Fertigation effect on seasonal variations in excangable soilacidity of grasslandchernozem soils in apple orchards

According to various literature sources, optimal levels of exchangeable soil acidity (pH_KCl) for growing apple trees range within pH 5.5–7.5. In 2020–2021, we conducted experiments under the conditions of the Tambov Oblast in an experimental apple orchard of the I. V. Michurin Federal Research Centre to examine the dynamics of soil acidity variations in apple orchards under the infl uence of fertigation with water-soluble mineral fertilizers and drip irrigation. Soil sampling was conducted in two plots: (1) with drip irrigation and fertigation and (2) with drip irrigation without fertilization. During the growing season, 9–11 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm to determine soil acidity. The pH level of soil salt extracts was determined by an Expert-001 pH meter (Russia). During fertigation with mineral fertilizers, a signifi cant increase in soil acidity was observed in all the studied layers. The 0–20 cm layer showed the most pronounced variations in рН_KCl values. During the May–July period of 2020, i.e., when applying the main share of the annual fertilizer amount, a sharp increase in soil acidity (from pH 5.46 to 4.88) followed by its partial recovery (down to pH 5.13) was observed. In 2021, a similar soil acidity trend was noted, when рН_KCl grew from 5.56 to 4.92, although without a signifi cant partial recovery by the end of the season. In deeper soil layers, the fl uctuations in рН_KCl values were not that noticeable. Thus, the most pronounced decrease in рН_KCl was observed in the period of nitrogen application. Therefore, the results obtained confi rm a distinct relationship between fertigation irrigation and changes in exchangeable soil acidity. The average values of рН_KCl in both 2020 and 2021 showed that, following fertilizer application, soil acidity increased with an increase in sampling depth, during both drip and sprinkle irrigation. The data obtained can be useful when developing soil fertigation programs in intensive apple orchards

1. Barrow N. J., Hartemink A. E. The eff ects of pH on nutrient availability depend on both soils and plants, Plant and Soil. 2023;487:21-37.

2. Сычев В. Г. Современное состояние плодородия почв и основные аспекты его регулирования. М.: РАН, 2019, 328 с.

3. Rahman S. U., Han J.-C., Ahmad M., Ashraf M. N., Khaliq M. A., Yousaf M., Wang Y., Yasin G., Nawaz M. F., Ali Khan K., Du Z. Aluminum phytotoxicity in acidic environments: A comprehensive review of plant tolerance and adaptation strategies, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2024;269:115791. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115791.

4. Shetty R., Vidya C. S.-N., Prakash N.B., Lux A., Vaculík M. Aluminum toxicity in plants and its possible mitigation in acid soils by biochar: A review, Science of The Total Environment. 2021;765:142744. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142744.

5. Haynes R. J., Swift R. S. Eff ect of trickle fertigation with three forms of nitrogen on soil pH, levels of extractable nutrients below the emitter and plant growth, Plant and Soil. 1987;102:211-221. DOI: 10.1007/BF02370706.

6. Kuzin A., Solovchenko A. Essential Role of Potassium in Apple and Its Implications for Management of Orchard Fertilization, Plants. 2021;10(12):2624. DOI: 10.3390/ plants10122624.

7. Свиридов Г. Б., Кузин А. И., Кожина Л. В., Назаров Ю. Б. Особенности формирования компонентов продуктивности и сохранности плодов при различной кислотности почвы: Роль науки в развитии современного садоводства, 15-16 сентября, Мичуринск, 2022 г., Мичуринск, 2022, 59-64.

8. Колесников В. А. Корневая система плодовых и ягодных растений. М.: Колос, 1974, 509 с.

9. Макаров В. И. Влияние азотных удобрений на кислотность дерново-подзолистой супесчаной почвы и химический состав лизиметрических вод, Вестник Алтайского государственного аграрного университета. 2016;4(138):89-95.

10. Zhang Y., Ye C., Su Y., Peng W., Lu R., Liu Y., Huang H., He X., Yang M., Zhu S. Soil acidifi cation caused by excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer aggravates soilborne diseases: Evidence from literature review and fi eld trials, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2022;340:108176. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2022.108176.

11. Саламатова Т. С., Зауралов О. А. Физиология выделения веществ растениями. Л.: Изд-во Ленинградского университета, 1991, 152 с.

12. Cai Z., Wang B., Xu M., Zhang H., He X., Zhang L., Gao S. Intensifi ed soil acidifi cation from chemical N fertilization and prevention by manure in an 18-year fi eld experiment in the red soil of southern China, Journal of Soils and Sediments. 2014;15:260-270. DOI: 10.1007/s11368-014-0989-y.

