EURASIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE

266 - 274

Authors: Idowu Ezekiel Olorunfemi, Johnson Toyin Fasinmirin, Adefemi Samuel Ojo

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.

279 - 284

Authors: Sergey V. Makarychev, Andrey G. Bolotov

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.

294 - 298

Authors: Nutullah Özdemir, Ömrüm Tebessüm Kop-Durmuş, İrem Zorba

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.

307 - 313

Authors: Erkan Kasırğa, Mehmet Ali Demiral

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.

322 - 331

Authors: Magboul Sulieman, Abd El-Azeem Sallam

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.

172-181

Authors: Ivona Nikova, Venera Tsolova, Bisser Hristov, Aleksandar Zdravkov, Kalin Ruskov

The chemical composition of soils spread in the Bobov dol valley was studied in order to reveal the natural and anthropogenic patterns of Cd and Co spatial distribution. A sampling procedure based on the irregular grid of points and validated analytical methods were used in the field and laboratory studies. It is found that Cd content varies from 0.21 to 0.90 mg kg-1 in studied soils and the average value of 0.55 mg kg-1 coincides with concentration demarcating soil pollution (0.5 mg kg-1). Co content ranges from 2.22 to 15.76 mg kg-1 and in 70 % of sampled points exceeds the natural background content of 7.8 mg kg-1 found in local rocks. Still, Cd enrichment of studied soils is more significant than Co’s with coefficient of Clarke concentration of 3.67. Hence, the secondary deposition of studied elements as a result of the Bobov dol Thermal power plant air emissions is verified by results obtained. The spatial distribution of Cd and Co is featured with an altitudinal gradient in deposition and a trend of quantitative depletion in the South of Plant. Soil organic matter and pH have no influence on the content and spatial distribution of studied elements. Elements iron affinity governs their geochemical linkage in soils although cobalt occurs allied with aluminum and titanium.

192-200

Authors: Coşkun Gülser, İmanverdi Ekberli, Feride Candemir, Zeynep Demir

Spatial variability of soil physical properties in a cultivated field such as; bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PNT), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP), were determined by geostatistical method. While BD values varied between 1.12 and 1.41 g cm-3, PNT resistance (0.66 to 1.88 MPa), clay content (31.48 to 43.97%), Ks (1.46 to 3.37 mm h-1), FC (30.40 to 39.66%) and PWP (19.22 to 24.42%) values showed variations with soil cultivation. In kriging interpolation for the spatial variability of soil properties, the biggest r2 and cross validation r2 values were determined with spherical model for PNT, Ks, FC values, and exponential model for clay, BD and PWP. Spatial dependences of the properties, except BD, were found to be strong in the field. Ks values significantly increased with increasing BD (0.340*), and decreasing clay content (-0.905**) and PNT (-0.288*) values in the field. Spatial variations of soil physical properties in the field are generally controlled by the particle size distribution as a fundamental factor. Heterogeneity and variation of soil physical parameters in a field due to soil plowing should be taken into consideration for a successful agricultural management.

209-220

Authors: Suleiman Usman

Soil erodibility (K factor) is the most important tool for estimation the erosion. The aim of this study Soil factors and surface soil characteristics are important components of agricultural environment. They support surface and subsurface soils to perform many functions to agriculture and economic human developments. Understanding these factors would aid to the recognition of the values that our soil and land offered to humanity. It is therefore, aim of this study to visualise and examine the soil factors and surface soil characteristics in Kebbi State Nigeria. An Integrated Surface Soil Approach (ISSA) was used in the classification and description of soil environment in the study region. The factors constituted in the ISSA are important components of soil science that theories and practice(s) noted to provide ideas on how soil environment functioned. The results indicate that the surface soil environments around Arewa, Argungu, Augie, Birnin Kebbi and Dandi are physically familiar with the following surface soil characteristics: bad-lands, blown-out-lands, cirque-lands, fertile-lands, gullied-lands, miscellaneous and rock-outcrops.The major soil factors observed hat played an important role in surface soil manipulations and soil formation are alluvial, colluvial, fluvial and lacustrine; ant, earthworms and termite; and various forms of surface relief supported by temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and wind. Overall, the surface soil environment of the region was describe according to their physical appearance into fadama clay soils, fadama clay-loam soils, dryland sandy soils, dryland sandy-loam soils, dryland stony soils and organic-mineral soils.

