scholarly journals A study of Soil Invertebrates community in a Date - Palm plantation in Baghdad, Iraq

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal

Soil invertebrates community an important role as part of essential food chain and responsible for the decomposition in the soil, helps soil aeration , nutrients recycling and increase agricultural production by providing the essential elements necessary for photosynthesis and energy flow in ecosystems.The aim of the present study was to investigate the soil invertebrates community in one of the date palms plantation in Aljaderia district South of Baghdad, , and their relationships with some physical and chemical properties of the soil , as Five randomly distributed replicates of soil samples were collected monthly. Invertebrates samples were sorted from the soil with two methods, direct method to isolate large invertebrates and indirectly to isolate small invertebrates using wet funnel method. The study also included the determination of physical and chemical factors of the soil (Temperature, Salinity, pH, Organic matter, Humidity, In addition to the soil texture).Monthly fluctuations in physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and the total invertebrates community study site were determined. Significant correlations the of the invertebrates community and each of temperature, organic matter, and humidity were observed. The study revealed that the temperature of the soil ranged between 5 to 25 C0 , The salinity concentration ranged between 1.1-1.9 ‰, The pH values ranged between 7.3 to 7.8 and the percentage of soil moisture ranged between 15 - 25% , Soil samples were composed of 44.6 % Clay, 19.7% Silt and 35.5% Sand.A total of 4625 individuals of soil invertebrates belonging to 16 taxa were sorted , within which the adult and larval insects were the most abundant, and from them 1283 individuals were sorted , represented 28% of the total numbers, followed by Isopoda , which 1030 individuals of them were sorted, In addition to Nematode, Oligochaetes Annelids family Enchytraeidae, and Earthworms family Lumbricida, Species of Chilopoda, Diplopoda, mites, land snails and slugs. The highest total individual number were recorded recorded durim moderate temperature months, February, March and April amounted to 838, 801 and 813 individuals, respectively.A significant correlation was mated between total number of soil invertebrates and each of temperature, organic matter and humidity. The significant difference in means was calculated according to LSD test.

2016 ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Judit Horváth ◽  
Bence Mátyás ◽  
János Kátai

The soil is a natural resource, the fertility preservation is an important part of the sustainable development. We have to monitor the transformation dinamics of the organic nitrogen-containing substances, to get accurate information about the changes of the nitrogen cycle in the soil. Physical and chemical properties of the soil and the microorganism effect on the organic matter in the soil – in addition to the composition of organic matter. Wide variety of extracellular enzymes are present in this decomposition. These enzymes help in the transformation of the macromolecules to transforming low molecular weight compounds so they will be available during the assimilation. The urease enzyme, catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to CO2 and NH3. The urease is widely spread in the nature, it is present in the microorganisms, plants and animals. We found that the soil moisture content, the rotation and the fertilization affect to the amount of urease in spring. Furthermore, we get significant difference between the irrigated and non irrigated samples in the second period of the year. Based on our results we can state that the activity of urease was higher in spring 2014. The objective of our study was to present how the different agronomic factors affect on the activity of urease in a long term fertilizationexperiment.


Author(s):  
L. Sackey ◽  
E. Osei ◽  
E. O. Bennoah ◽  
A. Tettey

Aims: To assess the effectiveness of Gypsum as a chemical ameliorant on three selected salt-affected soils of the Ho-Keta plain, in the Volta region of Ghana. Study Design:  Complete Randomized Design. Place and Duration of Study:  Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso, Kumasi between June 2014 and July 2019. Methodology: Soil sampling was taken in two forms. The initial sampling was taken at a depth of 0-30 cm from Anyako, Anyenui and Atiehife for the soil physical and chemical analysis. Samples were further taken from profiles, composited and sub-sampled for the leaching experiment. Approximately 2.6 kg of the soil samples from the different sites were taken, mixed thoroughly with different rates 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of Gypsum, (CaSO4.2H2O) and filled into fifteen perforated polyvinyl plastic pots and replicated four times. The pots were saturated with water, incubated for 24 h and leached intermittently with 120 mL distilled water for a period of four weeks. Results: Significant displacement of Na+ by Ca2+ and subsequently leached became evident in the reduced values recorded for pH, EC and SAR. The applied gypsum reduced pH within a range of 4.0 to 4.2 compared to the original soil with no significant differences among the treatments at p = 0.05. Though a similar trend was observed for EC, significant difference at p = 0.05 was observed at gypsum level above 50%. Sodium adsorption ratio recorded a marked difference as gypsum level was varied with significant difference at p = 0.05 compare to the control.   Conclusion: The study revealed that gypsum rates at 75% and 100% Gypsum requirement were effective in improving the chemical properties of the soils with significant reductions in salinity, sodicity and pH. Atiehife soil performed better compared to Anyenui and Anyako soils.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-94
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Shabanpour ◽  
Azadeh Sedaghat ◽  
Parvin Rousta ◽  
Reza Ebrahimi ◽  
Ahmad Shirinfekr

