Organic Matter in Appalachian Devonian Black Shale: I. Comparison of Techniques to Measure Organic Carbon, II. Short Range Organic Carbon Content Variations

Author(s):  
J. S. Leventhal, V. E. Shaw
Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2249
Author(s):  
Nikolett Uzinger ◽  
Orsolya Szécsy ◽  
Nóra Szűcs-Vásárhelyi ◽  
István Padra ◽  
Dániel Benjámin Sándor ◽  
...  

Organic waste and the compost and vermicompost derived from it may have different agronomic values, but little work is available on this aspect of sewage sludge. A 75-day pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as the test plant aimed to investigate the fertiliser value and organic matter replenishment capacity of digested sewage sludge (DS) and the compost (COM) and vermicompost (VC) made from it, applied in 1% and 3% doses on acidic sand and calcareous loam. The NPK content and availability, changes in organic carbon content and plant biomass, and the efficiency of the amendments as nitrogen fertilisers were investigated. The final average residual carbon content for DS, COM, and VC was 35 ± 34, 85 ± 46, and 55 ± 46%, respectively. The organic carbon mineralisation rate depended on the soil type. The additives induced significant N mineralisation in both soils: the average increment in mineral N content was 1.7 times the total added N on acidic sand and 4.2 times it on calcareous loam for the 1% dose. The agronomic efficiency of COM and VC as fertilisers was lower than that of DS. In the short term, DS proved to be the best fertiliser, while COM was the best for organic matter replenishment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 1234-1242 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Wada ◽  
N. Takei ◽  
T. Sato ◽  
H. Tsuno

This study aims to explore the influential sources of organic matter in first flush runoff from urban roadways by comparing organic carbon content and particle size distribution in road dust with those from discharge from vehicles during rainfall. Samples on first flush runoff and road dust were collected from urban roadways. In addition, vehicle drainage was assumed to flow from vehicles during rainfall events, so vehicle wash-off water was collected by spraying water onto the top and from the underside of vehicles to simulate accumulation during a vehicle run. In road dust, the organic carbon content in the <0.2 mm fraction was about twice that of the 0.2–2 mm fraction. The particle size distributions of both first flush runoff and vehicle wash-off water were similar, and particles <0.2 mm contributed to over 95% of the total volume. The dissolved organic carbon concentration in the vehicle wash-off water was considerably higher than that in the road dust/water mixture. The total organic carbon content in road dust was positively correlated with annual daily traffic. Therefore, vehicles were thought to strongly influence the nature of road dust.


2018 ◽  
Vol 189 (2) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxime Debret ◽  
Yoann Copard ◽  
Antonin Van Exem ◽  
Geneviève Bessereau ◽  
Frank Haeseler ◽  
...  

Organic matter studies find an echo within different topics such as biogeochemical cycles, processes occurring in continental surfaces, anthropogenic activities, climate science, earth and planetary sciences, etc. Today’s challenges include finding and developing the most appropriate method(s) supporting the differentiation and characterisation of various types of recalcitrant organic matter in modern environments. In this study, we focus on combustion residues and coals as these two types of organic matter contain a significant amount of so-called recalcitrant organic carbon (black carbon and fossil organic carbon). Both these materials are ubiquitous, broadly stem from the same living organisms and have similar polyaromatic structures. In this respect, we tested a spectrophotometry method, classically used for sedimentology, as a very fast method for preliminary investigations. Analyses were performed with a wide range of standards and referenced samples. The results discriminate three different spectral signatures related to the degree of transformation of organic matter related to the degree of aromaticity (i.e. carbonisation). Using calibration curves, total organic carbon content can be estimated in experimental mixes with mineral matter and in a real context using subsurface sample (Gironville 101 borehole, Paris Basin, France). This method has particularly high sensitivity to very low organic matter content and is shown to be promising for a rapid evaluation of the organic carbon content.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4183-4199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Lo Giudice Cappelli ◽  
Jessica Louise Clarke ◽  
Craig Smeaton ◽  
Keith Davidson ◽  
William Edward Newns Austin

