Soil organic carbon fractionation, carbon index, and microbial activity under different agroforestry systems in North Eastern Himalayas, India.

The potential of soil organic carbon fractions for agroforestry systems (AFSs) is not well understood. Five distinct AFSs were tested for its impact on soil organic carbon fractionation, carbon index, and microbial activity in North Eastern Himalayas, India. The mean labile carbon (LC) ranged from 4.55 to 5.43 kg soil-1 across the land use systems. Napier system observed the lowest very labile carbon (VLC) 12.36 kg soil-1 in 60-75-cm depth. The mean non labile carbon (NLC) ranged from 15.67 to 16.83 g kg soil-1 across the land use. Highest less labile carbon (LLC) was observed in agri-horti-silviculture (AHS) followed by agri-silvi-horticulture (ASH) land use system. The black gram + mandarin + Alnus nepalensis land use recorded higher lability index (1.66) followed by maize + Schima wallichii (1.65) in 0-15-cm depth. Among the different land use systems, carbon pool index increased in all the depths over buckwheat + mandarin. The mean carbon management index (CMI) value ranged from 167.02 to 210.12 among the land use system. The mean CMI was highest in black gram + mandarin + Alnus nepalensis (210.12) followed by soybean + Ficus hookerii + guava (191.56), maize + Schima wallichii (281.71), and lowest in buckwheat + mandarin (167.02). Among the AFSs, black gram + mandarin + Alnus nepalensis showed greater amount of carbon pool index, lability index, and carbon management index and, hence, considered the best sustainable agroforestry system to sequester more carbon in the Sikkim Himalaya. Such system also retained more different organic carbon fractions. The mean CMI value ranged from 167.02 to 210.12 among AFSs. Acid phosphatase activity was more during the rainy season followed by winter and summer season. Similar trends were followed by the urease activity in all the three seasons. Overall conclusion from this investigation is that SOC fractions, carbon index, and microbial activity levels are strongly influenced by the prevailing agroforestry systems.

Conversion of biobased substances into biochar to enhances nutrient adsorption and retention capacity.

Reducing the environmental issues brought on by nutrients especially nitrogen pollution and loss is important. Owing to its unique composition and physico-chemical characteristics, biomass-derived biochar exhibits varying degrees of adsorption and interception for all types of soil nutrients. Thus, a novel way to improve nutrient absorption in the soil is to include biomass derived biochar into it. Various biomass-derived biochar from locally available biobased substances was synthesized through low-cost portable charring kiln. It has been quantified the influence of four biobased substances and three pyrolysis temperature on different morphomineralogical characteristics of biochar for utilizing as low-cost sorbent to manage nutrient adsorption and retention capacity. The morphomineralogical characteristics were principally manipulated by feedstocks rather than pyrolysis temperature. Higher porosity and surface area of biomass-derived biochar illustrated its soil structural modification and nutrient retention capacity along with their utilization for adsorbents. With increase in pyrolysis temperature, the adsorption capacity of biochar for NH4+-N and NO3--N was gradually weakened and gradually enhanced respectively. The adsorption process of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen conformed to the Langmuir model and the fitted KL value was less than 1 indicating that the adsorption process was uniform monolayer adsorption and the adsorption of biochar was favorable adsorption. With increase in biochar application rate the leaching of NO3--N decreased having higher at 2.5 t ha-1 application rate followed by 5 t ha-1 and lower at 7.5 t ha-1. In packed soil column, the NH4+-N in leachate was maximum in T7 (18.6), followed by T4 (17.9), T13 (17.3) and minimum in T10 (17.2) at same application rate of manures and biochar. Finally, results also revealed that packed soil column performed better as compared with intact soil column to retain soil nutrient and hence, leaching potential of nutrient was less in packed column than intact soil column. In conclusion, biomass-derived biochar can enhance the amount of nutrient that is absorbed into the soil while decreasing the loss of nutrient from the soil in the form of ammonia and nitrate. To sum up, biomass-derived biochar can increase the adsorption amount of the nitrogen and reduce the loss of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen in the soil, thus retaining the nitrogen.

Improvement of rooting and growth in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cuttings with organic biostimulants.

