Assessment and prediction of changes in the reserves of organic carbon in abandoned soils of European Russia in 1990–2020

Experimental studies and the analysis of published data have shown that carbon reserves in soils generally increase upon soil exclusion from agricultural use. The rate of carbon accumulation in the abandoned soils depends on the soil type, the time elapsed since the soil abandoning (the restoration period), and the thickness of the layer for which the rate of carbon accumulation is determined. For the upper 20-cm-thick layer, it varies from 66 to 175 g C/m² per year in dependence on the type of soil and averages 111 g C/m² per year. The highest rate is typical of the first 10–15 years of soil restoration. According to our calculations, the carbon sequestration in the upper 20-cm-thick layer of Russian soils due to changes in land use was 184–673 Mt C in 1990–2005 and may reach 282–1030 Mt C by 2020.     

Changes in the organic carbon pool of abandoned soils in Russia (1990–2004)

The assessment of the changes in the organic carbon pool in the soils of the Russian Federation that occurred in 1990–2004 was carried out using approximation, soil-geoinformation, and simulation approaches. As a result of the changes in the system of land use, after 1990, the organic carbon storages in the 0- to 20-cm-thick soil layer could be 196–319 Mt depending on the methodology of the calculation applied and taking into account the abandoned area of 14.8 million ha. As compared to the beginning of the 1990s, the organic matter stock in the former plow layer increased by 1.6–5.8%. The great scatter of the data is mainly related to the incertainty of the estimates of the area of arable soils not used any more in agriculture.     

Growth of perennial forage legumes in acidic soils of the Appalachian Hill‐Lands after liming

A major constraint to the renovation of forage legume‐based pastures on acidic soils of the Appalachian hill‐lands is thought to be the absence of effective rhizobia. A growth chamber experiment was done with aluminum (Al) toxic, low pH (≥ 4.2) soils from four series (Berks, Lily, Tate, and Westmoreland) that were planted with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), or birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). These soils, without lime addition, were previously shown not to contain effective, naturalized populations of rhizobia for these plant species. However, a non‐toxic, pH 6.8, Watauga soil was shown to have such rhizobia but only for alfalfa. In the present study, these five soils were reexamined after liming to pH ≥ 5.5 for effective, naturalized populations of rhizobia and the efficacy of soil inoculation with commercially available rhizobia. In addition to effective, naturalized R. meliloti for alfalfa in the Watauga soil, similar populations of R. trifolii for red clover, and R. lotus for birdsfoot trefoil, were now found. Such rhizobia were also found for alfalfa in the Lily soil and for red clover in the Lily and Tate soil. Thus, liming allowed the expression of effectiveness of natural rhizobia that otherwise would not have been detected in soil pot experiments without lime. Inoculation of the toxic soils after lime addition with commercial rhizobia was effective in about half of the soil‐plant combinations that did not contain populations of effective, naturalized rhizobia. Asymbiotic shoot growth of all the plant species was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) correlated with soil pH over a range of 5.5–6.6. These results indicate that, in the absence of effective, naturalized populations of rhizobia, improvement of rhizobial inocula could increase forage production by ～34% for some species on some of the toxic soils, even after the pH of the soils is increased to ≥ 5.5.     

Contribution of Subcommission a (salt affected soils) to the achievements in the investigation and management of saline and Alkali soils 1964–2001

This paper was written by M. Redly soon before her death in September 2010. It summarizes the work of a big team of soil scientists studying the genesis, geography, and method of reclamation of salt-affected soils in the second half of the 20th century. It is also a tribute to I. Szabolcs, the organizer and the first chairman of the Subcommision on Salt-Affected Soils at the ISSS. The work of this subcommision can be considered an inspiring example of international cooperation in solving topical problems of soil science.     

Comparison of ammonium bicarbonate‐DTPA,ammonium carbonate,and ammonium oxalate to assess the availability of molybdenum in mine spoils and soils

Abstract

A variety of extractants has been used to assess the availability of molybdenum (Mo) in soils. Most of the extractants have been studied from a deficiency aspect rather than for soils with Mo toxicity, and none of them have been used to extract available Mo from mine spoils. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of different chemical extractants for assessing the availability of Mo in mine spoils and soils. One mine spoil and three soils were treated with sodium molybdate and then subjected to wetting and drying cycles for two months. These spoil/soils were extracted with ammonium bicarbonate DTPA (AB‐DTPA), ammonium carbonate, and ammonium oxalate solution for available Mo. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were grown in the spoil/soils in a greenhouse to determine plant uptake of Mo. Additionally, four mine spoils and six soils were extracted and analyzed for available Mo as mentioned above. The results obtained by these three extractants were highly correlated. It was found that ammonium oxalate extracts the greatest amount of Mo among the three extractants from spoil/soils since it dissolves some adsorbed Mo from Fe‐oxide and Al‐oxide. The changes in pH of spoil/soils did not have a significant effect on the amount of Mo extracted by any of these methods. The relationships between Mo uptake and Mo extracted by each method were all significant at 1% level. None of the extractants were clearly better or worse than the others. All three methods can be used to assess Mo availability, and potential toxicity from plant uptake of Mo from reclaimed spoils.     

