Soil has been identified as a significant source of lead (Pb) exposure for both children and adults. Therefore, identifying possibly contaminated soils by soil testing is important to protect public health. Soil Pb test results are usually reported as total Pb (mg kg(-1)), carried out using a concentrated nitric acid digestion procedure by hot plate (EPA method 3050) or microwave (EPA method 3051)

Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) were grown for 43 days in a micro-porous tube nutrient delivery system. Roots were unable to penetrate the microporous tube, but grew on the surface and maintained capillary contact with the nutrient solution on the inside of the tube through the 5-micron pores of the porous tube. Water potential in the system was controlled at -0.4, -0.8, and -3.0 kPa by adjusting

A precise description of saturated (Ks) and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity (K−10) and their spatial variability is important for understanding water/solute transport in the vadose zone. However, it is laborious to measure K directly. Alternatively, K could be predicted from easily measurable soil properties using pedotransfer functions (PTFs). Because PTFs ignore the spatial relationships and

There has been limited study on the performance of miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) on Coastal Plain soils in the Mid-South United States and use of poultry litter (PL) with miscanthus. This study examined the response of miscanthus growing on a low-fertility soil to N and PL, including effects of PL on water quality. A randomized complete block experiment on Ruston soil (fine-loamy, siliceous,

In this work, we investigated phosphorus (P) availability of three soil orders (Entisols, Inceptisols, and Mollisols) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Addition of P fertilizers causes chemical and physical fixation of P due to the high amounts of calcium carbonate often present in the soils of this region. Understanding these fixation processes is important for predicting and managing P availability

This study was conducted to determine the availability of micronutrients in soils of Sulaimani Governorate and to evaluate their capacity to sustain agriculture. Soil samples were collected in 10 locations at two depths: 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm. Available forms of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were determined using a diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid extraction, and the corresponding

Although prescribed fire has been employed as a land management tool for thousands of years, the lasting effect of these events on nutrient cycling, especially the response of micronutrients (elements essential in small amounts for plant growth), is still being explored. This study aimed to quantify the responses of micronutrients to the burning of slash piles within a forested and meadow site in the