The effect of sodicity on cotton: does soil chemistry or soil physical condition have the greater role?
K. Dodd A , C. N. Guppy B D , P. V. Lockwood B and I. J. Rochester C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Environmental Resources Management, #10-01 120 Robinson Road, Singapore, 068913.
B School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C CSIRO Plant Industry, Australian Cotton Research Institute, LB 59, Narrabri, NSW 2390, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: cguppy@une.edu.au
Crop and Pasture Science 64(8) 806-815 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP13078
Submitted: 1 March 2013 Accepted: 24 July 2013 Published: 24 September 2013
Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2013 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Soil sodicity is widespread in the cracking clays used for irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in Australia and worldwide and sometimes produces nutrient imbalances and poor plant growth. It is not known whether these problems are due primarily to soil physical or to soil chemical constraints. We investigated this question by growing cotton to maturity in a glasshouse in large samples of a Grey Vertosol in which the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was adjusted to 2, 13, 19, or 24. A soil-stabilising agent, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), was added to half the pots and stabilised soil aggregation at all ESPs. Comparison of the effect of ESP on cotton in the pots with and without PAM showed that, up to ESP of 19, the soil physical effects of sodicity were mainly responsible for poor cotton performance and its ability to accumulate potassium. At ESP >19, PAM amendment did not significantly improve lint yield, indicating that soil chemical constraints, high plant sodium concentrations (>0.2%), and marginal plant manganese concentrations limited plant performance. Further research into commercial methods of amelioration of poor physical condition is warranted rather than application of more fertiliser.
Additional keywords: soil solution, Vertosols.
References
Anderson DL, Henderson LJ (1986) Sealed chamber digest for plant nutrient analysis. Agronomy Journal 78, 937–938.| Sealed chamber digest for plant nutrient analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XlvVOisrk%3D&md5=07282cf976a063652fdc2fc742ccc4faCAS |
Butler JN, Cogley DR (1998) ‘Ionic equilibrium: Solubility and pH calculations.’ (Wiley Interscience: New York)
Carter MR, Webster GR (1990) Use of calcium-to-total-cation ratio in soil saturation extracts as an index of plant available calcium. Soil Science 149, 212–217.
| Use of calcium-to-total-cation ratio in soil saturation extracts as an index of plant available calcium.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXkslOitro%3D&md5=f41a45845fadfda1dd5ada575f6a3a68CAS |
Cartwright B, Zarcinas BA, Spouncer LR (1986) Boron toxicity in South Australian barley crops. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 37, 351–359.
| Boron toxicity in South Australian barley crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xltlartr0%3D&md5=0f1daf3f5c7e1d003f5ffef85ede89f3CAS |
Churchman GJ, Skjemstad JO, Oades JM (1993) Influence of clay minerals and organic matter on effects of sodicity on soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 31, 779–800.
| Influence of clay minerals and organic matter on effects of sodicity on soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXktlCjtrc%3D&md5=318735bc69d61275e88e3df0b861322bCAS |
Colwell JD (1963) The estimation of the phosphorus fertiliser requirements of wheat in southern NSW by soil analysis. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 3, 190–197.
| The estimation of the phosphorus fertiliser requirements of wheat in southern NSW by soil analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF2cXnvVOhsQ%3D%3D&md5=f8483c002701cb0667a8852dd419f4b9CAS |
Curtin D, Naidu R (1998) Fertility constraints to plant production. In ‘Sodic soils: Distribution, properties, management and environmental consequences’. (Eds ME Sumner, R Naidu) pp. 107–123. (Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK)
Curtin D, Selles F, Steppuhn H (1992) Influence of salt concentration and sodicity on the solubility of phosphate in soils. Soil Science 153, 409–416.