Input and migration of dissolved organic carbon in soils of forest ecosystems in the subzone of deciduous–coniferous forests

The results of four-year monitoring of natural waters in forest ecosystems of the Zvenigorod Biological Station (Moscow State University, Moscow oblast) show regular changes in the concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) within the atmospheric precipitation–throughfall–soil waters system. Precipitation passing through the tree canopy is enriched with DOC (2–3 and 9–24 mg/L). The average carbon concentration in soil waters reaches 100–110 mg/L in complex spruce and pine–spruce forests and does not exceed 40–60 mg/L in spruce–birch forests.     

Humus composition and humification degree of humic acids of alpine meadow soils in the northeastern part of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

The characteristics of humus composition are important for understanding the mechanism of carbon storage in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The aim of this study was to characterize the quality of soil organic matter (SOM) in this region. Soil samples from four soil profiles in fenced study sites in the alpine grassland were collected at altitudes of 4200, 4000, 3800, and 3400 m, along the southwest facing slope in the Qilian Mountains. The humus composition and humification degree of the humic acid (HA) were determined by two methods: (1) extraction with 0.5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) followed by 0.1 M sodium pyrophosphate (Na₄P₂O₇) (OH-PP method); and (2) treating once with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) followed by extracting with 0.5% NaOH (Cl-OH method). Physico-chemical analysis revealed higher exchangeable cation content and higher base saturation ratios could be related to slightly acidic to neutral soils, which could be regarded as calcium (Ca)-rich soils. The amounts of combined-form HAs obtained by HCl pretreatment (HA_Cl – HA_OH; ?HA_Cl) were remarkably higher than those extracted with Na₄P₂O₇ (HA_PP), indicating that the combined form of HAs is mainly Ca. In addition, the proportion of HA_PP in the total HAs extracted with both NaOH and Na₄P₂O₇ (HA_OH + HA_PP) obtained in the OH-PP method increased with soil depth and decreasing elevation, indicating that HAs associated with aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) were distinguished in the subsoils of lower elevation. Therefore, the formation of the organo-mineral complex may contribute to stabilizing SOM in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Moreover, Type A-HA with the highest degree of humification was obtained from the deeper horizons with the Cl-OH method and almost all horizons by extraction with Na₄P₂O₇ in the OH-PP method. Further studies using various spectroscopic analyses are necessary to elucidate the chemical properties of SOM in this region.     

Extreme pollution of soils by emissions of the copper–nickel industrial complex in the Kola Peninsula

The distribution of the total Ni, Cu, Co, Cd, Pb, and Zn contents was studied in the soil profiles of six catenas in the zone subjected to emissions of the copper-nickel industrial complex, which is the largest source of SO₂ and heavy metals in northern Europe. The results show that, at present, the concentrations of Ni and Cu in the upper organic soil horizons in the impact zone reach extreme levels of 9000 and 6000 mg/kg, respectively. Under conditions of the long-term intense multi-element industrial emissions, the modern levels of the accumulation of polluting substances in soils greatly depend on the indirect factors, such as the degree of the technogenic degradation of soils with the loss of a significant part of soil organic matter, the reaching of threshold saturation of the topsoil with polluting metals, and competitive relationships between chemical elements. The state of the ecosystems in the impact zone varied greatly and did not always agree with the contents of the main metals-pollutants in the soils. The moisture conditions determined by the landscape position affected significantly the resistance of the ecosystems to emissions.     

The content of microelements and iron in soils and plants in the basin of lake Kotokel’ in Western Transbaikalia

The content of microelements (Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Cd) and Fe is determined in the soils and plants of the Lake Kotokel’ basin. Their content in the soils is proved not to exceed the regional background and the existing MPC and APC. The content of Cd is revealed to exceed its clarke value for the world soils, which is related to the natural origin of this element. The concentrations of Mn, Co, and Pb are close to their clarke values, and those of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr are lower than their clarkes. The studied soils are specified by the maximal amount of the mobile forms of microelements. The profile distribution of the microelements differs depending on the genetic soil type. For Mn, Zn, and Cu, a significant biogenic accumulation is pronounced in the organic soil horizons. The content of microelements in the aboveground phytomass exceeds the maximal permissible levels for Mn, Co, Cr, and Fe. The intensity of the microelements absorption by the plants varies widely, being specified by the high coefficient of the biological adsorption (except for Fe). Mn, Zn, and Cu are accumulated in the plant phytomass the most intensely.     

