The nature and composition of amorphous material and free oxides in some temperate region and tropical soils

Abstract

Amorphous clay separated from pedons of a highly weathered soil previously classified as Oxisol and an Ultisol of the Southern States and, from the surface horizons of an Oxisol and two Andepts of the tropics were studied by chemical, DTA, infrared and X‐ray analysis.

Considerable amounts of amorphous material, 20–37% in temperate region and 29–40% in tropical soils, were extracted by differential dissolution using 0.5 N NaOH. The molar SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios of the dissolved material varied from sesquioxidic to siliceous (0.36–9.1) in temperate region soils, whereas those of the Andepts were allophonic (1.5–1.7). DTA and infrared analysis confirmed these results, however the strong gibbsite peaks in the X‐ray analysis of temperate region soils suggested that the aluminum fraction dissolved was in part, if not all, crystalline in nature. Indications were obtained with DTA and infrared that Na‐dithionite treatment might have altered the nature of the clay.     

Microbial communities of alluvial soils in the Volga River delta

The number and biomass of the microbial community in the upper humus horizon (0–20 cm) were determined in the main types of alluvial soils (mucky gley, desertified soddy calcareous, hydrometamorphic dark-humus soils) in the Volga River delta. Fungal mycelium and alga cells predominate in the biomass of the microorganisms (35–50% and 30–47%, respectively). The proportion of prokaryotes in the microbial biomass of the alluvial soils amounts to 2–6%. No significant seasonal dynamics in the number and biomass of microorganisms were revealed in the alluvial soils. The share of carbon of the microbial biomass in the total carbon content of the soil organic matter is 1.4–2.3% in the spring. High coefficients of microbial mineralization and oligotrophy characterize the processes of organic matter decomposition in the alluvial soils of the mucky gley, desertified soddy calcareous, and hydrometamorphic dark humus soil types.     

Soil horizons as the basis for classification of alluvial soils

The horizons of different types in alluvial soils of central Russia are compared with respect to their morphological characteristics using the method of dendrograms. It is argued that diagnostic soil horizons should clearly reflect in their properties the character of pedogenic processes and, thus, be the basis for classification of alluvial soils. Overall, seven types of soil horizons are suggested as diagnostic horizons for flood-plain soils of the Russian Plain.     

Distribution of nitrogen in soils of the southern Mississippi river alluvial plain

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) dynamics in the agriculturally important alluvial soils of the southern Mississippi Delta are not well understood, and little information is available regarding the amounts of various forms of N present in these soils. Profiles of nine alluvial soils were selected to represent the principal agricultural acreage in the southern Mississippi Delta. Soils were sampled by horizon to a depth of 150 cm and the distribution of various N fractions were characterized. Forty‐one additional chemical, physical and mineralogical properties were measured, and regression techniques were used to determine if these soil properties were related to N distribution in the highly heterogeneous soils typical of this region. These profiles contained 11.6 to 26.5 Mt N/ha (average 18.8 Mt N/ha). The surface 15 cm contained an average of 4.8 Mt N/ha and accounted for about 26% of the profile N. Most of N in the surface 15 cm was recovered as organic N (78.4–87.4%), and the balance recovered primarily as nonexchangeable ("clay‐fixed") NH₄+. In subsurface horizons, nonexchangeable NH₄ ⁺ represented a substantially larger fraction of total N (average 35.6 %). The amounts of exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃‐ were very low in most samples and accounted for only 0.2–0.7% of surface N and 0.3–2.5% (average 0.7%) of the total N accumulated within horizons. The proportion of total N recovered as organic N was most closely related to organic carbon (C) content and the amounts of 2: 1 type of clay minerals present in the horizon. Even though subsurface horizons contained an appreciable portion of their N as inorganic nonexchangeable NH₄ ⁺, organic C content was the best single indicator of total N content (r²= 0.931) within the 52 horizons studied.     

