Drainability of some Dutch clay soils: A case study of soil survey interpretation

Riverine and marine non-calcareous Dutch clay soils have moderate limitations for use as grassland under existing conditions due to high ground-water levels in winter and early spring, which have traditionally been attributed to a very low K_sat of the clay. Physical research, which used soil morphology to define sample size and soil maps to locate test sites within defined mapping units, showed that permanent high ground-water levels were primarily due to low hydraulic gradients and not to a low K_sat. Well-maintained tile drainage, to be associated with low water levels in the ditches in winter, resulted in much lower ground-water levels in the soil, thereby effectively reducing use limitations imposed by existing conditions and improving soil suitability. The latter was specifically characterized in this study in terms of the assessment factor: “drainage status”. Tile drainage resulted in a significant increase of K_sat which was thought to be due to increased drying and cracking of the relatively young riverine soil. In the older marine soils, the increase of K_sat upon tile drainage was due to deep earthworm activity. Existing suitability can thus be improved by using appropriate technology, i.e., tile drainage associated with better water management. The detail by which the technology is defined in soil survey interpretation is critical. The detail should not exceed the generality-level dictated by the variability of regional field data.     

Remote assessment of the degree of soil degradation from radiation properties of soils

The effect of the water and salt contents, the soil texture, and the groundwater level on the radiation properties of soils was studied. A methodology was developed for the remote assessment of the degree of soil degradation on the basis of measuring the brightness temperature and emissivity of soils in the microwave region. Criteria based on the remote measurements of radiation parameters of soils for recording changes in the water-physical and other properties of soils, which are necessary for detecting degradation processes at early stages, were substantiated. For the remote assessment of soil degradation, it was proposed to analyze trends in changes with time concerning the emissivities of unfrozen soils occurring at a positive temperature (depending on the soil water content and the groundwater level), the emissivities of frozen nonsaline soils (depending on the soil texture and thermodynamic temperature), and the brightness temperature (depending on the soil salinity and thermodynamic temperature).     

Different approaches to evaluating soil quality using biochemical properties

Soil biochemical properties are indicators of soil quality, but there is still no consensus as to how they should be used. We review the trends in their use over the last decade. Generally, biochemical properties related to the biocycles of the elements (C, N, P and S) are used to diagnose soil quality. These properties include both general biochemical parameters (i.e. microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase activity and N mineralization potential) and specific biochemical parameters (i.e. the activity of hydrolytic enzymes, such as phosphatase, urease and β-glucosidase). Biochemical properties can be used both individually, as simple indices, or in combination using complex equations derived from mathematical combinations or the application of statistical programs. The results described in the literature for both are contradictory and question the validity of the use of biochemical properties as quality indicators. Complex expressions, in which different properties are combined, are thought to be highly suitable for estimating soil quality, although their use is limited to the area and situation in which they have been described. Generally, the greatest problems posed by the use of biochemical properties as soil quality indicators include the lack of reference values, the contradictory behaviour shown by these properties when a soil is degraded, and the regional variations in expression levels. Most of these problems are derived from the scarce information available on the biochemical properties of soil. For this reason, obtaining soil quality indicators of general use will require a coordinated effort from the international scientific community to standardise the analytical methods and to compile databases of biochemical properties from soils under diverse geographic conditions and with different uses and management.     

Rainfall/runoff/erosion relationships and soil properties survey in abandoned shallow soils of NE Spain

Purpose

Shallow soils previously cultivated under terraced systems may change their properties after agricultural release and spontaneous plant colonization. Investigations were conducted in terraced fields (NE Spain) to prove that vegetation installed after the abandonment may generally improve soil properties by the formation of stable organic horizons. However, restriction in plant species along the natural vegetation succession and intensification of erosion processes may occur after abandonment depending on fire frequency and soil use history.

Materials and methods

Ten environments with different plant covers under a Lithic Xerorthent were selected and erosion plots (Gerlach type) installed providing their best adaptability at the terrace scale. Selected soil environments represented the sequence of abandonment: from current poorly cultivated soils, soils under pasture, soils under shrubs, and soils under stands of pine and cork trees. Relevant rainfall events producing runoff and erosion were recorded from November 2011 to May 2012. Erosion rates and erosion components were analysed in sediments and water in order to monitor carbon, nitrogen and other nutrient removal by overland flow. Similarly, the physical and chemical properties of the soil environments under study were determined at the same time interval of runoff erosion.