Irrigation of steppe soils in the south of Russia: Problems and solutions (Analysis of Irrigation Practices in 1950–1990)

Experience in irrigation of chernozems in the steppe zone of Russia for a period from 1950 to 1990 is analyzed. By the end of this period and in the subsequent years, the areas under irrigation reduced considerably, and the soil productivity worsened. This was caused by the improper design of irrigation systems, on the one hand, and by the low tolerance of chernozems toward increased moistening upon irrigation, on the other hand. The analysis of the factors and regimes of soil formation under irrigation conditions shows that irrigation-induced changes in the soil hydrology also lead to changes in the soil physicochemical, biochemical, and other properties. In particular, changes in the composition of exchangeable cations lead to the development of solonetzic process. In many areas, irrigation of chernozems was accompanied by the appearance of solonetzic, vertic, saline, and eroded soils. The development of soil degradation processes is described. In general, the deterioration of irrigated chernozems was related to the absence of adequate experience in irrigation of steppe soils, unskilled personnel, improper regime of irrigation, and excessively high rates of watering. In some cases, the poor quality of irrigation water resulted in the development of soil salinization and alkalization. To improve the situation, the training of personnel is necessary; the strategy of continuous irrigation should be replaced by the strategy of supplementary irrigation in the critical periods of crop development.     

Morphology and properties of the soils of permafrost peatlands in the southeast of the Bol’shezemel’skaya tundra

The morphology and properties of the soils of permafrost peatlands in the southeast of the Bol’shezemel’skaya tundra are characterized. The soils developing in the areas of barren peat circles differ from oligotrophic permafrost-affected peat soils (Cryic Histosols) of vegetated peat mounds in a number of morphological and physicochemical parameters. The soils of barren circles are characterized by the wellstructured surface horizons, relatively low exchangeable acidity, and higher rates of decomposition and humification of organic matter. It is shown that the development of barren peat circles on tops of peat mounds is favored by the activation of erosional and cryogenic processes in the topsoil. The role of winter wind erosion in the destruction of the upper peat and litter horizons is demonstrated. A comparative analysis of the temperature regime of soils of vegetated peat mounds and barren peat circles is presented. The soil–geocryological complex of peat mounds is a system consisting of three major layers: seasonally thawing layer–upper permafrost–underlying permafrost. The upper permafrost horizons of peat mounds at the depth of 50–90 cm are morphologically similar to the underlying permafrost. However, these layers differ in their physicochemical properties, especially in the composition and properties of their organic matter.     

Phytoindication of the water status and nutrient supply of oil-polluted soils in the middle reaches of the Ob’ River

The method of phytoindication of the soil water status and nutrient supply was applied to natural and oil-contaminated soils in the middle reaches of the Ob’ River. These soil characteristics were indirectly assessed using the ecological scales developed by L. G. Ramenskii. On this basis, changes in the soil water status and nutrient supply under the impact of soil contamination with oil and oil products were estimated for the particular soil and landscape conditions     

Occurrence and properties of soils on sandy beach ridges in the Kelantan–Terengganu Plains,Peninsular Malaysia

A study was conducted along the Kelantan–Terengganu Coastal Plains, Peninsular Malaysia to explain the occurrence of sandy beach ridges and to determine the physico-chemical properties of the soils formed on them. Two or occasionally three series of sandy ridges running parallel to the shoreline occur in the area. These ridges are believed to have been formed by the continuous action of the sea waves following changes in the sea level during the Holocene, the oldest ridge being the one farthest away from the shoreline. In between these ridges occurs a slight depression, usually occupied by soils under submerged condition. The soils on the ridges are subjected to the processes of soil formation, mainly podzolization. There is no horizon differentiation in the soils on the ridge nearest to the shoreline. However, soils on the older ridges contain spodic horizon, occurring at varying depths. Drainage and the depth below which this spodic horizon occurs are the deciding factors for determining soil type (series). Physically, the soils are sandy containing > 95% sand, with the drainage varying from moderately well to excessively-drained for the soils on the ridges. Under this condition, the mineralogy of the clay and silt fractions is dominated by quartz; some feldspars, mica, kaolinite, gibbsite and anatase are also present. Sandy nature of the soils on beach ridges, extreme leaching, low cation exchange capacity and low exchangeable bases leads to their low productivity.     

