Doctoral Degrees (Soil Science)

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The effects of compaction and residue management on soil properties and growth of Eucalyptus grandis at two sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2010) Rietz, Diana Nicolle.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.; Smith, Colin William.
Concerns have been raised over the long-term site productivity (LTSP) of short rotation plantation forests, such as those of Eucalyptus, in South Africa. This is because diminished productivity of long rotation plantations overseas has been found to be generally due to decreases in soil porosity and organic matter. Since soil porosity and organic matter in plantations are mainly affected by soil compaction by harvesting machinery and residue management, the more frequent harvesting of short rotation plantations are of particular concern. Therefore the effects of soil compaction and residue management on soil properties at two sites, one a low organic carbon, sandy soil (Rattray), the other a high organic carbon, clay soil (Shafton) were investigated. The potential of early E. grandis productivity as an indicator of changes in soil properties at these sites was also evaluated. Three different levels of compaction (low, moderate and high) were applied to the sites by three methods of timber extraction, i.e. manual, logger and forwarder loaded by a logger, respectively. Three types of residue management, i.e. broadcast, windrow and residue removal were also applied. A factorial treatment design was used to ensure a resource-efficient study that allowed separation of main and interaction effects. Various soil physical and chemical properties were measured at intervals from before treatment implementation, until approximately 44, and 38 months after treatment implementation at Rattray and Shafton, respectively. Trees were planted at a commercial espacement at both trials, and their growth monitored over the same time period. In addition, to accelerate early growth, negate silvicultural variation, and determine changes in stand productivity with treatments, a portion of the treatment plots were planted at a very high density and harvested when these trees reached canopy closure at about six months of age. Moderate and high compaction treatments at both sites resulted in significant increases in penetrometer soil strength, and often in bulk density. Increasing residue retention decreased the compaction effects of machinery and, generally, increased the total quantity of nutrients contained in residues and soil. Changes in soil bulk density and organic matter as a result of the treatments in turn affected soil water characteristics, generally decreasing plant available water capacity with increasing compaction intensity and residue removal. Tree growth measurements showed that at both sites, tree productivity was negatively affected at some point by increasing compaction. In contrast, residue management only significantly affected tree growth at Shafton, initially increasing and later decreasing growth with residue removal. These variations in tree growth over time in response to treatments are most likely a result of changes in tree characteristics that occurred with age. In addition, trees did not always reflect changes in soil properties that may affect LTSP, most likely because these soil properties had not yet reached levels that would affect tree growth. It was therefore concluded that early tree growth is not always a good indicator of changes in LTSP, and that soil properties are a more reliable indicator. Plantation management practices that lead to soil compaction and residue removals will negatively impact LTSP in South Africa. However, variable responses of the two soils indicate that soils vary in their sensitivity to compaction and residue management. This therefore needs to be quantified across a range of major soil types in the South African forestry industry.
Investigations into aluminium toxicity and resistance in cynodon dactylon using invitro techniques.
(2004) Ramgareeb, Sumita.; Cooke, John Anthony.; Watt, Maria Paula Mousaco Deoliveira.
Aluminium toxicity is a significant limiting factor to agricultural crop production globally, promoting the need for plants that are resistant to low pH and high Al3 +, Current literature suggests that Al3 + inhibits plant growth by stopping root elongation. Although considerable research has been directed towards Al3+-inhibited root growth, the initial cellular targets and primary mechanisms of Al3+ toxicity still remain unclear. The present study, therefore, considered an alternate approach to investigating Al3 + toxicity and Al3 + resistance. Callus, a group of actively dividing meristematic cells, was exposed to Al3 + and the influence of Al3 + on callus growth was investigated. In South Africa, gold mining results in the production of wastes that require vegetation cover resistant to low pH and high Al3+, in order to promote stabilisation and prevent erosion. Cynodon dactylon was considered a key species for such a purpose since small populations of this grass were found growing on the acidic gold tailings. Different C. dactylon genotypes were exposed to Al3 + and the feasibility of using differences in callus growth to identify potential Al3 +-resistant individuals was assessed. An in vitro method for indirect somatic embryogenesis was concurrently established to regenerate whole plants from such calli. Embryogenic calli were initiated from young leaf segments, using 2,4-D. Somatic embryo maturation and plant regeneration were achieved on a hormone-free Murashige ~d Skoog (MS) nutrient medium. In addition to this protocol for micropropagation via indirect somatic embryogenesis, nodal cuttings, on a single hormone-free MS nutrient medium, were shown to be suitable explants for micropropagation via direct organogenesis, albeit resulting in low plantlet yields (1 plant/explant). In the investigation of Al3 + resistance, each of the three parameters tested (genotype, Al3+ concentration and exposure time) had a significant influence on callus growth rate. The nutrient medium supporting callus growth was modified in order to ensure known concentrations of free Al3 + ions (0.08-2.3 mM). This was achieved through the use of a chemical speclatlOn model (MINTEQA2). Fresh callus mass measurements for three genotypes were recorded at two-weekly intervals for a total of 8 weeks. Significant differences in callus growth rate were used to identify the genotypes as Al3+-sensitive (AlS), moderately Al3+-resistant and Al3+-resistant (Al-R), suggesting that it is feasible to use undifferentiated meristematic callus cells to screen for resistance to Al3+. In addition to callus growth rate, it was also possible to differentiate between the Al-S and the Al-R genotype using differences in cell numbers. Exposure to 0.8 mM AI3+ for 2 weeks resulted in an 88% reduction in the Al-S meristematic cell number whereas no Al3 + concentration tested had a significant inhibitory effect on the Al-R cell number. Aluminium was detected inside the callus cells, with the Al-S cells accumulating three times more Al in the nucleus than did the Al-R cells. It is suggested, therefore, that Al3 + inhibited meristematic cell number in the Al-S genotype by interfering with cell division. Two possible mechanisms by which the Al-R genotype was able to exclude Al3+ from its cells were investigated. The Al-R callus was able to maintain a higher extracellular pH (4.34 in Al-R and 4.08 in Al-S) and immobilise more Al in the cell wall (33% more in the Al-R) than the Al-S genotype. The present study has developed a valuable tool for investigating the physiological effects of Al3 + on actively dividing meristematic cells. In addition, the somatic embryogenesis route allows for the concurrent in vitro selection and plantlet regeneration of genotypes of interest. Future work is necessary to confirm that the properties of undifferentiated cells in culture are maintained by the ex vitro whole mature plants.
Some soil chemical and fertility aspects of the land disposal of a water treatment residue on selected soils of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2005) Buyeye, Sicelo Malizo.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.
The environmental and agricultural viability of land disposal of a water treatment residue (WTR) from the Midmar Water Treatment Works of Umgeni Water was investigated by determining answers to four broad questions: 1. What effects would the application of the WTR have on plants growing on the treated soils? 2. What effects would application of the WTR have on soil chemical properties? 3. What effects would the WTR have on the soil solution composition (and by implication the quality of the groundwater)? 4. Could this material be used to reduce solubility of potential pollutants? To answer these questions, the following experiments were set up, and their respective results are reported. 1. Effects of the water treatment residue on plant growth This was investigated in a pot experiment and two field experiments. In the pot experiment five soils, two Huttons (Hu-M and Hu-T), an Inanda (la-C), a Namib (Nb-F) and a Shortlands (Sd) were used to grow perennial ryegrass ((Lolium perellne). All samples were fertilized with a basal dressing of N, P, K, Mg and S. Two lime levels were added to the Ia-C and Nb-F soils, the higher calculated to reduce acid saturation to 1%, and the lower being half of that. The WTR was applied at rates of 0, 40, 80 and 120 Mg ha-1. All treatments were in triplicate. Eight cuts in all were made of the perennial ryegrass. The dry matter (DM) yield of perennial ryegrass grown in the pot experiment increased with the WTR applied in all five soils although the highest increase was with the acidic Ia-C and Nb-F soils. The fact that the highest yields were on the strongly acid soils suggests that the liming effect of the WTR could have contributed, more so considering that lime also increased yields in these soils. It was, however, clear that no one factor was responsible for the increase in yield as the timing effect could not explain the results of the other three soils. At the two field experiments perennial ryegrass was grown at Brookdale Farm from 1998 to 2001, after which the site was re-seeded with tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae). At Ukulinga Farm tall fescue was grown from the outset in 2000. In the two field experiments with both perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, no significant increase in yield was apparent. Importantly, however, from an environmental point of view there was no decrease in yield whether the WTR was incorporated or applied as a mulch. This was observed even at the highest rates of application, namely 1280 Mg ha-1. The growth on the mulched plots was often observed to be better than any of the other treatments, including the control. Analysis of the plant material from both pot and field experiments indicated that the WTR neither pollution of the groundwater by nitrates. However, analysis of saturated pastes from soils at both field experiments showed that the levels of nitrate were increased by application of the WTR in only the fallow plots. 4. The water treatment residue as a possible pollutant-reducing agent The effect of the water treatment residue on the sorption of P and heavy metals (Cd, Ni and Zn) was studied in the laboratory. Soils treated with WTR were equilibrated for 6 hours in 0.005 M calcium cWoride solution containing a known concentration of each element. For the coarse-textured soils, initial P concentrations ranged from 0 to 1000 mg kg-1 as opposed to 0 to 1800 mg kg-1 for the clay soils. Treatments of WTR used were 0, 80, 320 and 1280 Mg ha-1, both incubated and non-incubated. At high initial P solution concentrations, the WTR increased the extent of sorption in the coarser textured soils (Hu-T, Nb-A, Nb-F, Va and We), and decreased it in highly sorbing Av, Hu-M, la-C and la-W soils. In general though, the WTR greatly reduced soluble P. For Cd, Ni and Zn only one concentration, 50 mg kg-1, was studied using the incubated soil samples as affected by WTR rates from 0 to 1280 Mg ha-1. For all three metals, the amount sorbed increased with increase in amount of WTR for the nine soils studied, namely the Av, Hu-F, Hu-M, Hu-T, la-C, la-W, Nb-F, Va and We. In many cases the sorption was so high that more than 40 mg kg-1 of the initial concentration was removed from solution. Even for those soils with high sorption capacity e.g. the Va and We, the WTR still increased sorption by up to an average of more than 25% for Cd and more than 40% for Ni and Zn. Because for the Av and la-W soils liming also increased sorption, it could be assumed that the accompanying increase in pH as a result of the addition of WTR promoted precipitation of metals, and/or the resultant increase in negative charge increased their adsorption. These results show that where excess concentrations of soluble heavy metals may occur (especially in coarse-textured soils), and where there is concern about run-off with high P concentrations then this WTR could be considered to immobilize these elements and render them less harmful to the environment. General comments and management guidelines. Based on the results reported above, it is apparent that the WTR can be safely disposed of onto land. It has been demonstrated in the current investigation that rates of application can be as high as 1280 Mg ha-1. Rates of application to land higher than 1280 Mp; ha-1 could probably be acceptable - this was the highest rate tested in this investigation - where the residue is produced in large amounts at the plant, and land for disposal is somewhat limited.
