An Evaluation of the Loss-on-Ignition Method for Determining the Soil Organic Matter Content of Calcareous Soils

The Loss-on-Ignition (LOI) method is widely employed for measuring the organic matter (OM) content of soil samples. There is a risk of carbonate losses when calcareous soil samples are analyzed through LOI, but this has never been investigated in detail. Moreover, a worldwide standard protocol for determining the carbonate content of soils is not available. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate two commonly employed carbonate analysis procedures using calcareous and non-calcareous soil samples: the gravimetric method with (GMF) and without (GM) the addition of the antioxidant iron(II) chloride (FeCl₂) and the acetic acid dissolution procedure (AAD); (ii) to evaluate the effect of ignition temperature on losses of pure calcite, calcite-quartz and calcareous soil samples. We found that the average apparent carbonate content of the non-calcareous soils was greatest for the GMF method followed by the AAD procedure. The GM method showed the smallest apparent carbonate contents. For the calcite-quartz sand mixture, ignition losses started at 600°C and increased with temperature in a sigmoidal way. LOI values stabilized at 750°C when 80% of the carbon dioxide was released. We recommend the GM procedure for carbonate analysis because the apparent carbonate contents of the non-calcareous soil samples were smallest. Furthermore, we recommend an LOI temperature of 550°C because at this ignition temperature 99.8% of the total calcite fraction remains in the soil samples.     

Underestimation of Available Phosphorus by Resin–Bicarbonate and Olsen Tests in Calcareous Soils treated with Gypsum

In the present study, Olsen [0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), pH 8.5] and resin–bicarbonate (HCO₃) tests underestimated available phosphorus (P) in calcareous soils treated with gypsum (CaSO₄). The reaction of CaSO₄ and HCO₃ ^? ion or resin–HCO₃ to form calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) precipitate reduced the strength of the Olsen NaHCO₃ extractant and resin–HCO₃ strip for P extraction. The iron (Fe) oxide–impregnated filter paper (Pi strip) was independent of CaSO₄ influence and thus correctly estimated soil‐available P with respect to plant response to soil‐available P. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted with maize and wheat grown on calcareous soils treated with different rates of CaSO₄. The results confirmed that Olsen and resin–HCO₃ tests should not be used to measure available P or labile P in the P fractionation scheme in the calcareous soils containing significant amounts of gypsum.     

Dissolved organic carbon (doc) and dissolved organic nitrogen (don) content of an arenosol as affected by liming in a pot experiment

The effect of liming materials was investigated on the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) content of the soil in a pot experiment on an acidic soil using oat (Avena sativa L. ) as an indicator plant. Soil samples were taken three times during the growing season. The lime rates applied were 0, 1, 2, 3 g calcite/pot and 0.92, 1.84, 2.76 g dolomite/pot, respectively. Due to an increase in soil pH and microbial activity the DOC concentration significantly increased with increasing lime doses at all three samplings. An exponential relationship was found between soil pH and DOC concentration: y v = v 0.3733e 0.7893x , r v = v 0.903***. Lime had a significant effect on DON concentration at the first sampling, while for the remainder of the growing period no further significant increases were found. This could be explained by the fact that the biodegradability of DOC and DON differs under conditions of the experiment, resulting in a decrease in the N content of the dissolved organic matter, while the amount of DOM and DOC increased with increasing pH. Because of the above mentioned facts the DOC/DON ratio increased significantly with liming. There were no significant changes in the dissolved organic carbon content of the soil during the 15-week growing period, while DON concentration decreased significantly. It can be explained by the initial addition of N fertilizer, which increased the DON quantity at the first sampling in the soil.     

Distribution of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in coal,lignite, and calcite mine spoils of India

Summary We assessed vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in coal, lignite, and calcite mine spoils. The level of VAM fungal infection and the population of VAM species in plants on the coal-waste sites were similar to those in plants on the calcite mine spoil. The plants on the coal-waste sites and their associated VAM fungi included Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. with Glomus heterosporum and Sclerocystis microcarpus and Euphorbia hirta L. with G. botryoides and G. ambisporum. The recently revegetated lignite mine spoil supported Eragrostis sp. with G. globiferum, while the oldest revegetated lignite mine spoil supported Cocos nucifera L. with Scutellospora aurigloba and G. aggregatum, and Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. with Scutellospora dipapillosa and G. tenue. In the calcite mine spoil, roots of Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Romer with Sclerocystis sinuosa, G. dimorphicum, G. heterosporum and G. ambisporum and Datura metal L. with G. pustulatum and G. pulvinatum were found. The level of VAM infection and the population of VAM species in the oldest revegetated site (lignite mine spoil) were comparable with those in the coal-waste and calcite mine-spoil sites.     