Contact angles at the water–air interface of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and clay minerals

Contact angles at the water–air interface have been measured for triturated preparations of clays and soils in order to assess changes in their hydrophobic properties under the effect of oil hydrocarbons. Tasks have been to determine the dynamics of contact angle under soil wetting conditions and to reveal the effect of chemical removal of organic matter from soils on the hydrophilicity of preparations. The potentialities of static and dynamic drop tests for assessing the hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties of soils have been estimated. Clays (kaolinite, gumbrine, and argillite) have been investigated, as well as plow horizons of soils from the Republic of Tatarstan: heavy loamy leached chernozem, medium loamy dark gray forest soil, and light loamy soddy-calcareous soil. The soils have been contaminated with raw oil and kerosene at rates of 0.1–3 wt %. In the uncontaminated and contaminated chernozem, capillary water capacity has been maintained for 250 days. The contact angles have been found to depend on the degree of dispersion of powdered preparation, the main type of clay minerals in the soil, the presence and amount of oxidation-resistant soil organic matter, and the soil–water contact time. Characteristic parameters of mathematical models for drop behavior on triturated preparations have been calculated. Contamination with hydrocarbons has resulted in a reliable increase in the contact angles of soil preparations. The hydrophobization of soil surface in chernozem is more active than in soils poorer in organic matter. The complete restoration of the hydrophilic properties of soils after hydrocarbon contamination is due to the oxidation of easily oxidizable organic matter at the low content of humus, or to wetting during several months in the absence of the mazut fraction.     

The determination of ammonium and chloride by an auto‐analyser for the measurement of cation exchange capacity of soils

Abstract

An auto‐analyser method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of NH₄ ⁺ and Cl^‐ in Ca(NO₃)₂/KNO₃ extracts of NH₄Cl treated soils for cation exchange capacity measurements. The method gives satisfactory agreement with manual titration procedures.     

Application of the Weng’s ratio for the identification of Zn, Cu, and Pb contamination in soils and sediments

Purpose

This work explores the application of the use of Zn, Cu, and Pb relative contents as a new type of normalization method for geochemical properties of soils and sediments in an Atlantic Basin (Anllóns River, NW Spain). The method is based on the conservative behavior of these elements, which exhibit a certain concentration ratio that remains stable as long as there are no human disturbances.

Materials and methods

The average relative contents of Zn, Cu, and Pb were calculated by dividing the concentration of each metal in soils or sediments, in the <63-μm fraction, by the sum of Zn, Cu, and Pb, expressed as a percentage. The evaluation of the sum of the average relative concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Pb (Ri), together with three standard deviations for each element, namely, Ri ± 3Si, allows a hexagon to be constructed, represented in ternary diagrams of Zn:Cu:Pb. Following the method proposed by Weng et al. (Environ Geol 45:79–85, 2003), those samples falling outside the hexagon must be considered outliers.

Results and discussion

Results obtained confimed the conservative behavior between the relative contents of Zn, Cu, and Pb in surficial samples (soils, bed, and suspended sediments). Only sediment cores displayed nonconservative behavior, showing a marked Pb enrichment, with respect to the surficial samples. When Zn, Cu, and Pb relative contents were plotted in ternary diagrams, outliers were best classified when the hexagon was drawn with standard deviations of samples from the study area. The hexagon drawn with an international database of soils and sediments showed a poorer classification of outliers.

Conclusions

The results showed that total Zn, Cu, and Pb relative contents may be employed to investigate anthropogenic disturbances of these elements in soils and sediments of the Anllóns River Basin, thus corroborating that this type of normalization may be employed as a tool to assess outliers in a contaminated area.     

Water budget of the soils of sand massifs (with the Ust’-Kundryuchensk massif in rostov oblast as an example)

Sand massifs in the steppe zone with coarse-textured sandy or loamy sandy soils are mainly characterized by the percolative type of the soil water regime. The annual precipitation penetrating into the groundwater through the aeration zone varies from 80% in the barren sands to 30% and lower in the overgrown sands. The study of the water budget of the Ust??-Kundryuchensk sand massif with an area of 15800 ha indicates that the total volume of the annual groundwater outflow from the massif reaches 10.5 million m³. The water discharged all year round from the sand massif into the Kundryuch??ya and Severskii Donets rivers is fresh and ultrafresh. It contributes to the water discharge of the rivers and desalinates the river water. This is an important nature-protection function of the sand massif.     

