Effect of Combined Application of Subsurface Drainage and Mineral Fertilization on Iron-Reducing Bacterial Populations’ Developments and Fe2+ Uptake by Two Rice Varieties in an Iron Toxic Paddy Soil of Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Rice is one of the staple crops in Burkina Faso. However, the local production covers only 47% of the population demands. One of the main reasons of the poor productivity in Burkina Faso is iron toxicity which is related mainly to the activity of Iron Reducing Bacteria in the rice field’s ecosystems. In order to control the harmful effects of Iron Reducing Bacterial populations and to improve rice productivity, a pots experiment was conducted at the experimental site of the University Ouaga I Pr. Joseph KI-ZERBO. An iron toxic soil from Kou Valley (West of Burkina Faso) and two rice varieties, BOUAKE-189 and ROK-5, sensitive and tolerant to iron toxicity, respectively, were used for the experiment. The pots were drained for 14 days (D2) and amended with chemical fertilizers (NPK + Urea and NPK + Urea + Ca + Mg + Zn complexes). Control pots without drainage and fertilization (D0/NF) were prepared similarly. The kinetics of Iron Reducing Bacterial populations and ferrous iron content in soil near rice roots were monitored throughout the cultural cycle using MPN and colorimetric methods, respectively. The total iron content was evaluated in rice plant using a spectrometric method. Data obtained were analyzed in relation to drainage and fertilization mode, rice growth stage and rice yield using the Student’s t-test and XLSTAT 2014 statistical software. The experiment showed that the combined application of subsurface drainage and NPK + Urea + Ca + Mg + Zn fertilization, reduced significantly the number of IRB in the soil near rice roots for both rice varieties (p = 0.050 and p = 0.020) increased the leaf tissue tolerance to excess amounts of Fe, and rice yield.

Comparative investigation on soil salinity leaching under subsurface drainage and ditch drainage in Xinjiang arid region

This study was carried out to explore the effects of leaching salinity under subsurface drainage and mulched drip irrigation on saline and alkaline land from the year 2012 to 2014 in Xinjiang Region of China.Three sampled points were both set up in the subsurface drainage and ditch drainage areas.Soil samples were obtained at varied depths.Through observing the underground water table under each sampled point and measuring the electrical conductivity(EC)of the soil extracts,the following results were obtained:(1)after draining,the underground water table ranged from 1.6 m to 2.2 m in the ditch drainage area,and ranged from 1.5 m to 2.2 m in the subsurface drainage area.Thus,both irrigations could control underground water table below 1.5 m which is deeper than the main water-absorbing layers of crop root systems;(2)for subsurface drainage,the closer to the pipe,the better to leach salinity;decreased from the initial 13.54-22.95 g/kg to 8.20-11.47 g/kg;(3)compared with the amounts in 2012,soil total salt at each sampling point at depths of 0-200 cm in subsurface drainage area decreased by 42.99%,36.84%and 24.41%respectively in 2014;and in ditch drainage area decreased by 46.85%,38.12%and 30.80%respectively in 2014.The results showed both ditch and subsurface drainage could leach salinity effectively.