Revegetation and phytoremediation of tailings from a lead/zinc mine and land disposal of two manganese-rich wastes.
(2007) Titshall, Louis William.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.
The original aims of this project were to investigate the potential for phytoremediation, with emphasis on metal accumulation, of three contrasting industrial processing wastes. These were tailings material (PT) from the decommissioned Pering Pb/Zn Mine (Reivilo, North West Province, South Africa (SA)), smelter slag (SS) from the Samancor Mnsmelter (Meyerton, Gauteng, SA) and electro-winning waste (EW) from MMC (Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, SA). It became evident, however, early in the project, that the use of metal hyperaccumulating plants was not a viable technology for these wastes. The project objectives were thus adapted to investigate alternative remedial technologies. The use of endemic and adapted grass species was investigated to revegetate the PT. In addition, chemically-enhanced phytoremediation was investigated to induce metal hyperaccumulation by grasses grown in the PT (Part 1). Revegetation of the SS and EW were not considered feasible, thus land disposal of these two Mn-rich processing wastes was investigated (Part 2). Part 1 - Revegetation of tailings from Pering Mine The PT was found to be alkaline (pH > 8.0), and consisted mainly of finely crushed dolomite. It was generally nutrient poor with high amounts of readily extractable Zn. It also had a very high P-sorption capacity. Seven grass species (Andropogon eucomus Nees; Cenchrus ciliaris L.; Cymbopogon plurinodis Stapf ex Burtt Davy; Digitaria eriantha Steud; Eragrostis superba Peyr; Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter and Fingeruthia africana Lehm) were grown in PT treated with different rates of inorganic fertiliser under glasshouse conditions. The fertiliser was applied at rates equivalent to 100 kg N, 150 kg P and 100 kg K ha-1 (full), half the full rate (half) and no fertiliser (0). Seed of C. ciliaris, C. plurinodis, D. eriantha, E. superba and F. africana were collected from Pering Mine. Seed of A. eucomus was collected from the tailings dam of an abandoned chrysotile asbestos mine. These were germinated in seedling trays and replanted into the pots. A commercial variety of E. tef was tested, but due to poor survival this species was subsequently excluded. The foliage and root biomass of the grasses and concentrations of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn in the foliage were determined. The yield of all the grasses increased with an increase in fertiliser rate, with a significant species by fertiliser interaction (p = 0.002). The highest yield was measured for C ciliaris, followed by D. eriantha (4.02 and 3.43 g porI, respectively), at the full fertiliser application rate. Cymbopogon plurinodis was the third highest yielding species, while the yields of E. superba and F. africana were similar. There were positive linear correlations between foliage yield and fertiliser application rate for all grasses. The root biomass of the grasses also increased with an increase in fertiliser application rate. The interaction between grass species and fertiliser level had a non-significant (p = 0.085) effect on the yield of grasses, though there were significant individual effects of species (p < 0.001) and fertiliser (p < 0.001). Digitaria eriantha had the highest root biomass at each fertiliser application rate, followed by C plurinodis and C ciliaris. Similarly to foliage yield, there were positive linear correlations between root biomass and fertiliser application level. Positive, linear correlations were found between foliage yield and root biomass, though the strength of these varied. The weakest correlation was found for D. eriantha (R2 = 0.42) but this was attributed to a moderately high variance in foliage yield and roots becoming potbound. Generally, nutrient concentrations were within adequacy ranges reported in the literature, except for P concentrations. This was attributed to the high P-sorption capacity of the PT. Zinc concentrations were higher than the recommended range for grasses, and also increased with an increase in fertiliser application rate. This was attributed to the high available Zn concentrations in the PT and improved growth of the grasses at higher fertiliser application rates. It was recommended that C ciliaris and D. eriantha be used for revegetation due to high biomass production and that E. superba be used because of rapid growth rate and high self-propagation potential. Both C plurinodis and F. africana can also be used but are slower to establish, while A. eucomus was not a suitable species for revegetation of the PT. Inorganic fertiliser improved the growth of all these species and is recommended for the initial establishment of the grasses. An experiment was conducted to investigate the potential of inducing metal hyperaccumulation in three grass species (C ciliaris, D. eriantha and E. superba) grown in the PT. Grasses were grown in fertilised tailings for six weeks, then either ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or diethylentriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) was added to the pots at rates of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g kg-I. Grasses were allowed to grow for an additional week before harvesting. The concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn were determined in the foliage. The interactive effect of species and chelating agent on the uptake of Cu was marginally significant (p = 0.042) and non-significant for Pb and Zn (p = 0.14 and 0.73, respectively). While the addition of the chelating agents resulted in an increase in Pb uptake by the grasses, it did not induce metal hyperaccumulation in the grasses. This was attributed to the ineffectiveness of the chelating agents in the PT in the presence of competing base cations (mainly Ca). The use of this technology was not recommended. Part 2 - Land disposal of Mn-rich processing wastes Chemical characterisation of the SS showed that it was an alkaline (pH > 9.5), Mn-rich silicate (glaucochroite), that generally·had low amounts of soluble and readily extractable metals. Acidic extractants removed high amounts of Mn, Ca and Mg, attributed to the dissolution of the silicate mineral. The EW was highly saline (saturated paste EC = 6 780 mS m,l) with a near-neutral pH. It had high amounts of soluble Mu, NHt+, S, Mg, Ca and Co. The primary minerals were magnetite, jacobsite (MnFe204) and gypsum. The effect of SS and EW on selected chemical properties of six soils was investigated by means of an incubation experiment, and their effect on the yield and element uptake by ryegrass was investigated in selected soils under glasshouse conditions. Five A-horizons (Bonheim (Ba), Hutton (Hu), lnanda (la), Shortlands (Sd) and Valsrivier (Va» and an Ehorizon (Longlands (Lo» were treated with SS at rates of 30, 60, 120,240 and 480 g kg'l and EW at rates of20, 40,80,160 and 320 g kg'l. Soils were incubated at field capacity at 24 QC and sampled periodically over 252 days. The soil pH, both immediately and over time, increased, while exchangeable acidity decreased after the addition of SS to the soils. The pH at the high rates of SS tended to be very high (about 8). The electrical conductivity (EC) of the soils also increased with an increase in SS application rates and over time. The most marked changes tended to occur in the more acidic soils (e.g. la). In the soils treated with EW, there was generally an increase in the pH of the acid soils (e.g. la) while in the more alkaline soils the pH tended to decrease (e.g. Va), immediately after waste application. There was a general decrease in pH over time, with a concurrent increase in exchangeable acidity, due to nitrification processes. The EC of all the soils increased sharply with an increase in EW application rate, attributed to the very saline nature of the EW. Water-soluble Mn concentrations in the soils treated with SS tended to be below measurable limits, except in the acid la. Iron concentrations decreased with an increase in SS application rate and over time for all soils. The water-soluble concentrations of Mn, Ca, Mg and S increased sharply with an increase in EW application rate in all soils. There was also a general increase in Mn concentrations over time. Iron concentrations tended to be low in the EW-treated soils, while Co concentrations increased as EW application rate increased. Exchangeable (EX, 0.05 M CaCh-extractable) concentrations of Fe, Co, Cu, Zn and Ni were low in the SS-treated soils. The concentrations of EX-Mn tended to increase with an increase in SS application rate in the la soil, but generally decreased in the other soils. There was also a decrease over time, attributed to the high pH leading to immobilisation of Mn. The EX-metal concentrations of the EW-treated soils were generally low, except for Mn. The concentrations of EX-Mn increased sharply as EW application rate increased. The contribution of EX-Mn was calculated to range from 209 to 3 340 mg Mn for EW rates of 20 to 320 g kg-I, respectively. In the Lo soil the expected amount of Mn was extracted at the different EW application rates. In the other soils the EX-Mn concentrations were typically higher than expected. This was attributed primarily to the dissolution ofMn from the EW due to the interaction between soil organic matter and the EW. There was generally an increase in EX-Mn concentrations over time, attributed to the decrease in pH of the soils treated with EW. The above-ground biomass production of ryegrass grown in Lo and Hu soils treated with SS increased at low application rates, but decreased again at the highest rates. The reduction in yield was attributed to an increase in soil pH leading to trace nutrient deficiencies. At the lower SS application rates, nutrient concentrations of the ryegrass tended to be within typical adequate ranges reported in the literature. Of concern was the elevated Mn concentration in the ryegrass foliage, though no toxicity symptoms were seen. This was attributed to the dissolution of the silicate mineral due to soil acidification processes and the possible ameliorating effect of high Ca and Si concentrations on Mn toxicity. The growth of ryegrass was generally poor in the Hu soil treated with EW and it did not survive beyond germination in the Lo soil treated with EW. In the Hu soil plants grew well in the 20 and 40 g kg-I EW treatments, but died at the higher rates. In both cases mortality was thought to be due to the high salinity that resulted in toxicity and osmotic stress in the newly germinated seedlings. The improved growth at the lower rates ofEW, in the Hu soil, was attributed mainly to increased N availability. The concentrations of Mn in the foliage were elevated in the soils treated with EW. A pot experiment was conducted to test the effect of applying either humic acid (HA) or compost (at a rate of 20 g kg-I) with lime (at rates of 0, 5 and 10 Mg ha-I) on the growth and nutrient uptake of ryegrass grown in the Hu soil treated with EW at rates of 0, 10, 20 and 40 g kg-I. A basal P-fertiliser was also applied in this experiment. The highest yields were measured in the treatments receiving either HA or compost at the highest application rate ofEW. The addition oflime did not improve the yield of the HA treatments, but did in the compost treatments. Generally, nutrient concentrations were adequate. The Mn concentrations were markedly lower than expected, and this was attributed to the formation of insoluble Mn-P compounds due to the addition of fertiliser. The effect of either HA or compost on Mn concentrations was not marked, but lime reduced Mn uptake. A leaching column experiment showed that, generally, the Mn was not readily leached through a simulated soil profile, though the addition of compost may enhance mobility. There was also evidence to indicate an increase in salinity and that Co concentrations of the leachate may be a problem. These data suggest that soil organic matter may be a very important factor in determining the release of Mn from the wastes, notably the EW. The land disposal of the SS and EW was not recommended at the rates investigated here, as both showed the potential for Mn accumulation in above-ground foliage, even at low application rates, while high application rates negatively impacted on plant growth. It appears that P-compounds may be beneficial in reducing Mn availability in the EW, but further testing is required.
