Spatial Variability of Soil Organic Carbon in Different Hillslope Positions in Toshan Area, Golestan Province, Iran: Geostatistical Approaches

Accessibility to organic carbon(OC) budget is required for sustainable agricultural development and ecosystem preservation and restoration. Using geostatistical models to describe and demonstrate the spatial variability of soil organic carbon(SOC) will lead to a greater understanding of this dynamics. The aim of this paper is to present the relationships between the spatial variability of SOC and the topographic features by using geostatistical methods on a loess mountain-slope in Toshan region, Golestan Province, northern Iran. Hence, 234 soil samples were collected in a regular grid that covered different parts of the slope. The results showed that such factors as silt, clay, saturated moisture content, mean weighted diameter(MWD) and bulk density were all correlated to the OC content in different slope positions, and the spatial variability of SOC more to slope positions and elevations. The coefficient of variation(CV) indicated that the variability of SOC was moderate in different slope positions and for the mountain-slope as a whole. However, the higher variability of SOC(CV = 45.6%) was shown in the back-slope positions. Also, the ordinary cokriging method for clay as covariant gave better results in evaluating SOC for the whole slope with the RMSE value 0.2552 in comparison with the kriging and the inverse distance weighted(IDW) methods. The interpolation map of OC for the slope under investigation showed lowering SOC concentrations versus increasing elevation and slope gradient. The spatial correlation ratio was different between various slope positions and related to the topographic texture.

Evaluation of soil erodibility factor(k)for loess derived landforms of Kechik watershed in Golestan Province,North of Iran

The technique proposed by Wischmeier & Smith for estimating the soil erodibility factor is among the most important methods in this regard.Given the high amounts of silt and lime content in loess soils of eastern parts of Golestan province in Iran,this study aims to evaluate the ability of Wischmeier & Smith index to estimate the soil erodibility of this region.Soil erodibility was first obtained by Wischmeier nomograph and then was compared with the actual values obtained by selecting six plots and then performing physical and chemical tests on these samples.Using the nomograph,Wischmeier index was calculated to be about.0.5-0.092 Mg h MJ-1 mm-1.The results showed that Wischmeier index was 182,4.11,6 and 0.35 times than actual value in field with half-hour rainfall,Fournier index,SWAT value with half-hour rainfall and SWAT value with Fournier index,respectively.Obtained results showed that erodibility estimated by Wischmeier & Smith index was higher than the actual measured value.Poor performance of this index in loess soils indicates the need for further research in this field.

Micromorphology and Quality Attributes of the Loess Derived Soils Affected by Land Use Change:A Case Study in Ghapan Watershed,Northern Iran

In order to study the effects of different land vegetative covers on soil quality attributes, a loess hill slope was selected in eastern Golestan Province, Ghapan watershed, Iran. Four profiles in four land uses, including Quercus natural forest; Pinus artificial forest; Cupressus artificial forest and a cultivated land, were studied. Results showed that MWD was significantly different in the studied land uses, and it varied between 1.6 mm in Quercus natural forest and 0.31 mm in cultivated land use. The lowest CEC, microbial respiration rate and organic carbon were 28.4 cmol·kg-1, 177 μgCO2·g-1·day-1 and 1.32 % found in cultivated land use, respectively. The organic matter content in the forest areas was considerably higher than that of cultivated land use. The studies on soil profile development revealed that the natural forest soils were highly developed. The soils of the Quercus natural forest were classified as Calcic Haploxeralfs with a well developed argillic horizon unlike the cultivated soils which showed the minimum development and classified as Typic Xerorthents. The soils of the artificial forests had both mollic epipedons and were classified as Typic Calcixerolls with moderate profile development. Micromorphological studies revealed that argillic horizons had speckled and partly crystallitic b-fabric in the natural forest indicating the high landscape stability. In contrast, the crystallitic b-fabric of other land uses shows the absence of enough leaching of carbonate and the subsequent migration of clay particles indicating the unstable conditions and high soil erosion. Intense erosion of the surface horizons of cultivated land use has resulted in the outcropping of the subsurface carbonate rich horizons preventing soil development.

