High Humus Content Research Articles

Multiple assessment of the soil cover in the area of natural monuments Tra-Tau and Yurak-Tau monadnocks under conditions of technogenic loads

The soil cover of Tra-Tau and Yurak-Tau shikhans (monadnocks) has been examined. Leached and typical medium-deep chernozems are developed on colluvial fans on the footslopes and on the lower parts of slopes, whereas typical calcareous thin slightly and moderately gravelly chernozems are developed on the upper and medium parts of slopes. The leached and typical chernozems of the footslopes correspond to zonal soils of the adjacent plain areas, though they have some specific features related to the local topographic conditions. These soils are somewhat thinner than plain chernozems and are characterized by the perfect granular water-stable structure, the high content of humus of the humate type, the high content of exchangeable cations, strong acid-base buffering, and high enzymatic activity. These features predetermine their high tolerance towards technogenic impacts. The concentrations of highly hazardous substances of the first toxicity class (mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium) and of moderately hazardous substances of the second toxicity class (copper, zinc, and nickel), as well as the concentrations of low-hazardous elements (manganese and iron) in these soils do not exceed provisional maximum permissible concentrations of these substances in soils irrespectively of the slope aspect. No changes in the physicochemical and biological properties of the soils under the impact of technogenic loads from Sterlitamak industrial center have been identified.

Corroboration for the successful application of humified olive mill waste compost in soilless cultivation of strawberry

The findings presented in this paper have shown conclusively that composted olive mill waste (COMW), characterized by its relatively high humus content, contributed to producing an economically sustainable and fit-for-purpose growing medium for soilless cultivation of strawberries. In so doing, it has also shown to be a successful replacement for the commonly used and expensive peat moss. The capacity of COMW to transport nutrients essential for the growth of different varieties of strawberries was indicated by the optimum levels of nutrients such as N, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu recorded in petioles and leaf blades. The relatively high amount of nutrients left over in the substrate at the end of cultivation meant that it can be recycled as organic matter in different agricultural practices.

Enzymatic activity of the Kuyavia Mollic Gleysols (Poland) against their chemical properties

The research results have shown that the enzyme pH index (0.49–0.83) confirmed the neutral or alkaline nature of the soils. Neither the changes in the content of available phosphorus nor in the activity of dehydrogenases, catalase, alkaline and acid phosphatase in soil were due to the factors triggering soil salinity; they were a result of the naturally high content of carbon of organic compounds, which was statistically verified with the analysis of correlation between the parameters. There were recorded highly significant values of the coefficients of correlation between the content of available phosphorus in soil and the activity of alkaline (r = 0.96; P < 0.05) and acid phosphatase (r = 0.91; P < 0.05) as well as dehydrogenase (r = 0.90; P < 0.05). To sum up, one can state that Mollic Gleysols in Inowrocław are the soils undergoing seasonal salinity; however, a high content of ions responsible for salinity is balanced with a high content of organic carbon, humus, phosphorus and calcium directly affecting the fertility of the soils analyzed. The activity of the enzymes depended on the natural content of carbon of organic compounds and not on the factors affecting the soil salinity, which points to the potential of such tests for soil environment monitoring.

Soil respiratory and enzyme activities in leachate-contaminated soils with different application rate of cow manure compost: a laboratory study

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of cow manure compost (CMC) application on respiratory and enzyme activities of leachate-polluted soils. Soils treated with various levels of leachate (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50 ml leachate per 300 g soil) were amended with 0, 25 and 50 g CMC, respectively. Soil pH, respiration and enzyme activities were evaluated by regularly repeated sampling. Addition of CMC neutralized pH and maintained it within the range of 6.4–6.7 in a long run. Respiration was increased neither by leachate nor by CMC. This probably results from deterioration of soil compaction, biotoxicity of leachate, or increased fungi proportion. Enzyme activities increased with increasing CMC application but decoupled with leachate addition rate, reasonably attributed to pH neutralization and high content of humus in CMC. Thus, pH value and humus content could be considered as key items affecting soil enzyme activities.

Comparative assessment of the biological tolerance of chernozems in the south of Russia towards contamination with Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in a model experiment

The biological properties of chernozems in the south of Russia worsen under the impact of contamination with Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb compounds. The tolerance of chernozems towards contamination decreases in the following sequence: ordinary chernozems > typical chernozems > southern chernozems > leached vertic chernozems. This sequence is specified by the soil reaction and the organic matter content. The high humus content determines the high buffer capacity of chernozems towards contamination with chromium, whereas the high pH values ensure the soil tolerance towards contamination with copper, nickel, and lead. With respect to their adverse effect on the biological properties of the chernozems, the studied heavy metals can be arranged into the following sequence: CrO3 > CuO > PbO ≥ NiO.

