Physical and Chemical Properties of Horns Sheaths Particles for the Manufacture of Composite Materials

Salvaged cow horns from slaughterhouses have been transformed into fine particles for a physical characterization that has led us to determine the humidity rate (2.34% ± 0.054%), the actual density situated between 0.586 g/cm3 and 0.732 g/cm3, the swelling rate (12%), and one chemical characterization that permitted us to determine the rate of dry matters (97.05%), of mineral matters (2.5%), of protein matters (94.52%). From these weak values, it can easily be seen that cow horn case doesn’t absorb much water and improve the mechanical characteristics of the composite;the high rate of protein shows that keratin which is the structural molecule favors its gripping as reinforcing element in the manufacturing of composite materials.

GIS-Based Assessment of Soil Chemical and Physical Properties as a Basis for Land Reclamation in Toshka Area, Aswan, EGYPT

The accurate assessment of soil properties is a crucial factor for composing and implementing reclamation plans. The main objective of this study was to evaluate soil chemical and physical properties and calculate the chemical and fertility index for assisting land reclamation in Toshka area. The Toshka area is located between latitudes 31°32'N and 31°36'N and longitudes 32°40'E and 32°60'E. GIS was used to select 16 sites. The results revealed the soil has undesirable characteristics. The soil pH ranged from slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline. Furthermore, it was characterized as saline (with a ECe of 4.65 - 11.45 dS⋅m−1) and moderately calcareous soil (with CaCO3 at 11.85% - 17.20%). The soil had a low soil organic matter content which did not exceed 0.18%. The soil was dominated by a sandy loam texture (62.50%) followed by a sandy clay loam texture (18.75%). The bulk density, total soil porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity values varied with 1.38 - 1.55 Mg⋅cm−3, 41.85% - 48.45% and 1.20 - 3.34 cm⋅h−1, respectively. The chemical index ranged from low to moderate quality. The correlations between the parameters osculated between negative and positive. Therefore, the soil may be reclaimed if the soil properties are improved and crop selection is optimized for this soil.

Responses of microbial activities and soil physical-chemical properties to the successional process of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert,Xinjiang

Biological soil crusts （BSCs） are capable of modifying nutrient availability to favor the establishment of biogeochemical cycles. Microbial activities serve as critical roles for both carbon and nutrient transformation in BSCs. However, little is known about microbial activities and physical-chemical properties of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Xinjiang, China. In the present research, a sampling line with 1-m wide and 20-m long was set up in each of five typical interdune areas selected randomly in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Within each sampling line, samples of bare sand sheet, algal crusts, lichen crusts and moss crusts were randomly collected at the depth of 0-2 cm. Varia- tions of microalgal biomass, microbial biomass, enzyme activities and soil physical-chemical properties in different succession of BSCs were analyzed. The relationships between microalgal biomass, microbial biomass, enzymatic activities and soil physical-chemical properties were explored by stepwise regression. Our results indicate that micro- algal biomass, microbial biomass and most of enzyme activities increased as the BSCs developed and their highest values occurred in lichen or moss crusts. Except for total K, the contents of most soil nutrients （organic C, total N, total P, available N, available P and available K） were the lowest in the bare sand sheet and significantly increased with the BSCs development, reaching their highest values in moss crusts. However, pH values significantly decreased as the BSCs developed. Significant and positive correlations were observed between chlorophyll a and microbial biomass C. Total P and N were positively associated with chlorophyll a and microbial biomass C, whereas there was a significant and negative correlation between microbial biomass and available P. The growth of cyanobacteria and microorganism contributed C and N in the soil, which offered substrates for enzyme activities thus increasing enzyme activities. Probably, improvement in enzyme activities increased soil fertility and promoted the growth of cyanobacteria, eukary- otic algae and heterotrophic microorganism, with the accelerating succession of BSCs. The present research found that microalgal-microbial biomass and enzyme activities played important roles on the contents of nutrients in the successional stages of BSCs and helped us to understand developmental mechanism in the succession of BSCs.

Analysis of the Engineering Restoration Effect of Abandoned Yongledian Quarry in Beijing City Based on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties

The improvement of the soil physical and chemical properties is the most important foundation for mine ecological restoration.The experiment is aimed at undisturbed area,restored area,and damaged area of abandoned Yongledian Quarry in Beijing.Through determination and analysis of soil physical and chemical properties,it shows that there are significant differences in the composite effects of soil physical and chemical properties between restored area,and undisturbed area,damaged area,and engineering restoration effectively improves the composite effects of soil physical and chemical properties in the restored area.The single factor hypothesis test shows that soil pH value,organic matter,alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen,and total nitrogen traits are the key targets to be restored in this mining area.

