ROCZNIKI GLEBOZNAWCZE Т. Х Щ NR 3/4, WARSZAWA 1991: 87-95
Jlftl M A T U L A
A SYSTEM OF OPTIMALIZATION OF NUTRIENTS IN SOIL BASED ON THE SORPTION PROPERTIES OF SOILS
Reseach Institute for Plant Production, Prague
INTRODUCTION
Our approach can be simply qualified as a relative of „the old cation saturation concept” of the soil test interpretation. But we emphasize more a complexity among soil system, physiology of plant nutrition and specific conditions of an exact plot. The most important criterion of our system is the quality of production of vegetative biomass and the minimization of nutrient losses from soil by leaching. By this way we also consider the other ecological aspects like increase and stabilization of the soil fertility, effectiveness of the nutrient recirculation, to cope well with the assumption that soil has been, is and will be the dominant part of the food chain.
The substance of the system is an exploitation of cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil which represents the significant integration function in the soil-plant system. The key position of CEC is based on the fact that its value and degree of saturation affects: a) the concentration of nutrients (cations) in soil solution; b) the physical sta te of sorbent and thus also important soil characteristics (structure, water holding ca pacity, water-air regime, etc.); c) the soil chemistry (pH value and the mobility of phosphorus and trace elements and other soil components, including those that are toxic for plants — i.e. aluminium, manganese); indirectly the biological activity of soil, i.e. the transformations of organic soil matter and its quality release of nitrogen, etc.
The CEC system was based on the analysis of the present situation in our agri cultural practice, as a solution of the discrepancy between the generally recognised and proclaimed necessity of a balanced supply of nutrients in soil and reality.
METHODS
The basic method of soil testing is an expeditions method [5], which allows in one operation to determine exchangeable cations (K, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn), phosphorus and the parameter closely correlated with the CEC value of soil. That method is ba sed on the extraction of soil by 0,5 M ammonium acetate + 0,015 M NH4F, pH 7. For
88 J. Matula
the other specific study of soil, when necessary other additive methods are used, like the set-up of balance of nutrients in soil solution [4], specifying the mineralizing and fixative soil properties of potassium. For the description of the internal plant nutrient economy of К and N the index of nutrients efficiency (IE) was used, defined as a po rtion of the relative content of the given nutrient (%) in the absolute formation of plant dry matter (Y) : IE = Y/%. The response of plants to the level of nutrients in soil was investigated in the growth chamber study and in the field experiments.
RESULTS A N D DISC U SSIO N
In the analytical part of laboratory work, the original method of determination of exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity [9] was simplified and supple mented by the determination of phosphorus [5]. We found a very good agreement be tween the original method and the new one (CEC-P) in case of potassium and magnesium; and lower values in the case of calcium but in good non-linear correla tion with the old method. Then we tested if our idea about testing of soil phosphorus in the CEC-P method will be workable. We collected 18 soils of extreme different chemical properties all over the country territory to find quickly and economically a validity of the P-soil test for the prediction of the P-nutritional status of a plant. The criterion of suitability of the soil test for phosphorus was the closeness of its correla tion with the soil and the reaction of plants. The content of P in dry matter of tops was selected as a dominat characteristics of the reaction of plants to the available phosphorus, as after Dvorak [2], its content in vegetative organs would be an impor tant index of the overall state of nutrition. The CEC-P method was compared with the EUF [7] and Mehlich 2 [6] methods and with the traditional methods of
determi-T a b e l a 1 Correlation between soil test and uptake of P by plant
Soil test
Coefficients of linear correlation
with concentration of P in plant with yield o f P by plant
Egner 0,4887* 0,4650* Olsen 0,5594* 0,4557* P-sorption index -0,5413* -0,4770* P-intensity factor 0,6231** 0,5227* Mehlich 2 0,5072* 0,4661* EUF, fraction3) 0,3138 0,2779 EUF, fraction5) 0,5343* 0,4945* EUF, fraction0) 0,4790* 0,5363** CEC-P method 0,6618** 0,5915**
A system of optimalization of nutrients in soil 89
mg P / kg
Soi l t e s t
Fig. 1. The relationship between P-soil tests and the uptake of phosphorus by plant
ning the supply of soil in P after Egner [3], Olsen et al. [8] and the factor of intensity after Zamyatina [10]. The examples of the obtained results are shown in Table 1 and diagrams in Figure 1. It can be concluded from these results that the CEC-P method gives a good information also on the supply of soil in phosphorus in the aspect of its real uptake by plants. The CEC-P method was found to be more suitable and univer sal for description of the P status of soils quality differing in chemical properties. The correlation of the CEC-P method with plant uptake of phosphorus was improved by correction of results of the P-soil test by the value of CEC of the soil.
