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.85620

10.18393/ejss.85620

Effect of manure on organic carbon content and fractal dimensions of aggregates

Coşkun Gülser cgulser@omu.edu.tr

Feride Candemir

Yasemin Kanel

Salih Demirkaya

1 - 5

2014-06-15

2014-11-21

2014-12-05

2015-01-01

Effects of farmyard manure treatments on some soil structural parameters such as, aggregate stability (AS), geometric mean weight (GMWD) and mean weight (MWD) diameters, fragmentation (D) and mass (Dm) fractal dimensions, bulk density (BD) and organic C (OC) contents of aggregates were determined in a clay soil. Application of 67 Mg ha-1 farmyard manure to Vertic Haplustoll soil decreased AS 12.14% compared with the control. Manure treatment increased the proportion of microaggregates in the fractions 1.00 mm in size. While OC contents of aggregates increased between 22.8% and 123.4%, BD values decreased between 0.8% and 16.6% with the manure treatment. Fragmentation (D) and mass (Dm) fractal dimensions were increased with decreasing numbers of macroaggregates of the clay soil. GMWD (1.16 mm) and MWD (1.86 mm) obtained in the manure treatment were lower than that in the control treatment (1.20 mm and 1.95 mm, respectively). Although OC content of the aggregates increased with the manure treatment, the number of macroaggregates of clay soil decreased with decreasing AS.

Manure, aggregation, fractal dimensions, organic carbon

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.23635

10.18393/ejss.23635

Monitoring the effect of conservation practices on the erosion rates in some small watersheds in Eastern Romania

Nelu Popa nelu_c_popa@yahoo.com

Dumitru Nistor

Cosmin Hurjui

Eugen Filiche

Gabriel Petrovici

6 - 14

2014-07-15

2014-10-21

2014-11-05

2015-01-01

It is known that the successful implementation of control measures to preserve soil quality on slope agricultural lands depends largely on the designer’s ability to select a control strategy for a specific site, considerable simpler and less costly. The paper refers to several small watersheds with agricultural use, representative for Eastern hilly area ofRomania, where different types of soil conservation measures have been applied. The study included monitoring of some factors to highlight the role of soil conservation practices in reducing water erosion process. In this respect, it was studied the dynamics of the climatic, pedological, relief, vegetation, hydrology and erosion parameters. Runoff and erosion rates for individual storms were studied both at the plot and microbazin level by performing measurements on standard runoff plots, respectively in the network flow sections. Also, RUSLE model and Geographic Information System were used to simulate spatial distribution of erosion and sedimentation processes. Significant interactions and feedbacks were found to occur between soil characteristics and vegetation, which influenced both runoff and erosion responses. Monitoring allowed more direct linkages to be made between management practices and their impacts on runoff and soil erosion.

Soil erosion, runoff plots, conservation practices

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.48158

10.18393/ejss.48158

Approbation of express-method for benzo[a]pyrene extraction from soils in the technogenic emission zone territories

Svetlana Sushkova svetlana.sushkova.sfedu@gmail.com

Tatiana Minkina

Saglara Mandzhieva

Nikolay Borisenko

Galina Vasilyeva

Tayfun Aşkın

15 - 21

2014-08-11

2014-11-21

2014-12-06

2015-01-01

The benzo[a]pyrene accumulation and migration regularities in chernozemic soils under the aerotechnogenic emission zone were revealed on the basis of long-term monitoring researches. A new method of subcritical water extraction has been developed for determination of benzo[a]pyrene from soils of the emissions zone of Novocherkassk Power Station one of the largest thermal power enterprises in Russian Federation. It is shown that the soils adjacent to a source of emission are polluted by benzo[a]pyrene at distance to 5 km. Trends in the accumulation of benzo[a]pyrene in soil zones of the thermal power plant influence have been researched over a 5-year period of monitoring observations. The assessment of soils pollution extent by benzo[a]pyrene is given.