| Influence of salt concentration and sodicity on the solubility of phosphate in soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK38XksVOgtLw%3D&md5=114ecbcbe29194fccebd499b9b45bcc8CAS |
Dang Y, Dalal R, Harms B, Routley R, Kelly R (2004) McDonald M Subsoil constraints in the grain cropping soils of Queensland. In ‘SuperSoil 2004. Proceedings 3rd Australian New Zealand Soils Conference’. University of Sydney, 5–9 Dec. 2004. (Ed. B Singh) (The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asssi/supersoil2004/
Dodd K (2007) Characterising the soil and plant interactions that affect the growth and nutrition of cotton in sodic Vertosols. PhD Thesis, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
Dodd K, Guppy CN, Lockwood PV, Rochester IJ (2004) Comparison of applications of sand and polyacrylamide for separating the impact of the physical and chemical properties of sodic soils on the growth and nutrition of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). In ‘SuperSoil 2004. Proceedings 3rd Australian New Zealand Soils Conference’. University of Sydney, 5–9 Dec. 2004. (Ed. B Singh) (The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asssi/supersoil2004/
Dodd K, Guppy C, Lockwood P, Rochester I (2010a) The effect of sodicity on cotton: plant response to solutions containing high sodium concentrations. Plant and Soil 330, 239–249.
| The effect of sodicity on cotton: plant response to solutions containing high sodium concentrations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktFequ7k%3D&md5=528547cafd0082ee305ae18d53ef1c7eCAS |
Dodd K, Guppy CN, Lockwood PV (2010b) Overcoming the confounding effects of salinity on sodic soil research. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 41, 2211–2219.
| Overcoming the confounding effects of salinity on sodic soil research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXht1SntrjO&md5=638404da0151b6c93cefab8794316ff3CAS |
Dorahy C, Rochester IJ, Blair GJ (2002) Response of field grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to phosphorus fertilisation in alkaline soils eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 42, 913–920.
Drew MC, Dikumwin E (1985) Sodium exclusion from the shoots by roots of Zea mays (cv. LG 11) and its breakdown with oxygen deficiency. Journal of Experimental Botany 36, 55–62.
| Sodium exclusion from the shoots by roots of Zea mays (cv. LG 11) and its breakdown with oxygen deficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXhtFSitr8%3D&md5=11326a8336023bb82ee5b6155c9616eaCAS |
Drew MC, Lauchli A (1985) Oxygen dependent exclusion of sodium ions from shoots by roots of Zea mays (cv. Pioneer 3906) in relation to salinity damage. Plant Physiology 79, 171–176.
| Oxygen dependent exclusion of sodium ions from shoots by roots of Zea mays (cv. Pioneer 3906) in relation to salinity damage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXlvFehs7w%3D&md5=3cc07789a4ccf1a8bc20f3bcbcb45dc4CAS | 16664364PubMed |
Guerrero-Alves J, Pla-Sentis I, Carnacho R (2002) A model to explain high values of pH in alkali sodic soil. Scientia Agricola 59, 763–770.
| A model to explain high values of pH in alkali sodic soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xpt12ktbg%3D&md5=76f7120fece4c21a6e70de4ce3f7111dCAS |
Gupta RK, Singh RR, Tanji KK (1990) Phosphorus release in sodium dominated soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 54, 1254–1260.
| Phosphorus release in sodium dominated soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXhtVSgsLo%3D&md5=c32c260dfca3d63e5462e7936e7c193eCAS |
Hajkowicz S, Young M (2005) Costing yield loss from acidity, sodicity and dryland salinity to Australian agriculture. Land Degradation and Development 16, 417–433.
| Costing yield loss from acidity, sodicity and dryland salinity to Australian agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hamblin AP (1985) The influence of soil structure on water movement, crop root growth, and water uptake. Advances in Agronomy 38, 95–158.
| The influence of soil structure on water movement, crop root growth, and water uptake.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hulugalle NR, Scott F (2008) A review of the changes in soil quality and profitability accomplished by sowing rotation crops after cotton in Australian Vertosols from 1970–2006. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 173–190.
| A review of the changes in soil quality and profitability accomplished by sowing rotation crops after cotton in Australian Vertosols from 1970–2006.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell RF (2002) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Keren R, Gast RG (1981) Effects of wetting and drying cycles and of exchangeable cations on boron adsorption by Na montmorillonite. Soil Science Society of America Journal 45, 45–48.
