Compost and crude humic substances produced from selected wastes and their effects on Zea mays l. nutrient uptake and growth

Production of agriculture and timber commodities leads generation of enormous quantity of wastes. Improper disposal of these agroindustrial wastes pollutes the environment. This problem could be reduced by adding value to them. Therefore, a study was carried out to analyse and compare the nutrients content of RS, RH, SD, and EFB of composts and crude humic substances; furthermore, their effect on growth, dry matter production, and nutrient uptake for Zea mays L., and selected soil chemical properties were evaluated. Standard procedures were used to analyze humic acids (HA), crude fulvic acids (CFA), crude humin (CH), soil, dry matter production and nutrient uptake. Sawdust and RS compost matured at 42 and 47 days, respectively, while RH and EFB composts were less matured at 49th day of composting. Rice straw compost had higher ash, N, P, CEC, HA, K, and Fe contents with lower organic matter, total organic carbon, and C/N and C/P ratios. The HA of sawdust compost showed higher carbon, carboxylic, K, and Ca contents compared to those of RS, RH, and EFB. Crude FA of RS compost showed highest pH, total K, Ca, Mg, and Na contents. Crude humin from RS compost had higher contents of ash, N, P, and CEC. Rice straw was superior in compost, CFA, and CH, while sawdust compost was superior in HA. Application of sawdust compost significantly increased maize plants' diameter, height, dry matter production, N, P, and cations uptake. It also reduced N, P, and K based chemical fertilizer use by 90%. Application of CH and the composts evaluated in this study could be used as an alternative for chemical fertilizers in maize cultivation

Minimizing ammonia volatilization from urea in waterlogged condition using chicken litter biochar

Application of urea in lowland rice fields leads to ammonia (NH3) volatilization and environmental pollution, and diminishes nitrogen recovery by rice (Oryza sativa L.). Amending urea with biochar could reduce NH3 loss from urea as well as improve chemical properties of acid soils. An incubation study was conducted using a closed-dynamic air flow system to determine NH3 volatilization from urea and chemical properties of an acid soil (Typic Paleudults). The soil was mixed with three rates of chicken litter biochar (20, 40, and 60 g pot−1) and 1.31 g urea. Mixing an acid soil with biochar (60 g pot−1) in waterlogged to stimulate conditions in paddy condition significantly reduced NH3 loss and total titratable acidity. Biochar application also increased soil pH, total nitrogen, available nitrate, organic matter, total organic carbon, total carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. Thus, chicken litter biochar can be used to reduce urea-N loss and ameliorate chemical properties of acid soils. This aspect is being embarked on in our on-going field experiments

Mitigating ammonia volatilization from urea in waterlogged condition using Clinoptilolite zeolite

Besides causing environmental pollution, ammonia volatilization from nitrogenous fertilizers such as urea reduce urea-N use efficiency in agriculture. Amending urea with Clinoptilolite zeolite may reduce ammonia loss from urea as well as improving chemical properties of soils. This study was conducted to determine the effects of amending an acid soil with Clinoptilolite zeolite on ammonia loss and selected soil chemical properties. An acid soil (Typic Paleudults) was mixed with three rates of Clinoptilolite zeolite. Treatments were evaluated using closed-dynamic airflow system. Standard procedures were used to determine soil pH, total nitrogen, exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations, organic matter, total organic carbon, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Application of Clinoptilolite zeolite significantly reduced ammonia loss up to 25.33%, increased soil pH, exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate (treatment with highest amount of Clinoptilolite zeolite) and exchangeable cations. However, there was reduction in total titratable acidity, exchangeable Al3+ and H+ ions. Mixing acid soil (Typic Paleudults) with Clinoptilolite zeolite minimized ammonia loss from urea and improved selected soil chemical properties (under laboratory condition)

Economic viability of including humic substances, chicken litter biochar, and clinoptilolite zeolite in rice cultivation on acid soils

Chemical fertilizers are important for improving crop yield. However, fertilizers cost, concerns for sustainable soil and crop productivity, ecological stability, and economic viability have been expressed. A field study was carried out on Bekenu Series (Typic Paleudults) to determine the effects of (i) using conventional fertilizers, crude humic substances, chicken litter biochar, and clinoptilolite zeolite in rice cultivation on acid soils, and (ii) the economic viability of including the soil amendments in rice cultivation. Results revealed that long-term cultivation of rice based on conventional method is not economically sustainable. Regardless of cropping cycle, crude humic substances were economically viable. Farmers who include chicken litter biochar or clinoptilolite zeolite in their rice cultivation can breakeven in the second and third field planting cycles. Incorporating crude humic substances is the most economical practice in rice cultivation followed by chicken littler biochar or clinoptilolite zeolite

