Soils Of Bangladesh Research Articles

Amelioration of Soil Fertility by the Application of Different Fruit Waste Composts

The soil health status of Bangladesh decreased day by day, particularly organic matter and major nutrient content. The organic matter content in most of the agricultural soil in Bangladesh is <2%, which indicates poor soil health condition. In Bangladesh, almost every day, an enormous amount of waste material is produced from different kinds of seasonal and unseasonal fruit’s peels. Lack of proper recycling methods, most of these wastes are thrown away in drains, cannels, rivers, etc. which indicates a major threat to environmental safety. Composts derived from the wastes of different fruit’s peels can be an excellent source of organic matter and essential nutrients for soil health improvement. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the changes in physicochemical properties and nutrient contents of experimental soil treated with compost prepared from different types of fruit’s waste. The compost was prepared accordingly using different types of fruits waste and then the collected compost was thoroughly mixed with the soil and kept for six months. The experimental treatment consisted of three organic composts (jackfruit peel compost, mango peel compost, and banana peel compost) and three rates of application (1000, 1500, and 2000 kg ha-1). The experiment was arranged in a factorial completely randomized design and replicated thrice. The analyzed data showed that, the physicochemical properties and nutrient contents of experimental soil varied significantly with the use of different types of fruit’s wastes compared to no waste added soil, except in the case of particle size. Soil mixed with mango peel compost at a rate of 2000 kg ha-1 resulted in a higher available N content (2520 mg kg-1) and available P content (42.56 mg kg-1), whereas the available K content (219.88 mg kg-1), EC (1.55 dS m-1) and CEC (1209.56 meq 100g-1) were found higher in soil treated with banana peel compost of 2000 kg ha-1. On the other hand, soil treated with jackfruit peel compost of 1500 kg ha-1 showed the higher available Ca content (1533.33 mg kg-1) and the jackfruit peel compost of 2000 kg ha-1 resulted in the higher organic carbon (1.98%) and organic matter (3.41%). The findings of this experiment revealed that, compost prepared from different types of fruit peels can be an excellent source of organic matter and nutrients and among the tested composts, mango peel compost was better to improve the physiochemical properties of soil and supply sufficient nutrients for plant growth.

Growth and Yield Performance of Different Mustard Varieties Grown in Barind Tract Soils of Bangladesh

The present research was conducted to investigate the growth and yield performance of thirteen mustard varieties grown in Chapai Nawabganj district, Bangladesh. Thirteen mustard varieties, viz. “BINA Sarisha-4”, “BINA Sarisha-7”, “BINA Sarisha-9”, “BINA Sarisha-10”, “BARI Sarisha-14”, “BARI Sarisha-15”, “BARI Sarisha-16”, “BARI Sarisha-17”, “BARI Sarisha-18”, an “Indian tall” variety, “Indian short” variety, a Japanese variety “Sarisha” and a local variety were cultivated during “Rabi” (rainy) season 2021-2022. The preparation of land with recommended fertilizer doses, the experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design consisting of three replications. All the growth, yield, and yield attributes significantly differed among the mustard varieties. In growth attributes, the highest value in plant height (149.97 cm), number of leaves per plant (16.77), leaf length (12.33 cm), number of branches per plant (11.40), and tap root length (22.53 cm) for “Indian tall” variety, “Indian short” variety , “BARI Sarisha-18”, “BINA Sarisha-7”, and “Japanese Sarisha”, respectively. In terms of yield and yield attributes, number of siliqua per plant (102.00), siliqua length (6.37 cm), number of grains per siliqua (39.50), grain yield per plot (576.33), 1000-seeds weight (3.75 g), biological yield (5.06 ton.ha-1), and harvest index (35.23%) was highest in the “Indian tall” variety , “BARI Sarisha-14”, “BARI Sarisha-14”, “BINA Sarisha-9”, and “Indian short” variety , respectively. The maximum benefit cost ratio (BCR) was 2.21, observed in “BINA Sarisha-9”. Besides, BCR 1.71 and 1.66 were for “BARI Sarisha-14” and “Japanese Sarisha”, respectively. The findings of the study suggested that “BINA Sarisha-9”, “BARI Sarisha-14”, and “Japanese Sarisha” would be suitable for better productivity and recommended for cultivation in the medium highland of Chapai Nawabganj district of Bangladesh.