Hydrogenic heavy metal pollution of alluvial soils in the city of Perm

The differences in the sources and compositions of the pollutants among the alluvial soils within the city of Perm were revealed. Heavy metal pollution of hydrogenic origin is caused by unpurified sewage water. The main source of pollution of the urbanozems and replantozems of the city is the aerial input of heavy metals. The lead content in the alluvial soils of the city was twice lower and the mean Zn and Ni contents were 1.5 and 4.0 times higher than in the urbanozems and replantozems, respectively. The concentrations of Sr, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Cr did not correlate positively with the content of clay particles in the fine earth of the alluvial soils. The higher pollution of the light-textured soils showed that, nowadays, its main source was sewage water but not sludge. In the alluvial soils, small Fe-rohrensteins are formed. They serve as microgeochemical barriers for some part of the microelements. The Pb and Zn contents in the rohrensteins of the soils of the Las’va river basin reached 440 and 890 mg/kg, respectively. In the upper horizon of this soil, the contents of Pb and Zn in the rohrensteins were 42 and 17% of their concentration in the fine earth, respectively.     

Mineralogical composition of the clay fraction in alluvial soils of eastern Georgia

The mineralogical composition of the clay fractions separated from alluvial soils in the valleys of the Kura and Iori rivers—the main rivers of eastern Georgia—has been studied. It is shown that alluvial soils are very diverse with respect to their physicochemical properties, particle-size distribution, and mineralogy. In comparison with zonal automorphic soils, the alluvial soils have a lower content of organic matter and a coarser texture. The diversity of mineral associations in them is larger than that in the zonal soils.     

The structure of two alluvial soils in Italy after 10 years of conventional and minimum tillage

Micro and macroporosity, pore shape and size distribution, aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity and crop yield were analysed in alluvial silty loam (Fluventic Eutrochrept) and clay soils (Vertic Eutrochrept) following long-term minimum and conventional tillage. The soil structure attributes were evaluated by characterizing porosity by means of image analysis of soil thin sections prepared from undisturbed soil samples.

The interaggregate microporosity, measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry, increased in the minimally tilled soils, with a particular increase in the storage pores (0.5–50 μm). The amount of elongated transmission pores (50–500 μm) also increased in the minimally tilled soils. The resulting soil structure was more open and more homogeneous, thus allowing better water movement, as confirmed by the greater hydraulic conductivity of the minimally tilled soils. The aggregate stability was less in the conventionally tilled soils and this resulted in a greater tendency to form surface crusts and compacted structure, compared with the minimally tilled soils. The latter tillage practice seemed to maintain, in the long-term, better soil structure conditions and, therefore, maintain favourable conditions for plant growth. In the silt loam, the crop yield did not differ significantly between the two tillage systems, while in the clay soil it decreased in the minimum tilled soil because of problems of seed bed preparation at the higher surface layer water content.     

Chemical and physical properties of coastal alluvial soils of new brunswick

Soils in the coastal alluvial area at the head of Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada, were characterized for their chemical and physical properties. A great variability in the electrical conductivity of the soil extract (E.C._e) was observed depending on the history of flooding. The correlation coefficient between E.C._e and sodium adsorption ratio (S.A.R.) was +0.89 (P < 0.01) but the correlation between S.A.R. and exchageable sodium percentage was only +0.36 (P < 0.05). Among the physical properties highly significant relationships were found between saturation percentage and fifteen atmosphere percentage (r = +0.86) and moisture equivalent and silt plus clay (r = +0.87).     

Comparative use of factor-ecological and profile-genetic classifications for studying alluvial soils

We show the feasibility of applying the 2008 profile-genetic classification for studying alluvial soils and necessity of its improvement at the genus and species levels.     

Boron adsorption characteristics of some acidic alluvial soils in relation to soil properties

Abstract

We investigated boron (B) adsorption characteristics for 16 acid alluvial soils as a function of equilibrium B concentration (0–80 μg/mL) and the effect of soil properties on such adsorption. The adsorption data for the soils could be described by Freundlich, Temkin, and BET isotherm equations over the entire concentration ranges studied, and by Langmuir and Eadie‐Hofstee equations only over a limited range. In general, the B adsorption capacity and the energy of retention of the soils calculated from different equations are low, the average Langmuir adsorption maxima and bonding energy constant being 21.47 μg/g and 0.113 mL/μg, respectively, making B susceptible to leaching losses. Simple and multiple regression analysis show that the adsorption capacities are significantly influenced by organic carbon (C), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and different forms of aluminium (Al) content in soils. The energy related constants are also influenced by the forms of Al in soils. Existence of significant correlations between constants obtained from different equations confirmed the adsorption characteristics of the soils.     

