Characterization and Classification of Soils and Water in Major Irrigated Lands of Lake Abaya Chamo Basin.

Large amount of irrigated land under Lake Abaya Chamo basin is becoming unproductive every year because of salinity and sodicity expansion; consequently farmers are leaving their land out of cultivation due to burning of crops. For sustainable land use and Agricultural water management, it is a very important to examine the chemical composition of soils water and status of their quality. Therefore, the study was aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of soils and irrigation water of irrigated lands under Lake Abaya Chamo basin, located in South East rift valley of Ethiopia. The pH of the soil in the study area ranged from (7.24 to 9.04, 7.54 to 7.91), Electrical conductivity (0.388 to 19.22, 0.644 to 23.6) under Lake Abaya and Chamo, respectively. The results of irrigation water quality showed that the water class of lake Abaya Chamo basin is under harzard status of salinity and sodicity and cannot be recommended for irrigation use. There is a potential danger of sodicity and salinity development in the intended lake basin. Thus, selection of salinity and sodicity resistant crop types, proper irrigation water application methods and other chemical mitigation measures should be designed for sustainability of soil and water productivity.

Research on the Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils Locality Dobrosloveni, Olt County for Sustainable Agriculture

The studied territory located in the central-western part of Olt County, belongs to the Caracal Plain and extremely little in the Leu-Rotunda Field in the SW part, both as divisions of the Romanati Plain.Locality presents a predominant relief of plain low altitude that is characterized by alluvio-proluvial plains moderately fragmented with local terraces, covered with loess-like deposit but relief of saucer.The soil cover of the territory under study is the direct reflection of all environmental factors, each having a role in the pedogenetic processes. Climate, as a pedogenetic factor, acted by its components, namely: temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration, global radiation.Forest steppe vegetation was the supply of organic matter and biomass, because the hydrological regime is deficient, but especially the lithological substrate (loess-like complex) to steer solification to types characteristic of the cernisols class.Under the influence of environmental factors and pedogenetic processes within the locality Dobrosloveni it formed a wide range of soils, namely: protisols, cernisols, luvisols and hydrisols.

The Chemical Properties of Soils from Forest Fields Occupied by Oil Drills in Moinesti, Romania

Forest fields temporary occupied by different industrial activities are restored to the silvicultural circuit after the industrial activity has ended. These fields should be apt for reforestation and should have admissible values regarding their content of dangerous substances. The present article describes and interprets the characteristics of soils from four fields occupied temporary by oil wells in Moine�ti, Bacau County. The content of clay, soluble salts and nutritive elements were analysed, together with the soil�s reaction, the content of hydrocarbons or other soil characteristics. The admissible values for installing, growing and developing forest species were then emphasized. The obtained results have illustrated the fact that the oil extraction activity had negative effects on soils, namely: a strong consolidation (especially on access roads); the truncation and/or derangement/mixture of horizons or soils stratums with the rock; depletion of nutritive substances; salinization, argilisation and pollution with oil residues. In order to render these fields back to the silvicultural circuit, bio remedy technologies must be applied or other measures that can eliminate the pollutant from the soil (decontamination methods), followed by pedoameliorative measures.

Macro- and Micronutrient Contents in Soils of a Chronosequence of Naturally Regenerated Birch Stands on Abandoned Agricultural Lands in Central Poland

