Hydrophysical Properties of the High-Ash Lowmoor Peat Soils

The water retention curve (WRC), density, botanical composition, and ash contents were determined for high-ash lowmoor peat soils (Rheic Sapric Histosols) developing on the floodplain of the Yakhroma River (Moscow oblast) from the herb–hypnum and hypnum peat enriched in carbonates, agromineral peat soils (Rheic Drainic Sapric Histosols (Mineralic)), and peat soils developed from woody peat underlain by herb, sedge, and woody peat layers (Rheic Sapric Histosols (Lignic)). The WRC was determined by capillarimetric method in the range of water pressure from 0 to 80–90 кPa. For the studied peat soils, the WRC represents a close to linear dependence of the water content on the water pressure in semilogarithmic scale. In contrast to mineral soils, a characteristic point of the air-entry pressure is virtually absent on the WRC of peat soils. The WRC of peat largely depended on their density: denser peat samples were characterized by a higher water content at the same water pressure, which attests to the increased water retention capacity. An increase in the degree of decomposition of peat and its ash content also leads to the rise in the water retention capacity, but the effect of these factors is considerably smaller than the effect of peat density.     

Distributions of Heavy Metals and Benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrene in Oligotrophic Peat Soils and Peat Gleyzems of Northeastern Sakhalin

The contents and profile distributions of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, and benzo[a]pyrene in oligotrophic peat soils, oligotrophic peat gley soils (Dystric Fibric Histosols), humus-impregnated peat gleyzems (Dystric Histic Gleysols), and mucky gleyzems (Dystric Gleysols) have been analyzed with consideration for their degree of oligotrophicity and anthropogenic loads. Horizons with the accumulation (O, Tpyr, TT) and removal (Ghi,e) of heavy metals have been revealed. The increase in the content of heavy metals and benzo[a]pyrene in the upper layer of oligotrophic peat soils under technogenic fallouts in the impact zone of flare and motor transport has been considered. Statistical parameters of the spatial variation of parameters in organic and gley horizons have been calculated. The variation coefficients of pollutant elements (Pb and Zn) in the surface horizons of soils increase to 100–125%. Positive correlations revealed between the content of some heavy metals in litter indicate their bioaccumulation and possible joint input with aerotechnogenic fallouts. No correlations are found between the contents of benzo[a]pyrene and heavy metals, but a reliable negative correlation with the ash content is noted in the peat horizon.     

Nitrification in Eutrophic Peat Soils under Different Land-Use Management Practices

Eurasian Soil Science - We have analyzed the distribution of soil properties and the intensity of net nitrification in the profiles of eutrophic peatlands on the Yakhroma River floodplain (Moscow...     

沈阳市郊耕地土壤交换性铁含量的空间异质性

利用地统计学和地理信息系统相结合的方法研究了沈阳市郊耕地1991个样本0～20cm耕层土壤交换性铁含量的空间异质性特征,绘制了交换性铁含量的空间分布图,结果表明,土壤交换性铁含量基本符合正态分布,变异函数的最佳理论模型为球状模型,交换性铁含量具有中等的空间相关性（Co与Co C比值为41.3%,空间自相关距离为34.9km）,Kriging内插图显示出交换性铁具有较强的空间质异性,其空间异质性主要受成土母质,成土过程和土壤类型等结构性因子的影响。     

东北典型黑土区坡面土壤速效磷空间分布规律

土壤速效磷是反映土壤供磷水平的重要指标,也是磷环境风险评价的重要参数,研究其空间分布规律可为农田合理施肥和生态环境治理提供依据。研究利用多条典型样带系统地揭示了典型黑土区0—60cm剖面土壤速效磷水平和垂直方向分布规律。结果表明:研究区土壤速效磷(Olsen-P)含量为0.57~50.01mg/kg,耕层(0—20cm)速效磷为10~40mg/kg,位于充足水平以上。垂直方向上,土壤速效磷从表土层0—20cm处向深土层50—60cm处减小。施肥降低了表土层速效磷的变异程度,侵蚀和沉积增加了深土层的变异程度(20—50cm)。水平方向上,土壤速效磷总体沿坡向向下呈下降趋势,侵蚀和沉积同时降低了坡背和坡底土壤速效磷的含量。     

