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.2016.4.255-265

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.255-265

Roles of soil biota and biodiversity in soil environment – A concise communication

Suleiman Usman labboallugu@yahoo.com

Yakubu Muhammad

Alhaji Chiroman

255 - 265

2015-12-09

2016-03-08

2016-04-12

2016-10-01

Soil biota (the living organisms in soil) plays an important role in soil development and soil formation. They are the most important component of soil organic matter decomposition and behave efficiently in the development and formation of soil structure and soil aggregate. Their biodiversity provides many functional services to soil and soil components. They help in dissolving verities of plant and animal materials, which could left as decayed organic matter at the surface soil. Understanding the vital role of soil organisms would undoubtedly helps to increase food production and reduces poverty, hunger and malnutrition. Soil biota and biodiversity research in sub-Saharan Africa would play an important role in sustaining food security, environmental health, water quality and forest regeneration. This paper, briefly highlighted some of the biological functions of soil biota and suggests that proper understandings of biota and their biodiversity in soil environment would provide ways to get better understanding of soil health, soil function, soil quality and soil fertility under sustainable soil management activities in agricultural production.

Soil biota, biodiversity, soil environment

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4. 266-274

10.18393/ejss.2016.4. 266-274

Modeling cation exchange capacity and soil water holding capacity from basic soil properties

Idowu Olorunfemi olorunfemiidowu@gmail.com

Johnson Fasinmirin

Adefemi Ojo

266 - 274

2016-01-26

2016-03-14

2016-04-17

2016-10-01

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a good indicator of soil productivity and is useful for making recommendations of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium for soils of different textures. Soil water holding capacity (SWHC) defines the ability of a soil to hold water at a particular time of the season. This research predicted CEC and SWHC of soils using pedotransfer models developed (using Minitab 17 statistical software) from basic soil properties (Sand(S), Clay(C), soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC)) and verify the model by comparing the relationship between measured and estimated (obtained by PTFs) CEC and SWHC in the Forest Vegetative Zone of Nigeria. For this study, a total of 105 sampling points in 35 different locations were sampled in the study areas. Three sampling points were randomly selected per location and three undisturbed samples were collected at each sampling point. The results showed success in predicting CEC and SWHC from basic soil properties. In this study, five linear regression models for predicting soil CEC and seven linear regression models for predicting SWHC from some soil physical and chemical properties were suggested. Model 5 [CEC = -13.93+2.645 pH +0.0446 C (%)+2.267 SOC (%)] was best for predicting CEC while model 12 [SWHC (%)=36.0- 0.215 S (%)+0.113 C (%)+10.36 SOC (%)] is the most acceptable model for predicting SWHC.

Cation exchange capacity, soil water holding capacity, pedotransfer function, multiple linear regres

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4. 275-278

10.18393/ejss.2016.4. 275-278

Effect of mycorrhiza on growth criteria and phosphorus nutrition of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under different phosphorus application rates

S. Ergin

Füsun Gülser gulserf@yahoo.com

275 - 278

2015-11-27

2016-03-22

2016-04-27

2016-10-01

In this study, effect of mycorrhiza on growth criteria and phosphorus nutrition of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under different phosphorus fertilization rates were investigated. Phosphorus were added into growing media as 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg P2O5/kg with and without mycorrhiza applications. Phosphorus applications significantly increased yield criteria of lettuce according to the control treatment statistically. Mycorrhiza application also significantly increased plant diameter, plant dry weight and phosphor uptake by plant. The highest phosphorus uptakes by plants were determined in 200 mg P2O5/kg treatments as 88.8 mg P/pot with mycorrhiza and 83.1 mg P/pot without mycorrhiza application. In the control at 0 doses of phosphorus with mycorrhiza treatment, phosphorus uptake (69.9 mg P/pot), edible weight (84.36 g), dry weight (8.64 g) and leaf number (28) of lettuce were higher than that (47.7 mg P/pot, 59.33 g, 6.75 g and 20, respectively) in the control without mycorrhiza application. It was determined that mycorrhiza had positive effect on growth criteria and phosphorus nutrition by lettuce plant, and this effect decreased at higher phosphorus application rates.

Mycorrhiza, phosphorus, lettuce, plant growth criteria

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.279-284

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.279-284

Structural-functional concept of thermophysical condition of the soils of Altai Region

Sergey Makarychev

Andrey Bolotov agbolotov@gmail.com

279 - 284

2015-09-08

2016-03-25

2016-04-28

2016-10-01

The goal of this study was to reveal the quantitative interrelations between the thermophysical indices (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) and physical soil properties such as; moisture content, density and detachability. According to the research targets, the soil samples including different genesis and soil particle size distribution were taken in different soil and climatic zones of the Altai Region. These were the sod-podzolic sandy loam soils of the dry steppes, chernozems and chestnut soils of light and medium loamy particle size distribution of temperately arid zone, and the heavy loamy gray forest soils and clayey chernozems of the Altai foothills and low mountains. The samples of undisturbed structures in different soil horizons were studied. To measure the thermophysical properties in laboratory setting, a pulse method of a two-dimensional heat source was used. The method takes into account the patterns of temperature field equalization in an unbounded medium after the heat source termination. A feature of this process is the occurrence of peak temperature at the investigated point of the medium at a given instant. The knowledge of this temperature and time enables to determine the soil thermal capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity.

