Mountainous meadow chernozem-like soils of high mountains in the North Caucasus region

Original and literature data on the soil-forming conditions and the morphology, physicochemical properties, and bulk chemical and mineralogical composition of mountainous meadow chernozem-like soils of the North Caucasus region indicate that these soils are developed from the coarse-textured pebbly colluvium of calcareous bedrock under the impact of humus accumulation and clay formation. The intensity of these processes is directly related to the activity of soil biota. Suggestions aimed at improving the classification of high-mountain soils are discussed.     

Transformation of carbonate pedofeatures in paleosols buried under kurgans in the North Caucasus region

Carbonate concentrations in a chronosequence of paleosols buried under kurgans in the North Caucasus region at the end of the 4th century and the first half of the 5th century AD have been studied with the use of a set of morphological and isotopic methods. It is demonstrated that morphologically different phases of calcite—the collomorphic phase and the crystalline phase—in carbonate pedofeatures (calcareous pseudomycelium) and in the calcareous horizon have different elemental compositions and different isotopic compositions of carbon. Hence, these forms of calcite should have different origins. An addition of colloidal carbonates migrating in colloidal solutions from the lower soil horizons to the surface horizons during the periods of climatic aridization to the acicular calcite may be responsible for a sharp and irregular increase in the radiocarbon age of the newly formed carbonate pseudomycelium.     

Buried vertic paleosols of the North Caucasus in the third millennia BC

Paleosols buried under kurgans dating back to the Yamnaya, Catacomb, and Post-Catacomb cultural epochs of the Bronze Age (4600–3900 BP) on the territory of the Stavropol Upland (the North Caucasus) in the area occupied by vertic chernozems were studied. It was found that solonchakous and deeply solonchakous and solonetzic chestnut soils and solonetzes proper predominated in the study area during the Bronze Age. The solonetzic process was the leading pedogenetic process in the automorphic paleosols of the second half of the third millennium BC. The vertic features were weakly developed in the automorphic paleosols; they were better manifested in the paleosols developed on the floodplains. The paleosol data were used to reconstruct the environmental conditions in the region during the Bronze Age. The climatic conditions of that period were more arid and with less sharp contrasts between wet and dry seasons in comparison with the modern climate.     

Mountainous meadow-steppe soils in high mountains of the Eastern Caucasus region

The results of comprehensive investigations into the soil-forming conditions, morphology, substantive composition, physicochemical properties, bulk elemental composition, and mineralogy of mountainous meadow-steppe soils of the Eastern Caucasus region are discussed. The analysis of the obtained and published data has shown that the formation of these soils takes place in a relatively arid high-mountain environment from the coarse-textured eluvium of noncalcareous rocks. Two major pedogenetic processes with the participation of soil biota—humus accumulation and argillization—are responsible for their origin. Suggestions for improving the classification of mountainous meadow-steppe soils are given.     

The origin of sulfate salts in soils developed on Maikop clays in the North Caucasus region (According to data of the isotope composition of sulfur)

The ratio of ³²S/³⁴S stable isotopes was determined for soils developed on the Maikop clay sediments in the North Caucasus region in order to study the salt geochemistry in the soils. The soil sulfates were proved to be polygenetic. Three groups (generations) of sulfates of different geneses were distinguished according to their isotopic composition (³⁴S). In the underlying deposits and, partially, in the salt-bearing horizons of the soils, secondary sulfates originated from the oxidation of sulfides contained in the marine clay predominate. In the soil profiles, the sulfates inherited from the parent material (marine clay) are mixed with sulfates arriving with the atmospheric precipitation. The portion of the latter reaches about 30% of the total amount of sulfates in the soils. The salt (gypsum)-bearing horizons were formed in the course of the eluvial-illuvial redistribution of salts to the depth of seasonal wetting. The mobilization of sulfate salts from the underlying deposits and their transport to the upper parts of the soil profile with ascending water flows in the course of evaporation from the soil surface did not play a significant role in the accumulation of sulfates in the studied soils.     