Use of organic amendments as ameliorants for soil acidity in laboratory and field experiments.
(2004) Naramabuye, Fancois-Xavier.; Haynes, Richard John.; Modi, Albert Thembinkosi.
Laboratory studies and field trials were carried out to investigate the effect of addition of some organic residues to acid soils on soil pH, exchangeable and soluble AI, nutrient status, microbiological and biochemical indices and maize response. The organic wastes used in the first laboratory study included plant materials (maize. sorghum, kikuyu grass, soybean, red clover residues and acacia prunings), animal manures (kraal, pasture-fed and feedlot cattle manure, layer and broiler poultry manure and pig manure), household compost, sewage sludge, and filter cake. The poultry manure, pig manure and leguminous plant residues had the highest content of basic cations while sewage sludge had the highest N content. Poultry manure had very high values for proton consumption capacity, CaC03 content and ash alkalinity. Proton consumption capacity, ash alkalinity, total basic cation content and CaC03 content were closely correlated with one· another. Soil pH was increased and exchangeable AI and total (AIT) and monomeric (AIMono) AI in solution were decreased by addition of all the organic wastes: the effect was greater at the higher rate of application. Strong correlations were recorded between the rise in soil pH and proton consumption capacity, ash alkalinity, CaC03content and basic cation content of the residues. The major mechanisms responsible for the elevations in pH were suggested to be the substantial CaC03content of poultry and pig manures, and filter cake, the proton consumption capacity of humic material present in household compost and manures and decarboxylation of organic acid anions during the decomposition of plant residues and manures. It was proposed that ash alkalinity is a suitable laboratory test for predicting the potential Iiming effect of organic residues since it is strongly correlated with the rise in pH that occurs, it is relatively simple to measure and the values reflect the initial content of organic acid anions, humic materials and CaC03in the residues. A preliminary field experiment was set up to investigate the effectiveness of kraal manure as a Iiming material in an acid soil (pHwater =4.1) at a site close to a Zulu village. The experiment consisted of two rates of lime (L1 = 2.5 and L2 = 5.0 t ha1) and two rates of kraal manure (K1 = 10 and K2 = 20 t ha-1 ) which were banded and incorporated in a 30 cm wide strip down the plant rows. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replicates. A commercial maize cultivar PAN 6710 and a traditional variety EMBO, used by the farmers in the locality, were grown. Soils in the plant row were sampled at tasselling and at harvest. The addition of kraal manure significantly raised soil pH and reduced concentrations of exchangeable AI and those of both total and monomeric AI in soil solution. Lime raised pH and the pH continued to increase between tasselling and harvest. Maize yields for control, kraal manure (K1 and K2) and lime (L1 and L2) for PAN 6710 were 2.5, 3.7, 5.1, 5.3 and 6.3 t ha-1 ; respectively and for EMBO they were 3.0, 5.4, 5.8, 5.9and 8.2 t ha-1 , respectively. These results demonstrate the high yield potential of the traditional maize variety under small scale farming conditions, and show that large yield increases can be obtained by applying kraal manure. The long-term effects (24 weeks) of incubation of organic wastes (soybean residues, poultry, pig and kraal manures and sewage sludge) with an acid soil were investigated in a laboratory study. After incubation for six weeks incubation, soil pH was raised and exchangeable AI and Air and AIMono in soil solution were decreased . by addition of the wastes. Soil pH generally declined and exchangeable and soluble AI increased over the remainder of the incubation period. The decline in pH was attributed mainly to nitrification of NH4+ originating from mineralization of wastes-derived organic N. Addition of organic materials generally resulted in a decrease in the proportion of solution Air present as AIMono. That is, the effects of addition of organic materials was two-fold; an increase in pH in the short term and complexation of AI by organic matter. Since these effects occur simultaneously, it would be desirable to separate them. For this reason, short-term equilibration experiments (3 days) were conducted to study the solubility of AI in aqueous solution or in an Oxisol when in equilibrium , with 3 manures (kraal, pig and poultry) at pH values of 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. Addition of manures tended to reduce the concentrations of total AI in solution (AIT) in the lower pH range (Le. pH 4.0 and 4.5) but increased AIT concentrations compared to the control, at higher pH values (Le. at pH 5.5 and above). This was explained in terms of the complexing ability of both the solid and solution phases. At lower pH, where AI is highly soluble, complexation by added solid phase manure-organic matter results in a reduction of AI solubility. However, at high pH, where AI solubility is limited, the most important mechanism is complexation of AI by soluble organic matter and this increased AI solubility. Additions of manure reduced the proportion of Air present in monomeric form (AIMono). This effect was more pronounced in aqueous solution but was also clearly evident above pH 5.0 in the Oxisol. This reflects the fact that a large concentration of soluble C in solution can maintain relatively high concentrations of complexed AI in solution but at the same time maintain low concentrations of AIMono. It was concluded that formation of AI-organic matter complexes caused by additions of organic manures can alter the solubility of AI and reduce the amount of phytotoxic AIMono present in soil solution. A second field trial was conducted to compare the effects of additions of kraal manure, grass residues, lime and fertilizer (N-P-K) under field conditions, on soil pH, AI solubility and maize response and, at the same time follow concomitant changes in the size and activity of the soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity. The greatest effects of kraal manure in increasing soil pH and decreasing AI toxicity were recorded six weeks after planting whereas those of lime and grass residues were recorded at harvest. Kraal manure and fertilizer increased significantly AMBIC extractable P and exchangeable K and Zn. In addition, Kraal manure, and to a lesser extent lime significantly increased exchangeable Ca and Mg.. Soils in the plant row in the grass residue treatments had the highest microbial biomass C and microbial quotient,followed by kraal manure, lime and controls. Basal respiration rates and arginine ammonification, protease, aryl sulphatase, and acid phosphatase activity rates were significantly increased by addition of all treatments and these increases tended to be accentuated by fertilizer. Low values for metabolic quotient in the grass residue treatments were associated with high values for microbial biomass C in these treatments. The addition of all treatments tended to increase maize yields and, in general, these yields were greater for the high rate of application of each amendment. Yields for unfertilized kraal manure were markedly greater than those for the unfertilized grass residue and lime treatments. This was attributed to the ability of kraal manure to both increase pH and add nutrients to the soil.
Bioremediation of Atrazine- and BTX-contaminated soils : insights through molecular/physiological characterization.
(2001) Ralebitso, Theresia Komang.; Van Verseveld, Henk W.
Most natural products and xenobiotic molecules, irrespective of their molecular or structural complexity, are degradable by some microbial species/associations within particular environments. Atrazine- and selected petroleum hydrocarbon (benzene, toluen~ and 0-, m- and p-xylene (BTX))-degrading associations were enriched and isolated"trom atrazine- and petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-contaminated KwaZuluNatal loamy and sandy soils, respectively. In total, eight pesticide- and forty BTXcatabolizing associations were isolated. Electron microscopy revealed that, numerically, rods constituted the majority of the populations responsible for both atrazine and PHC catabolism. Cocci and, possibly, spores or fungal reproductive bodies were observed also. For the BTX-catabolizing associations, the population profiles appeared to be dependent on the enrichment pH and the molecule concentration. After combining selected associations, to ensure that all the isolated species were present, batch cultures were made to determine the optimum pH and temperature for growth; With an atrazine concentration of 30 mgr1, the highest specific growth rates, as determined by biomass (OD) changes, were recorded at 30DC and pH 4 although the rate§ at 25DC and pH 5 were comparable. For the BTX (50 mgr1)-catabolizing associations, the highest growth rates were recorded at pH 4 for the four temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 30DC) examined. The sole exception was p-xylene with the highest specific growth rate recorded at pH 5 and 30De. Batch and continuous (retentostat) cultivations in the presence/absence of methanol and under C- and N-limited conditions were used to investigate the impacts of the solvent and the catabolic potentials of a combined atrazine-catabolizing culture (KRA30). In general, different degradation rates were recorded for the culture in response to element limitation. Addition of citrate as the primary carbon source / effected atrazine (100 mg!"l) degradation rates comparable to that of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP while succinate addition effected herbicide co-metabolism. Carbon supplementation may, therefore, be considered for site amelioration practices. To complement conventional culture-based microbiological procedures, molecular techniques were employed to explore the diversities and analyze the structures of the microbial communities. In parallel, anaerobic microbial associations which targeted atrazine were also characterized. The soil DNA isolation/characterization protocol adopted consisted of a clean-up step followed by the polymerase chain reaction (peR) and 16S rDNA fingerprinting by denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The preliminary results suggested that despite different, but chemically similar, petroleum hydrocarbon molecules, the common selection pressures of the primary enrichments effected the isolation of similar and complex aerobic microbial associations. Some similar numerically-dominant bands characterized the aerobic and anaerobic atrazine-catabolizing associations although distinct differences were also recorded on the basis of the enrichment/isolation pH value and the concentration of the herbicide. Cloning and sequencing were then used to identify some of the numerically-dominant and non-dominant association members. Community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) for physiological fingerprinting was made with Biolog EcoPlates and highlighted the differences in the isolated aerobic atrazine-catabolizing associations depending on the enrichment pH and molecule concentration. Logarithmic-phase cultures of the combined atrazine- and BTX-catabolizing associations were used to explore the association profiles following pH and temperaiure optImIzation. Although some common numerically-dominant components were maintained, differences in numerical and, possibly, activity dominance were observed in the 16S rDNA profiles in response to changes in pH and temperature. This indicated that environmental parameter optimization and characterization of catabolic association structure must precede bioaugmentation so that control of key variables will facilitate maintenance of the dominant site-specific species. Following KRA30 cultivation in the presence/absence of methanol and under carbon and nitrogen-limited conditions, the population fingerprints showed that the presence of methanol effected shifts in species numerical dominance and, possibly, changes in atrazine catabolic capacity. Also, Coulter counter results, optical density readings and 16S rDNA characterization by DGGE indicated that degradation rate changes were accompanied by shifts in species numerical/activity dominance within the association. Although N-limitation effected the highest rates of herbicide catabolism, a potential versatility of the combined association for bioaugmented and/or biosupplemented remediation with acceptable rates regardless of any elemental limitation was recorded. To determine if the contaminated and pristine source soils contained comparable catabolic populations and, thus, offered potential for intrinsic bioremediation, PCRDGGE was used to characterize the populations in comparison with the enriched/isolated associations. Some similar dominant bands characterized the contaminated soils and the enriched/isolated associations. The significance of this, in relation to a possible correlation between numerical and activity dominance in the component species, is discussed with respect to the use of PCR-DGGE to identify natural attenuation potential and monitor sustained intrinsic and enhanced (bioaugmented and biosupplemented) bioremediation.