Soil, benzo[a]pyrene, subcritical water extraction, monitoring, thermal power enterprise

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.37849

10.18393/ejss.37849

Spatial distribution and environmental risk of major elements in surface sediments associated Manwan Dam in Lancang River, China

Chen Zhao

Shikui Dong dongshikui@sina.com

Shiliang Liu

Isange Sylvie

Jinpeng Li

Qi Liu

Cong Wang

22 - 29

2014-07-13

2014-11-22

2014-12-06

2015-01-01

Bulk elements and grain sizes in sediments collected at upstream and downstream of Manwan Dam were studied to demonstrate the spatial distribution of heavy metals in the sediments and to assess their risk. Correlation analysis showed that the spatial distribution of Cd, Zn and Mg were significantly affected by dam construction. PCA analysis demonstrate that Cd and Zn were both controlled by Ca, As, Pb, organic matter and clay. Mg was controlled by silt, Al, P and K. The risk assessment demonstrated that the pollution of Cd, As, Zn were more serious than other heavy metals. Fine-grained sediments with higher risk level were found in the section near the upstream of dam, while coarse-grained ones with lower risk level were found in the section far away from the downstream of dam. The sections in tributary were lower in risk than those in the main stream. Heavy metal concentrations in the mainstream sediments were influenced by dam construction and those in tributary were influenced by both dam construction and human activities in locality. Unusual high concentrations of Cd, As, and Zn in both sections implied that more pollution prevention measures are needed in the Manwan Dam in order to prevent increased heavy metal pollutions in the Lancang-Mekong River.

Manwan Dam, elements, spatial distribution, environmental risk

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.56716

10.18393/ejss.56716

Modern parameters of caesium-137 root uptake in natural and agricultural grass ecosystems of contaminated post- Chernobyl landscape, Russia

Tatiana Paramonova tapara@mail.ru

Ekaterina Machaeva

Vladimir Belyaev

30 - 37

2014-07-15

2014-11-29

2014-12-08

2015-01-01

The estimation of modern parameters of 137Cs root uptake was conducted in natural meadow and agricultural ecosystems of post-Chernobyl landscapes of Tula region. The agrosystems with main crops of field rotation (barley, potatoes, rape, maize) occupying watersheds and slopes with arable chernozems are contaminated at a level 460-670 Bq/kg (4.7-6.0 Ci/km2); natural meadow ecosystems occupying lower parts of slopes and floodplains are contaminated at a level 620-710 Bq/kg (5.8-7.6 Ci/km2). In the arable soils 137Cs uniformly distributed to a depth of Ap horizon (20-30 cm of thickness), while in meadow soils 70-80% of the radionuclide is concentrated within the top Ad horizon (9-13 cm of thickness). These topsoil layer accords with rhizosphere zone, where >80-90% of plant roots are concentrated, and from which 137Cs is mostly consumed by vegetation. Total amount of 137Cs root uptake depends on the level of soil radioactive contamination (correlation coefficient 0.61). So 137Cs activity in meadow vegetation (103-160 Bq/kg) is generally more than one in agricultural vegetation (9-92 Bq/kg). The values of 137Cs transfer factor in the studied ecosystems vary from 0.01 (rape) to 0.20 (wet meadow), that confirms the discrimination of the radionuclide’s root uptake. The larger are the volume of roots and their absorbing surface, the higher are the values of transfer factor from soil to plant (correlation coefficients 0.71 and 0.64 respectively). 137Cs translocation from roots to shoots is also determined by biological features of plants. At the same level of soil contamination above-ground parts of meadow herbs accumulate more137Cs than Gramineae species, and in agrosystems above-ground parts of weeds concentrate more 137Cs than cultivated cereals. Thus, the level of soil radioactive pollution and biological features of plants are determinants in the process of 137Cs root uptake and translocation and should be considered in land use policy.

