Alluvial Meadow Research Articles

Heavy metal compounds in a soil of technogenic zone as indicate of its ecological state

The emissions from the Novocherkassk power station comprise 1% of the total volume in the Russian Federation and up to 58% of the emissions in the Rostov oblast. The aim of this work was to assess the regularities of heavy metals accumulation and transformation in soils subjected to aerosol emissions from the power station on the basis of the fractional composition of their compounds. Studies have been conducted on the soils of monitoring plots distances from the power station (1.0–20.0 km) during 15 years. The monitoring plots located on fallow areas. Soil samples for the determination of soil properties and the contents of heavy metals compounds were taken from a depth of 0–20 cm. The soil cover in the region under study consisted of ordinary chernozems, meadow-chernozemic soils, and alluvial meadow soils. The total amount of heavy metals in soils was determined by X-ray fluorescence. Metals in soil extracts were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The fractional composition of heavy metals was determined using combined fractionation. A combined approach for fractioning metal compounds in soils on the basis of and parallel extractions (1 N NH 4 Ac, pH 8; 1% EDTA in NH 4 Ac; and 1 N HCl) was used. Aerosol emissions from the power station are the major agents of technogenic impact on the soils under study in the Rostov oblast. The highest degree of contamination with metals (mg/kg: Ni - 64, Cd – 1.3, Cr - 145 and As – 12) was observed for soils located within a radius of 5 km from the power station along the predominant wind direction. It was marked the rise of metals mobility in the polluted soils and predominant participation of Cr and Ni organic-mineral complexes among their mobile species. The increasing of Cd mobility was provided predominantly by exchangeable forms and specifically sorbed by Fe-Mn (hydr)oxides. The environmental contamination hazard increases with the decreasing metal-buffering capacity of soils.

Soil chemical properties, plant species composition, herbage quality, production and nutrient uptake of an alluvial meadow after 45 years of N, P and K application

AbstractLittle is known about the long‐term effects of mineral N, P and K application on the nutritional status of mown alluvial grasslands. We asked how long‐term fertilizer application affected soil chemical properties, plant species composition, herbage production, nutrient concentrations in soils and plants and balance of nutrients. Six treatments (control, PK, N50PK, N100PK, N150PK and N200PK) were investigated at the Černíkovice Experiment (Czech Republic) established in 1966 on an Alopecurus pratensis meadow, using annual application rates of 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N, 40 kg P and 100 kg K ha−1. Data were collected and analysed for 2007, 2008 and 2009. Although fertilizers had been applied over 45 years, differences in soil chemical properties between fertilization treatments were small. The legumes Lathyrus pratensis and Trifolium repens responded highly positively to PK application, and tall grasses, A. pratensis in particular, to NPK application. Herbage quality was high in terms of content of major nutrients, and its chemical properties varied considerably between treatments, cuts and years. Mean annual herbage yield ranged from 6·1 in the control to 9·7 t ha−1 in the N200PK treatment. Herbage production was N‐limited in 2007 and 2009, but not in 2008. Seasonal N agronomical efficiency ranged from 4·2 to 22·9 kg of DM herbage per kg of applied N. The herbage N:P and N:K ratios did not reflect the actual response of herbage production to N application. A negative balance between N applied and N removed in harvested herbage was recorded in all treatments. We concluded that in highly productive alluvial grasslands, mineral‐rich soils can respond weakly to N, P and K application, fertilizer application modifies plant species composition and herbage production is not N‐limited in all years. Nutrient ratios must be interpreted with caution for the estimation of nutrient limitation.

Absorbing capacity of alluvial soils eastern part of Nile delta

Studies have shown that the highest absorbency characterized by alluvial meadow soils, lower rates have alluvial meadow carbonate and the smallest alluvial cespitos carbonate soils. According to soil profile the depth the sum of exchangeable cation in the Soil absorbing complex changed depending on the availability of the clay fraction in the particle size distribution, the processes occurring in the alluvial soils and geomorphological - hydrogeological conditions.

