Soils of the Bol’shoi Zayatskii Island

Soils of the Bol’shoi Zayatskii Island of the Solovki Archipelago (the White Sea) have been studied. Data on the morphology and properties of these soils are presented. The genesis and evolution of the soils as related to the glacioisostatic uplift of the island in the Holocene are discussed.     

Microbiomes of the Soils of Solonetzic Complex with Contrasting Salinization on the Volga–Ural Interfluve

The analysis of ribosomal genes has been applied to study microbiomes of two soils of the solonetzic soil complex in the northern Caspian region. These soils—solonetz and quasigleyic chestnut soil—drastically differ in their salinity characteristics. The specificity of the vertical distribution of prokaryotes by the genetic soil horizons from the surface to the depth of 120 cm in these soils is discussed. The differences in the structure of microbiomes in the upper soil horizons can be related to the differences in the vegetation cover of the two soils, whereas the differentiation of microbiomes along the soil profiles is affected by the soil salinization. The solonetz is characterized by a much sharper decrease in the abundance and diversity of microorganisms down the soil profile in comparison with the leached quasigleyic chestnut soil. The total number of prokaryotes is mainly limited by the organic carbon content. In the upper soil horizons, Archaea from the phylum Thaumarchaeota are relatively abundant; their percentage decreases down the soil profiles. In the lower horizons of the solonetz, the genes of Marinobacter bacteria, which are considered marine inhabitants, have been found. It is probable that they persist in the soil since the previous transgression of the Caspian Sea.     

Acidification of Soils in Mount Lushan over the Last 35 Years

INTRODUCTION Soil acidification due to acid deposition has been one of the major environmental prob-lems concerned by soil scientists and ecologists for the recent 20 years(van Breemen,1990).     

Problems of the Cryogenic Soils’ Diagnostics in the Recent Russian Soil Classification System

Eurasian Soil Science - The paper is targeted at positioning the cryogenic soils in the recent classification system of Russian soils. An on-line discussion and recent publications demonstrated...     

Comparative Study on the Kinetic Equations of Potassium Release from Soils

Elovich,two-constant,parabolic diffusion,exponential,second-order,first-order and zero-order equations were used to describe the kinetic characteristics of potassium desorption from six paddy soils of Zhejiang Province in a constant electric field (44.4V/cm) of EUF.Results showed that the second-order and Elovich equations could describe the potassium desorption kinetics best,as evidenced by the highest correlation coefficients (r) and the lowest standard errors (SE).The first-order,two-constant and parabolic diffusion equations also described the K desorption kinetics well,as showed by the relatively high correlation coefficients and relatively low standard errors.The zero-order equation did not describe the K desorption satisfactorily with a relatively low correlation coefficient and relatively high standard error.However,the exponential equation could not be used to describe the K desorption kinetics,due to the lowest correlation coefficient and the highest standarderror.     

Dark-Humus Residual–Hydromorphic Soils of the Slopes of the Northern Uvaly Formed on Clay Triassic Deposits

Northern Uvaly dark-humus soils and agrozems, which formed on Triassic clay deposits, are examined. Their hydromorphic nature is identified based on determination of their organic matter properties. Nonconformity of the hydromorphic features to the current moisture conditions is found, which indicates the residual character of hydromorphism and confirms the concept that the territory of the Uvaly was uplifted during the Holocene.     

Fractionation of Zinc in Paddy Soils of China

The rice fields in China amount to 25.4 million hectares of which low yield paddy soils areabout 26％(Xu,1981;Xiao,1981).One of the most important causes of low yield is the defi-ciency in nutrients including zinc.Zinc deficiency usually occurs in calcareous paddy soils withpH>6.5(Zhu and Liu,1981).And the availability of zinc in calcareous paddy soils is lowerthan that in neutral and acid paddy soils.     

Amaranthus Tricolor Has the Potential for Phytoremediation of Cadmium‐Contaminated Soils

Phytoremediation is a developing technology that uses plants to clean up pollutants in soils. To adopt this technology to cadmium (Cd)–contaminated soils efficiently, a Cd hyperaccumulator with fast growth rate and large biomass is required. In the present study, we selected Caryophyllales as a potential clade that might include Cd hyperaccumulators because this clade had a high mean concentration of zinc (Zn), which is in the same element group as Cd. Three species in Caryophyllales and three species in different clades were grown with Cd. Among them, Amaranthus tricolor showed high accumulating ability for Cd under both water‐culture and soil‐culture conditions, whereas Brassica juncea, a known Cd hyperaccumulator, accumulated high concentrations of Cd in shoots only under water‐culture conditions. This result suggests that A. tricolor has Cd‐solubilizing ability in rhizosphere. Because A. tricolor has large biomass and high growth rate, this species could be useful for phytoremediation of Cd‐contaminated fields.     

Does the Ammonium Fixation Capacity of Soils Have a Significant Effect on the Nitrogen Nutrition of Wheat?