On the basis of the present state of our knowledge supported by results of experi ments optimal levels of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus in the soil were determined. The recommended levels of nutrients in relation to values of the CEC of soils are presented in Figure 2.
90 J. Matula
V a l u e s of C E C ( mmo l + ^ k g )
Fig. 2. The optimum levels of potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus in soil determined by CEC-P soil test
The balanced supply of cations in the soil significantly influences the basic life reaction of a plant ever since the growth start. In order to evaluate quickly the first notion about the suitability of the nutrition environment of the soil the chamber test was used. It is possible to use the characteristics of the effectiveness of N metabolism by the plant at an equal level of N fertilization. The accumulation of nitrates in plants obtained is a good information index. The example of results obtained is given in Fi gure 3.
The degree of the unbalance of potassium, magnesium and calcium reserves was correlated with the weaker nitrogen utilization by barley and therefore with the NO3’ accumulation in plants. The best correlation was found when the potassium levels in soils would be expressed as percential deviation from the optimal level defined by the used approach. The effective nitrogen utilization was conditioned by balanced re serves of exchangeable cations in soil, potassium playing a dominant role. At surplus
A system of optimalization of nutrients in soil 91
R e la t io n s o f c a t io n s e q u iv a le n t s in s o i l s
Fig. 3. The influence of exchangeable cations in soils on the nitrogen utilization by barley of potassium even the balance of magnesium and calcium reserves did not improve the utilization of nitrogen.
We worked also on the subject of a convenient single rate of nutrient application. According to our presumption that the rate of nutrients should not cause a radical change in the chemistry, in the balance of nutrients in the soil should minimize losses of nutrients by leaching. The maximum allowed rate of the single application is the part of our fertilizing recommendation (see recommendation ticket, Table 2).
A great problem here is a proper technique of К dressings on light soils' humid climatic conditions. If we do not do it well than it would be impossible to build up ef fectively nutrient levels in soils. The example of our results (Table 3) demonstrates the importance of anion СГ from К fertilizers which causes losses of cations by lea ching. The mainly lowering cation is Ca, but it relatively increases the magnesium content. Then in the case where there is a low magnesium status of soil, the deficien cy of magnesium will be getting worse by using a common practice of high applica tion of potassium rates in autumn (so-called pre-supply dressing).
For the practical application of the new CEC-P method as well as for the use of fertilization measures the model calculation was carried out. The novelity of our atti tude is in preference of the volume aspect to that of the area aspect. The active volu me of topsoil is taken into consideration and thus the nutritional state of the actual
92 J. Matula
T a b l e 2 Fertilizing recommendation tickets
CEC-P SYSTEM Name of plot: BRILICE 4 Month/Year of soil sampling: 9/1988
CEC-P SYSTEM Name of plot: KOSTELEC 1 Month/Year o f soil sampling CEC value [mmol/kg]: 46
pH value 5,5 Determined content [mg/kg]:
CEC value [mmol/kg]: 81 pH value 5,4 Determined content [mg/kg]: К 117 К 115 Mg 50 Mg 720 Ca 325 Ca 720 Mn 7,4 Mn 6,9 P 70 P 41
P cor. CEC 3211 P cor. CEC 3305
Optimum nutrient levels [mg/kg]: Optimum nutrient levels [mg/kg]:
К 136... 154 К 144... 175
Mg 49... 74 Mg 86... 129
Ca 674... 689 Ca 725... 768
State relative to down opt. level (reserve +, deficit -):
State relative to down opt. level (reserve +, deficit -):
nutrient [kg/ha] deviation % nutrient [kg/ha] deviation %
К -62 -14 К -87 -20
Mg 3 2 Mg -51 -20
Ca -1132 -52 Ca -15 0
State relative to top opt. level (reserve +, deficit -): State relative to top opt. level (reserve +, deficit -):
nutrient [kg/ha] deviation % nutrient [kg/ha] deviation %
К -120 -24 К -181 -34
Mg -78 -32 Mg -181 -47
Ca -1181 -53 Ca -145 -6
FERTILIZING NEED [kg/ha]: FERTILIZING NEED [kg/ha]
intensity maximum intensity maximum
single
nutrient low high f
rate nutrient low high 0 single rate
К 62 120 58 К 87 181 93
Mg 0 78 81 Mg 51 181 130
Ca 1132 1181 297 Ca 15 145 587
Rate of P: 9 kg P/ha/year Rate of P: 9 kg P/ha/year Notice for P-dressings:
* Deviation Ca-deficiency should be < - 40% (if higher max. rate to 20 kg P/ha
closely before sowing)
* Pre-supply application (maximum join up to 70 kg P/ha)
* Take CARE! limit 3 g Cd/ha/year
Notice for P-dressings:
* Deviation Ca-deficiency should be < - 40% (if higher max. rate to 20 kg P/ha
closely before sowing)
* Pre-supply application (maximum join up to 70 kg P/ha)
* Take CARE! limit 3 g Cd/ha/year
plot would be better expressed. The following input data are needed for the model: name of the plot, month and year of the soil sample, CEC value, pH value, depth of topsoil, bulk density of topsoil, % of skeleton in topsoil, determined content of K, Mg, Ca and P nutrients in topsoil by the CEC-P method.