The Steinach Grassland Experiment: Soil chemical properties, sward height and plant species composition in three cut alluvial meadow after decades-long fertilizer application

The Steinach Grassland Experiment (SGE) is probably the oldest still-running grassland fertilizer experiment in Continental Europe. It was established on an alluvial Alopecurus pratensis meadow in southeast Germany in 1933. The aim of this study was to provide detailed information on this experiment concerning the effects of decades-long nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium application (46 treatments in total) on (1) soil chemical properties, (2) sward height, (3) plant species composition, and (4) species richness of vascular plants derived from a field survey in spring 2008.(1) A steep gradient of soil properties was recorded, namely plant-available (Mehlich III) P (14–161mgkg−1), K (82–1018mgkg−1) and Ca (532–3336mgkg−1) concentrations, C:N ratio (6.9–10.4) and pH (H2O) (4.7–7.0).(2) Compressed sward height in the third week of May 2008 ranged from 11cm in the control to 47cm in the limed plot with high N, P, and K application.(3) Although fertilizer application altered the plant species composition, diversification of plant communities was not as high as in the case of fertilizer application on low productive soils in other experiments. This was caused by sufficient nutrients enabling the survival of species adapted to high nutrient availability, even in the unfertilized control. The species composition in productive alluvial grasslands is substantially less affected by fertilizer application than in low productive grasslands.(4) Long-term fertilizer application negatively affected the species richness of vascular plants directly by soil acidification and indirectly by an increase in sward height. The extent to which N application negatively affected species richness was dependent on whether N was applied alone or in combination with other nutrients and whether N application acidified the soil.

Population number, viability, and taxonomic composition of the bacterial nanoforms in iron-manganic concretions

It is shown for the first time that a significant part of the bacteria (up to 40%) in the iron-manganic concretions of soddy-podzolic and soddy meadow soils are represented by nanoforms; their number reaches 600–700 million cells/g. Judging from the specific luminescent coloration, the fraction of viable cells among the bacterial nanoforms is very high in the concretions and amounts up to 88–99%. For the first time, the following phyla were identified among the bacterial nanoforms in the concretions with the use of the FISH method: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobateria, Deltaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Planctomycetes. The Gammaproteobacteria phylum predominated in the concretions from the soddy-podzolic soil, and the Deltaproteobacteria phylum predominated in the concretions from the soddy meadow soil. In the alluvial meadow soil, the Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Acidobacteria phyla were found. The significant number and portion of bacterial nanoforms in the concretions, their high vitality, and their taxonomic diversity allow us to conclude that the bacterial nanoforms play an important role in the processes taking place in the concretions.

Apple root system in different soil types

It is shown that the granulometric composition of soil has a considerable effect on the formation of the root system of apple trees on M9 rootstock and on their vertical location in alluvial meadow soils of Krasnodar krai.

Effects of Rates and Nutrient Ratios on Production and Quality of Phytomass at Fertiliser Application to an Alluvial Meadow

Effects of Rates and Nutrient Ratios on Production and Quality of Phytomass at Fertiliser Application to an Alluvial Meadow The research objective was to assess effects of fertiliser application rates and nutrient ratios on production and quality of grassland at an alluvial meadow. The initial sward type was Festucetum pratense association. A field trial was established in the western part of "Zvolenská kotlina" basin (altitude 350 m) and consisted of ten fertiliser treatments: zero-fertilised sward (control); fertiliser P and K application; rates of 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha at two ratios of N : P : K nutrients, namely the low N : P : K ratio (1 : 0.3 : 0.8) and the high one (1 : 0.15 : 0.4), respectively. The grassland was utilised by three cuts. Dry matter (DM) production and herbage quality were determined at each of the cuts. The yield of DM was higher with the rates of 50 and 100 kg N/ha applied at the high nutrient ratio than at the low ratio. Over the research period, the highest DM production was recorded at the treatment with the low nutrient ratio and the highest N rate applied. The content of crude protein (CP) was increasing with the rising fertiliser N rate and the increase in CP was higher at the low nutrient ratio treatments. The zero-fertilised control also provided sufficient CP content. The low nutrient ratio resulted in higher P and K content than the high one. The lowest content of P and K was recorded at the control. The highest P content was found at the treatment with the fertiliser P and K applied. The highest K content was recorded at the 2nd cut, but decreased at the 3rd cut in all the treatments. The content of Ca was rising towards the 3rd cut. The content of nutrients was higher at the treatments where the high ratio was used. The content of Mg in DM was higher at the treatments with the high nutrient ratio and the high N fertiliser rates. The content of Mg was increasing in the 2nd cut at all the treatments.