| Effects of wetting and drying cycles and of exchangeable cations on boron adsorption by Na montmorillonite.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL3MXhvFSrs70%3D&md5=a5ae86986c5b63cd5d855db15ba56f4eCAS |
Lauchli A, Stelter W (1982) Salt tolerance of cotton genotypes in relation to K/Na selectivity. In ‘International Workshop on Biosaline Research’. La Paz, Mexico. (Ed. A San Pietro) pp. 511–514. (Plenum Press: New York)
Leidi EO, Saiz JF (1997) Is salinity tolerance related to Na accumulation in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seedlings? Plant and Soil 190, 67–75.
| Is salinity tolerance related to Na accumulation in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seedlings?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXkvFyjsb0%3D&md5=001807413fed8504a2bda2cebd2b2165CAS |
Lentz RD (2003) Inhibiting water infiltration with polyacrylamide and surfactants: applications for irrigated agriculture. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 58, 290–301.
Letey J (1985) Relationship between soil physical properties and crop production. Advances in Soil Science 1, 277–295.
Lindsay WL (1979) ‘Chemical equilibria in soils.’ (Wiley: New York)
Malik M, Letey J (1992) Pore-size-dependent apparent viscosity for organic solutes in saturated porous media. Soil Science Society of America Journal 56, 1032–1667.
| Pore-size-dependent apparent viscosity for organic solutes in saturated porous media.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXmslGmtg%3D%3D&md5=49469e3df2d2cd5f4832e7828990b106CAS |
McKenzie DC (1998) ‘SOILpak for cotton growers.’ 3rd edn (NSW Agriculture: Orange, NSW)
McKenzie NJ, Green TW, Jacquier DW (2002) Laboratory measurements of hydraulic conductivity. In ‘Soil physical measurement and interpretation for land evaluation’. (Eds NJ McKenzie, KJ Coughlan, H Cresswell) pp. 150–162. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
McKenzie N, Jacquier D, Isbell R, Brown K (2004) ‘Australian soils and landscapes:an illustrated compendium.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
McLeod IG (2001) The effect of waterlogging and ion interactions on the development of premature senescence in irrigated cotton. PhD Thesis, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
Midwood AJ, Boutton TW (1998) Carbonate decomposition by acid has little effect on the 13C of organic matter. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 30, 1301–1307.
| Carbonate decomposition by acid has little effect on the 13C of organic matter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXkslCmsL8%3D&md5=8a7f6da4abbdbfc03f7de64f759eb86bCAS |
Motomizu S, Wakimoto T, Toei K (1983) Spectrophotometric determination of phosphate in river waters with molybdate and malachite green. Analyst 108, 361–367.
| Spectrophotometric determination of phosphate in river waters with molybdate and malachite green.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL3sXitVCjtrw%3D&md5=6a5b9268eed94a30dca2ee22616af5fbCAS |
Naidu R, Rengasamy P, de Lacy NJ, Zarcinas BA (1995) Soil solution composition of some sodic soils. In ‘Australian sodic soils: Distribution, properties and management’. (Eds R Naidu, ME Sumner, P Rengasamy) pp. 155–161. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Norrish S, Cornish PS, Moody PW, Jessop RS, Rummery G (2001) Soil fertility and wheat crop response to phosphorus fertiliser on Vertosols in low rainfall areas of the northern grain zone. In ‘Science and Technology: Delivering Results for Agriculture? Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference’. Hobart. (Eds B Rowe, D Donaghy, N Mendham) (The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2001/2/c/norrish.htm
Northcote KH (1988) Soils and Australian viticulture. In ‘Viticulture resources in Australia’. (Eds BG Coombes, PR Dry) pp. 61–90. (Australian Industrial Publications: Adelaide, S. Aust.)