Seaweed extracts have shown profoundly positive effects on crop growth, quality and reproduction in diverse agricultural and horticultural crops. Seaweed extracts can be used to promote the rooting and growth of cuttings in perennial fruit species like kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). In this study, the cuttings were treated with 1, 5, 10 and 50% solutions of G Sap (Gracilaria edulis), K Sap (Kappaphycus alvarezii), AN (Ascophyllum nodosum), EM (Ecklonia maxima), HA (Humic acid) and control (water) for 6 h as base dipping. Subsequently, the treatments of G Sap, K Sap, AN, EM, HA and control were repeated every 15 days for a period of six months as application of 50 ml solutions in the potted cuttings. All the treatments exhibited significant effects on the rooting percent in all the kiwifruit cultivars, namely 'Monty', 'Abott', 'Hayward', 'Allison' and 'Bruno' (P ≤ 0.01) as compared to the control. Shoot and root growth parameters including leaf number per cutting, number of roots per cutting, number of branches, plant height, shoot diameter, root length, root diameter and root weight were all positively increased with the application of seaweed extracts (P ≤ 0.05). Cuttings treated with seaweed extract exhibited significantly higher levels of pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carotenoids), metabolites (total carbohydrates and soluble phenols) and less electrolyte leakage as compared to the control cuttings. Significant positive and negative correlations were observed between biochemical parameters combined with plant nutrient concentration. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that PC1 and PC2 (first two principal components) accounted for 75% of the entire variation. While, PC1 accounted for 63% of the total variation, PC2 accounted for 11% of the total variation. The leaves and the roots of kiwifruit cultivar 'Hayward' treated with G Sap at 10%, K Sap at 10%, AN at 10%, EM at 10%, HA at 10% exhibited higher expression of all four root promoting candidate genes (GH3-3, LBD16, LBD29 and LRP1) compared to the control. Therefore, it can be concluded that, seaweed extract and humic acid can be used as a suitable alternative to synthetic hormones for promoting the rooting and growth of kiwifruit cuttings.

Morpho-mineralogical exploration of crop, weed and tree derived biochar.

It has been quantified the influence of four feedstocks and three pyrolysis temperature on twenty nine morpho-mineralogical characteristics of biochar for their wide range of environmental and soil application. The morpho-mineralogical characteristics were principally manipulated by feedstocks rather than pyrolysis temperature. With increase in pyrolysis temperature the average decrease in biochar mass yield was 20.69%. With increase in pyrolysis temperature the higher heating value of all the four biochar decreased. The X-ray diffraction band patterns of biochar were of an amorphous with crystalline structure and represented significant quartz content. The crystallinity index deceased (average 8.98%) in all biochar with increase in pyrolysis temperature. The presence of crystalline stripes on black dots in transmission electron microscopy proved that the nano-range like sheets was arranged in a tubostratic state. The biochar scanning electron microscopy images showed cross-linked porus structure with layer construction. Low temperature pyrolyzed biochar showed little acid soluble nutrients than high temperature. The existence of more water soluble minerals indicated its potential to act as a source of available plant nutrients. The energy density and energy yield of biochar were linearly and fuel ratio was inversely correlated with pyrolysis temperature.

Compositional heterogeneity of different biochar: Effect of pyrolysis temperature and feedstocks.

We have quantified the influence of different pyrolysis temperature and feedstocks types on thirty six compositional characteristics of biochar. The properties of biochar were principally influenced more by the feedstocks type than pyrolytic temperature. Higher porosity and surface area illustrated its soil structural modification and nutrient retention capacity along with their utilization for wastewater adsorbents. The total carbon content in all the biochar increased upto 10.14% with the increase in pyrolysis temperature. The produced biochar can replace the conventional fossil fuels due to their high fixed carbon. The cation exchange capacity of biochar augmented with rise in pyrolysis temperature. But the dissolved organic carbon reduced exponentially with increase in temperature. At low temperature pyrolysis the polarity index tends to increase and vice-versa. All the biochar has a potential to alleviate soil boron deficiency due to its higher concentration. Therefore, dissimilar properties of biochar can be produced by selecting the right feedstock type and standardizing specific pyrolytic temperature, depending on the necessity for environmental application in a specific crisis.

