Development of ensemble pedotransfer functions for cation exchange capacity of soils of Qingdao in China

Soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), which is considered to be an indicator of buffering capacity, is an important soil attribute that influences soil fertility but is costly, time‐consuming and labour‐intensive to measure. Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) have routinely been used to predict soil CEC from easily measured soil properties, such as soil pH, texture and organic matter content. However, uncertainty in which one to select can be substantial as different PTFs do not necessarily produce the same result. In this study, a total of 100 soil samples were collected from surface horizons (0–20 cm) in different regions of Qingdao City, China. Three ensemble PTFs (ePTFs), including simple ensemble mean (SEM), individually bias‐removed ensemble mean (IBREM) and collective bias‐removed ensemble mean (CBREM), were developed to reduce the uncertainty in CEC prediction based on 12 published regression‐based PTFs. In addition, a local PTF (LPTF) for CEC was also developed using multiple stepwise regression and basic soil properties. The performances of the three ePTFs were compared with those of the published PTFs and LPTF. Results show that the differences between the performances of the published PTFs were substantial. When the systematic bias of each published PTF was removed separately, the prediction capability of the PTFs was increased. The performance of LPTF was significantly better than that of SEM, but slightly worse than IBREM. It is noted that CBREM had higher accuracy than all of the other methods. Overall, CBREM is a promising approach for estimating soil CEC in the study area.     

Saturation of raised bog peat exchange sites by Pb and Al stimulates CH4 production

We examined the effect of cation treatments on methanogenic activity and nutrient release from exchange sites in raised bog and fen peats. Treatments consisted of cation chloride solutions (MgCl₂, AlCl₃ and PbCl₂) applied individually. In raised bog peat Al³⁺ and Pb²⁺ increased CH₄ production. A correlation was found between CH₄ production and the amount of micro- and macronutrient cations released by the treatments. In calcareous fen peat, such a stimulation was also found, but there was no correlation between CH₄ production and micro and macronutrient release. Direct nutrient and pH effects could not account for these observations. Thus the results support the hypothesis that the methanogenic community in the raised bog is limited by the availability of mineral nutrients and/or inactivity of exo-enzymes, both of which are bound onto exchange sites.     

快速检测土壤阳离子交换量的研究

针对土壤阳离子交换量检测行业标准推荐方法耗时长、操作繁琐,介绍了一种定氮仪配合漩涡振荡仪测定土壤阳离子交换量的快速蒸馏法,改进了离心处理环节和蒸馏步骤,讨论了关键流程和注意事项。该方法与行业标准乙酸铵法相比,试剂消耗明显减少,检测效率提高45%,检测精度和准确度符合标准要求,特别适于大批量及快速检出的土壤样品分析。     

Influence of applied p on the cation exchange capacity of volcanic ash soils

Abstract

The CEC of volcanic ash derived soils in Guatemala was measured following equilibration with 1.5 and 6.0 me P/100 g soil supplied through KH₂PO₄ solutions. An increase in CEC resulted due to P reaction and the increase was substantial after removal of soluble Al from P reacted soils. The average ratios of increase in CEC to P retained were 0.49 and 1.63 in the former and later, respectively. P apparently neutralized positive charges on the surface of amorphous component and those internally in the soil particles resulting in a net increase in negative charge (CEC).     

Determination of cation exchange capacity of soils using ammonia and chloride electrodes

Abstract

Ammonia and chloride electrodes were used to measure cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.) on a selection of Victorian soils. The C.E.C. values obtained using these electrodes correlated closely with the values obtained using established titrimetric procedures. The electrode method is preferred for subsequent soil studies because it is rapid, simple and less expensive, whereas titrimetric analyses require separate determination of ammonia and chloride ion which involve preparation of numerous reagents and standards.     

