Mikroskalige Variabilität der Bodenlösungschemie - Ergebnisse eines Laborversuchs zum Vergleich von Standard- und Mikro-Saugkerzen

Microscalic variability of soil solution chemistry - results of a laboratory experiment comparing standard - with micro suction cups In a laboratory experiment with an undisturbed soil column, the chemistry of soil solution collected by a standard suction cup (Ø 2 cm) was compared with that of 20 micro suction cups (Ø I mm) installed in the same soil depth. The standard cup showed comparable concentrations of inorganic anions with the soil column leachate, because preferably the main water paths of the soil column were sampled. In contrast, about 30 % of the micro suction cups sample soil compartments that have a different solution chemistry. In these cases the differences between standard and micro suction cups decrease in the order nitrate, chloride, sulfate. Standard suction cups seem to be the right sampling device for the investigation of element fluxes through soil. To get information about plant availability of ions they are inadequate, due to their dimension. Here micro suction cups are more appropriate, because their dimension is comparable to plant roots.     

Adsorption von Pflanzenschutzmitteln und DOC an Saugkerzen aus Glas und Keramik

Sorption of pesticides and DOC on glass and ceramic suction cups Suction cups are widely used for the sampling of soil solution. Due to sorption and desorption processes the concentration of dissolved substances in the samples may vary considerably depending on the material of the suction cups. In order to minimize these losses, a new glass suction cup was developed. In laboratory studies, aqueous solutions of pesticides and DOC were percolated through both types of suction cups; the concentration of pesticides and DOC in the percolates was examined. The pesticides pendimethaline, terbuthylazine, metolachlor and chlortoluron were tested at concentrations of 2, 20, and 200 μg 1⁻¹. The average losses due to sorption by the suction cups were 10% (1.1—31%) for the ceramic cups and 3.1% (0—11%) for the glass cups. Sorption effects increased with increasing hydrophobicity of the pesticides and decreasing pesticide concentrations. Thus, at a concentration of 2 μg 1⁻¹ ceramic cups sorbed 31% of pendimethaline compared with 7.7% in the case of glass cups. Corresponding tests with soilborne DOC solutions yielded comparable results. Ceramic suction cups adsorbed up to 50% of the DOC input concentration, while glass cups retarded 2.4% on average. These results are especially noteworthy because soilborne dissolved organic substances are effective sorbents and carriers for pesticides. The new type of glass suction cups may help to improve the results of pesticide field studies and, in consequence, the assessment and prediction of the leaching behavior of pesticides.     

Sorption of Dissolved Organic Carbon by Ceramic P 80 Suction Cups

Comparison is made between the chemical composition of acid soil solutions percolated through new, acid-washed ceramic P 80 suction cups, and old, over 3 years field-equilibrated suction cups with respect to quantitative and qualitative changes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). While new suction cups sorb DOC in significant amounts with hydrophobic constituents preferred, field-equilibrated suction cups alter DOC neither in concentration nor in composition. But at changes of DOC concentrations a percolation volume of 300 ml is necessary for reaching equilibrium. It is, therefore, concluded that field-equilibrated ceramic P 80 suction cups can be used for collecting DOC from mineral B and C horizons of acid forest soils, where DOC concentrations remain constant. In contrast, the suction cups investigated are unsuitable for collecting A horizon solutions, which show greater variations in DOC concentration.     

Interaction between Plant Nutrients: II. Effect of Chloride on Activities of Cations in Soil Solution and on Nutrient Uptake by Plants

Abstract

In soil solutions the sum of cations is equivalent to that of anions. Anions are soluble or precipitated as less soluble salts. Therefore, the sum of soluble anions are responsible for the sum of cations in the soil solution. Soluble nitrate anions are unstable as they immobilize in biological materials. Hydrogen carbonate is excreted from plant roots and decomposes into carbon dioxide and carbonate. Carbonate reacts with hydrogen ions and forms complexes and ion pairs with calcium ions. Sulphate and chloride are more stable in the soil solution as anions.

Chloride ions were found to increase the activity of cations in the soil solution and to increase uptake of cations through the entire growth period. Increased absorption of cations increased yield. In temperate climate regions the surplus of chloride leaches from the root zone during winter.     