231-240

Authors: Lotfi Mustapha Kazi-Tani, Abdelaziz Gaouar

Embedded Markov chain (EMC) has long history in geological domains, particularly to define the most representative sequences from statigraphic logs. In other words, what is viewed as a meaningless and disordered stratigraphic layer stack can be reorganized in a meaningful sequence by using EMC. This method was transposed in this paper to obtain soil sequences from data retrieved from soil map made by authors, covering a part of the region of Traras (N.W. of Algeria) and containing 13 major soil types. Each major soil type occupies at least one polygon in the map and allow to establish soil adjacencies, which have been tabulated in a matrix regardless to the direction. Three EMC methods have been tested, Walker, Harper and Türk using Strati-signal software and to erect soil relationship diagrams (SRD) representing the most significant links between soils. Significant test is the main difference between the above mentioned three EMC methods. It has been shown that Harper method is quite insensitive to small number of transitions. Besides, all three methods agreed for one soil sequence made by four soils: lithics leptosols- cambisols chormics- cambisols calcarics- fluvisols representing theoretical catena the most representative to the study area. This soil sequence is relevant to the study region and even to the whole Mediterranean region, and is commanded by the topography and the Mediterranean bioclimate. Walker SRD is the most realistic but the most difficult to interpret because of the high number of soil links, Harper SRD gives interesting results. Although the results didn’t bring something new to the soil interpretation and soil pedogensis but EMC applied to a finer scale may highlights other hidden relationships between soils.

249-254

Authors: Vita Vasilyevna Datsenko, Nataliya Lvovna Khimenko

The experimental data dealing with the effect of heavy metals contained in the technogenic contaminated soils on plant objects under controlled conditions was discussed. The aim of this work is to define the quantitative indicators of copper and zinc potential phytotoxicity, namely germination energy, simultaneous germination and duration of the test plants. It was found that the activity of the test plant growth is linked with copper and zinc complex action. Joint effect of copper and zinc is manifested both in inhibition of lettuce growth and determined, above all, by the nature contamination, soil properties and biological specificity of the test plants.

89 - 96

Authors: Sevinç Karadağ, Emel Eren, Ebru Çetinkaya, Selin Özen, Seda Deveci

Rapid determination of sodium (Na) ions in soil samples using ion selective electrodes (ISE) was investigated in this study. The compatibility of ISEs with soil extraction solution is a challenging subject as various effects such as pH, ionic strength and other interferences have to be considered as well as efficiency of the extraction solution. Because almost every type of sodium salt is soluble in water, and the pH of water is suitable for ISE studies, it was chosen as the soil extractant. Firstly, the extraction parameters were optimized by using a central composite design (CCD), secondly thirty agricultural soil samples were extracted with water and the extracts were measured by Na-ISE in a previously developed flow system. The results were compared with ion chromatography (IC) as the reference method, and the regression analysis between IC and ISE results yielded a high correlation (R² = 0.9408). It was concluded that, ion selective electrodes can be used with water as an extraction solution for rapid determination of sodium in soil samples.

105 - 112

Authors: Botir Khaitov, Akhmad Kurbonov, Anvar Abdiev, Maksud Adilov

The growth, development and yield of chickpea (Cicer ariеtinum L.) is strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as salinity and drought in the arid conditions. The use of efficient plant growth promoting bacteria in chickpea production is the best solution to overcome those stresses. In the present study, 10 chickpea rhizobial strains were isolated and purified from the nodules of chickpea genotype grown on middle salinated soils with different chickpea cultivation histories, 3 of them were more efficient in salt tolerance and showed higher nodulation abilities. Local chickpea genotype Uzbekistan-32 was inoculated with selected Rhizobium bacterial strains before planting them to the field condition. Inoculation of plants with strains Rhizobium sp. R4, R6 and R9 significantly increased shoot, root dry matter, and nodule number by 17, 12, and 20% above the uninoculated plants, respectively. The shoot length increased by 52%, root length by 43%, shoot dry weight by 36%, and root dry weight by 64%. Inoculation significantly increased the pod number by 28% and yield up to 55% as compared to control plant. The effective indigenous rhizobial strains isolated in this study from chickpeas on middle salinated soils of Uzbekistan have the characters of broad host range, high nodulation efficiency, efficient N fixation, great salt tolerance. Soil nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon content of the soil at the end of experiments were positive in all the treatments compare control. In this study, we are focused with consideration of the relationship between chickpea and its symbiotic nitrogen-fixing root nodule bacterial strains and how it functions to influence plant productivity and soil fertility.