Soil, soil-physical factors, thermal capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.285-293

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.285-293

Using Cesium-137 to estimate soil particle redistribution by wind in an arid region of central Iran

Fatemeh Gheysari

Shamsollah Ayoubi ayoubi@cc.iut.ac.ir

Mohammad Abdi

285 - 293

2016-01-28

2016-04-01

2016-05-05

2016-10-01

This study was conducted to estimate soil erosion and deposition rates along a transect using 137Cs technique in an arid of Isfahan Province, central Iran. Sixteen sites along a northeast-southwest transect with 42 km length were used. Eighty soil samples collected from five depths (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-50 cm) were analyzed for 137Cs concentration. Additional 20 soil samples were collected from the reference site for computing soil loss and deposition using 137Cs measurement. The results showed that the northern part of the transect showed erosion rates ranging from12.90 to 46.86 t ha-1yr-1. The major factor affecting soil erosion process in northern part of the studied transect is associated dominantly with occurrence of improper gypsum mining operations and human activities. In the southern part of the transect deposition rates changed between 3.10 - 7.44 t ha-1yr-1, presumably influenced by increasing plant cover. Significant correlations between 137Cs and magnetic susceptibility, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and particle size distributions indicated that soil redistribution by wind erosion might have modified the soil properties along the studied transect. A multiple linear regression model was developed for estimating 137Cs by frequency dependence (χfd), TN, clay and sand contents which explained about 87% of the 137Cs variability. This study of using 137Cs to assess wind erosion is unique in the arid region of central Iran and had significant implications for further research.

137CS inventory, oil redistribution, wind erosion

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.294-298

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.294-298

Effects of some organic materials on bicarbonate extractable phosphate content of soils having different pH

Nutullah Özdemir nutullah@omu.edu.tr

Ömrüm Kop-Durmuş

İrem Zorba

294 - 298

2016-01-19

2016-04-07

2016-05-10

2016-10-01

This study was carried out to determine the effects of rice husk compost (RC), town waste compost (TW) and tobacco waste (TB) on bicarbonate extractable phosphate content (P) in soils having different pH levels under greenhouse conditions. Soil samples used in this study were taken from surfaces (0-20 cm) of agricultural fields around Samsun, Northern Anatolia. The experiment was conducted according to split plot design with four doses of organic matterials (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5, %). After a month of mixing organic matterials into soils, lettuce were grown in the medias. According to the results, RC, TW and TB applications into acidic (Tepecik), neutral (Kampüs) and alkaline (Çetinkaya) soils increased extractable P content. It was observed that effectiveness of organic matterials changed depend on soil reaction, type and dose of organic matterials. All organic wastes were more effective on increment of bicarbonate extractable phosphate content in neutral soil pH when compared the other soil pH levels.

Compost, extractable phosphorus, organic residues, soil reaction

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.299-306

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.299-306

Effects of different nitrogen and potassium sources on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) yield in a sandy soil

Mohamed Awaad moayamai@yahoo.com

Ragab Badr

Mamoduh Badr

Ahmed Abd-elrahman

299 - 306

2016-01-05

2016-04-18

2016-05-21

2016-10-01

Lettuce plants were grown under sandy soil conditions in the private farm of Ahmed Orabi organization, Cairo Governorate Egypt, between 15th November 2009 and 15 January 2010. The experiment was conducted to assess the effects of different nitrogen sources, slow release N (urea-formaldehyde) and fast release N (urea) containing fertilizers at the rates of 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1 applied alone or combined with potassium sulphate, on lettuce plant yield. Results indicated that application of different sources of N alone or combined with potassium sulphate gave the highest fresh dry weight per plant and total lettuce yield per hectare compared with the control. The highest dry weight of lettuce was achieved with the combination of urea and potassium sulphate. Although fertilization made with the combination of urea and potassium sulphate resulted in the highest P, K, Zn and Mn contents in lettuce plant, fertilization with urea alone gave the highest N and Fe contents. The lowest content of nitrate in lettuce plants was recorded with the fertilization of urea only or with the combination of urea and potassium sulphate. Application of the combination of urea and potassium sulphate induced the highest protein content in plants. The results indicated that application of urea-formaldehyde as a slow release nitrogen fertilizer solely or combined with potassium sulphate significantly improved yield and yield quality of lettuce plants grown in sandy soil.

