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.34853

10.18393/ejss.34853

Soil organic carbon fractions as influenced by vegetation type and land management: A case study in semiarid rangelands of Hamedan, Iran

Khadijeh Nik shirvani.179m@yahoo.com

Mohsen Nael

Ghasem Assadian

Ali Sinegani

Soheila Kha

76 - 81

2014-07-01

2015-01-27

2015-01-30

2015-04-01

Soil is an environmental component permanently changing due to the often cyclic processes of litter supply and vegetation cover. To investigate the influence of vegetation type on soil carbon fractions, six vegetation types, including rainfed wheat (RW), grasses (G), Astragallus–Bromus (A-B), Astragallus–lactuca (A-L), Astragallus–Artemisi (A-A), Astragallus–Euphorbia (A-E) were studied in similar environmental conditions in terms of parent material and slope aspect in Gonbad watershed, Hamadan. Total organic carbon (TOC), active carbon (AC), soil carbohydrates (Ch) and basal respiration (BR) were measured in surface soils (0-15 cm) in fall and spring. TOC, CH, and BR were significantly greater in A-B and A-A than other covers. A-B and A-A showed higher vegetation cover and litter compared to other types. TOC and Ch in RW and G were significantly lower than other types. The highest (711.7 mg/kg) and lowest (262.6 mg/kg) AC were observed in A-B and RW, respectively. RW had lowest values of selected soil quality indicators due to tillage and cultivation. The content of TOC and AC were significantly higher in spring than autumn. Amount of BR and Ch showed no significant difference in the two seasons. Significant positive correlations were observed between soil quality indicators, these correlations were stronger in spring than in autumn. In autumn, the highest correlations were observed between AC and Ch (0.701), as well as AC and BR (0.441). In spring, significant correlations were observed between all soil quality indicators at 1% level. It was concluded that AC and Ch are the most sensitive soil quality indicators that reflect land use and vegetation type differences.

Soil quality, vegetation type, active carbon, carbohydrate

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.31228

10.18393/ejss.31228

The relationship between soil physical properties and alpine plant diversity on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Lin Tang

Shikui Dong dongshikui@sina.com

Shiliang Liu

Xuexia Wang

Yuanyuan Li

Xukun Su

Yong Zhang

Xiaoyu Wu

Haidi Zhao

88 - 93

2014-07-15

2014-12-28

2015-01-30

2015-04-01

Through a large-scale research, we examined the heterogeneity of soil properties and plant diversity, as well as their relationships across alpine grassland types on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The soil pH and EC value increased with the constant deepening of the soil in all the three alpine grassland types which in order of absolute value in every soil layer were alpine desert steppe, alpine steppe and alpine meadow. Among the three grassland types, the alpine meadow possessed the highest SM but the lowest SBD. For plant diversity, alpine meadow was the highest, alpine desert steppe ranked the second and alpine steppe was the last. SM and SBD were the highest influential soil physical properties to species richness, but with opposite effects.

Alpine grassland, plant diversity, soil physical property

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.10435

10.18393/ejss.10435

The new volumetric approach for field measurements of rill erosion

Veronika Sobotková sobotkova.v@fce.vutbr.cz

Miroslav Dumbrovský

94 - 99

2014-07-13

2015-01-21

2015-01-30

2015-04-01

Erosion on the agricultural soils in the Czech Republic threats seriously their production and nonproduction functions. Erosion have devastating effect on fertile topsoil of the agricultural soils, reduces the thickness of the soil profile and nutrients and humus content, deteriorate physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. At the Brno University of Technology in Czech Republic was designed and realized equipment "the soil erosion bridge", which allows the soil surface profile measurement and quantifies the volume of erosion rills, which can occur after heavy rainfall. The main objective was to develop a method for volumetric quantification of erosion rills during heavy rainfall season. Using new equipment the soil surface profile was measured directly in the field during 4 years (2007–2010). New equipment consists of three parts. The first equipment is a square frame with an inside dimension of 4 m2. The second equipment is removable profile, which serves for movement of the soil erosion bridge. The third equipment is the soil erosion bridge. The soil erosion bridge serves to volumetric quantification of rill erosion. The more effective way of data processing was developed. It was developed a software, by which it is possible the automatically transfer the rill surface profile to digital form. In the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic was selected case study area with typical very steep sloped relief with the loess soil. The measurement was carried out on the research plots with a slope of more than 10%. More than 1300 cross sections of the soil surface profile were measured using the new type of soil erosion bridge. From these profiles it was possible to calculate the volume of the eroded soil from the research plots. The results were always in excess of 100 t.ha–1.rok–1. This is a value many times higher than the tolerated limit of soil loss in Czech Republic. Thanks to this new equipment, it is possible to quantify the soil loss from the plot threatened of water erosion. The advantage of this equipment is its using during the vegetable season when the soil surface is overgrown with vegetation and crops are higher growth.