121 - 131

Authors: Pravat Kumar Shit, Gouri Sankar Bhunia, Ramkrishna Maiti

The present paper is based on field investigation and measurement of rill erosion processes at Rangamati Experimental Station (Medinipur, West Bengal in India). In rill experiments, three different natural rills were studies in field for understanding of the dynamics of soil erosion processes of a rill catchment area. Geometric and morphological characteristics of each rill catchment area were analyzed. Results showed the widening, deepening and extended of rills because of sidewall sloughing, knick-points and head-ward erosion during surface runoff process. Progressive increases of rill volume were observed in the upper, middle and lower catchment with the change of time. Rill area has increased by runoff processes of 4.2 % and 6.8 % for Rill-A and Rill-B respectively. These processes are depends on surface coverage, soil texture, slope gradients and runoff velocity.

139 - 145

Authors: Abdolrahman Barzegar, Abdolamir Yousefi, Nazanin Zargoosh

Soil compaction and insufficient water supply generally decrease crop performance. The effects of varying compaction and water availability levels on the growth of Berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrimum L.), water use efficiency and nutrient concentration were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Treatments consisted of three soil compaction levels (bulk density of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 Mg m-3), and four water availability treatments (40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of soil field capacity) in a factorial combination. Soil compaction had a significant effect on water use efficiency with the highest (0.32 g l-1) at bulk density of 1.4 Mg m-3 and the lowest at the other bulk densities. Soil compaction had no significant effects on leaf area, shoot, root and total dry masses. Water stress resulted in lower leaf area (from 231 to 153 mm2 pot-1), and the stem lengths were 7.6 cm and 4.3 cm for 80% and 60% of field capacity, respectively. Likewise, the highest (0.47 g pot-1) and lowest (0.33 g pot-1) total dry masses were observed at 80% and 60% field capacities. Water use efficiencies were 0.32 and 0.20 g l-1 for 100% and 60% field capacities, respectively. The accumulation of N, P and K per unit length of roots increased with soil compaction. As the water supply increased, the root and shoot dry weight and water use efficiency increased. Treatment of 100% field capacity resulted in the highest accumulation of N, P and K. Results indicated that the treatment of 80% field capacity and bulk density of 1.4 Mg m-3 provided the best conditions for clover performance, among the applied treatments. This study suggests that sufficient water supply can moderate the adverse effects of soil compaction on clover performance.

155 - 165

Authors: Svetlana Sushkova, Tatiana Minkina, Irina Turina, Saglara Mandzhieva, Tatiana Bauer, Inna Zamulina, Rıdvan Kızılkaya

The aim of the current work was to study the main tendencies in the accumulation and distribution of benzo[a]pyrene in soils of the affected zone of the Novocherkassk regional power plant. Studies were conducted on the soils of monitoring plots subjected to Novocherkassk regional power plant emissions. Monitoring plots were established at different distances from the Novocherkassk regional power plant (1.0–20.0 km). Regularities in the accumulation and distribution of benzo[a]pyrene in chernozemic, meadow-chernozemic, and alluvial soils under the effect of aerotechnogenic emissions from the Novocherkassk regional power plant have been revealed on the basis of long-term monitoring studies (from 2002 to 2011). The tendencies in the distribution and accumulation of BaP in the studied soils coincided during the 10 years of monitoring studies. It has been found the 5-km zone to the northwest from the power station, which coincides with the predominant wind direction, is most subjected to contamination by benzo[a]pyrene, with the maximum accumulation at a distance of about 1.6 km from the source. Dynamics of pollutant accumulation in soils depends on number of Novocherkassk regional power plant emissions. The content of benzo[a]pyrene in the soil is an indicator of the technogenic load impact on the areas, for which the combustion products of hydrocarbon fuel are the major pollutants. A gradual decrease of the pollutant content in the soils was revealed during the period from 2002 to 2011. It explained by the significant decrease in the volume of pollutant emissions from the plant and the self-purification capacity of soils and mechanisms of benzo[a]pyrene degradation.