Soil Physical and Chemical Properties of Pure Pinus massoniana and Its Mixed Forests in Different Ages in Southern Guangxi

Six forest stands of 59,34 and 24 year-old Pinus massoniana forests and their mixed forests were selected at the Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry of Chinese Academy of Forestry,and 20 m × 20 m plot was set up and soil samples were taken from 0-60 cm soil layers,to analyze the changes of soil nutrient content under different forest stands and forest ages. The results showed that soil moisture and the bulk density in the mesophytic forest land were higher than those of other forest lands. The highest soil porosity value was observed in the early forest land. Soil p H of different forest was 4. 45-4. 75,indicating the variation was small. Besides,it indicated that the mixed forest was more able to increase the soil fertility than the pure forest because that the variation of soil acidity,organic matter content and total P and K in 34 and24 year-old mixed forests were higher than those in pure forests of the same year old. However,the content of soil available P and K decreased with the increase of soil depth,and varied in terms of forest ages. From the changes of soil indicators in different forest lands,soil nutrients in the 34 year-old P. massoniana forest was superior to that of other forest stands.

Soil Physical and Chemical Properties of Five Subtropical Forests in Lingao of Hainan

With 5 types of typical forests as research object, the physical and chemical properties of different types of forests were analyzed by sample plot investigation method. The results showed that： the soil total porosity was the highest in the Casuarina equisetifolia forest （46.168%）, but the lowest in the Encalyptus robusta forest （39.46%）. The soil capillary porosity was the highest in the Acacia mangium forest （22.57%）, but the lowest in the secondary forest （18.95%）. The soil water content was the highest in the C. equisetifolia forest, with a mean value of 27.85%, but the lowest in the secondary forest, with a mean value of 4.34%. The soil pH values were in the range of 4.81-6.59, the soils in the A. mangium forest, C. equisetifolia forest and E. robusta forest were strongly acidic （pH 4.5-5.5）, and the soils in the secondary forest and C. nucifera forest were weakly acidic. The soils had organic matter contents in the range of 0.34-28.68 g/kg, and showed an order of A. mangium forest〉C. equisetifolia forest〉E. robusta forest〉secondary forest〉C. nucifera forest, with a decreasing trend with the soil depth increasing. The soil total N contents were in the range of 0.10-1.63 g/kg, the A. mangium forest showed the highest soil total N contents, while the C. nucifera forest exhibited the lowest soil total N contents; the soil total P contents were in the range of 0.21-1.74 g/kg, and the E. robusta forest had the highest soil total P contents; and the soil total K contents were in the range of 0.16-2.15 g/kg, and the A. mangium forest exhibited the highest soil total K contents. The soil available P contents were in the range of 0.98-132.46 mg/kg; and the secondary forests had the highest soil available P contents; and the soil rapidly available K contents were in the range of 3.03-27.35 mg/kg, and the C. nucifera forest exhibited the highest soil rapidly available K contents. The soil ammonium N contents were in the range of 1.38-5.15 mg/kg, and the nitrate N contents were in the range were in the range of 0.56 -3.51 mg/kg. The A. mangium forest showed the highest soil nitrate N contents （with a mean value of 2.29 mg/kg） and ammonium N contents （with a mean value of 3.93 mg/kg）. For the same forest type, with the increase of soil depth, the nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen content also showed a decreasing trend.

Study on the physical properties and chemical compositions of artificially synthesized coral hydroxyl apatite (CHA) bone