Low Cost Biomass Derived Biochar Amendment on Persistence and Sorption Behaviour of Flubendiamide in Soil.

Persistence and sorption behaviour of flubendiamide in two different Indian soils as affected by maize stalk biochar was studied. The persistence was more in West Bengal soil (178.6 days) than Sikkim soil (165.3 days) at 10 µg g-1 fortification level. Biochar amendment addition to soil at 5% enhanced the degradation process and half-life (T1/2) values were 103.5 and 117.4 days, respectively for biochar amended Sikkim and West Bengal soil. Sorption study through batch equilibrium method resulted the 4 h equilibrium time with adsorption 6.22% ± 0.16% and 5.26% ± 0.16% in Sikkim and West Bengal soil, respectively. Biochar addition at 5% increased the adsorption of flubendiamide to 8.12% ± 0.16% and 5.88% ± 0.16% indicating a greater influence in this process. The adsorption was more in biochar amended Sikkim soil than West Bengal soil. The values of desorption was slower than adsorption indicating a hysteresis effect having hysteresis coefficient (H1) ranges between 0.025 and 0.151 in two test soils.

Sludge Amendment Affect the Persistence, Carbon Mineralization and Enzyme Activity of Atrazine and Bifenthrin.

Atrazine and bifenthrin persistence study was carried out in three sludge amended soil under laboratory condition. Atrazine persisted shorter in sludge amended soil sludge-3 (half-life 23.4 days) followed by sludge-2 (half-life 30.1 days) and sludge-1 (half-life 37.1 days) than unamended control (half-life 150.5 days). Bifenthrin followed the similar pattern with sludge-3 (half-life 43.1 days) which increased to 50.3, 60.2 and 75.2 days, respectively in sludge-2, sludge-1 and unamended control representing an immense influence of sludges on degradation. Duncan's Multiple Range Test revealed that carbon mineralization process was significantly influenced by all the sludges (p < 0.0001). Sludge-3 indicated highest Cmin (initial 118.16 to final 133.64 mg CO2-C/kg) in bifenthrin and 129.91 mg CO2-C/kg in atrazine. The relatively high Cmin rate in sludge amended soil than unamended control suggested a lower persistency of both the pesticides and thus decreasing its potential ecological risk. Sludge-3 sludge amended soil increased the dehydrogenase enzyme activity as compared to sludge-1 and sludge-2 sludge in atrazine.

Atmospheric CO2 Level and Temperature Affect Degradation of Pretilachlor and Butachlor in Indian Soil.

This study was conducted at ambient (398 ± 10 µmol mol-1), elevated (450 ± 10 µmol mol-1) and elevated (550 ± 10 µmol mol-1) atmospheric CO2 under three moisture regime and also three level of temperature (4, 25, and 40°C) to assess the degradation of pretilachlor and butachlor. Under dry condition at 398 ± 10 µmol mol-1, T1/2 was 28.5 and 59.4 days for pretilachlor and butachlor, respectively; slowly decreased to 18.2 and 44.5 days at 550 ± 10 µmol mol-1 indicated that elevated condition enhanced degradation than ambient condition. Under field capacity with increasing CO2 levels from ambient to elevated, T1/2 decreased from 18.9 to 11.6 days and 39.4 to 16.2 days for of pretilachlor and butachlor, respectively. Similarly, under submerged conditions with increasing CO2 levels T1/2 decreased 14.7-7.1 and 26.3-11.8 days for pretilachlor and butachlor, respectively. Study also revealed that both pretilachlor and butachlor dissipated faster at 40°C (T1/2, 9.7 and 19.4 days) than 25°C (T1/2, 16.2 and 36.7 days). Slower dissipation was recorded at 4°C (T1/2, 87.6 and 182.4 days).

Leaching of Clothianidin in Two Different Indian Soils: Effect of Organic Amendment.