Micro-scale variation of solid-phase properties and soil solution chemistry in a forest podzol and its relation to soil horizons

In order to evaluate micro-scale heterogeneities 55 micro suction cups were placed in an array at 15 mm intervals in a profile face of a cambic podzol. The chemistry of soil solution (mineral anions, pH, UV absorption as a measure for DOC) was compared with solid-phase properties from soil samples (2 cm³ volume), which had surrounded the suction cups. Sequential extraction techniques (water, NF₄Cl, hydroxylamin-hydrochloride, citrate-bicarbonate, oxalate, dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) and base titrations were applied to characterize the solid phase. Although the average soil solution concentrations between horizons often differed significantly, the spatial distributions of pH and SO₄^2? did not correlate with soil horizon borders. Even if concentration isolines and soil horizon borders were parallel, marked concentration gradients could be observed within individual soil horizons. The less intense the interaction between solute ion and soil matrix, the greater was the variation in solution concentration within a soil horizon. For the soil solid phase only a weak correlation of slow buffer reactions to soil horizons was found. The distribution of extractable Fe and Al was typical for a podzol profile, however, with very steep gradients within single soil horizons. Except for pH, which was related mainly to citrate-bicarbonate extractable aluminium, no solid-phase characteristic showed a clear correlation with soil solution chemistry.     

Aluminium contamination of acid soil solution isolated by means of porcelain suction cups: a reply to a paper by Hughes & Reynolds (1990) and an interpretation of aluminium release

Possible aluminium contamination of acid soil solutions isolated by use of porous porcelain suction cups (‘P.80 type’) was reported by Raulund-Rasmussen (1989). The aluminium release was explained by a proton-induced dissolution of cup material. Hughes & Reynolds (1990) suggested that the aluminium release and proton consumption could be explained by an ion-exchange reaction. In an attempt to understand the mechanism and thereby also the usefulness of suction cups, laboratory experiments were carried out to define mineralogical and chemical composition, stability under acid conditions, cation exchange capacity, and reactivity under conditions relevant to the field. The cups consisted of mullite and corundum (65% Al₂O₃) as shown by X-ray diffraction analysis. The cation exchange capacity of the cups was too low (0.65 μmol_c per cup) to explain the observed contamination of isolated soil solution. Ground cup material dissolved slowly in acid. Investigations on whole cups showed that aluminium release to acid test solutions depended on the time of exposure. It is concluded that porcelain suction cups may lead to contamination of isolated soil solution depending on: (i) the intake rate, (ii) the rinsing procedure before sampling, and (iii) the composition of the soil solution (pH and aluminium ion activity being important parameters).     

Effects of growing roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) on rhizosphere soil solution chemistry

The chemical conditions of the rhizosphere can be very different from that of bulk soil. Up to now, little attention has been given to the problem of spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of rhizosphere soil solution and little is known about the influence of different tree species on rhizosphere chemistry. In the present study, we used micro suction cups to collect soil solution from the rhizosphere of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedlings in high spatial resolution and capillary electrophoresis for the determination of major cations and anions. The results indicate, that in a soil with a base saturation of about 20—25% and a pH of 6.5, growing roots of beech and spruce lower the concentrations of nutrient cations and nitrate in the rhizosphere soil solution and decrease significantly the pH. The H⁺ release leads to an enhanced mineral weathering as indicated by an increase of CEC and base saturation and to a mobilization of soluble Al, however, on a very low concentration level. In our experiment rhizosphere effects of spruce have been more pronounced than those of beech, indicating, that with respect to below ground activity young spruce trees have a better competitive power than beech.     