13. Фоменко Т. Г., Попова В. И., Черников Е. А., Дрыгина А. И., Лебедовский И. А., Узловатый Д. В., Мязина А. Н. Миграция биогенных элементов в черноземе типичном при фертигации плодовых насаждений, Агрохимия. 2021;3:60-70. DOI: 10.31857/S0002188121040050.

14. Lucas R. W., Klaminder J., Futter M. N., Bishop K. H., Egnell G., Laudon H., Högberg P. A meta-analysis of the eff ects of nitrogen additions on base cations: Implications for plants, soils, and streams, Forest Ecology and Management. 2011;262:95-104. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2011.03.018.

15. Wang J., Tu X., Zhang H., Cui J., Ni K., Chen J., Cheng Yi, Zhang J., Chang S.X. Effects of ammonium-based nitrogen addition on soil nitrifi cation and nitrogen gas emissions depend on fertilizer-induced changes in pH in a tea plantation soil, Science of The Total Environment. 2020;747:141340. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141340.

16. Leon-Chang D. P., Bryla D. R., Scagel C. F., Strik B. C. Infl uence of fertigation and granular applications of potassium fertilizer on soil pH and availability of potassium and other nutrients in a mature planting of northern highbush blueberry, HortScience. 2022; 57(11): 1377-1386. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI16747-22.

17. Фоменко Т. Г., Попова В. П. Фертигация плодовых насаждений. Методические рекомендации. Краснодар, 2018, 16 с.

18. Кузин А. И. Применение удобрений в интенсивных садах яблони ЦЧР (рекомендации). Мичуринск, Изд-во Мичуринского ГАУ, 2018, 12 с.

19. Минеев В. Г., Сычев В. Г., Амельянчик O. A., Болышева Т. Н., Гомонова Н. Ф., Дурынина Е. П., Егоров B. C., Егорова Е. В., Едемская Н. Л., Карпова Е. А., Прижукова В. Г. Практикум по агрохимии. M.: Изд-во МГУ, 2001, 69-70.

20. Доспехов Б. А. Методика полевого опыта. М.: Агропромиздат, 1985, 351 с.

21. Neilsen G. H., Parchomchuk P., Hogue E. J., Wolk W. D., Lau O. L. Response of apple trees to fertigation-induced soil acidifi cation, Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 1994; 74(2): 347-351. DOI: 10.4141/cjps94-067.

22. Помякшева Л. В. Влияние способов удобрения на питательный режим земляники садовой (FRAGARIA x Ananassa DUCH) при выращивании с капельным поливом на дерново-подзолистых почвах. дис. канд с.-х. наук: 06.01.01: защищена 07.09.2022: утв. 09.02.2023. Москва, 2022, 205 c.

23. Kuzin A., Pugachev G. N., Stepantsova L. V. Eff ects of fertigation on tree performance and nutrient availability in apple orchards of Central Russia, Acta Horticulturae. 2021; 1314: 511-519. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1314.63.

24. Кузин А. И., Пугачев Г. Н., Захаров В. Л., Трунов Ю. В., Соловьев А. В., Тарова З. Н. Влияние капельного орошения на изменение физических и химических свойств почвы, Политематический сетевой электронный научный журнал Кубанского государственного аграрного университета. 2017;129:1183-1193.

25. Shilpkar P., Shah M. C., Modi K. R., Patel S. M. Seasonal changes in microbial community structure and nutrients content in rhizospheric soil of Aegle marmelos tree, Annals of Forest Research. 2010;53(2):135-140. DOI: 10.15287/afr.2010.106.

26. Демаков Ю. П., Исаев А. В., Митякова И. И., Нуреев Б. Б. Границы и причины изменчивости параметров кислотности почв лесных биогеоценозов Среднего Поволжья, Вестник Поволжского ГТУ. 2019;1(41):54-71.

27. Шакиров К. Ш. Влияние различных лесных насаждений на почвообразовательный процесс. Казань: КГУ, 1961. 64 с.

28. Помякшева Л. В., Коновалов С. Н., Келина А. В. Урожайность земляники садовой и содержание основных макроэлементов в почве насаждений при разных способах удобрения с капельным поливом, Плодоводство и ягодоводство России. 2020;62:165-171. DOI: 10.31676/2073-4948-2020-62-165-171.

29. Wang H., Xu J., Liu X., Zhang D., Li L., Li W., Sheng L. Eff ects of long-term application of organic fertilizer on improving organic matter content and retarding acidity in red soil from China, Soil and Tillage Research. 2019;195:104382. DOI: 10.1016/j.still.2019.104382.

30. Qiu Z., Luo R., Sun M., Liao W., Liu Y. Eff ects of nitrogen fertilizer and water management practices on pH and nitrogen distributions in the wetted-soil volume using drip irrigation, Water and Climate Change. 2023;14(10):3447-3459. DOI: 10.2166/wcc.2023.111.