A system of optimalization of nutrients in soil 93
T a b l e 3 The influence o f К dressings on the leaching o f cations from the plough layer o f soil
by rainfall of 200 mm Locality Agrochemical properties CEC (mmol+/kg), pH/KCl cations (mg/kg) Doses of К in muriate (kg/ha)
Leachings from plough layer o f soil (kg/ha) К Ca Mg 0 8 25 3,2 Brilice CEC 51 pH 5,5 36 12 66 9 1 К 150, Mg 58, Ca 314 Ratio of change 1,5 2,6 2,8 0 4 12 1,3 Brilice 4 CEC 46 pH 5,5 К 117, Mg 50, Ca 325 120 14 60 7,3 Ratio of change 3,5 5 5,6 0 5 63 5,7 Kostelec 1 CEC 81 pH 5,4 К 115, Mg 69, Ca 720> О * 180 14 127 15,8 Ratio of change 2,8 2 2,8 0 4 55 2,9 Kostelec CEC 78 pH 5 24 с 71 8,2 4 К 167, Mg 81, Ca 752 D Ratio of change 1,2 1,3 2,8 T a b l e 4 Results of field trials with D actylis glomerata (means of 4 cuts, 4 levels of N, 4 repetitions)
Fertilizing treatments
Item A) present system B) CEC-P system
1987 1988 1989 1987 1988 1989 Yield of DM (t/ha) 14,31 12,90 13,06 14,22 12,81 14,97 Composition o f DM: nitrate N (mg/kg) 1071 1083 1949 1732 577
1451 I
potassium (%) 4,168 3,720 3,405 4,010 3,485 2,973 1 magnesium (%) 0,185 0,185 0,188 0,200 0,225 0,215 1 calcium (%) 0,405 0,515 0,615 0,390 0,520 0,570 sodium (%) 0,015 0,015 0,014 0,013 0,020 0,028 194 J. Matula
An important aspect for our approach was also to create soil conditions which would ensure a good quality of the forage production due to its mineral content. The refore at the end of this paper an example is given of results of a field trial (Table 4) with grass (.Dactylis glomevata), carried out by co-worker J. Tuma. There were com pared the fertilizing recomendation by the present official methodology (treatment A) and by the CEC-P system (treatment B). Both treatments were without К dressings due to soil tests. The difference was found only in needs of liming and Mg dressings. Small differences in the yield but higher ones in some quality topics were found. In the case of В treatment a higher content of Mg and Na, a lower content of К was fo und and a tendency of lower accumulation of nitrate in grass was observed. We have been carrying out also other field trials on this subject on five different sites on the Chechoslovakia. The results of trials demonstrate that the approach of optimizing nu trients in soils by using the CEC-P system helps to improve the quality of production and the effectiveness of nutrient utilization from soil reserves and fertilizers.
REFERENCES
[1] B a c h e B . W . , W i l i a m s E . G . A phosphate sorption index for soils. J. Soil Sei. 1 9 7 1 ,2 2 :2 8 9 -301.
[2] D v o r a k M. Fyziologie rostlin speciälni. Metabolismus mineralnich lateku rostlin. (Skriptum), Uni-versita Karlova, Praha 1976.
[ 3 ] J a v o r s k y P. et a 1. Chemické rozbory v zemedelskÿch laboratories I. dil., MZVzCSR 1987. [4] M a t u 1 a J . Optimalizaee zasoby wymennych kationtu v pude na principu vyuziti kationtové v /m en
-né kapacity pudy. (In:) Sbor. ref. Prova'déci projekty péstovani plodin, CSVTS Tachov, Lisno 1985, 18-20,2:31-47.
[5] M a t u l a J . , P i r k l K. Expeditivni metoda stanoveni zasobenosti pud fosforem, draslikem, horći-kem, vapnikem ve spolecnem vyluhu, vcetné hodnoty kationtové vyménné kapacity, PV 4159-88, Urad vynalezy a objevy. Praha 1988.