Iron Compounds and the Color of Soils in the Sakhalin Island

Numerical parameters of soil color were studied according to the CIE-L*a*b color system before and after the Tamm’s and Mehra-Jackson’s treatments; we also determined the total Fe content in the samples from the main genetic horizons of the alluvial gray-humus soil, two profiles of burozems, and two profiles of podzols in the Sakhalin Island. In the analyzed samples, the numerical color parameters L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) are found to vary within 46–73, 3–11, and 8–28, respectively. A linear relationship is revealed between the numerical values of a* parameters and Fe content in the Mehra-Jackson extracts; the regression equations are derived with the determination coefficients (R²): 0.49 (typical burozem), 0.79 (podzolized burozem), 0.96 (shallow-podzolic mucky podzol), 0.98 (gray-humus gley alluvial soil). For the surface-podzolic mucky podzol contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, R² was equal to only 0.03. In the gray humus (AY) and structural-metamorphic (BM) horizons of the studied soils, a* and b* parameters decrease after their treatment with the Tamm’s reagent by 2 points on average. After the Mehra-Jackson treatment, the a* parameter decreased by 6 (AY) and 8 (BM) points; whereas b* parameter, by 10 and 15 points, respectively. In the E horizons of podzols, the Tamm’s treatment increased a* and b* parameters by 1 point; whereas the Mehra-Jackson’s treatment decreased these parameters by only 1 and 3 points, respectively. The redness (a*) decreased maximally in the lower gley horizon of the alluvial gray humus soil, i.e., by 6 (in the Tamm’s extract) and 10 points (in the Mehra-Jackson’s) extract. Yellowness (b*) decreased by 12 and 17 points, respectively. The revealed color specifics in the untreated samples and the color transformation under the impact of reagents in the studied soils and horizons may serve as an additional parameter that characterizes quantitatively the object of investigation in the reference databases.     

Gas Diffusion Coefficient of Undisturbed Peat Soils

Determination of the gas diffusion coefficient D _s of peat soils is essential to understand the mechanisms of soil gas transport in peatlands, which have been one of major potential sources of gaseous carbons. In the present study, we aimed at determining the D _s of peat soils for various values of the air-filled porosity a and we tested the validity of the Three-Porosity Model (Moldrup et al. 2004) and the Millington-Quirk model (1961) for predicting the relative gas diffusivity, the ratio of D _s to D ₀, the gas diffusion coefficient in free air. Undisturbed peat soil cores were sampled from aerobic layers in the Bibai mire, Hokkaido, Japan. The MQ model reproduced the measured D _s/ D ₀ curves better than the TPM. The TPM, a predictive model for undisturbed mineral soils, overestimated the D _s/ D ₀ values for peat soils, implying that in the peat soils the pore pathways were more tortuous than those in the mineral soils. Since the changes in the D _s/ D ₀ ratios with the a values of a well-decomposed black peat soil tended to be more remarkable than those of other high-moor peat soils, the existence of a positive feedback mechanism was assumed, such that peat soil decomposition itself would increase the soil gas diffusivity and promote soil respiration.     

Markers of Soil Organic Matter Transformation in Permafrost Peat Mounds of Northeastern Europe

For the paleoreconstruction of permafrost peat mounds and the identification of plant communities participating in the formation of peat, the contents of n-alkanes (C₂₀–C₃₃) have been determined, and relative changes in the stable isotope compositions of carbon and nitrogen and the C/N ratio have been analysed. Several indices (CPI_alkanes, P_aq, P_wax) have been calculated to assess the degree of decomposition of the peats studied and the contributions of different plant species to their formation. It has been found that shortand long-chain n-alkanes are concentrated in high-moor peat, while medium-chain alkanes are typical for transitional peat. Integrated analysis of the studied markers has shown that the botanical and material composition of peat, anaerobic conditions of bog formation, and permafrost play an important role in the preservation of organic carbon in permafrost peat mounds. Alternation of plant associations is the main reason for changes in n-alkane concentrations, C/N ratios, and δ13C values.     

Formal Criteria for the Humus Status of Mountainous Peat Soils in Altitudinal Zones

Eurasian Soil Science - Cryogenic oligotrophic (Hyperdystric Cryic Fibric Histosols), oligomesotrophic (Dystric Fibric Histosols), mesoeutrophic (Oligeoeutric Fibric Histosols), and eutrophic...     

