Articles
AMELIORATING EFFECTS OF SOME BASIC AMENDMENTS ON ACIDIFIED SOIL IN APPLE ORCHARDS
Article number
1001_39
Pages
343 – 346
Language
English
Abstract
Some soil types are becoming acidified because of intensive fertilization and irrigation over the past 20 years of apple (Malus ×domestica) production in Shandong Province, China.
Soils prone to acidification usually have less organic matter and lower biological activity, which results in a lower soil sustainable fertility index (SSFI), calculated from soil nutrients, available nutrients, and soil biological activity.
Traditionally, lime and limestone are used to raise soil pH, but they are not so effective for improving soil fertility.
We tested two alternative acidified soil amelioration materials (ASAM) for increased soil improvement.
ASAM1 was made from plant ash, calcium cyanamide, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous; ASAM2 was comprised of bentonite used to absorb pigment in the soybean oil manufacturing process and grain (cereal) residues from Chinese spirit fermentation as an organic matter base.
The effects of ASAM1, ASAM2 and lime were compared for efficacy in increasing soil pH, enzyme activity, SSFI, and number of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes in two apple orchard soils where soil pH was below 5.5. Both ASAMs applied in this study significantly improved the indices investigated.
ASAM1 application increased pH by 0.50 and 0.46 in the two orchards, respectively, in comparison with the control.
However, lime application caused no significant increase in nutrient elements, soil enzyme activity, or SSFI. The results suggest that some new mixtures of soil amendments made from basic materials and agricultural by-products and wastes can be used to improve acidified soils in old apple orchards.
Soils prone to acidification usually have less organic matter and lower biological activity, which results in a lower soil sustainable fertility index (SSFI), calculated from soil nutrients, available nutrients, and soil biological activity.
Traditionally, lime and limestone are used to raise soil pH, but they are not so effective for improving soil fertility.
We tested two alternative acidified soil amelioration materials (ASAM) for increased soil improvement.
ASAM1 was made from plant ash, calcium cyanamide, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous; ASAM2 was comprised of bentonite used to absorb pigment in the soybean oil manufacturing process and grain (cereal) residues from Chinese spirit fermentation as an organic matter base.
The effects of ASAM1, ASAM2 and lime were compared for efficacy in increasing soil pH, enzyme activity, SSFI, and number of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes in two apple orchard soils where soil pH was below 5.5. Both ASAMs applied in this study significantly improved the indices investigated.
ASAM1 application increased pH by 0.50 and 0.46 in the two orchards, respectively, in comparison with the control.
However, lime application caused no significant increase in nutrient elements, soil enzyme activity, or SSFI. The results suggest that some new mixtures of soil amendments made from basic materials and agricultural by-products and wastes can be used to improve acidified soils in old apple orchards.
Publication
Authors
Q. Li, C. Liu, Y. Yuan
Keywords
soil fertility, lime, organic matter content
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