Urea-formaldehyde, urea, potassium sulphate, Lactuca sativa

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.307-313

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.307-313

Salt stress-mineral nutrient relations in olive (Olea europaea L.) plant

Erkan Kasırğa

Mehmet Demiral mademiral@yahoo.com

307 - 313

2016-02-15

2016-04-28

2016-05-25

2016-10-01

In order to investigate the effect of salt stress on mineral nutrients, one year-old olive (Olea europaea L. cv. Gemlik) seedlings were exposed to increasing levels of NaCl salinity (4 dS m-1, 8 dS m-1 and 12 dS m-1, respectively) in pot culture and Na, K, Ca, Mg, N, P, Cl, Fe, Mn, Zn concentrations, ratios of K/Na and (K+Ca+Mg)/Na of the plants were ascertained. Sodium and Cl concentrations of plant parts increased with the salinity and the level in the aerial parts of the plants were lower than that of root. Salinity led to a general decrease in K concentrations in the all organs with the exception of subsoil trunk. Calcium concentrations of the plant parts decreased significantly by salinity with the exception of roots and subsoil trunk. Salinity affected Mg concentrations only in trunk and leaves. Treatments significantly decreased the ratios of K/Na and (K+Ca+Mg)/Na of all the plant organs. Compared to control application the highest salinity level (12 dS m-1) decreased the N concentrations of all the plant organs statistically except roots. Similarly salinity increased the concentrations of P in all plant parts except trunks compared to control treatment. Concentrations of all the micronutrients detected in the study were found lower in aerial parts than the roots.

Olive cultivar, salinity, nutrient contents, nutrient ratios

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.314-321

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.314-321

Relationship between soil water retention model parameters and structure stability

Amrakh Mamedov

Imanverdi Ekberli iman@omu.edu.tr

Coşkun Gülser

Ilknur Gümüş

Ummuhan Çetin

Guy Levy

314 - 321

2016-01-31

2016-05-02

2016-05-26

2016-10-01

Studying and modeling the effects of soil properties and management on soil structure and near saturation water retention is vital for the development of effective soil and water conservation practices. The contribution of soil intrinsic properties and extrinsic conditions to structure stability was inferred, in quantitative terms, from changes in water retention curves near saturation (low matric potential, 0-50 cm, macropores > 60 µm) that were obtained by the high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) method. The S-shaped water retention curves were characterized by the modified van Genuchten model that provided: (i) the model parameters α and n, which represent the location of the inflection point and the steepness of the water retention curve, respectively; and (ii) the soil structure index, SI=VDP/MS, where VDP is the volume of drainable pores, and MS is the modal suction. Model parameters, claculated by the soil-HEMC model, were related to soil properties and hence soil water retention properties were linked to measured characteristics in several field and laboratory experiments. Soil SI increased exponentially with the increase in α and the decrease in n, while the relationship between SI and α/n was linear. An improved description of the water retention and its link to pore and apparent aggregate size distribution, by using the model parameters α and n, could potentially assist in the selection of management practices for obtaining the most suitable type of soil structure depending on the desired soil function.

Structure stability, water retention, pore size, stability index, model

http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.2016.4.322-331

10.18393/ejss.2016.4.322-331

Improved method to determine particle size distribution for some gypsiferous soils. A case study from Al-Ahsa Governorate, Saudi Arabia

Magboul Sulieman magboul@uofk.edu

Abd Sallam

322 - 331

2016-03-03

2016-05-05

2016-05-07

2016-10-01

Until now, there is no method can be used to accurately assess the particles size distribution as well as textural classes of gypsiferous soils for proper interpretation of physical behavior of these soils, and most laboratory methods involve pretreatment to remove gypsum from the samples. Therefore, the results of the particle size distribution do not reflect the size distribution of the whole soil. This study aimed to develop an alternative method to determine particle size distribution for some gypsiferous soils selected from Al-Ahsa governorate, Saudi Arabia. Five samples from different profiles with different gypsum content were selected to evaluate the modified method. Sand fractions were separated with three disaggregation methods: 1) drying sieving, 2) shaking for 5 hours in a 7:3 ethanol: water solution, and 3) sonication for 3 minutes in a 7:3 ethanol: water solution. The statistical analysis results revealed that the sonication for 3 minutes in a 7:3 ethanol: water solution was the most effective method for separating sand fractions as compared to dry sieving and shaking. Meanwhile, there was slight difference in separating sand fractions between sonication for 3 minutes and shaking for 5 hours. The particle size distribution by the developed method showed increasing in total sand content as compared to standard particle size method. Likewise, comparison of the CEC/clay ratio between the two methods also indicated that the developed method yielded clay contents more consistent with other property data for the same horizons. Consequently, the textural classes obtained from the two methods were different. Therefore; we concluded that the determination of particle size distribution for gypsiferous soils (≤ 40% gypsum) using this developed method will improve the understanding and ability to proper interpret of physical behavior of these unique soils. We highly recommended using this developed method to separate soil particles from the gypsiferous soils.

Gypsiferous soils, Al-Ahsa governorate, disaggregation methods, sonication