The release of silicon from amorphous silica and rice straw in Sri Lankan soils

Silicon release from rice straw and amorphous silica when shaken in solution with five Sri Lankan soils was studied indirectly using sorption isotherms and changes in concentration and directly using straw in dialysis bags examined using electron microscopy. The aim was to further our understanding of the processes and factors affecting the release of straw-Si in soils and its availability to rice. The soils (alfisols and ultisols) shaken with 0.1 M NaCl (5 g per 125 mL for 250 days) produced concentrations of 1–4 mg L⁻¹ of monosilicic acid-Si. Amorphous silica added to these suspensions (36.5 mg, containing 17 mg Si) raised the concentrations to 20–40 mg L⁻¹, and added rice straw (0.5 g, containing 17 mg Si) gave 10–25 mg L⁻¹. Sorption isotherms (7 days equilibrations) were used to calculate from the concentrations the amounts of Si released (24–38% and 8–21%, respectively). Both materials gave about 40 mg L⁻¹ of monosilicic acid-Si plus 30 mg L⁻¹ of disilicic acid-Si when shaken in solution alone (5 g per 125 mL). Straw in dialysis bags (0.5 g per 25 mL in 0.1 M NaCl) was shaken in soil suspension (5 g per 100 mL) for 60 days. Similar concentrations and releases were measured to those obtained above. About one fifth of the mass of straw was lost by decomposition in the first 15 days. A chloroform treatment prevented decomposition, but Si release was unaffected. Disintegration continued throughout the experiments, with phytoliths being exposed and dissolved. Compared to the rate of release from straw into solution without soil, the release of Si into soil suspensions was increased during the first 20 days by adsorption on the soil, but was then reduced probably through the effect of Fe and Al on the phytolith surfaces. The extent of this blocking effect varied between soils and was not simply related to soil pH.     

Decomposition of different organic materials in soils

Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate organic C mineralization of various organic materials added to soils. A soil sample was mixed with organic material to approximate a field application of 9 g organic C kg^-1 soil (0.9% or 50 Mg ha^-1). The organic materials used were four crop residues [corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)], four animal manures [chicken (Gallus domesticus), pig (Sus scrofa), horse (Equus caballus), and cow (Bos taurus)] and four sewage sludges [Correctionville (Imhoff tank), Charles City (holding tank), Davenport (secondary digester), and Keokuk (primary digester)]. The soil-organic material mixture was incubated under aerobic conditions at room temperature (20±2°C) for 30 days. The CO₂ evolved was collected in standard KOH solution by continuously passing CO₂-free air over the soil. Results showed that, in general, the amounts of CO₂-C released mereased rapidly initially, but the pattern differed among the organic materials used. More than 50% of the total CO₂ produced in 30 days of incubation was evolved in the first 6 days. Expressed as percentages of organic C added, the amounts of CO₂ evolved ranged from 27% with corn to 58% with alfalfa. The corresponding percentages for animal manures ranged from 21 to 62% with horse and pig manures, respectively, and for sewage sludges they ranged from 10 to 39% for Charles City and Keokuk sludges. All CO₂ evolution data conformed well to a first-order kinetic model. Potentially, readily mineralizable organic C values and first-order rate constants (k) of the organic matter-treated soils ranged from 1.422 g C kg^-1 soil with ak value of 0.0784 day^-1 to 6.253 g C kg^-1 soil with ak value of 0.0300 day^-1. The half-lives of the C remaining in soils ranged from 39 to 54 days for plant materials. The corresponding half-lives for the C remaining from animal manures and sewage sludges ranged from 37 to 169 days and from 39 to 330 days, respectively.     

Redistribution of organic pollutants in river sediments and alluvial soils related to major floods

