Prostorna analiza tala i utjecaj na produktivnost u gospodarskoj jedinici Mužljanski rit

The paper presents analysis of soil spatial distribution and productivity of Populus x euramericana I-214 forest cultures in forest management unit (hereinafter: FMU) Muzljanski rit. Soil cover in the FMU is heterogeneous in relation to position and altitude in floodplain. Analysis were conducted on eugley and humogley soil types. Eugley, soil type, was delineated according to physiologically active soil depth as α, β or β/γ gley soils and humogley was delineated as one soil unit. Cultures of the poplar clones Populus x euramericana I-214 are found on at least two but usually more different site types within the same forest management section (18.43 %). Single forest management section is a by definition a single forest spatial unit having similar ecologic factors. Aim of our research was to enable consistent forest section delineation, based on the interaction of soil productivity properties and distribution as well as Populus x euramericana I-214 productivity dataset. Based on our anaysis (spatial analysis of raster layers of soil systematic unit distribution-soil subunit, digital elevation model and productivity according to inner delineation of FMU Muzljanski rit), the resuts show eugley share in lower systematic soil unit. The results show contribution of lower systematic units of eugley in forest managemet section/culture. We found a raising trend of α and β-gley, as well as humogley. On one side the higher contribution of this sistematic units indicates reduction in the forest culture yield. On the other side higher contribution of β/γ gley indicates an increase of culture yeald. The Populus x euramericana I-214 cultures are spatialy concentrated, extending over soil units with different characteristics, pointing in alternative economicaly justified section delineation, based on the soil types.

A Practical and Effective Solution to Earthquake (EQ) Catastrophe

About 50-year direct observation indicated that any civil structure founded in/on rock do not get damage from earthquakes without tsunami effect. The main reason behind this is that the modulus of elasticity of saturated rocks is million times greater than that of saturated soil units. Furthermore, all saturated soil units are susceptible to liquefaction at varying degrees. Based on the past observations, none of the structures founded in/on rocky ground, has been affected from the recent destructive earthquakes studied by the authors in/and abroad. The studied earthquake cases highlighted again that the civil structures in/on rocky grounds, even adjacent to the epicenter, have not been affected from shaking of destructive earthquakes. In Turkey, the land needed for housing is one hundredth of the country. However, 57% is proper for housing. The remaining 43% consists mainly of forest, restricted zones, rugged terrains, and soil land which bears essentially plains and very locally landslides. Thus, earthquake disasters could be alleviated by implementing practical land use planning.

Properties and sustainable management of the inland wetland soils for efficient rice production in Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria

ABSTRACT A pedological study was carried out on some inland wetland soils of Obukiyo, Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria to identify their properties and suggest sustainable management practices for the soils. The grid method of soil survey was employed in the field to investigate the morphological and physicochemical properties of the soils. Four soil units were identified on the field based on soil colour, texture, structure, surface properties, topography and water level. Two pits were sunk in each soil unit, described and sampled for laboratory analysis. The soil units were deep (160cm to 190cm) and somewhat well to very poorly drained. The soils were fine texture and slightly to moderately acid and slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 4.1-7.8). The percentage sand fraction ranged between 35.12% and 79.75%, silt, 0.00% and 36.56% and clay 19.76% and 58.46%. They had low to moderate organic carbon (0.30%-2.25%), total N (0.01%-0.42%) available P (213 mg/kg-6.515mgkg-1), total exchangeable bases (3.61cmolkg– 8.26cmolkg), E.A (0.62cmolkg-1 – 3.63cmolkg-1) CEC (3.75cmolkg-1 8.34cmolkg-1), ECEC (5.70cmolkg-1-10.33cmolkg-1) and high base saturation of 53% to 93%. Based on the physicochemical properties, management practices such as; minimal tillage, application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, application of lime to reduce acidity in unit 1 and integrated planting time management with water control were recommended for units II, III and IV.

Using GIS towards the Characterization and Soil Mapping of the Caia Irrigation Perimeter

The Caia Irrigation Perimeter is an irrigation infrastructure implemented in 1968. As is often the case, the original soil map of this region (dated from 1961) does not have the detail needed to characterize a relatively small-sized zone, where intensive agricultural practices take place. Using FAO methodology and with the main goal of establishing a larger-scale soil map, adequate for the demands of a modern and intensive agriculture, we gathered the geological characterization of the study area and information about the topography, climate, and vegetation of the region. Using ArcGIS software, we overlapped this information and established a pre-map of soil resources. Based on this pre-map, we defined a set of detailed itineraries in the field, evenly distributed, in which soil samples were collected. In those distinct soil units, we opened several soil profiles, from which we selected 26 to analyze in the present study, since they characterized the existing diversity in terms of soil type and soil properties. Based on the work of verification, correction, and reinterpretation of the preliminary soil map, we reached a final soil map for the Caia Irrigation Perimeter, which is characterized by enormous heterogeneity, typical of Mediterranean soils, containing 23 distinct cartographic units, the most representative being the Distric Fluvisols with inclusions of Luvisols Distric occupying 29.9% of the total study area, and Calcisols Luvic with inclusions of Luvisols endoleptic with 11.9% of the total area. Considering the obtained information on soil properties; ArcGIS was used to develop a map in which it was possible to ascertain the impact of the continuous practice of irrigation in this area. This allows us to put forward relevant conclusions on the need to access and monitor specific Mediterranean soils in order to mitigate the environmental impact of irrigation practices.

