EJSS

Eurasian Journal of Soil Science

Eurasian J Soil Sci

2147 - 4249

Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.03148

10.18393/ejss.03148

Estimation of infiltration rate and deep percolation water using feed-forward neural networks in Gorgan Province

Ruhollah Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi rh_taghizade@yahoo.com

Fereydoon Sarmadian

1 - 6

2013-08-01

2013-12-29

2014-01-05

2014-06-30

The two common methods used to develop PTFs are multiple-linear regression method and Artificial Neural Network. One of the advantages of neural networks compared to traditional regression PTFs is that they do not require a priori regression model, which relates input and output data and in general is difficult because these models are not known. So at present research, we compare performance of feed-forward back-propagation network to predict soil properties. Soil samples were collected from different horizons profiles located in the Gorgan Province, North of Iran. Measured soil variables included texture, organic carbon, water saturation percentage Bulk density, Infiltration rate and deep percolation. Then, multiple linear regression and neural network model were employed to develop a pedotransfer function for predicting soil parameters using easily measurable characteristics of clay, silt, SP, Bd and organic carbon. The performance of the multiple linear regression and neural network model was evaluated using a test data set by R2, RMSE and RSE. Results showed that artificial neural network with two and five neurons in hidden layer had better performance in predicting soil hydraulic properties than multivariate regression. In conclusion, the result of this study showed that both ANN and regression predicted soil properties with relatively high accuracy that showed that strong relationship between input and output data and also high accuracy in determining of data.

Infiltration rate, deep percolation, pedotransfer function

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.47968

10.18393/ejss.47968

Changes in physical conditions of a coarse textured soil by addition of organic wastes

Melis Cercioglu meliscercioglu@hotmail.com

Bülent Okur

Sezai Delibacak

Ali Ongun

7 - 12

2013-09-11

2014-03-11

2014-04-05

2014-06-30

Effects of composted tobacco waste, chicken manure and bio-humus applied during a period of three years on a coarse textured soil (Typic Xerofluvent) at Agriculture Faculty’s Research and Practise Farmyard of Ege University located on Menemen plain (Izmir, Turkey) on soil physical properties were studied. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design on 16 plots with four replications. Each plot size was 5x3 m2. Composted tobacco waste (CTW) from cigarette industry and chicken manure (CM) and bio-humus (BH) from plant residuals were applied at rates of 50 t ha-1, 4 t ha-1, 10 t ha-1, respectively. Inorganic fertilizers (N-P-K) are also added with chicken manure and bio-humus plots. Tobacco wastes obtained from cigarette industry were used after composting. The addition of organic wastes resulted in a significant (p≤0.05) decrease in bulk density (BD); increase in porosity (PO), field capacity (FC), wilting point (WP), available water content (AWC) and structure stability index (SSI) of soil samples when compared to the control.

Bio-humus, chicken manure, composted tobacco waste, soil physical conditions

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.78451

10.18393/ejss.78451

Nitrogen fertilization plans for the main crops of Turkey to mitigate nitrates pollution

Theodore Karyotis theodorekaryotis@gmail.com

İbrahim Güçdemir

Suat Akgül

Andreas Panagopoulos

Katerina Karyoti

Süleyman Demir

Ali Kasacı

13 - 24

2013-11-19

2014-03-13

2014-03-16

2014-06-30

To create a rational nitrogen fertilization plan, a mass nitrogen (N) balance was used for the main crops of Turkey. The following components are included in the suggested N fertilization plans: the quantity of N fertilizer which is required by the crop for a targeted and sustainable yield, nitrogen inputs available to the crop without fertilization, nitrogen losses mainly due to nitrates leaching and emissions to the atmosphere. This simple equation was transformed to a more detailed one and fertilization plans are based on the total N required to produce a crop of a targeted yield, N mineralized from Soil Organic Matter (SOM), the residual plant available inorganic N before sowing or planting, input of nitrogen from rainfall and losses through leaching and emissions. This work is based on available data and is an open sheet balance which can be easily used by local authorities. Decreased N fertilization can be applied without significant yield reduction and this can be explained by increased N use efficiency, as a result of proper time of application and splitting of N fertilizers in doses. This model can be appropriately adapted according to site-specific conditions, whilst new parameters can be added to improve precision of the performed calculations.