Effects of the land disposal of water treatment sludge on soil physical quality.
(2001) Moodley, Magandaran.; Johnston, M. A.
An essential step in producing "drinking" water is to precipitate the suspended and dissolved colloids through the addition of flocculents such as lime, ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate and/or poly-electrolytes. The by-product of this process is termed water treatment sludge (WTS) and contains mainly silt, clay and some organic matter. Previously this material was disposed of in landfill but more recently, alternative methods for its disposal are being evaluated. A potential disposal option is land treatment. In this system of waste disposal the inherent properties of the soil are used to assimilate the waste. Although the effect of the land disposal of WTS on soil chemical quality is gaining increasing research attention, few studies have investigated the effects on soil physical quality. This study was originally commissioned by a local water utility to evaluate the effects of the land disposal of sludge produced at their works, on soil quality. At this plant organic polymers are used to both flocculate the material and to thicken the sludge in the water recovery process. Fresh sludge has a consistence approaching that of slurry but dries to angular shaped aggregates of extremely high strength. Nevertheless, sludge aggregates comprise a network of micro-pores and channels and are therefore porous. Because of these properties, the potential use of WTS as a soil conditioner was considered.. Since lime, gypsum and polyacrylamide are wellrecognised soil conditioners, these were included as reference treatments in the study. Two field trials (Brookdale and Ukulinga) and laboratory experiments were designed to investigate the influence of WTS on soil in terms of water retention, hydraulic conductivity, evaporation, aeration, aggregation and strength. Seven rates of WTS are represented at the . Brookdale trial but research efforts were concentrated on the 0, 80, 320 and 1280 Mg ha' treatments. WTS was also applied as a mulch (without incorporation into the soil) at the 320, 640 and 1280 Mg ha" level. Gypsum was applied at rates of 5 and 10 Mg ha", lime at 2 and 10 Mg ha' and anionic polyacrylamide at 15 and 30 kg ha'. At the Ukulinga trial, WTS was mixed with the upper 0.2 m of the soil at rates of 0, 80, 320 and 1280 Mgha'. Only the high rates of gypsum, lime and anionic polyacrylamide being tested at the Brookdale trial are represented at the Ukulinga trial. All treatments in this study were maintained fallow. The laboratory study features an additional two soils to those from the field experiments, chosen to produce a range in clay contents. WTS influenced several soil physical properties. Soil bulk density decreased following the addition of sludge to soil. This caused an increase in porosity (particularly macro-porosity) and therefore water retained at saturation, but only of statistical significance at the 1280 Mg ha" level. Equally an increase in water retention at the wilting point (-1500 kPa matric potential) also occurred, owing to the high microporosity of sludge aggregates. Despite these effects very little change in both the plant available and readily available water content occurred. Neither, gypsum nor lime caused any significant change in water retention. Aslight improvement was noted on the polyacrylamide treatment at the Brookdale site but this effect did not persist for very long after the trial was established. Although in situ field measurements were influenced strongly by natural spatial variability, WTScaused a marked increase in the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The reasons for this relate to the higher porosity and the inherently stable nature of the sludge aggregates, which imparts a more open structure to the soil and reduces the extent of pore blockage. This finding was corroborated in a laboratory study in which strong positive correlations between sludge content and Ks was found. The water retention curve and saturated hydraulic conductivity was used to predict the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function (Kw)using the RETe computer model of van Genuchten et al., 1991. The results showed a decrease in Kw on the sludgeamended treatments the extent of which increased with sludge content. This finding was tested in an evaporation study conducted under controlled environmental conditions. More water was conserved on the sludge-amended treatments than the control, because of its lower Kw. The application of the sludge as a mulch was more effective in conserving water than incorporating the sludge with soil. The air-filled porosity at field capacity (-10 kPa matric potential) of the sludge-amended soil remained within a favourable aeration range of 10-15%, which suggests that aeration should not be a limiting factor for plant growth. Air-permeability nevertheless improved substantially. Attempts at using the size distribution of dry soil aggregates to evaluate the influence of the sludge on aggregation proved unsuccessful. Saturated soil paste extracts for selected soil depths beneath the mulch layers at the Brookdale trial, nevertheless, showed significant increases in Ca2+ and Mt+ concentrations, which is encouraging from a soil stability perspective. Due to the inherently strongly aggregated nature of this soil, no meaningful change in aggregate stability, however, was measured. Significant improvements in soil stability were, nevertheless, found when fresh sludge was mixed with soil. If the sludge is not allowed to dry fully beforehand the polymer that it contains remains active and available for bonding of the soil particles together. Upon drying, these polymers become irreversibly attached to the soil substrate and win not become reactivated even upon re-wetting of the soil. This also explains why sludge aggregates found below only a few centimetres of the soil surface maintained their strongly aggregated nature. This suggests that although WTS consists of mainly silt and clay, the risk of this constituent fraction becoming released and clogging water conductive soil pores are, at present, low. Despite the high strength of the sludge aggregates the penetrometer soil . strength (PSS)within the tilled layer was non-significantly different from the control treatment. Below the tilled layer, however, the PSS on the sludge-amended treatments were lower owing mainly to wetter soil conditions. The research completed to date suggests that land treatment as an environmentally acceptable disposal option for water treatment sludge shows promise since soil conditions tend to be improved.
Sodium, cation exchange and crop response in acid KwaZulu-Natal soils.
(2000) Manson, Alan David.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.
In many acid, highly leached South African soils, Na levels are very low. Applications of Na to highly leached soils may be advantageous in some situations as Na has been shown to interact with soil acidity, P availability, and K nutrition of plants. It was found that an increased level of Na at constant anion concentration in the soil solution resulted in lower soil solution pH and Al3 + activity, and improved maize root penetration into an acid subsoil (pot trial). In another pot trial, Na did not improve lucerne root growth into the same subsoil. In a field trial on a limed, low-Na soil with severe subsoil acidity, the effects off our rates of Na, three Na carriers, and three rates of gypsum on maize growth were compared. In three out of four seasons grain yield responses to the Na applications were positive, and of a similar magnitude to the response to gypsum (455-925 kg ha). In another field trial with maize, responses to Na (of up to 1027 kg grain ha) were recorded in two out of three years on plots with topsoil acid saturations of greater than 45%. The reason for the responses to Na was probably improved subsoil rooting as a result of modified soil solution composition in the presence of Na. In a field trial with Italian rye grass on an acid, highly weathered soil, the effect of sodium applications were investigated at different levels of lime and K. In the first season, 200 kg ha Na as NaCl increased dry matter yield from 11289 kg ha to 12815 kg ha , Sodium responses were possibly due to enhanced P uptake, or Na substitution for K, or a combination of the two mechanisms. No consistent lime x Na interaction was observed. Potassium and Na applications affected the mineral balance of the herbage produced. Potassium depressed herbage Ca, Mg and Na concentrations, and Na depressed herbage Ca and Mg where herbage K was low, but had no effect on herbage K. Where soil P and K reserves are marginal, rye grass pastures may benefit from Na applications.
An investigation, using synchrotron radiation and other techniques, of the composition of San rock art paints and excavated pigments from Maqonqu shelter, and comparative paint data from three other sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2011) Escott, Boyd John.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.
This study aimed to: 1) characterise the individual San parietal art rock art paint colours; 2) relate paint compositions to erosion susceptibility; 3) determine if paint pigments can be related to pigment samples excavated from a Shelter deposit, and/or a variety of field samples; and 4) determine if paint samples from geographically distinct sites can be distinguished on their composition. A combination of mineralogical (X-ray diffraction (XRD), synchrotron micro-XRD (μ-XRD)) and chemical (energy dispersive X-ray micro-analysis (EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), and synchrotron micro-XRF (μ-XRF)) analytical techniques were used. Maqonqo Shelter (MQ), 35 km south-east of Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was the primary study site chosen as it contained both a large number of paintings, as well as a large deposit. Thirty paint (of various colours) and 3 blank wall samples were collected using Silver Mylar tape and analysed using a combination of EDX, μ-XRD and μ-XRF techniques. Sixty two large (> 2.5 g) ‘ochre’ pieces were selected from the upper three layers of the deposit and analysed using XRD, XRF and EDX. A further 63 small pieces (< 2.5 g) were analysed using μ-XRD and μ-XRF techniques. To compare the MQ paint samples with potential source materials, three distinct sample sets were collected. The first included samples of the Shelter wall and surface rocks located near the painted panel (analysed by XRD, XRF and EDX). A second sample set of 17 samples was collected from the surrounding landscape (± 3 km radius of MQ; analysed by XRD and XRF). Their selection was based on ease of accessibility, degree of pulverulence, and perceived Fe content i.e., red and/or yellow colouration. No white sources were found. A third set of 11 samples (obtained from six sites, analysed using XRD and XRF) was collected within ± 50 km distance of the Shelter. Their selection was based on old mining survey reports that detailed the location of Fe ore outcrops. Paint samples from three additional shelters i.e., Fergies Cave (FC), Giants Castle Game Reserve, central Drakensberg; Sheltered Vale (SV), Mount Currie District, south-western KwaZulu-Natal; and Twagwa Shelter (TW), Izingolweni District, southern KwaZulu-Natal, were collected to compare paint composition over distance. Site selection was determined according to the following criteria: 1) the shelters had to reside a significant distance away from the primary site so as to minimise any possible interaction that might have existed between the authors of the respective artworks (each site is at least 100 km distant from the other); 2) each had to be located upon a distinct geological formation so that external influences from different regions, and their possible affects on the paint samples, could be noted; and 3) the climatic regimes of each of the shelters should be relatively distinct. Fifteen paint and nine blank wall samples were collected from the three shelters (three each of red, white and blank samples; analysed using EDX, μ-XRD and μ-XRF), with the exception that no white samples were collected from FC. In total, 673 EDX, 212 μ-XRD, 378 μ-XRF, 98 XRD, 98 XRF and 6 ICP-MS traces were produced and analysed. Due to the extremely heterogeneous nature of the paint samples at the microii scale, the more generalised EDX reduced window scans were used as the basis of the paint samples’ characterisation, with the data obtained from the more precise μ-XRD and μ-XRF