Using GIS towards the Characterization and Soil Mapping of the Caia Irrigation Perimeter

The Caia Irrigation Perimeter is an irrigation infrastructure implemented in 1968. As is often the case, the original soil map of this region (dated from 1961) does not have the detail needed to characterize a relatively small-sized zone, where intensive agricultural practices take place. Using FAO methodology and with the main goal of establishing a larger-scale soil map, adequate for the demands of a modern and intensive agriculture, we gathered the geological characterization of the study area and information about the topography, climate, and vegetation of the region. Using ArcGIS software, we overlapped this information and established a pre-map of soil resources. Based on this pre-map, we defined a set of detailed itineraries in the field, evenly distributed, in which soil samples were collected. In those distinct soil units, we opened several soil profiles, from which we selected 26 to analyze in the present study, since they characterized the existing diversity in terms of soil type and soil properties. Based on the work of verification, correction, and reinterpretation of the preliminary soil map, we reached a final soil map for the Caia Irrigation Perimeter, which is characterized by enormous heterogeneity, typical of Mediterranean soils, containing 23 distinct cartographic units, the most representative being the Distric Fluvisols with inclusions of Luvisols Distric occupying 29.9% of the total study area, and Calcisols Luvic with inclusions of Luvisols endoleptic with 11.9% of the total area. Considering the obtained information on soil properties; ArcGIS was used to develop a map in which it was possible to ascertain the impact of the continuous practice of irrigation in this area. This allows us to put forward relevant conclusions on the need to access and monitor specific Mediterranean soils in order to mitigate the environmental impact of irrigation practices.

EstSoil-EH - Developing a high-resolution eco-hydrological modelling parameters dataset for Estonia

<p>To understand, model and predict landscape evolution, ecosystem services and hydrological processes the availability of detailed observation-based soil data is extremely valuable. Estonia has a national digitized soil map based on decades of Soviet era field mapping. It maps more than 750 000 soil units throughout Estonia at a scale of 1:10 000 - with 75% of mapped units smaller than 4.0 ha. However, due to the way it was recorded the data is not immediately useful for numerical modelling. We synthesized the EstSoil-EH dataset - more than 20 eco-hydrological variables on soil, topography and land use for Estonia as numerical and categorical values - using data fusion and machine learning.<br>As additional feature information we used a 5m DEM, the Estonian Topographic Database, and EU-SoilHydroGrids layers. For each soil unit, we analysed type, texture, and layer information from the originally recorded composite text-based soil information, which contains the actual texture class, classifiers for rock content, peat soils, distinct compositional layers, and their depths. Subsequently, we derived soil layering, clay, silt, and sand contents and coarse fragments of the soil layers. In addition, we aggregated and predicted physical variables related to water and carbon cycles (bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon content, available water capacity). We validated our modelled data and achieved satisfying degrees of agreement depending on the variables type.</p>

EstSoil-EH: a high-resolution eco-hydrological modelling parameters dataset for Estonia

To understand, model, and predict landscape evolution, ecosystem services, and hydrological processes, the availability of detailed observation-based soil data is extremely valuable. For the EstSoil-EH dataset, we synthesized more than 20 eco-hydrological variables on soil, topography, and land use for Estonia (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3473289, Kmoch et al., 2019a) as numerical and categorical values from the original Soil Map of Estonia, the Estonian 5 m lidar DEM, Estonian Topographic Database, and EU-SoilHydroGrids layers. The Soil Map of Estonia maps more than 750 000 soil units throughout Estonia at a scale of 1:10 000 and forms the basis for EstSoil-EH. It is the most detailed and information-rich dataset for soils in Estonia, with 75 % of mapped units smaller than 4.0 ha, based on Soviet-era field mapping. For each soil unit, it describes the soil type (i.e. soil reference group), soil texture, and layer information with a composite text code, which comprises not only the actual texture class, but also classifiers for rock content, peat soils, distinct compositional layers, and their depths. To use these as eco-hydrological process properties in modelling applications we translated the text codes into numbers. The derived parameters include soil layering, soil texture (clay, silt, and sand contents), coarse fragments, and rock content of the soil layers within the soil profiles. In addition, we aggregated and predicted physical variables related to water and carbon cycles (bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon content, available water capacity). The methodology and dataset developed will be an important resource for the Baltic region, but possibly also for all other regions where detailed field-based soil mapping data are available. Countries like Lithuania and Latvia have similar historical soil records from the Soviet era that could be turned into value-added datasets such as the one we developed for Estonia.

Taxonomic Classification and Suitability Evaluation of Selected Soils of Gboko for Yam and Cassava Production.

This study evaluated soil fertility status of Gboko-South in Gboko Local Government Area and their suitability for cassava and yam production. Auger point investigations were carried out at 100 m intervals along traverses spaced at 100 m apart. Three soil units were identified on the field based on soil colour, structure, textures, surface characteristics and topography. The results showed that the soil units were deep (102 – 141 cm) and well drained except unit I that was poorly drained. The soils were coarse-textured and slightly to moderately acidic in reaction with pH values which ranges from 5.38 – 6.50. They had low organic matter contents ranging from 0.20 to 0.95 % and high base saturation which ranged from 76 to 86 %. The soils were classified as Typic Epiaqualfs/Epigleyic Stagnosols, Arenic Haplustalfs/Eutric Luvisols, and Eutric Haplustept/Eutric Haplic Luvisols. Soils of unit I (Pedon I and II), unit II (Pedon III and IV) and unit III (Pedon V and VI) were evaluated to be moderately suitable for cassava and yam production.Keywords: Soil, Taxonomic classification, Suitability evaluation, Land suitability assessment, Yam and Cassava.