Biochar (BC) addition to soil is a proposed strategy to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity. However, there is limited knowledge regarding responses of soil respiration and C-cycle enzyme activities to BC and nitrogen (N) additions in a calcareous soil. A 56-day incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effects of BC addition rates (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0% by ma...

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a critical agricultural problem, especially in calcareous soil, which is distributed worldwide. Rice plants take up Fe(II) from soil through a OsIRT1 transporter (Strategy I-related system) and also take up Fe(III) via a phytosiderophore-based system (Strategy II system). However, rice plants are susceptible to low-Fe conditions because they have low Fe(III) reduction ac...

Phytophthora root rot of avocado, a soilborne disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, continues to be devastating to the cultivation of avocados despite more than 70 years of research on control methods. Phytophthora root rot has been estimated to be present in two-thirds of the avocado groves in California, causing losses of almost 30% of the total value of the crop (5). P. cinnamomi m...

Zinc (Zn) availability and mobility in soils is controlled by its interaction with the soil matrix and amendments. Contradicting evidence has been reported for factors influencing Zn behavior in soils. The aim of this study was to investigate the Zn sorption in selected acid, calcareous and gypsiferous soils with different background electrolytes (Na+, K+ and H2PO4, NO3 and Cl backgrounds). Iso...

Lime-induced iron chlorosis in citrus and avocado trees may be controlled by chelating agents, such as EDTA-ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid. Chelating agents have the ability to form complex compounds with metal ions-iron, zinc, manganese, and magnesium-holding the metals in a soluble form in various degrees of tenacity. Iron is held most firmly and, for this reason, the prospects may be best ...

A study was initiated to investigate the relationship between soil test P and depth of soil sampling with runoff losses of dissolved molybdate reactive phosphorus (DMRP). Rainfall simulations were conducted on two noncalcareous soils, a Windthorst sandy loam (fine, mixed, thermic Udic Paleustalf) and a Blanket clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Pachic Argiustoll), and two calcareous soils, a Purve...

the effects of sodium chloride and zn rates and sources on the growth and chemical composition of lowland rice (oryza sativa l.) were studied using calcareous soil in a greenhouse experiment. the treatments comprised 5 levels of nacl (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50 mmol kg-1 soil), three zn rates (0, 5 and 10 mg kg-1 soil) and two zn sources (znso4, 2h2o and znedta). applied salinity decreased shoot ...

ABSTRACT-This experiment was carried out to study particle size distribution (PSD) of carbonates in soils and its effect on some calcareous soil properties in Khuzestan Province, Iran. Soil samples (n=72) were collected from different regions. To evaluate the effect of carbonates on water contents at pressure head of -1500kpa and PSD of soil samples, these properties were determined before and ...

In the recent years radioecological studies are concentrated on the investigation of restoration possibilities of contaminated ecosystems. These studies are aimed to develop methods for decreasing the bioavailability of the radionuclides released to the environment. Radionuclides of long half-lives, such as 90Sr and 137Cs, are of special importance from the point of human health, since these nu...