Fertilization, leaching, mineralization, nitrates, nitrogen

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.70992

10.18393/ejss.70992

Allelopatic potential of weeds under the minimalization of soil treatment

Mikhail Mazirov alera@timacad.ru

Valeria Arefieva

25 - 27

2013-11-27

2014-03-13

2014-03-18

2014-06-30

The content of water-dispersible phenol substances in rhizosphere both of annual and perennial species of weeds (Cirsium arvense, Sonchus arvensis) increases under soil treatment minimalization. The higher content of phenol substances of researched weeds is defined in rhizosphere of Common Couch (Agropyrum repens). The absence of intensive anthropogenic treatment of plowing layer which accumulates the significant mass of weed’s roots in the cause of much more higher allelopathic potential of some species’ of weeds. The high level of saturation by weeds in agrophytocoenosis under non-tillage soil treatment is defines the competitiveness between certain sepsis’ of weeds, especially, at the beginning of the vegetation. In this case, increasing the secretion of phenol substances is one of the physiological screenings of such competitiveness.

Allelopathic potential, phenol substances, phytotoxicity, soil treatment, minimalization, rhizospher

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.52631

10.18393/ejss.52631

Crop rotation with no-till methods in cotton production of Uzbekistan

Botir Khaitov bhaitov@yahoo.com

Kholik Allanov

28 - 32

2013-12-16

2014-03-18

2014-03-21

2014-06-30

Many soils of Uzbekistan have low water and nutrient holding capacity because of their sandy texture, low organic matter concentrations and degradation caused by long years of cotton monoculture. Conservation tillage production systems have the potential to increase the productivity of these soils by increasing soil humus and nitrogen content. As practiced conservation tillage helped to lessen N leaching losses, holding more of these elements within the topsoil as well as increase crop productivity. Conventional tillage cotton/wheat/maize crop rotation has resulted very low humus and nitrogen content in soil by degreasing crop yield. Therefore, the effects of tillage, and crop rotation were examined on growth and yield of crops in three cotton-based rotation systems, (i) cotton/wheat/maize, (ii) cotton/wheat/sorghum and (iii) cotton/wheat/soybean, in Tashkent region in middle east of Uzbekistan. This obtained result suggests that no tillage with inserting legumes in crop rotation is able to improve soil quality and plant productivity.

Conservative tillage, cotton, crop rotation, humus, maize, soil fertility, soil content, wheat.

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.57366

10.18393/ejss.57366

Optimal network design for spatial prediction of soil redistribution (137Cs) based on a minimax approach

Firoozeh Rivaz f_rivaz@sbu.ac.ir

Mohsen Hosseinalizadeh

Edzer Pebesma

33 - 41

2013-12-24

2014-03-18

2014-06-30

Measuring 137Cs is considered an effective method to study soil redistribution rate and hence needs sampling at a number of sites. The spatial configuration of the network of sites to be sampled has a substantial effect on the soil redistribution assessment. Here, motivated by sampling 137Cs, we adopted a model-based approach. For this, we chose the average kriging variance (AKV) as a design criterion. In fact, by minimizing the AKV of soil 137Cs prediction in the paired sub-catchments of Iran's Golestan province, we determined the optimal sampling design in the case that no directly measured prior information of the primary variable of interest (137Cs) is available. However, the AKV depends on some unknown parameters and preliminary estimates of model parameters are not available. To overcome this problem, we apply the minimax approach which minimizes the maximum value of design criterion over the misspecification of parameters. The method is illustrated taking into account the ancillary information (slope%) from representative Sub-catchments (Sample and Testifier, each around 190 ha in size). A simulated annealing algorithm is used to search for an optimal design from among all possible designs. Since, the number of sampling points is often limited by time and budgetary constraints, we use a sequential-based method for selecting the sample size. It is shown that 60 sites are sufficient for the proposed Sample and Testifier sub-catchments.

137Cs, Golestan province, minimax approach, simulated annealing, spatial sampling

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.62189

10.18393/ejss.62189

Effects of treatment with vermicompost on the some morphological and physiological characteristics of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Atilla Atik atikatilla@hotmail.com

Bülent Yılmaz

42 - 55

2014-01-11

2014-06-12

2014-06-13

2014-06-30

In the present study, effects of vermicompost treatment tried to be determined on some morphological and physiological seedling quality characteristics of one – year Scots pines. Experiments were set according to random plots experimental design including 14 trials with 3 repetitions. With this aim, seeds obtained from seven different sites (origins) of mixed Scots pine stands which naturally grow in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey were used in the experiments. At the end of the vegetation period, important physiologic and morphologic parameters of seedlings in the plots, SH, RCD, TDW, RDW and total N rate were detected. After that, RI, V and QI rates, each of which is also important rational indicator in seedlings for height, root collar diameter and weight balance, were calculated with the help of morphological data. Effects of VC treatment were found to be statistically significant on all the development parameters measured in seedlings in seven origin groups. It was determined in all morphologic parameters that the best development rate was observed in Goktepe originating seedlings in both VC treatment and control groups while Geyikgolu originating seedlings showed the least development performance. It was observed from the correlation analysis that there is a positive relation between morphologic and physiologic quality criteria. It was also determined according to the results of multivariable regression analysis that elevation of the sites where seedlings were picked up was more effective on the development of seedling development than the aspect of the sites. Results of the study were found to be convenient with the related literature and showed that VC treatment contributed positively to the development of Scots pine seedlings taken from seven different origins.

