Some characteristics of organic soils irrigated with municipal wastewater

Soil irrigation with wastewater (WW) gives the opportunity to solve the problems of its disposal, final purification or reuse. Many studies have examined mineral soils upon continued WW application. The aim of this paper was to examine the properties of organic soils 3 years after WW application was discontinued. Peat‐muck soil planted with Populus spp. or Salix spp., and mineral‐muck soil under grasses were irrigated for 4 years with municipal WW at a low (comparable with intensive NPK fertilization) and high WW rate (600 and 1200 mm yearly, respectively). Soils were analysed for organic matter (OM), pH, bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), P₂O₅, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, MnO, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, magnetic susceptibility (MS) and dehydrogenase and catalase activities. The results were compared with control soils which have never received WW. The study showed that only P₂O₅, MnO and catalase activity (CA) were significantly affected by former WW application. On average, P₂O₅ increased by 30 per cent, whereas MnO decreased by 35 per cent with no differences between the two WW rates. CA decreased by 18 per cent at the high WW rate. Most of tested characteristics were determined by soil type. The peat‐muck soil showed higher OM, WHC, P₂O₅, MnO, Pb and CA than mineral‐muck soil and lower BD, MS, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃ and Cr. Soil depth influenced Fe₂O₃, MnO, Zn, MS and enzyme activities, while basic soil properties (OM, pH, BD, WHC and P₂O₅) were not changed by soil depth. Heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb) were below upper permissible limits. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calcium accumulation alleviates soil acidification in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) stands

Based on chemical and mechanical compositions and quartz content of red and/or yellow colored soil materials in the southwestern part of Japan, lithology index (LI) and weathering index (WI) were derived using a multivariate statistical method (factor analysis). The variables used for factor analysis are Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃, TiO₂/Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃+Al₂O₃+Quartz, Si(non-quartz)/(Fe₂O₃ + Al₂O₃), CaO + MgO + K₂O₃, MgO/K₂O₃ and Quartz/Sand, all of which represent certain different aspects of weathering and/or Iithological characteristics. Since LI and WI are mutually independent, it is possible to evaluate the effect of the degree of weathering on the characteristics of red and/or yellow colored soil materials independently from that of lithology.     

Relationship between mineral composition or soil texture and available silicon in alluvial paddy soils on the Shounai Plain,Japan

Abstract

To evaluate the relationship between the amount of available Silicon (Si) in paddy soils and their mineral properties on the Shounai Plain in Japan, which is formed from several parent materials, we evaluated the amount of available Si, the particle size distribution, the oxide composition of crystalline minerals and the amount of oxalate-extractable Si (Si_o), iron (Fe_o) and aluminum (Al_o) in the soil. The amount of available Si in the soil and the oxide content of the crystalline minerals differed among four soil groups that were distinguished by their clay mineral composition. There was no difference in the particle size distribution among the soil groups. The amount of available Si was positively related to the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of clay, the CaO concentration of silt and fine sand, and the amounts of Si_o, Fe_o and Al_o in the soil. The amount of available Si in the soils was negative correlated with the Na₂O and K₂O concentrations of silt, the K₂O concentration of fine sand, and the coarse sand content. These results suggest that the amount of available Si in soils is affected by the weathering resistivity of their minerals and that the particle size distribution and mineral composition are related to the available Si of the soils. Mineralogical properties, including the particle size distribution and mineral composition such as the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio × clay fraction content and the amounts of CaO and MgO in silt-sized particles, were positively correlated with the amount of available Si in the soil, but these correlations were not found for fine sand-sized particles. The Si_o, Fe_o and SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio × clay fraction contents contributed approximately 50% to the amount of available Si in the soils. The amount of available Si in the soil was divided into two groups according to the location of the paddy field. The amount of soil-available Si in the alluvial plain was affected by the geology upstream through the mineral composition.     