Effects of Fertigation on Pigment Pattern and Fruit Quality of cv. ‘Gala’ Apples

Fruit pigmentation in ripening cv. ‘Gala, Schniga’ apples was monitored under the influence of fertigation weekly during 21 July–31 August 2009, i.e. 34 days before and 7 days after the optimal harvest date in Slovenia. The soil was a heavy loam clay with high humus content (2.8 %) and high acidity (low pH 4.9). The spectral indices NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NAI (Normalized Anthocyanin Index) were obtained by a PA 1101 on attached fruit on the transition between the ground and blush colour of the fruit surface. NAI increased slowly from 0.25 to 0.6 two weeks prior to optimum maturity. NDVI values fell from 0.9 to 0.2 before and during ripening, with significant changes starting ca. 3 weeks before and during the week after the optimum harvest date. Fertigation delayed fruit ripening viz harvest date by ca. 4 days. Fertigation delayed changes in the intensity of the fruit’s epidermal pigments, expressed as NDVI for 1 week and NAI for 4 weeks, respectively, but had no significant effect on fruit colour or NDVI and NAI values at the optimal harvest date. At this time, those fruits from the fertigated trees were firmer with a lower starch index compared with the un-fertigated control. Statistically, highly significant correlations were found (p ≤ 0.01) (r = 0.35 to r = 0.91, R2 = 0.11–0.83) between all the studied spectral and standard parameters i.e. fruit fresh firmness, soluble solids content and starch index.

Improving the prediction of plant species distribution and community composition by adding edaphic to topo‐climatic variables

AbstractQuestionsSoil properties have been widely shown to influence plant growth and distribution. However, the degree to which edaphic variables can improve models based on topo‐climatic variables is still unclear. In this study, we tested the roles of seven edaphic variables, namely (1) pH; (2) the content of nitrogen and of (3) phosphorus; (4) silt; (5) sand; (6) clay and (7) carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, as predictors of species distribution models in an edaphically heterogeneous landscape. We also tested how the respective influence of these variables in the models is linked to different ecological and functional species characteristics.LocationThe Western Alps, Switzerland.MethodsWith four different modelling techniques, we built models for 115 plant species using topo‐climatic variables alone and then topo‐climatic variables plus each of the seven edaphic variables, one at a time. We evaluated the contribution of each edaphic variable by assessing the change in predictive power of the model. In a second step, we evaluated the importance of the two edaphic variables that yielded the largest increase in predictive power in one final set of models for each species. Third, we explored the change in predictive power and the importance of variables across plant functional groups. Finally, we assessed the influence of the edaphic predictors on the prediction of community composition by stacking the models for all species and comparing the predicted communities with the observed community.ResultsAmong the set of edaphic variables studied, pH and nitrogen content showed the highest contributions to improvement of the predictive power of the models, as well as the predictions of community composition. When considering all topo‐climatic and edaphic variables together, pH was the second most important variable after degree‐days. The changes in model results caused by edaphic predictors were dependent on species characteristics. The predictions for the species that have a low specific leaf area, and acidophilic preferences, tolerating low soil pH and high humus content, showed the largest improvement by the addition of pH and nitrogen in the model.ConclusionspH was an important predictor variable for explaining species distribution and community composition of the mountain plants considered in our study. pH allowed more precise predictions for acidophilic species. This variable should not be neglected in the construction of species distribution models in areas with contrasting edaphic conditions.

Diverse cellulolytic bacteria isolated from the high humus, alkaline-saline chinampa soils

Aiming at learning the functional bacterial community in the high humus content, saline-alkaline soils of chinampas, the cellulolytic bacteria were quantified and 100 bacterial isolates were isolated and characterized in the present study. Analysis of 16S-23S IGS (intergenic spacer) RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) grouped the isolates into 48 IGS types and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes identified them into 42 phylospecies within 29 genera and higher taxa belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, dominated by the genera Arthrobacter, Streptomyces, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Among these bacteria, 63 isolates represent 26 novel putative species or higher taxa, while 37 were members of 17 defined species according to the phylogenetic relationships of 16S rRNA gene. Except for the novel species, the cellulolytic activity was not reported previously in 9 of the 17 species. They degraded cellulose in medium at pH 4.5–10.0 or supplied with NaCl up to 9 %. In addition, 84.8 and 71.7 % of them degraded xylan and Avicel, respectively. These results greatly improved the knowledge about the diversity of cellulolytic bacteria and demonstrated that the chinampa soils contain diverse and novel cellulolytic bacteria functioning at a wide range of pH and salinity levels, which might be a valuable biotechnological resource for biotransformation of cellulose.