设施蔬菜栽培对土壤阳离子交换性能的影响

以辽宁省沈阳市于洪地区设施菜地及其相邻旱田土壤为研究对象,测定土壤的有机质、阳离子交换量、交换性盐基离子组成和土壤盐基离子饱和度,分析设施蔬菜栽培对土壤阳离子交换量及交换性盐基离子组成的影响。结果表明:(1)与旱田土壤相比,设施土壤有机质含量明显增加,上下层土壤有机质平均含量分别为35.6 g kg-1和18.0 g kg-1,分别是旱田上下层土壤有机质含量的2.1倍和1.8倍;设施土壤阳离子交换量呈上升的趋势,土壤阳离子交换量与有机质含量呈极显著正相关关系(r=0.603**,n=50,r0.01=0.361)。(2)与旱田土壤相比,不同层次设施土壤交换性盐基总量均有所增加,交换性盐基离子中除交换性Ca2+含量变化不大之外,交换性K+、Mg2+、Na+含量均显著增加;不同层次设施土壤交换性K+、Mg2+、Na+饱和度显著高于旱田土壤,但交换性Ca2+饱和度和盐基饱和度呈下降趋势。     

Short Communication Actual cation exchange capacity in lignite containing pyritic mine soils

The actual cation exchange capacity (CEC_act) in sandy mine soils from Tertiary sediments increases with the lignite contents of the substrates. Therefore, lignite is important for nutrient storage and availability in these soils. Base saturation varies over a wide range of 4 — 100% according to soil pH. For the determination of CEC_act, the high contents of soluble salts typical for these substrates have to be considered for reliable results.     

Cation exchange capacity of density fractions from paired conifer/grassland soils

The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of a soil depends on the type and amount of both mineral and organic surfaces. Previous studies that have sought to determine the relative contribution of organic matter to total soil CEC have not addressed differences in soil organic matter (SOM) composition that could lead to differences in CEC. The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the CEC of two distinct SOM pools, the “light fraction (LF)” composed of particulate plant, animal, and microbial debris, and the “heavy fraction (HF)” composed of mineral-bound organic matter; and (2) to examine the effects of differences in aboveground vegetation on CEC. Soil samples were collected from four paired grassland/conifer sites within a single forested area and density fractionated. LF CEC was higher in conifer soils than in grassland soils, but there was no evidence of an effect of vegetation on CEC for the HF or bulk soil. LF CEC (but not HF CEC) correlated well with the C concentration in the fraction. The mean CEC of both fractions (per kg fraction) exceeded that of the bulk soil; thus, when the LF and HF CEC were combined mathematically by weighting values for each fraction in proportion to dry mass, the resulting value was nearly twice the measured CEC of bulk soil. On a whole soil basis, the HF contributed on average 97% of the CEC of the whole soil, although this conclusion must be tempered given the inflation of CEC values by the density fractionation procedure.     

Characterization of cation exchange capacity (CEC) for agricultural land-use areas

Spatial assessment of soil properties needs conversion of point data to an area-oriented model. Methods are required that create a reproducible map. The development of a map is shown by the example of cation exchange capacity. Twenty sorption types are formed and derived from the vertical sequence of values for substrate types and are aggregated to six main types. A qualitative assessment of the main CEC sorption types is carried out with comparative ranking. The association of different substrate types on an areal soil pattern requires the identification of sorption association types. These are shown by the areal share of the main sorption types for the substrate types involved in each case. For interpreting the site parameters from the MMK (Mittelmaßstäbige Landwirtschaftliche Standortkartierung), the procedure is presented in detail. An example of the results is shown with CEC maps. Tables complement the visualization for different areas, defined by administrative or natural landscape boundaries. The application of this method for relative evaluation of CEC is demonstrated using KA5-rules. The CEC characterization of agricultural areas can be reproduced on the basis of the mapping units of soil maps with different scales (BÜK 200). The areal-specific labeling of CEC constitutes soil-related decision guideline.     

A rapid method to determine cation exchange capacity and exchangeable bases in calcareous,gypsiferous, saline and sodic soils

Summary

A simple, single‐step extraction with LiEDTA for the estimation of CEC and exchangeable bases in soils has been developed. Multivalent cations are stripped from the soil adsorption sites by the strongly chelating agent EDTA, and are replaced by Li. In soils without CaCO₃ or water soluble salts, exchangeable divalent cations (Ca, Mg) are chelated by EDTA and exchangeable monovalent cations (Na, K) are replaced in a single extraction step using 0.25–2.5 g of soil and 10.0 ml of extractant.

In calcareous soils the CEC can be determined in the same way, but for the extraction of exchangeable Ca and Mg, another separate extraction is needed because dissolution of calcite by EDTA is unavoidable. This extraction is done with as much NaEDTA as needed to extract only exchangeable Ca and Mg in a 1:2 (m/V) soil/alkaline‐50% (V/V) aethanolic solution to minimize dissolution of calcite.