The distribution of minor elements among the components of a soil developed in loess

This previously described buried soil, developed in uniform parent material, was used to study the relative movements of elements and other soil components down the profile. Samples from all horizons were treated with hydrogen peroxide and ammonium oxalate, under ultra-violet light, to remove organic matter and sesquioxides, and the residues were subdivided into six particle size fractions.Downward movement of clay (< 0.5 μm) was accompanied by movement of extractable Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, thus identifying these as part of the mobile fraction. The less close relationship of extractable Fe₂O₃ to the clay suggested that it also occurred partly in coarser aggregates. Proportions of minor elements extracted varied from < 1% for Sr to nearly complete extraction of Co, Cu and Mo in some horizons. The extractable fractions of most minor elements throughout the profile behaved more like Fe₂O₃ than Al₂O₃. In the extraction residues, nearly all elements were enriched in the clay fractions relative to the coarser fractions; this being greatest for V and Fe.     

成县土壤数值分类的初步研究

本文应用标准化数据—斜交距离—误差平方和聚类分析法对甘肃成县34个土壤剖面进行了数值分析研究。研究结果表明,供试34个剖面可分为五个土壤类型。对五类土壤的pH值、有机质、代换量、SiO₂、Al₂O₃、Fe₂O₃、CaCO₃及粘粒含量八项主要指标进行方差分析的结果表明,除pH、代换量和SiO₂含量未达类型间F测验显著水平外,其他各项指标均达显著或极显著水平。各类土壤在地理分布、植被类型、田间石灰反应等特性上也有明显的差异,并且每一类土壤都具有一定的发生学意义。并分别对应于棕壤、淋溶褐土、褐土、碳酸盐褐土和潮土五种发生学类型。     

THE RESIDUA SYSTEM OF CHEMICAL WEATHERING: A MODEL FOR THE CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN OF SILICATE ROCKS AT THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH

The residua system of chemical weathering is here defined as the chemical sink towards which the bulk of earth's surface materials (i.e. the silicate rocks) trend during weathering. Chemically the system is defined in terms of four major components, SiO₂–Al₂O₃–Fe₂O₃–H₂O, evidence being derived from relative solubilities of components under earth-surface conditions; from experiments in which weathering environments have been simulated in the laboratory; and from field studies of rocks and their weathered mantle. The residua system can be used as a framework to construct mineral facies diagrams showing assemblages of the commonest earth-surface minerals that occur within it: quartz, gibbsite, goethite, kaolinite, halloysite. In a qualitative manner the facies diagrams can then be interpreted in terms of the partial pressure of water (PH₄O) and the temperature, T. The usefulness of this approach in systematizing studies of soil genesis is illustrated with reference to the weathering of granite.     

Soil solution aluminium activity related to theoretical A1 mineral solubilities in four Australian soils

Four soils were treated with HNO₃, CaCO₃ and K₂SO₄ to enable observation of the response of the soil solution composition and the solution A1 ion activity (Al³⁺) to the treatments and to time. The clay fraction of three of the soils was dominated by illite, kaolinite and quartz. The fourth was minated by kaolinite and iron oxides. The initial pH in 0.01 M CaCl₂ varied between 4.0 and 5.0 and the organic carbon content from 0.7 to 1.1%. The soil solutions from soils dominated by kaolinite, illite and quartz were generally supersaturated with respect to quartz and well ordered kaolinite, and unsaturated with respect to illite. The soil solutions from the soil dominated by kaolin and iron oxide were generally unsaturated with respect to quartz but still saturated with respect to ell crystallized kaolin. Within mineral groups such as Al₂SiO₅ compounds, A1₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ (kaolinite group), and Al(OH)₃ (A1 oxide) minerals, the more soluble forms became less supersaturated or unsaturated with time for many treatments. Lime treatment usually increased the ion activity product of AI(OH)₃ in all soils, and of minerals with the composition, Al₂SiO₅, in the illite/kaolinite soils. Acid treatment reduced the apparent solubility of Al(OH)₃, and the A1 silicates in the Al₂SiO₅, and Al₂, Si₂, O₅,(OH)₄, mineral groups on all soils. These results are interpreted to indicate that lime treatment led to the formation of trace quantities of more soluble A1 minerals that subsequently controlled (Al³⁺), whereas acid treatment dissolved trace quantities of such minerals leaving less soluble minerals to control (Al³⁺). The results suggest that, in mineral soils such as these, (Al³⁺) is under the control of inorganic dissolution and precipitation processes. These processes conform to expectations given the free energy of various inorganic aluminium compounds. Furthermore the sequence of dissolution and formation processes appears to be governed by the Gay-Lussac—Ostwald step rule.     