The organic matter content has significantly decreased in some of the tea gardens in north of Iran, thereforeresulting in degradation of their physical and chemical properties. An experiment was conducted in two tea gardens in order to investigate the effect of lime and vermicompost on soil's physical and chemical properties. The studied tea soils were located in Gilan province (Bazkiyagorab and Azbaram) in Iran (with clay loam and sandy loam texture). Vermicompost was applied in 3 levels of 0, 2.5% and 5% and lime was applied in two levels of 0 and 0.5%. The measurements were carried out three times (after 0, 90 and 180 days). The results showed that lime and vermicompost application has significantly affected the calcium carbonate content, pH, the electrical conductivity (EC) and the soil organic matter (SOM) content in the studied soils. Lime application significantly increased the infiltration rate (P<0.01). Comparison of the average interaction of lime with vermicompost in the Azbaram station soil showed that 5% vermicompost and 0.5% lime with an average of 5.49 (mm h-1) had the highest infiltration rate (IR) and had a significant difference with the other treatments. Comparison of the average interaction of lime with vermicompost in Basquegorob garden showed that the treatment of 5% vermicompost with 0.5% lime, the time stage of 180 days with an average density of 1.11 (g cm-3) had the lowest bulk density (BD) and was significantly different from other levels. It seems that the simultaneous presence of lime and vermicompost and their effect on improving the soil structure and increasing porosity, leads to reduction of the soil's bulk density. The results obtained in this study have clearly indicated that the simultaneous applications of vermicompost and lime is an effective way to improve soil physical and chemical properties. However, the real potential of the amendments used in this experiment should be further assessed under field conditions using a test crop.


Author(s):  
Amita M Watkar ◽  

Soil, itself means Soul of Infinite Life. Soil is the naturally occurring unconsolidated or loose covering on the earth’s surface. Physical properties depend upon the amount, size, shape, arrangement, and mineral composition of soil particles. It also depends on the organic matter content and pore spaces. Chemical properties depend on the Inorganic and organic matter present in the soil. Soils are the essential components of the environment and foundation resources for nearly all types of land use, besides being the most important component of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, assessment of soil quality and its direction of change with time is an ideal and primary indicator of sustainable agricultural land management. Soil quality indicators refer to measurable soil attributes that influence the capacity of a soil to function, within the limits imposed by the ecosystem, to preserve biological productivity and environmental quality and promote plant, animal and human health. The present study is to assess these soil attributes such as physical and chemical properties season-wise.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Anshu Siwach ◽  
Siddhartha Kaushal ◽  
Ratul Baishya

Abstract Mosses are one of the most important and dominant plant communities, especially in the temperate biome, and play a significant role in ecosystem function and dynamics. They influence the water, energy and element cycle due to their unique ecology and physiology. The present study was undertaken in three different temperate forest sites in the Garhwal Himalayas, viz., Triyuginarayan (Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS)), Chakrata, and Kanasar forest range. The study was focused on understanding the influence of mosses on soil physical properties and nutrient availability. Different physico-chemical properties were analysed under two different substrata, that is, with and without moss cover in two different seasons, viz., monsoon and winter. We observed mosses to influence and alter the physical properties and nutrient status of soil in both seasons. All soil physical and chemical properties, except magnesium, showed significant difference within the substrates, among all the sites and across the two seasons. Besides the soil characteristics underneath the moss vegetation, the study also highlights the diversity of mosses found in the area. Mosses appear to create high nutrient microsites via a high rate of organic matter accumulation and retain nutrients for longer periods thus, maintaining ecosystem stability.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
Renata Mikalauskienė ◽  
Donatas Butkus ◽  
Ingrida Pliopaitė Bataitienė

The present article describes changes in specific activities and fluctuations in the ratio of natural 40K and artificial 137Cs radionuclides in soil samples taken from different places of Lithuanian territory. The samples of soil have been selected from the districts polluted after the accident in Chernobyl nuclear plant performing nuclear testing operations. The study has established the main physical and chemical properties of soil samples and their impact on the concentration of 40K activities. 137Cs/40K specific activities in soil have been observed under the dry weight of the sample that varied from 0.0034 to 0.0240. The results of the study could be used for establishing and estimating 137Csand 40K transfer in the system “soil-plant”. Santrauka Straipsnyje nagrinėjama gamtinės (40K) ir dirbtinės (137Cs) kilmės radionuklidų savitųjų aktyvumų ir jų santykio kaita skirtinguose Lietuvos teritorijos dirvožemiuose. Dirvožemio mėginiai parinkti iš vietovių, kurios buvo labiau užterštos po Černobylio atominės elektrinės avarijos ir buvusių branduolinių bandymų. Tyrimo metu nustatytos pagrindinės fizinės cheminės dirvožemio savybės ir jų poveikis 40K aktyvumų koncentracijai. 137Csir 40K savitieji aktyvumai dirvožemyje tirti esant sausam mėginio svoriui. 137Cs savitieji aktyvumai sausame dirvožemyje svyravo nuo 1,1±1,0 iki 14,3±0,9 Bq/kg, o 40K savitieji aktyvumai – nuo 326±29 iki 740±15 Bq/kg. 137Csir 40K savitųjų aktyvumų santykis skirtingų vietovių dirvožemiuose kito nuo 0,0034 iki 0,0240 Bq/kg. Tyrimo rezultatai gali būti panaudoti, nustatant ir įvertinant 137Csir 40K pernašą sistemoje dirvožemis–augalai.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 7451
Author(s):  
Barbara Breza-Boruta ◽  
Karol Kotwica ◽  
Justyna Bauza-Kaszewska