Radioactive contamination, caesium-137, root uptake, transfer factor, Chernobyl accident

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.50910

10.18393/ejss.50910

Origin, distribution and transformation of authigenic carbonates in loessic soils

Martin Kolesár kolesar@fns.uniba.sk

Ján Čurlik

38 - 43

2014-07-01

2014-11-20

2014-12-08

2015-01-01

Processes of authigenic carbonates formation are component part of terrestrial biogeochemical cycle of carbon, which starts with co-accumulation of oxalic acid and Ca in Ca- oxalates. After plant decay are these biominerals slowly transformed under the influence of microbial processes into authigenic carbonates (calcites), depending on soil condition. The formation of authigenic calcites runs over in soil system where is rather high Ca and Mg concentration, presence of oxalomorphic plants and sufficient oxalotrophic stability of microorganisms. In addition to Ca-oxalates, Ca and Mg ions necessary for carbonate formation comes also from air (precipitation, dust), mineral weathering, subsurface water flow and decaying organic matter. The distribution pattern of authigenic calcites with depth, the size and shape of individual forms of calcites on loessic soils of SW Slovakia, as it is resulted from micromorphological study indicate that through the historical development of that soils as landscape units, soil water regime has played decisive role at vertical redistribution of forms (size, shape) of authigenic calcites. To this witness the depth of variation of needle calcite zones and horizons of micritic calcites occurrence depending on soil types (leaching). Needle shape calcite zones which approach closest to the soil surface, gradually coalescence to the horizons of micritic calcites with the depth. Micritic calcites are without, or with microsparitic domains. Our study concurrently support the ideas of their inorganic origin depending on evaporitic soil regime. This formations have its own historic dynamics on which depends also the preservation of calcaric nature of soils.

Authigenic carbonates, oxalate-carbonate pathway, needle shaped calcites, micritic calcites, loessic

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.72442

10.18393/ejss.72442

Remediation of cadmium contaminated vertisol mediated by Prosopis charcoal and coir pith

Palaninaicker Senthilkumar

Duraisamy Prabha prabhasidd@gmail.com

Subpiramaniyan Sivakumar

Chandra Subbhuraam

44 - 53

2014-08-11

2014-11-20

2014-12-09

2015-01-01

Metal contamination of soil due to industrial and agricultural activities is increasingly becoming a global problem, thereby affecting animal and human life, thus rendering soil unsuitable for agricultural purposes. Remediation of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil (Vertisol) using agricultural by products as source of organic amendments, Coir pith- a by-product of the coir industry and Prosopis charcoal- prepared by burning Prosopis plant wood (Prosopis juliflora L.) was investigated. The alleviation potential of Prosopis charcoal and Coir pith on the negative effects of Cd in soil was evaluated in pot culture experiments with Vigna radiata as the test plant, a Cd accumulator. Cadmium addition to soil resulted in accumulation of Cd in all plant parts of V. radiatapredominantly in roots. The influence of Cd in the presence and absence of organic amendments on the various biological and chemical parameters of the soil, on the levels of Cd accumulation and on the growth attributes of V. radiata has been assessed. Among the organic amendments, Prosopis charcoal was found to be more effective in reducing the bioavailable levels of Cd in the soil artificially spiked with Cd in graded concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg g-1 and its accumulation in V. radiata, thus resulting in an increase in the root, leaf and stem biomass. Coir pith, however, was effective in increasing the total mycorrhizal colonization of roots and second in reducing Cd levels in plants. Therefore, Prosopis charcoal was considered best for stabilization of Cd in soil.

