其他酶之间相关性不显著。土壤养分与土壤酶的变化趋势基本一致, 随着林分退化程度加重, 有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷含量均呈下降趋势; 土壤pH、含盐量随着林分退化程度加重与土壤深度增加而上升, 与土壤酶活性的变化趋势相反。土壤酶特别是脲酶活性与土壤养分显著正相关性, 与土壤pH和含盐量呈显著负相关。不同退化程度的人工刺槐林地土壤细菌数量最多; 真菌和放线菌与细菌变化趋势各不相同, 随着退化程度的增加, 细菌平均数量表现为未退化>轻度退化>中度退化>重度退化, 真菌数量为轻度退化>未退化>中度退化>重度退化, 放线菌数量为中度退化>轻度退化>未退化>重度退化。脲酶与细菌、真菌和放线菌数量显著相关, 细菌与除过氧化氢酶外的土壤酶活性显著相关, 其他酶活性与各类微生物数量相关性不显著。

Evidence of Recent Phosphorus Enrichment in Surface Soils of Taylor Slough and Northeast Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park (ENP) is the last hydrologic unit in the series of impounded marsh units that make up the present-day Everglades. The ENP receives water from upstream Water Conservation Areas via canals and water control structures that are highly regulated for flood control, water supply, wildlife management, concerns about poor water quality and the potential for downstream ecosystem degradation. Recent surveys of surface soils in ENP, designed for random sampling for spatial analysis of soil nutrients, did not sample proximate to inflow structures and thus did not detect increased soil phosphorus associated with these water conveyances. This study specifically addressed these areas in a focused sampling effort at three key inflow points in northeast ENP which revealed elevated soil TP proximate to inflows. Two transects extending down Shark River Slough and one down Taylor Slough (a natural watershed of particular ecological value) were found to have soil TP levels in excess of 500 mg kg−1—a threshold above which P enrichment is indicated. These findings suggest the negative impact of elevated water (P) from surface flows and support the assertion that significant soil TP enrichment is occurring in Taylor Slough and other areas of northeastern ENP.

Geostatistical Analysis of Soil Nutrients Based on GIS and Geostatistics in the Typical Plain and Hilly-Ground Area of Zhongxiang, Hubei Province

Techniques of geostatistics are used to perform traditional statistical analysis and spatial structural analysis with ArcGIS, geostatistical software GS+ and statistical software SPSS in order to obtain the knowledge of characteristics of distribution and spatial variability of soil nutrients in different parts of Zhongxiang, Hubei Province. Some skewed values appeared during the analyses. To decrease the influence of those skewed values, domain processing and Box-Cox transformation were used. The results indicated spatial variability of Total N, Avail. P, rapidly-available potassium (R-Avail. K) and effective zinc (Effect. Zn) was strong, that of organic carbon (Org. C), effective molybdenum (Effect. Mo) and effective copper (Effect. Cu) was medium while that of others was weak. Fitted model of Total N, R-Avail. K and Effect. Mo was spherical model, that of Org. C and Effect. Zn was exponential model, while fitted model of Avail. P and Effect. Cu was Gaussian model. Ratio of variability caused by random factors to overall variability was large. What’s more, the ranges of spatial autocorrelation of soil nutrients had much difference. The smallest value was 3600 m in Effect. Zn while the largest was 77970 m in Org. C. Other characteristics were also included. The study is helpful to soil sampling design, to make people realize the influence of Han River to spatial variability of soil nutrients in this area, and to spatial interpolation and mapping.

Mycorrhizal colonization of Palafoxia feayi (Asteraceae) in a pyrogenic ecosystem

Although a number of factors have predictable effects on mycorrhizal colonization, determining generalized patterns for some variables have remained elusive. In particular, fire has been identified as a major event that may influence plant-mycorrhiza interactions, yet efforts to date have yielded contradictory results. Here, we assess the impact of fire on mycorrhizal colonization in Palafoxia feayi, a plant commonly found in the fireswept, nutrient-poor scrub community of central Florida. We determined soil nutrient conditions and percent colonization patterns for plants growing in replicate plots that were burned 1 to 15years previously. The results showed a negative relationship between mycorrhizal colonization and time since fire, but there was no effect of fire return interval (lapsed time between successive fires). Soil nutrient analyses corroborated previous studies and showed no change in soil nutrients following fire. In contrast to previous studies of mycorrhizal colonization in Florida scrub, we conclude that fire can affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and we speculate that this is mediated by light availability.

An IconMap-based exploratory analytical approach for multivariate geospatial data

This paper discusses an iconmap-based visualization technique that enables multiple geospatial variables to be illustrated in a single GIS raster layer. This is achieved by extending the conventional pixel-based data structure to an iconic design. In this way, spatial patterns generated by the interaction of geographic variables can be disclosed, and geospatial information mining can be readily achieved. As a case study, a visual analysis of soil organic matter and soil nutrients for Shuangliu County in the city of Chengdu, China, was undertaken using the prototype IconMapper software, developed by the authors. The results show that the static IconMap can accurately exhibit trends in the distribution of organic matter and nutrients in soil. The dynamic iconmap can both reflect interaction patterns between organic matter and the nutrient variables, and display soil fertility levels in a comprehensive way. Thus, the iconmap-based visualization approach is shown to be a non-fused, exploratory analytical approach for multivariate data analysis and as a result is a valuable method for visually analyzing soil fertility conditions.

Irrigated taro (Colocasia esculenta) farming in North Kohala, Hawai‘i: sedimentology and soil nutrient analyses

How did traditional farming transform the natural environment in the Hawaiian Islands? This question is one that has largely been addressed for rainfed farming of crops like sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), but evidence is lacking for irrigated farming of the critical staple crop taro (Colocasia esculenta). We describe the results of soil nutrient and sedimentological analyses of deeply-stratified pondfield deposits representing a 600-year-long record of irrigated taro farming in the North Kohala District, Hawai‘i Island. Soil is categorized by particle size to determine modes of transport and deposition, and concurrent soil nutrient analyses were conducted to infer shifts in the source of sediments and changes associated with taro harvesting. The advent of farming is clearly detectable in sedimentology, the presence of charcoal found within sediments, and soil chemistry. However, diminished nutrient concentrations can be attributed largely to deposition of a mixture of upstream sediments. Overall, there is no clear evidence for nutrient draw-down by taro harvesting, but we cannot yet rule it out as a factor. This study demonstrates the inherent difficulty of correlating changes in soil nutrients evident in irrigated pondfields with the long term history of soil nutrient cycling.