scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of Burned Organic Matter at Different Soil Depths and Its Relationship with Soil Water Repellency: A Preliminary Result

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2560
Author(s):  
Mirian de Deus ◽  
Ana Z. Miller ◽  
Nicasio T. Jiménez-Morillo
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Burned Soil ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity

Soil water repellency (hydrophobicity) prevents water from wetting or infiltrating soils, triggering changes in the ecosystems. This physical property is directly correlated to the erodibility grade of a soil. Wildfire events may develop, enhance, or destroy soil hydrophobicity, modifying the erodibility grade of a soil and increasing the loss of its most reactive layer (organic matter). To assess the main organic family of compounds (biomarkers) surrogates to fire-induced water repellency, a study was carried out on a fire-affected soil under eucalyptus canopy at two depths (0–2 and 2–5 cm) from Portugal. The potential soil water repellency was measured using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) test. The molecular characterization of hydrophobic biomarkers was carried out using analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) in combination with multivariate statistical analysis (PCA, MLR). The upper burned soil layer (0–2 cm) displayed a significant contribution of fresh biomass (lignin and polysaccharides), while the deepest (2–5 cm) one showed more humified organic matter (lipids). The soil hydrophobicity was directly correlated to non-polar organic compounds, such as lipids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and inversely to unspecific aromatic compounds. The combination of mass spectrometry techniques and chemometric analysis allowed obtaining a preliminary forecast model of hydrophobicity degree in fire-affected soil samples under eucalyptus canopy. This analytical approach opens the door to developing more sensitive mathematical models using molecular organic compounds to predict the alteration of hydrophobicity and other soil physical properties induced by fires.

Soil water repellency persistence after recurrent forest fires on Mount Carmel, Israel

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naama Tessler ◽  
Lea Wittenberg ◽  
Noam Greenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Water Drop ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Chemical Properties Of Soils

Variations in forest fires regime affect: (1) the natural patterns of community structure and vegetation; (2) the physico-chemical properties of soils and consequently (3) runoff, erosion and sediment yield. In recent decades the Mediterranean ecosystem of Mount Carmel, north-western Israel, is subjected to an increasing number of forest fires, thus, the objectives of the study were to evaluate the long-term effects of single and recurrent fires on soil water repellency (WR) and organic matter (OM) content. Water repellency was studied by applying water drop penetration time (WDPT) tests at sites burnt by single-fire, two fires, three fires and unburnt control sites. Water repellency in the burnt sites was significantly lower than in the unburnt control sites, and the soil maintained its wettability for more than 2 decades, whereas after recurrent fires, the rehabilitation was more complicated and protracted. The OM content was significantly lower after recurrent than after a single fire, causing a clear proportional decrease in WR. The rehabilitation of WR to natural values is highly dependent on restoration of organic matter and revegetation. Recurrent fires may cause a delay in recovery and reduced productivity of the soil for a long period.

Organic Matter Fractions Controlling Soil Water Repellency in Sandy Soils From the Doñana National Park (Southwestern Spain)

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1413-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicasio T. Jiménez‐Morillo ◽  
José A. González‐Pérez ◽  
Antonio Jordán ◽  
Lorena M. Zavala ◽  
José María Rosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
National Park ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Doñana National Park ◽  
Organic Matter Fractions

scholarly journals Effects of a Canary pine forest wildfire (Tenerife, Canary Islands, summer 2007) on selected soil properties and their relationship with short- to medium-term soil water repellency .

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Hernández ◽  
Natalia Rodríguez ◽  
Marcelino del Arco ◽  
Carmen Dolores Arbelo ◽  
Jesús Notario del Pino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity ◽  
The Impact

Forest fires modify the soil environment, often triggering severe soil degradation. In this paper, we studied the impact of a large northern Tenerife Canariy pine forest wildfire on a set of relevant soil properties, focusing on their evolution in time and relationship with soil water repellency. To do this, soils were sampled at four sites (burned and non-burned) and several soil physical and chemical parameters were measured. The results show significant variations for soil pH, electric conductivity (CE<sub>1:5</sub>), and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N between burned and non-burned samples, whereas non-significant increases were found in burned soils for oxidizable carbon (C<sub>ox</sub>), total nitrogen (N<sub>tot</sub>) , Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup>, and soil hydrophobicity. The differences caused by the fire were no longer evident one year later. Furthermore, in one sampling site (Vitric Leptosols under low pine forest with a mixed heath/beech tree understory) a wide variation in the content of C<sub>ox</sub> and N<sub>tot</sub> and high water repellency was observed relative to the other sites. These differences can be attributed to the composition of the understory vegetation. Significant correlations between soil hydrophobicity with CE<sub>1:5</sub>, aggregate stability and the contents of C<sub>ox</sub>, N<sub>tot</sub>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> were found.