Ionic contents of leachate from grassland soils: a comparison between ceramic suction cup samples and drainage

Abstract. Ceramic suction cups were used to obtain samples of soil solution from permanently grazed swards receiving 200 kg N/ha/y. The suction cups were installed in 1 ha plots at 10, 30 and 60 an depth in a poorly drained, heavy clay soil in S. W. England. The plots were hydrologically isolated from each other by perimeter drains which channelled surface runoff water into v-notch weirs. In one treatment, artificial drainage by a system of field and mole drains also converged to outfalls through v-notch weirs, which enabled samples to be taken. Nitrate and a range of other ionic constituents were examined over a 12 month period in soil solutions taken from the suction cups and compared with leachate obtained from the field drains and surface channels. Field drain samples frequently exceeded the EC limit of 11.3 mg nitrate-N/1, but concentrations in suction cups obtained during the same period did not, and were up to ten-fold less. Although correlations for ions were found between different sampling depths and drainage samples, no clear patterns emerged. It was concluded that suction cups were inappropriate for the determination of the overall leaching losses in this soil type, but provided useful data on changes in ionic concentrations which occurred in different soil horizons through to drainage outfalls.     

Short Communication — Kurzmitteilung Siliziumcarbid — eine Alternative zur Aluminiumoxid‐Saugkerze?

Siliciumcarbide — is it an alternative to suction cups made of aluminumoxide? Siliziumcarbide (SiC) is a novel non‐oxide ceramic material. We tested differently preconditioned SiC and aluminum‐oxide ceramics (P80) with respect to their influence on the solution passing through. For this we used a cation standard, an anion standard and a soil solution. Both ceramics released considerable amounts of Na and Al. However, in most cases SiC showed better results for anions and dissolved organic carbon. Therefore it may be a promising task to improve the properties of SiC by minimizing sinter additives and optimized conditioning procedures, and develop improved suction cups.     

Die Beeinflussung der Bodenlösung durch Saugkerzen aus Ni-Sintermetall und Keramik

Influencing soil solution by suction cup material (Ni, ceramics) The influence of suction cup material (ceramics, Ni) on the chemical composition of the soil solution was tested in the laboratory by percolating soil solutions of different concentration (pH ～ 4.0). Ceramic cups of P 80 material can be used for the collection of soil solution and its determination for the concentrations of H, Na, K, NH₄, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, S, Cl and NO₃. They can't be used to determine P-concentrations. The cups must be prepared and preconditioned by leaching large amounts of equilibrium soil solution which should not be oversaturated with respect to the solubility product of AlOHSO₄. The changes in the concentration of extracted soil solution when it passes through the cups depend upon the extracted volume. The lower the volume, the greater are the changes. Sintered Ni-cups show many severe disadvantages (decreasing permeability, insufficient resistence against acid solutions, large variability among single cups), and can only be used for cases where Na, Ca, K, and S are to be determined. Ceramic cups of the type ‘Czeratzki’ are comparable with those of P 80. However, they can only be used, when the concentrations don't vary too much and large amounts of water can be extracted.     

Combination of micro suction cups and time-domain reflectometry to measure osmotic potential gradients between bulk soil and rhizosphere at high resolution in time and space

A prerequisite to investigate the importance of osmotic potential (Ψ_o) in relation to matric potential (Ψ_m) in the soil for water uptake is the existence of a method that measures the temporal and spatial dynamics of Ψ_o in the vicinity of roots. One method for measuring Ψ_oin situ is the collection of soil solution with micro suction cups, the spatial resolution of which is suitable for rhizosphere studies. A major drawback of soil solution sampling is the disturbance of soil solution equilibrium, which makes frequent measurements impossible, so another method is required to provide information on the temporal dynamics of Ψ_o. The time‐domain reflectometry (TDR) technique might be suitable as the signal attenuation (σ) shows a close linear correlation with the salt concentration for a known soil water content. The temporal resolution of the TDR technique is high and the measurement has no impact on soil solution equilibrium. However, the spatial resolution of the TDR technique is too coarse to be used on its own in rhizosphere studies. We used a combination of TDR (fine temporal resolution) and micro suction cups (fine spatial resolution) to measure Ψ_o in a model system with Zea mays grown in quartz substrates. Osmotic potential changed continuously with time, and a steep gradient between bulk soil and the root compartment developed during the 39‐day growing period. The steepest gradient measured over a distance of 6 mm across the nylon net, separating the bulk soil from the root compartment, was ?365 kPa. The combination of both methods made it possible to extend the time interval between micro suction cup samplings and thus minimize the impact of sampling on soil solution equilibrium. Problems of separate calibration were avoided by calibrating the TDR measurements against the results obtained with the micro suction cups within the same experiment.     