Pot experiments were conducted on three soils differing in their ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) fixation capacity [high = 161 mg NH₄-nitrogen (N) kg^?1 soil; medium = 31.5 mg NH₄-N kg^?1 soil; and no = no NH₄-N was additionally fixed], and the effect of N fertilizer forms and doses on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated. Grain yields responded to almost all forms of N fertilizer with 80, 160, and 240 kg N ha^?1 in the high, medium, and no NH₄ ⁺ fixing soil process, respectively. Agronomic efficiency of applied N fertilizers was significantly greater in the no NH₄ ⁺ fixing soil. Thousand grain weights (TGW) of wheat grown on the high and medium NH₄ ⁺ fixing soil decreased with increasing N. Grain protein increased with increasing NH₄ ⁺ fixation capacity. Nitrogen doses and the forms of N fertilizers affected grain protein at a significance level. The combination of urea + ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) was most effective in increasing grain protein content.     

Problems of using digitized thematic maps on the territory of the former soviet union upon the creation of the “Soils of Russia” geographic information system

Soviet and Russian pedologists, ecologists, geobotanists, geographers, and other specialists created a large set of maps on the territory of the former Soviet Union. In most cases, these maps were published; at present, they are available as hardcopies. Their digitization clearly shows various merits and demerits of thematic maps on the territory of the Soviet Union and Russia.     

Reconstruction of Climate,Soils, and Vegetation in the Turan–Uyuk Basin of South Siberia at the Beginning of the Subatlantic Period of the Holocene

Four Scythian kurgans of the burial site Beloe Lake-3 were studied in the Turan–Uyuk Depression in the Republic of Tyva. They were constructed about 2565–2390 calendar years ago (calibrated with deviation 1 σ). Soil formation after 2500 yrs of the construction of the kurgans was examined in the interkurgan area. The properties of the background surface and ancient buried soils have much in common, and the difference between the soils of the four kurgans is small. This attests to the fact that the paleoclimatic conditions in the period of the necropolis construction remained stable and were similar to the modern climatic conditions. According to palynological data, the climate at the stage of the construction of the first two kurgans was a little more humid in comparison with the modern climate; it became somewhat drier after 95 years, during the construction of the third kurgan (2425 cal. BP) and again tended to humidification at the final stage of the necropolis creation. These changes in the paleoclimatic conditions are indicated by variations in the structure and composition of associations of xerophytes, mesophytes, hydrophytes, and ruderal plants. At the Uyuk stage, the area was mainly occupied by steppe phytocenoses with a predominance of xerophytes over mesophytes, and hydrophilous vegetation was allocated to moistened habitats near water reservoirs. Larch forests grew near water bodies. The variable anthropogenic impact on the landscape was stronger at the initial and final stages of the construction of the Uyuk culture necropolis.     

Size of Microbial Biomass in Soils of China

The microbial biomass C,N and P of soils all over China were determined in this study to study their affecting factors.The results,about 100-417 mg C kg^-1 soil,18-51 mg Nkg^-1 soil and 4.4-27.3mg P kg^-1 soil,showed the biomass C,N and P in linear relationship with the soil total organic C,toal N and soil organic P.The ratios of C:Nand C:P,ranging from 5.6 to 9.6 and from 11.2 to 48.4 respectively,were affected by soil pH.texture,crop rotation,macroclimate etc.The ratio of C:N in soil biomass increases gradually from the north to the south in China.     

Effect of High‐Molybdenum Compost on Soils and the Growth of Lettuce and Barley

A pot experiment evaluated the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgar) and accumulation of molybdenum (Mo) in plants and soils following amendments of Mo compost (1.0 g kg^?1) to a Truro sandy loam. The treatments consisted of 0 (control), 12.5, 25, and 50% Mo compost by volume. The Mo compost did not affect dry‐matter yield (DMY) up to 25% compost, but DMY decreased at the 50% compost treatment. The 50% compost treatments increased the soil pH an average of 0.5 units and increased the nitric acid (HNO₃)–extractable Mo to 150 mg kg^?1 and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Mo to 100 mg kg^?1 in the growth medium; the same treatment increased tissue Mo concentration to 569 and 478 mg kg^?1 in the lettuce and barley, respectively. Plants grown in the 25% compost produced about 55 mg kg^?1 of total Mo in the growth medium; this resulted in tissue Mo concentration of 348 mg kg^?1 in lettuce and 274 mg kg^?1 in barley without any phytotoxicity. Our results suggested that 55 mg Mo kg^?1 soil would be an appropriate limit for Mo loading of soil developed from compost additions, a value which is presently greater than the Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Guidelines for the use of type B compost in Canada.     

Transformation of Fertilizer-N in Rhizosphere Soils of Wheat

INTRODUCTION There is a close relationship between the transformation of fertilizer-N and the statusof nitrogen nutrition in rhizosphere soils.Previously,Harmsen and Jager(1962)made ananalysis of N and C contents in the rhizosphere soils of upland crops and found thatclose to the root zone there was an enrichment of these substances.     