Effects of crude humin from selected waste composts on ammonia volatilization and maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation

Waste from oil palm plantations, paddy fields, sawn timber and poultries are substantial. Inappropriate disposal of these wastes can cause environmental problems such as air and land pollution. These problems can be reduced by recycling the wastes through composting. Compost has been used widely to supply nutrients, organic matter into the soil and improves soil physical characteristics. Compost also contains beneficial humic fractions such as humic acids (HA), crude fulvic acids (CFA) and crude humin (CH). Thus, this study was conducted to produce good quality compost and CH as well as to determine the effect of mixing CH with urea and Egyptian rock phosphate (ERP) on ammonia (CH3) volatilization and selected soil chemical properties. Furthermore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of CH and compost on maize growth, nutrient uptake and use efficiency. Composting of rice straw, rice husk, sawdust and palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB) were carried out in 48 × 35.5 × 34.7 cm sized white polystyrene box. Then, HA, CFA and CH were extracted from compost using standard methods. Standard procedures were also used to analyze compost, HA, CFA and CH. Rice straw compost had higher ash, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), humic acids (HA), potassium (K) and iron (Fe) contents with lower organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), C/N and C/P ratio compared to other composts. Sawdust compost HA had higher C, carboxylic, K and Ca content compared to other HA. Crude FA from rice straw compost had highest pH, total K, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) contents compared to other CFA. Crude humin from rice straw compost had higher content of ash, N, P and CEC compared to other CH. Humification and mineralization of compost could be the reason for these findings. As reported by researchers, higher humification and mineralization produces high quality compost and HA, which promote higher amount of nutrient content and CEC. Hence, rice straw produced good quality compost, CFA and CH while sawdust compost produced good quality HA. Ammonia (NH3) loss study was carried out using the closed-dynamic air flow system. Four different CH were mixed with urea and ERP before applied on the surface of the soil. Standard procedures were used to determine NH3 loss and selected soil chemical properties of incubated soils. Amending urea with CH had no effect on total amount of NH3 loss. But, addition of the CH significantly increased pH, OM, TOC, CEC and exchangeable cations of Typic Paleudults. Hence, CH from selected waste compost can be used to improve soil chemical properties. A pot study with ten treatments was conducted under rain shelter. Standard procedures were used to determine selected soil chemical properties before and after planting. The plants were measured for stem diameter and height at tasselling stage prior to harvest. Dry matter production, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency were also measured. Application of sawdust compost (T8) significantly increased maize plant diameter, height, dry matter production, and N, P and K uptake and use efficiency compared to T1 (chemical fertilizer). In treatment T8, sawdust compost supplies 1.2 g HA kg-1 soil which increased the nutrient uptake and use efficiency and this observation was consistent with previous study. Hence, sawdust compost (T8) is superior in maize plant growth, nutrient uptake and use efficiency compared to chemical fertilizer and it also reduced usage of N, P and K based chemical fertilizer up to 90%. Application of CH and selected waste composts (rice straw, rice husk and EFB) could be used as an alternative for chemical fertilizers due to their similar effects on maize plants

Organic and mineral amendments on rice (oryza sativa L.) yield and nutrient recovery efficiency

