One of the problems faced in front of industry for potting media is limited amount of quality row materials (mainly peat) for unlimited production of quality substrates in the future. The using of natural minerals for production of substrates or as amendments for existing substrates is possible solution for this problem. The natural zeolites with their specific properties – high CEC, high conte...

A range of soil amendments including diammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), municipal biosolids (BS), biosolids compost, and Al- and Fe-based water treatment residuals were tested on Pb-, Zn-, and Cd-contaminated yard soils and tailings at the Tar Creek NPL site in Oklahoma to determine if amendments could restore a vegetative cover and reduce metal availability in situ. For the yard soils, all...

Many studies have examined the application of soil amendments, including pH change-induced immobilizers, adsorbents, and organic materials, for soil remediation. This study evaluated the effects of various amendments on trace element stabilization and phytotoxicity, depending on the initial soil pH in acid, neutral, and alkali conditions. As in all types of soils, Fe and Ca were well stabilized...

Research has shown that aluminum sulfate (alum) and phosphoric acid greatly reduce ammonia (NH3) volatilization from poultry litter; however, no studies have yet reported the effects of these amendments on field-scale composting of poultry litter. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate NH3 volatilization from composting litter by measuring both NH3 volatilization and changes in total...

In this study, we examined the response of surface soils to increased leaf and wood litter input within adjacent successional forests recovering from agricultural disturbance at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), Maryland, USA. Previous studies at this site demonstrated an arrested development of O-horizon, even after 130 years of forest growth, and an annual loss of leaf lit...

Previous research has shown that population densities of plant-parasitic nematodes are reduced when a legume crop is grown in rotation with sugarcane. However, this effect is only temporary, as nematodes usually return to high densities within 12 months of planting sugarcane. This rapid resurgence suggests that natural enemies that normally keep plant-parasitic nematodes under control in natura...

Lime, gypsum and various gypsum-like by-products have long been applied to soil surfaces as ameliorants of soil acidity and aluminium and manganese toxicity. We examined changes in chemical and mineralogical properties at two different depths in two acid soils one year after the application of gypsum, phosphogypsumþ dolomitic residue, red gypsumþ dolomitic residue, sugar foam, and sugar foamþmi...

Common bean is usually cropped under rainfed conditions and in soils with low pH water retention, the sub-humid semiarid regions of Brazil. To improve soil conditions, smallholder farmers commonly use cattle manure. However, manure available limited amounts, insufficient to fertilize all cropping areas. Thus, other amendments, such as poultry (PM) biochar (BC), have been proposed increase reten...

Background: Improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) chemical fertilizers and N-rich-organic amendments using natural mineralization inhibitors, like neem extract, was recommended to minimize (N) loss. This study hence aimed evaluate the effects combined uses seed extract with cricket feces on soil N plant NUE. Methods: The treatment combinations included i) amending materials involving una...