Yellow‐brown earth on Quaternary red clay in Langxi County,Anhui Province in subtropical China: Evidence for paleoclimatic change in late Quaternary period

In order to investigate the paleoclimatic changes in S China during the late Quaternary and their influence on pedogenesis and soil classification, a yellow‐brown earth (YBE)–red clay (RC) profile in Langxi County, Anhui Province was studied. The grain‐size distribution and the major‐ and trace‐element compositions of the profile indicate that the YBE of the profile shares the same origin with the YBE in Jiujiang and Xuancheng and the Xiashu loess in Zhenjiang, and the underlying RC also has aeolian characteristics and shares the same origin with the Xiashu loess. Grain‐size characteristics, molecular ratios of SiO₂/Al₂O₃, SiO₂/(Al₂O₃+Fe₂O₃), and BA ([CaO+MgO+K₂O+Na₂O]/Al₂O₃) and other weathering indices (CaO/TiO₂, MgO/TiO₂, K₂O/TiO₂, Na₂O/TiO₂, and Rb/Sr) of the profile indicate that the RC is more strongly weathered than the YBE. Magnetic susceptibility (χ_lf) of the uniform red clay (URC) of the profile is significantly enhanced. However, that of the underlying reticulate red clay (RRC) is significantly decreased because of the paleogroundwater movement and cannot indicate its strong weathering properties. The YBE‐RC profile in Langxi County recorded a great climatic change during late Quaternary: At that time, the pedogenic development of the RC was terminated and widespread dust deposition occurred. The parent material of the RC may be aeolian deposits which were accumulated before the last interglacial and were strongly weathered and rubified under the subsequent interglacial climate. It is observed that red soils, derived from the RC, and yellow‐brown soils, derived from the YBE, coexist in the study area, which is contradictive to the theory of the zonal distribution of soils. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the history of Quaternary climatic changes when studying pedogenesis.     

PRECIPITATION OF AMORPHOUS ALUMINOSILICATES FROM SOLUTIONS CONTAINING MONOMERIC SILICA AND ALUMINIUM IONS

Monomeric silica solutions were mixed with solutions containing AlCl₃, or Al(OH)_2-55Cl_0-45 to give a SiO₂/Al₂O₃, ratio varying from 8 to 8.0 and were kept at pH 6–0, 7.0, or 8.0 over a period of about I year. All precipitates which formed from solutions with SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios of 1–0 or higher were X-ray amorphous. The SiO₂/Al₂O₂, ratio of the precipitate varied in the range from 1.0 to 3.0. It increased with the Si concentration and the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of the parent solution and with reaction time. The pH did not affect the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of the precipitate but did affect its dispersion and flocculation. Al³⁺ and Al(OH)_2.55^+0.45 reacted differently with silica and yielded different reaction products. These differences were interpreted in terms of the stability of hydroxy-Al polymer units in the reaction. The amount of NaOH per Al atom which was required to reach and maintain the same pH, increased with the increasing SiO₂/A1₂O ratio of the precipitate, but the value was generally lower than that predicted from ‘one in four’ substitution of Si by Al in four-fold co-ordination. A ‘neutralization’ of the positive charge on the hydroxy-Al cations by silica was pointed out also to be a cause of the extra acidity. Implications of these observations on synthetic amorphous aluminosilicates to the genesis, structure, and properties of their natural counterparts were discussed.     