Aluminium contamination and other changes of acid soil solution isolated by means of porcelain suction-cups

Comparison was made between the chemical composition of soil solutions isolated by means of a suction method using porcelain cups and by centrifugation. The soil solutions were isolated from three depths of field plots, where the soil (Typic Haplohumod) had been subjected to various pretreatments.
The cups were made of mullite and corundum as shown by X-ray diffraction analysis. The material when powdered had a cation exchange capacity of about 10meq kg⁻¹. Solutions with similar ionic strengths were obtained by the two methods, but the cups were found to release substantial amounts of Al and to adsorb H, Ca, K, Na and organic matter.
After the cups had been placed in the soil for more than 7 months, calculations suggested that the Al activity in cup solutions was controlled by amorphous gibbsite. This amorphous material was probably produced by proton-induced decomposition of part of the cup material. It is concluded that such cups are improper for isolation of soil solution from acid soils.     

Effects of ionic strength and nature of the cation on the desorption of fluoride from soil

The reaction between soil and added fluoride was accelerated by incubating at a high temperature. Desorption of the fluoride was then studied using solutions of chloride salts of several cations at a range of solution : soil ratios and for periods which ranged from 1 h to 4 days. Fluoride desorbed was related to the experimental variables by a regression equation. When the solution : soil ratio was small and hence only small amounts of fluoride were desorbed, decreasing the concentration of salts increased the concentration of fluoride in the solution. The concentration in the solution was lower for calcium chloride than for sodium or potassium chloride. Amongst the monovalent cations, the concentration of fluoride was highest for salts of the cations of lowest atomic number. Thus the greater the average distance between the charge conveyed to the surface by the adsorbed fluoride and the cation which balanced it, the higher the fluoride concentration in the solution. As the solution : soil ratio was increased, the differences between the cations in their effects on fluoride desorption decreased and seemed to disappear as the solution : soil ratio became very large. This contrasts with previously observed effects on phosphate. It is suggested that the difference may have arisen because appreciable desorption of fluoride occurs by exchange with hydroxyl ions rather than by escape of the fluoride ion together with its counter ion.     

Spatial heterogeneity of soil solution chemistry in a mature Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand

The determination of the average soil solution concentrations in forest soils is hindered by the spatial heterogeneity of the soil conditions and the stand structure on all scales. The aim of this paper is to investigate the spatial heterogeneity of the soil solution chemistry within a mature stand of Norway spruce and to evaluate the implication of this heterogeneity for the sampling design for soil solutions. The site is a 140 years old Norway spruce stand of 2.5 ha located in the German Fichtelgebirge at 800 m elevation on granitic, deeply weathered bedrock. At 35 cm soil depth, 59 ceramic suction lysimeters (5 cm length, 2 cm diameter) were installed in a systematic grid of 25 · 25 m and soil solution was sampled at 3 dates in June and July 1994. The solutions were analysed for major cations and anions. Semi-variance of the concentrations at a given date revealed no systematic spatial patterns. The coefficients of variance of the element concentrations were between 36 and 298% with highest values for NH₄ ⁺-N. The implications of the observed heterogeneity for the appropriate number of replicates was investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. As an example, the probability that the measured average concentration of SO₄ ^2?-S is outside a ±10% range (related to the ‘true’ 59 lysimeter average) is about 68% if only 3 replicates would have been used, 41% with 10 replicates and 25% with 20 replicates. Due to the generally large spatial heterogeneity of the soil solution chemistry in forest soils the number of lysimeters used must be carefully adjusted to site conditions and the specific question.     

Influence of Rhizon MOM suction cup and Triticum aestivum L. on the concentration of organic and inorganic anions in soil solution

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Rhizon suction cups are widely used for soil water sampling. However, available literature about the variability and stability of organic and inorganic anions in...     