Influence of crop residues and nitrogen fertilizer on soil water repellency and soil hydrophobicity under long-term no-till

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Miller ◽  
M.L. Owen ◽  
B.H. Ellert ◽  
X.M. Yang ◽  
C.F. Drury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Organic C ◽  
No Till ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity

Crop residues and N fertilizer under no-till may increase soil water repellency (SWR) and soil hydrophobicity, but few studies have examined these two treatment factors and their interaction. A laboratory study was conducted using a long-term (since 1999) field experiment on a clay loam soil to determine the effect of three crop residues and two N fertilizer levels on SWR and soil hydrophobicity under no-till within the Dark Brown soil zone of the semi-arid Canadian prairies. The three residue treatments were residues removed from soil (Rx0), residues returned to soil (Rx1), and residues supplemented to soil (Rx2). The two fertilizer N treatments were 0 (N0) and 45 kg N ha−1 (N1). Surface (0–10 cm) soil samples were taken in the spring of 2017 after 17 yr. Laboratory measurements were conducted on air-dried and sieved (<2 mm) soil to determine SWR using the repellency index method (RI), soil organic C, hydrophobic CH and hydrophilic CO functional groups, and soil hydrophobicity (CH/CO ratio). Mean RI values ranged from 2.19 to 2.75, indicating subcritical (RI > 1.95) SWR. Similar (P > 0.05) RI values were found for the three residue and two N fertilizer treatments, but the trend was for greater RI with increased residue addition (by 12%–26%) and N fertilizer (by 8%). Soil hydrophobicity was significantly greater by 47%–82% for straw returned or supplemented than straw removed treatments, and by 33% for fertilized than unfertilized treatments. Overall, greater residues and N fertilizer had no effect on SWR, but significantly increased soil hydrophobicity.

Petroleum residues as water-repellent substances in weathered nonwettable oil-contaminated soils

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie L. Roy ◽  
William B. McGill ◽  
Marvin D. Rawluk
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Impact Ionization ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Solvent Mixture ◽  
Water Repellent ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Petroleum Origin ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy

Some soils develop severe water repellency several years or decades following oil contamination. We previously reported on the characteristics of three such soils. Here we report on the characteristics of putative water-repellent substances in them. We examined the effectiveness of various polar, nonpolar and amphiphilic solvents for removal of water-repellent substances in three nonwettable soils. Only the amphiphilic solvent mixture isopropanol/14.8 M ammonia (7:3, vol/vol) (IPA/NH4OH) completely eliminated soil water repellency in all three soils. We thus define putative water-repellent substances as those substances whose removal from soil by IPA/NH4OH removes water repellency. High-resolution CPMAS 13C-NMR spectroscopy and thermal desorption followed by conventional gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy with electron impact ionization (GC/EI/MS) and GC/MS with chemical ionization (GC/CI/MS) were used to characterize extracted putative water-repellent substances. We conclude that: (i) the identified representatives of these substances consist mostly of homologous series of long-chain and polycyclic aliphatic organic compounds; namely, n-fatty acids, n-alkanes, and cycloalkanes, and that (ii) they are of petroleum origin rather than plant or microbial origin. Key words: Soil hydrophobicity, petroleum hydrocarbons, soil water repellency, amphiphilic solvents, crude oil, nonwettable soil

scholarly journals Certain Soil Surfactants Could Become a Source of Soil Water Repellency after Repeated Application

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2577
Author(s):  
Enzhan Song ◽  
Keith W. Goyne ◽  
Robert J. Kremer ◽  
Stephen H. Anderson ◽  
Xi Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Soil Particle ◽  
Wetting Agent ◽  
Repeated Treatment ◽  
Repeated Application ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Soil Hydrophobicity ◽  
Wetting Agents

Repeated application of soil surfactants, or wetting agents, is a common practice for alleviating soil water repellency associated with soil organic coatings. However, wetting agents are organic compounds that may also coat soil particle surfaces and reduce wettability. For this experiment, hydrophobic sands from the field and fresh, wettable sands were collected and treated with either a polyoxyalkylene polymer (PoAP) or alkyl block polymer (ABP) wetting agent, or water only treatments served as a control. Following repeated treatment application and sequential washings, dissolved and particulate organic carbon (OC) were detected in the leachates of both sand systems. The total amount of OC recovered in leachates was 88% or less than the OC introduced by the wetting agents, indicating sorption of wetting agent monomers to soil particle surfaces regardless of soil hydrophobicity status. While ABP treatment did not alter solid phase organic carbon (SOC) in the sands studied, PoAP application increased SOC by 16% and 45% which was visible in scanning electronic microscopy images, for hydrophobic and wettable sands, respectively. PoAP application also increased the hydrophobicity of both sands that were studied. In contrast, ABP treatment increased the wettability of hydrophobic sand. Our results provide strong evidence that certain wetting agents may increase soil hydrophobicity and exacerbate wettability challenges if used repeatedly over time.