Vermicompost, scots pine, seedling height, root collar diameter, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, nurse

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.29944

10.18393/ejss.29944

Canopy temperature for peach tree at various soil water contents

Leinar Septar s_leinar@yahoo.com

Cristian Paltineanu

Emil Chitu

Cristina Moale

Hüsnü Demirsoy

Eyüp Köksal

İdris Macit

56 - 64

2014-01-15

2014-06-12

2014-06-13

2014-06-30

Canopy temperature measurements with infrared thermometry have been extensively studied as a means of assessing plant water status for field and row crops. Achieving high quality peach fruit depends on the ability to maintain mild to moderate levels of water stress in the crop during the growing season. The paper examined the spatial distribution of tree canopy temperature (Tc) using thermal images in a peach orchard for irrigation scheduling. The variation of Tc was investigated in three irrigation regime treatments (factor A) that produced various soil moisture content (SMC) values, three cardinal points (factor B): South, North and East-West aspects combined, and five updown vertical position measurements (factor C: upper, middle upper, middle, middle lower and lower) across the tree canopy thermal images. It was found that Tc was significantly influenced by the irrigation regime. Cardinal point showed a significant Tc difference between South on the one hand and the other aspects. The vertical position within canopy image did not significantly influence Tc.

Thermal imagery, leaf and air temperature, cardinal points, drip irrigation

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.66428

10.18393/ejss.66428

Comparative assessment of trace metals in soils associated with casket burials: Towards implementing green burials

Amuno Aruomero aruomero.amuno@usj.edu.mo

Oluwajana Afolabi

65 - 76

2014-05-13

2014-06-26

2014-06-28

2014-06-30

Casket burials has been one of the most prevalent methods of disposing of the dead for several centuries. However, its increasing use in many countries has engendered serious environmental and epidemiological concerns due to documented evidences of leaching of toxic metals and pathogens as human remains and grave contents decompose over time. In this paper, a comparative trace element study of surface soils samples collected from two municipal cemeteries located in Macao SAR (China) and Akure (Nigeria) was undertaken to investigate their contamination potential. Soil contamination assessment based on index of geo-accumulation indicate that the soils associated with the Macao cemetery have been significantly contaminated with Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Se and Zn, while that of Akure site did not show significant pollution. From a comparative perspective, it was observed that the levels of Pb and Zn observed in the Macao cemetery soils was higher than the maximum values reported for selected cemetery soils in Brazil, South Africa, Rwanda, and the United States of America. For the Akure site, none of the samples showed significant pollution as the levels of trace elements were within the uncontamination threshold. Inconsistent levels of trace metals levels observed in the soils of the two cemeteries is likely to have resulted from the differences in the number of burials, soil characteristics, type of materials used for construction of coffins. The findings therefore suggest the need to improve awareness of eco-friendly burials to protect and conserve the environment.

Casket burials, trace elements, green burials and environmental protection

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.69966

10.18393/ejss.69966

Using soil moisture constants and physical properties to predict saturated hydraulic conductivity

Coşkun Gülser cgulser@omu.edu.tr

Feride Candemir

77 - 81

2014-01-09

2014-06-26

2014-06-27

2014-06-30

Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) is an important variable in hydrological cycle processes. Determination of Ks in soils is a difficult and time consuming process. The objective of this study was to determine Ks in soils by pedotransfer (PTF) models derived using soil moisture constants and physical properties. Ks values were determined in 30 different soil samples using constant head permeability method. According to path analyses results, direct effects of some soil properties on Ks in soils were in the following order; permanent wilting point (PWP) > bulk density (BD) > clay (C) > silt (Si) > field capacity (FC). Soil physical properties generally had the highest indirect effects on Ks through PWP. Prediction of Ks by the second order PTF models was significant using only C, Si and DB (r=0.868**) and using only FC and PWP (r=0.796**) in the models. Using moisture constants with the other soil physical properties in the second order PTF model increased significance level of the relation between predicted and measured values of Ks (r=0.955**). Besides soil physical properties, having moisture constants in PTF models showed that saturated Ks values can be predicted more accurately in soils having similar physical boundary conditions such as texture, bulk density etc.

Saturated hydraulic conductivity, pedotransfer model, field capacity, wilting point