Visible and Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy for Assessment of Soil Properties in the Caucasus Mountains,Azerbaijan

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to predict soil properties using visible–near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroscopy combined with partial least square regression (PLSR) modeling. Special emphasis was given to evaluating effect of pre-processing methods on prediction accuracy and important wavelengths. A total of 114 samples were collected and involved in chemical and spectral analyzes. PLSR model of each soil property was calibrated for all pre-processing methods using all samples, and leave-one-out cross-validation was used to make comparisons between them. Then, PLSR model of each best pre-processing method was calibrated using a 75% of all samples and correspondingly validated with the remaining a 25%. Model accuracy was evaluated based on coef?cient of determination (R²), root mean-squared errors (RMSE), and residual prediction deviations (RPD). The high correlation coefficients were found between the tested soil properties and reflectance spectra. The pre-processing methods considerably improved prediction accuracy and filtering methods outperformed linearization methods, and the latter outperformed normalization methods. The performance of cross-validation, calibration and independent validation was similar. An excellent prediction (RPD>2.5) model was obtained for soil organic carbon (SOC) and calcium-carbonate (CaCO₃), good quantitative (2.0< RPD<2.5) prediction for sand, silt, and clay, fair prediction (1.4< RPD<1.8) for pH, and poor prediction (1.0< RPD<1.4) for hygroscopic water content (WC). Important wavelengths varied depending on soil property, but some wavelengths were common. This study can be a precursor to building a pioneering soil spectral database, calibrating satellite data, and hyperspectral image mapping of soils as well as digital soil mapping, environmental, and erosion modeling in the Caucasus Mountains.     

Specific features of paleosols of burial mounds involved in current farming practices and their contemporary pedogenesis (using the early Alanian burial mounds in the North Caucasus region as an example)

Paleosols of three burial sites—Brut 1, Brut 2, and Beslan—in the Northern Osetia Republic (Alania) of the North Caucasus region were studied. A part of the Brut 2 burial site was subjected to intensive agricultural use (more than 30-year-long irrigation and regular tillage). This led to the leveling of the burial mounds and changes in some properties of the buried paleosols. A comparative analysis of paleosols of the same age under the burial mounds involved not included in the intensive agricultural use made it possible to determine the degree of preservation of the initial properties in the irrigated paleosols and to use them for reconstruction of the paleoclimates. Some specific features of the soil evolution were revealed, and paleoclimate reconstructions were performed for the period of the Early Alan civilization in the North Caucasus region (from the second half of the 2nd century AD to the middle of the 5th century AD).     

The influence of carbonates in parent rocks on the biological properties of mountain soils of the Northwest Caucasus region

The biological activity of different subtypes of soddy-calcareous soils (rendzinas) of the Northwest Caucasus region was studied. In the Novorossiisk-Abrau-Dyurso region (dry subtropics), typical soddy-calcareous soils with the high content of carbonates predominate; in the more humid conditions of the Lagonaki Plateau (Republic of Adygeya), leached soddy-calcareous soils carbonate-free down to the parent rock are spread. The number of microarthropods, the populations of fungi and bacteria, and the enzyme activity (catalase, dehydrogenase, and invertase) testify that the biological activity of these soils significantly differs. In the typical soddy-calcareous soils of the dry subtropics, the content of carbonates does not affect the characteristics mentioned; in the more humid conditions of the West Caucasus region, the presence of carbonates in the parent rocks intensifies the biological activity of the soddy-calcareous soils.     

阿拉善地区沙尘暴发生的时空变化规律探讨

统计分析阿拉善地区1961-2003年43a的沙尘暴发生的空间分布特征,月际、年际和年代际的时间变化特征及其原因。结果表明：阿拉善地区沙尘暴天气在空间分布上以拐子湖为中心向外辐射减少,且北部、东部区域沙尘暴发生多,西部、南部区域发生少;在季节变化上呈现出沙尘暴春夏多发、秋冬少发的分布规律,年际间沙尘暴发生时间（以d计）高于多年平均发生时间的年份少,年代际间则以20世纪70年代沙尘暴发生时间最多,之后表现为逐渐减少趋势;沙尘暴出现时间是该地区特定气候、地理和生态环境等条件的反映,沙尘暴发生时间与大风发生时间呈正相关。与当年气温、上年降水量呈负相关,且月均沙尘暴发生时间与月均大风发生时间呈紧密的线性正相关关系,相关系数达0．9885。研究结果可为阿拉善地区沙尘暴的防治提供科学依据。     