On some general regularities of the formation and changes in properties of mn‐fe concretions in soils of humid landscapes

An attempt is made to formulate general regularities of changes in the amount and composition of Mn‐Fe conoretions in soils of humid landscapes, confined to various soil‐forming rocks within the Russian platform. It is concluded, that the intensive formation of concretions is highly conditioned by waterlogging degree of soils and their hydrological regime. The content of concretions is always maximum in gley‐like soils (seldom in gley ones), independing on genesis of parent rocks; the fraction distribution of Mn‐Fe concretions proves to be stable in time; Mn amount is declined with increasing the waterloggiing degree of soils, while the content of Fe becomes increased; the highest accumulation of such microelements as Co, Pb, Cd is observed in concretions, which are rich in Mn. The concretions are characterized by a high amount of X‐ray‐amorphous Fe as well as by a low magnetic susceptibility. The chemical composition of concretions is shown to be preferable for quantitative diagnosis of the water‐logging degree in soils.     

Determination of total organic‐C in soils by an improved chromic acid digestion and spectrophotometric procedure

Abstract

An improvement to the Walkley‐Black wet digestion method for the rapid determination of organic carbon over the range 0.2–5.5% in air‐dry soil is described. It permits total recovery of the organic‐C in finely ground soil samples digested with the heat of dilution from mixing N K₂ Cr₂ O₇ with concentrated H₂SO₄. in test tubes followed by external heating from a hot‐plate digestor. The organic‐C concentrations are determined directly, as the Cr product in diluted soil digests, by absorptiometry at 600 nm with calibration against similarly treated sucrose standards in solution. For the soils tested, there were negligible interferences from carbonates, wood charcoal, coke, Fe⁺² and readily reducible Mn; Cl does not interfere with the organic‐C assay in non‐saline soils but for saline soils a correction based on 1/12 Cl^‐ assay of the soil is necessary. The present method is compared with Tabatabai and Bremner's dry combustion procedure and Allison's manometric adaptation for calcareous soils. The procedure described here does not require carbonate to be determined and is therefore simpler. In addition it is cheaper, faster and more effective in controlling interferences than dry combustion procedures.     

copper,lead and zinc distribution in soils and sediments of the south-western coast of the río de la plata estuary

Background, Aim and Scope.  The compositional study of suspended matter in water from rivers of different latitudes and climates has revealed that the fine fraction reflects both substrate lithology from source areas or topsoil composition along the course. Metal distribution patterns are also strongly related to the clay mineral fate in fluvial aquatic systems. For the particular case of the coastal area of the Río de la Plata estuary in South America, previous studies have, on the one hand, focused on the analysis of distribution patterns of heavy metals in bottom river sediments and, on the other hand, on the assessment of metal contents in topsoils. The present study was conducted to evaluate the Cu, Pb and Zn distribution in soils and sediments from four drainage basins crossing two differentiated geomorphologic units composed of unconsolidated materials and to understand the metal behaviour. Methods  Data used included the existent, self-produced soil and sediment data sets (grain size, organic matter and Cu, Pb and Zn contents from 124 samples). Analyses were performed by using standardised methods: grain size analysis by sieving and settling; organic matter content based on the reduction of dichromate ion followed by titration; metal content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry following acid digestion. Results and Discussion. The average (% w/w) clay and organic matter content were 45.9 ± 17.1 and 1.5 ± 1.7 for sediments and 32.0 ± 19.8, and 7.5 ± 7.6 for soils, respectively. The raw mean metal concentrations (mg-kg^-1 dry weight) for sediments and soils were: Cu: 28.02 ± 27.28, 32.08 ± 21.64; Pb: 32.08 ± 46.94, 68.44 ± 69.25 and Zn: 83.09 ± 150.33, 118.22 ± 74.20, respectively. A good correlation for each clay-normalised metal concentration was found between soil and sediments using regression analysis considering average data for each basin sampling site (r > 0.89, p < 0.05). A comparison between metal concentration levels taking into account geomorphologic units by a t independent sample test showed significant differences for the normalised soil-sediment metal data (p < 0.001), responding to differences in grain size, clay mineralogy, organic matter and neoformed Fe-Mn oxide composition. Conclusion, Recommendation and Outlook  A clear parenthood between the topsoils and the bottom sediments in the study area was found. The Argiudolls from the inner zone are frequently affected by rainwater erosion, which washes the fine materials with sorbed metals and carries them to the streams. These watercourses reach the flat coastal plain, where soil flooding and bottom sediment depositional processes predominate. Here, both soils and bottom sediments are enriched in clay, organic matter and metals. The topography and lithology, under the environmental conditions of a temperate and humid climate control the fate of metals within these small basins. The influence of the physical media on the distribution and fate of pollutants should not be minimised in the understanding of the governing processes from natural systems.