Emission of methane from the soils of Rostov oblast

The results of field experiments on the determination of methane emission and its concentration in the principal types of steppe zone soils of Rostov oblast are presented. The concentration of methane in the soils varied from less than 0.01 up to 15.1 μg/g of wet weight, and its vertical distribution was characterized by a decreasing concentration from the surface to the lower soil layers. The maximum quantities of the gas were detected in the alluvial meadow chernozem soils, while the minimum values were found in the darkchestnut and chestnut soils, as well as in the saline soils. The rate of methane emission varied from less than 0.1 up to 1.5 mg/m2 per diem, and it correlated with the methane concentration in the superficial soil layer. The total methane emission from the soils of Rostov oblast is 16 tons per diem, with most of this quantity (66.8%) provided by the chernozem soils.

Quantity and taxonomic composition of ultramicrobacteria in soils

The number, physiological state, and taxonomic composition of ultramicrobacteria and archaea in various soils (alluvial meadow, sod-podzolic, leached chernozem, and peat) were studied. In all of the tested soil samples, a large number of ultramicrobacteria (tens and hundreds of millions of cells per 1 g of soil) was revealed by fluorescence microscopy. The portion of cells with intact membranes was larger among ultra-microbacteria than among the ordinary-size cells (95–98 and 50%, respectively). Ultramicrobacteria were characterized by high taxonomic diversity and included representatives of the main phylogenetic groups widespread in soils, such as Archaea, Actinobacteria, Cytophaga, and Proteobacteria. The results indicate that ultramicrobacteria are widespread in soils in a viable state and are involved in soil processes.

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide fluxes in soil catena across the right bank of the Oka River (Moscow oblast)

The flux rates of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the soils on autonomous, transitional, transitional-accumulative, and accumulative positions of a catena on the Oka River’s right bank (Moscow oblast) were assessed using the chamber method. The lowest rate of C-CO2 emission (18.8–29.8 mg/m2 per hour) was found for the gray forest soil in the autonomous position, and the highest rate (52.4–66.1 mg/m2 per hour) was found for the alluvial meadow soil of the accumulative landscape. In the summer, the uptake of methane from the atmosphere exceeded its release from the soil at all the points of the catena (9–38 μg/m2 per hour). The highest rate of the C-CH4 uptake was observed for the soil in the transitional position. In the fall, the soils in the autonomous, transitional, and transitional-accumulative positions served as a sink of C-CH4, and the soil of the accumulative position was a source of methane emission. The rate of the N-N2O emission from the catena soils increased when going from the autonomous position to the accumulative one (0.41–11.2 μg/m2 per hour). The spatial variation of the C-CO2, C-CH4, and N-N2O fluxes within the catena was 33, 172, and 138%, respectively. The upper (0- to 10-cm) soil layer made the major contribution to the emission of carbon dioxide. This soil layer was characterized by its C-CH4 uptake, and the emission of methane was typical for the deeper (0- to 20-cm) layer. The layers deeper than 10 and 20 cm emitted more N-N2O than the surface layer.

Yield of rice grain and alfalfa green mass with application of microfertilizers

It is shown that the use of boron, cobalt, manganese, copper, molybdenum, and zinc fertilizers on meadow chernozem and alluvial meadow bog soils depending on the rate and time of application increases productivity of rice and companion crop of a rice rotation, such as alfalfa.

