DETERMINING THE SOIL QUALITY INDEX IN THE BATUMI DELTA, GEORGIA

The soil quality index is a quantitative assessment concept and it is used in the evaluation of ecosystem components. Because of the high potential for agriculture and biodiversity, deltas are the most valuable parts of the ecosystem. This study aimed to determine the soil quality index (SQI) in the Batumi Delta, Georgia. For this purpose, the study area was divided into five plots due to their morphological positions (L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5). A total of 125 soil samples were taken for analysis including clay content (CC), silt content (SC), sand content (SaC), mean weight diameter (MWD), aggregate stability (AS), amount of water retained under -33 kPa (FC) and -1500 kPa (WP) pressures and organic matter content (OM). These properties were used as the main criteria, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Factor Analysis were used for weighting them. Sub-criteria were scored using expert opinion and the linear score functions, such as “more is better” and “optimum value”. For determining SQI, the additive method (SQIA), the weighted method with AHP (SQIAHP), and the weighted method with factor analysis (SQIFA) were used. The resulting SQI scores of the three methods were ordered as SQIAHP>SQIA>SQIFA, but these differences were not significant. However, the SQI scores of the plots (p≤0.01) showed statistically significant differences and were ordered as L5>L4>L3>L2>L1.

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Determining the effects of the forest stand age on the soil quality index in afforested areas: A case study in the Palandöken Mountains

Soil and Water Research ◽

10.17221/179/2020-swr ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emre Çomaklı ◽

Bülent Turgut

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Principal Component ◽

Erosion Control ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Stand Age ◽

Soil Quality Index ◽

Score Functions

Afforestation is an essential strategy for erosion control. The objective of this study was to determine the soil quality index (SQI) in established afforested areas of different ages for erosion control in Erzurum, Turkey. Three afforested areas were selected as plots considering their establishment periods: + 40 years old (AA>40), 10–40 years old (AA10–40), and less than 10 years old (AA<10). Forty soil samples were taken in each plot area over the 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths. The soil samples were analysed for the texture, mean weight diameter, aggregate stability, pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, total carbon, and total sulfur contents. These properties were used as the soil quality indicators, whereby the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to establish their relative importance for describing the soil quality. The indicators were scored using the linear score functions of “more is better” and “optimum value”. For determining the SQI, the additive method (SQIA), the weighted method with AHP (SQIAHP), and the weighted method with PCA (SQIPCA) were used. The SQI scores of the plots showed statistically significant differences. In all three methods, the highest SQI value was obtained from the AA>40 plots.

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Comparison of aggregate stability within six soil profiles under conventional tillage using various laboratory tests

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-009-0095-6 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Radka Kodešová ◽

Marcela Rohošková ◽

Anna Žigová

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Aggregates ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Clay Content ◽

Soil Aggregate ◽

Matter Content ◽

The Other ◽

Structure Stability ◽

Soil Aggregate Stability

AbstractSoil structure stability was studied in every diagnostic horizons of six soil types (Haplic Chernozem, Greyic Phaeozem, two Haplic Luvisols, Haplic Cambisol, Dystric Cambisol) using different techniques investigating various destruction mechanisms of soil aggregates. Soil aggregate stability, assessed by the index of water stable aggregates (WSA), varied depending on the organic matter content, clay content and pHKCl. The presence of clay and organic matter coatings and fillings, and presence of iron oxides in some soils increased stability of soil aggregates. On the other hand periodical tillage apparently decreased aggregate stability in the Ap horizons. Coefficients of aggregate vulnerability resulting from fast wetting (KV 1) and slow wetting (KV 2) tests showed similar trends of the soil aggregate stability as the WSA index, when studied for soils developed on the similar parent material. There was found close correlation between the WSA index and the KV 1 value, which depended also on the organic matter content, clay content and pHKCl. Less significant correlation was obtained between the WSA index and the KV 2 value, which depended on the organic matter content and clay content. Coefficients of vulnerability resulting from the shaking after pre-wetting test (KV 3) showed considerably different trends in comparison to the other tests due to the different factors affecting aggregate stability against the mechanical destruction. The KV 3 value depended mostly on cation exchange capacity, pHKCl and organic matter content.

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Artificial soil nutrient, aggregate stability and soil quality index of restored cut slopes along altitude gradient in southwest China

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125687 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 246 ◽

pp. 125687 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mengke Zhu ◽

Siqian Yang ◽

Shenghao Ai ◽

Xiaoyan Ai ◽

Xue Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Southwest China ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Artificial Soil ◽

Soil Quality Index ◽

Altitude Gradient ◽

Cut Slopes

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Developing a soil quality index model for assessing landscape-level soil quality along a toposequence in almond orchards using factor analysis

Modeling Earth Systems and Environment ◽

10.1007/s40808-021-01345-8 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Fayez Raiesi ◽

Mehran Tavakoli

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Soil Quality Index ◽

Index Model ◽

Almond Orchards ◽

Landscape Level

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Erosion Effect on Soil Physical Properties in Selected Farmlands in Gidan Kwano, Niger State