Soil erosion bridge, soil loss, volumetric quantification, rill erosion, field measurement

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.70419

10.18393/ejss.70419

Comparative mineralogical characteristics of red soils from South Bulgaria

Marlena Yaneva marlena@geology.bas.bg

Tsveta Stanimirova

Rositsa Kenderova

100 - 106

2014-07-15

2015-01-22

2015-01-30

2015-04-01

The present study aims to compare mineralogical composition of red soils, formed on marbles in South Bulgaria. We used mineralogical analysis of heavy and light mineral fraction in immersion under polarizing microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis of bulk sample and clay fraction. Three test polygons, located in South Bulgaria were examined: Petrovo, Nova Lovcha and Dobrostan, which are characterized with different latitude, altitude, and exposition. Three or more sites from each polygon were sampled and analyzed. The red soils are formed on white and gray calcite and calcite-dolomite marbles, impure silicate-rich marbles and only in one site – on marble breccias. We determined the following mineral phases in red soils: calcite, dolomite, quarts, and feldspars, mica, illite-type mica, illite, smectite, vermiculite-smectite, and kaolinite. Heavy minerals are represented by amphibole, titanite and epidote, and minor amounts of zircon, garnet, tourmaline, rutile, pyroxene, andalusite, kyanite, sillimanite and apatite. Opaque minerals are predominantly goethite and hematite. Plant tissue is abundant in light fraction from the uppermost soil horizons. Analyses of heavy mineral fraction show presence of metamorphic and igneous minerals which indicate participation of weathering products from other rock types in the nearby area. The types of heavy minerals in soils depend more on composition of parent rocks and geomorphic position than on climate type. Soils from Nova Lovcha show similar composition, but the quantity of goethite and hematite significantly increase in soil from plain. Typical high-metamorphic minerals as andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite present only in Nova Lovcha, while garnet dominates in Petrovo and opaque minerals - in Dobrostan. Red soils, formed on slopes, where erosion prevails over accumulation, contain more illite, smectite and vermiculite-smectite, and very few or no kaolinite, whereas the kaolinite is dominant in soils formed on plain. The mineralogical composition of clays in different polygons depends on geomorphic position (altitude, slope or plain), and less on climate type. The weathering processes in the highest polygon Dobrostan (more than 1200 m) are in early stage (illite, vermiculite-smectite, and smectite), whereas in Nova Lovcha (above 700-900 m) and Petrovo (1000 m) the domination of kaolinite suggests an advanced weathering processes.

Red soils, mineralogy, clay, X-ray diffraction

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.13596

10.18393/ejss.13596

Physical and microbiological properties of alluvial calcareous Çumra province soils (Central Anatolia, Turkey)

Ahmet Erol

Evgeny Shein evgeny.shein@gmail.com

Evgeny Milanovskiy

Fariz Mikailsoy

Fatih Er

Sabit Ersahin

107 - 110

2014-07-01

2015-02-01

2015-02-04

2015-04-01

Alluvial calcareous soils in Central Anatolia (Konya province, Çumra district) has a heavy granulometric composition (average clay), low organic carbon content (less than 1%), but stable pore space structure and favorable agrophysical properties. Studies of the water regime in drip irrigation confirm favorable hydrological properties of these soils. It is assumed that the favorable structure of the pore space due to vigorous activity a large and diverse soil biota. Four phyla dominate in soil biota, among which predominate Actinobacteria. The higher (Streptomyces), and lower (three species Rhodococcus) actinobacteria are predominant in large amounts as a part of this phyla. Large biodiversity at a sufficiently high bacteria richness formed the structure of the microbial community that contribute to the balanced production of specific metabolites, including gases (CO2, N2), which allows the soil to function actively, preventing compaction of the pore space and maintaining optimal density, porosity, hydrologic properties of the studied silty clay soils. m the uppermost soil horizons. Analyses of heavy mineral fraction show presence of metamorphic and igneous minerals which indicate participation of weathering products from other rock types in the nearby area. The types of heavy minerals in soils depend more on composition of parent rocks and geomorphic position than on climate type. Soils from Nova Lovcha show similar composition, but the quantity of goethite and hematite significantly increase in soil from plain. Typical high-metamorphic minerals as andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite present only in Nova Lovcha, while garnet dominates in Petrovo and opaque minerals - in Dobrostan. Red soils, formed on slopes, where erosion prevails over accumulation, contain more illite, smectite and vermiculite-smectite, and very few or no kaolinite, whereas the kaolinite is dominant in soils formed on plain. The mineralogical composition of clays in different polygons depends on geomorphic position (altitude, slope or plain), and less on climate type. The weathering processes in the highest polygon Dobrostan (more than 1200 m) are in early stage (illite, vermiculite-smectite, and smectite), whereas in Nova Lovcha (above 700-900 m) and Petrovo (1000 m) the domination of kaolinite suggests an advanced weathering processes.