Cadmium, organic amendments, Prosopis charcoal, Coir pith, Vigna radiata, accumulation

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.07093

10.18393/ejss.07093

Effect of bio-fertilizers application on microbial diversity and physiological profiling of microorganisms in arable soil

Soňa Javoreková sona.javorekova@uniag.sk

Jana Maková

Juraj Medo

Silvia Kovácsová

Ivana Charousová

Ján Horák

54 - 61

2014-06-13

2014-11-22

2014-12-09

2015-01-01

In laboratory assay, the diversity of bacteria and microscopic fungi and the community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) of microorganisms were observed after the addition of bio-sludge (40 t.ha-1) from a biogas station and addition of bio-fertlizers - AZOTER (10 dm-3.ha-1) to the arable soil with PCR-DGGE and BIOLOG® method (Eco Plates). The differences were recorded in the microbial diversity (bacteria and microscopic fungi) among variants according to the Shannon index. The differences in community of microscopic fungi were markedly higher among the soil samples with the additions of both bio-fertilizers compared to control soil samples. The occurrence of individual OTUs (operational taxonomic units) bacteria and microscopic fungi were different after 105 days of incubation from the status after the 1st day of incubation. The community metabolic diversity (CMD) was influenced by the incubation time (105 days) as well, but not by application of bio-fertilizers. We observed a significant decrease (LSD test, P

Bio-fertilizers, microbial diversity, microbial physiological profiling, arable soil

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.03607

10.18393/ejss.03607

Ecological problems and nitrogen balance in vegetable crops growing

Tsetska Simeonova cecka_simeonova@abv.bg

Dimitranka Stoicheva

Petra Alexandrova

62 - 69

2014-07-15

2014-11-21

2014-12-10

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study is to focus on the nitrogen balance and losses in agricultural system. The influence of precipitation, irrigation and fertilizer application on some soil parameters, N-uptake by plant production and N-output by lysimetric water are evaluated in this paper.The study is carried out on Fluvisol, near Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria under the conditions of field experiments with different vegetable crops (eggplant, green beans and carrots) over the period 2009-2011. The experimental design includes 3 treatments with nitrogen application –N0, N80 and N160 on the background of P80K80 kg.ha-1. The field plots are equipped with modification of Ebermayer type of lysimeters, which collect water from 100 cm depth of soil profile.According the received data it was observed that compensation between the amounts of N input and output was achieved in two variants (N80, N160) for all crops growing. Reducing the nitrogen input to the amount applied by precipitation and irrigation waters is the most ecological-friendly technological decision and very important factor for environment protection.

Agricultural system, fertilization, nitrogen balance, nitrogen leaching, vegetables, environment pro

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.63280

10.18393/ejss.63280

The effect of vegetation type on selected soil quality indicators in a semiarid rangeland in Hamedan, Iran

Soheila Khah s.javaheri66@yahoo.com

Mohsen Nael

Ali Sinejani

Ghasem Asadian

Khadijeh Nik

70 - 75

2014-07-15

2014-11-21

2014-12-10

2015-01-01

Soil quality approach can be used to describe soil health changes caused by different land use managements and vegetation types. Our objective was to assess the response of some soil quality indicators to different vegetation types including rainfed wheat (RW), grasses (G), Astragallus-Bromus (A-B), Astragallus-Lactuca (A-L), Astragallus-Artimisia (A-A) and Astragallus-Euphorbia (A-E) in a semiarid experimental rangeland in Hamedan, where environmental conditions in terms of slope aspect and soil parent material were similar., Substrate-induced microbial respiration (MRI) and the activity of phosphomonoesterase enzyme (PMEase) were determined in surface soil (0-15 cm) in spring and autumn. Morover, bioavailable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were measured in autumn. No significant disparity was detected in P content of different vegetation types. Bioavailable K between was highest in A-E, and lowest in G and RW sites. MRI was significantly higher in spring irrespective of vegetation type. This index was significantly highest in A-B site in both seasons. As for PMEase, A-A and A-B showed the highest values in autumn in spring, A-B, A-A and A-L demonstrated the highest phosphatase activity. PMEase in A-L and A-A sites was significantly higher in spring than autumn. Strongly significant positive correlation was found between PMEase and MRI. Overall, soil quality is highest under vegetation types composed of perennial shrubs, irrespective of season.

Soil quality indicators; soil enzyme; vegetation community; substrate-induced respiration