Ecological niche separation in the Polynucleobacter subclusters linked to quality of dissolved organic matter: a demonstration using a high sensitivity cultivation‐based approach

The free-living, cosmopolitan, freshwater betaproteobacterial bacterioplankton genus Polynucleobacter was detected in different years in 11 lakes of varying types and a river using the size-exclusion assay method (SEAM). Of the 350 strains isolated, 228 (65.1%) were affiliated with the Polynucleobacter subclusters PnecC (30.0%) and PnecD (35.1%). Significant positive correlations between fluorescence in situ hybridization and SEAM data were observed in the relative abundance of PnecC and PnecD bacteria to Polynucleobacter communities (PnecC + PnecD). Isolates were mainly PnecC bacteria in the samples with a high specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA(254) ), and a low total hydrolysable neutral carbohydrate and amino acid (THneutralCH + THAA) content of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) fraction, which is known to be correlated with a high humic content. In contrast, the PnecD bacteria were abundant in samples with high chlorophyll a and/or THneutralCH + THAA concentrations, indicative of primary productivity. With few exceptions, differences in the relative abundance of PnecC and PnecD in each sample, determined using a high-sensitivity cultivation-based approach, were due to DOM quality. These results suggest that the major DOM component in the field, which is allochthonously or autochthonously derived, is a key factor for ecological niche separation between PnecC and PnecD subclusters.

Effects of Degraded Optical Conditions on Behavioural Responses to Alarm Cues in a Freshwater Fish

Prey organisms often use multiple sensory cues to gain reliable information about imminent predation threat. In this study we test if a freshwater fish increases the reliance on supplementary cues when the reliability of the primary cue is reduced. Fish commonly use vision to evaluate predation threat, but may also use chemical cues from predators or injured conspecifics. Environmental changes, such as increasing turbidity or water colour, may compromise the use of vision through changes in the optical properties of water. In an experiment we tested if changes in optical conditions have any effects on how crucian carp respond to chemical predator cues. In turbidity treatments we added either clay or algae, and in a brown water colour treatment we added water with a high humic content. We found that carp reduced activity in response to predator cues, but only in the turbidity treatments (clay, algae), whereas the response in the brown water treatment was intermediate, and not significantly different from, clear and turbid water treatments. The increased reliance on chemical cues indicates that crucian carp can compensate for the reduced information content from vision in waters where optical conditions are degraded. The lower effect in brown water may be due to the reduction in light intensity, changes in the spectral composition (reduction of UV light) or to a change in chemical properties of the cue in humic waters.

Erodibility of arable soils in Georgia during the period of storm runoff

The erodibility of arable soils in Georgia varies from 1.0 to 2.9 t/ha per unit of the rainfall erosivity index. The well-structured brown forest and yellow-brown soils with a high humus content are the most resistant to erosion. The soils in the dry areas of Georgia (gray-cinnamon and cinnamon soils) are the most susceptible to erosion. The first map of the soil erodibility was composed that illustrates the spatial distribution pattern of this parameter in the Georgia territory.

Effect of inoculation with Penicillium expansum on the microbial community and maturity of compost

Compost prepared from wheat straw and cattle/chicken mature was inoculated with the lignocellulolytic fungus, Penicillium expansum. Compared to uninoculated compost, the inoculated compost exhibited a 150% higher germination index, more than 1.2 g kg −1-dw of changes in NH 4 + -N concentrations, a ca. 12.0% higher humus content and a lignocellulose degradation that proceeded 57.5% faster. Culture-based determinations of microbial populations demonstrated that aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and fungi were about 1–2 orders of magnitude higher in inoculated than in uninoculated compost. The number of ammonifying, ammonium-oxidizing, nitrite-oxidizing, denitrifying bacteria and cellulose-decomposing bacteria was 6.1–9.0 log 10 CFU g −1-dw, 1.2–4.3 log 10 MPN g −1-dw, 3.5–6.8 log 10 MPN g −1-dw, 3.58–4.34 log 10 MPN g −1-dw, 1.4–3.8 log 10 MPN g −1-dw, and 4.2–8.8 log 10 CFU g −1-dw higher in the compost inoculated with P. expansum.