Results and discussion

Soils under pasture, vines and recently burnt pine forest produced the highest runoff followed by soils under shrubs and forest. However, eroded soil yields and nutrient removal were much higher in cultivated soils and soils in recently burnt sites, which had shown poorer soil properties with respect to soils abandoned for longer and preserved by fire. Fire-affected soil environments also showed a thinner organic horizon and reduced water retention. Although erosion rates and nutrient depletion were low in all environments with respect to other areas of Spain, higher splash than water erosion was an early warning indicator of the high susceptibility to degradation of these shallow soils.

Conclusions

Results outlined that the renaturalization dynamics after agricultural abandonment are complex biophysical processes involving the parent material, depth to bedrock and other soil properties as well as the succession of vegetative cover and plant associations responsible for building a new soil mantle contrasting with erosion processes. Planning for management of land abandonment is strongly recommended.

     

Aggregate characterization as compared to soil bulk properties

The aim of this paper is to clarify the effect of soil aggregation on the physical and chemical properties of structured soils and as compared with the homogenized material. Aggregation and aggregate strength do not only depend on biological activity and organic exudates, but also on the intensity, number and time of swelling, and drying events. Such aggregates are not only more dense than the structured bulk soil, the intra-aggregate pore distribution consists not only of finer pores, but they are also more tortuous. Thus, water and ion fluxes by mass flow as well as ion transportation by diffusion are delayed, whereby the length of the flow path in such tortuous finer pores further retards chemical exchange processes. Futhermore, the chemical composition of the percolating soil solution differs more from that of the corresponding homogenized material the stronger and denser the aggregates are. From the mechanical point of view, the strength of single aggregates, determined as the angle of internal friction and cohesion, depends on the number of contact points or the forces, which can be transmitted at each single contact point. However, internal soil parameters, like grain size distribution or chemical composition, further affect the strength. The more structured the soils are, the higher is the proportion of the effective stress on total stress, but even in single aggregates neutral stresses can be revealed. This is true because of the relationship to the smaller value of the hydraulic conductivity and higher tortuosity. Finally, some dynamic effects on aggregation and aggregate deterioration are discussed.     

Micronutrients distribution in salt-affected soils of the Punjab in relation to soil properties

Salt-affected soils in arid and semi-arid tracts of the Indian Punjab are prone to deficiency of micronutrients. Nine profiles from alluvial terraces, sand dunes and palaeochannels in the southwestern Punjab were investigated for total and diethylenetriamine-penta-acetic acid (DTPA) extractable Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe. Soil physiography exerted significant influence on the spatial distribution of micronutrients. Total contents varied from 20–78 for Zn, 8–32 for Cu, and 88–466 mg kg^?1 for Mn and 0.82–2.53% for Fe. DTPA-extractable contents varied from 0.10–0.98 for Zn, 0.14–1.02 for Cu, 0.54–13.02 for Fe and 0.82–9.4 mg kg^?1 for Mn. Total contents were higher in fine-textured soil than in coarse-textured soils. Concentration of micronutrients in the surface layer was low and there occurred more accumulation in the Cambic horizon. Organic carbon, pH, clay, silt and calcium carbonate exerted strong influence on the distribution of micronutrients. DTPA extractable Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe increased with increasing organic carbon but decreased with increase in pH and calcium carbonate content. Total micronutrient contents increased with increase in clay, silt and calcium carbonate contents and decreased with increase in sand content.     

