426827

Amendment with a composite of bentonite based nanosulfur and humate reduces the high carbonate levels in calcareous soils

Article

Last updated: 11 May 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Soil degradation control, remediation and reclamation

Abstract

High pH values and high calcium carbonate content in calcareous soils are the major chemical problems, which have a significant impact on the availability of nutrients, especially phosphorus, nitrogen and micronutrients. Due to the increasing population and soil fertility declines, there is currently a large gap between agricultural production and food demand. Therefore, it is necessary to address the limitations of calcium carbonate-rich soils for crop production by developing a new strategy. IpH values and high calcium carbonate content in calcareous soils are the major chemical problems, which have a significant impact on the availability of nutrients, especially phosphorus, nitrogen and micronutrients. Due to the increasing population and soil fertility declines, there is currently a large gap between agricultural production and food demand. Therefore, it is necessary to address the limitations of calcium carbonate-rich soils for crop production by developing a new strategy. In this work, a calcareous soil conditioner for reducing high carbonate content based on a composite material consisting of bentonite clay impregnated with humate-capped nanosulfur was synthesized using the Raffo process. The innovative composite material with uneven surface and numerous embedded smooth nanosulfur spheres and a high number of active sites can be used efficiently as a calcareous soil conditioner. This soil conditioner effectively improves soil health and quality and maintains it by reducing high levels of calcium carbonate. The optimal amount was 500 kg ha-1 composite, which reduced the soil pH by 0.59 units and the active carbonate content by 57%. Fourier transform infrared spectra of treated soil with the optimal amount showed that the intensity of the absorption bands corresponding to the active carbonate groups and calcite mineral was reduced. Interestingly, powder X-ray diffractometer matching phase analysis revealed that a new peak appeared due to the new formation of sulfate-carbonate coprecipitates or the so-called rapidcreekite mineral, which forms under limited conditions with high levels of dissolved sulfate compared to carbonate. Although the composite optimal rate provided more favourable soil conditions, the study recommends that the synthesis composite be further evaluated in future field trials with different calcareous soil conditions and crops.

DOI

10.21608/ejss.2025.367557.2053

Keywords

Organic-mineral, XRD analysis, FT-IR analysis, complex, Humic acid, soil amendment

Authors

First Name

Smaa

Last Name

EL-Madah

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of soil and water, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University

Email

smaa_7163@agr.tanta.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Mahmoud

Last Name

Ibrahim

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Tanta Uni. , Soil physics

Email

mahmoudibrahim421@yahoo.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Abd El-Halim

Last Name

Abd El-Halim

MiddleName

Awad

Affiliation

Department of Soil and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, 31527 Tanta, Egypt.

Email

halim.ismail@agr.tanta.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-8720-6025

Volume

65

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

51050

Issue Date

2025-06-01

Receive Date

2025-03-12

Publish Date

2025-06-01

Print ISSN

0302-6701

Online ISSN

2357-0369

Link

https://ejss.journals.ekb.eg/article_426827.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=426827

Order

426,827

Type

Original Article

Type Code

19

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Soil Science

Publication Link

https://ejss.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Amendment with a composite of bentonite based nanosulfur and humate reduces the high carbonate levels in calcareous soils

Details

Type

Article

Created At

11 May 2025