Response of Rice Cultivars to Elevated Air Temperature and Soil Amendments: Implications towards Climate Change Adaptations and Mitigating Global Warming Potentials

Global mean surface air temperature is expected to increase 1.1˚C - 6.4˚C by the end of 21st century which may affect rice productivity and methane emissions in the future climate. This experiment was conducted to investigate the response of rice cultivars to elevated air temperature (+1.5˚C higher than ambient) and soil amendments in regards to rice yield, yield scaled methane emissions and global warming potentials. The experimental findings revealed that replacement of inorganic fertilizers (20% - 40% of recommended NPKS) with Vermicompost, Azolla biofertilizer, enriched sugarcane pressmud, rice husk biochar and silicate fertilization increased rice yield 13.0% - 23.0%, and 11.0% - 19.0% during wet aman and dry boro season, respectively. However, seasonal cumulative CH4 fluxes were decreased by 9.0% - 25.0% and 5.0% - 19.0% during rainfed wet aman and irrigated dry boro rice cultivation, respectively with selected soil amendments. The maximum reduction in seasonal cumulative CH4 flux (19.0% - 25.0%) was recorded with silicate fertilization and azolla biofertilizer amendments (9.0% - 13.0%), whereas maximum grain yield increment 10.0 % - 14.0% was found with Vermicompost and Sugarcane pressmud amendments compared to chemical fertilization (100% NPKS) treated soils at ambient air temperature. However, rice grain yield decreased drastically 43.0% - 50.0% at elevated air temperature (3˚C higher than ambient air temperature), eventhough accelerated the total cumulative CH4 flux as well as GWPs in all treatments. Maximum seasonal mean GWPs were calculated at 391.0 kg CO2 eq·ha−1 in rice husk biochar followed by sugarcane pressmud (mean GWP 387.0 kg CO2 eq·ha−1), while least GWPs were calculated at 285 - 305 kg CO2 eq·ha−1 with silicate fertilizer and Azolla biofertilizer amendments. Rice cultivar BRRI dhan 87 revealed comparatively higher seasonal cumulative CH4 fluxes, yield scaled CH4 flux and GWPs than BRRI dhan 71 during wet aman rice growing season;while BRRI dhan 89 showed higher cumulative CH4 flux and GWPs than BINA dhan 10 during irrigated boro rice cultivation. Conclusively, inorganic fertilizers may be partially (20% - 40% of the recommended NPKS) replaced with Vermicompost, azolla biofertilizer, silicate fertilizer and enriched sugarcane pressmud compost for sustainable rice production and decreasing GWPs under elevated air temperature condition.

Types of Irrigation Water and Soil Amendment Affect the Growth and Flowering of Petunia x alkinsiana ‘Bravo Pinc’

Water insufficiency is the hampering feature of crop sustainability,especially in arid and semi-arid regions.So,the effectual usage of all water resources especially underground brackish water represents the core priority in Saudi Arabia.The present study aimed to recognize the influence of different types of water irrigation(tap water as a control,salinized well water,and magnetized salinized well water)with or without soil amendments(soil without any amendment as a control,peat-moss,ferrous sulfate,and peat-moss plus ferrous sulfate)on petunia plant growth and flowering as well as ion content.Irrigating Petunia plants with saline well water adversely affected growth and flowering as compared to tap water and magnetized saline well water.Additionally,plants irrigated with magnetized water showed a significant enhancement in all the studied vegetative and flowering growth parameters as compared to those irrigated with salinized well water.Furthermore,mineral contents and survival of Petunia plants irrigated with magnetized well water were higher than those irrigated with tap water.Irrigation with magnetized well water significantly reduced levels of Na+and Cl−ions in leaves of Petunia plants indicating the role of magnetization in alleviating harmful effects of salinity.In conclusion,we recommend the utilization of magnetized saline well water for irrigating Petunia plants either alone or in combination with soil amendments(peat moss plus ferrous sulfate).

