Abstract
Research question
Soil organic matter (SOM) addition has been shown to be effective for improving physicochemical and hydrological properties, but its effectiveness may be improved if amended with certain agro-industrial byproducts with cations and high carbon.
Purpose
This study was conducted to determine the quantitative effect of poultry litter (PL) amended with inorganic agro-industrial byproducts on aggregate and hydrological properties of a sandy loam soil.
Materials and methods
Poultry litter (PL) unamended or amended with quicklime (CaO), flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), Al2 (SO4)3·18H2O (alum), cement kiln dust (CKD), crushed ag lime (CaCO3), or biochar was applied to a sandy loam soil and incubated at room temperature for 30 days. Aggregate stability and water retention of the mixture were measured after the incubation.
Results
Amending PL with all byproducts, relative to the unamended PL, increased the stability of 0.25–2 mm aggregates and mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates. But only Ca-rich byproducts increased macro-aggregates (> 2.0 mm) stability by as much as 21.7%. The C-rich biochar reduced macro-aggregate (> 2.0 mm) stability by 18% compared to the PL alone. All byproducts increased soil field capacity (FC) and plant available water (PAW), and Ca-rich byproducts decreased water content at permanent wilting point (PWP), while biochar greatly increased water content at PWP. All Ca-rich byproducts increased PAW by an average of 49% over no Ca byproducts.
Conclusion
Our results overall showed that Ca-rich inorganic byproducts, some of which are commonly applied to agricultural soils, are effective PL amendments for improving soil aggregation and water holding properties.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11368-020-02837-3/MediaObjects/11368_2020_2837_Fig1_HTML.png)
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Not applicable.
References
Abel S, Peters A, Trinks S, Schonsky H, Facklam M, Wessolek G (2013) Impact of biochar and hydrochar addition on water retention and water repellency of sandy soil. Geoderma 202:183–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.03.003
Anikwe M, Eze J, Ibudialo A (2016) Influence of lime and gypsum application on soil properties and yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) in a degraded Ultisol in Agbani, Enugu southeastern Nigeria. Soil Tillage Res 158:32–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.10.011
Baiamonte G, Crescimanno G, Parrino F, De Pasquale C (2019) Effect of biochar on the physical and structural properties of a sandy soil. Catena 175:294–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.12.019
Blanco-Canqui H, Hergert GW, Nielsen RA (2015) Cattle manure application reduces soil compactibility and increases water retention after 71 years. Soil Sci Am J 79:212–223. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2014.06.0252
Carvalho M, Madari B, Bastiaans L, Van Oort P, Leal W, Heinemann A, Da Silva M, Maia A, Parsons D, Meinke H (2016) Properties of a clay soil from 1.5 to 3.5 years after biochar application and the impact on rice yield. Geoderma 276:7–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.04.013
Castro C, Logan T (1991) Liming effects on the stability and erodibility of some Brazilian Oxisols. Soil Sci Am J 55:1407–1413. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1991.03615995005500050034x
Celik I, Ortas I, Kilic S (2004) Effects of compost, mycorrhiza, manure and fertilizer on some physical properties of a Chromoxerert soil. Soil Tillage Res 78:59–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.02.012
Chan K, Heenan D (1999) Lime-induced loss of soil organic carbon and effect on aggregate stability. Soil Sci Am J 63:1841–1844. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1999.6361841x
Courtney R, Jordan S, Harrington T (2009) Physico-chemical changes in bauxite residue following application of spent mushroom compost and gypsum. Land Degrad Dev 20:572–581. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.926
Głąb T, Palmowska J, Zaleski T, Gondek K (2016) Effect of biochar application on soil hydrological properties and physical quality of sandy soil. Geoderma 281:11–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.06.028
Greenland D (1981) Soil management and soil degradation. J Soil Sci 32:301–322. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.1981.tb01708.x
Guan S, An N, Zong N, He Y, Shi P, Zhang J, He N (2018) Climate warming impacts on soil organic carbon fractions and aggregate stability in a Tibetan alpine meadow. Soil Biol Biochem 116:224–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.011
Guber A, Rawls W, Shein E, Pachepsky YA (2003) Effect of soil aggregate size distribution on water retention. Soil Sci 168:223–233. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ss.0000064887.94869.d3
Hardie M, Clothier B, Bound S, Oliver G, Close D (2014) Does biochar influence soil physical properties and soil water availability? Plant Soil 376:347–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1980-x