Toxic heavy metals content in different agrochemicals available in markets of Bangladesh and their loads to the agricultural lands.

A study was conducted to determine the concentration of toxic heavy metals in various agrochemicals available in Bangladesh and to assess the burden of these metals on agricultural soils. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to measure the content of 4 toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni) in the aqueous extract of various agrochemicals. There were significant differences in the amounts of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in different brands of insecticides (mean < 0.01, 3.16, 17.32, and 47.33 µgg-1), fungicides (mean 12.42, 10.19, 9.63, and 243.34 µgg-1), phosphatic fertilizers (mean 25.43, < 0.01, 206.33, and 210.69 µgg-1), micronutrient fertilizers (mean 0.68, < 0.01, 43.43, and 65.79 µgg-1), and plant hormones (mean < 0.01, < 0.01, 9.90, and 43.08 µgg-1). The concentrations of Cd and Ni were on anaverage higher in phosphatic fertilizers, which exceeded the maximum acceptable limit of fertilizers in Bangladesh by 2.5 and 4.2 times, respectively. The study also revealed that the burden of toxic heavy metals from agrochemicals on farm soils was in the following order: phosphatic fertilizers > fungicides > micronutrient fertilizers > plant hormones > insecticides. Among the toxic heavy metals, Ni posed the highest burden on Bangladeshi farm soils due to a single application of different agrochemicals in a year. The average total burden of each metal in the soils of Bangladesh showed a decreasing trend in the order of Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb, resulting in a total metal burden of 22.88gyear-1ha-1. Finally, the study recommended that certification about the content of metals be made mandatory for agrochemical manufacturing firms to ensure that their products entering in Bangladeshi markets are free from toxic metals.

Sulphur Fractions, Distribution, and Connections with Soil Attributes in the Gopalpur and Ishwardi Soil Series of Bangladesh

The deficiency of soil sulfur (S) is a prevalent issue in Bangladesh soils, posing a significant obstacle to enhancing crop yield and overall productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of different sulfur fractions across various soil depths in the Gopalpur and Ishwardi soil series, along with their relationships with other soil parameters. In both soil series, the sulfur fractions were ordered as follows: organic &gt; adsorbed &gt; available forms, with organic sulfur being the most abundant. Additionally, soil attributes such as pH, organic carbon, texture, and EC were assessed to understand their relationships with sulphur fractions. Results indicate significant variations in sulphur distribution between the two soils series, with organic sulphur dominating in Gopalpur soils and sulphate-sulphur prevailing in Ishwardi soils. Correlation analysis reveals strong associations between sulphur fractions and soil attributes, highlighting the influence of soil properties on sulphur dynamics. These findings provide valuable insights into sulphur cycling in agricultural soils of Bangladesh and underscore the importance of soil management practices for optimizing sulphur availability and crop productivity.

Toxicity assessment of heavy metals translocation in maize grown in the Ganges delta floodplain soils around the Payra power plant in Bangladesh

As a cereal crop, maize ranked third place after wheat and rice in terms of land area coverage for its cultivation, and in Bangladesh, it ranked second place after rice in its production. As the substitution of wheat products, maize has been used widely in baking for human consumption and animal fodder. However, maize grown in this soil around the coal-burning power plant may cause heavy metals uptake that poses a risk to humans. The study was conducted at the maize fields in the Ganges delta floodplain soils of Bangladesh to know the concentration of eight heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Cd, Mn, As, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in soil and maize samples using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and to estimate the risk of heavy metals in maize grains. Mean concentrations of heavy metals (mg/kg) in soil were in decreasing order of Zn (10.12) > Cu (10.02) > Mn (5.48) > Ni (4.95) > Cr (3.72) > As (0.51) > Pb (0.27) > Cd (0.23). The plant tissues showed the descending order of heavy metal concentration as roots > grains > stems > leaves. BCF values for As, Cd, Pb, and Mn in roots were higher than 1.0, indicating considerable accumulation of these elements in maize via roots. Total hazard quotient (ƩTHQ) of heavy metals through maize grain consumption was 3.7E+00 and 3.9E+00 for adults and children, respectively, indicating non-cancer risk to the consumers. Anthropogenic influences contributed to the heavy metals enrichment in the Ganges delta floodplain soils around the thermal plant, and potential risks (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) were observed due to the consumption of maize grain cultivated in the study area.