Effects of Soil Amendment on Growth,Yield and Output of Flue-cured Tobacco in South Anhui Province

[Objective] The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil amend- ment composed of biochar and inorganic mineral material on growth and develop- ment, yield and output value of flue-cured tobacco in South Anhui Province. [Method] A field plot experiment was conducted. The agronomic traits, yield and output value, as well as appearance quality and flavor of flue-cured tobacco were evaluated. [Re- suit] The soil amendments composed of biochars and inorganic mineral materials could significantly increase plant height, stem diameter, leaf size, yield and output of flue-cured tobacco, as well as proportion of first-grade tobacco leaves at the middle and late growth period. The yield in the X3 treatment group （70% T20 ＋ 30% ZC） was highest, and it was higher than that in the control group by 398 kg/hm2. Com- pared with that in the control group, the output of flue-cured tobacco in the X3 treatment group was increased by 10 290 yuan/hm2. In terms of appearance quality and flavor, the flue-cured tobacco leaves in the soil amendment treatment groups were all better than those in the control group. [Conclusion] The application of soil amendment composed of biochar and inorganic mineral material is an effective mea- sure to improve tobacco-growing soil, promote tobacco growth and development, im- prove tobacco yield and output and improve tobacco leaf quality in South Anhui re- gion.

Effects of Oyster Shell Soil Amendmenton Fruit Auality and Soil Chemical Properties in Greenhouse Tomato Acidic Soils

[Objective]The aim was to explore the feasibility of applying oyster shell soil amendment for tomato production in order to determine proper quantity of the soil conditional.[Method]Field tests were performed to research effects of the soil conditioner on tomato yield,quality and soil p H.[Result]The results showed that tomato yield increased in the treatment groups with oyster shell soil amendment.The group SC50 increased the most by 16.5%than the control group.Based on normal fertilization,tomato growth was promoted by the soil amendment,and per tomato weight and lycopene content both improved during peak-fruiting period.Besides,soil p H value was enhanced by the soil amendment also.[Conclusion]It can be concluded that the effect was the best when soil conditioner was applied at 750 kg/hm2.

Effects of sawdust soil amendment on the soil, growth and yield of Solanum esculentum Linn. in waste engine oil-polluted soil

This study investigated the effects of sawdust as a soil amendment on certain growth parameters of Solanum esculentum Linn. grown in soil polluted with various concentrations of waste engine oil, and changes in the physicochemical proper- ties of the soil. The purpose was to assess the soil remediation potentials of sawdust in waste engine oil-polluted soil. The experiment was divided into three regimes： control （air-dried soil without waste engine oil and with clean sawdust）, pol- luted （waste engine oil-contaminated soil）, and amended （oil-polluted soil amended with sawdust）. Enough 3-kg soil samples were sieved and air-dried to prepare five treatment levels of waste engine oil-contaminated soil （30 mL, 1%; 60 mL, 2%; 90 mL, 3%; 120 mL, 4%; and 150 mL, 5%）, as well as five additional treatment levels （the same amounts ofoil contamination） in soil amended with sawdust. The treatment levels were replicated five times in a completely randomized design. A nursery bed was planted with a hybrid tomato variety （Roma V F） obtained from National Horticultural Research Institute （NIHORT） in Ibadan, Nigeria. During the maturation period, the growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches per plant were determined and then the harvested plants were oven dried at 70 ℃for 48 hours to determine their dry weights. The effects of the sawdust amendment on the soil were assessed by determining the soil pH （glass electrode pH meter）, total nitrogen （Kjeldahl method）, total phosphorus （Bray-1 solution）, and potassium （on the leacheate by a flame photometer）. Chromium, lead, and cadmium contents were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Analysis of variance and a Duncan multiple-range test were employed to test significant differences in the soil properties of the three regimes. The growth performance ofSolanum esculentum Linn. in the amended regime （soil with sawdust） at the 150-mL waste engine oil-contamination level was significantly higher than in the polluted regime （soil without sawdust）. After plant harvest, the pH of the soil was shown to be clearly affected by the addition of waste engine oil. The control soil （air-dried only, no sawdust, no oil） had the highest pH value, 6.60, which was significantly different from the pH values at other levels of waste engine oil contamination. However, when amended with sawdust, the control soil had a significantly lower pH value than the unamended control soil. This study further demonstrates that sawdust has the potential of amending waste engine oil-contaminated soil for increasing tomato growth performance because it is capable of increasing the soil nutrient content and reducing the soil total hydrocarbon content.