Retention and Uptake by Plants of Added Selenium in Peat Soils

In soil, adsorption of selenium (Se) onto mineral surfaces is accompanied by poorly known retention via organic matter. The effects of these components on the availability of Se were examined in two pot experiments. Spring wheat was grown with increasing amounts of selenate (SeO₄ ^2–) in one sand and three peat soils, and ryegrass with selenate and selenite (SeO₃ ^2–) in sphagnum peat manipulated by iron (Fe) hydroxide. Selenate persisted in soluble form, whereas selenite was fixed in the soil. In wheat, 5–50% of the selenate addition was recovered in the plant, the proportion increasing with increasing Se. In ryegrass, 30–40% of the added selenate but less than 2% of the selenite was found within the leaves. The Fe hydroxide enrichment enhanced the selenite uptake. Phosphate buffer desorbed a minor proportion of the added selenite, except in peat amply enriched with Fe hydroxide. The results suggest that the retention mechanism of selenite was changed due to the hydroxide amendment.     

The Spatial Heterogeneity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil Depends on Their Physico-chemical Properties

The present study investigates the heterogenic distribution of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil on a microscale. For this purpose, we developed a method allowing for the detailed analysis of PAHs in minute amounts of soil (5 to 25 mg). A certified reference soil with a known PAH content and a diffusely polluted Danish surface soil from central Copenhagen were used in the study. In order to separate soil heterogeneity from analytical variation, we attempted to establish the least amount of soil in which homogeneous and reproducible results could be obtained for the PAHs in question. The results demonstrated that for fluoranthene, analytical results in accordance with the certified reference values could be obtained in quantities of 10 mg of soil or more. For phenanthrene and pyrene, certified reference values could be obtained in quantities of 25 mg of soil or more. Similar results were obtained with the Nyboder soil, using the reference soil for quality and quantity assurance. For quantification of all nine PAHs, a minimum of 100 mg of soil was needed for both soils. In order to obtain an expression for the degree of heterogeneity of PAHs in the soils, a subsample variation was calculated based on overall sample variation and analytical measurements variation. The results demonstrate that the PAHs in the Nyboder soil are much more heterogeneously distributed than the PAHs in the reference soil due to much larger subsample variations. Furthermore, strong relationships between different physico-chemical properties and subsample variation were found. These included molecular weight, water solubility, log octanol/water partition coefficient, and soil–water distribution coefficient of the investigated PAHs, demonstrating that the heterogeneity of PAHs in the Nyboder soil is significantly influenced by such parameters.     

Bacterial Diversity in Peat Soils of Forest Ecosystems and Oil Palm Plantation

Eurasian Soil Science - Bacteria play a crucial role in regulating biogeochemical cycles in peatlands. Most of the studies on soil bacteria focus mainly on the peat surface and bacteria that exist...     

Some Aspects of the Systematics and Diagnostics of Peat Soils of Boreal Mires

Eurasian Soil Science - On the basis of the review of available literature sources, the approaches to the systematics of peat soils in different soil classifications systems (Russian, German,...     

Rheological Properties of Automorphic and Semihydromorphic Cryometamorphic Northern Taiga Soils in Northeastern European Russia (Komi Republic)

Soil pastes at the water content corresponding to the maximum swelling of samples from different genetic horizons of cryometamorphic soils―surface-gleyic iron-illuvial svetlozem (Folic Albic Stagnosol) and peaty and peat humus-impregnated gleyic svetlozems (Histic Gleyic Stagnosols)―have been studied with an MCR-302 modular rheometer (Anton Paar, Austria). It has been found that the strongest interparticle bonds are formed in the horizons of cryometamorphic soils characterized by high contents of humic substances and organomineral Al–Fe–humus compounds. These are horizons of podzol microprofile (Eg and BHF) in iron-illuvial svetlozem and a humus-impregnated horizon (ELhi,g) in peaty and peat svetlozems. Organomineral Al–Fe–humus compounds, as well as the seasonal freezing of soils, determine the elastic-brittle character of interparticle interactions. The contents of clay fractions, exchangeable bases, and organic and organomineral substances impart viscoelastic properties to these contacts. An enhancement of elastic-brittle properties of soil is observed under the impact of gleying and freezing. The threefold decrease of the structural interaction parameter (∫Z) when going from automorphic to semihydromorphic conditions indicates a decrease in the resistance of peaty and peat svetlozems to mechanical loads under increasing hydromorphism compared to iron-illuvial svetlozems.     