Clothianidin is a widely used insecticide under Indian subtropical condition. The objective of this study was to generate residue data which aims to understand leaching potential of clothianidin [(E)-1-(2-chloro-1,3-thiazol-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-2- nitroguanidine] through packed soil column. The maximum amount of clothianidin was recovered at 0-5 cm soil depth in both Manipur (67.15%) and Delhi soil (52.0%) under continuous flow condition. Manipur and Delhi soil concentrated maximum residue with or without farm yard manure (FYM) in 0-20 cm soil depth. The effect of varying the amount of water enhanced the distribution of residues in the first 0-5 cm layer. Among the tested soils, residue was detected in the leachate from Delhi soil (0.04 µg/mL). Clothianidin leaching was minimized in soil of Manipur compared to Delhi after incorporation of FYM. As the volume of water increased upto 160 mL, mobility increased and residues moved to lower depth. Clothianidin did not leach out of the 25 cm long soil columns even after percolating water equivalent to 415.42 mm rainfall. Clothianidin is mobile in soil system and mobility can be reduced by organic amendment application.

Degradation of flubendiamide as affected by elevated CO2, temperature, and carbon mineralization rate in soil.

An experiment was conducted under three levels of atmospheric CO2 [ambient (398 ± 10 µmol mol(-1)), elevated (570 ± 10 µmol mol(-1)) and open condition], three levels of temperature (4, 25, and 40 °C) to study the degradation pattern of flubendiamide in soil and also carbon mineralization in soil. Results of this study revealed that flubendiamide was found to persist longer under outdoor condition (T1/2, 177.0 and 181.1 days) than ambient (T1/2, 168.4 and 172.3 days) and elevated condition (T1/2, 159.3 and 155.3 days) at 1 and 10 µg g(-1) fortification level, respectively. Results also revealed that flubendiamide dissipated faster at 40 °C (T1/2, 189.4 days) than 25 °C (T1/2, 225.3 days). Slower dissipation was recorded at 4 °C (T1/2, 326.3 days). Thus, increased CO2 levels and temperature following global warming might adversely affect flubendiamide degradation in soil. Laboratory study on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and carbon mineralization (Cmin) in soil revealed that in des-iodo flubendiamide-treated soils, MBC significantly increased up to 45 days and then decreased. Flubendiamide-treated soil showed a non-significantly decreasing trend of soil MBC with time up to the 15th day of incubation and after 15 days significantly decreased up to 90 days of incubation. In des-iodo flubendiamide-treated soil, the evolution of CO2 decreased up to 45 days, which was increased after 45 days up to 90 days. In flubendiamide-treated soil, CO2 evolution decreased up to 30 days and after 45 days, it increased up to 90 days.

Effect of soil type and organic manure on adsorption-desorption of flubendiamide.

Laboratory study on adsorption-desorption of flubendiamide was conducted in two soil types, varying in their physical and chemical properties, by batch equilibrium method. After 4 h of equilibrium time, adsorption of flubendiamide on soil matrix exhibited moderately low rate of accumulation with 4.52 ± 0.21% in red soil and low rate with 3.55 ± 0.21% in black soil. After amending soils with organic manure, adsorption percentage increased to 6.42 ± 0.21% in red soil and (4.18 ± 0.21%) in black soil indicating that amendment significantly increased sorption. Variation in sorption affinities of the soils as indicated by distribution coefficient (K d) for sorption was in the range of 2.98-4.32, 4.91-6.64, 1.04-1.45 and 1.92-2.81 ml/g for red soil, organic manure-treated red soil, black soil and organic manure-treated black soil, respectively. Desorption was slightly slower than adsorption indicating a hysteresis effect having hysteresis coefficient ranges between 0.023 and 0.149 in two test soils. The adsorption data for the insecticide fitted well the Freundlich equation. Results revealed that adsorption-desorption was influenced by soil types and showed that the maximum sorption and minimum desorption of the insecticide was observed in soils with higher organic carbon and clay content. It can be inferred that crystal lattice of the clay soil plays a significant role in flubendiamide adsorption and desorption. Adsorption was lower at acidic pH and gradually increased towards alkaline pH. As this insecticide is poorly sorbed in the two Indian soil types, there may be a possibility of their leaching to lower soil profiles.

Persistence of spiromesifen in soil: influence of moisture, light, pH and organic amendment.