Abstract. Fjords have been described as hotspots for carbon burial, potentially playing a key role within the carbon cycle as climate regulators over multiple timescales. Nevertheless, little is known about the long-term fate of the carbon that may become stored in fjordic sediments. One of the main reasons for this knowledge gap is that carbon arriving on the seafloor is prone to post-depositional degradation, posing a great challenge when trying to discriminate between an actual change in the carbon deposition rate and post-depositional carbon loss. In this study, we evaluate the use of modern benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of organic carbon content in six voes (fjords) on the west coast of Shetland. Benthic foraminifera are known to be sensitive to changes in organic carbon content in the sediments, and changes in their assemblage composition therefore reflect synchronous variations in the quantity and quality of carbon reaching the seafloor. We identified four environments based on the relationship between benthic foraminiferal assemblages and organic carbon content in the sediments: (1) land-locked regions influenced by riverine and/or freshwater inputs of organic matter, namely the head of fjords with a restricted geomorphology; (2) stressed environments with a heavily stratified water column and sediments rich in organic matter of low nutritional value; (3) depositional environments with moderate organic content and mild or episodic current activity; and (4) marginal to coastal settings with low organic content, such as fjords with an unrestricted geomorphology. We conclude that foraminifera potentially provide a tool to disentangle primary organic carbon signals from post-depositional degradation and loss of organic carbon because of their environmental sensitivity and high preservation potential in the sedimentary record.


1965 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. Davies ◽  
R. I. Davies

1. Loss of ignition at 450°C. and the organic carbon content of some shale soils are positively correlated (r = +0·99).2. Base exchange capacities and exchangeable cations were determined on soils, treated and untreated with hydrogen peroxide solution.3. Oxidizing the organic matter lessened the exchange capacities of all samples; the exchange capacity of the organic matter varied from 67·5 to 97·0 m-equiv./1OO g. dry material.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Vasylyshyn ◽  
I. P. Lakyda ◽  
O. M. Melnyk ◽  
M. O. Lakyda ◽  
Yu. P. Rymarenko

Carbon sequestrative capacity of forest plant communities is one of the main criteria for the potential for low-carbon development of the country and the fulfillment of international obligations in the context of the Paris climate agreement. The information basis of the research is formed by information from the database of IA "Ukrderzhlisproekt", which contains the detailed biometric characteristics of forest stands located in the research region. Another component is represented by a system of mathematical models for quantitative assessment of live biomass and forest dead organic matter. As a result, in this research we have determined the quantitative values of organic carbon content in live biomass and dead organic matter of forests of Kyiv region. In total, the amount of carbon accumulated in vegetal biomass of the region's forests equals 61.8 million tons, of which 60 % is accounted for by pine stands. The share of carbon accumulated in dead organic matter is 10.5 %. The highest density of sequestered carbon per unit area is typical for ash and oak stands with indicators of 10.08 and 9.921 kg∙(m2)-1, respectively. More than 40 % of organic carbon is accumulated in vegetal biomass of stands of I site index class, which mainly grow in relatively poor forest conditions. Recreational, health-improving and protective forests of the region are characterized by the highest indicators of organic carbon density per unit area – 10.53 and 10.49 kg∙(m2)-1, respectively. Among the objects of the nature reserve fund, the dominant positions in the volume of the studied indicator belong to nature reserves – 82.7 %, national nature parks account for another 8 %. In the total structure of carbon capacity of dead organic matter (6.5 million tons) more than 60% belongs to forest litter. At the same time, carbon content in dead organic matter of coniferous stands equals 4.1 million tons, or 62.9 %. The results of the research will serve as an information basis for the formation of a strategy for regional low-carbon development.


Soil Research ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravinder Kaur ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
H. P. Gurung