典型黑土区不同坡位剖面土壤速效钾空间分布规律研究

本研究系统地揭示了典型黑土区典型样带多个剖面0~60 cm土壤速效钾横向和纵向分布规律。研究结果表明:研究区各样带土壤速效钾含量处于97.5~395.5 mg/kg之间,各样带土壤速效钾平均值一般是从表土层0~20 cm向20~40 cm处减小,然后逐渐向50~60 cm处增大。其变异系数和极差一般从表土层0~20 cm向50~60 cm处逐渐降低。土壤速效钾总体沿坡向向下呈下降趋势,同一土带各土层相隔越近速效钾沿坡向变化趋势越接近。各样带土壤剖面0~60 cm土层速效钾沿坡向变异均是从坡顶变异程度最大(CV=23%~28%),至坡肩变异程度相对较小(CV=12%~14%)。剖面土壤速效钾变化趋势整体上从0~20 cm向深土层先逐渐减少而后增加,通常在20~40 cm出现最低值。     

Spatial variation of peat soil properties in the oil-producing region of northeastern Sakhalin

Morphology and properties of medium-deep oligotrophic peat, oligotrophic peat gley, pyrogenic oligotrophic peat gley, and peat gley soils on subshrub-cotton grass-sphagnum bogs and in swampy larch forests of northeastern Sakhalin have been studied. Variation in the thickness and reserves of litters in the studied bog and forest biogeocenoses has been analyzed. The profile distribution and spatial variability of moisture, density, ash, and pH_KCl in separate groups of peat soils have been described. The content and spatial variability of petroleum hydrocarbons have been considered in relation to the accumulation of natural bitumoids by peat soils and the technogenic pressing in the oil-producing region. Variation of each parameter at different distances (10, 50, and 1000 m) has been estimated using a hierarchical sampling scheme. The spatial conjugation of soil parameters has been studied by factor analysis using the principal components method and Spearman correlation coefficients. Regression equations have been proposed to describe relationships of ash content with soil density and content of petroleum hydrocarbons in peat horizons.     

Thermophysical Properties of Histosols on Lowmoor Peat

Eurasian Soil Science - The temperature regime and the dependence of thermal diffusivity on the volumetric water content in high-ash drained peat soils (Sapric Drainic Histosols (Lignic)) on woody...     

Microbial Community and Rate of Cellulose Decomposition in Peat Soils in a Mire

A field survey was carried out from April to October, 1992 in the Miyatoko Mire in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, to determine the characteristics of the microbial community and cellulose decomposition rates in the peat soil. A total of 14 study sites were selected, including three types; hummocks (type I), hollows covered with Sphagnum (type II), hollows and streams without Sphagnum (type III). The numbers of fungi (2-1,000×10⁴ CFU g^-1) and bacteria (8.5-9,000 ×10⁵ CFU g^-1) varied with the sites and sampling dates: seasonal fluctuations were especially high in hummocks. The numbers of cellulolytic fungi (4.7-300×;10⁴ CFU g^-1) and cellulolytic bacteria (1.5-9.2×10⁵ CFU g^-1) also differed between sites. Cellulolytic fungi were predominant in the Sphagnum peat of type I, while cellulolytic bacteria were predominant in the peat soil of type III. Decomposition rates of cellulose filter paper for the 6 month period ranged from 0.01 to 0.83, and tended to be higher in the peat of type II than type I.     

Changes in Soil Nematode Communities during Postagrogenic Transformation of Peat Soils and Vegetation

Eurasian Soil Science - The results of a long-term study of changes in soils and vegetation during postagrogenic succession of sown meadows on reclaimed peat soils (Eutric Histosols) are presented....     

Forest Pyrogenic Peat Soils and Gleyzems in Swampy Mountain Valleys in the South of Yenisei Siberia

Eurasian Soil Science - The differences between eutrophic peat soils (Hypereutric Sapric Histosols) and peaty gleyzems (Eutric Histic Gleysols) 20 years after a forest-peat fire have been studied...