Microplastic Contamination of Non-Mulched Agricultural Soils in Bangladesh: Detection, Characterization, Source Apportionment and Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment.

Microplastic contamination in agricultural soil is an emerging problem worldwide as it contaminates the food chain. Therefore, this research investigated the distribution of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils without mulch at various depths (0-5, 5-10, and 10-15 cm) across different zones: rural, local market, industrial, coastal, and research areas. The detection of MP types and morphology was conducted using FTIR and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. Eight types of MPs were identified, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), with concentrations ranging from 0.6 ± 0.21 to 3.71 ± 2.36 MPs/g of soil. The study found no significant trends in MP concentration, with ranges of 0-2.1 ± 0.38, 0-2.87 ± 0.55, and 0-2.0 ± 0.34 MPs/g of soil at depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-15 cm, respectively. The highest MP quantity was recorded at 8.67 in coastal area, while the lowest was 6.44 in the local market area. Various MP shapes, e.g., fiber, film, pellet, fragment, and irregular, were observed across all layers. PCA suggested irrigation and organic manure as potential sources of MPs. The estimated concentrations of MPs possessed low non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to the farming community of Bangladesh.

Screening legacy and emerging organic pollutants in the contaminated soil of Dhaka, Bangladesh

The current understanding of the legacy and emerging organic pollutants in the soil of Bangladesh remains limited. Inadequate disposal practices, particularly in e-waste, landfills, and industrial operations, may lead to the pervasive presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the country. This study aimed to systematically investigate the concentrations, sources, and risk assessment of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), chlorinated paraffins (CPs), and PAHs in the contaminated soil of Dhaka's dumpsites, e-waste, and industrial areas collected in 2017. The total concentration of investigated pollutants averaged at 4790 ± 4040 ng g−1 dw, with the following order: ∑44CPs (4110 ± 4140 ng g−1 dw) > ∑16PAHs (422 ± 491 ng g−1 dw) > ∑16HFRs (190 ± 538 ng g−1 dw) > ∑209PCBs (43.5 ± 73.5 ng g−1 dw) > ∑50PCNs (17.7 ± 21.0 ng g−1 dw) > ∑27OCPs (9.41 ± 9.61 ng g−1 dw). The e-waste site exhibited the highest total concentration of the target pollutants, reaching 12,700 ng g−1 dw. CPs were the predominant contributors, accounting for averages of 81.8%, 70.5%, and 68.5% to waste landfills, e-waste, and industrial sites, respectively. A comprehensive analysis of 209 PCB congeners revealed their primary origin from Aroclor PCBs, with minor contributions from unintentionally produced PCBs. The highest incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk (ILCR) occurred in e-waste sites, contributed by dioxin-like PCBs, with a maximum value of 5.9 × 10−5 for adults, exceeding the limit 1.0 × 10−6 set by the U.S. EPA. The non-carcinogenic hazard quotients (HQs) were much lower, suggesting no significant risk from the investigated pollutants. Our findings highlight the importance of proper waste management and regulated e-waste recycling to mitigate potential hazardous risks to the Bangladeshi population.

Isolation and characterization of Bacillus subtilis RZS-01 isolate from agricultural soil in Bangladesh with potent antimicrobial activities

Isolation and characterization of Bacillus subtilis RZS-01 isolate from agricultural soil in Bangladesh with potent antimicrobial activities

Human health risks of trace metals through the dietary intake of potato tubers and exposures of potato cultivating soils: A case study of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