Changes in agrophysical properties of floodplain soils under different anthropogenic loads

Agrophysical properties of alluvial soils were studied in the floodplains of the Oka River and the small rivers of Besputa (the Oka tributary) and Pol’noi Voronezh (the Voronezh tributary). The properties of the soils under different land use types (plowland, hayfield, pasture, and meadow) were compared. The features and degrees of alteration of the properties of the floodplain soils under different uses were determined. The greatest changes in the properties were found for saturated alluvial meadow soils of the Oka River floodplain under plowland. In these areas, strong degradation of the physical status of the soils was noted: compaction of the plow and subplow soil layers, an increase in the content of coarse aggregates and clods, changes in the porespace structure, and a decrease in the soil water permeability. It was shown that the soils of small river floodplains were sensitive to anthropogenic loads. In saturated alluvial soddy soils of the Besputa River floodplain, the soil water permeability decreased because of their compaction under the impact of cattle grazing. Saturated alluvial meadow soils of the Pol’noi Voronezh River floodplain were resistant to anthropogenic loads. Only a tendency towards an increase in the topsoil bulk density was observed under the impact of cattle grazing.

Effects of fore-crop fertilization on the yield and quality of kidney beans under vegetable crop rotation conditions

Kidney beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) Savi.) ssp. Nanus cv. Lodi were grown as a mid-early second crop after lettuce on an alluvial meadow soil with pH( H2O ) = 6.4 and a plant density of 22 plants per m 2 . The bean crop was grown without fertilization, but the lettuce crop was treated with mineral, organic or foliar fertilization. The application of different fertilizer sources to the fore-crop resulted in high yields of the subsequent bean crop, with good quality parameters and without polluting the arable soil layer with fertilizer residues. Foliar fertilization applied to the fore-crop resulted in a lower accumulation of nitrates in fresh beans in comparison with the other fertilizer sources. Organic fertilization supplied during the cultivation of the previous crop had a stronger effect than mineral fertilization on certain quality parameters of the kidney bean plants, such as dry matter, vitamin C content, and the accumulation of nitrates.

Result of subsoil irrigation research of alfalfa grown for green feed in Volgo-Akhtubinskaya flood plant

Relevance of subsoil irrigation usage for growing feed crops on alluvial meadow soils is shown. Distribution of pjezometric pressure, along the water emitter line during the irrigating period, is analyzed. Formation of moisture patterns in the soil regarding the quantities of irrigating water and emitters design are considered. In order to define the characteristics of moisture patterns in the soil, depending on the quantities of irrigating water, the ratios of vertical water spreading Kv and forms Kf are calculated. Expediency of usage low irrigating rates is substantiated. As a result of research, mathematical relations were derived in order to define water outlays in the emitters made of pottery tubes with diameter 50 mm under water pressure at the line 0.1?0.7 m. It is determined that usage of subsoil irrigation allows increase of commercial crop harvest, significantly save water resources, labour and energy comparing to sprinkling.

The impact of site conditions and seed dispersal on restoration success in alluvial meadows

Abstract. We studied the restoration success of flood plain meadows in the northern Upper Rhine valley, where between 1988 and 1992, 35 ha of arable land was converted into grassland and subsequently managed for nature conservation.Remnant populations of typical alluvial meadow species were found in old meadows and along drainage ditches that dissect the whole area. We analysed the site conditions and phytosociological relevés in old and new meadows. Small differences in site parameters between old and new meadows contrasted with a clear floristic differentiation between the two meadow types. The vegetation of old meadows was much more differentiated along prevailing environmental gradients than the vegetation of new meadows. Despite the favourable site conditions for the re‐establishment of species‐rich meadows on the former arable land, restoration success was limited to the vicinity of remnant stands. In contrast to old meadows, indicator species of new grassland were still typical species of regularly disturbed ruderal and arable habitats, often capable of building up a persistent seed bank.The precise mapping of 23 target species revealed that even wind dispersal predominantly leads to re‐establishment in the close circumference of parent plants. We found no indication that regular flooding, hay‐making and autumnal grazing had an impact on recolonization of newly created grassland. Even under favourable conditions for the re‐establishment of target species, restoration success in alluvial meadows proved to be strongly dispersal limited. We discuss the implications of our findings for future restoration management in grasslands.