13 - 16

Authors: Konstantinos P. Prodromou

Lithium (Li) adsorption on both amorphous aluminum hydroxides and gibbsite was studied. For the amorphous Al(OH)3 the adsorption was found to be pH dependent. Generally, 1.6 times more Li was adsorbed at initial pH value 8.0 compared with pH value 6.50. Gibbsite adsorbed 11.6 to 45.5 times less Li quantities compared with amorphous Al(OH)3. Lithium adsorption was not depended on equilibrium times. It remained stable for all equilibrium times used. Lithium quantities extracted with 1N CH3COONH4 pH 7 , represent the physical adsorption, while the remaining Li that was adsorbed on Al(OH)3, represents the chemical adsorption. During the desorption process 19% of Li extracted with NH4+, represents the physical adsorption, while the remaining 81% of Li, which was adsorbed represents the chemical adsorption. In gibbsite, 9.6% of Li represents the physical adsorption and 90.4% the chemical one. The experimental data conformed well to Freundlich isotherm equation.

24 - 29

Authors: Victor B. Ella, Manuel R. Reyes, Agustin Mercado, Jr., Adrian Ares, Rafael Padre

Conservation agriculture involves minimum soil disturbance, continuous ground cover, and diversified crop rotations or mixtures. Conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) have the potential to improve soil quality if appropriate cropping systems are developed. In this study, five CAPS including different cropping patterns and cover crops under two fertility levels, and a plow-based system as control, were studied in a typical upland agricultural area in northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) at 0- 5-cm depth for all CAPS treatments generally increased with time while SOC under the plow-based system tended to decline over time for both the high (120, 60 and 60 kg N P K ha-1) and moderate (60-30-30 kg N P K ha-1) fertility levels. The cropping system with maize + Stylosanthes guianensis in the first year followed by Stylosanthes guianensis and fallow in the second year, and the cassava + Stylosanthes guianensis exhibited the highest rate of SOC increase for high and moderate fertility levels, respectively. After one, two, and three cropping seasons, plots under CAPS had significantly higher soil residual water content (RWC) than under plow-based systems. Results of this study suggest that conservation agriculture has a positive impact on soil quality, while till systems negatively impact soil characteristics.

39 - 46

Authors: Fateme Aghamir, Hosseinali Bahrami, Mohammad Jafar Malakouti, Saeid Eshghi, Foroud Sharifi

Magnetized water is considered eco-friendly physical presowing seed germination.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of magnetized watertreatments on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) germination under saline conditions (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 120 mM NaCl). This experiment was performed as factorial in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The results revealed that the roots and shoots length, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots and roots to shoots ratio, chlorophyll content index, water uptake, tissue water contentwere significantly affected by magnetized water.Irrigation with magnetized water significantly increased the physiologic factors such as germination percentage and index, vigor index and salt tolerance index, compared to untreated control seeds.Mean germination time and parameters T1, T10, T25, T50and T90 (required time for germination of one to 90 percent of seeds) were reduced significantly in all magnetized water treated plants in comparison to control.The results also demonstrated that magnetized water was conducive to promote the growth of bean seedlings under saline conditions.

53 - 61

Authors: Shafaqat Ali, Muhammad Shahid Ibin-i Zamir, Mujahid Farid, Muhammad Ahsan Farooq, Muhammad Rizwan,Rehan Ahmad, Fakhir Hannan

Tillage practices and row spacing can be manipulated to optimize spatial distribution and plant growth, therefore maximizing sunlight, soil water use efficiency, nutrients and grain yield on sustainable basis. A field study was conducted to determine the effect of tillage and row spacing on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during wheat season. The treatments were comprised of two tillage practices viz. zero tillage and conventional tillage and four row spacing viz. 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm and 30 cm. The experimental results revealed that zero tillage significantly enhanced the plant height, tillers m-2, spike length, 1000 kernel weight and yield and yield components of wheat plants as compared to conventional tillage. Wheat plants resulted in a significant increase in tillers m-2 and accumulated higher biomass and grain yield under 15-cm row spacing than all three other row spacing. The grain yield increase was mainly attributed to more tillers m-2 at 15-cm than the other row spacing. So, zero tillage and narrow row spacing (15 cm) proved to be involved in higher wheat yield for the wheat-maize cropping system in semi-arid regions.