In gypsiferous soils gypsum is transformed into insoluble BaSO₄ and soluble CaEDTA by LiBaEDTA thus avoiding interference of Ca from dissolution of gypsum, which renders the traditional methods for determining CEC unsuitable for such soils. To determine exchangeable Ca and Mg, Na₄EDTA is used as for calcareous soils.

In saline/sodic soils replacement of Na by Li is incomplete but the Na/Li‐ratio at the complex after extraction is proportional to the molar Na/Li‐ratio in the extracts, so that the CEC and original exchangeable sodium (ESP) content can be calculated. Additional analysis of Cl and, if necessary, SO₄ in the extracts of saline soils can be used to correct for the effect of dissolution of the salts on the sum of exchangeable cations.

This new method is as convenient as the recently developed AgTU (silverthiourea), but is better suitable for calcareous and gypsiferous soils.     

The fine scale variability of dissolved methane in surface peat cores

Peat forming wetlands are globally important sources of the greenhouse gas CH₄. The variability of flux recordings from peatlands is however considerable and the distribution of CH₄ below the water table poorly described. Surface peat (0-500 mm below the water table) is responsible for the bulk of emissions and a localised region of intense CH₄ concentration may exist within this region but the structure of peat and presence of gas bubbles make the determination of in situ gas distributions problematic. We report on the in situ distribution and concentrations of CH₄, CO₂ and O₂ in surface bog peat cores using Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry and relate this to peat physical structure. Replicate cores collected in spring and autumn from both hollows and hummocks are used (n = 10). CH₄ recorded in almost every profile was localised in intense peaks reaching concentrations up to 350 μM at depths where O₂ was absent. Each CH₄ peak had a coincident CO₂ peak with a minimum mean ratio of ∼20:1 (CO₂:CH₄) and we found more CH₄ beneath hollows than hummocks. In statistical comparisons CH₄ concentration and distribution differed significantly between profiles for each depth. We demonstrate that variability found within a single core is at least as great as that between cores collected across the bog. The distribution of CH₄ was negatively correlated with bulk density and in some cases the location of roots matched those of intense CH₄ concentration where bubbles had formed and been trapped. Our comparisons suggest variability in gas distribution is caused by a heterogenous peat structure that controls the movement of gas bubbles and contains localised hotspots of gas production. The small and fine root systems of vascular plants on the peatland surface may cause high levels of methanogenic activity in their vicinity and also represent a physical barrier capable of trapping CH₄ bubbles.     

Bimembrane diffusion probe for continuous recording of dissolved and entrapped bubble gas concentrations in peat

Peatlands are significant sources of the important greenhouse gas CH₄ and generally known as sinks for atmospheric CO₂ through peat accumulation. Accurate measurements of the subsurface concentrations of these gases are of pivotal importance for experimental studies improving our understanding of the dynamics and controls on the exchanges of these gases between peat soils and the atmosphere. In this paper we first briefly outline examples of different probe-based techniques for the determination of subsurface gas concentrations and thereafter we document the development and testing of two different membrane probe systems. Finally we discuss a few applications of the probes and show some results obtained by testing them in the laboratory.     

Using support vector machines to predict cation exchange capacity of different soil horizons in Qingdao City,China

Agricultural, environmental and ecological modeling requires soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) that is difficult to measure. Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) are thus routinely applied to predict CEC from easily measured physicochemical properties (e.g., texture, soil organic matter, pH). This study developed the support vector machines (SVM)‐based PTFs to predict soil CEC based on 208 soil samples collected from A and B horizons in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China. The database was randomly split into calibration and validation datasets in proportions of 3:1 using the bootstrap method. The optimal SVM parameters were searched by applying the genetic algorithm (GA). The performance of SVM models was compared to those of multiple stepwise regression (MSR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models. Results show that the accuracy of CEC predicted by SVM improves considerably over those predicted by MSR and ANN. The performance of SVM for B horizon (R² = 0.85) is slightly better than that for A horizon (R² = 0.81). The SVM is a powerful approach in the simulation of nonlinear relationship between CEC and physicochemical properties of widely distributed samples from different soil horizons. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to explore the influence of each input parameter on the CEC predictions by SVM. The clay content is the most sensitive parameter, followed by soil organic matter and pH, while sand content has the weakest influence. This suggests that clay is the most important predictor for predicting CEC of both soil horizons.     