Emissions of acidifying air pollutants in the North West region of England

Most estimates of emission are concerned with the nation state level. This paper will discuss methods utilised in the estimates of emissions to the atmosphere of sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen from a densely populated and heavily industrialised region of the United Kingdom. Data on power generation, industrial plant, fuel usage, air, sea and road transportation, and human population statistics have been integrated into a method to provide regional emission estimates. The resulting emission patterns are described in terms of sources and emission density. Spatial and temporal patterns are identified and major sources of emissions discussed in terms of national control programmes. Transportation is the dominant source of oxides of nitrogen emissions whilst power generation is the dominant source of sulphur dioxide. The relative importance of the North West as an emission source within the UK is assessed. The change in the strengths of acidifying emissions between 1987 and 1992 is discussed and the rate of change in emission magnitudes between the North West region and the UK as a whole compared.     

Mountain-meadow soils of the highlands in the Western Caucasus

The published and author’s data on soil-forming conditions, morphology, substance composition and physicochemical properties, total chemical and mineralogical composition, and micromorphology of mountain-meadow soils of the Western Caucasus Range are analyzed. On the basis of the analytical data obtained, the transformation of minerals and features of chemical element profile patterns developed in the course of soil formation are characterized. The main processes accompanying the transformation of mineral and organic parts of the soil mass and migration of soil-formation products are described. Soil formation is shown to be accompanied by two major elementary soil processes developing with participation of soil biota: humus accumulation and clay formation. Ways to improve the classification of mountain-meadow soils are proposed.     

天津滨海地区盐碱土季节动态变化

天津滨海地区位于渤海的西海岸带,属于黄淮海的一部分,受太平洋季风气候影响,雨量在年内和年际分配极度不均,呈现明显的春旱夏涝、涝后又旱以及旱年、涝年的现象,致使土壤中水盐运行频繁,积盐和脱盐交替发生,与此同时受海潮和海水型地下水的双重影响,滨海地区土壤具有盐分重、养分含量低等特点[1-4]。土壤盐碱化已经严重影响农林业,尤其是种植业生产的持续发展,并对人体健康和生态环境造成现实和潜在的危害[5-6]。为了探索天津滨海地区土壤中各种离子季节动态变化规律,作者从2007年起,对天津滨海地区林场的不同植被地区、不同土壤剖面进行动态监测,探讨各种离子季节变化规律,为改善天津滨海地区周边生态环境,指导天津     

Isotopic composition of sulfur from sulfates in loess sediments of the North Caucasus and adjacent regions as an indicator of the genesis of salts

Isotopic composition of sulfur from sulfates in loess sediments of the North Caucasus region was studied. It proved to be very homogenous within the vertical soil-loess sequences and in the lateral direction: the δ³⁴S values in the studied samples varied from 7.8 to 8.3‰. The origin of sulfates in the soil-loess sequences is related to their deposition from different sources in solonchaks of the Black Sea-Caspian region with further mixing of sulfur and its eolian transport toward the areas of loess deposition. The gypsiferous horizons of studied soils were formed under the impact of the eluvial-illuvial redistribution of salts deposited from the atmosphere onto the soil surface.     

典型绿洲区土壤盐分的空间变异特征

针对绿洲区存在的土壤盐化制约干旱区农业可持续发展问题,应用面域土壤信息调研采集,结合地统计学与GIS技术对新疆典型绿洲区土壤盐分空间变异特征进行研究。研究结果表明：0～30 cm耕层土壤盐分呈现强变异性,30 cm以下土层呈现中等变异。各土层土壤盐分均呈现中等空间自相关性,空间相关距离在24～28 km范围内。各等级盐化土在不同深度土层的分布方位基本一致。各土层非盐化土面积均占主导地位,都占研究区总面积的69%以上;其次为轻度盐化土面积,占研究区总面积的19%～30%;各土层中度盐化土面积都在3.4%以下;重度盐化土仅在0～30 cm土层有极少量分布。随着土层深度的增加,非盐化土和中度盐化土的面积逐渐减小,轻度盐化土面积逐渐增大。本研究对于指导干旱区绿洲农业生产、保障区域土壤资源可持续合理利用具有重要的理论价值和明确的实际应用前景。     

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.     