Visual structure assessment and mechanical soil properties of re‐cultivated soils made up of loess

Re‐cultivated soils (previously piled soils used as the final surface cover in renovation of open cast mine sites) are particularly susceptible to compaction, which is why a simple estimate of mechanical strength is necessary for land management. In this study, therefore, precompression stress (?6 kPa matric potential) was determined for a total of 20 soil layers from 9 repeatedly cultivated areas of arable land in North Rhine–Westphalia (Germany), along with the aggregate density/dry bulk density ratio (as a measure of density heterogeneity) and air capacity (as a soil ecological parameter). These results are contrasted with the determination of packing density. Packing density (PD) is an integrated parameter that combines various properties (aggregate size, cohesion of the soil structure, root distribution, biogenic macropores and aggregate arrangement) and is assessed visually in the field. Packing density levels range between 1 (very loose soil) and 5 (very highly compacted). There is a strongly negative relationship between packing density and both the aggregate density/dry bulk density ratio and air capacity. Conversely, mechanical precompression stress increases with packing density. Ranges of the individual parameters can be assigned to each of the packing density levels. Packing density level 3 represents an optimization with regard to mechanical soil stability whilst maintaining minimum air capacity requirements (5–8 Vol.‐%).     

Feasibility of soil washing agents to remove fluoride and risk assessment of fluoride-contaminated soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The objectives of this study are to find the most suitable soil washing agent and the optimal concentration for fluoride removal and to further provide insights...     

Manganese retention by selected calcareous soils as related to soil properties

Abstract

Calcareous soils often need supplemental manganese (Mn) to support optimum plant growth, but some reports show that the apparent recovery of applied Mn is very low in such soils, i.e., nearly all of the applied Mn is retained in the soil. This experiment was conducted to find the relationship between the retained Mn and selected properties of calcareous soils. Eleven surface (0–20 cm) soil samples with pH ranging from 7.7 to 8.1 and calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) ranging from 20 to 50% were used in the Mn adsorption study. Two‐gram subsamples of each soil were equilibrated with 20 mL of 0.01M CaCl₂ solutions initially containing 10 to 200 mg Mn L^‐1. The Mn that disappeared from solution (after 6 h shaking at 25°C) was considered as adsorbed (retained) Mn. The adsorption data showed a highly significant fit to Freundlich and also to the two‐surface Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The coefficients of both isotherms showed significant positive correlations with cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter (OM), and CCE of the soils indicating that OM and calcium carbonate are the sites of Mn retention in calcareous soils. Comparison of the adsorption data of this experiment with those of plant Mn uptake of the same soils (published earlier) shows that as the Langmuir second surface adsorption maxima (maximum retention capacity) of the soils increase the plant Mn concentration and uptake decrease.     

Andosols and soils with andic properties in the German soil taxonomy

The presence of soils with andic properties on German territory has been suspected for decades and there are numerous reports of sites where they may potentially occur. Andic properties, however, are not adequately represented by the German soil‐classification system. The German taxonomic category “Lockerbraunerde” has not been revised or reconciled with international taxonomic categories since the year 1957, when it was initially proposed. With this review, we show that there are true Andosols of both the silandic (allophane‐containing) and the aluandic (Al‐Humus‐dominated) type in Germany and that their properties differ substantially from other soils which merely exhibit low bulk density. By (1) comparing soil carbon storage between some German Andosols, Chernozems, and nonandic Cambisols with particularly low bulk density and (2) elucidation of the differential pedogenetic pathways leading to Andosol formation, we further demonstrate that Andosols are important objects of study in research issues of contemporary interest. We propose that appropriate measures be taken to lay the foundations for the protection and conservation of these soils, because they are valuable as archives of natural history and provide opportunities to study unique soil processes.     

Electrokinetic properties of soil minerals and soils modified with polyelectrolytes

The formation features of nanoadsorption polyelectrolyte (PE) layers with the formation of a mineral-organic matrix on the surface of clay minerals and soils (kaolinite, montmorillonite, quartz sand, gray forest soil, and chernozemic soil) have been elucidated by direct adsorption measurements. It has been found that the experimental values for the limit adsorption of polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) on all the minerals are significantly higher than the calculated values for the formation of a monolayer. This indicates adsorption on the surface of not only separate macromolecules but also secondary PE structures as packets or fibrils determining the cluster-matrix structure of the modified surface. The study of the electro-surface properties (electrophoretic mobility, electrokinetic potential, pH, and electroconductivity) of mineral and soil particles adsorption-modified with PEs has confirmed the differences in the adsorption mechanisms (from physical sorption to chemisorption) with the formation of surface compounds depending on the different polar groups of PEs and the mineral type.     