Application of Soil Amendments Reduced Cadmium Bioavailability but Restrained Soybean Growth

The soybean is a crop which easily accumulates cadmium(Cd),which threatens human health.To assess the impact of the application of classic soil amendments on the Cd concentration in the soybean and the Cd bioavailability in the soil,a field study was conducted in Xiangtan Country(XT)and Liling City(LL),with inorganic-organic-microbial matter(T1)and silicon-calcium-magnesium oxide from natural minerals(T2)as two soil amendments in this study.The results indicated that the soil pH in the two sites increased significantly,up to 0.7~1.1 units and the Cd concentration in the stem,leaf,husk and seed in the two sites decreased differently.Of which,the soil available Cd in Xiangtan County(XT)decreased by 11.9%~16.0%,the enrichment factor(EF)and translocation factor(TF)reduced by 37.9%and 23.5%,respectively.Both soil amendments were effective in increasing the soil pH,reducing the seed and soil available Cd,but the soil organic matter,total N,stem length and grain yields decreased slightly.In conclusion,the Cd bioavailability was reduced but the soybean growth was restrained with the application of the soil amendments.

Reduction of the Pathogenic Propagules of Fusarium profiferatum by Solar and Combined Soil Amendments

The effects of solarisation using clear, UV stabilized, 25μm low density polyethylene mulching combined with soil amendment of chicken manures 12 th^-1, mixed fungicides of Metalaxyl 2 g-Benlate 1.5 g L^-l, Biocontrol agent of Trichoderma harzianum （T.h.） and NPK fertilizer 180 Kg h^-1, on the survived micro and macrocondia of Fusarium proliferatum （Matsushita） Nirenberg were ascertained during summer 2008. Mulched treatments within 45 and 60 days significantly reduced viable propagules to 6 and 3.4 × l03 cfu1 g soil, respectively at 5 cm depth followed by 15 and 30 cm soil depth. Natural heating of dry soil reduced an initial population of 76 × 10^3 to 46.73, 49 and 49.13 × 103 cfu＇lg soil at 5, 15 and 30 cm depth, respectively. Therefore, Fusarium proliferatum reduced by 85.29 and 89.22% within 45 and 60 days compared to 38% in control aired soil. Application of mulching with T. harzianum caused a worthwhile reduction 84.37% in viable propagules, solar with low doses of Metalaxyl-Benlate further reduced Fusarium propagules at all depths 95.5%. Combining chicken manures proved its reduction of fungi cfu at 5 cm depth only, whereas NPK amendments failed in their reduction effects at various depths. However, almost 95% reduction in Fusarium propagules was achieved at various soil depths when combining Met.-Ben., with soil mulching. Combining T.h. was also proved to be significant in reducing fungus inoculum by 88.58, 96.06% at 5 and 15 cm depth. Generally, manures and NPK fertilizers amended soil found equally effective in reducing cfu of Fusarium at 5 and 15 cm depth similar to polyethylene mulching for both solar duration.

Effects of Different Soil Amendments on the Yield of Salt-alkali Tolerant Rice

Aiken base silicon,advanced silicon,activated carbon,desulphurization gypsum,ferric phosphate,humic acid,aluminum dihydrogen phosphate etc.were used as raw meterials to conduct the compound development of salt-alkali soil amendents,and the salt-tolerant rice"Chaoyouqianhao"was used as the test variety to verify the effect of increasing yield under simulated salt stress environment.The results showed that at the tillering stage,the growth indexes of rice plant in the treatment with soil amendements were better than that in the treatment without soil amendments(CK2).Of which,T5 and T6 had the best effect,and the dry weight of rice plant increased by 40.99%and 70.06%,respectively,compared to the CK2.At the maturity stage,T5,T6 and T7 had a better effect on the increase of rice yield.Of which,T5 had the highest yield,up to 6533.32 kg/hm^(2),which increased by 29.97%compared to the CK2.Focused on the soil amendments formulation in the T5 and T6,the two formulations all contained ferric phosphate,humic acid,calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer,indicating that these substances played an important role in saline-alkali soil improvement.