BackgroundTrace metal contamination in soil and farm products is common in Bangladesh, which enhances public awareness. Most of the studies in our country ignored potential human health risks from different routes of exposures to trace metals present in potato tubers and potato-growing soils. ObjectivesThe study objectives were to measure trace metals pollution level in soils, and to evaluate human health risks due to dietary intake of potato tubers, as well as ingestion, dermal and inhalation exposures of potato-cultivating soils of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. MethodsAn atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, and Mn in the extract of soils and potato tubers. The study employed contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) to evaluate the level of soil pollution. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risks were assessed based on calculated Hazard Quotient and Cumulative Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (∑ILCR), respectively. ResultsA threshold of "moderate contamination" (1.0 ≤ CF < 3.0) can be assigned to certain soil sampling sites based on the computed CF values for Ni, Cd, and Pb. On the contrary, the calculated PERI indicated that the soils of potato-cultivating regions of the study area are ecologically free from pollution. Regarding non-cancer risks, the measured hazard quotient (HQ) values for all avenues of exposure to trace metals were below 1.0, indicating that they are safe for human health. On the other hand, the calculated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for Ni in 83.3% of potato tuber samples for both sexes and Cd in 58.3% of males and 91.7% of females had scores greater than 1.00E-04, which indicates carcinogenic risks to adult humans. However, the estimated mean ∑ILCR for males and females in various routes of exposure showed a decreasing trend in the order of ILCROral (potato ingestion) >ILCRSoil ingestion >ILCRDermal adsorption >ILCRSoil inhalation. ConclusionThe agricultural soils of Bangladesh are becoming progressively degraded due to multiple contamination causes along with trace metals. The investigation recommended that future traceability efforts focus on locating possible sites of entry for toxic metals into the nation's food supply chain.

Enhancing Bitter Gourd Production in Coastal Saline Soil of Bangladesh by Mulching and Fertilizing with Potassium

Salinity is a major constraint to higher crop production in the southern coastal soils of Bangladesh. To overcome this problem, a study was undertaken with the application of different mulch materials and potassium fertilizer doses during 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Barguna district of Bangladesh. The test crop was a bitter gourd. The experiments were laid out in a two-factor randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor was different types of mulch material (M1: no mulch, M2: rice straw mulch, and M3: polythene mulch), and the second factor was different rates of potassium (K) fertilizer (K1: no K fertilizer, K2: 100% recommended K fertilizer, and K3: 150% recommended K fertilizer). The effect of mulch materials and potassium fertilizer doses recorded significantly higher yield, yield components, and nutrient uptake of bitter gourd in both the years over control treatment. In the case of mulching, the polythene mulch treatment had the best performance in all tested parameters, followed by rice straw mulch and no mulch treatment. The polythene mulch treatment resulted in a 136% and 198% higher yield over no mulch treatment in two years, respectively. Regarding the K effect, the 150% recommended K fertilizer gave the best performance, followed by the 100% recommended K fertilizer and control treatment. Application of 150% recommended K increased 39 and 68% higher yield over K control treatment in two years, respectively. The polythene mulch and/or 150% recommended K fertilizer gave the highest positive results among all the tested treatments. On the other hand, the use of polythene mulch and/or 150% recommended K fertilizer gave the lowest soil EC and exchangeable soil Na. Therefore, polythene mulch and/or 150% recommended K fertilizer could be a new package for increasing bitter gourd yield by reducing salinity in coastal saline soil of Bangladesh.

Isolation, Characterization, Evaluation and Comparative Study of Beneficial Microorganisms among the Agricultural Soil, Saline Intruded Soil and Commercial Biofertilizers

Degradation of soil health is a growing concern as both human health and soil microbial community are directly related to this. One of the main hazards to soil deterioration in Bangladesh is soil salinization. In this study, the microbiological status of two commercial biofertilizers, an agricultural soil, and saline soil in Bangladesh were analyzed and compared. Five saline soil samples from various agricultural fields in Satkhira, two commercial biofertilizer samples, and one agricultural soil from Hazi Danesh Agricultural University were collected to carry out this work. The saline soil sample's physicochemical properties, such as pH and salinity, were examined. Saline soil had a salinity range of 0.17-1.60 ppm and a pH range of 6.20-7.22. Five beneficial bacteria, three types of food-borne pathogen indicators, three types of soil quality indicators, and one plant pathogen indicator bacterium were selected for the microbiological investigation. The microbial status of the five beneficial bacteria was observed; for Rhizobium, the range was not detected to 7.62 log CFU/g, for Azotobacter, it ranged from 3.11 log CFU/g to 5.72 log CFU/g, for phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, it ranged from 3.87 log CFU/g to 4.69 log CFU/g, and for Bacillus, it was not detected to 4.65 log CFU/g. The helpful bacteria Pseudomonas spp. and the plant pathogen inhibitor Trichoderma spp., which are deemed important markers for soil health, were found to be absent in all the samples.&#x0D; The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 12(1), 2023, P 29-40