Assessment of the phenotypic diversity in natural populations of Annona coriacea Mart.: implications for breeding

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Annona coriacea Mart. is a native tree to the savannas of Brazil that produces fruits that have economic, ecological, and dietary potential for use by local...     

华北山前平原农田土壤养分循环的酶学调控

土壤酶是推动土壤养分循环的生物催化剂, 研究华北山前平原农田养分循环的酶学调控机制将有助于评价该地区土壤养分状况。试验用土壤取自中国科学院栾城农业生态系统试验站, 分析了土壤脲酶与碱性磷酸酶活性在0~10 cm、10~20 cm、20~30 cm 和30~40 cm 4 个土层中的分布, 研究了土壤粗砂(2 000~200 μm)、粉砂(200~63 μm)、粉粒(63~2 μm)和黏粒(2~0.1 μm) 4 个颗粒组中土壤酶活性与土壤养分之间的相关性。研究结果表明: 土壤脲酶活性与碱性磷酸酶活性均随土壤深度增加而降低, 土壤酶活性随土壤粒径减小而升高。在土壤粗砂和粉砂组分中, 土壤酶活性与养分含量显著相关, 而在土壤粉粒和黏粒组分中, 土壤酶活性与土壤养分含量并不总是显著相关。这些结果说明: 土壤酶活性在土壤养分循环中起到重要的调控作用, 土壤粗砂和粉砂中的土壤酶具有较高的田间实际催化活性, 对土壤养分循环的贡献较大; 与此相反, 土壤粉粒和黏粒中的土壤酶由于土壤无机矿物的吸附作用而失去部分田间催化能力, 降低了其对土壤养分循环的贡献。     

Variations in the Properties of Chernozems and Paleoenvironmental Conditions in the North Caucasus in the 4th Millennium BC according to the Results of the Study of Essentuksky 1 Kurgan

Eurasian Soil Science - A short-term chronosequence of paleosols buried under different structures in the big Essentuksky 1 kurgan (North Caucasus) was studied. The kurgan was constructed in the...     

Assessment of zinc availability to rice in mollisols of North India

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize zinc (Zn) fractions and their relation to Zn extracted with mixed‐bed ion exchange resin capsules and (2) assess the relationships between the latter and Zn uptake by rice in 12 Mollisols from North India. The Resin Adsorption Quantity (RAQ) of Zn was measured after 1 and 14 days of anaerobic incubation. Six organic and inorganic Zn fractions were determined on anaerobic soil. Zinc uptake by rice was studied in a greenhouse experiment. Soil Zn fractions under reduced conditions followed the order residual Zn (80%)>carbonates and amorphous oxides bound Zn (12%)>weakly organically bound Zn (3%)>crystalline oxides bound Zn (2%)>strongly organically bound Zn (2%)>water soluble + exchangeable Zn (1%). RAQ‐Zn was best correlated with Zn bound to carbonates and amorphous oxides. Due to negative interactions between bicarbonate and Zn uptake, correlations between relative dry matter yield or total Zn uptake and the different Zn fractions, DTPA‐Zn measured on dry soil, or RAQ Zn were not significant. Adjusting soil test values according to soil pH improved the prediction of relative dry matter yield, but further studies are required to determine whether the resin capsule can be used as a soil test for Zn in calcareous soils.     

最近30年河龙区间降雨侵蚀力的时空演变特征

为准确定量评估代表降雨引起土壤侵蚀潜在能力的指标——降雨侵蚀力,收集黄河中游河龙区间各县共96个气象站点1981—2010年的日降雨资料,基于半月降雨侵蚀力模型对区间半月、月、季节、年尺度上降雨侵蚀力的时空变化特征进行评价。结果表明：1）7月下半月、8月和夏季的降雨侵蚀力分别在相应的时间尺度上最大,年均降雨侵蚀力在空间上从西北到东南呈增加趋势;2）河龙区间年降雨侵蚀力总体呈下降趋势,减少的面积占区间总面积的68．45％,7月上半月降雨侵蚀力的减少对区间年降雨侵蚀力的减少贡献最大;3）年降雨侵蚀力增加的地区主要集中于河龙区间西北部和东南部,7月上半月降雨侵蚀力呈增加趋势的面积仅占总面积的1．12％。