No-till effects on organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity and nutrient distribution in a Luvisol in the semi-arid subtropics

No-till (NT) system for grain cropping is increasingly being practised in Australia. While benefits of NT, accompanied by stubble retention, are almost universal for soil erosion control, effects on soil organic matter and other soil properties are inconsistent, especially in a semi-arid, subtropical environment. We examined the effects of tillage, stubble and fertilizer management on the distribution of organic matter and nutrients in the topsoil (0–30 cm) of a Luvisol in a semi-arid, subtropical environment in southern Queensland, Australia. Measurements were made at the end of 9 years of NT, reduced till (RT) and conventional till (CT) practices, in combination with stubble retention and fertilizer N (as urea) application strategies for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping.

In the top 30 cm depth, the mean amount of organic C increased slightly after 9 years, although it was similar under all tillage practices, while the amount of total N declined under CT and RT practices, but not under NT. In the 0–10 cm depth, the amounts of organic C and total N were significantly greater under NT than under RT or CT. No-till had 1.94 Mg ha⁻¹ (18%) more organic C and 0.20 Mg ha⁻¹ (21%) more total N than CT. In the 0–30 cm depth, soil under NT practice had 290 kg N ha⁻¹ more than that under the CT practice, most of it in the top 10 cm depth. Microbial biomass N was similar for all treatments. Under NT, there was a concentration gradient in organic C, total N and microbial biomass N, with concentrations decreasing from 0–2.5 to 5–10 cm depths.

Soil pH was not affected by tillage or stubble treatments in the 0–10 cm depth, but decreased significantly from 7.5 to 7.2 with N fertilizer application. Exchangeable Mg and Na concentration, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable Na percentage in the 0–10 cm depth were greater under CT than under RT and NT, while exchangeable K and bicarbonate-extractable P concentrations were greater under NT than under CT.

Therefore, NT and RT practices resulted in significant changes in soil organic C and N and exchangeable cations in the topsoil of a Luvisol, when compared with CT. The greater organic matter accumulation close to the soil surface and solute movement in these soils under NT practice would be beneficial to soil chemical and physical status and crop production in the long-term, whereas the concentration of nutrients such as P and K in surface layers may reduce their availability to crops.     

Estimating cation exchange capacity using soil textural data and soil organic matter content: A case study for the south of Iran

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is an important soil property that is used as an input data in soil and environmental models. Although CEC can be measured directly, its measurement is expensive and time-consuming, therefore pedotransfer functions can be used for estimating it from more readily available soil data. As CEC is highly dependent on soil texture, it may be successfully estimated from the soil textural data. In this study, 20 soils were selected from Fars province, in the south of Iran, and the values of CEC, soil organic matter content, and soil particle size distribution curve of each soil were measured and the geometric mean particle-size diameter (d _g ), and the summation of the number of spherical particles for whole parts of the soil particle-size distribution (N) were determined for each soil. Then, five multiple linear regressions were derived between CEC and mentioned soil properties. The results showed that more applicable equation for the study area was based on the percentages of clay, sand and soil organic matter content.     

阳离子交换膜在土壤钾释放及小麦对钾素的反应研究中的应用

A pot experiment was conducted in the growth chamber on Saskatchewan soils with different texture to determine the K release status and wheat K demand.The relationship between K uptake and soil available K extracted by cation exchange membrane(CEM-K) and the effcet of K fertilizer on wheat growth and soil available K was also evaluated.Treatments of 0,60 and 120mg K/kg were applied to sandy,low and high K loamy and clay soils,The highest yields were acieved with the application of 120mg K/kg in sandy soil and 60 mg K/kg in other soils.On the whole,the clay soil contributed K more than other soils from slowly available fraction.Regression revealed a linear relationship between the soil available K extracted by NH4OAc(Ka) and CEM-K in suspensions(r=0.93).Results also showed that CEM-K in burial and in suspensions were different not only in the amount but also in correlation with Ka or K uptake.     