Variability of Carbonate Pedofeatures in a Loess-Paleosol Sequence and their Use for Paleoreconstructions

Carbonate pedofeatures were studied in details in a loess-paleosol pedocomplex near Kursk, in the central part of the European Plain. The soils studied included a modern Chernozem and five Pleistocene paleosols. Carbonate morphologies and distributions were described in the field. Various morphologies were sampled for further studies including micromorphology in thin sections and submicroscopic studies under a scanning electron microscope. The complex approach of investigation at macro-, micro-, and submicroscopic levels found that most of carbonate pedofeatures are secondary and multiphase. Many of them are related to cryogenic features. The general trend was of decreasing carbonate content in the older paleosols except for increased content in the 1st and 3rd paleosols. Most of carbonate morphologies are similar in the modern soil and paleosols, but pseudomycelium was found only in the modern Chernozem, while soft masses and impregnations are associated with the paleosols. Detailed study on carbonate attributes revealed their specific features in the modern soil and in paleosols. Veins have dissolution features under the modern environment and seem to reprecipitate in form of pseudomycelium. Coatings in paleosols at a depth of the 1st paleosol include specific fine tubes. Powdery soft masses and impregnations in the paleosols are strongly related to cryogenic fissures and paleopermafrost level. Under SEM they consist of tiny crystals, much smaller than in regular soft masses. Several types of hard concretions were identified:rounded, irregular and platy. Small concretions in the modern Chernozem have similar morphology and similar 14C-age as the rounded concretions of the upper paleosols. They are expected to represent the same generation of concretions. Platy concretions fill the bottom part of the large fissures. The 14C-age of hard concretions varies from 3310±80 yrs. B.P in the 1st paleosol up to 20 400 yrs. B.P. in the 3rd. As a result we found the reflection of several wet-dry and cold-warm stages in carbonate morphologies and distributions. High variability of carbonates at macro-, micro- and submicroscopic levels indicates several generations and multiphase formation of carbonate pedofeatures in the loess-paleosol pedocomplex. Carbonate pedofeatures in the examined pedocomplex are more informative for the study of late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic cycles rather than characterization of a single paleosol.

Investigation of time dependent development of soil structure and formation of macropore networks as affected by various precrop species

A well developed macropore network is advantageous in terms of transport processes regarding gas and water,as well as nutrient acquisition and root growth of crops.X-ray computed tomography provides a non-destructive method to visualize and quantify three-dimensional pore networks.Geometrical and morphological parameters of the complex pore system such as connectivity,tortuosity,porosity and pore surface area would be very useful for modeling and simulation of transport and exchange processes by providing quantitative data on relevant soil structural features and their modification by soil management.The scope of this study was to analyze and quantify the development of soil structure in the subsoil depending on three different precrop species(alfalfa A,chicory C and fescue F),at three depths(45,60 and 75 cm)and cultivation periods(1,2 and 3 years).Furthermore,morphological(air-filled porosityθa,pore surface area)and geometrical(pore diameter,connectivity,continuity,tortuosityτ)parameters were gathered with X-ray CT and image analysis.From an experimental field trial(Germany)with a Haplic Luvisol as soil type samples were taken and investigated.Air-capacity(θa)was measured in the laboratory for the same cylinders and compared to the results derived by image analysis.Air-capacity was highest for alfalfa(3 years,75 cm).Tortuosity(τ)ranged between 1.3 and 4.38,while alfalfa(3 years)showed the highest value,which indicated structural development due to crack formation by enhanced root water uptake.Thus,an increase in accessible surface may improve water and nutrient supply for plants,whereas the highτvalues may assume that oxygen supply is limited.It was found that the interaction of gas-diffusivity and the calculated parameters should be further investigated in terms of limitations to plant growth.

1988年以后波罗的海国家和瑞典的农业发展与养分流动

1990年3～8月,爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚和立陶宛宣布从苏联独立。独立之后,波罗的海沿岸国家的农业从原来以庞大的集体农场为特征的国有经济,转变为以私有家庭农场为特征的市场经济。由于财政原因,无机肥的使用量下降到50年代的水平。1994年饲用牧草和饲料作物的产量仅分别为瑞典的40%和50%。由于出口的减少,波罗的海国家肉、奶、蛋总产量从1989年到1994年下降了40%～50%。本研究的目的是探讨独立以后波罗的海国家农业中氮、磷流动的变化,并与同期瑞典农业生产情况进行比较,特别是关于养分流动的变化,是否已经引起了养分从渡罗的海国家向波罗的海径流的变化。