74 - 83

Authors: Milad Mirzaei Aminiyan, Ali Akbar Safari Sinegani, Mohsen Sheklabadi

Organic carbon (OC) fractions play an important role in soil and many ecosystem processes. This study focuses on changing of OC in different fractions in a soil treated with different levels of zeolite and plant residue that incubated for 90 days. The results showed that the amounts of light fraction (LF) and heavy fraction (HF) increased with increasing the percentage of zeolite and plant residues in the soil. The highest amounts of LF (22.7 g LF. Kg-1Soil) and HF (26.7 g. Kg-1Soil) were found when 30% zeolite, 5% wheat and alfalfa straws was added to the soil respectively. Accordingly, wheat straw and alfalfa straw were effective for increasing the LF and HF respectively. However they declined with decreasing the OC from the 1st day of experiment until the 90th day of experiment. Soluble OC in hot (2.80 g. Kg-1Soil) and cool (2.25 g. Kg-1Soil) water fractions increased with the addition of 30% zeolite and 5% plant residues particularly alfalfa straw in comparison with control. Although they increased after 30 days of starting incubation but, then they decreased in the continuation of the experiment. In fact, OC contents in density and soluble fractions increased with application and addition of 30% zeolite and 5% plant residues into the soil; however they decreased after 30 days of incubation with decreasing the OC. The findings of this research revealed the application of zeolite and plant residues improved carbon pools in density and soluble fractions and carbon sequestration increase by increasing the OC contents in soil.

227 - 233

Authors: Maxim Ivanov, Valentin Golosov, Evgeniya Shamsurina

A Chernobyl-derived 137Cs- fallout was associated with one or two rainfalls Because of that vast areas of the Europe affected by Chernobyl-derived fallout are characterized by non-uniform field of radionuclide contamination. It was assessed after detailed field investigation within few river basins of the Central Russia located in areas with different levels of Chernobyl contamination, that existing maps of radionuclide contamination composed during last two decades are not enough detailed for assessment of initial contamination field transformation by the lateral migration processes of the Chernobyl-derived 137Cs. This problem can be overcomed if additional soil sampling are undertaken in reference locations for correction of exiting radionuclide contamination maps. However it is necessary to evaluate the optimal number of bulk samples which should be taken in each sampling point for receiving statistically correct results of radionuclide concentration. Special investigation was undertaken in few catchments (S= 2-50 km2) of the Central Russia, located in areas with different levels of initial Chernobyl contamination, for evaluation the optimal number of samples, which should be taken in each sampling point for the determination of Cs-137 concentrations error not exceed 30 % on 95 % confidence level.

244 - 252

Authors: Lili Mézes, Attila Nagy, Bernadett Gálya, János Tamás

Poultry feathers are produced in large amounts as a waste in poultry slaughterhouses. Only 60-70% of the poultry slaughterhouse products are edible for human being. This means more million tons annually worldwide (Papadopoulus et al., 1986; Williams et al., 1991; Hegedűs et al., 1998). The keratin-content of feather can be difficulty digested, so physical, chemical and/or biological pre-treatment are needed in practice, which have to be set according to the utilization method. Feather was enzymatic degraded, and then fermented in separated bioreactors. The anaerobic bioreactor system (4 digesters with 6 litre volume) was controlled by ACE SCADA software running on Linux platforms. Pot scale seed germination tests were established to suggest the quantity of digested slurry to be utilized. The chosen test plants were lettuce (Lactuca sativa). In case of reproduction test Student’s t-test was applied to examine significant differences between the root lengths of the control and the treated plant species. In case of pot seed germination variance analysis with Tukey B’s and Duncan test was applied to examine significant differences between the root lengths of plants, grown on different treatments. The effect of treatments on germination ability of the plant species was expressed in the percentage of the controls. According to Student’s t-test significant difference was found between root lengths of different treatments. Based on variance analysis with Tukey B’s and Duncan tests could be detected a significant difference between the treatments. Utilization of the fermented material reduces the use of fertilizers and because of its large moisture content it reduces the watering costs. Recycle of the slaughterhouse feather and different agricultural wastes and by-products can solve three main problems: disposal of harmful materials, producing of renewable energy and soil nutrient, measuring reflectance at the certain spectral range, which can facilitate real time water status assessment of orchards.