[6] M e h l i c h A. New extractant for soil test evaluation of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, manganese and zinc. Comm, in Soil Sei. Plant Anal. 1978, 9, 6: 447-492.
[7] N é m e t h К . Möglichkeiten zur Bestimmung massgeblicher Faktoren der Bodenfruchtbarkeit mittels Elektro-Ultrafiltration. 26/1. Sonderheft zur Zeitschrift „Landwirtschaftliche Forschung” 1971: 192- -198.
[8] O l s e n S . R . , C o l e C . V . , W a t a n a b e F . S . Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with bicarbonate. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 1954, Circular Nr 939. [9] Tech. Bull. 27. The analysis of agric. materials. The determination of cation exchange capacity and
exchangeable cations in soils. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London 1973.
[10] Z a m y a t i n a V . B . Posobie po provedeniju analizov pochv i sostavleniyu agrochimicheskich kar- togramm. Rosselchozizdat, Moskva 1969.
Й И Р И М А Т У Л Я СИ СТЕМ А О П ТИ М А Л И ЗА Ц И И ПИТАТЕЛЬНЫ Х ВЕЩ ЕСТВ В ПОЧВЕ О С Н О ВЫ ВАЮ Щ АЯС Я Н А СО РБЦ И О Н Н Ы Х СВО Й С ТВА Х ПОЧВ Научно-исследователский институт растениеводства в Праге Р е з ю ме Основой системы является синтетический подход к поведению питательных веществ в почве и специфичности их усваивания из определенной почвы. Он делает возможным бол ее
A system of optimalization of nutrients in soil 95 эф ф ектив ное использование питательных веществ из почвы и удобрений с учетом качества урожая. Сущностью системы является использование сорбционной емкости катионов почвы, являющейся важной функцией интегрирующей систему почва-растение. Она позволяет лучш е оценивать пл одородие почвы и потребности в удобрениях с учетом специфичности данной почвы. Ключевое положение катионовой сорбционной емкости почвы связано с тем, что на ее качество, независимо от показателя насыщения щелочами влияют: а) концентрация пита тельных веществ в почвенном растворе, б) физическое состояние сорбента, а тем самым важ ных признаков почвы, таких как гранулометрический состав, структура, влажность, водно-воздушный режим, в) химический состав почвы и значение pH, г) косвенно биологиче ская активность почвы, т.е. изменения органического вещества почвы, его качество, мобилиза ция азота и т.п. Основные исходные данные для моделя расчета запаса питательных веществ в почве и по требностей в удобрениях можно получить из результатов испытания почвы комплексным м ето дом предложенным автором, позволяющим в одно и то ж е время определить содерж ание указанных катионов и ф осф ора. J. MATULA
SY ST E M OPTYMALIZACJI SKŁAD NIK Ó W POKARM OW YCH W GLEBIE OPA RTY N A W ŁAŚCIW OŚCIACH SORPCYJNYCH GLEB
Instytut Badawczy Produkcji Roślinnej, Praha S t r e s z c z e n i e
Podstawą systemu jest syntetyczne ujęcie zachowania się składników pokarmowych w glebie i spe cyfiki ich pobierania z określonej gleby. Umożliwia on bardziej efektywne wykorzystanie składników pokarmowych z gleby i nawozów z uwzględnieniem jakości plonu.
Istotą systemu jest wykorzystanie kationowej pojemności sorpcyjnej gleby, która jest znaczącą funk cją integrującą układ gleba — roślina. Daje ona możliwość lepszej oceny zasobności gleby i potrzeb na wozowych z uwzględnieniem specyfiki określonej gleby. Kluczowe położenie kationowej pojemności sorpcyjnej gleby wynika stąd, że na jej wartość wraz ze wskaźnikiem nasycenia zasadami wpływają: a) koncentracja składników pokarmowych w roztworze glebowym, b) fizyczny stan sorbenta, a w tym i na ważne cechy gleby, takie jak skład granulometryczny, struktura, wilgotność, stosunki wodno-powietrzne, c) chemiczny skład gleby i wartość pH i d) pośrednio biologiczna aktywność gleby, tj. zmiany organicz nej glebowej substancji, jej jakość, uruchamianie azotu itp.
Podstawowych wyjściowych danych dla modelu obliczania zapasu składników pokarmowych w gle bie i potrzeb nawozowych dostarczają wyniki testowania gleby kompleksową metodą zaproponowaną przez autora, pozwalającą w jednej czynności na oznaczenie wymienionych kationów i fosforu.
Doc. dr J. Matula Praca wpłynęła do redakcji и’ marcu 1991 r.
Research Instiruie for Plant Production 16106 Praha, Ruzyne 507