Effect of Soil Amendments on Soil Borne Pathogens of French Bean （Phaseolus vulgaris L,） in Organic Farming System in Manipur

The rationale behind the use of soil amendments by traditional marginal farmers against soil borne pathogen is an area of interest. The present work ascertain the effect of certain soil amendments against pre emergent and post emergent rot of French bean in the agro climatic condition of Manipur, Four soil amendments： cow dung （COD）, sawdust （SD） ＋ paddy husk （PH）, decomposed floating phytomat （DFP） was tried in field conditions in four different combinations. These have been often used by the traditional farmers. A locally available commonly cultivated pole type of French bean has been used for the study. Disease incidences in plots treated with these amendments were then compared with that of control plots where no amendments were made. The plots with a combined treatment of the soil amendments showed maximum seed germination and least post emergent rot against sclerotinia rot. But DFP showed effectiveness against rhizoctonia rot with maximum seed germination while saw dust showed maximum decrease in post emergent rot against rhizoctonia rot. The plots treated with organic soil amendments showed statistically significant positive effect against the pathogens as compared with untreated control plots.

Heavy metal pollution risk of desulfurized steel slag as a soil amendment in cycling use of solid wastes

The by-product of wet flue gas desulfurization,desulfurized steel slag(DS),had chemical characteristics like natural gypsum that can be used to improve saline-sodic soil.However,contamination risk of heavy metals for cycling utilization of DS in agriculturewas concerned mostly.Both pot and field experiments were conducted for evaluating the potential pollution risk of DS as the amendment of saline-sodic soil.Results showed that application of DS decreased the contents of Cd,Cu,Zn,and Pb,while significantly increasing chromium(Cr)content in DS-amended soils.The field experiment demonstrated that the migration of heavy metals(Cd,Zn,Cu,and Pb)in the soil profile was negligible.The application of DS at the dosage of 22.5–225 tons/ha significantly increased the Cr content in alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.)but lower than the national standard for feed in China(GB 13078-2017).DS altered the chemical fraction of heavy metals(Zn,Cu,and Pb),transferred exchangeable,reducible into oxidizable and residual forms in DS-amended soil.Application of DS combined with fulvic acid(FA)could effectively reduce the movement of heavy metals in soil and the accumulation of Cr in alfalfa.Based on our results,DS was a safe and feasible material for agricultural use and presented relatively little pollution risk of heavy metals.However,the results also showed that DS to a certain extent had a potential environmental risk of Cr if larger dosages of DS were used.

Effect of amendments on growth and metal uptake of giant reed(Arundo donax L.) grown on soil contaminated by arsenic,cadmium and lead

The effects of five amendments such as acetic acid（AA）, citric acid （CA）, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid （EDTA）, sepiolite and phosphogypsum on growth and metal uptake of giant reed （Arundo donax L.） grown on soil contaminated by arsenic （As）, cadmium （Cd） and lead （Pb） were studied. The results showed that the shoot biomass of giant reed was enhanced by 24.8% and 15.0%, while superoxide mutase and catalase activities slightly varied when adding 5.0 mmol/kg CA and 2.5 mol/kg EDTA to soil as compared to the control, respectively. The concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in shoots were remarkably increased by the addition of 2.5 mmol/kg AA and CA, 5.0 mmol/kg EDTA, and 4.0 g/kg sepiolite as compared to the control. The accumulations of As and Cd were also significantly enhanced in the above condition, while the shoot Pb accumulation was noticeably enhanced by amending with 4.0 g/kg sepiolite and 8.0 g/kg phosphogysum, respectively. The results suggested that AA, CA and sepiolite could be used as optimum soil amendments for giant reed remediation system.

Effect of Polyacrylamide integrated with other soil amendments on runoff and soil loss:Case study from northwest Ethiopia

Anionic polyacrylamide(PAM)has the potential to reduce soil erosion through soil conditioning.However,a comprehensive study about its effectiveness especially when applied combined with other amendments have rarely been conducted in the tropical highland climatic conditions,such as in Ethiopia.The study assessed the effectiveness of PAM(P=40 kg ha^(-1))alone or integrated with other soil amendments such as gypsum(G=5 t ha^(-1)),lime(L=4 t ha^(-1))and biochar(B=8 t ha^(-1))on runoff and soil loss at Aba Gerima watershed in the Upper Blue Nile basin,northwest of Ethiopia,where there is high erosion-caused soil degradation.A total of 79 daily runoff and sediment data were collected from eight runoff plots(1.3m×4m)with three replications planted with teff(Eragrostis tef)crop for two years(2018&2019)rainy seasons.Associated changes in soil physicochemical properties and crop growth parameters were investigated.Treatments reduced seasonal runoff by 12–39%and soil loss by 13–53%.The highest reduction in runoff was observed from P+B and PAM treatments while the highest reduction in soil loss was observed from that of P+L and PAM treatments.Integrating PAM with other amendments improved soil structural stability,moisture content,soil pH(P+L)and organic matter(P+B),leading to favorable environment for crop growth(biomass yield)and reduced runoff and soil erosion.Unlike PAM,biochar and lime amendments may need more time after application to be more effective.Hence continuing the field experiment and studying physico-chemical mechanisms for extended period will better elucidate their single or combined effectiveness over time.