Managing contaminated sediments

Remediation techniques on contaminated sediments are generally much more limited than for most other solid waste materials, except for mine wastes. The widely diverse contamination sources in larger catchment areas usually produce a complex mixture of contaminants that is more difficult to treat than an industrial waste. In the first two chapters, additional information will be presented onin- situ treatment methods, which were the central topic in the Spittelwasser Case Study (JSS - Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 181–187), and on the development of ecologically sound dredging and processing techniques, where practical applicability had to be demonstrated as part of an integrated remediation chain. In the latter respect, mechanical separation of less strongly contaminated fractions may be a useful step prior to the final storage of the residues (chapter 2, Treatment of Strongly Contaminated Dredged Materials) For most sediments from maintenance dredging, there are more arguments in favor of ‘disposal’ rather than ‘treatment’ (chapter 3, Subaqueous Storage and Capping). Consideration about the comparative assessment of the two basic management options ofin- situ capping and dredging followed by sub-aqueous disposal are discussed on a legislative, economic and technical-environmental basis. The concept of capping of contaminated sedimentsin- situ has been developed in the last two decades as an ecologically sound and economic alternative to more costly remediation techniques. The main characteristics are related to the passive character of this concept, which minimizes labor and process costs. Mechanisms of contaminant retention in sediment caps is discussed with special regard to the chemical isolation component. From this consideration, the development of the active barrier concept is derived that denotes the use of reactive additives in capping layers to chemically bind one or more contaminants specifically.     

牛羊尿结石化学组成和显微结构的分析研究

对水牛、黄牛、绵羊和山羊的２４份尿石样品应用化学定性分析、Ｘ－射线衍射分析、Ｘ－射线能谱分析和扫描电子显微镜观察等进行化学组成和显微结构的研究。结果表明，１２份颗粒样尿结石样品主要成分为方解石，占样品总数的５０％；７份粉砂样尿结石主要成分为鸟粪石，占２９．２％。对以上两类结石的显微结构特征予以描述，对其成因进行了简要的分析，并对棺盖形斜方柱状晶体含多量钾的问题进行讨论，提出有一种与磷酸铵镁物相类似     

Chromium Speciation in Water by Sorption on Calcite and Determination by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

A rapid, sensitive, and accurate method for the separation and speciative determination of chromium (Cr)(VI) and Cr(III) in water samples has been developed using sorption as the separation technique in conjunction with final determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ETAAS). The present method, where granular calcite is used as selective sorbent, separates Cr(III) with retention values up to 99%, resulting in high accuracy determination of Cr(VI). Total Cr was likewise determined by ETAAS after an efficient reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) using ascorbic acid as reducing agent, deriving Cr(III) concentration from the difference between total Cr and Cr(VI). The parameters of the separation technique, solution pH (4.5–5.5), solution flow rate through the calcite column (0.14–0.42 mL min^?1), and calcite column internal diameter (1.5–3.0 cm), were evaluated. Best results were achieved with pH of 5.5, flow rate of 0.42 mL min^?1, and column internal diameter of 1.5 cm. Optimum determination conditions were found using magnesium nitrate [Mg(NO₃)₂] as chemical modifier, pyrolysis, and atomization temperatures of 1400 and 2200°C, respectively. In such conditions, the detection limits (n=10) were 1.5 and 0.8 µg L^?1 for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively.     

Influence of Laboratory Methods on Calcareous Saline Soils for EC Measurement and Leaching

Abstract

Electrical conductivity (EC) methods were tested using combinations of surrogate irrigation (SI) waters, soil salinity levels, and soils ground or retaining aggregates. The EC varied in low-salinity soils saturated with SI; the sum of the baseline EC_e and SI EC were not equal to the measured EC. The baseline EC_e and the SI EC sum in the high‐salinity ground soils were not equal to the any measured ECs. Salt‐removal potential from gypsiferous soils was examined using multiple extractions from the same soil sample. Calcium concentrations remained consistent over 14 extractions, whereas Na concentrations decreased. The EC_e decreased from more than 8 dS m^?1 in the initial extraction, to approximately 4 dS m^?1 by the 9th to 14th extraction. Multiple extraction data suggest that improved leaching will not lower soil ECs to less than approximately 4 dS m^?1 because of gypsum and calcite reservoirs in the tested soils.