Properly selected tillage methods and management of the available organic matter resources are considered important measures to enable farming in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. Depending on the depth and intensity of cultivation, tillage practices affect soil chemical composition, structure and biological activity. The three-year experiment was performed on the soil under spring wheat (cv. Tybalt) short-time cultivation. The influence of different tillage systems and stubble management on the soil’s chemical and biological parameters was analyzed. Organic carbon content (OC); content of biologically available phosphorus (Pa), potassium (Ka), and magnesium (Mg); content of total nitrogen (TN), mineral nitrogen forms: N-NO3 and N-NH4 were determined in various soil samples. Moreover, the total number of microorganisms (TNM), bacteria (B), actinobacteria (A), fungi (F); soil respiratory activity (SR); and pH in 1 M KCl (pH) were also investigated. The results show that organic matter amendment is of greater influence on soil characteristics than the tillage system applied. Manure application, as well as leaving the straw in the field, resulted in higher amounts of organic carbon and biologically available potassium. A significant increase in the number of soil microorganisms was also observed in soil samples from the experimental plots including this procedure.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1299-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Tirloni ◽  
Antonio Carlos Tadeu Vitorino ◽  
Anderson Cristian Bergamin ◽  
Luiz Carlos Ferreira de Souza

Crop-livestock integration represents an interesting alternative of soil management, especially in regions where the maintenance of cover crops in no-tillage systems is difficult. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil physical and chemical properties, based on the hypothesis that a well-managed crop-livestock integration system improves the soil quality and stabilizes the system. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design, with five replications. The treatments were arranged in a 6 x 4 factorial design, to assess five crop rotation systems in crop-livestock integration, and native forest as reference of soil undisturbed by agriculture, in four layers (0.0-0.05; 0.05-0.10; 0.10-0.15 and 0.15-0.20 m). The crop rotation systems in crop-livestock integration promoted changes in soil physical and chemical properties and the effects of the different systems were mainly detected in the surface layer. The crops in integrated crop-livestock systems allowed the maintenance of soil carbon at levels equal to those of the native forest, proving the efficiency of these systems in terms of soil conservation. The systems influenced the environmental stability positively; the soil quality indicator mineral-associated organic matter was best related to aggregate stability.


Clay Minerals ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Parfitt

AbstractThe literature on the formation, structure and properties of allophane and imogolite is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the seminal contributions by Colin Farmer. Allophane and imogolite occur not only in volcanic-ash soils but also in other environments. The conditions required for the precipitation of allophane and imogolite are discussed. These include pH, availability of Al and Si, rainfall, leaching regime, and reactions with organic matter. Because of their excellent water storage and physical properties, allophanic soils can accumulate large amounts of biomass. In areas of high rainfall, these soils often occur under rain forest, and the soil organic matter derived from the forest biomass is stabilized by allophane and aluminium ions. Thus the turnover of soil organicmatter in allophanicsoils is slower than that in non-allophanicsoils. The organic matter appears to be derived from the microbial by-products of the plant material rather than from the plant material itself. The growth of young forests may be limited by nitrogen supply but growth of older forests tends to be P limited. Phosphorus is recycled through both inorganic and organic pathways, but it is also strongly sorbed by Al compounds including allophane. When crops are grown in allophanic soils, large amounts of labile P are required and, accordingly, these soils have to be managed to counteract the large P sorption capacity of allophane and other Al compounds, and to ensure an adequate supply of labile P. Because of their physical and chemical properties, allophanic soils are excellent filters of heavy metals and pathogens.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Tang ◽  
Shaorui Nie ◽  
Wenhui Li ◽  
Chao Fan ◽  
Siqi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Wheat straw is a rich resource worldwide. Straw return is an effective strategy to alleviate soil-borne diseases on monoculture watermelon. Previous studies focus on soil structure, physical and chemical properties; however, little is known about the molecular responses on host plant. Results No significant difference on the population of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum race 1(Fon1) in rhizosphere soil was found between control (no addition of wheat straw) and the treated groups (addition of 1% (T1) or 2% (T2) wheat straw). RNA-Seq analysis showed that 3419 differentially expressed genes were clustered into 8 profiles. KEGG analysis revealed that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction were involved in wheat straw induced response in monoculture watermelon. Genes in lignin biosynthesis were found to be upregulated, and the lignin and auxin contents were higher in T1 and T2 compared to the control. Lignin was also enriched and the Fon1 population decreased in watermelon roots treated with wheat straw. The enzyme activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase were increased. Conclusions Our data suggest that the addition of wheat straw enhances the defense response to Fon1 infection in watermelon through increasing lignin and auxin biosynthesis.


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