Effects of different soil amendments on physicochemical property of soda saline-alkali soil and crop yield in Northeast China

Soil amendment is one of the most effective methods to improve saline-alkali soil.In this study,laboratory experiments were conducted to verify the effect of 13 kinds of amendments and their combinations(Citric acid(NM),Phosphogypsum(LS),Aluminum sulfate+citric acid(AL+NM),Aluminum sulfate+phosphogypsum(AL+LS),Aluminum sulfate+citric acid+phosphogypsum(HH),Zeolite(Z),Acidified zeolite(ZH),Aluminum sulfate(AL),Aluminum sulfate+zeolite(AL+Z),Aluminum sulfate+acidified zeolite(AL+ZH),Poly Aluminum chloride(ALCL),Polyaluminium chloride+zeolite(ALCL+Z),Polyaluminium chloride+acidified zeolite(ALCL+ZH))on soil pH,metal cations content,exchangeable Na+,exchangeable sodium percentage(ESP)in the lab.And then the five most effective amendments(Z,ZH,AL,AL+Z,and AL+ZH)were chosen applying both in dry field(maize field)and paddy field to evaluate their improvement on soda saline-alkali soil and crop yield in the northeast Songnen Plain,China.The lab results showed that AL,AL+Z and AL+ZH treatments could significantly reduce the pH in soil solution and increase the content of metal cations.Z and ZH treatments could adsorb metal cations in soil.Both in dry and paddy fields,all five treatments could increase the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity(Ks),increased from 9.63 to 60.02 mm/d and 0.18 to 33.25 mm/d,respectively,of which the AL treatment was the best;all five treatments could reduce the content of exchangeable Na+in soil,and decrease by 38.62%-61.33%and 25.24%-71.53%,respectively,of which the AL+ZH treatment was the best;all treatments could reduce soil exchangeable sodium percentage,and decrease by 0.14-0.22 and 0.14-0.41,respectively,of which the AL+ZH treatment was the best;AL,AL+Z and AL+ZH treatments could improve soil organic matter content;all treatments could effectively improve the yield of crops,and increase 23.98%-60.75%and 52.51%-260.21%,respectively,of which the AL treatment was the best in dry field and the AL+ZH treatment was the best in paddy field.The effect of AL treatment was the best in dry field and AL+ZH treatment was the best in paddy field of soda saline-alkali soil.This study could provide instructive information for the chemical improvement and agricultural utilization of soda saline-alkali soils in the world.

Evaluation on Soil Improvement Effects of Organic Fertilization in Honey Peach Orchard in the Longquan Mountain

Combined application of organic fertilizer is an effective measure to improve the productivity and ecological effect of newly added soil.However,the effect of organic fertilizer application in newly added orchard soil is not clear.In this project,the soil of newly built peach orchard in the Longquan Mountain of Chengdu was applied with 45 t/hm 2 of organic fertilizer.After 9 months of planting 6 varieties of honey peach(Wanhujing,Baifeng,Zhongtao 13,Huangjinmitao 1,Zhongpan 101,Zhongpan 104),the locally well developed peach orchard was taken as the control.The physical and chemical properties of soil from four topography(top slope,middle slope,lower slope and flat land)of newly built peach orchard were analyzed,and the effect of organic fertilizer on soil was evaluated.The results showed that combined application of organic fertilizer had different effects on soils from orchards with different varieties of peach and from different terrain parts of the same peach variety.Specifically,it had the best effect on soil improvement in Baifeng(local variety),Zhongpan 101 and Zhongpan 104(introduced varieties).Meanwhile,the best effect of soil improvement was found on top slope.Cluster analysis divided newly built peach orchards,uncultivated soil,and locally well developed peach orchard into four groups,indicating that the selected amount of organic fertilizer application in this study has improved the soil of peach orchards to some extent,but it was still necessary to increase the application amount.It was better for 54 t/hm 2 amount of organic fertilization on the part of top and middle slope,and 60 t/hm 2 on the lower slope and flat land.The comprehensive ecological benefit assessment of organic fertilizer should be conducted based on long-term monitoring of peach orchard ecological environment,fruit tree growth,fruit yield and quality,which would provide scientific basis for peach orchard production and management.