Persistence of spiromesifen in soil as affected by varying moisture, light, compost amendment, soil sterilization and pH in aqueous medium were studied. Degradation of spiromesifen in soil followed the first-order reaction kinetics. Effect of different moisture regimes indicated that spiromesifen dissipated faster in submerged soil (t 1/2 14.3-16.7 days) followed by field capacity (t 1/2 18.7-20.0 days), and dry soil (t 1/2 21.9-22.9 days). Dissipation was faster in sterilized submerged (t 1/2 17.7 days) than in sterilized dry (t 1/2 35.8 days). Photo spiromesifen metabolite was not detected under different moisture regimes. After 30 days, enol spiromesifen metabolite was detected under submerged condition and was below detectable limit (<0.001 µg g(-1)) after 90 days. Soil amendment compost (2.5 %) at field capacity enhanced dissipation of the insecticide, and half-life value was 14.3 against 22.4 days without compost amendment. Under different pH condition, residues persisted in water with half-life values 5.7 to 12.5 days. Dissipation in water was faster at pH 9.0 (t 1/2 5.7 days), followed by pH 4.0 (t 1/2 9.7 days) and pH 7.2 (t 1/2 12.5 days). Exposure of spiromesifen to different light conditions indicated that it was more prone to degradation under UV light (t 1/2 3-4 days) than sunlight exposure (t 1/2 5.2-8.1 days). Under sunlight exposure, photo spiromesifen metabolite was detected after 10 and 15 days as compared to 3 and 5 days under UV light exposure.

Mobility of spiromesifen in packed soil columns under laboratory conditions.

On percolating water equivalent to 1,156 mm of rainfall, spiromesifen formulation did not leach out of 25-cm long columns, and 62.7 % of this was recovered in 5-10-cm soil depth. In columns treated with the analytical grade, 52.40 % of the recovered spiromesifen was confined to 0-5-cm soil depth, with 0.04 % in leachate fraction, suggesting high adsorption in soil. Results revealed that percolating 400 mL of water, residues of enol metabolite of spiromesifen was detected up to 20-25-cm soil layer, with 23.50 % residues of spiromesifen in this layer and 1.73 % in the leachate fraction indicating that metabolite is more mobile as compared to the parent compound. Results suggested a significant reduction in leaching losses of enol metabolite in amended soil columns with 5 % nano clay, farmyard manure (FYM), and vermicompost. No enol spiromesifen was recovered in the leachate in columns amended with nano clay, vermicompost, and FYM; however, 85.30, 70.5, and 65.40 %, respectively, was recovered from 0-5 cm-soil depth of column after percolating water equivalent to 1,156 mm of rainfall. Spiromesifen formulation is less mobile in sandy loam soil than analytical grade spiromesifen. The metabolite, enol spiromesifen, is relatively more mobile than the parent compound and may leach into groundwater. The study suggested that amendments were very effective in reducing the downward mobility of enol metabolite in soil column. Further, it resulted in greater retention of enol metabolite in the amendment application zone.

Influence of microbial community on degradation of flubendiamide in two Indian soils.

Degradation of flubendiamide as affected by microbial population count in two Indian soils (red and alluvial) varying in physicochemical properties was studied under sterile and non-sterile conditions. Recovery of flubendiamide in soil was in the range of 94.7-95.9 % at 0.5 and 1.0 µg g(-1), respectively. The DT50 of flubendiamide at the level of 10 µg g(-1) in red soil under sterile and non-sterile conditions was found to be 140.3 and 93.7 days, respectively, and in alluvial soil under sterile and non-sterile condition was 181.1 and 158.4 days, respectively. Residues of flubendiamide dissipated faster in red soil (non-sterile followed by sterile) as compared to alluvial (non-sterile soil followed by sterile soil). A wide difference in half-life of red and alluvial soil under sterile and non-sterile conditions indicated that the variation in physicochemical properties of red and alluvial soil as well as the presence of microbes play a great role for degradation of flubendiamide. The results revealed that slower-degrading alluvial soil possessed microbes with degradative capacity. The degradation rate in this soil was significantly reduced by some of its physicochemical characteristics, despite sterile and non-sterile conditions, which was faster in red soil.

Effect of moisture and organic manure on persistence of flubendiamide in soil.