Comparative analysis of soil DNA extraction methods to study various ammonium-oxidizing bacteria and archaea by PCR-DGGE

A comparative analysis of five methods of extraction and purification of soil DNA, including a modification of the authors, was performed for the further molecular investigation of various ammonium-oxidizing bacteria and archaea in soils. Experiments using soil samples from natural ecosystems and agroecosystems of the European area of Russia established that the amount of DNA extracted by different methods depended significantly on the type of soil. The subsequent molecular analysis (PCR-DGGE) of ribosomal (16S rRNA) and functional (amoA) genes demonstrated significant differences in the community structure of ammonium oxidizers depending on the method of DNA extraction. The best results were obtained for acidic soil (soddy-podzolic and gray forest soils) when using the method of Griffiths et al. [4] with our own modification. On the other hand, application of commercial DNA extraction kits was most efficient for soils with a high content of humus (black and chestnut soils). According to the results obtained, molecular analysis of soil microbe communities required selection of optimum conditions for DNA extraction, especially for soils with high contents of organic compounds and clay minerals at different pH levels.

Soils with complex organic profiles on the Vasyugan Plain

Soils with intricate patterns of their humus profiles developing in the neutral-calcium landscapes of the southern taiga of Western Siberia under highly dynamic paleogeographic, climatic, and weather conditions are characterized. The specific features of these soils comprise the diverse modern humus horizons along with the relic ones of different preservation rates, shallow leaching of carbonates, and a weak development of the middle-profile soil horizons. Specifying these organo-accumulative soils is substantiated by their high humus content against the geochemical background of the clayey calcareous parent rocks. The conjugated series of soils reflect different stages of the soil evolution (the humus profile degradation, the development of eluvial process, and the increase of contrasts in the acid-base conditions) and the hydromorphic transformation accompanied by the formation of organic horizons making the humus profile more complicated. In accordance with the diagnostic horizons, the position of the soils studied was determined in the Classification and Diagnostics of Soils of Russia. The relic enrichment of the humus horizon is proposed to be used as a specific feature of these soils.

PILOT TEST OF HUMIC COMPOUNDS REMOVAL FROM DNIPER RIVER WATER BY COAGULATION – ULTRAFILTRATION

Combined coagulation – ultrafiltration technology of Dniper river water treatment was investigated in this study. High humic compounds content, that typical for Dniper river water, can essentially decrease efficiency of water pretreatment as by traditional technologies so by an ultrafiltration. Performed investigations showed that in-line dosing of coagulant before ultrafiltration stage can increase efficiency of color and permanganate oxidation removal.

The mesofauna in different types of soils under southern taiga spruce forests (Tver oblast)

The soil mesofauna of the burozem, soddy pale-podzolic, and whitish-podzolic soils under three types of southern taiga spruce forests was studied. The mesofauna of all these soils turned out to be similar in terms of the Chilopoda, Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), and Rhagionidae (Diptera) numbers and their predominant concentration in the litter. The zoophages prevailed, and, among the saprophages, primary destroyers were predominant. However, some specific characteristics of the mesofauna in the soils studied were revealed. In the sequence burozem, soddy pale-podzolic, and whitish-podzolic soils, the number of earthworms significantly decreased, while, in the sequence soddy pale-podzolic, burozem, and whitish-podzolic soils, the number of Diplopoda representatives and calciphilic forms became lower and was directly related to the diversity of the deciduous tree species and to the presence of the calcareous moraine close to the surface. In addition, some species can be indicators of particular soil properties. The presence of the road beetle Quedius fuliginosus indicated the elevated moisture of the soils, that of Philonthus decorus pointed to the high humus content, and the presence of the road beetle Tachinus marginellus showed the low acidity of the humus. The low number or the absence of the earthworms Octolasium lacteum and Dendrodril us rubidus f. tenuis indicated higher humus acidity.

Solods of the Baraba Lowland and the Priobskoe Plateau: Their properties and genesis and the methods of their diagnostics

The properties, hydrological features, and genesis of the solods occurring in the Baraba Lowland and Priobskoe Plateau were studied. Methods for determining the hydromorphism degree are considered; the features of the similarity and differences between the solods and other soils with textural profile differentiation are shown. Depending on the reasons for the waterlogging, the solods should be divided into two groups: the solods of groundwater waterlogging and the solods of surface waterlogging. Criteria for their discrimination are suggested: the ratio between the contents of the clay fraction in the parent rock (or in the B2 horizon) and that in the A2 horizon, the changes in the pH values along the soil profiles, and the content of nonsilicate iron compounds. The solods studied are shown to be formed under the conditions of a stagnant-percolative regime and gleying. This circumstance is an obligatory and sufficient reason for the formation of the light-colored acid eluvial (A2) horizons. According to some basic properties of the soil solid phase (the acidity, the total chemical composition, and the clay pattern in the eluvial part), the gleyed solods are close or identical to the gleyed soddy-podzolic and gleyed chernozem-like podzolic soils. At the same time, the solods differ from the gleyed chernozem-like podzolic soils by their thicker A1 (or Ap) horizon and their higher humus content (5–7%).