Background, Aims, and Scope  More frequent occurrence of stronger floods in Europe as well as in other parts of the world in recent years raises major concern about the material damages, but also an important issue of contamination of the affected areas through flooding. The effects of major floods on levels and distribution of contamination with hydrophobic organic pollutants were examined from the continuous set of data for floodplain soils and sediments from a model industrial area in the Czech Republic where a 100-year flood occurred in 1997. The goal of this study was to evaluate the risk related to contamination associated with such extensive natural events and characterize the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of pollutants related to a major flooding shortly after the floods and also in the time period several years after floods. Methods  Sediments and alluvial soils from fourteen sites each were repeatedly sampled during the period from 1996 until 2005. The sampling sites represented five regions. Collected top-layer sediment and soil samples were characterized and analyzed for hydrophobic organic pollutants PCBs, OCPs and HCB using GC-ECD and PAHs using a GC-MS instrument. Spatial and temporal differences as well as the relative distribution of the pollutants were examined in detail by statistical analysis including multivariate methods with special emphases placed on the changes related to floods. Results  The organic pollutants levels in both alluvial soils and sediments exceeded the safe environmental limits at numerous sites. Pollutants concentrations and relative distribution as well as organic carbon content in both sediment and floodplain soils were significantly affected by the flooding, which resulted in a decrease of all studied contaminants in sediments and significant rise of the PAH pollution in the flooded soils. There was a unique and highly conserved PAH pattern in soils regardless of the floods and greater changes in PAH pattern in sediments related to floods. The relative distribution of individual PAHs reflected a combustion generated PAH profile. PAH levels in the river sediments rose again at the sites with continuous sources several years after floods. Discussion  The results showed different dynamics of PAHs and PCBs during the floods when PAHs were redistributed from the sediments to alluvial soils while PCBs have been washed out of the study regions. The data reveal longer contamination memory and consistent contamination pattern in soils, whereas sediments showed more dynamic changes responding strongly to the actual situation. The stable PAH pattern within the regions also indicates that a relative amount of all compounds is comparable across the samples and, thus, that the sources at different sites have similar character. Conclusions  Sediments have the potential to function as a secondary source of contamination for the aquatic ecosystem, but also for the floodplain soils and other flooded areas. The floods served as a vector of PAHs contamination from sediments to soils. The reloading of river sediments in time, namely with PAHs, due to present sources increases their risk as a potential source in the next bigger flood event both to the downstream river basin and affected alluvial soils. Recommendations and Perspectives  The results stress the importance of including the floodplain soil contamination in the risk assessment focused on flood effects. Floodplain soils have stable long-term environmental memory related to contamination levels, pattern and distribution, whereby they can provide relevant information on the overall contamination of the area. The sediments will continue to serve as a potential source of contaminants and alluvial soils as the catchment media reflecting the major flood events, especially until effective measures are taken to limit contamination sources. ESS-Submission Editor: Dr. Henner Hollert (Hollert@uni-heidelberg.de) This article is openly accessible!     

伴随阴离子对马铃薯种植冲击土中钾素固持与淋溶的影响

A column study was carried out to assess the influence of accompanying anions on potassium (K) leaching at potato growing sites with different soil textures (sandy loam and clay loam) in northwestern India. Potassium was applied in the top 15 cm layer of soil column at 30 and 60 mg K kg^-1 through different sources having different accompanying anions (Cl^-, SO₄^2-, NO₃^- and H₂PO₄^-). Maximum K was retained in the top 0--15 cm layer with a sharp decrease in K content occurring in 15--30 cm layer of the soil column. The trend was similar for both levels of applied K as well as frequency of leaching and soil type. The decrease of K content in soil column after four leaching events was maximum in case of Khanaura sandy loam, while only minor decrease was observed in Hundowal clay loam when K was applied at 60 mg K kg^-1, indicating higher potential of clay rich soil to adsorb K. In general, the K leaching in presence of the accompanying anions followed the order of SO₄^2- ≤ H₂PO₄^2- < NO₃^- = Cl^-. Highest 1 mol L^-1 CH3COONH4-extractable K was retained when K was applied along with SO42- and H2PO4- anions, and the least was retained when accompanying anion was Cl^-1. The influence of anions was more pronounced in the light textured soil and at high amounts of K application. Higher levels of K application resulted in higher losses of K, especially in sandy loam soil as observed from the leachate concentration. Among the different K sources, the maximum amount of K leaching was noticed in the soil column amended with KCl. After four leachings, the maximum amount of K leached out was 6.40 mg L^-1 in Hundowal clay loam and 9.29 mg L^-1 in Khanaura sandy loam at 60 mg K kg^-1 of soil application through KCl. These concentrations were lower than the recommended guideline of the World Health Organisation (12.00 mg L^-1).     