techniques providing additional supportive information. Irrespective of colour, almost all of the MQ paint samples had elevated Ca contents that tended to increase in the order of black < orange £ red and yellow < pink < white. The predominant Ca-based mineral was gypsum, although Ca-oxalates, whewellite and weddellite, were also present. The blank samples collected from MQ also had high gypsum content, but no Ca-oxalate. It is thus proposed that the Ca-oxalates formed after the painting event and were derived from the original paint constituents. The white pigments consisted of gypsum (dominant), anhydrite, bassanite and whewellite, or a combination thereof. Whewellite increased within increasing paint depth, while gypsum showed the reverse trend. This indicates that, whilst both gypsum and whewellite were originally present within the original paint pigment, additional gypsum has been added via secondary evaporite deposition. Although initially considered to be sourced along with the gypsum, another potential whewellite source is organic additives. The most likely source for the white pigments would be precipitates found on sandstone walls of shelters near MQ. Of more immediate importance, however, is that the pigments, being gypsum based, are water-soluble and thus susceptible to erosion. Most of the orange paints had an elevated Al content and contained gibbsite, suggesting bauxitic material associated with locally sourced dolerite within the Ecca Series within KwaZulu-Natal (as evidenced by their respective Ti levels). Two samples were so similar that it is likely that the same pigment was utilised in the creation of both images. Two samples did not contain high Al contents, however, indicating that they were probably sourced from the soft, ochreous material found within local Fe nodules. A consistent combination of goethite and haematite, together with a low Al and elevated Ti content, indicate that the yellow and red samples were probably sourced from Fe nodules found locally, the red samples differing from the yellow pigments primarily in their higher haematite content. A low Si and relatively low Fe content discounts red sands/clays and Fe-ores as sources of the red pigments. The red samples were ‘thinner’ than the other samples with quartz contents comparable to those of the blank samples. The thin nature of the red paints, the erratic distribution of whewellite upon the paint surfaces, the dominance of gypsum and, to a certain extent quartz, all strongly suggest that the red paints are at least partly absorbed into the surface of the Shelter wall. This, together with the strong staining ability of haematite, is probably the most important reason that the red pigments have outlasted images painted in other colours. It may also account for the high degree of variability found within the red paint dataset, though age differences between the sampled images could also be a contributing factor. The single dark red paint sample, except for an elevated Mn content, was very similar in many ways to the red paint samples analysed. The only readily available pigment source identified that had both low Al and high Fe and Mn contents, was plinthite. The pink samples represented the ‘middleiii ground’ between the red and white paints, suggesting that this colour was the result of a blending of the two. The black paint sample had the highest recorded Fe content of the entire paint dataset. A high Mn and relatively low Al content suggest that a soft inner core of an Fe nodule was used in its manufacture. The presence of maghemite and a dark colouration strongly suggest that the manufacture also involved calcination. The initial distinction between the paint and excavated samples was that the former all exhibited elevated Ca and S values due to the deposition of secondary evaporite minerals. Even when taking these additional deposits into account, however, the two datasets still remained distinct indicating that the excavated materials sampled were not utilised in the manufacture of the MQ paints. A potential exception concerned the orange paint samples, which were similar in composition to both doleritic samples from deeper excavated layers and the local (weathered doleritic samples) and distant (bauxite samples) field samples. Whilst weathered dolerite/bauxitic material was clearly the source of the orange pigments, a more detailed investigation is needed to find a precise location. No other relationships between the paint pigments and the excavated pigments and field samples were established. A comparison of the blank samples from all four study sites showed that the techniques used could distinguish between different sites despite sampling the smallest and, relatively speaking, poorest quality samples. The FC blank samples had elevated C and Ca contents (associated with Caoxalates). The conditions within this Shelter favour the formation of weddellite and whewellite, the former not typically found at the other three sites. In addition, low K, Si and Al contents (often associated with sandstone matrix minerals) indicate that the surface of the relatively dense, compact Cave sandstone is more resistant to physical erosion compared to the other sites, and/or FC shelter experiences a high amount of secondary deposition, with the result that a majority of the samples are composed of evaporite minerals. The SV samples were composed primarily of the evaporite-type minerals, with only minor sandstone ‘contamination’ indicated by quartz and kaolinite. The quartz content, whilst not always high, was present in most of the samples analysed, possibly indicating a greater amount of more uniform surface erosion (relative to the other sites). The TW blank samples were distinct from the other shelters’ as they contained no Ca-based minerals but did contain the very rare mineral schlossmacherite. A comparison of the paint colours also revealed differences between the different shelters. Whilst the white samples from SV and MQ are dominated by whewellite and gypsum (minerals probably present within the pigments when they were applied), the presence of quartz, sanidine and apatite in the SV samples indicated a degree of shelter wall ‘contamination’, with anhydrite, bassanite and glushinskite suggesting climatic variations that favoured various evaporite depositional regimes. The TW white paint contained minimal secondary deposited minerals common in the other shelters. The one mineral that is dominant within the TW samples is minamiite. As this mineral was not identified in any of the blank samples, it is likely that this mineral originates from the original pigment source. The TW white paints also contained 10 to 40 times more Zn than those recorded for any of the other paint samples. This was possibly present within the structure of greigite. The red SV samples could be distinguished from MQ red samples by the presence of wall ‘contaminants’ in a manner similar to that described for the white samples. The TW samples indicate a change in pigment source and/or manner of paint manufacturing technique, for these red samples contained minamiite. This mineral is white and thus its selection could not have been based on colour but rather it must represent a paint additive. With the exception of only one sample from TW, no goethite was found within any of the red samples collected from the three additional sites indicating a different haematite source to that of MQ. An interesting facet of this study, although not directly addressed, concerns what the results do not show with respect to the compositional nature of the pigments analysed. Most texts available today list a number of pigment sources stated to have been utilised in the manufacture of the San parietal rock art. This study has shown that very few of these potential sources were utilised within the four shelters investigated. In addition, this study has also highlighted the presence of minerals about which little is known, yet which appear to be commonly associated with parietal rock art.
The effects of land use and management practices on soil microbial diversity as determined by PCR-DGGE and CLPP.
(2011) Wallis, Patricia Dawn.; Titshall, Louis William.; Hunter, Charles Haig.; Morris, Craig Duncan.
The environmental impact of anthropogenic disturbances such as agriculture, on the soil ecosystem, and particularly on soil microbial structural and functional diversity, is of great importance to soil health, conservation and remediation. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of various land use and management practices on both the structural (genetic) and functional (catabolic) diversity of the soil bacterial and fungal communities, at two long-term sites in KwaZulu-Natal. The first site is situated at Baynesfield Estate, and the second at Mount Edgecombe Sugarcane Research Institute. At site 1, the land uses investigated included soils under pre-harvest burnt sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum, Linn.) (SC); maize (Zea mays, Linn.) under conventional tillage (M); permanent kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum, Chiov) pasture (KIK); pine (Pinus patula, Schiede) plantation (PF); and wattle (Acacia mearnsii, De Wild) plantation (W), all fertilized; and undisturbed native grassland (NAT) that had never been cultivated or fertilized. At site 2, a sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum × S. spontaneum var. N27) pre-harvest burning and crop residue retention trial was investigated. The treatments studied included conventional pre-harvest burning of sugarcane with the tops removed (Bto), and green cane harvesting with retention of crop residues on the soil surface as a trash blanket (T). Each of these treatments was either fertilized (F) or unfertilized (Fo). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to determine the structural diversity, and community level physiological profiling (CLPP) using BIOLOG plates, the catabolic diversity. In addition, the soils were analysed with respect to selected physicochemical variables, and the effects of these on the soil microbial communities were determined. Replicate soil samples (0–5 cm) were randomly collected from three independent locations within each land use and management, at both sites. Soil suspensions for the CLPP analyses were prepared from fresh soil subsamples (within 24 h of collection) for the bacterial community analyses, and from 8-day-old soil subsamples (incubated at 4°C to allow for spore germination) for the fungal community analyses. BIOLOG EcoPlates™ were used for the bacterial CLPP study and SF-N2 MicroPlates™ for the fungal analysis, the protocols being adapted and optimized for local conditions. This data was log [X+1]-transformed and analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA). For PCRDGGE, total genomic DNA was isolated directly from each soil subsample, and purified using the MO BIO UltraClean™ soil DNA Isolation kit. Protocols were developed and optimized, and fragments of 16S rDNA from soil bacterial communities were PCR-amplified, using the universal bacterial primer pair 341fGC/534r. Different size 18S rDNA sequences were amplified from soil fungal communities, using the universal fungus-specific primer pairs NS1/FR1GC and FF390/FR1GC. Amplicons from both the bacterial and fungal communities were fingerprinted by DGGE, and bands in the fungal DGGE gels were excised and sequenced. The DGGE profiles were analysed by Bio-Rad Quantity One™ Image analysis software, with respect to band number, position, and relative intensity. Statistical analyses of this data then followed. Soil properties [organic C; pH (KCl); exchangeable acidity; total cations (ECEC); exchangeable K, Ca and Mg; and extractable P] were determined by PCA and were shown to have affected the structural and catabolic diversity of the resident microbial communities. At Baynesfield, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) relating the selected soil variables to bacterial community structural diversity, indicated that ECEC, K, P and acidity were correlated with CCA1, accounting for 33.3% of the variance, whereas Mg and organic C were correlated with CCA2 and accounted for 22.9% of the variance. In the fungal structural diversity study, pH was correlated with CCA1, accounting for 43.8% of the variance, whereas P, ECEC and organic C were correlated with CCA2, and accounted for 30.4% of the variance. The RDA of the catabolic diversity data showed that the same soil variables affecting fungal structural diversity (organic C, P, ECEC and pH) had influenced both the bacterial and fungal catabolic diversity. In