Collection of non-destructive soil core samples for determination of bulk densities is costly, difficult, time- consuming, and often impractical. To overcome this difficulty, several attempts have been made in the past to estimate soil bulk densities through pedo-transfer functions (PTFs), requiring soil texture and organic carbon (OC) content data. Although many studies have shown that both organic carbon and texture predominantly determine soil bulk density, a majority of the PTFs developed so far are a function only of organic matter (OM)/OC. In addition, no attempts have been made to test and compare the applicability of these PTFs on an independent soil data set. Thus, through this study efforts have been made not only to develop a robust soil bulk density estimating PTF, based on both soil texture and organic carbon content data, but also to compare its predictive potential with the existing PTFs on an independent soil data set from 4 ecologically diverse micro-watersheds in Almora district of Uttaranchal State in India. Effects of varying levels of soil particle size distributions and/or OC/OM contents on the absolute relative errors associated with these PTFs were also analysed for assessing their applicability to the independent soil data set. Amongst the existing PTFs, Curtis and Post, Adams, Federer, and Huntington-A methods were found to be associated with positive bias or mean errors (ME) and root mean square prediction differences (RMSPD) ranging between 0.10 and 0.38, and between 0.23 and 0.45, respectively, whereas Alexander-A, Alexander-B, Manrique and Jones-A, Manrique and Jones-B, and Rawls methods were found to be associated with negative ME and RMSPD values ranging between -0.08 and -0.15, and 0.18 and 0.23, respectively. In contrast, Bernoux, Huntington-B, and Tomasella and Hodnett-PTFs, with RMSPD values ranging between 0.18 and 0.20, were the only methods associated with little or no bias. However, on comparing the predictive potential of the existing PTFs, in terms of their 1 : 1 relationships between the observed and predicted soil bulk densities and ME and RMSPD values, only Manrique and Jones-B (ME: -0.08; RMSPD: 0.18), Alexander-A (ME: -0.08; RMSPD: 0.19), and Rawls (ME: -0.11; RMSPD: 0.22) methods were observed to give somewhat more realistic soil bulk density estimations. The study revealed very limited predictive potential of the existing PTFs, due to their development on specific soils and/or ecosystems, use of an indirectly computed organic matter (instead of directly measured organic carbon) content as a predictor variable, poor predictive potential of developed regression model(s), and/or subjective errors. In contrast to this, the new soil bulk density estimating PTF was found to be associated with far better 1 : 1 relationship between the observed and predicted soil bulk densities and zero ME (or bias) and lowest (0.15 g/cm3) RMSPD values. The absolute relative errors associated with both the new and the existing soil OC/OM and texture-dependent PTFs were observed to be almost insensitive to the varying levels of silt and clay. However, compared with the existing PTFs, these errors associated with the new PTF were observed to be much more insensitive to the varying levels of OC/OM, thereby indicating the applicability of the new PTF to a wide range of soil types.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-50
Author(s):  
Onwuchekwa Ojimgba

The influence of grasscover in restoring the eroded soils was carried out in Umudike, Southestern Nigeria. The use of grass has attracted considerable research attention with respect to forage production and erosion control. Little information is available on the influence of this grasscover management on soil physical and chemical properties. Four different grasses namely: Paspalum notatum(PN), Panicum maximum(PM), Axonopus compressus(AC) and Vetiver grass(VG)- Vetiveria zizanioid/es) were used in this study and their influence on eroded soil tested in two locations. This study has shown that the soils planted with the grasses gave significantly (p<0.05) higher results of the physical and some chemical properties than their adjacent open bare soil. In all the parameters considered in this study, the values obtained in soils under Paspalum notatum was higher than those obtained in PM, AC, VG and their adjacent bare soils(BS). The soils under PN had generally lower bulk density, higher total porosity and hydraulic conductivity than other grasses and adjacent open bare soil in both locations. The soil under PN proved best, outperforming PM, VG,and AC in stabilizing soil aggregates. Planting of PN on eroded soil significantly (p<0.05) increased the mean weight diameter from 0.77mm (BSPN1) to 1.31mm (PN1) and 0.82mm (BSPN2) to 1.48mm (PN2) for Locations 1 and 2, respectively. The relative improvement in Location 1 was in the order : PN1>AC1=VG1>PM1>BSVG1=BSPN1>BSAC1=BSPM1. Also, soils under PN had significantly higher values of pH, organic C and organic matter, total nitrogen and available P more than other grasses and their adjacent open soils. The magnitude of increase in Location 1 was in the order : PN1>AC1>PM1=VG1>BSVG1=BSPN1=BSAC1>BSPM1. Location 2 also increased in the same trend. The organic carbon content of PN increased from 0.73%(BSPN1) to 2.89%(PN1) and 0.88%(BSPN2) to 2.91%(PN2) in Locations 1 and 2, respectively. Also, the organic matter content of the soil increased in the same trend as organic carbon content.


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