Effect of Potassium Nutrition of Different Varieties of Rice on the Redox Status in Microzone Rhizosphere Soils

Being divided into three groups-strong,moderate and weak-according to the different kinetic parameters (Fmax,km,Cmin) of potassium uptake by crops,21 cultivars of rice have been studied to find out the relationships between their potassium nutrition and the oxidation-reduction status in the rhizosphere soils. Results show that,with no application of K fertilizer,there were higher contents of active reducing substances and ferrous iron in rhizosphere soils planted with cultivars,such as Zhongguo 91,week in absorbing potassium than in soils cropped with cultivars,Shanyou 64,stronger in absorbing potassium.As a result of K application,however,these toxic substances were decreased appreciably in the soil,particularly in the root zone where weakly K-absorbing sultivars were growing,and the parameter of soil redox (pH pE) was increased,the most striking example of this being found in the rhizosphere soil where the more strongly K-absorbing sultivars were growing.On and close to the root surface in soils where rice plants were supplied with potassium fertilizer,rather more iron oxide had been accumulated compared with rice receiving no potash,and even greater amounts of red iron oxide precipitated on the rice root in neutral paddy soils.As shown by the concentration distribution of active reducing substances and ferrous iron in a microzone of the profile,the redox range of rice roots supplied with potassium may extend as far as several centimeters from the root surface.It can thus be seen that potassium nutrition exerts its effect first on the morphological properties of rice roots and their exudation of oxygen,then on the content of soluble oxygen and the count and species of oxygen-consuming microbes in the rhizosphere soil,and finally on the redox status of the soil.     

Prediction of Chemical Element Contents in Soils

Assuming that the regularity for the dynamic changes of the chrono-sequences of chemical element contents in tree rings follows a k-order constant coefficient differential equation and substituting the differential with the difference,we could obtain the inferred value ym k 1 by the formula:ym k 1=c1ym 1 c2Ym 2 …ckym kEach coefficient ci in the formula may be ascertained by use of the measured data in the chrono-sequences,Extending the chrono-sequences on the assumption that the regularity of dynamic changes wouldn‘t change in the near future,the contents of chemical elements in the soils may be predicted in terms of a logarithmic linear correlation model.Also,this extension method could be used for the reproduction of the contents of chemical elemets in soils during different periods of time in the past.     

Factors Affecting Diffusion of Ions in Soils

In this work the diffusion coefficients of Na+, K+, Ca2+, NO3- and Cl- ions were estimated in terms of measuring apparent direct current (DC) conductivities of latosol, red soil and yellow-brown earth containing, respectively, NaNO3, KCI, and CaCl2 of different concentrations (0.005, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 mol/L) in the case of moisture contents ranging from wet to water saturation. The results showed that when bulk density, moisture content, and electrolyte concentration were constant, the diffusion coefficients of cations were in the order Na+> K+> Ca2+ except for Na+ and K+ in latosol, while the order for anions was NO3- > Cl-. The diffusion coefficients (Di) of cations and anions were linearly proportional to volumetric moisture content (θ) as electrolyte concentration and bulk density were unchanged. When moisture content and bulk density were constant, the diffusion coefficients of cations decreased, to varying extents, with the increase of electrolyte concentration, and the decrement in differen     

Adsorption of Phosphate on Variable Charge Soils

The study about the adsorption of phosphate on four variable charge soils and some minerals revealed that two stage adsorption appeared in the adsorption isotherms of phosphate on 4 soils and there was a maximum adsorption on Al-oxide-typed surfaces between pH 3.5 to pH 5.5 as suspension pH changed from 2 to 9, but the adsorption amount of phosphate decreased continually as pH rose on Fe-oxide typed surfaces. The adsorption amount of phosphate and the maximum phosphate adsorption pH decreased in the order of yellow-red soil > lateritic red soil > red soil > paddy soil, which was coincided with the content order of amorphous Al oxide. The removement of organic matter and Fe oxide made the maximum phosphate adsorption pH rise from 4.0 to 5.0 and 4.5, respectively. The desorption curves with pH of four soils showed that phosphate desorbed least at pH 5. Generally the desorption was contrary to the adsorption with pH changing.     

Chemical Behavior of Chromium in Soils: Ⅲ. Mechanism of Cr(Ⅵ) Adsorption by Soils

An analysis of Cr (Ⅵ)-sorbed surface of the soils by using a scanning electron microscope and an electron probe microscope has proved that aluminium is the chief element affecting Cr (Ⅵ) adsoption. As the ionic strength of the solution increased, the amounts of Cr (Ⅵ) adsorbed by goethite and soils decreased. Cr (Ⅵ) adsorption was greatly depressed in the presence of SO₄^2-, WO₄^2-, MoO₄^2-, HPO₄^2- and H₂PO^4- which competed for anion adsorption sites. The depressing extent of these anions was found to follow the sequence: HPO₄^2-, H₂PO^4->MoO₄^2->WO₄^2->SO₄^2->>Cl^-, NO^3-. The amounts of Cr (Ⅵ) desorption varied with different extractants.