Persistence of flubendiamide in soil as affected by moisture and organic manure was studied. The present study reports persistence of flubendiamide [N (2)-{1,1-dimethyl-2-{methylsulfonyl) ethyl}-3-iodo-N (1)-{2-methyl-4-{1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1 (trifluoromethyl) ethyl} phenyl}-1,2-benzene dicarboxamide] in a sandy loam soil. Dissipation of the pesticide followed mono-phasic first order kinetics. The persistence of flubendiamide was more in dry soil followed by field capacity and submerged condition with half life values of 150.5-158.4 days for submerged soil, 177.0-181.1 days for field capacity soil and 206.6-215.0 days for dry soil. It was found that there is slight effect of fortification level on dissipation of flubendiamide in soil. In all the cases i.e. dry, field capacity and submerged condition dissipation was slightly slower at 10 µg g(-1) level. Amendment of organic manure (2.5%) to the soil enhanced the degradation of the insecticide, and the half-life values in field capacity and submerged soils were 155.1 and 130.8 days, respectively.

Flubendiamide transport through packed soil columns.

Flubendiamide insecticide is widely used in Indian subtropical condition to control lepidopteron pests mainly in rice and cotton. The present study reports leaching behaviour of flubendiamide, N(2)-[1,1-dimethyl-2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]-3-iodo-N(1)-[2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1 (trifluoromethyl)ethyl] phenyl]-1,2-benzene dicarboxamide, in packed soil columns under different rainfall conditions. Flubendiamide did not leach out of the 25 cm long soil columns even after percolating water equivalent to 462.18 mm rainfall. After leaching with water equivalent to 462.18 mm rainfall, in analytical grade treatment, 68.06% of the recovered flubendiamide was the major amount present in 5-10 cm depth whereas in the formulation 67.22% of the recovered flubendiamide was confined to 0-5 cm depth. Results revealed that with percolating 160 mL of water residues of desiodo flubendiamide detected up to 20-25 cm layer along with 9.47% residues in this layer, indicating that metabolite is more mobile as compared to analytical grade flubendiamide and 39.35% SC formulation. Formulation slowed the downward mobility of flubendiamide in soil column. Flubendiamide is slightly mobile in sandy loam soil, but desiodo flubendiamide is relatively more mobile and may leach into ground water.

Dissipation of flubendiamide in/on okra [Abelmoschus esculenta (L.) Moench] fruits.

A field experiment was undertaken at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during kharif (rainy season) in the year 2010 to evaluate the residue persistence of flubendiamide in/on okra fruits following foliar application of Belt 39.35% SC formulation at 24 (standard dose) and 48 (double dose) g a.i. ha(-1). After HPLC analysis study revealed that residues of flubendiamide in/on okra persisted till 5th and 7th day after the last spray at standard and double dose, respectively. The residues of flubendiamide were reported as parent compound, and des-iodo flubendiamide, a metabolite (photo product) of flubendiamide, was not detected in/on okra at any time during the study period. The initial deposits of 0.28 and 0.53 µg g(-1) in/on okra fruits reached below determination level of 0.01 µg g(-1) on the 7th and 10th day at standard and double dose, respectively. The half life of flubendiamide in/on okra fruits ranged from 4.7 to 5.1 days at standard and double dose, respectively. Soil sample collected from the treated field on the 15th day after the last spray revealed residues of flubendiamide or its metabolite below determination level (0.01 µg g(-1)) at single and double dose.

Effect of light and pH on persistence of flubendiamide.

Persistence of flubendiamide in soil as affected by UV and sunlight exposure and in water as affected by pH was studied. At field capacity moisture regime, soil was treated with flubendiamide and exposed to UV and sunlight. Dissipation for the pesticide followed mono-phasic first order kinetics. Residues of flubendiamide, as thin film on petri-plates and soil thin film, dissipated with half-lives of 7.0 and 9.1 days under UV light and 12.0 and 19.1 days under sunlight, respectively. Residues of flubendiamide dissipated faster under UV light as compared to sunlight. Persistence study in aqueous medium under different pH condition indicated that flubendiamide residues persisted in water beyond 250 days with half-lives ranging from 250.8 to 301.0 days. Dissipation in water was faster at pH 4.0 (T(1/2) 250.8 days), followed by pH 9.2 (T(1/2) 273.6 days) and 7.0 (T(1/2) 301.0 days).