both the bacterial and fungal RDAs, organic C, P and ECEC were aligned with RDA1, and pH with RDA2. However in the bacterial analysis, RDA1 accounted for 46.0%, and RDA2 for 27.5% of the variance, whereas in the fungal RDA, RDA1 accounted for only 21.7%, and RDA2 for only 15.0% of the variance. The higher extractable P and exchangeable K concentrations under SC and M, were important in differentiating the structural diversity of these soil bacterial and fungal communities from those under the other land uses. High P concentrations under M were also associated with bacterial catabolic diversity and to a lesser extent with that of the soil fungal communities under M. Similarly, the higher organic C and exchangeable Mg concentrations under KIK and NAT, possibly contributed to the differentiation of these soil bacterial and fungal communities from those under the other land uses, whereas under PF, the high exchangeable acidity and low pH were possibly influencing factors. Under W, low concentrations of P and K were noted. Other factors, such as the presence/absence and frequency of tillage and irrigation, and the diversity of organic inputs due to the diversity of the above-ground plant community, (in NAT, for example) were considered potentially important influences on the nature and diversity of the various land use bacterial and fungal communities. At Mount Edgecombe, CCA showed that organic C and Mg had a significant effect on soil bacterial structural diversity. Organic C was closely correlated with CCA1, accounting for 58.7% of the variance, whereas Mg was associated with CCA2, and accounted for 41.3% of the variance. In the fungal structural diversity study, ECEC and pH were strongly correlated with CCA1 and accounted for 49.1% of the variance, while organic C was associated with CCA2, accounting for 29.6% of the variance. In the functional diversity studies, RDA showed that both bacterial and fungal community catabolic diversity was influenced by soil organic C, pH, and ECEC. In the bacterial analysis, RDA1 was associated with organic C and pH, and accounted for 43.1% of the variance, whereas ECEC was correlated with RDA2, accounting for 36.9% of the variance. In the fungal analysis, RDA1 was correlated with ECEC and accounted for 47.1% of the variance, while RDA2 was associated with pH and organic C, accounting for 35.8% of the variance. The retention of sugarcane harvest residues on the soil surface in the trashed treatments caused an accumulation of organic matter in the surface soil, which did not occur in the pre-harvest burnt sugarcane. This difference in organic C content was a factor in differentiating both bacterial and fungal communities between the trashed and the burnt treatments. Soil acidification under long-term N fertilizer applications caused an increase in exchangeable acidity and a loss of exchangeable Mg and Ca. Thus, as shown by CCA, a considerably lower exchangeable Mg concentration under F compared to Fo plots resulted, which was influential in differentiating the bacterial and fungal communities under these two treatments. In the structural diversity study at Baynesfield, differences were found in bacterial community species richness and diversity but not in evenness, whereas in the fungal analysis, differences in community species richness, evenness and diversity were shown. The soil bacterial and fungal communities associated with each land use were clearly differentiated. Trends for bacterial and fungal diversity followed the same order, namely: M < SC < KIK < NAT < PF < W. At Mount Edgecombe, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in bacterial structural diversity was found with oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA), but two-way ANOVA showed a slight significant difference in bacterial community species richness (p = 0.05), as an effect of fertilizer applications. A significant difference in fungal species richness (p = 0.02) as a result of management effects was detected, with the highest values recorded for the burnt/fertilized plots and the lowest for the burnt/unfertilized treatments. No significant difference was shown in species evenness, or diversity (p > 0.05), in either the bacterial or the fungal communities. In the catabolic diversity study at site 1, the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA showed that land use had not affected bacterial catabolic richness, evenness, or diversity. In contrast, while fungal catabolic richness had not been affected by land use, the soil fungal community catabolic evenness and diversity had. At site 2, the land treatments had a significant effect on soil bacterial community catabolic richness (p = 0.046), but not on evenness (p = 0.74) or diversity (p = 0.135). In the fungal study, land management had no significant effect on the catabolic richness (p = 0.706), evenness (p = 0.536) or diversity (p = 0.826). It was concluded, that the microbial communities under the different land use and trash management regimes had been successfully differentiated, using the optimized protocols for the PCR-DGGE of 16S rDNA (bacteria) and 18S rDNA (fungi). Sequencing bands produced in the 18S rDNA DGGE, enabled some of the soil fungal communities to be identified. CLPP of the soil microbial communities using BIOLOG plates showed that, on the basis of C substrate utilization, the soil bacterial and fungal communities’ catabolic profiles differed markedly. Thus, it was shown that the different land use and management practices had indeed influenced the structural and catabolic diversity of both the bacterial and fungal populations in the soil.
Site relationships for Pinus patula in the Eastern Transvaal escarpment area.
(1990) Schutz, Christopher John.; De Villiers, John Matthew.; Schönau, A. P. G.
The largest area of commercial timber plantations in southern Africa is situated along the Eastern Transvaal Drakensberg Escarpment north of Nelspruit. The site requirements of tree species in this area are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine site-tree relationships in the region and the implications of such relationships for the science of forestry. Pinus patula Schiede & Deppe in Schlecht. & Cham. was selected for the study as it is the most widely planted species in the region. In Chapter 1 the geology, geomorphology, climate, soils and vegetation of the study area are described. A geological map was compiled. Soil descriptions were based on 439 soil pits distributed so as to cover the range of site conditions in the area. The regression techniques used to identify key environmental factors and to model their relationships with tree parameters are described in Chapter 2, in which site-growth relationships specifically are investigated. In mature stands of P. patula 159 plots were established in such a way as to cover the widest variation in both site conditions and tree growth. The relationship between site index (mean top height at 20 years) and 100 site plus 10 stand parameters recorded at each plot was modelled by means of best-subsets, multiple and ridge regression. Several candidate models were compared on the basis of coefficient of determination and validation using independent data. The best model predicted the site index of the validation plots within 60 cm of the measured site index. The possible roles of the site variables identified by the models are discussed. In Chapter 3 site-foliar nutrient relationships are described. A close relationship was found between foliar and soil nutrient levels for the six major geological substrates. Site index was more accurately predicted from concentrations of individual foliar nutrients than from ratios of these nutrients. The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS), however, appeared to have greater potential for nutrient diagnosis. Provisional ORIS norms for P. patula were computed. In Chapter 4 the excessive accumulation of litter in P. patula stands was examined. Undecomposed litter layers were greater than 15 cm in thickness on nearly 25% of the 159 sites studied. Average litter layers contained greater amounts of nutrients than the underlying topsoil. Due to the colonization of the litter by tree roots, the degree of immobilization of nutrients in litter is not known. Environmental factors associated with variation in litter thickness were identified by models which explained up to 73% of the total variation. These factors are considered to act indirectly by promoting or retarding decay organisms. The possible implications of litter accumulation for the maintenance of site productivity are discussed. In Chapter 5 relationships between site and some wood properties are described. Although between-tree variation was larger than between-site variation, some important relationships with site were identified. 10% of all trees on the 159 plots had severe stem bumps. Most of the variables in a model to predict the severity of bumps could be interpreted as being associated with stem stability or exposure. The conclusion was that wind is probably the major cause of this defect. The findings of the study are summarized in Chapter 6. Particular attention is given to a synthesis of the possible roles of site factors in their relationships with the tree parameters investigated. There were strong relationships between tree parameters and mainly rainfall, altitude, soil wetness, exchangeable bases, effective rooting depth, slope position and geology. The single most deficient nutrient element appeared to be calcium. The implications for both research and management are outlined.
Pasture responses to lime and phosphorus on acid soils in Natal.
(1986) Miles, Neil.; De Villiers, John Matthew.
No abstract available.
Investigation of 2:1 layer silicate clays in selected southern African soils.
(1986) Buhmann, Christl.; Fey, Martin Venn.
As very little detailed X-ray diffraction investigations have been carried out in South Africa on 2:1 phyllosi1icates in soils, the aim of the present study was to contribute to the knowledge of soil genesis, as well as K-fixation and swelling, by investigation of the clay fraction of selected soils known to be rich in these minerals. X-ray diffraction analysis has been used almost exclusively as the investigative technique. In Chapter 1 a literature review is presented on the reasons for X-ray diffraction peak broadening and the problems encountered in the identification of swelling clay minerals. For interstratifications, the concept of an ABAB layer sequence, considered as having suggested an abab that the inter1ayer space, X-ray diffraction is questioned. data from which It is the ABAB arrangement is inferred can as well be explained in terms of an alternative AAAB layer sequence, having an aabb interlayer arrangement. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 deal with layer silicate formation/alteration in the course of soil development in dolerite and shale-derived profiles. Dolerite-derived pedons could· be characterized by one of the following layer silicate suites : suite i : discrete smectite (Fe-containing beidellite-montmorillonite) with or without traces of kaolinite and talc (Vertisol) suite ii : smectite-kaolinite interstratification (Vertisol) suite iii : 14 ft minerals (vermiculite, beidellite, montmorillonite, chlorite) and 7 ft minerals (halloysite, kaolinite ) in about equal proportions (Vertisol and Mollisol) suite iv : kaolinite with subordinate chlorite and traces of talc (Oxisol, Ultisol). Eccashale-derived Vertisols are dominated by mica-smectite interstratifications. The occurrence of an iron-rich pedogenic talc is discussed in Chapter 4. X-ray and chemical data suggest 30 - 50 mole percent substitutions of iron for magnesium. The mineralogical basis for K-fixation has been established in Chapter 5. Two K-fixing components could be identified : dioctahedral high-charge vermiculite as a discrete mineral and random mica-smectite interstratifications with 20 - 60% mica. In Chapter 6, some of the most expansive soils in South Africa have been investigated. They can be subdivided into two groups denoted by the swelling component as follows : (a) smectite-dominated (the smectite species involved being most probably beidellite with a heterogeneous charge distribution); (b) mica-smectite interstratification with random or ordered stacking arrangement.
A laboratory and glasshouse evaluation of an anaerobic baffled reactor effluent as a nutrient and irrigation source for maize in soils of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2012) Bame, Irene Bongsiysi.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.