Research on Fertility Status of Bangladesh Soil and Its Improvement

Research on Fertility Status of Bangladesh Soil and Its Improvement

Effects of integrated nutrient management and urea deep placement on rice yield, nitrogen use efficiency, farm profits and greenhouse gas emissions in saline soils of Bangladesh

Soil salinity is one of the major yield-limiting factors in the coastal ecosystems of Bangladesh. An efficient fertilizer management practice and selection of appropriate crop cultivars could play a crucial role in improving yield and promoting low-carbon agriculture across saline soils. A two-year multi-location field experiment was conducted during the Boro (dry) season (December–April) to investigate the effects of fertilizer management and rice cultivar selection on rice yield, economic viability, and global warming potential (GWP) in coastal saline soils of Bangladesh. The study included seven fertilizer treatments with varying nitrogen rates and sources, as well as two rice cultivars (BRRI dhan67 and BRRI dhan88). The results showed that integrated nutrient management-2 (INM-2) significantly (p < 0.05) increased rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency compared to other treatments for both BRRI dhan67 and BRRI dhan88. Similarly, INM-2 gave a higher return on fertilizer investment and marginal benefit-cost ratio than other treatments in both locations and under both cultivars. BRRI dhan67 significantly (p < 0.05) increased rice yield relative to BRRI dhan88 by 21 % and 52 % at the BRRI farm and Kaliganj in Satkhira, respectively. The cost-dominant analysis excluded BRRI dhan88 and all fertilizer treatments, except urea deep placement (UDP) and INM-2, from consideration in both locations. Consequently, INM-2 and UDP proved to be economically viable in both locations, with INM showing a higher marginal rate of return than UDP in BRRI dhan67. In terms of environmental sustainability, UDP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced GWP and yield-scaled emissions of CH4 by 31 % and 38 % without causing yield loss compared to INM-2. Similarly, BRRI dhan67 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced GWP and yield-scaled emissions of CH4 by 5 and 22 % compared to BRRI dhan88. These findings suggest that selecting salt-tolerant rice cultivars and implementing appropriate fertilizer management practices can enhance economic profitability, ensure food security, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in coastal saline soils.

Efficacy of Herbicide Mixtures for Transplanted Aman Rice in Silty Clay Loam Soil of Bangladesh

Weed management plays an important role in obtaining target yield. A field experiment was carried out at the Agronomy field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July to December 2019 to get the most effective weed control strategy for transplanted Aman rice. The soil of the study field was silty clay loam in nature. The study consisted of two factors i.e., variety (4: Chinigura, BR11(Mukta), BRRI dhan56, and BRRI hybrid dhan6) and herbicide (4) viz., Bispyribac-sodium WP @ 150 g ha-1, Acetochlor 14% + Bensulfuron methyl 4% WP @ 750 g ha-1, Pretilachlor 6% + pyrazosulfuron 0.15% WP @ 9.88 kg ha-1, and weedy check as a control. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Thirteen weed species were found in the experimental plots, mostly broadleaf and sedge. Monochoria vaginalis was the most dominant weed species. The study noticed that the application of mixed herbicides offered better weed control over single herbicide application. Application of Acetochlor 14% + Bensulfuron methyl 4% WP @ 750 g ha-1 significantly reduced weed density and biomass and was the best way of controlling complex weed flora. The study marked out BR11 (Mukta) as the most potential aman rice variety to produce the highest yields at applying Acetochlor 14% + Bensulfuron methyl 4% WP @ 750 g ha-1. This treatment gave the highest gross return (Tk. 1,46,010), net return (Tk. 88,699), and benefit-cost ratio (2.55). Therefore, the study suggests the application of mixed herbicides and BR11 (Mukta) to get the optimum yield of transplanted Aman rice and maximum economic benefit.&#x0D; Bangladesh Agron. J. 2023, 26(1): 56-74

Uncovering the impact of mega-scale shipbreaking yards on soil and crop quality in Bangladesh: A spatiotemporal dynamics and associated health risks of metal/loid contamination