Swelling and mineralogy of smectites in paddy soils derived from marine alluvium,Japan

A low-swelling smectite exhibiting little intra-crystalline swelling even after saturation with Na was found in paddy soils derived from marine alluvium of Ariake Bay in Kyushu, Japan. The low-swelling smectite was considered to be beidellite-nontronite mineral containing as much as 10% Fe₂O₃. The low-swelling characteristics of this smectite are ascribed to the considerable substitution of Fe²⁺ for Al³⁺ in the ochtahedral layer which depresses the dissociation of unit layers of smectite. Transformation of low-swelling to high-swelling smectite is believed to be due to the oxidation of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ in the octahedral layer.     

长期施用有机肥料对紫色水稻土有机无机复合性状的影响

连续九年施用有机肥料，紫色水稻土壤及＜０．００２ｍｍ的有机无机复合体中无定形铁，铝和铬合态铁，铝的含量呈不同程度的增加，铬合态铁和铝间具拮抗作用（ｒ＝０．７９９８ｎ＝７）；土壤的有机质含量增加主要是由于轻组有机质含量增加，而有机无机复合度下降，土壤重组腐殖质的含量为０．２５－０．０１ｍｍ＞＜０．００２ｍｍ＞１－０．２５ｍｍ＞０．０１－０．００２ｍｍ；有机无机复合度及重组腐殖质中松结态与紧结态的比值     

Modification of Soil Quality Near a Pulp and Paper Mill

The Nagaon Pulp and Paper Mill (Assam, India) produces 100,000 tonnes of paper annually from bamboo. The mill is surrounded by a vast spread of agricultural land on all sides excepting the southern side, which is covered with hills and deep forests. The present study was undertaken with a view to assess the impact of the paper mill operations on the quality of the surrounding soil. Surface soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were collected in both dry and wet seasons over a four-year period from 19 points at different distances from the mill. The soil quality was determined with respect to a large number of representative physico-chemical properties. Estimation of the major oxides, e.g., SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MnO, and TiO₂ showed a preferential accumulation of Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, and MnO in soil near the mill due to the dumping of fly ash and other solid wastes in the surrounding low lying land. Definite directional trends were observed not only with respect to these oxides, but also with the metals Ca, Mg, Na, and Pb, which decreased away from the mill. The soil pH had a tendency to turn alkaline near the mill owing to the discharge of highly alkaline effluent by the mill. The physical characteristics of the soil, viz., water holding capacity and bulk density increased with distance from the mill while the hydraulic conductivity had an opposite trend. N, P, K, B, Cl^-, and organic C contents of the soil had shown a rapid decreasing trend away from the mill indicating that the dumping of solid waste and discharge of nutrient-rich treated effluent had contributed to raised levels of these constituents near the mill.     

红壤结构的稳定性及其在土壤分类上的意义

良好发育的红壤,常有一种特殊的稳固结构,它与氧化铁、铝的胶结有关.这种结构经泡水后基本稳定;还原处理或络合处理能致使较多的破坏;还原与络合联合处理能达到最大程度的破坏.从试验中还说明红壤结构的破坏率都与铁、铝溶出量成正相关.铁、铝积聚是红壤化作用的基本特征,与铁、铝直接有关的结构状况,从理论上说,应可作为分类上的参考指标.又因结构状况还受到矿物类型、粘粒含量、酸度等因素的影响,所以还具综合性的意义.同时按田间观察,它在生产上的意义也较大.工作中看到红壤的结构状况,至少可对红壤的发育度、熟化度以及母质因素的影响等做出有规律的反映,这也表明了它在分类上的现实意义.     

Interactions between montmorillonite and fulvic acid

The isotherms at 20°C for the adsorption of ¹⁴C-labelled fulvic acid from aqueous solutions by montmorillonite containing different exchangeable cations, have been determined. Below a concentration of 0.45 mg/ml and at near neutral pH, all samples give linear isotherms, the slope of which increases in the order Ba²⁺ < Ca²⁺ < Zn²⁺ < La³⁺ < Al³⁺ <Cu²⁺ < Fe³⁺. In the absence of interlayer expansion, the shape of the isotherms is interpreted in terms of solute entry into intercrystalline pores within a clay domain. The affinity of fulvic acid for the clay surface is related to the ionic potential or polarising power of the exchangeable cation. It is inferred that fulvic acid adsorbs by hydrogen bonding between an anionic group of the acid and a water molecule in the primary hydration shell of the saturating cation. Comparison of the data with those for the humic acid extracted from the same organic matter source, indicates that secondary interactions between adsorbed molecules or directly with the montmorillonite surface, contribute to the overall affinity. With samples saturated with Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions, part of the adsorbed fulvic acid may also be attached to the clay by a complexation reaction involving the metals as such, or when they exist as polyhydroxy compounds at the mineral surface.     