Scarcity of water for irrigation is a serious hindrance for small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of good quality water for irrigation has resulted in increasing pressure on such water which has prompted sourcing of wastewater as an alternative. One possibility, being investigated by eThekwini Water and Sanitation (Durban, South Africa), is to install anaerobic baffled reactors within local communities to treat wastewater to allow its use for agriculture. The success of wastewater irrigation depends on the ability of the soil to assimilate the water, nutrients and any other contaminants that are applied to it. The aim of this project was to investigate the potential of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) effluent as both an irrigation and nutrient source for use in peri-urban agriculture. The effluent was slightly alkaline (pH 7.40–7.60) and in class C2S1 (medium-salinity/low sodicity water) according to the United States Soil Salinity Laboratory classification for irrigation waters. It was very low in heavy metals, values being below permissible levels according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) guidelines for water use in agriculture. The total solids were low thus particulate matter was minimal with a greater concentration of the major elements found in solution. An investigation was carried out to ascertain the behaviour of the effluent when applied to soil and how the soil was able to adsorb plant nutrients from it. A soil column study was undertaken in the laboratory with three contrasting soil types namely a sandy soil (Longlands, E horizon), an organic soil (Inanda, A horizon) and a clayey soil (Sepane, A horizon). The effluent was leached through the soil while distilled water was concurrently used as a control. Results indicated that after application of 16 pore volumes, leachates from the columns contained concentrations of Na, equal to that in the incoming effluent for all soils. The concentrations of Ca and Mg were lower in the leachates than in the original effluent indicating adsorption in the soils. Phosphorus was the element that was most strongly adsorbed in all soils. While its adsorption in the Ia could be attributed to organic matter and the presence of iron oxides and oxyhydroxides, the clay type and amount in the Sepane was likely to have been responsible for P adsorption. The NO₃-N, which was initially low in the effluent, increased as leaching progressed, while the NH₄-N decreased. In the water-leached columns, elements were leached out of soil because none were added with the water. At the end of leaching, columns were allowed to drain and then sectioned into 2 cm segments. The 0-2 cm, 8-10 cm and 14-16 cm segments representing the top, middle and bottom parts of the column were analysed for inorganic-N, phosphorus and potassium. The elemental content of the 0-2 cm segment was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the lower segments in all columns for soluble P in all soils. This reflects the immobile nature of P in soils and confirmed the high amounts of P retained by the soils. There were significant differences between the effluent and the water-leached soils in terms of P retention. The amount of inorganic-N and K in the top layer was not significantly different from the other layers. In the Ia 0–2 cm segment, a pH increase of about 1.3 pH units was recorded in the effluent-leached columns when compared to the equivalent segment in the water-leached columns. A glasshouse study was undertaken to assess the availability to maize of nutrients from the effluent. Maize was grown for 6 weeks in pots filled with the same soil types used in the columns study except that a similar sandy soil, Cartref (Cf, E horizon), replaced the Lo due to inadequate availability of the latter. Fertilizer (N, P and K) was applied at the full recommended rate, half the recommended rate and zero fertilizer for each of the three soils used. This corresponded to 0, 100, 200 kg N ha⁻¹ for all soils; 0, 40, 80 kg P ha⁻¹ and 0, 50, 100 kg K ha⁻¹ for the Cf; 0, 10, 20 kg P ha⁻¹ and 0, 102.5, 205 kg K ha⁻¹ for Ia; and 0, 30, 60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 0, 5, 10 kg K ha⁻¹ for Se. Lime was applied to the Ia soil at the rate of 10 t ha⁻¹. Plants were watered with either effluent or tap water. Dry matter yield and nutrient concentrations for effluent-irrigated maize were significantly higher (p<0.05) than for all equivalent fertilizer applications in the water-irrigated plants. The unfertilized effluent-irrigated plants were not significantly different from the fertilized water-irrigated plants, but performed as well as the water-irrigated plants at half fertilization irrespective of soil type. Phosphorus deficiency was observed in the Ia and Se soils but not in the Cf soil, irrespective of fertilizer treatment. Plants grown on the Cf soil irrigated with effluent and fully fertilized had the highest above-ground dry matter yield (4.9 g pot⁻¹) and accumulated the most nutrients namely N, P, K, Ca and Mg than all other treatments. After harvest the most marked changes had occurred in the Cf soil for P as the effluent-irrigated soils were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the water-irrigated soils reflecting the P input from the effluent. The effect of effluent on soil and plants was further investigated by planting maize on the Ia soil without lime application. Plants that received effluent irrigation and no lime had significantly higher (p<0.05) dry matter yields and accumulated more N, P and K than the water-irrigated with no lime as well as the equivalent limed treatments. This suggests an interaction effect between the lime and the effluent with its effects obvious on above-ground dry matter yield and plant N, P and Mg. A soil column experiment using the Cf, Ia and Se soils and planted with maize was conducted to assess the ability of plants to take up nutrients with concurrent leaching. Plants from the Cf soil recorded the lowest above-ground dry matter yield which was observed from the less vigorous growth as compared to plants in the Ia and Se soils. This growth pattern could also be explained by the low N accumulation in the plants from the Cf soil. Unlike N, P in plants grown on the Cf soil was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the plants on the Ia and Se soils, despite having the least P gain from the effluent. The readily available P triggered both more uptake and also greater losses through leaching. The rate at which P was being supplied from the effluent was greater than its uptake by the plants and with limited capacity to hold onto P in this sandy soil there was inevitably loss though leaching. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction effects between lime and effluent. Lime type (calcium hydroxide or dolomite) was applied to two acidic top soils namely Inanda and Avalon at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the recommended rates for these soils. Maize was planted and after 6 weeks it was harvested and evaluated for above-ground dry matter yields and plant nutrient concentrations. Non-significant effects were recorded for above-ground dry matter, N, P and K as a result of altering the liming rate and type within each soil. The effects of lime application were apparent in the soils after harvest as increasing the lime rate caused an increase in pH and an inverse relationship with the exchangeable acidity and acid saturation in soils, as expected. Although the unlimed treatments did not impact on the acidity as much as the limed treatments, effluent irrigation was shown to reduce soil acidity after harvest when compared to the soils at the beginning of the experiment. Phosphorus accumulation in plants was also unaffected by either lime rate or type which showed that effluent irrigation could influence P availability and further liming would not accrue benefits to the soil so as to influence plant P uptake. Based on these data, ABR effluent could be perceived as a resource rather than a waste product. It could conveniently be used for irrigation provided there is soil and plant monitoring to assess build-up of elements especially in the long term. Further investigations have to be carried out on other crop types both in the field and glasshouse to ascertain nutrient uptake and effect on different soil types.
The effect of various crop residue management practices under sugarcane production on soil quality.
(2003) Graham, Martha Helena.; Haynes, Richard John.; Wallis, Frederick Michael.
This study examined the influence of different management practices under sugarcane production on soil chemical, biological and physical properties on a long-term (59yr) field experiment in KwaZulu-Natal. These management practices included conventional post-harvest burning of crop residues, with the tops either left on the soil surface or with tops removed, and green cane harvesting with the retention of crop residues on the soil surface as a trash blanket. Each of these treatments were either fertilized or did not receive fertilizer. The data collected was used to evaluate the effect of crop residue management on soil quality under sugarcane production. Soil organic matter content increased from 39 g C kg¯¹ soil, under conventional burning to 55 g C kg¯¹ soil in the surface 10 cm under green cane harvesting where crop residues are returned to the soil. It also resulted in greater recycling of nutrients and increases in exchangeable K and Ca and extractable P. Fertilizer application resulted in a build-up of soil nutrients in combination with trash retention. Fertilizer application induced increases in exchangeable P and also some accumulation in soil organic P. Exchangeable and non-exchangeable K concentrations were also higher in fertilized than non-fertilized treatments. However, nitrogen fertilizer application and, to a lesser degree, organic matter mineralization, resulted in soil acidification to a depth of 30 cm. Acidification in the fertilized treatments resulted in a concomitant increase in exchangeable acidity and exchangeable Al, due to the increase in H⁺ ions and solubilized Al species on exchange sites. Base cations moved into soil solution and were leaching to lower soil layers. The decrease in soil pH resulted in the surface charge conferred on the variable charge surfaces on soil colloids becoming less negative and as a result there was a decrease in ECEC. Acidification in fertilized treatment not only increased exchangeable Al but also the buffering reserve of non-exchangeable al; both that complexed with soil organic matter (CuCl₂- extractable) and that present as hydroxy - Al associated with mineral colloids (ammonium acetate - extractable). The increased organic matter content under trash retention resulted in an increase in ECEC. This enabled the soil to retain greater amounts of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ which were returned to the soil in the trash. Both residue retention and fertilizer application had a positive effect on the microbial biomass C and N and the microbial quotient increased from 0.39% to 0.86% as organic C increased from 39 g C kg¯¹ soil under burnt treatments to 55 g C kg¯¹ soil under trashed, fertilized treatments. This increase was associated with increased concentrations of labile organic material (K₂S0₄₋extractable) present as well as increased amounts of nutrients being cycled through the plant-soil system. The light fraction organic matter also increased with increasing returns of organic residues. However, the large active microbial biomass under the trashed, fertilized treatment resulted in an increased turnover rate of this fraction and consequently resulted in lower LF dry matter, C and N than in the unfertilized treatment. Aggregate stability increased with increasing amounts of organic material returned due to trash retention. Nevertheless, fertilized treatments induced a lower aggregate stability than unfertilized ones, despite the tendancy for the latter to have higher organic C and microbial biomass values. This was attributed to an increase in the proportion of exchangeable cations present in monovalent form (due to application of fertilizer K and leaching of Ca and Mg) favouring dispersion and a decline in aggregate stability. Green cane harvesting resulted in an increase in microbial activity (basal respiration, FDA hydrolytic activity, arginine ammonification rate and dehydrogenase activity) and in the activity of specific soil enzymes involved in turnover of C, N, P and S to a depth of 30 cm. Increased activities of these enzymes reflect a higher rate of turnover of C, N, P and S. The metabolic quotient decreased with increasing residue return, indicating a more metabolically efficient microbial community. Fertilizer application resulted in a variable effect on enzyme activity. Long-term fertilizer application resulted in an increase in invertase and acid phosphatase, a decrease in L-histidase and arylsulphatase and had little effect on protease and alkaline phosphatase. These variable effects were explained in terms of an interaction between fertilizer - induced increases in Corg and soil nutrient status and fertilizer - induced soil acidification. The size and activity of the soil microbial biomass was studied in the plant row and in the inter-row of a sugarcane field under burning or green cane harvesting. Soils were sampled to 30 cm depth in (i) the centre of the plant row, (ii) 30 cm out from the row centre and (iii) 60 cm out from the row centre (i.e. the middle of the inter-row area). Under burning, the only substantial input of organic matter to the soil was from root turnover in the row area where the root biomass was concentrated. As a consequence, the size (microbial biomass C) and activity (basal respiration of the soil microbial community were concentrated in the row. However, under green cane harvesting there was a large input of organic matter in the inter-row area in the form of the trash blanket itself and through turnover of crop roots that were concentrated in the surface 10 cm of the soil below the blanket. As a result, soil microbial activity was considerably higher in the interrow area under green cane harvesting than under burning. Phospholipids are essential membrane components of microorganisms and a good correlation was found between the total PLFA's extracted from soils and the microbial biomass C, indicating that phospholipids are an accurate measurement of living biomass. Mutivariate statistical analysis (PCA) was used to separate different PLFA profiles under burning versus trash retention and under different land uses (sugarcane, maize, annual and perennial pasture and undisturbed veld). Soil organic matter content contributed the greatest variance in the data along the first axis. That is increasing soil organic matter return not only increased the size of the microbial biomass, but also affected the composition of the microbial community. There was a shift in the different sub-fractions under different management practices. MUFA's are general biomarkers of Gram negative bacteria and were found to be a sensitive indicator of higher substrate availability (i.e they increased under green cane harvesting). Fungal biomarkers indicated an increased fungal biomass associated with surface application of residues. Soil physical conditions were considered to be a contributing factor to the shift in microbial community structure. Increased organic matter content improved soil physical conditions and preferentially stimulated the growth of aerobic microorganisms. In addition to this, the proportion of SATFA (gram positive bacteria) was found to increase in response to burning. This increase was attributed to the survival mechanisms of these microorganisms (i.e. endospore formation). It was found that the conversion from burning to trash management changes the composition of the soil microbial community. The effect of management practices on soil functional diversity was also evaluated using two methods (i.e. Biolog plates and substrate induced respiration (SIR)). Biolog plates are a selective technique that stimulate growth of a small proportion of the soil microbial community whereas the SIR technique measures the activity of the metabolically active microbial community in situ. As a result the SIR method separated treatments more effectively than Biolog plates (i.e. annually tilled treatments, permanent grassland sites and fertilized and unfertilized treatments). The quantity and the quality of organic C supply influenced the catabolic diversity. Conversion from burning to green cane harvesting greatly increased catabolic evenness and richness and therefore presumably also tended to increase the resilience of the soil to stress and disturbance particularly in relation to decomposition functions. It was concluded that conversion from preharvest burning to green cane harvesting results in an increase in soil organic matter content, an improvement in soil structure and soil nutrient status, an increase in the size, activity, taxonomic and functional diversity of the soil microbial community. The practice should therefore be promoted to the South African sugar industry.
