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Effects of Elevated Soil Carbon dioxide (CO2) Concentrations on Spring Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and Soil Chemical Properties in Sutton Bonington Campus of the University of Nottingham, UK
BIOSE, EKENE; AMAECHI, CHIKA FLOYD; NNAJI, GODWIN UCHE; BIOSE, OSADEBE & 4ERHUNMWUNSE, NOSAKHARE OSAZEE
Abstract
This study examines the effects of elevated soil carbon dioxide (CO2)
concentrations on spring wheat and soil chemical properties in the Sutton Bonington Campus, of
the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom using Artificial Soil Gassing and Response
Detection (ASGARD) facility which controls CO2 injection into the soil. Eight plots (each 2.5 x
2.5m) were laid out within the experimental area and used for the study and were treated with
high CO2 concentrations (area within 75cm from the point of injection), low CO2 concentration
(area farther than 75 cm from the point of CO2
injection) and no CO2 concentration (control) at
CO2 injection rate of 1.0l/min from a source point 60cm below the soil for eight (8) weeks. The
variability of CO2 concentrations were determined by 3D and barholing method. The wheat plant
showed visible symptoms of wilting, chlorosis and poor development within 15- 21 days of
gassing. Gassing at the rate of 1.0l/min resulted in reduced plant height and a 60% decrease in
chlorophyll content of wheat plant exposed to high CO2 concentrations when compared with
control plots. The soil pH for the control plots at the depth of 15-30 cm was 6.31 and 6.7 after
injection, showing a difference of 0.39. At the depth of 45-60 cm, the pH before injection was
5.89 while post-injection was 6.39, showing a difference of 0.5. The study showed that organic
carbon at 45-60cm depth of soil ranged from 2.54% to 2.58% with a mean value of 3.26%, while
carbonate content ranged from 0.73 to 0.77%. Furthermore, at 45-60cm depth of soil after
injection, the mean value of K across all experimental plots was 64.16 mg/lK, available P content
ranged from 15.4 to 16.9 mg/lP, N content ranged from 11.2 to 16.9 mg/lN, Ca ranged from 1000
to 1300 mg/lCa, Mg ranged from 158 to168 mg/lMg while at 15-30cm depth of soil, Na range
from low to moderate (10.16–10.2 mg/l Na). There was no significant difference (P<0.05) or
changes in mineralogical content of the soil properties studied.
Keywords
controlled injection; CO2; soil chemical properties; soil depth
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