Solubility of major cations and Cu, Zn and Cd in soil extracts of some contaminated agricultural soils near a zinc smelter in Norway: modelling with a multisurface extension of WHAM

Mechanistic modelling offers a means of simulating the speciation and solubility of trace metals in soils. The WHAM/Model VI model has previously been used to simulate pH buffering and Al solubility in acid soils, and metal partitioning in highly organic soils, but has not previously been applied to agricultural soils. Here we have extended the WHAM/Model VI framework to include surface complexation to oxides and cation exchange, and applied it to batch titrations of limed agricultural soils contaminated by emissions of Cd and Zn from a metal smelter. In contrast to previous studies on forest soils, model predictions were most sensitive to the size of the geochemically ‘active’ soil Ca pool. Following optimisation of this pool the model reproduced trends in pH and major cations well. Blind predictions of soil metal (Cu, Zn, and Cd), using estimates of the active soil metal obtained by extraction with 0.22 M HNO3, were mostly very reasonable. Where predicted metal solubility was biased the model could be fitted to the data by optimising the size of the active metal pool. In some cases the optimised metal pool was unrealistically large, indicating a possible deficiency in the way the model considers binding activity and competition. Organic matter was the dominant binding phase in these soils. These results support the contention that speciation modelling has great promise in providing a holistic description of ionic chemistry in soils for both major and trace elements

Fósforo microbiano do solo sob sistema plantio direto em resposta à adição de fosfato solúvel Microbial phosphorus in a soil under no-tillage as affected by soluble phosphorus addition

O ciclo do P é controlado por processos físico-químicos, como a adsorção e a dessorção, e biológicos, como a imobilização e a mineralização. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a variação temporal no conteúdo de P da biomassa microbiana do solo (Pm) de acordo com doses e épocas de aplicação de fosfato solúvel na superfície de um Latossolo Vermelho sob sistema plantio direto. O experimento foi instalado em maio de 2002 em uma lavoura manejada sob plantio direto por sete anos, no município de Ibirubá, RS. Foram aplicadas cinco doses de superfosfato triplo, equivalentes a 0, 40, 80, 120 e 160 kg ha-1 de P2O5, em duas épocas, na semeadura do azevém (Lolium multiflorum) e da soja (Glicine max). Os teores de Pm e P extraído por resina trocadora de ânions do solo da camada de 0-10 cm foram avaliados aos 14, 49, 91, 133, 147, 203 e 267 dias após a semeadura do azevém. A aplicação de fosfato aumentou o teor de Pm, com maior intensidade quando aplicado na semeadura da soja, sobre os resíduos do azevém. A imobilização do P na biomassa microbiana foi temporária, diminuindo ao longo do ciclo das culturas, e sua variação temporal não foi acompanhada por variações no teor de P extraído por resina trocadora de ânions.<br>The phosphorus cycle in the soil is controlled by physicochemical processes, such as adsorption and desorption, and by biological processes, such as immobilization and mineralization. This study was carried out to evaluate the seasonal variation of phosphorus in the soil microbial biomass (Pm) as related to rates and timing of soluble phosphate application. The experiment was carried out in May 2002 on an Oxisol under no-till for seven years, in Ibirubá, in the southern Brazil. Five rates of soluble phosphate (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha-1 of P2O5) were applied twice in a Lolium multiflorum/Glicine max cultivation cycle; the first one in the winter at Lolium multiflorum sowing and the second in the summer at Glicine max sowing. Microbial phosphorus and available phosphorus by anion exchange resin were evaluated in the 0-10 cm soil layer 91, 133, 147, 203, and 267 days after Lolium multiflorum sowing. Phosphate application increased microbial phosphorus, more intensely when applied at soybean sowing over the Lolium multiflorum residues. P immobilization in the microbial biomass was temporary and decreased over the course of the crop cycle; these variations were not correlated with variations in P extracted by anion-exchange resin

Resposta à inoculação de fungo solubilizador de fósforo em milho Maize response to inoculation with P-solubilizing fungus