Abandoned agricultural lands in Central and Northern Europe undergo a quite rapid secondary succession of woody species, especially silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) as a pioneer tree species. Such a process is desirable both from natural and economic point of views, as afforestation involves a change to the entire ecosystem and, in particular, the transformation of anthropogenic habitats typical for agriculture into habitats similar to a natural forest. In the present study, we report the chemical properties of soils under birch stands that naturally regenerated on abandoned agricultural lands and answer the question of whether silver birch modifies the chemical properties of soils over a (relatively short—17 years) time and with depth in the soil profile. The research investigated the natural secondary succession of silver birch on 28 study plots established as a chronosequence in seven locations in Central Poland. The age of the stands ranged from 2 to 17 years. We analysed the contents of selected micro- and macroelements and heavy metals at three depths in the soil profile. The chemical properties of former agricultural soils covered with newly established silver birch stands, taking into account the depth in the soil profile, demonstrated tendencies to change over the time. In the first age class of birch stands, the stock of investigated nutrients in the soil was higher compared to the following age classes. Statistically significant differences were noted in the case of Cu and Cr. Along with the age of birch stands (age class IV), there was a tendency for stock of the analysed nutrients to grow, which can be associated with an increase in aboveground biomass and root system development. The changes in the contents of the macro- and microelements, as well as heavy metals, were characterised by a gradual increase of the elements analysed in the upper layer of the soil that, in the years following the birch influence on the soil, starts having an effect on the deeper layers. In the case of Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr, there was a statistically significant change in the depth of the soil. Longer chronosequences should be observed to see a clear trajectory in soil chemistry changes with birch stand ages.

Impact of Railroad Transport on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils in the Railway Junction Zduńska Wola – Karsznice (Central Poland)

Railway operations and the accompanying infrastructure are responsible for the emission of pollutants and toxic substances that adversely affect both the atmospheric air, soil and the groundwater environment. The main groups include such compounds as: trace metals and aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Contamination of the soil and water environment with harmful substances can be associated with many activities carried out on the railway. The problem is particularly relevant to liquid fuel loading and refuelling facilities as well as to increased traffic at railway junctions.

Dynamics in physico–chemical properties of soils under oil palm plantations of different ages

This research investigated the changes in the physicochemical properties of soils under oil palm plantations of different ages. Soil surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) samples have been obtained from various ages of oil palm plantations (0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and, 15-20 years). Two distinct samples were taken on the same farm, under alleys and heaped pruned fronds. Soil samples used as a standard (control) were collected from adjacent forest land. Analyses of particle size showed that the soils were sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture soils. Bulk density was low to moderate (0.93 – 1.25 g/cm3), and varied with age and depth. The soils were moderate to neutral pH (5.38 – 6.81), low to moderate organic carbon (11.6 – 21.7 g/kg) and total nitrogen (1.18 – 2.03 g/kg), and relatively low available phosphorus (4.43 – 6.21 mg/kg) contents. Based on the standard ratings, cation exchangeable capacity content was low (4.93 – 6.15 cmol/kg), while high percent base saturation (85.3 – 93.2%) was observed. The soil properties determined showed that soil nutrients under alleys fluctuated with age whiles that under heaped fronds increased. Research findings have shown that the soil properties of different ages of oil palm plantations vary and should be handled differently based on their characteristics. Accumulation of organic residue on the floor of the plantations should be encouraged as this will help increase organic matter levels.

Soil properties among Indian Central Himalayan agroecosystems as affected by altitude and size variations

The present study has been performed among Central Himalayan agroecosystems (AGEs) to analyze the changes in some physico- chemical properties of soils along four altitudes viz. very low (VLA), low (LA), mid (MA) and high altitude (HA). The AGEs were categorized into three size classes i.e. small, medium, and large based on the regional availability of landholding sizes. Results revealed that the size of the AGEs significantly affected only physical parameters of the soil while chemical parameters remain unaffected, this may be due to the regional similarity in management practices of AGEs which governed by the identical seasonal cropping patterns, local food selectivity and economic status of the peasant. The soil bulk density was recorded maximum at VLA (1.00 g cm-3) and decreased with increasing altitude and sizes of agroecosystem thus the correlations were significant. Water holding capacity depicted positive relation with porosity (r= 0.229, P<0.01) and OC (r= 0.273) while negative relation with silt (r= -0.172), bD (r= -0.221,) and pH (r= -0.081). Soil nitrogen was reported highest at MA in medium sized agroecosystems, during the rainy season (0.287 %) followed by winter (0.257 %) and summer season (0.243 %). Overall maximum soil carbon stock was observed at MA (41.41 t ha-1) > HA (37.85 t ha-1) > LA (33.00 t ha-1) > VLA (30.16 t ha-1). Suitable management practices of higher altitudes reflected as the high fertility of the soil in those regions (SQI= HA> MA> LA> VLA) which must be followed by the farm managers of lower altitudes.