Soil Moisture Retention on the High Plains of North America via Compost Amendments: A Longitudinal Field Study

Water is a finite but vital resource, and the volume of water used in arid and semi-arid regions must be managed to its fullest and best use. Irrigation water is approximately 37% of the total water used in the United States by volume annually. Thus, this area of water use is critical for local and national water conservation. Irrigation is primarily used to increase soil water content above that which precipitation can supply. Soil structure and associated effects on drainage and evapotranspiration, however, largely control soil water content, no matter the amount of applied water. Therefore, improving soil structure to hold more water decreases the amount of water needed for irrigation, which frees that water for other uses. In this paper, organic compost amendments are studied to determine the change in soil structure and accompanying improvements in soil water content over a 4-year period. A uniform field site was selected for this research in the high plains of South Dakota, where irrigation water was available for crop growth. The test site was divided into two equal area fields;one without compost and a field with compost amendments added to 20 cm depth. Compost was incorporated into the treated field at rates of 5% and 10% by weight. Both fields received the same tillage, seed, fertilizer, weather and irrigation. Weekly to monthly in-situ water content measurements from both fields were recorded at the surface and the depths of 20, 40 and 60 cm from 2017 to 2020. Precipitation and applied irrigation water were recorded at the site. No irrigation occurred in 2019 and 2020, and moisture content was dependent on natural precipitation in those years. Results of water content and soil structure show significant differences in the water contents of the soils with the compost amendments compared to baseline, with higher compost content resulting in higher water contents without the soil becoming over-saturated. These results were consistent at all depths and across all growing seasons. This work demonstrates the efficacy of compost soil amendments in regulating soil moisture, which has profound impacts on crop yields, topsoil erosion losses, carbon sequestration, and water conservation.

Soil inorganic amendments produce safe rice by reducing the transfer of Cd and increasing key amino acids in brown rice

The digestibility of cadmium(Cd)in brown rice is directly related to amino acid metabolism in rice and human health.In our field study,three kinds of alkaline calcium-rich soil inorganic amendments(SIAs)at three dosages were applied to produce safe rice and improve the quality of rice in Cd-contaminated paddy.With the increased application of SIA,Cd content in iron plaque on rice root significantly increased,the transfer of Cd from rice root to grain significantly decreased,and then Cd content in brown rice decreased synchronously.The vitro digestibility of Cd in brown rice was estimated by a physiologically based extraction test.Results showed that more than 70%of Cd in brown rice could be digested by simulated gastrointestinal juice.Based on the total and digestible Cd contents in brown rice to evaluate the health risk,the application of 2.25 ton SIA/ha could produce safe rice in acidic slightly Cd-contaminated paddy soils.The amino acids(AAs)in brown rice were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.The contents of 5 key AAs(KAAs)that actively respond to environmental changes increased significantly with the increased application of SIA.The structural equation model indicated that KAAs could be affected by the Cd translocation capacity from rice root to grain,and consequently altered the ratio of indigestible Cd in brown rice.The formation of indigestible KAAs-Cd complexes by combining KAAs(phenylalanine,leucine,histidine,glutamine,and asparagine)with Cd in brown rice could be considered a potential mechanism for reducing the digestibility of Cd.