Este trabalho procurou verificar o efeito da adição de duas fontes de fosfato prontamente disponíveis, superfosfato triplo e fosfato solubilizado obtido por via microbiológica e uma fonte não prontamente disponível, apatita de Araxá, na cultura do milho. Em adição, foi verificado o efeito da inoculação do fungo Aspergillus niger, solubilizador de fosfato de rocha e da adição de matéria orgânica. Nos tratamentos em que se usou matéria orgânica, houve um aumento de população microbiana total do solo, mas nenhum efeito foi observado na produção e absorção de fósforo pela cultura do milho. Tanto o superfosfato triplo como a apatita de Araxá permitiram resultados mais favoráveis em termos de produção de massa seca e absorção de fósforo pelo milho em relação ao controle (sem fósforo) e à utilização de fosfato solubilizado. Também não se constatou efeito da inoculação de A. niger sobre a solubilização do fosfato de rocha, possivelmente devido à interferência dos microrganismos naturais do solo. O numero de microrganismos e a atividade da fosfatase ácida foram menores no solo fertilizado com superfosfato triplo que com apatita de Araxá.<br>This paper examined the effect of the addition of two sources of readily available phosphate, triple superphosphate and microbiologically solubilized phosphate, and of a not readily available source, Araxá apatite, on maize crop. In addition, the effects of inoculation of Aspergillus niger, a fungus that solubilizes rock phosphate, and of the addition of organic matter were examined. When organic matter was used, the total microbial population increased, but no effect was observed on phosphorus production or uptake by the maize crop. Both the triple superphosphate and Araxá apatite enhanced the production of dry matter and phosphorus uptake by maize as compared to the control (no phosphorus) and to microbiologically solubilized phosphate. Also, inoculation of A. niger had no effect on rock phosphate solubilization, possibly due to the interference of the natural microorganisms of the soil. The number of microorganisms and acid phosphatase activity were lower in the soil fertilized with triple superphosphate than in the soil fertilized with rock phosphate

Fósforo num Cambissolo cultivado com cana-de-açúcar por longo tempo: I - fracionamento seqüencial Phosphorus in an Inceptsoil under long-term sugarcane: I - sequential fractionation

A caracterização dos diversos compartimentos de P, além de avaliar frações não monitoradas regularmente pelos métodos de diagnose da fertilidade do solo, pode favorecer o entendimento do ciclo desse nutriente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações nos compartimentos de P de um Cambissolo Háplico Ta eutrófico vértico, cultivado com cana-de-açúcar por longo tempo. Em uma das áreas de estudo, não foi realizada a despalha da cana utilizando fogo por ocasião da colheita durante 55 anos. Em outra área, realizou-se a queima do canavial, mas, durante 35 anos, foram aplicados, via irrigação por aspersão, 120 m³ ha-1 ano-1 de vinhaça. Em duas áreas adjacentes a ambos os locais, foram coletadas amostras para efeito de comparação. As amostras foram coletadas em duas camadas (0-0,20 e 0,20-0,40 m) e analisadas por meio de um procedimento de extração seqüencial de P. Foram determinados também os teores de P total, P disponível, P orgânico, P inorgânico e P nas substâncias húmicas. Os resultados deste trabalho indicam que o manejo da cana crua possibilitou maior conteúdo de P em todos os compartimentos analisados. A manutenção da palha e a adição de vinhaça alteraram a distribuição das frações de P no solo, com diminuição da participação das formas não-lábeis e conseqüente aumento das formas lábeis. Em todos os manejos observados, o teor de P no ácido húmico foi maior que no ácido fúlvico. O menor teor de P orgânico na cana crua evidenciou a participação desse componente na disponibilidade de P por meio de sua mineralização.<br>The characterization of several soil phosphorus (P) pools allowed the evaluation of P components not usually monitored in fertilizer soil tests and can help to understand this nutrient's cycle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in P pools of a Fluventic Eutrochrepts fine clay which had been under long-time sugarcane plantation. In one situation the sugarcane had been cropped for 55 years with and without trash burning prior to harvesting. The other sugarcane plantation, cultivated for 35 years, with crop residues and leaves burning, had received annual stillage inputs through aspersion irrigation at rates of 120 m³ ha-1 yr-1. Soil samples were taken from the 0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m layers and a sequential P fractionation method was performed. Total P, available P, organic P, inorganic P and P in humic substances were also evaluated. The results of this study indicated that the management with trash preservation on the soil surface promoted higher P content in all evaluated pools. The preservation of crop residues and leaves and stillage addition modified the P pool distribution, promoting a decrease of non-labile pools and consequently an increase of labile pools. At all studied sites the P content was higher in the humic than in the fulvic acid fraction. The smallest relative participation of organic pools at the site without burning suggests the contribution of this pool to the available P through its mineralization

Potassium cycling and losses in grassland systems:a review

Cycling of potassium in grassland systems has received relatively little attention in research and practice in recent years. Balanced nutrient systems require consideration of nutrients other than nitrogen (N). Potassium (K) is needed in large amounts and is closely related to N nutrition. In intensive dairy farming, surpluses of K arise from the input of concentrates and fertilizer and are returned to the grassland and may lead to increasing K content in the soil. Organic farming, on the other hand, is characterized by limitations in input of nutrient sources and quantities. Leaching of K from grassland is usually low, but high levels of available soil K, high K input from fertilizer or at urine patches lead to increasing losses. High K inputs have a negative influence on Mg and Ca uptake by plants and can cause accelerated leaching of these cations. High levels of K have been associated with inducing nutrition-related dairy cow health problems such as milk fever (hypocalcaemia) and grass tetany (hypoinagnesaemia). This review gives an overview of the cycling of potassium and related cations in grassland systems especially with regard to leaching losses and identifies limitations to knowledge