Influence of some physicochemical and biological parameters on soil structure formation in alluvial soils

This study examines the role of abiotic (texture, calcium carbonates or iron) and biotic parameters (earthworm and enchytraeid activities) on the initial phases of soil aggregation. Our research focused on humus forms in alluvial soils, which are considered as young and heterogeneous environments. We hypothesized that the soil structure formation is determined by both the nature of the recent alluvial deposits and the soil fauna. For this purpose, six sites were chosen throughout two types of softwood forests (willow and alder forest) representing two stages of vegetation succession. Evidence of soil texture influence on aggregate stability was observed. A dominance of a coarse sand fraction caused a quick colonization of enchytraeids and epigeic earthworms while a silty texture favoured the presence of anecic earthworms, thus increasing the aggregate stabilisation. Iron forms, acting as cementing agents, were observed in the coarse silt, while calcium carbonates were equally distributed among the textural fractions. Active calcium carbonate fraction, binding organic matter with mineral components, was not found in the coarse sand fraction. In conclusion, the tree age cannot alone be used as an indicator of the humus form evolution but biological and physicochemical parameters also influence the initial steps of soil structuration.     

The nature and origins of diester phosphates in soils: a 31P-NMR study

Soils of two climosequences in Russia were investigated by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. They comprised Dystric Podzoluvisols, Haplic Greyzems, Calcic Chernozems, and Gypsic Kastanozems, which are located along temperature and precipitation gradients of the Russian Plain. Another sequence of soils included forest Humic Cambisols and Umbric Leptosols of subalpine and alpine meadows, which are formed in different climatic conditions along a climosequence of the Mt. Malaya Khatipara (northern Caucasus). The results showed that accumulation of DNA was high in the cold, wet, and acid soils (Dystric Podzoluvisol, alpine Umbric Leptosol), while phospholipids and teichoic acids mainly accumulated in the more microbially active soils. We performed a laboratory incubation experiment to test the relationship between microbial biomass P and P species identified in soil extracts. The proportions of P compounds resonating at 0.5-3.0 ppm in the NaHCO₃ and H₂SO₄ extracts from the incubated Humic Cambisol increased. The amounts of phosphate diesters resonating at 0 ppm in the same extracts and in the subsequent NaOH extracts decreased after incubation. Based on the results of ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy of native soils and of the laboratory incubation experiment we concluded that signals at 0 ppm in spectra of soil alkaline extracts belong to DNA P which is mainly stabilised in soil organic matter outside microbial cells (at least in soils with relatively low microbial activity). Phospholipids-teichoic acids P extracted with 0.5 M NaHCO₃ seems to be derived from soil microbial biomass, and its proportion can reflect the microbial activity in the soil.     

The role of iron compounds in fixing heavy metals and arsenic in alluvial and soddy-podzolic soils in the Perm area

In Perm, alluvial soils are strongly contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Cu, and Ni, in particular) due to the ingress of liquid sewage. The concentration of a number of chemical elements is far higher in Fe-rohrensteins (tubular concretions around plant roots) of alluvial soils as compared to the fine earth. Ni and Cu are associated with Fe in rohrensteins of alluvial soils. The soddy-podzolic soils are in general less contaminated at a distance of 30 km to the northwest of Perm. Their contamination results from aerosols emitted by Perm industrial enterprises. Fe-Mn nodules that concentrate Ni and As are formed in hydromorphic podzolic soils. Mn oxides represent a separate phase carrying heavy metals and metalloids (manganophiles). Oxianions (As, Cr, and P) are closely bound to Fe in nodules, which are formed because of the alternating redox regime in soddy-podzolic soils. However, oxianions are not associated with Fe in rohrensteins of alluvial soils.     

The significance of gley features in soils derived from grey parent materials

Detailed observations of gley features in soils derived from grey Upper Greensand rocks have been compared with their moisture regimes as determined by water-levels in dipwells. There was good correlation between the incidence of grey ped face and matrix colours of low chroma, prominent ochreous mottling within the matrix and duration of waterlogging. Careful examination of soil macromorphology can be used, despite inherent greyness, to assess the drainage status and Wetness Class of these soils.
Physical and micromorphological analyses suggest that the wetness of some Upper Greensand soils is due to the combination of low vertical permeability in the underlying rock, and moderate horizontal permeability in the overlying horizons. Such circumstances allow perched water-tables to form in wet weather, sustained by lateral flow when rainfall has ceased.