Payne RW (1987) ‘Genstat 5 Reference Manual.’ (Clarendon Press: Oxford, UK)
Peverill KI, Sparrow LA, Reuter DJ (Eds) (1999) ‘Soil analysis: an interpretation manual.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Pillai UP, McGarry D (1999) Structure repair of a compacted Vertisol with wet-dry cycles and crops. Soil Science Society of America Journal 63, 201–210.
| Structure repair of a compacted Vertisol with wet-dry cycles and crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXitFGgtrk%3D&md5=d9811857e77986b1a8813ebbf645b7e6CAS |
Ponnamperuma FN (1972) The chemistry of submerged soils. Advances in Agronomy 24, 29–96.
| The chemistry of submerged soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE2cXhtVOju7c%3D&md5=271ee8bcd9563c50a8533c6e047b3357CAS |
Quirk JP, Schoefield RK (1955) The effect of electrolyte concentration on soil permeability. Journal of Soil Science 6, 163–178.
| The effect of electrolyte concentration on soil permeability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaG28XhslKqug%3D%3D&md5=f92e70f74de24b4c3f562a7c39f41e1fCAS |
Rengasamy P, Olsson KA (1993) Irrigation and sodicity. Australian Journal of Soil Research 31, 821–837.
| Irrigation and sodicity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXktlCjt78%3D&md5=e7b06241aa43fdee5e8191fc9bd26777CAS |
Reuter DJ, Robinson JB (1986) ‘Plant analysis: an interpretation manual.’ (Inkata Press: Melbourne)
Rochester IJ (2010) Phosphorus and potassium nutrition of cotton: interaction with sodium. Crop & Pasture Science 61, 825–834.
| Phosphorus and potassium nutrition of cotton: interaction with sodium.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXht1yqt7zL&md5=d708f3c453dd47d33e7a71e6072357b7CAS |
Rochester IJ, Rea M, Dorahy C, Constable GA, Wright PR, Deutscher S (1998) ‘Nutripak—a practical guide to cotton nutrition.’ (Australian Cotton CRC/CSIRO Publishing: Narrabri, NSW/Melbourne)
Slavich PG, Petterson GH (1993) Estimating the electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts from 1 : 5 soil water suspensions and texture. Australian Journal of Soil Research 31, 73–81.
| Estimating the electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts from 1 : 5 soil water suspensions and texture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
So HB, Aylmore LAG (1993) How do sodic soils behave? The effect of sodicity on soil physical behaviour. Australian Journal of Soil Research 31, 761–777.
| How do sodic soils behave? The effect of sodicity on soil physical behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
So HB, Kopittke PM, Menzies NW, Bigwood RC (2004) Measurement of exchangeable cations in saline soils. In ‘SuperSoil 2004. Proceedings 3rd Australian New Zealand Soils Conference’. University of Sydney, 5–9 Dec. 2004. (Ed. B Singh) (The Regional Institute Ltd: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asssi/supersoil2004/
Staff SS (2010) ‘Keys to Soil Taxonomy.’ 11th edn (United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service: Washington, DC)
Sumner ME (1993) Sodic soils: New perspectives. Australian Journal of Soil Research 31, 683–750.
| Sodic soils: New perspectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tucker BM (1985) A proposed new reagent for measuring the cation exchange properties of carbonate soils. Australian Journal of Soil Research 23, 633–642.
| A proposed new reagent for measuring the cation exchange properties of carbonate soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XjtlCmuw%3D%3D&md5=ad74d6fa4d8bb7f7df32ce7dd4b05ab9CAS |
Wallace A, Wallace GA, Abouzamzam AM (1986) Amelioration of sodic soils with polymers. Soil Science 141, 359–362.
| Amelioration of sodic soils with polymers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XksF2qtbw%3D&md5=9ea5f0244a2e1a6cf482ca91a32ef994CAS |
Whitbread AM (1996) The effects of cropping system and management on soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics, soil structure and the productivity of wheat. PhD Thesis, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
Williams CH, Raupach M (1983) Plant nutrients in Australian soils. In ‘Soils: an Australian viewpoint’. pp. 777–794. (CSIRO/Academic Press: Melbourne/London)