Porosity and soil water properties of Caribbean volcanic ash soils

Abstract. Volcanic ash soils are generally recognized as soils with excellent and stable physical properties. Here we characterized the porosity and water properties of volcanic ash Andosols and Nitisols from Guadeloupe in contrasting banana systems: (1) perennial crop without mechanization, (2) mechanized and regularly replanted crop. Desiccation from 1 kPa to 1550 kPa moisture tension leads to significant shrinkage in the Andosol, representing a 50% reduction of the void space. The clayey Nitisol exhibited limited shrinkage. Soil clods from the mechanized plots had a significantly smaller macroporosity than that from perennial plots. The soil hydraulic conductivity was also drastically reduced in the compacted layers of the mechanized plots. However, Nitisols appeared to be less affected than Andosols. Laboratory compression tests showed that both soils were susceptible to compaction at soil moisture close to field capacity. The shrinkage properties of the Andosol were due to microaggregation of non-crystalline components upon drying. The relative stability of the macroporosity in the Nitisol was probably related to the presence of stable microaggregates made of halloysite and iron oxide. Two major processes promote soil structure degradation in the Andosol under mechanized banana cropping, surface desiccation and soil compaction. They are both induced by repeated tillage after clearing.     

Zinc and copper in some soils of Egypt as related to other soil properties

Total Zn in alluvial and calcareous soils (average 138 and 70 ppm respectively) was significantly related to their contents of CaCO₃ (negatively), O.M. and clay (positively). Extracting Zn by Na₂EDTA gave the highest values for both soil types. Total Cu contents varied widely from 26 to 111 ppm in alluvial and from 15 to 30 ppm in calcareous soils. They were negatively correlated with the CaCO₃ contents. The pot experiments showed that EDTA(NH₄)₂CO₃, Na₂EDTA and DTPA are reasonable extractants for available Zn from both soil types. DTPA was efficient for all soils investigated, while Na₂ EDTA and EDTA-citrate were specific for extracting Cu from calcareous soils.     

Relationship of soil properties to pyroxasulfone bioactivity in a range of prairie soils

The relationship between pyroxasulfone bioactivity and soil properties has not been investigated in a wide range of soils typical of western Canada. In this study, 47 soils from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, with varying organic matter content (1.5%–22.1%), pH (5.0–7.9), and clay content (6.8%–59.4%) were used to evaluate the effect of soil properties on pyroxasulfone bioactivity and its relevance to field application rates. Bioactivity was assessed by measuring the reduction of sugar beet shoot length after 7 days in response to 0, 92, 184, and 368 µg?ai?kg^?1 pyroxasulfone concentration in soil. Multiple regression analysis showed that pyroxasulfone bioactivity was related to soil organic matter content, pH and clay content. Grouping the soils according to these properties allowed for a summarization of pyroxasulfone field application rates required to achieve bioactivity based on the magnitude of sugar beet shoot length inhibition (%). The estimated field application rates ranged from less than 120–480 g?ai?ha^?1.     

A soil core sampler for paddy soils and some physical properties of the soils under waterlogged condition

Introduction

Recent investigations in soil science have shown that physical properties of paddy soils are of great importance to rice-production. There is extensive literature on the chemical property of paddy soils, but little information on the physical property of paddy soils, especially under waterlogged condition. For studying the physical property of flooded paddy soils, it is necessary to collect the soil cores under an undisturbed condition.     

Relationships between soil properties and feeding activity of soil fauna in acid forest soils

We investigated the relationships between soil chemical properties, humus form, and feeding activity in eight forest sites in Northrhine‐Westphalia, Germany. The study sites varied in forest type (oak, oak‐hornbeam, spruce, and pine). Three study sites were located under the same climatic conditions, and five study sites were distributed all over Northrhine‐Westphalia. We determined humus form, soil chemical properties, and feeding activity in three replication plots per site. We used the bait‐lamina test to determine feeding activity of soil fauna. Independent of forest type, all study sites were very acid with pH(CaCl₂) values in the Ah horizon between 2.8 and 4.0. The three study sites located under the same climatic conditions showed very homogenous soil chemical properties (pH in Ah: 2.9–3.0), whereas the five other sites varied significantly due to their soil chemical parameters (pH in Ah: 2.8–4.0). All single sites presented feeding activities with a very low spatial heterogeneity. Forest types and climatic conditions were not related to activity of soil fauna. Feeding activity and thickness of the O layer were strongly negatively correlated, whereas the activity was strongly positively correlated to soil pH in the five study sites with a wide range of soil chemical parameters. The three extremely acid forest sites presented significant differences in feeding activities that were not related to soil chemical properties.     