Genetic features of soils in altitudinal natural zones of the Khibiny Mountains

The plant cover of the Khibiny Mountains is characterized by the well-pronounced altitudinal zonality: high-alpine barrens—lichen, dwarf shrub, and shrub tundra—elfin birch forest—spruce forest. Humic petrozems (Lithic Leptosols) under sparse vegetation are formed on the tops of the mountains. The soils of the tundra zone are represented by podburs on the eluvium of nepheline syenite; smaller areas are occupied by typical cryozems. Humus-illuvial podzols are developed from moraine deposits under elfin birch forests and open spruce woodland. The moraine deposits in the inner valleys of the Khibiny Mountains are enriched in the products of weathering of nepheline syenite. The humus-illuvial podzols developed from them differ from their analogues on plain territories in the higher humus content and less contrasting eluvialilluvial differentiation.

Hydraulic properties of fen peat soils in Poland

The hydraulic properties of fen peat soils from the Biebrza River Valley in the north-east of Poland were investigated. 87 soil samples were collected from nine typical peat-moorsh soil profiles representing three types of peat: moss with fibrous structure, herbaceous and wooden peat characterised by amorphous structure with high humus content. The multi-step outflow method was used to determine the parameters of the Mualem-van Genuchten model (MVG) that describes soil moisture retention characteristics and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function of each soil sample. The agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis of the parameters of MVG model was applied in order to obtain typical hydraulic functions for the three types of peat considered. As a result of the analysis, the hydraulic properties of the fen peat soils were agglomerated into five clusters. The MVG model parameters as well as hydraulic functions were analysed for distinguished clusters. The parameters of the moss peats with low degree of decomposition and fibric structure were different from those of the herbaceous and wooden decomposed peats with high humus content. The largest values of the hydraulically active pore space (difference between saturated and residual moisture content) were observed for moss peat samples, while the lowest values were observed for wooden peat samples. The empirical parameters describing the shape of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function were depended on the type of the peat and therefore the degree of decomposition. The L parameter values of the herbaceous and wooden peats were generally greater than 0, whereas for the moss peat samples they were ranging from − 5 to 5. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the herbaceous and wooden peat soils was close to that of very fine-textured mineral soils.

Bacteriological assessment of urban water sources in Khamis Mushait Governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia

BackgroundUrban water sources of Khamis Mushait Governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were studied to assess their bacteriological characteristics and suitability for potable purposes. A cross-sectional epidemiological method was adopted to investigate the four main urban water sources (i.e. bottled, desalinated, surface, and well water). These were sampled and examined between February and June 2007.ResultsA total of 95 water samples from bottled, desalinated, surface, and well water were collected randomly from the study area using different gathering and analysing techniques. The bacteriological examination of water samples included the most probable number of presumptive coliforms, faecal coliforms, and faecal streptococci (MPN/100 ml). The results showed that the total coliform count (MPN/100 ml) was not detected in any samples taken from bottled water, while it was detected in those taken from desalinated, surface, and well water: percentages were 12.9, 80.0, and 100.0, respectively. Faecal coliforms were detected in desalinated, surface, and well water, with percentages of 3.23, 60.0 and 87.88, respectively. About 6.45% of desalinated water, 53.33% of surface water, and 57.58% of well water was found positive for faecal streptococci. Colonies of coliforms were identified in different micro-organisms with various percentages.ConclusionWater derived from traditional sources (wells) showed increases in most of the investigated bacteriological parameters, followed by surface water as compared to bottled or desalinated water. This may be attributed to the fact that well and surface water are at risk of contamination as indicated by the higher levels of most bacteriological parameters. Moreover, well water is exposed to point sources of pollution such as septic wells and domestic and farming effluents, as well as to soil with a high humus content. The lower bacteriological characteristics in samples from bottled water indicate that it is satisfactory for human drinking purposes. Contamination of desalinated water that is the main urban water source may occur during transportation from the desalination plant or in the house reservoir of the consumer. Improving and expanding the existing water treatment and sanitation systems is more likely to provide safe and sustainable sources of water over the long term. Strict hygienic measures should be applied to improve water quality and to avoid deleterious effects on public health, by using periodical monitoring programmes to detect sewage pollution running over local hydrological networks and valleys.