Soil physics, pore space, mineralogical composition, microbiological composition, agrophysics

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.42200

10.18393/ejss.42200

How the sorption of benzene in soils contaminated with aromatic hydrocarbons is affected by the presence of biofuels

Maria Carvalho

Maria Vila mvila@fe.up.pt

Fernanda Rohden

Mónica Rosas

Joana Dias

Teresa Oliva-Teles

Anthony Danko

Cristina Delerue-Matos

António Fiuza

111 - 117

2014-08-11

2015-01-10

2015-02-04

2015-04-01

The increasing use of biofuels as additives to gasoline may have potential indirect effects on the efficiency of soil remediation technologies used to remediate fuel spills. This problem has not yet been studied. Sorption is one of the controlling processes in soil remediation. The effect of biofuels on sorption and phase distribution of contaminants by different natural soils has not been reported on the literature. The present work examines how two different biofuels, n-butanol and soybean biodiesel, affect benzene sorption in two naturally occurring subsoils (granite and limestone). Sorption isotherms were made with soils deliberately contaminated with benzene, benzene and n-butanol and benzene plus biodiesel, using lab-scale reactors operated at constant temperature, each one loaded with 700 grams of wet sterilized soil. For each type of soil, five isotherms were determined corresponding to different contamination profiles. It was concluded that sorption was strongly affected by the nature of the soil. The partition of benzene into the different phases of the soil was significantly affected by the presence of biofuels. The experimental data was fitted to conventional sorption models, Freundlich, Langmuir and a second order polynomial. Model parameters were determined using a non-linear least squares (NLLS) optimization algorithm and showed a good agreement between experimental and fitted data.

Sorption, soils, benzene, biofuels

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.89702

10.18393/ejss.89702

Mathematical models of fertility for the soils of Azerbaijan

Amin Ismayilov amin.ismayil@gmail.com

Fariz Mikailsoy

118 - 125

2014-07-15

2015-01-19

2015-02-04

2015-04-01

The experience shows that when constructing soil fertility models, many researchers prefer single-valued regression analysis. This is primarily due to the fact that regression analyses require simpler statistical calculations, and on the other hand, regression equations enable a physical explanation of the process under study. The research goal is to determine the effect of soil fertility indices and mineral fertilizers on the yields of crops (cereals) grown in the Karabakh Steppe on gray-brown irrigated soils.

Mathematical modeling, soil fertility, regression analysis, adequacy of the model

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.29678

10.18393/ejss.29678

Use of synthetic clay for Removal of Diclofenac Anti-inflammatory

Rachid Khatem khatem_rachid@yahoo.fr

Real Miguel

Abdellah Bakhti

126 - 136

2014-08-18

2015-01-10

2015-02-04

2015-04-01

The removal of diclofenac by sorption on a synthetic hydrotalcite and on its calcined product was investigated. The solid [Mg-Al-CO3], prepared by cooprecipitation at constant pH, its calcined mixed oxide was obtained; both solid were characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The interaction of these materials with diclofenac shows that the kinetics of sorption was fast and followed the second order model. The effects on the diclofenac concentration, sorbent concentration and temperature were studied. The sorption capacity of the calcined hydrotalcite was close to 1.9 mmole g-1, which represents only 66% of the AEC, but at the concentrations measured that amount represents up 95% of the diclofenac present in solution in the case of HT-C. This suggests that, particularly HT-C could to constitute interesting adsorbent for the removal of diclofenac. Recycling by restitution and calcination-rebuilding should support the recovery of this pollutant.

Calcined hydrotalcite, diclofenac, sorption capacity, desorption

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.91434

10.18393/ejss.91434

Influence of different fertilization on the dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation in acid and limed soils

Ieva Jokubauskaite evvute@yahoo.com

Alvyra Slepetiene

Danute Karcauskiene

137 - 143

2014-07-12

2015-01-19

2015-02-04

2015-04-01

Soil quality has become an important issue in soil science. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is believed to play an important role in soil processes and in the C, N and P balances, their supplies to plants in all types of soils. It is much more sensitive to soil management than is soil organic matter as a whole, and can be used as a key indicator of soil natural functions. This study aimed to assess the influence of different organic fertilizers on DOC and N, P accumulation. The study was carried out on a moraine loam soil at the Vezaiciai Branch of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2012. Farmyard manure (FYM) (60 t ha -1) and alternative organic fertilizers (wheat straw, rape residues, roots, stubble, perennial grasses) were applied on two soil backgrounds - acid and limed. DOC was analysed using an ion chromatograph SKALAR. Application of organic amendments resulted in a significant increase of soil organic carbon (SOC) content, which demonstrates a positive role of organic fertilizers in SOC conservation. The combination of different organic fertilizers and liming had a significant positive effect on DOC concentration in the soil. The highest DOC content (0.241 g kg-1) was established in the limed soil fertilized with farmyard manure. The most unfavourable status of DOC was determined in the unlimed, unfertilized soil. The limed and FYM-applied soil had the highest nitrogen (1.47 g kg-1) and phosphorus (0.84 g kg-1) content compared to the other treatments. Organic fertilizers gave a significant positive effect on SOC and DOC content increase in the topsoil. This immediate increase is generally attributed to the presence of soluble materials in the amendments. Application of organic fertilizers in acid and limed soil increased the nutrient stocks and ensured soil chemical indicators at the optimal level for plant growth and thus may provide a mechanism as well as prediction opportunities for soil fertility, conservation, sustainability, and protection against degradation.

Soil, SOC, DOC, N, P, organic fertilizers, liming