To develop synthesized coralline hydroxyl apatite (CHA) bone graftsubstitute and measure its physical and chemical characteristics. Methods: The CHA bone graft substitute was synthesized from natural mineral―coralline through hydrothermal exchange process. This process was designed and developed independently by the authors. Its physical and chemical characteristics have been determined and studied using various techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), electron microscope image processing, scanning electron microscope energy spectrography; chemical analysis, ICP-AES, X-ray diffraction, etc. Clinical trials have been conducted. Results: Independently developed CHA bone graft-substitute is white in color; its porosity is 25.87%–53.58%, which is approximate to that of human bones and original coral. It is larger than 3–4 in hardness by Mohs hardness scale and the compressive strength ranges from 4.87 to 12.31 MPa. The chemical compositions of the CHA are 53.13%–64.09% CaO and 35.52%–46.48% P2O5. CaO/P2O5 is 1.143–1.804. ICP-AES analysis detected twenty-four trace elements including Pb, Co, Ni, Ba, Mn, Cr, Th, V, Cu, Ti, K, Mo, Zn, Mg, Nb, Be, Sc, Al, Sr, Na, Li, etc. Ca, P, K, Na, Al and Sr are relatively high while the rest are less than n–n×10-6, which is acceptable by human body. The REE level in the CHA bone measured by ICP-MS is 1.433×10-9–2.212×10-9, which is within the acceptable range for human beings. Conclusions: The process of synthesized CHA bone graft-substitute is an innovated independently developed method and concept. Its color, porosity and chemical composition are similar to those of human bones; therefore it has very good biocompatibility and excellent conductivity. Sixty clinical cases have proved that CHA bone graft-substitute has a strong bone-forming ability, no toxicity, no side effect, and better sacralization. It is a fine substitute for bone transplantation.

The Effect of Some Soil Physical and Chemical Properties on Soil Aggregate Stability in Different Locations in Sulaimani and Halabja Governorate

Some soil properties were studied in relation soil aggregate along a climatologically region and different crop land use in the Northeast of Sulaimani City/Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Five locations were selected along these regions ranging from semiarid to sub-humid climatologically conditions. The soil physical, chemical properties, aggregate stability and size distribution were analyzed. A mean-weight-diameter (MWD) value was determined on 5 soils, which was the sum of the percentage of soil on each sieve (6, 3, 1.5, 0.75, 0.375 and 0.125 mm). The results of the measurements could evaluated with linear correlation coefficients for the relationships between aggregate stability (MWD) and soil physical and chemical properties of the different crop land use. The correlation coefficient for the relationship between aggregate stability and organic matter was highly significant (P < 0.0l%) which is in agreement with the findings of [1]. Generally large aggregates (large 6, 3, 3 - 1.5 mm) were present in highest proportions in the most semiarid of the studied areas. Aggregates 0.75 - 0.125 mm were positively correlated to fine, very fine sand and silt fractions and to organic matter. Stability of aggregates showed a positive correlation with clay content and organic matter content, while the carbonate content was strongly correlated with aggregate stability. The land use history affecting soil overlaps the pattern of climatological situations and cultivated crop lands and has to be taken into account. Aggregate size distribution and stability can be used as indicator of soil conservation and productivity.

Effects of Green Manure Mixed Cropping Patterns on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil and Economic Characters of Flue-cured Tobacco

[Objective] The aim was to clear the suitable green manure cropping pat- terns in Xiangxi tobacco-planting areas. [Method] 8 treatments were set to study the effects of the monoculture and mixed cropping of common vetch （Vicia gigantea Bge.）, perennial ryegrass （Lofium） and rapeseed （Brassica campestris L.） on physi- cal and chemical properties of soil and economic characters of flue-cured tobacco. [Result] （1） Green manure turnover can reduce soil bulk density by 1.08%-8.62%, and the effect of green manure mixed cropping pattern was the best. （2） Green manure turnover also can increase the soil nutrient, soil organic matter, total nitro- gen （N）, total phosphorus （P）, total potassium （K）, alkali-hydrolyzale N, rapidly available P and rapidly available K by 1.44%-6.10%, 0.01-0.12 g/kg, 1.89%- 11.32%, 0.12%-3.56%, 1.06%-11.76%, 0.04%-18.93% and 0.98%-23.12%, respec- tively, and the effect of the monoculture of common vetch was the best.（3） The overall change of soil pH was not obvious.（4）Green manure turnover can increase the yield and output of flue-cured tobacco, and the effect of the monoculture of common vetch was the best. [Conclusion] The monoculture of common vetch can be generalized in the dry land of Xiangxi tobacco-planting areas.