Highly weathered soils such as Ultisols and Oxisols in Malaysia and elsewhere are low pH and nutrients but they are high in iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al). The high Fe and Al contents of these soils reduce their productivity. As a result, substantial amounts of fertilizers are used to sustain productivity of crops cultivated on Ultisols and Oxisols, especially those in the tropics. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers degrades the environmental quality. To reverse this undesirable practice, amendments which are high in pH and cation exchange capacity such as crude humic substances, chicken litter biochar, and clinoptilolite zeolite could be exploited to improve soil chemical properties, lowland rice (cv. MR219) growth, nutrients uptake, nutrients recovery efficiency, and yield. River sand and the amendments were mixed at different rates to select the potential rice seeds germination medium. Crude humic substances, chicken litter biochar, and clinoptilolite zeolite at different rates were mixed with soil to determine their effects on ammonia volatilization, nutrients availability, nutrients (N, P, and K) adsorption and desorption capacity, pH buffering capacity, lowland rice growth, nutrients uptake, and nutrients recovery efficiency in laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies. Potential treatments of a greenhouse study were selected and further evaluated in field trials. Application of crude humic substances and chicken litter biochar did not minimize ammonia volatilization whereas, clinoptilolite zeolite reduced ammonia loss from urea under waterlogged condition. However, the three amendments improved soil pH and the availability of Ca, Mg, and Na in Typic Paleudults under laboratory condition. The organic amendments (crude humic substances and chicken litter biochar) increased soil total organic carbon, organic matter content, total N, and availability of K+ and Mn2+. Phosphorus availability was improved upon chicken litter biochar application whereas under laboratory condition, exchangeable ammonium increased with the application of clinoptilolite zeolite. Addition of crude humic substances reduced nutrients adsorption (N, P, and K) and K desorption rate however, they increased N and P desorption rate and pH buffering capacity. Chicken litter biochar increased N adsorption and pH buffering capacity but, it reduced P and K adsorption and so was N and P desorption rate. Lower N desorption rate with high N adsorption of the chicken litter biochar indicates the NH4 +-N fixing capacity of this organic amendment. Clinoptilolite zeolite increased N and K adsorption, N desorption rate, and pH buffering capacity but, it reduced P adsorption and desorption rates of P and K. Higher K adsorption with lower K desorption rate indicates that clinoptilolite zeolite has high affinity for K. Clinoptilolite zeolite (15%) mixed with sand (85%) was selected as germination medium for the greenhouse and field trials as it improved rice seedling shoot elongation. From the greenhouse study, crude humic substances at 5 t ha-1, chicken litter biochar at 15 t ha-1, and clinoptilolite zeolite at 15 t ha-1 were chosen for further field verification due to their potential to improve rice plant growth variables and selected soil chemical properties. Chicken litter biochar at 15 t ha-1 and crude humic substances at 5 t ha-1 increased MR219 rice yield by 88% and 38%, respectively in the first field trial. Reduced rates of crude humic substances (1.67 t ha-1) and chicken litter biochar (5 t ha-1) with reduction of chemical fertilizers by 37% increased rice yield by 57% and 75%, respectively in the second field trial. In the third field trial, the carryover effect of the chicken litter biochar on the rice yield was superior to those of crude humic substances, clinoptilolite zeolite, and the standard fertilization. Regardless of field trial, application of clinoptilolite zeolite had similar effect as normal fertilization on rice yield. Although, the conventional practice was profitable at the initial cycles, the profit associated with this practice decrease to loss by the third cycle. Rice farmers in Malaysia who patronize the conventional method are still surviving because of the Malaysian government subsidies on fertilizers, lime, and seeds. Irrespective of field trial, the use of crude humic substances was economically viable however, farmers can breakeven at second and third field cycles, respectively if they adopt chicken litter biochar and clinoptilolite zeolite in their farming practices. Incorporating crude humic substances or chicken littler biochar in the Malaysian rice cultivation is economically viable compared to the existing practice. It is recommended to produce biochar commercially in Malaysia from the agro industrial organic wastes or transfer technology to farmers to produce their own biochar to reduce the production cost. To refine this study, the organic and mineral amendments can be mixed to improve soil quality and rice yield. Apart from N, P, and K, other nutrients contribution to increase rice yield should be comprehensively studied in future studies

Minimizing ammonia volatilization from urea, improving lowland rice (cv. MR219) seed germination, plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, and nutrient recovery using clinoptilolite zeolite

The anionic nature and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clinoptilolite zeolite can be exploited to reduce ammonia (NH3) loss from urea and to improve soil chemical properties to increase nutrient utilization efficiency in lowland rice cultivation. A closed-dynamic airflow system was used to determine NH3 loss from treatments (20, 40, and 60 g clinoptilolite zeolite pot−1). Seed germination study was conducted to evaluate the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice seed germination. A pot study was conducted to determine the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Standard procedures were used to determine NH3 loss, rice plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, dry matter production, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Application of clinoptilolite zeolite (15%) increased shoot elongation of seedlings and significantly reduced NH3 loss (up to 26% with 60 g zeolite pot−1), and increased number of leaves, total dry matter, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable Na+. Amending acid soils with clinoptilolite zeolite can significantly minimize NH3 loss and improve rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. These findings are being validated in our ongoing field trials