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.     

Phosphorus adsorption by a range of western Australian soils related to soil properties

Abstract

The capacity of 36 Western Australian soils to adsorb phosphorus (P) was measured by three different methods: P retention index (PRI), P buffering capacity (PBC), and P adsorption (PA). The P adsorption values measured by all three methods varied markedly with soil type. When the P adsorption values were correlated with several soil properties, using simple and multiple linear regressions, PRI, PBC, or PA values were found to be significantly correlated with the aluminium oxide content of the soils. In addition, PBC and PRI was correlated with organic carbon content. The role of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) in the soil was apparently more important in determining the P adsorption capacity of the soils than that of iron (Fe), even though the iron oxide (Fe₂O₃)content of all the soils studied was consistently higher than the aluminium oxide content. The relationship between P adsorption and the selected soil properties, as determined by multiple linear regression, explained 45–59% of the variation: arabic PRI = ‐10.87 + 9.94 organic C (%) + 160.02 Al₂O₃ (%), r² = 0.45.

arabic PBC = ‐0.004 + 1.532 organic C (%) + 22.26 Al₂O₃ (%), r² = 0.57.

arabic PA = 3.52 + 248.75 Al₂O₃ (%), r² = 0.59.

     

Numerical characterization of forest soils using biological and biochemical properties

Summary To find if surface soils could be grouped by their biological and biochemical properties, soil samples (0–5 cm) were collected at 4-week intervals for 56 weeks from 48 woods in and around the English Lake District, and pH, loss-on-ignition (LOI), moisture content, oxygen uptake, and cellulase and phosphatase activities were measured. Results expressed on a loss-on-ignition basis were more informative than those on an oven-dry basis. In a principal component analysis of each property over the 14 samplings, the first component values represent smoothed between-plot differences; other components identify plots which behave differently from the majority at certain times. Analysis of variance showed very highly significant differences between plots for all the properties. pH and loss-on-ignition showed the smallest, but significant, differences between samplings. On a loss-on-ignition basis, the only significant correlations between first component values, and between plot means, were phosphatase with oxygen uptake and cellulase with pH. It is concluded that no individual physiological property can be used as a measure of soil bioactivity, which supports the conclusions of other authors. None of the principal component analyses of individual or combined properties showed any evidence of the existence of distinct clusters of plots. On a loss-on-ignition basis, a priori groups based on (1) pH < 3.8, (2) pH 3.8 – 5.0 and (3) pH > 5.0, showed no significant difference in moisture content. However, oxygen uptake was significantly lower in (1) than in (2). Cellulase activity was significantly greater in (3) than in (1) and (2). Phosphatase activity was significantly lower in (1) than in (2), and there appeared to be a peak at pH 3.8 – 5.0.     

土壤磷有效性及其与土壤性质关系的研究

选取我国14个不同地点土样,测定理化性质、全磷、速效磷、水溶性磷含量,采用通径分析研究土壤磷有效性与土壤性质的关系。结果表明,土壤磷有效性是各个土壤性质综合作用的结果。土壤CEC、有机碳、粘粒、砂粒、碳酸钙含量对土壤速效磷比例影响显著,土壤CEC、粘粒、砂粒含量对土壤速效磷比例贡献为正值,而土壤有机碳对土壤速效磷比例贡献为负值;土壤pH和CEC含量对土壤水溶性磷含量影响显著,土壤pH对水溶性磷比例贡献为正值,土壤CEC对土壤水溶性磷比例贡献为负值。本文所选土样基本符合土壤磷有效性与土壤性质之间通径分析的结果。