Ecological effect of the plantation of Sabina vulgaris in the Mu Us Sandy Land,China

Vegetation restoration through artificial plantation is an effective method to combat desertification,especially in arid and semi-arid areas.This study aimed to explore the ecological effect of the plantation of Sabina vulgaris on soil physical and chemical properties on the southeastern fringe of the Mu Us Sandy Land,China.We collected soil samples from five depth layers(0-20,20-40,40-60,60-80,and 80-100 cm)in the S.vulgaris plantation plots across four plantation ages(4,7,10,and 16 years)in November 2019,and assessed soil physical(soil bulk density,soil porosity,and soil particle size)and chemical(soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),available nitrogen(AN),available phosphorus(AP),available potassium(AK),cation-exchange capacity(CEC),salinity,p H,and C/N ratio)properties.The results indicated that the soil predominantly consisted of sand particles(94.27%-99.67%),with the remainder being silt and clay.As plantation age increased,silt and very fine sand contents progressively rose.After 16 years of planting,there was a marked reduction in the mean soil particle size.The initial soil fertility was low and declined from 4 to 10 years of planting before witnessing an improvement.Significant positive correlations were observed for the clay,silt,and very fine sand(mean diameter of 0.000-0.100 mm)with SOC,AK,and p H.In contrast,fine sand and medium sand(mean diameter of 0.100-0.500 mm)showed significant negative correlations with these indicators.Our findings ascertain that the plantation of S.vulgaris requires 10 years to effectively act as a windbreak and contribute to sand fixation,and needs 16 years to improve soil physical and chemical properties.Importantly,these improvements were found to be highly beneficial for vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid areas.This research can offer valuable insights for the protection and restoration of the vegetation ecosystem in the sandy lands in China.

Effect of fire severity on physical and biochemical soil properties in Zagros oak(Quercus brantii Lindl.)forests in Iran

Fire affects the physical and chemical properties and soil biological activity of natural ecosystems. This study was conducted in the Miyan Tang region, Ilam Province in western Iran. The study site was 110 hectares, where we sampled soils in areas that were classified by fire severity： low （LS）, high （HS） and medium severity （MS）, and unburned （UB）, which served as the control. In each severity class, 25 transect points were randomly selected for measurement. Around each transect plot center, 3 soil samples were selected randomly and soils collected from the 0 to 20 cm depth were combined into a composite sample that was used in laboratory analysis to represent conditions at that point. Plots in the UB and LS fire classes had similar soil conditions and had higher values of factors such as saturated moisture, organic carbon, carbon dioxide, and silt and clay content. In contrast, plots in the HS and MS fire severity classes were clustered in the positive direction along the first axis that represented gradients in soil acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, accessible phosphorus, accessible potassium, bulk density, and sand. Soil attributes were similar in areas of HS and MS fire severity classes, whereas soil conditions in the LS class and UB controls were most similar. Fire in the LS areas either did not significantly alter the physicalchemical soil properties and microbial basal respiration, or soils were able to recover quickly after being burned.

Effects of Crude Oil Contamination on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Momoge Wetland of China

Large oilfields are often coincidentally located in major river deltas and wetlands,and potentially damage the structure,function and ecosystem service values of wetlands during oil exploration.In the present study,the effects of crude oil contamination during oil exploration on soil physical and chemical properties were investigated in marshes of the Momoge National Nature Reserve in Jilin Province,China.The concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the marsh soil near the oil wells are significantly higher than those in the adjacent control marsh.Soil water contents in oil-contaminated marshes are negatively correlated with soil temperature and are significantly lower than those in the control area,especially in fall.Crude oil contamination significantly increases the soil pH up to8.0,and reduces available phosphorus concentrations in the soil.The concentrations of total organic carbon are significantly different among sampling sites.Therefore,crude oil contamination could potentially alkalinize marsh soils,adversely affect soil fertility and physical properties,and cause deterioration of the marshes in the Momoge National Nature Reserve.Phyto-remediation by planting Calamagrostis angustifolia has the potential to simultaneously restore and remediate the petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated wetlands.Crude oil contamination affects the soil physical and chemical properties,so developing an effective restoration program in the Momoge wetland is neccesary.

Effects of Different Nitrogen Applications on Soil Physical, Chemical Properties and Yield in Maize (<i>Zea mays</i>L.)

Application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is one of the most important approaches on improving maize grain yield. However, as is known to all, overuse N fertilizer not only leads to decline of N use efficiency and maize yield, but also leads to potential risk to environment pollution. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of N fertilizer applications with nine different treatments on soil physical-chemical characters and maize grain yield using hybrid variety Zhengdan 958 in 2011 and 2012. Results indicated that the soil bulk densities of T2 (CK) and T1 were the lowest compared to other treatments in 2011 and 2012, respectively, whereas the soil bulk density of T5 in 2011 and T3 in 2012 were higher than other treatments. The soil porosity and field capacity of T5 in 2011 and T3 in 2012 were lower than other treatments, but those of CK in 2011 and T1 in 2012 were higher than other treatments. The pH values of T3 to T7 were lower than other treatments. These results indicated that the soil bulk densities were increased, whereas the soil porosity, field capacity and values pH were decreased by N application at different stages. N application could increase the N contents of leaf and stem, whereas less or excess N application should not significant improve maize yield. Although the soil organic matter and total N contents of T3 were the highest in both 2011 and 2012, the yield of T4 is the highest in both 2011 and 2012. The application amount, period and times of N fertilizer were important to maize yield.