Facultative-anaerobic microbial digestion of coal preparation waste and use of effluent solids to enhance plant growth in a sandy soil

Coal preparation solid waste,which is a major environmental issue for coal-producing areas in China,may be microbiologically digested and transformed into a product suitable as a soil amendment to increase soil organic matter content and prevent and enhance plant/crop growth.Coal preparation waste collected from a coal sorting plant in Inner Mongolia,China was digested in bioreactors inoculated with microbial enrichments prepared from activated sludge and cow manure.The effluent solids from the coal preparation waste bioreactors were analyzed for their suitability as organic soil amendments,which complied with China standards.Plant growth tests were conducted in sandy soil from a semi-arid region in Colorado,which was amended with the effluent solids.Kentucky bluegrass(Poa pratensis L.)and chives(Allium schoenoprasum)were used as the representative plants for the growth tests,where results indicated substantially higher yields of Kentucky bluegrass and chives for the sandy soils amended with the effluent solids when compared to a commercial organic fertilizer.The number and average length of Kentucky bluegrass shoots were 10 and 5.1 times higher,respectively,in soils amended with the effluent solids.Similarly,the number and average length of chives shoots were 10 and 1.7 times higher,respectively,in soils amended with the effluent solids.Overall,the microbial digestion of coal preparation waste for application as an organic soil amendment is a viable alternative and beneficial use of coal preparation solid waste.

Breakdown of Azadirachtin A in a Tropical Soil Amended with Neem Leaves and Animal Manures

A field investigation was conducted to assess the breakdown of azadirachtin A in a tropical coastal savanna soil amended with neem leaves （NL） combined with poultry manure （PM） or cow dung （CD） using gas chromatography. Samples in polythene bags 15 cm long and 4.8 cm in diameter were randomly placed to a depth of 14 cm in the soil, and azadirachtin A concentration was assessed on days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. Azadirachtin A degradation in the soil followed first-order reaction kinetics with different half-lives obtained for varying combinations of the amendments. Higher neem amendment levels of 100 g gave shorter half-lives of azadirachtin A than the lower levels of 50 g. Within the 50 g NL group the additions of the poultry manure and the cow dung gave significantly shorter （P 〈0.05） half-lives of azadirachtin A than the sole neem amendment, whereas in the 100 g NL group only additions of 10 g CD and 10 g PM were significantly less （P 〈 0.05） than the sole neem amendment. Different changes resulting from the kind and quantity of animal manure added were observed in the half-lives of azadirachtin A. The 100 g NL group had significantly higher （P 〈0.05） moisture content, which, coupled with the likely differeaces in microbial biomass, could be the major factor responsible for variations in the half-llfe of the compound. Therefore, the quantity of the neem leaves applied and the addition of animal manure affected the breakdown of azadirachtin A in the soil amended with neem leaves.

Biochar Production and Application in Forest Soils-A Critical Review

The increasing deforestation with an alarming rate is the prime cause of upsetting the balance in the natural ecosystem and the livelihood of local communities.Sustainable forest management and reforestation efforts can equilibrium this destruction and maintain the protected areas.In this regard,soil management strategies for reforestation of the degraded forest land can be helpful.In this review,the potential of using biochar,a solid carbon rich product of biomass thermochemical conversion,as a soil amendment in forest soils has been discussed.The production procedures of biochar,availability of feedstocks and the biochar properties are discussed using the existing knowledge.The positive effects of biochar are soil quality depended and change with varying geographical locations.Therefore,long-term field trials examining a range of biochars,soils,and forest types are required for a better understanding of this issue.Careful planning to match biochar with the soil properties is essential to obtain maximum benefits of biochar as a soil amendment.

Evaluation of Infiltration Capacity and Water Retention Potential of Amended Soil Using Bamboo Charcoal and Humus for Urban Flood Prevention

In Japan, floods occur frequently in urban areas because non-infiltrating areas are seeing increased urbanization. To prevent floods, urban basins must improve the infiltration capacity and water retention of the whole basin. There are several basic technologies for river basin management, such as infiltration trenches or rainwater storage. However, a method of soil amendment that prevents flood disasters has not been established. This study aims to evaluate the infiltration capacity of soil amendments using bamboo charcoal and humus. A constant-head infiltration test and rainfall simulation were conducted to evaluate the properties of the soil amendments. The constant-head infiltration test＇s results showed that soils mixed with 30% humus had the greatest potential for influencing initial and final infiltration rates, and the more the mixing rates of bamboo charcoal and humus were increased, the higher the water retention capacity. The results of the rainfall simulation showed that soils mixed with 30% humus had the highest final infiltration rates and lowest multiplication spillage. To reduce the runoff volume using soil amendment technology, it is important to delay overland flow, and the hydraulic properties of the soils mixed with bamboo charcoal and humus were as effective as those of granite soils.