The impact of site conditions and seed dispersal on restoration success in alluvial meadows

We studied the restoration success of flood plain meadows in the northern Upper Rhine valley, where between 1988 and 1992, 35 ha of arable land was converted into grass- land and subsequently managed for nature conservation. Remnant populations of typical alluvial meadow species were found in old meadows and along drainage ditches that dissect the whole area. We analysed the site conditions and phytosociological releves in old and new meadows. Small differences in site parameters between old and new meadows contrasted with a clear floristic differentiation between the two meadow types. The vegetation of old meadows was much more differentiated along prevailing environmental gradients than the vegetation of new meadows. Despite the favourable site condi- tions for the re-establishment of species-rich meadows on the former arable land, restoration success was limited to the vicin- ity of remnant stands. In contrast to old meadows, indicator species of new grassland were still typical species of regularly disturbed ruderal and arable habitats, often capable of building up a persistent seed bank. The precise mapping of 23 target species revealed that even wind dispersal predominantly leads to re-establishment in the close circumference of parent plants. We found no indication that regular flooding, hay-making and autumnal grazing had an impact on recolonization of newly created grassland. Even under favourable conditions for the re-establishment of target species, restoration success in alluvial meadows proved to be strongly dispersal limited. We discuss the implications of our findings for future restoration management in grasslands.

Acidophilic soil actinomycetes

A clear-cut dependence of the distribution of acidophilic actinomycetes on the pH value of soil was established. Acidophilic actinomycetes were found to be present in soils whose pH does not exceed 6.8 (acid forest soils, lowland peaty soil, and ordinary chernozem) and not in slightly alkaline soils (chestnut sodic and alluvial meadow soils). In the acid lowland peaty soil, the species diversity of acidophilic streptomycetes was lesser than the species diversity of streptomycetes revealed in the same soil by using neutral medium.

The structure of bacterial complexes in the Protva River floodplain

The synecological analysis of bacterial communities from the Protva River floodplain biogeocenosis showed that all of their horizons contain spirilla, which are typical hydrobionts, and pigmented coryneform bacteria associated with the herbaceous plants of the floodplain meadows. The alluvial meadow soils of the inundated regions of the floodplain differ from the unflooded regions of the floodplain in that they have a more diverse bacterial population that is continuously distributed over the soil profile.

Effect of certain soil properties on the available microelement reserves of soil

Over the last 20 years a large number of soil analyses (pHKCl, CaCO3%, plasticity, humus, macro- and microelement contents) have been carried out on arable land in Vas County. The laboratory analyses were introduced on a system of three-year cycles (Buzás, 1983) as decreed in 1978 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, in order to improve the fertilisation extension service. 1980).The dominant soil type in the county is brown forest soil, which covers 74% of the total area. Within this area, brown forest soils with clay illuviations and Ramann’s, rust-brown and chernozem brown forest soils make up 52%. A further 23% of the total area consists of alluvial, alluvial meadow and meadow soils, while the remaining 3% is lowmoor fen, gravelly skeleton soil and slope deposit soil. The analytical data indicated that there was a close correlation between the available microelement content of the soils and the most important soil properties, though this differed in extent and form for each element and soil property. The available microelement content generally increased above a pH of 6.5, at lime contents of 0.1–1.0%, at humus contents of 2.5–3.0% and in the soil plasticity range 43–60 according to Arany. The biometrical analysis revealed that the available microelement content generally had a linear correlation with pHKCl, a logarithmic correlation with lime content and a quadratic correlation with humus content and plasticity.

Changes in distribution and behaviour of two congeneric mayflies in a boreal river and its seasonal tributaries

Both Parameletus chelifer and P. minor had univoltine life-cycles. For a period of 6–10 months almost no nymphs of either species were found. The first nymphs appeared near midstream in winter and later in spring when the ice had broken up, they were found in great numbers close to the bank of the main river. During spring, nymphs of P. chelifer colonized the newly flooded littoral faster, and a seasonal stream in an alluvial meadow in greater numbers, than did nymphs of P. minor. Both species also colonized 10 seasonal tributaries which showed that the springtime upstream colonization was a common behaviour. During the colonization of the seasonal stream in the alluvial meadow, the diel activity pattern changed in nymphs of both species. In the main river small nymphs showed a nocturnal activity, while large nymphs were active during day-time. In the seasonal stream, both small and large nymphs showed a diurnal activity. However, when the stream was flooded, small nymphs of both species showed nocturnal activity again. In both species, diurnal activity of mature nymphs continued during emergence. Reasons for shifts in diel activity are discussed.