Hati KM, Swarup A, Mishra B, Manna M, Wanjari R, Mandal K, Misra A (2008) Impact of long-term application of fertilizer, manure and lime under intensive crop** on physical properties and organic carbon content of an Alfisol. Geoderma 148:173–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2008.09.015
Inagaki TM, de Moraes Sá JC, Caires EF, Gonçalves DRP (2016) Lime and gypsum application increases biological activity, carbon pools, and agronomic productivity in highly weathered soil. Agric Ecosyst Environ 231:156–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.06.034
Johannes A, Matter A, Schulin R, Weisskopf P, Baveye PC, Boivin P (2017) Optimal organic carbon values for soil structure quality of arable soils. Does clay content matter? Geoderma 302:14–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.04.021
Jones BE, Haynes R, Phillips I (2010) Effect of amendment of bauxite processing sand with organic materials on its chemical, physical and microbial properties. J Environ Manag 91:2281–2288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.06.013
Lee JE, Yun SI (2014) Effects of compost and gypsum on soil water movement and retention of a reclaimed tidal land. Korean J Soil Sci Fert 47:340–344. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2014.47.5.340
Lipiec J, Walczak R, Witkowska-Walczak B, Nosalewicz A, Słowińska-Jurkiewicz A, Sławiński C (2007) The effect of aggregate size on water retention and pore structure of two silt loam soils of different genesis. Soil Tillage Res 97:239–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2007.10.001
Liu Z, Chen X, **g Y, Li Q, Zhang J, Huang Q (2014) Effects of biochar amendment on rapeseed and sweet potato yields and water stable aggregate in upland red soil. Catena 123:45–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2014.07.005
Ma N, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Yang L, Yu C, Yin G, Doane TA, Wu Z, Zhu P, Ma X (2016) Biochar improves soil aggregate stability and water availability in a mollisol after three years of field application. PLoS One 11:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154091
Madari BE, Silva MA, Carvalho MT, Maia AH, Petter FA, Santos JL, Tsai SM, Leal WG, Zeviani WM (2017) Properties of a sandy clay loam Haplic Ferralsol and soybean grain yield in a five-year field trial as affected by biochar amendment. Geoderma 305:100–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.05.029
Miller W (1987) Infiltration and soil loss of three gypsum-amended Ultisols under simulated rainfall 1. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51:1314–1320. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1987.03615995005100050040x
Miller GA, Zaman M (2000) Field and laboratory evaluation of cement kiln dust as a soil stabilizer. Transport Res Rec 1714:25–32. https://doi.org/10.3141/1714-04
Moodley M, Johnston M, Hughes J, Titshall L (2004) Effects of a water treatment residue, lime, gypsum, and polyacrylamide on the water retention and hydraulic conductivity of two contrasting soils under field conditions in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Soil Res 42:273–282. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR03045
Obia A, Mulder J, Martinsen V, Cornelissen G, Børresen T (2016) In situ effects of biochar on aggregation, water retention and porosity in light-textured tropical soils. Soil Tillage Res 155:35–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.08.002
Polláková N, Šimanský V, Kravka M (2018) The influence of soil organic matter fractions on aggregates stabilization in agricultural and forest soils of selected Slovak and Czech hilly lands. J Soils Sediments 18:2790–2800. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1842-x
Rahman M, Rehman S, Al-Amoudi O (2011) Literature review on cement kiln dust usage in soil and waste stabilization and experimental investigation. Int J Res R A Sci 7:77–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/chin.201103089
Razzaghi F, Obour PB, Arthur E (2020) Does biochar improve soil water retention? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Geoderma 361:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114055
Rockström J, Karlberg L, Wani SP, Barron J, Hatibu N, Oweis T, Bruggeman A, Farahani J, Qiang Z (2010) Managing water in rainfed agriculture-the need for a paradigm shift. Agric Water Manag 97:543–550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2009.09.009
Roth C, Pavan M (1991) Effects of lime and gypsum on clay dispersion and infiltration in samples of a Brazilian Oxisol. Geoderma 48:351–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(91)90053-V
Sarfraz R, Hussain A, Sabir A, Fekih IB, Ditta A, **ng S (2019) Role of biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to enhance soil carbon sequestration-a review. Environ Monit Assess 191:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7400-9
Schjønning P (1992) Size distribution of dispersed and aggregated particles and of soil pores in 12 Danish soils. Acta Agric Scand B Plant Soil Sci 42:26–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064719209410196