Changing Rules of Physical and Chemical Properties of Eucalyptus uraphylla spp. Forest at Different Ages in Southwest Yunnan Province

[Objective] The aim was to study on changing rules of physical and chemical properties of Eucalyptus uraphylla spp. forest at different ages in Southwest of Yunnan Province. [Method] In the research, field survey and laboratory analysis were adopted to study on physical and chemical properties of soils for the Eucalyptus uraphylla spp. at the first cutting ages in Lancang County. [Result] With the increasing of forest ages, for physical properties of soils, soil bulk density was increasing, and soil structure became poor; water contents in soils and capillary porosity were improving, but total soil porosity and non-capillary porosity were decreasing. For chemical properties, pH of soil dropped, but soil acidity improved; organic matter, total N, hydrolysable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium all declined; exchangeable Ca and Mg were improving due to fertilization and Ca and Mg lower consumption. The results showed that plays important roles in water absorption of soils and vegetation growth were improved with age increase by Eucalyptus uraphylla spp. forest, but ventilation and fertility declined accordingly. [Conclusion] The research indicated that dry branches and fallen leaves should be preserved and nutrient cycling should be protected during introduction and management of Eucalyptus uraphylla spp. to guarantee the nutrients in dry branches and leaves are back to soils, providing theoretical references for management of forest plantation and environment protection.

Effect of Different Cultivation Practices on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties for Greenhouse Vegetables under Long-Term Continuous Cropping

Five kinds of greenhouse vegetables( eggplant,loofah,tomato,cucumber and pepper) were selected in summer uprooting stage from greenhouse in Shouguang area,Shandong Province. Total nitrogen,ammonium nitrogen,nitrate nitrogen,available phosphorus,available potassium,organic matter content and p H,EC value of three soil layers were measured,respectively. The results showed that the total nitrogen,ammonium nitrogen,nitrate nitrogen,available phosphorus and available potassium in the soil were mainly accumulated in the upper soil,which made the soil acidification trend,because different farmers adopted different cultivation practices for different greenhouse vegetables in Shouguang region,but there was no significant effect on soil EC value. The input of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen and other related fertilizers to greenhouse cucumber was higher than that of other greenhouse vegetables,but the amount of available potassium fertilizer and organic matter input to greenhouse tomato under different cultivation practices was lower than other greenhouse vegetables. In Shouguang area,the input of organic matter into greenhouse vegetables should be increased by increasing the proportion of manure input to increase the content of soil organic carbon,so as to achieve the balance of carbon and nitrogen ratio,and to provide a scientific basis for the establishment of an evaluation system for the environmental benefits brought about by chemical fertilizer reduction in greenhouse vegetables in Shouguang area.

Effects of Long-term Site-specific Fertilization on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties and Nutrients in Dry Farmland

In order to investigate the variation in soil physical and chemical properties and nutrients in the mountainous areas in southern Ningxia, and to provide a theoretical basis for fertilization management in local farmland, the soil p H, total salt content,crop root length, root weight, soil organic matter, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorous and total potassium in different fertilization treatments were measured from 2010 to 2016. Multiple comparisons of the data were performed using Duncan's new multiple range test. The results indicated that in the 0-20 cm soil layer, soil p H value and total salt content changed in different patterns, and varied greatly from 2010 to 2016(P<0.05). The changes of both root length and root weight of millet over time fitted S-shaped curves. The root length and root weight in the four fertilization treatments(Treatment 2 to Treatment5) increased faster than those in the control(Treatment 1). The soil organic matter content in all the five treatments gradually increased from 2010 to 2016. The content of alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen in soil rapidly increased in the first two to three years of the experiment, followed by a slow increase or decrease in 2013, and then raised rapidly again from 2014 to 2016.The soil total nitrogen content varied significantly from 2010 to 2016. The total phosphorus content in soil changed in a different pattern from that of total nitrogen content. The seven-year field trails revealed that soil p H, total salt content, root length, root weight and soil nutrient all changed with the increase of fertilizer level, and that long-term fertilization is of significance for maintaining soil fertility, improving soil quality and reducing soil salinization.