Journal of Horticulture and Plant Research ◽

10.18052/www.scipress.com/jhpr.2.10 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 10-22

Author(s):

Abdulkadir Abdullahi

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Clay Content ◽

Infiltration Rate ◽

Matter Content ◽

Simple Method ◽

Cumulative Infiltration

The study was conducted to investigate if erosion is a major problem and to identify the effect of erosion on some physical properties on selected farmlands on four farms in Gidan kwano. It was done by observation, interview, and questionnaire and soil sample analysis. The infiltration rate, bulk density, porosity, organic matter content, particle size and aggregate stability were determined for all the sample location. The erosion fields results were compared with the results of the non-eroded fields. The results showed that farming was done with simple method and mechanized equipment when available and erosion was considered a major problem in all the farms. The results revealed that bulk density values ranged between 1.475gcm-3and 1.606gcm-3, cumulative infiltration rate fluctuated between 29.75cm/hr and 37.48cm/hr, porosity ranged between 36.49% and 44.34%, organic matter content fluctuated between 0.29% and 0.73% and aggregate stability ranged between 58.00% and 67.60% for the erosion field. The results also revealed that bulk density fluctuated between 1.458gcm-3and 1.544gcm-3, cumulative infiltration rate ranged between 32.19 cm/hr and 40.48cm/hr, porosity fluctuated between 41.73% and 44.98%, organic matter content ranged between 0.30% and 1.09% and aggregate stability ranged between 63.97% and 68.93% for the non-eroded field. From the results, it provides evidence that the effects of erosion on the physical properties were increased bulk density, decreased infiltration rate, organic matter content, porosity, aggregate stability and percentage sand, silt and clay content. Statistical analysis proved that the results were significant (p<0.05) except for the bulk density and porosity which could be attributed to the swelling and compaction characteristics of the soils.

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Atlantic Forest soil as reference in the soil quality evaluation of coconut orchards (Cocos nucífera L) under different management

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n6p3847 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 3847

Author(s):

Maria Isidoria Silva Gonzaga ◽

Marcus Vinicius Cunha Bispo ◽

Thiago Lima da Silva ◽

Wallace Mello dos Santos ◽

Isaac Leal Santana

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Rain Forest ◽

Quality Index ◽

Cocos Nucifera ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Atlantic Rain Forest ◽

Soil Quality Index

The evaluation of the soil quality is important to identify potential problems of soil degradation.The assessment of the soil quality requires the determination of several soil parameters and the integration of specific soil properties measurements into mathematical models, such as the soil quality index (SQI).The aims of this study were to: (i) determine the SQI for an Ultisol under a remnant of Atlantic Rain Forest; (ii) use the SQI for the Atlantic Rain Forest as a reference to evaluate the effects of conventional and integrated management in coconut orchards. It was hypothesized that the conventional management of coconut (Cocos nuciferaL.) orchards reduces the SQI compared with Atlantic Rain Forest. A soil quality index was constructed using an additive model that considered three main soil functions (the ability of the soil to promote root growth, water storage and flux, and nutrient supply) and a set of soil indicators. The SQI values were 0.66, 0.54 and 0.46 for the Atlantic Forest,integrated and conventional orchards, respectively; therefore, there was decline in soil quality in both orchards. Even though there was an increase in the organic matter content in the integrated coconut orchard as result of the maintenance of the organic residues on the soil surface and the presence of cover crops, the SQI indicated that, in that type of highly weathered soil, a more conservative approach needs to be applied to avoid further soil quality degradation.

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ASSESSMENT OF A COMBINATION OF WET SIEVING AND TURBIDIMETRY TO CHARACTERIZE THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF MOIST AGGREGATES

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss90-004 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 33-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

T. POJASOK ◽

B. D. KAY

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Structural Stability ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Clay Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Wet Aggregate Stability ◽

Large Investment ◽

Dispersible Clay ◽

Wet Sieving

A method of measuring the structural stability of moist soils using a combination of turbidimetry and wet sieving has been developed and assessed. Aggregates of 1–2 mm in diameter are shaken end-over-end in test tubes and dispersed clay and stable aggregates greater than 0.25 mm diameter measured. Stabilities determined using this method were compared to stabilities determined using a modification of the Yoder wet-sieving method on 20 soils of different textures, organic-matter content, and recent cropping history. Wet aggregate stabilities determined by the two methods were correlated although the two measurements exhibited different sensitivities to clay content, organic-matter content and moisture content at the time of sampling. Dispersible clay was found to be a function of total clay content, organic-matter content and water content at the time of sampling. The new method offers the advantage of stability measurements of structural units of much different size using the same energy input and can be readily adapted to the routine analysis of a large number of samples without a large investment in equipment or space. Key words: Wet aggregate stability, dispersible clay, cropping history, soil structure

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Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil Collected from Chandrabhaga River in Kalmeshwar, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Journal of Advanced Research in Alternative Energy Environment and Ecology ◽

10.24321/2455.3093.202006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 07 (02) ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Amita M Watkar ◽

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Attributes ◽

Essential Components ◽

Agricultural Land Management ◽

Physical And Chemical

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.

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