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium adsorption and desorption improvement and soil buffering capacity using clinoptilolite zeolite

The physical and chemical properties of clinoptilolite zeolite can be used to enhance soil nutrient availability for optimum crop use. Amending nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers with clinoptilolite zeolite could create a pool of negative charges to retain and release nutrients timely for crop use. Thus, we used clinoptilolite zeolite to enhance Typic Paleudults sorption (adsorption and desorption) of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and this soil’s pH buffering capacity. The treatments evaluated were: (i) 250 g soil alone, (ii) 20 g clinoptilolite zeolite alone, (iii) 250 g soil + 20 g clinoptilolite zeolite, (iv) 250 g soil + 40 g clinoptilolite zeolite, and (v) 250 g soil + 60 g clinoptilolite zeolite. Clinoptilolite zeolite increased soil nitrogen and potassium adsorption, nitrogen desorption, and soil pH. Moreover, ability of the soil to resist drastic change in pH (pH buffering capacity) was improved. Additionally, phosphorus adsorption and desorption of phosphorus and potassium were reduced. Higher potassium adsorption with lower potassium desorption suggests that the clinoptilolite zeolite sorbs potassium effectively. The clinoptilolite zeolite nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contributed to the reduction in the adsorption these nutrients. The clinoptilolite zeolite improved nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium availability and soil buffering capacity to prevent these nutrients from being fixed or lost through for example, leaching. Therefore, clinoptilolite zeolite application could contribute to improved use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers to prevent soil, air, and water pollution. Additionally, our intervention could improve nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium use efficiency

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Adsorption and Desorption Improvement and Soil Buffering Capacity Using Clinoptilolite Zeolite

The physical and chemical properties of clinoptilolite zeolite can be used to enhance soil nutrient availability for optimum crop use. Amending nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers with clinoptilolite zeolite could create a pool of negative charges to retain and release nutrients timely for crop use. Thus, we used clinoptilolite zeolite to enhance Typic Paleudults sorption (adsorption and desorption) of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and this soil’s pH buffering capacity. The treatments evaluated were: (i) 250 g soil alone, (ii) 20 g clinoptilolite zeolite alone, (iii) 250 g soil + 20 g clinoptilolite zeolite, (iv) 250 g soil + 40 g clinoptilolite zeolite, and (v) 250 g soil + 60 g clinoptilolite zeolite. Clinoptilolite zeolite increased soil nitrogen and potassium adsorption, nitrogen desorption, and soil pH. Moreover, ability of the soil to resist drastic change in pH (pH buffering capacity) was improved. Additionally, phosphorus adsorption and desorption of phosphorus and potassium were reduced. Higher potassium adsorption with lower potassium desorption suggests that the clinoptilolite zeolite sorbs potassium effectively. The clinoptilolite zeolite nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contributed to the reduction in the adsorption these nutrients. The clinoptilolite zeolite improved nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium availability and soil buffering capacity to prevent these nutrients from being fixed or lost through for example, leaching. Therefore, clinoptilolite zeolite application could contribute to improved use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers to prevent soil, air, and water pollution. Additionally, our intervention could improve nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium use efficiency

Adsorption and Desorption of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Soil Buffering Capacity Following Application of Chicken Litter Biochar to an Acid Soil

Adsorption and desorption of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) soils are controlled by pH, pH buffering capacity, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). These factors optimized to improve timely availability of N, P, and K crop use using organic amendments such as chicken litter biochar (CLB). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of CLB on N, P, K sorption and pH buffering capacity of an acid soil. Different rates of CLB were mixed with an acid soil for N, P, and K sorption and pH buffering capacity determination. The CLB increased soil pH and pH buffering capacity, but unlike P and K adsorption, the different rates of CLB significantly increased N adsorption, suggesting that this soil amendment has high affinity for N than P and K. Also, because CLB reduced N, P, and K desorption, it suggests that N in particular will be slowly released with time. The reduced N desorption but higher N adsorption further indicates that N can be temporary fixed by CLB. This work has revealed CLB is more effective controlling soil N availability for timely crop use to avoid losses