Repeated applications of tannins and related phenolic compounds are retained by soil and affect cation exchange capacity

Retention of tannins, produced by plants, could be important for managing soil organic matter and nutrient cycling. However, we know little about the comparative retention of different classes of tannins and related compounds or if soils have a maximum storage capacity for them. To address these questions, forest, and pasture loam soils, collected at 0-5 cm (surface) and 10-20 cm (subsurface), were repeatedly treated with water (Control) or solutions containing condensed and hydrolyzable tannins or related phenolic subunits (10 mg g⁻¹ soil). Treatments included a polymeric flavonoid-based procyanidin from sorghum, catechin, tannic acid, β-1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-d-glucose (PGG), gallic acid, and methyl gallate. After each application, soluble-C in supernatants was determined by oxidative-combustion infrared analysis and retention of treatment-carbon by soil was calculated as the difference between added and recovered soluble-C. An interaction between soil depth and treatment was evident through all applications with highest retention of both hydrophobic (PGG) and hydrophilic (procyanidin) tannins, compared to other phenolic compounds. For all treatments except gallic acid and methyl gallate, higher sorption occurred in surface soil, which contained more organic matter than subsurface soil. With each successive application, less additional treatment-C was retained by soil and the amount of C remaining in supernatants was correlated with the presence of phenolic substances. Cumulative retention by surface soil was more than 10.3, 8.5 and 6.4 mg C g⁻¹ soil for PGG, tannic acid, and procyanidin, several times higher than the other compounds. Soluble-C extracted from treated soil, with cool water (23 °C), was 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than Control samples and highly correlated with Prussian Blue (PB) phenolics, indicating some retained treatment-C was only weakly held on the soil. The final extraction, with hot water (80 °C), removed more soluble-C, particularly from surface samples, that contained fewer PB phenolics per unit soluble-C than cool water extracts. After all extractions more than 85% of sorbed procyanidin-C was retained by samples compared to 81% of methyl gallate, 79% of PGG, 74% of tannic acid, 50% of catechin, and 40% of the gallic acid. Total C, measured in soil after all extractions, was close to expected values, confirming tannins and phenolic compounds had remained in soil and were not otherwise lost. Cation exchange capacity was increased about 30% in subsurface and forest samples by PGG, a hydrolyzable tannin, but decreased by 30% and 35% in surface and pasture soil, respectively, by its monomer, gallic acid.     

Effect of ionic strength on the cation exchange capacity of some forest soils

Abstract

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the 0–5 cm depth of forest soils increased with the square root of solution ionic strength over the experimental range of 6 to 96 mM. Percentage increases in CEC were positively correlated with percentage organic carbon; for mixed hardwood forest soils, increases were 38% for soils with 3.3% carbon, and 105% for soils with 7.4% carbon when ionic strength was varied over the full experimental range. When analyzing soils with constant‐potential surfaces, both pH and ionic strength must be controlled, preferably at or near levels found in the field, in order to provide interpretable measures of CEC.     

河南三种土壤阳离子交换量相关性及预测模型研究

土壤阳离子交换量是一项重要的土壤理化性质,它是衡量土壤肥力和作物养分有效性的一个重要指标。通过对河南3种土壤1177个数据的相关性及回归分析来研究阳离子交换量与土壤有机质、pH值、粘粒含量、粉粒含量和砂粒含量的关系。结果表明:(1)对于阳离子交换量来说,砂姜黑土>水稻土>褐土;3种土壤的上层土>下层土;3种土壤的阳离子交换量比第二次土壤普查分别降低15.7%,12.7%,6.5%;(2)对与砂姜黑土和褐土来说,其阳离子交换量与pH值和0.02~2 mm砂粒含量成显著负相关,褐土与粘粒含量成显著正相关;对于水稻土来说,其阳离子交换量与有机质含量和粘粒含量成显著正相关,与砂粒含量成显著负相关;(3)利用这些数据做出的这三个土壤类型的6个回归模型是有科学依据的。总的来说,土壤有机质、pH值、粘粒含量与砂粒含量与CEC有着紧密联系,但还有其他因素影响着预测模型的准确性。     

The effect of porosity and nutrient solution concentration on the cation composition and root cation exchange capacities of two cultivars of Fragaria

Abstract

Leaf content of Ca remained fairly constant over three dilutions of nutrient solution. K content of the leaves fell with dilution. Porosity of the rooting medium had no effect on Fe, Cu, Mg, K in leaves but Ca and Zn decreased linearly with increasing porosity. Cation exchange capacity of the roots was not affected by porosity but there was a nutrient effect.