259 - 265

Authors: Vedat Ceyhan, İzzet Akça, Rıdvan Kızılkaya, Anna Veselova, Ksenia Novikova

Recycling the waste such as hazelnut husk, sewage sludge etc. has been one of the issues into the agenda of many countries. Therefore the purpose of the study was to examine the economic feasibility of the vermicompost production. Technical data about composting hazelnut husk and sewage sludge were gathered from past research. The time series data such as production, export, import and price of vermicompost collected from TURKSTAT, FAO and related institutions. Autoregressive integrating moving average model (ARIMA) and smoothing methods such as double exponential model and winter model were used in forecasting process. We followed net present value and internal rate of return procedures when evaluating the financial feasibility of the facility having one ton vermicompost production capacity per day. Research results showed that the profitability of vermicompost production facility was high, while the likelihood of loss was less. Vermicompost production facility with approximately 130 thousands of US dollars initial investment provided net present value of 1.28 million of US dollars during the economic life. The internal rate of vermicompost production facility was 23%. Research results also revealed that production cost of vermicompost was $0.2 per kilogram. Since vermicompost production facility investment with high profitability and low level of risk was good investment alternatives facing with low level of competitive in market, the study suggest to investors who has good back grounding about sector that they should pay attention to marketing system and market observation about organic input market.

272 - 278

Authors: Kristina Amaleviciute, Inga Liaudanskiene, Alvyra Slepetiene, Jonas Slepetys, Ieva Jokubauskaite, Jonas Volungevicius

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical properties of peat soil depending on changes in land-use. The Terric Histosol (HSs) was investigated in this research, and the treatments of former different land-use in Radviliškis site. Chemical analyses were carried out at the Chemical Research Laboratory of LRCAF. After 12 years since the end of field experiment the differences in soil chemical composition remained still between treatments of differently used peat soil. Due to mineralization, the content of soil organic matter (SOM) and SOC respectively decreased, the largest amounts of SOC are stored in the upper soil layer of perennial grasses fertilized with NPK (NPK), there was the highest yield of biomass; and accordingly, the lowest content of SOC – in soil of un-used peat (UU). The distribution of total N and P in profile of Terric Histosol is directly related to the vertical gradient of mineralization intensity; higher amounts of N and P have been accumulated where mineralization was more intense. The distribution of total K is related to land-use of Terric Histosol, whereas the biggest quantity of total K was established in arable land which has been fertilized with mineral fertilisers.

287 - 300

Authors: Kaiwen Pan, Pimin Gong, Jinchuang Wang, Yanjie Wang, Chenggang Liu, Wei Li, Lin Zhang

Nitrate (NO3--N) and ammonium (NH4+-N) fertilizers are the main forms of chemical inorganic nitrogen fertilizers that are widely used in agro-ecosystem for high yield. However, the responses of soil nematode food web to different forms and rates of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers are not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the responses of soil nematode food web to the applications of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers in a continuous cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cropping system. Nitrate (NaNO3) and ammonium (NH4HCO3) fertilizers were applied to cucumber plants at the nitrogen (N) rate of 0, 67.5, 135.0 and 202.5 kg N hm-2 before planting. It was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications at Huaizi village, Leshan district, Sichuan province, Southwestern China. The effects were analyzed at the stages of seedling, blooming and fruiting, respectively. The results indicated that the numbers of nematodes were significantly higher in soils with the addition of 67.5 kg N hm-2 than the control at the seedling and blooming stages. Nematode number strongly increased at the seedling stage and decreased at the blooming and fruiting stages in nitrate-treated soils compared to the ammonium-treated. The percentage of herbivores to total nematodes significantly decreased while that of bacterivores increased with a fertilizer rate less than 135 kg N hm-2 at the seedling and fruiting stages. Nitrate significantly reduced the percentage of herbivores, and increased that of bacterivores to total nematodes by comparison with ammonium at the blooming and fruiting stages. The application of nitrate significantly increased nematode diversity and evenness, and decreased dominance at the blooming stage relative to ammonium. Nitrate significantly decreased the values of channel index at the blooming stage and maturity index at the seedling stage in comparison with ammonium, respectively. Enrichment index and structural index strongly increased at the seedling stage, and decreased at the blooming and fruiting stages under the treatment of nitrate relative to ammonium. The results suggested responses of nematode food web dependent on the rates and forms of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers and stages of cucumber growth.