泾河泾阳段高河漫滩沉积元素与化合物指示的洪水事件

根据泾阳泾河高漫滩沉积剖面中128个样品的元素、化合物含量与粒度分析,研究了泾阳泾河高漫滩剖面沉积特征与洪水变化.结果表明,元素Ma,Ni,Cu,Zn,Ga,Pb,Ba,Rb,V和化合物Al2O3,Fe2O3,K2O含量在剖面各层中变化明显,分辨率高,能够清晰地指示洪水以及降水量的变化.JYa剖面分为18个沉积层,指示了18次大小不同的洪水和18个降水较多的年份.沉积物粒度细,元素Mn,Ni,Cu,Zn,Ga,Pb,Rb,V和化合物Al2O3Fe2O2,K2O含量高,元素Ba含量低,指示沉积时洪水强度小,洪水水位低,降雨量少.沉积物粒度粗,元素Mn,Ni,Cu,Zn,Ga,Pb,Rb,V和化合物Al2O3,Fe2O3,K2O含量低;元素Ba含量高,指示沉积时洪水强度大,洪水水位高,降雨量多.在这18次洪水事件中,在同一次洪水沉积层内形成了两个以上薄层的元素和化合物含量、粒度成分的微小变化,指示多数期次的洪水发生时期常有两个以上洪峰出现.泾阳泾河高漫滩第14,12,13,8,5,1层洪水沉积反映了泾河泾阳段全流域性的年降水量增加,且年降水量至少达到约800 mm.     

Stoffbilanzierung in einer Pseudogley-Parabraunerde aus Löß unter Anwendung der IR-Phasenanalyse

Material balance in an aquic Hapludalf from loess by means of IR-phase analysis Grain size fractions of an aquic Hapludalf from loess near Göttingen were examined mineralogically and chemically. On the base of actual mineral composition (mode) by means of infrared spectroscopy weathering balances were made up. The results reveal a strong illite/mica loss of about 80 kg/m², which is due to decomposition in the A-horizon, and which is not compensated by a slight gain in the B-horizon. The mineral balance of the total profile yields a clay degradation of 44 kg/m². Furthermore, in the A-horizon the chemical balance gives evidence of considerable mobilizations and substantial losses mainly of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO and K₂O combined in silicates. Depending on soil horizons and grain sizes the illites have K-contents varying from 4 to 8% K₂O. Al₂O₃ and MgO also show distinct variations. Both components are correlated negatively and decrease (Al₂O₃) respectively increase (MgO) from the top to the bottom.     

Oxalate-soluble compounds of Al, Fe, and Si in soils of cold humid regions as a function of weathering

Original and published data on the contents of X-ray amorphous oxalate-soluble compounds of Al, Fe, and Si in mesomorphic eluvial soils of cold, moderately cold, and moderately warm continental humid and semihumid regions are generalized. The groups of soils developed from mafic igneous, metamorphic, and pyroclastic rocks are considered. It is shown that the content of oxalate-soluble oxides (OSOx) in the horizons of their maximal accumulation varies from less than 1% to 20–30%; the Al_ox/Fe_ox ratio varies from 1 to 6.5. The leading factor dictating the amount and quality of the OSOx in the soils is the presence or absence of volcanic glass in the parent materials. The boundary between the soils with and without volcanic glass corresponds to the OSOx content of 5% and the Al₂O_3ox/Fe₂O_3ox ratio equal to 2. These criteria are more reliable than the Al_ox/Fe_ox ratio used by foreign soil scientists to specify Andosols (Al_ox/Fe_ox > 2). The contents of oxalate-soluble oxides of Al and Fe do not depend on the total contents of these oxides in the parent material and seem to be related to the presence of these elements in minerals with different resistance to weathering. Under the natural conditions described in this paper, the content of OSOx shows a very weak response to zonal (temperature-controlled) climatic changes and/or to changes in the degree of humidity and the continentality of the climate.     