Sohi SP, Krull E, Lopez-Capel E, Bol R (2010) A review of biochar and its use and function in soil. Adv Agron 105:47–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(10)05002-9
Somerville PD, Farrell C, May PB, Livesley SJ (2020) Biochar and compost equally improve urban soil physical and biological properties and tree growth, with no added benefit in combination. Sci Total Environ 706:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135736
Sun F, Lu S (2014) Biochars improve aggregate stability, water retention, and pore-space properties of clayey soil. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 177:26–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201200639
Tan RR (2019) Data challenges in optimizing biochar-based carbon sequestration. Renew Sust Energ Rev 104:174–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.01.032
Tewolde H, Sistani KR (2014) Cotton production improvement and environmental concerns from poultry litter application in southern and southeastern USA soils. In: He, Zhang (eds) Applied manure and nutrient chemistry for sustainable agriculture and environment. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 355–370. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8807-6_17
Tewolde H, McLaughlin MR, Way TR, Jenkins JN (2016) Optimum poultry litter rates for maximum profit versus yield in cotton production. Crop Sci 56:3307–3317. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2016.04.0257
Tian J, Wang J, Dippold M, Gao Y, Blagodatskaya E, Kuzyakov Y (2016) Biochar affects soil organic matter cycling and microbial functions but does not alter microbial community structure in a paddy soil. Sci Total Environ 556:89–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.010
Tisdall JM, Oades JM (1982) Organic matter and water-stable aggregates in soils. J Soil Sci 33:141–163. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.1982.tb01755.x
Ulyett J, Sakrabani R, Kibblewhite M, Hann M (2014) Impact of biochar addition on water retention, nitrification and carbon dioxide evolution from two sandy loam soils. Eur J Soil Sci 65:96–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12081
Valzano F, Murphy B, Greene R (2001) The long-term effects of lime (CaCO3), gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O), and tillage on the physical and chemical properties of a sodic red-brown earth. Soil Res 39:1307–1331. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR99086
Walia MK, Dick WA (2018) Selected soil physical properties and aggregate-associated carbon and nitrogen as influenced by gypsum, crop residue, and glucose. Geoderma 320:67–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.01.022
Walworth J (2012) Using gypsum and other calcium amendments in southwestern soils. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. 1-5. https://extension.arizona.edu/pubs/using-gypsum-other-calcium-amendments-southwestern-soils
Wang X, Ren Y, Zhang S, Chen Y, Wang N (2017) Applications of organic manure increased maize (Zea mays L.) yield and water productivity in a semi-arid region. Agr Water Manag 187:88–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2017.03.017
Zhang X, Miller W (1996) Physical and chemical crusting processes affecting runoff and erosion in furrows. Soil Sci Soc Am J 60:860–865. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1996.03615995006000030026x
Zhang Y, Yang J, Yao R (2016) Short-term effects of biochar and gypsum on soil hydraulic properties and sodicity in a saline-alkali soil. Pedosphere 30:694–702
Zhang X, Mavroulidou M, Gunn MJ (2017) A study of the water retention curve of lime-treated London clay. Acta Geotech 12:23–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-015-0432-6
Zhang G, Zhang F, Li X (2019) Effects of polyester microfibers on soil physical properties: perception from a field and a pot experiment. Sci Total Environ 670:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.149
Zhou H, Peng X, Perfect E, **ao T, Peng G (2013) Effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on soil aggregation in an Ultisol as characterized by synchrotron based X-ray micro-computed tomography. Geoderma 195:23–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.11.003
Zimmermann I, Fleige H, Horn R (2016) Soil structure amelioration with quicklime and irrigation experiments in earth graves. J Soils Sediments 16:2514–2522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1509-z
Zupanc V, Kastelec D, Lestan D, Grcman H (2014) Soil physical characteristics after EDTA washing and amendment with inorganic and organic additives. Environ Pollut 186:56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.11.027
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Code availability
Not applicable.
Additional information
Responsible editor: Lu Zhang
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Y., Feng, G., Tewolde, H. et al. Soil aggregation and water holding capacity of soil amended with agro-industrial byproducts and poultry litter. J Soils Sediments 21, 1127–1135 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02837-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02837-3