The uncontrolled release of harmful metal/loids from mega-scale shipbreaking activities in Bangladesh is a significant concern. This study investigated the impact of shipbreaking activities on soil and crop quality and human health in relation to metal/loid contamination. This work covered an area of 1221 km2 surrounding the shipbreaking yards in Chittagong during the wet and dry seasons between 2019 and 2020. Amongst the sixteen elements measured, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, As, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Sn in the soil, rice, and vegetables from the four exposure sites were significantly higher compared to the control site in both seasons. Soil pollution indices indicated moderate to higher contamination levels of Pb, Zn, Cd, As, and Se in 30–50% of soil, supporting their accumulation in food crops. Source apportionment analysis identified uncontrolled shipwrecking operations as the primary anthropogenic activity mainly contributing to metal/loid pollution. Health risk analysis showed inorganic arsenic (estimated), Cd, and Pb in food crops could pose potential health threats to the general population. Spinach leaf and gourd were identified as the highest-risk contributing vegetables in the dry and wet seasons. These findings help to inform management strategies to protect agroecosystems and public health.

Exploring Bangladesh's Soil Moisture Dynamics via Multispectral Remote Sensing Satellite Image

Accurate monitoring and mapping of soil moisture are essential for sustainable agricultural practices, water resource management, and climate studies. This study aims to explore the mapping of soil moisture in Bangladesh using multispectral remote-sensing satellite images. The purpose of this study is to prepare a map of soil moisture aiming to help government authorities in developing agricultural activities to accelerate the sustainable development of the rural economy in Bangladesh. A total of 14 Landsat scenes of paths 135-139 and rows 42-46 covers the entire Bangladesh. Thus, a set of Landsat imagery (a total of 14 scenes) for the year 2022 was used in this study to map the soil moisture of Bangladesh through the application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. Satellite Image preprocessing, correction, and analysis were done with ENVI software (version 5.1, developed by Research Systems, Inc., USA) and the ArcGIS software (version 10.6, developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute, USA). For the study of the long-term variation of soil moisture over Bangladesh and its seasonal characteristics, a soil moisture map can be used. In addition, to improve the climate model over Bangladesh, an up-to-date soil moisture map will be very helpful. The objective of this study is to provide accurate and detailed up-to-date spatial soil moisture information at reduced cost and time which is essential for environment modeling, risk assessment, decision-making for different government agencies and development partners, and help toward socio-economic development. In this study, the map shows soil moisture as very wet, wet, dry, and very dry soils of Bangladesh. The overall land cover classification accuracy was 92.56%, with a Kappa value 0.90 for Random Forest and the overall soil classification accuracy was 87.27%, with a Kappa value 0.858 for maximum likelihood classification indicating good consistency.

Bangladesh's food security under input problems: An analysis of constrains and policy response

AbstractFood security is integral to national security discourse directly related to agricultural inputs such as land, water, seeds, and fertilizers. The food production capacity of any country depends mainly on the adequacy of inputs. This study examines the nature and implications of input scarcity in Bangladesh's food security because the state's one‐third of people remain food insecure. With thematic content analysis, time series data, and a critical interpretive approach, the findings show that though Bangladesh achieved self‐sufficiency in food grains, the country faces a substantial reduction threat to food production due to declining cultivated land, water scarcity, poor fertilizer and seed market governance, and inadequate support of bank loans. The study reveals that Bangladesh's soil fertility decreases due to the excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers, and two‐thirds of farmers do not get improved seeds at fair prices on time because of structural weaknesses in seed markets. The South Asian country also faces a severe threat on the irrigation front as the country is losing surface and groundwater increasingly. Moreover, 1% of agricultural land is ruined yearly due to land conversion to other sectors. Against these backdrops, this article has explored some policy options for reducing the critical constraints in the input sector, which can create a dialogue with existing food and agriculture policies.

Receptor model-based source-specific health risks of toxic metal(loid)s in coal basin-induced agricultural soil in northwest Bangladesh.