Effects of Different Farming Methods and Their Effects on Soil Physicochemical Properties of Guilin Maojian Tea Gardens

In order to further optimize the cultivation and agronomic technology of Guilin Maojian tea gardens, the effects, efficiencies and costs of different farming methods and their effects on the physiochemical properties of tea garden soil were studied through the modification of the test sites with the non-farming land as the control. The results showed that human farming, mini-tiller farming and crawler tractor farming could improve the physical and chemical properties of soil. After farming, the soil had good water retention but low moisture content compared to the control group, while the soil bulk density and hardness value were significantly lower than those of the control, and the porosity of soil was significantly higher than that of contrast. With the passage of time, soil bulk density and hardness value gradually increased after farming, while the porosity of soil decreased gradually. There were great differences in the effects, efficiencies and costs of different farming methods. Crawler tractor had the best and most stable farming effect, and the operation efficiency was 10 times that of human farming while the cost was only 0.39 times of human farming. Therefore, it was feasible to adopt mini-tiller or crawler tractor to carry out mechanical farming of Guilin Maojian tea garden, which provided theoretical references for the soil property improvement using mechanical farming and was favorable for promoting the popularization of farming machines and the acceleration of mechanization of tea gardens. But for tea plantations that are intended to be mechanized, apart from the mechanical and technical personnel to be configured in place, the site conditions, planting modes and mechanical way reservation of tea garden should be planned accordingly. It is recommended to select flat or gentle slope for reclamation, and preference is given to non-sexual tea tree varieties with big line spacing over 180 cm long. Moreover, the main road construction should be more than 3.0 m, and trunk road 2.0 m or above. And isolation ditch and drain should be set between the tea garden and the surrounding mountain forests and farmland.

Impact of Short Term Irrigation with Different Water Types on Some Chemical and Physical Soil Properties

The concern of this study is determine the quality of soil when irrigation used treated water and wastewater in comparison with soil irrigated with tap water on some chemical and physical soil properties. The experiment components were three trials carried out under greenhouse conditions, 10 pots for each trial. The first trial irrigated with tap water, the second trial irrigated by treated water and the third trial irrigated with wastewater. The experiment conducted to study the impact of water types on some soil physical and chemical properties. The experiment included important analysis for water and soil before and after irrigation. The results showed that the values for electrical conductivity (EC) were 0.850, 308 and 324 μs/cm for the treated soil with tap water, treated water and wastewater, respectively. The variation of pH values seems to be approximately constant between the different of water used. The percent of organic matter (OM) in soils receiving treated water and wastewater 4.7% and 5.2% respectively were higher than values in soil treated with tap water 3%. The same trend was in organic carbon (OC) in soils receiving treated water and wastewater 58.5% and 89% respectively, while soil treated with tap water showed the lowest value 27.7%. Soil particle density (SPD) increased significantly in both water treatments were the values was 2 g/cm3 in tap water but increased value 2.8 g/cm3 and 3.3 g/cm3 in treated water and wastewater used respectively. The Bulk Density (BD) values range 1.1 g/cm3 in soil irrigated with tap water 1.5 g/cm3 in soil irrigated with treated water and 1.85 g/cm3 in soil irrigated with treated water. The results of soil analysis before and after planting showed that most of the values increased for the physical and chemical soil properties.

Robinia pseudoacacia leaves improve soil physical and chemical properties

The role of the leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L., which is widely distributed in the arid lands, on improving soil physical and chemical properties was analyzed at various incubation periods. The incubated soils added with 0, 25, 50 and 75 g Robinia pseudoacacia leaves were tested after consecutive incubation intervals of 6, 8 and 10 months and the different soil parameters were measured. The results showed the increases in organic matter (OM), extractable K, cation exchange capacity (CEC), aggregate stability and water holding capacity, but the decreases in pH value and bulk density after 6 months’ incubation. The gradual decrease in change rates of soil properties indicated less microbial population and organic residual mineralization under acidic conditions, which were resulted from fast decomposition of leaves after the first 6 months incubation. The increases in soil organic matter content, extractable K, CEC, aggregate stability and water holding capacity and the decreases in soil pH and bulk density provide favorable conditions for crop’s growth.

Effects of land uses on soil physic-chemical properties and erodibility in collapsing-gully alluvial fan of Anxi County,China

the National Key Technologies R＆D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period （2011BAD31B00）