Biotite weathering by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> and its potential utilisation

Purpose

Biotite, as a type of associated mineral, is normally applied as a filling material for buildings, or is discarded as tailings. However, as a potassium-bearing phyllosilicate mineral, biotite can be easily weathered by fungi, which leads to its internal potassium being released for agricultural production (1), and the mineral residues being weathered by the fungus may be applied for adsorption of heavy metal ions (2).

Materials and methods

This work investigates the weathering of biotite by Aspergillus niger through the analysis of the differences in ion dissolution from biotite, producing of organic acids, the change of mineral morphology and composition by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Besides, the mineral residues were applied for adsorption of heavy metal ions.

Results and discussion

Results showed that the mycelia envelope the mineral and form fungal–mineral aggregates. The fungus can secrete a variety of organic acids including citric acid and oxalic acid; these attacked the surface and cleavage of biotite to release ions (Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺). During incubation with A. niger, biotite weathered as shown by the relative decrease in biotite content and increase in interlayer spacing. Moreover, a certain concentration of phytic acid and tween-80 could promote the release of K⁺, and the fermentation liquid of rice bran has the same effect. Biotite residues showed a good adsorption for Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺.

Conclusions

The results indicate that biotite can be biotransformed and release K⁺, of which the production can be acted as heavy metal ion adsorbent. It provides a reference for application of biotite in agriculture and control of heavy metal ion pollution in soil.

     

The parent rock effect in the genesis of soil

Weathering trends emanating from the compositional field of the common igneous rocks, can be shown graphically to converge on compositions relatively rich in SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃. This convergence means that in chemical terms, the effect of the composition of igneous parent rock on the composition of the resulting soil, is an inverse function of time. Given enough time the chemical effect of parent rock would be nullified. The consequences of this to “state factor equations” are indicated.     

Investigation of soils developed on volcanic materials in Nisyros Island, Greece

Soils that are forming on volcanic parent materials have unique physical and chemical properties and in most cases, on wet and humid climates, are classified as Andisols. The main purpose of this study is to examine if the soils that are forming on volcanic materials under a dry Mediterranean climate, in Nisyros Island (Greece), meet the requirements to be classified as Andisols. Soils from seven sites were sampled and examined for their main physico-chemical properties and selective dissolution analysis. Dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate (DCB) extractable Al and Fe (Ál_d, Fe_d), acid ammonium oxalate extractable Al, Fe, and Si (Ál_o, Fe_o and Si_o), and sodium pyrophosphate extractable Al and Fe (Al_p, Fe_p) were measured. In addition, Al and Si were determined after reaction with hot 0.5 M NaOH, (Al_NaOH and Si_NaOH) and with Tiron-(C₆H₄Na₂O₈S₂), (Al_T and Si_T). P-retention was also measured. The soils are characterised by coarse texture, low organic matter content, low values of cation exchange capacity (CEC), and high pH values. Values of Si_o, Al_o and Fe_o are less than 0.022%, 0.09% and 0.35% respectively, highlighting the lack of noncrystalline components. The ratio (Fe_d–Fe_o)100/Fe_d is quite high expressing the degree of crystallisation of free iron oxides. For all samples tested, values of the Al_o + 1/2Fe_o index are extremely low (< 0.24%). High Si_NaOH and Si_T (arising 2.76% and 2.18% respectively) indicate the presence of silica in amorphous forms. P-retention values are very low (< 12.6%). The results indicated the absence of noncrystalline minerals except for amorphous silica, and do not exhibit andic or vitric soil characteristics to be classified as Andisols.