Toxic metal(loid)s (TMLs) in agricultural soils cause detrimental effects on ecosystem and human health. Therefore, source-specific health risk apportionment is very crucial for the prevention and control of TMLs in agricultural soils. In this study, 149 surface soil samples were taken from a coal mining region in northwest Bangladesh and analyzed for 12 TMLs (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Cu, As, Se, and Hg). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) and absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor models were employed to quantify the pollution sources of soil TMLs. Both models identified five possible sources of pollution: agrochemical practice, industrial emissions, coal-power-plant, geogenic source, and atmospheric deposition, while the contribution rates of each source were calculated as 28.2%, 17.2%, 19.3%, 19% and 16.3% in APCS-MLR, 22.2%, 13.4%, 24.3%, 15.1% and 25.1% in PMF, respectively. Agrochemical practice was the major source of non-carcinogenic risk (NCR) (adults: 32.37%, children: 31.54%), while atmospheric deposition was the highest source of carcinogenic risk (CR) (adults: 48.83%, children: 50.11%). NCR and CR values for adults were slightly higher than for children. However, the trends in NCR and CR between children and adults were similar. As a result, among the sources of pollution, agrochemical practices and atmospheric deposition have been identified as the primary sources of soil TMLs, so prevention and control strategies should be applied primarily for these pollution sources in order to protect human health.

Loading of zinc and iron in grains of different wheat genotypes in the calcareous and floodplain soils of Bangladesh

Major malnutrition in Bangladesh is zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiency as most people commonly depend on cereals, chiefly rice and wheat. The main objectives are to enhance Zn and Fe concentrations through the use of selected varieties and the application of respective fertilizers. Field experiments were conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) farm, Mymensingh (AEZ 9, non-calcareous soil) and at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) substation, Ishwardi (AEZ 11, calcareous soil) for two consecutive wheat seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16) with 10 varieties and 15 advanced lines. Varieties BARI Gom 25, 27, 28 & 29 and breeding lines Vijay, HPYT-5, 15 & 21 and BL-1883 have been recognized as Zn-enriched wheat varieties (24–30 μg g−1). Among the genotypes, Zn further increased by 4–8 μg g−1 due to Zn fertilization. Concerning Fe-enriched wheat genotypes (24–30 μg g−1), five varieties viz. Shatabdi, Prodip, BARI Gom 25 & 28 and Sufi, and four lines such as HPYT-12, BL-1883, BL-1040 and Fery-60 have been identified. The grain Fe concentration of wheat genotypes increased when Fe was added, the increment being 6–12 μg g−1. A positive relationship between Zn and N is observed with increased protein content. The grain yield of wheat was increased by 3.8–25.7% due to Zn application over the varieties and locations but Fe addition had no effect. The result of the current study showed that a potential breeding line with appropriate fertilization can improve Zn and Fe levels in wheat grain, without incurring loss to wheat yield.

Potassium Supplying Capacity and Contribution of Non-Exchangeable Potassium in Wetland Rice Soils in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Information on soil potassium (K) supplying capacity, K-depletion, and contribution of exchangeable and non-exchangeable K in wetland rice ecology is limited. Understanding of K dynamics of different soil types can be a guideline for better K-fertilizer management and sustainable soil K use to achieve sustainable rice yields. To understand this soil K-supplying capacity to rice plants, a pot study with two K levels (K0 and K100 mg K kg-1 soil) was conducted with seven successive rice crops grown up to the panicle initiation stage using 18 different soils collected from across Bangladesh. The cumulative soil K-supplying capacity (242–758 mg K kg-1 soil) varied significantly (P ≤ .001) among soils, showing a strong positive relationship (R2 = 0.78) with NH4OAc K. The potential K-supplying capacity of these soils was the highest (758 mg K kg-1 soil) in Mithapukur (AEZ 3-Tista Meander Floodplain) and the lowest (242 mg K kg-1 soil) in Barura (AEZ 19-Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain). In K0 soils, the successive cycles of rice resulted in continuous depletion of both non-exchangeable and exchangeable K pools. The concentration of both exchangeable and non-exchangeable K was maintained and almost balanced in K100 soils compared to K0 with successive rice cropping. Non-exchangeable K contribution to K nutrition of rice plants during the seventh cropping ranged, respectively, from 83% to 93% and 26% to 55% in K0 and K100 soils. Results reveal the importance of a non-exchangeable K pool in K-supplying to plants in wetland rice production systems with different soil types.