scholarly journals Predicting soil water repellency by hydrophobic organic compounds and their vegetation origin

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-186
Author(s):  
J. Mao ◽  
K. G. J. Nierop ◽  
M. Rietkerk ◽  
S. C. Dekker
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Hydroxy Fatty Acid ◽  
Soluble Fraction ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Plant Leaves ◽  
Hydrophobic Organic Compounds ◽  
Soil Water Repellency

Abstract. It is widely accepted that soil water repellency (SWR) is mainly caused by plant-derived hydrophobic organic compounds in soils; such hydrophobic compounds are defined as SWR-markers. However, the detailed influence of SWR-markers on SWR is yet unclear and the knowledge of their original sources is still limited. The aims of this study are to select important SWR-markers to predict SWR based on their correlation with SWR and to determine their origin. In our study, sandy soils with different SWR were collected, along with their covering vegetation, i.e. plant leaves/needles and roots. A sequential extraction procedure was applied to the soils to obtain three organic fractions: DCM / MeOH soluble fraction (D), DCM / MeOH insoluble fraction of IPA / NH3 extract (AI) and DCM / MeOH soluble fraction of IPA / NH3 extract (AS), which were subdivided into ten dominant SWR-marker groups: (D) fatty acid, (D) alcohol, (D) alkane, (AI) fatty acid, (AI) alcohol, (AI) ω-hydroxy fatty acid, (AI) α, ω-dicarboxylic acid, (AS) fatty acid, (AS) alcohol and (AS) ω-hydroxy fatty acid. Waxes and biopolyesters of the vegetation were also sequentially extracted from plants. In short, the soils with higher SWR have significantly higher relative concentrations of (AS) alcohols. A number of indications suggest that (AS) alcohols are mainly derived from roots and most likely produced by microbial hydrolysis of biopolyesters/suberins. In addition, the strong correlation between the biomarkers of plant tissues and SWR-markers in soils suggests that it is more accurate to predict SWR of topsoils using ester-bound alcohols from roots, and to predict SWR of subsoils using root-derived ω-hydroxy fatty acids and α, ω-dicarboxylic acids. Our analysis indicates that plant roots have a primary role influencing SWR relative to plant leaves.

The relationship of soil water repellency to aliphatic C and kaolin measured using DRIFT

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. McKissock ◽  
R. J. Gilkes ◽  
W. van Bronswijk
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Water Repellent ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Aliphatic Carbon ◽  
Fourier Transform Spectra ◽  
Diffuse Reflectance Infrared

In general, water repellency by soil increases with the increase of total organic matter and decreases as the clay and silt contents of the soil increase. The prediction of water repellency from soil organic carbon (OC) content may be improved by examining the types of carbon associated with water repellency. This paper examines the hypothesis that measurement of aliphatic C can provide a better prediction of water repellency than measurement of total OC and also looks at the effects of soil texture on water repellency and the amount of aliphatic C in the soil. DRIFT (diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform) spectra were measured on sandy soils from the West Midland Sandplains north of Perth in Western Australia. The areas of the aliphatic CH stretching signal (3000–2800/cm) and the OH stretching signal due to kaolin (3750–3570/cm) were used as relative measures of aliphatic carbon and kaolin contents. The relationships of aliphatic C and kaolin to water repellency have been examined and compared with the relationships of water repellency to total OC and clay contents of soil.Hydrophobic organic C as measured by DRIFT gave a better prediction of soil water repellency (r2 = 0.45) than did the total OC (r2 = 0.36). The specific hydrophobicity of organic matter (aliphatic C/OC ratio) increased as sand content increased. However, the direct influence of soil texture on water repellency was of more significance than its indirect influence on the amounts and forms of soil organic matter. A multivariate model including aliphatic C and clay + silt content was the best model for describing water repellency (r2 = 0.58). DRIFT is an effective, rapid method for screening soils for water repellent properties.For individual sand grains there was a weak positive relationship (r2 = 0.26) between the size of the aliphatic CH peak measured from surfaces of sand grains and the water repellency of the grains. A discontinuous aliphatic surface layer was present on the surface of individual sand grains.

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