Soils and land-use planning in the Howick Extension Area.
(1970) Scotney, Derek Michael.; Scott, J. D.
No abstract available.
Some mineralogical, physical and chemical properties of volcanically affected soils under irrigated sugarcane in Tanzania.
(2013) Taylor, Terri Storm.; Hughes, Jeffrey Colin.; Titshall, Louis William.
TPC is a 16 000 hectare estate located in Moshi, Tanzania and is currently planted under 8 800 hectares of sugarcane and produces over 60 000 tons of sugar per annum. The influence of volcanic parent material and volcanic ash over TPC, together with the alluvial nature of many of the soils, has imparted a unique combination of soil mineralogical, physical and chemical properties. Furthermore, irrigation with poor quality water has led to sodicity problems on the estate. Understanding the mineralogy and sodicity effects on soil hydraulic properties across the estate can lead to better irrigation management where it is important to prevent the build-up of salts due to over-irrigation. In response to this need, a study was carried out with the aim of characterising the mineralogical, physical and chemical properties in the five management areas of the estate (North, East, West, South and Kahe), in order to determine the relationships between various measured parameters. A total of 70 fields across TPC, as well as four sites outside the estate and two ash layers, were chosen for sampling. Undisturbed soil cores and bulk samples were collected from the A and B horizons from 45 of these fields and the four sites outside. Selected fields were sampled at more than one site to assess field variability, and where cane growth was patchy selected fields were sampled in a patch of poorly growing cane and an adjacent patch of better cane growth. Bulk soil samples were collected from the remaining fields and the two ash layers. Double ring infiltration measurements were carried out on 25 of the selected fields. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and aluminium, iron and silica extractions were carried out to determine the mineralogy. Physical and chemical measurements included water retentivity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, particle size distribution, organic carbon, pH (H2O), electrical conductivity, water soluble and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K and Na), cation exchange capacity and clay specific surface area. The particle size distribution showed that the soils were mainly loams and sandy loams. Organic carbon values were generally greater in the A horizon compared to the B horizon and varied between 0.4 and 2.5 % in the topsoil and 0.3 and 2.1 % (with the exception of field 11 which had an organic carbon of 4.0 %) in the subsoil. X-ray diffraction patterns of sand and silt fractions were dominated by sanidine while clay patterns were weak and had high backgrounds and very broad peaks, suggesting the presence of poorly ordered material in the clay fraction. The Al and Fe extraction methods and electron micrographs indicated that this poorly ordered material was allophane. However, the dominant clay mineral across the estate was halloysite, in both tubular and spheroidal form, as well as very small (<< 0.5 μm) kaolinite particles. There was also gibbsite in some of the samples analysed. The combination of allophane, halloysite, kaolinite and gibbsite indicated that the primary volcanic minerals have weathered to various degrees across the estate. This is reflected in the alluvial nature of the soils where less weathered material has been periodically deposited onto older, more weathered material over some parts of the estate. The south and west areas had a slightly higher Alo + ½ Feo ratio than the other areas in both the topsoil (1.07 and 0.95, respectively) and the subsoil (1.16 and 1.06, respectively), a possible consequence of less weathered alluvial material that was deposited in these areas. Although the concentration of allophane was low (< 5 %), even in the south and west areas, its presence greatly increased the clay specific surface area (up to 145.94 m2 g-1) and consequently had a significant influence on the soil physical and chemical properties. Water retention across TPC was high, particularly at the lower matric potentials (between 0.13 and 0.45, and 0.09 and 0.24 m3 m-3 at -33 kPa and -1500 kPa, respectively). The high water retention is a result of allophane which gives the soils a high adsorption capacity and a porosity that is dominated by micro-pores. Generally, the south area had the highest water retention at the various measured matric potentials which corresponds to the higher allophane content. Variability in water retentivity across areas and within fields limited further interpretation and correlation with the mineralogical results. Infiltration rate was lowest in the south (60.85 mm hr-1) and highest in the Kahe area (171.20 mm hr-1). The main factor influencing the final infiltration rate was the concentration of sodium in the soil, with higher concentrations causing soil dispersion and blockage of soil pores. Clay dispersion has led to the development of calcareous surface crusts and reduced porosity, thus reducing the infiltration rate. Sodium concentration in the soil is likely to have had a dominating effect over the mineralogical composition of the soil. Poor cane growth in the south and west areas corresponded to higher pH (up to 10.32), electrical conductivity (up to 614 mS m-1), sodium absorption ratio (up to 20.63) and water soluble and exchangeable sodium (up to 53.20 mmolc l-1 and 14.87 cmolc kg-1 soil, respectively) in these areas. The soils are thus more dispersive and the combination of sodicity and allophane has resulted in “fluffy” soils with small particles clogging soil pores and thus surface crusts have formed easily. The combined effect of mineralogy and sodicity in the south is further complicated by the presence of perched water tables. High adsorption capacities and the dominance of micro-pores allow the occurrence of significant capillary rise which brings salts to the soil surface, further exacerbating the sodicity problem. Therefore, over-irrigation should be avoided where soils are prone to sodicity from a combination of irrigation with poor quality water, perched water tables and strong capillary rise action. Fields which are currently experiencing the negative effects of high sodicity, require irrigation with good quality water and adequate sub-surface drainage to ensure the leaching of salts. Further studies with specific focus on the south and west areas would be beneficial in accounting for the variability and in drawing correlations between the mineralogy and sodium content of the soils with the other measured properties. Fields which are prone to increased sodicity through over-irrigation with poor quality water, have strong capillary rise from perched water tables and which require remediation through sub-surface drains can thus be distinguished and the factors influencing sugarcane growth can be more clearly understood. Growth depends on the combination of these soil’s unique mineralogy and sodium content and the influence they have on the infiltration rate, adsorption capacity, micro-porosity and capillary rise from the water table. For future work, water movement modelling to predict saturated and unsaturated flow, as well as in situ measures of unsaturated flow, will lead to further understanding of the soil hydraulic properties and aid in improved irrigation management.
Estimation of hydrological properties of South African soils.
(1983) Hutson, John Leslie.; Cass, A.
A computer simulation model of the soil water regime can be a useful research, planning and management tool, providing that the data required by the model are available. Finite difference solutions of the general flow equation can be applied to complex field situations if soil profile characteristics are reflected by appropriate retentivity (B( Ψ)) and hydraulic conductivity (K(Ψ)) functions. The validity of a flow simulation model depends upon the degree to which simulated flow corresponds to the flow pattern in real soils. Macroscopic flow in apedal soils is likely to obey Darcy's law but in structured or swe~ling soils, macro-pores and shrinkage voids lead to non-Darcian flow. Physical composition and structural stability properties of a wide range of South African soils were used to assess swelling behaviour and depth-related textural changes. The applicability of a one-dimensional Darcian flow model to various soil types was evaluated. Core retentivity data for South African soils were used to derive regression equations for predicting B (Ψ) from textural criteria and bulk density. A sigmoidal, non-hysteretic two-part retentivity function having only two constants in addition to porosity was developed for use in water flow simulation models. Values of the constants, shapes of the retentivity curves and soil textural properties were related by fitting the retentivity function to retentivity data generated using regression equations~ Hydraulically inhomogeneous soils may be modelled by varying the values of the retentivity constants through the profile to reflect changing soil properties. Equations for calculating K(B) or K(Ψ) from retentivity data were derived by applying each of three capillary models to both exponential and two-part retentivity functions. Comparison of these equations showed that the definition and value of semi-empirical constants in the capillary models were as important as the choice of model in determining K(B). K(Ψ) was calculated using retentivity constants corresponding to a range of bulk density, clay and silt content combinations. Three retentivity constant-soil property systems were evaluated. These were derived from retentivity data for South African soils between 1) -10 and -1500 kPa, 2) 0 and -50 kPa and 3) from published retentivity data for British soils. Only that derived from retentivity data accurate in the 0 to -50 kPa range led to K(Ψ) relationships in which saturated K and the slope sK/sΨ decreased as bulk density, clay or silt content increased. Absolute values of K were unreliable and measured values are essential for matching purposes. A method for evaluating the constants in a K(Ψ) or K(B) function from the rate of outflow or inflow of water after a step change in potential at the base of a soil core was described. Simple exponential g (Ψ) and K(Ψ) functions were assumed to apply to each pressure potential range. Retentivity parameters were obtained by fitting the 8(Ψ) function to the measured retentivity curve. A value for K[s] , the remaining unknown parameter in the K(Ψ) function, was obtained by matching measured outflow and inflow data to a family of simulated curves. These were computed using measured retentivity parameters, core dimensions and ceramic plate conductivity, and a range of K[s] values. An advantage of this method is that there are no limitations on core length, plate impedance or pressure potential range which cannot be ascertained by prior simulation. Regression equations relating texture to retentivity, and a conductivity model were applied in a simulation study of the water regime in a weighing lysimeter in which gains and losses of water were measured accurately. Active root distribution was assumed proportional to root mass distribution. Relative K(Ψ) curves for each node were computed using one of the conductivity equations derived earlier. Daily water potentials for a month were simulated using three conductivity matching factors. By matching simulated Ψ values to tensiometer potentials measured at five depths an appropriate matching factor was chosen. The effects of an over- or underestimate of K(Ψ) were demonstrated. This work simplifies the prediction and use of retentivity and conductivity relationships in soil water flow simulation models. These models can be used for assessing the water regime in both irrigated and dry-land crop production. Other applications include catchment modelling, effluent disposal and nutrient and solute transport in soil.
Occurrence and properties of iron and titanium oxides in soils along the eastern seaboard of South Africa.
(1978) Fitzpatrick, Robert William.; Le Roux, J.
Abstract available on PDF file.
Studies on polymerised dispersions as soil conditioners : their effects and feasible applications.
(1978) Bishop, Richard Timothy.; Sumner, Malcolm E.

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