Equivalence or complementarity of soil‐solution extraction methods

Several methods are used for the extraction of soil solution. The objective of this study was to find out to what extent the different extraction methods yield complementary or equivalent information. Soil solutions were sampled once at 10 different forest sites in Germany, with 4 sampling points per site, using 5 different extraction methods. Concentrations of the major ions in the 1:2 extracts and the equilibrium soil‐pore solutions (obtained from percolation of field‐fresh soil cores) were generally lower than in desorption solutions, suction‐cup solutions, and saturation extracts. Surprisingly, the latter three methods generally yielded equivalent results. However, possible systematic differences between these methods could have been masked by the high small‐scale spatial variability within the sites.     

Sorption of trace metals by suction cups of aluminium oxide,ceramic and plastics

The sorption properties of ceramic, aluminium oxide and plastic suction cups in respect to trace metals (Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were compared in laboratory and field experiments. The sorption effect is determined by the level of the cation exchange capacity of the cup material, the pH-value of the soil solution, the content of dissolved organic carbon, the sampling rate and the sampled volume. Sorption was generally negligible only in case of cobalt, manganese and nickel. At low pH-values no retention of trace metals occurred with the exception of lead in the aluminium oxide and the ceramic cups. At pH-values of about 8 cadmium and zinc were strongly sorbed only by aluminium oxide and ceramic cups whereas beryllium, copper and lead were markedly sorbed at this pH-range by all cup types. These results are only valid for the boundary conditions used. Whenever a suction cup's suitability is in doubt it should be tested after a conditioning procedure using realistic boundary conditions.     

Verlagerung und Dispersion von Chlorid-, Bromid-, Nitrat- und SulfatTracern in zwei typischen Auenböden

Translocation and dispersion of chloride, bromide, nitrate and sulfate tracers in two typical Fluvi-Eutric Cambisols Chloride, bromide, nitrate and sulfate were applied as tracers on two weakly to moderately acidic Fluvi-Eutric Cambisols. The soil solution was sampled by ceramic suction cups down to a soil depth of 180 cm. At definite time intervals also soils material was taken from different depth to produce the soil saturation extract. The concentrations of the non-adsorbed anions chloride, bromide and nitrate were very similar in the suction cup solutions and in the saturation extracts, whereas the concentrations of the weakly adsorbed sulfate partially showed considerable differences. Obviously both methods extract in acid soils different fractions of the dissolved sulfate. By comparison of marked sulfate peaks with those of chloride, bromide or nitrate, which occur at the same time in different soil depth, a Kd value of 0.16 1/kg can be calculated for the Ap horizon and of 0.02 1/kg for the subsurface horizons of one Fluvi-Eutric Cambisol. Values of the dispersivity of the different horizons were estimated by varying the values of the dispersivity reported in the literature until the best fit of the simulated anion depth distribution to the measured values was found. The estimated dispersivities varied between 1.0 cm in the Ap horizon and 1.8 and 10.0 cm in the subsurface horizons.     

Bodenwassergewinnung mittels Saugkerzen an extremen Standorten — Möglichkeiten und Grenzen+

The extraction of soil water in extreme locations by means of suction cups — possibilities and limitations The article concludes that despite the many problems associated with suction cup methodology, it is still the simplest and best method of extracting soil water, particularly in extreme locations like the arctic. Of particular interest are the unusual results obtained for soil water chemistry, despite the fact that all the standards concerning installation, sample treatment and evaluation were met. Thus, spatial and temporal heterogeneity of soil water chemistry is discussed on the basis of 1850 samples and an alternative means of data presentation is introduced.     

Decrease in Hydraulic Conductivity of Clay Soils with Salinity-Sodicity Problems due to Freezing and Thawing Effect

Abstract

Synergism and antagonism cause interactions between plant nutrients. The sum of equivalents of cations in a soil solution is equal to the sum of soluble anions. Therefore, the amount of cations in a soil solution is maintained by a synergetic effect of anions. The relations between cations are determined by the relation between the exchangeable cations, according to a derived Gapon equation. An over-optimal concentration of a cation acts antagonistically to the effect of other cations on plant nutrient uptake. Sometimes the soil solution reactions are complicated, and antagonism between anions becomes obvious.

When describing interactions between plant nutrients by synergism and antagonism, it is valuable to develop analytical methods to determine activities and concentrations in defined extracts of soils. The theory and procedure are described in this paper.