Indicators Of Soil Properties Research Articles

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ МЕТОДАМИ БАГАТОВИМІРНОГО СТАТИСТИЧНОГО АНАЛІЗУ НАБРЯКАЮЧИХ ҐРУНТІВ ЯК ОСНОВИ ФУНДАМЕНТІВ ІНЖЕНЕРНИХ СПОРУД У СУДАНІ

A new way to study swollen soils as the basis for foundations by methods of mathematical statistics, including cluster, factor and correlation-regression analyses has been proposed in the article. Normative values of the strength characteristics of these soils depending on their physical properties and degree of swelling, application limits, predominant factors and correlations between different indicators of soil properties have been established according to the results of these analyzes. A method of the study area zoning, leading to possible differential application of soils normative characteristics, as well as proposals for designing foundations on swollen soils have been developed. The methods were tested on the soils of Sudan.

Prediction of the different genesis soils nitrogen systems status

The method for predicting the levels of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen content in soils of various types of Polesie, Forest-steppe and Steppe climatic zones of Ukraine for the assessment of soil quality due to the background conditions, the influence of technological load (for the application of organo-mineral, organic and mineral fertilizer systems), and risk or influence of technogenic pollution by heavy metals (HM) is grounded. In the elaborated methodical approach is obtained a regression equation by the determination of new correlations of soil energy intensity indices (the calorific value of humus, soil energy reserves in a layer up to 20 cm) in conjunction with the humus state and the use of mathematical and statistical analysis for determining the value of easily hydrolysable nitrogen with the ability to predict the quality of soils of various genesis, with the further extension of the method algorithm for different soil types, climatic zones due to technogenic HM pollution and technological load. The technical result of the elaborated method: by improving the determination of the levels of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen content in soils of different genesis for the evaluation of their quality by identifying the most correlated, diagnostically applicable integral basic indicators of soil properties, which allow the informativeness to make managerial decisions and to predict the quality of soils of different genesis in the content of easily hydrolysable nitrogen, as a biogenic element, due to the background conditions and anthropogenic loads with increased accuracy, speed and informativeness. Elaborated method can find application in the ecological standardization of the content of biogenic macroelements, the normalization of loads (technogenic, technological) on the soil system, agroecology for solving the problems of organic agriculture, bioenergy and energy of soil formation; diagnostics, evaluation, forecasting of the soils nitrogen systems state; the quality of humus and macroelement status of soils on indicators of ecological and energy status; effective ecological management of soils due to the background conditions, as well as for various anthropogenic influences and in scientific research for the investigating of biogeochemistry and biogenic macroelements of soil cover. Separate provisions of the elaborated method became an integral part of the proposals on adaptation to the Nitrate Council Directive 91/676 / EEC of 12.12.1991 on the protection of water from pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, as amended by Regulation (EC) № 1882/2003 Cross Nitrogen Balances Handbook. Prospective directions of research in the field of diagnostics, assessment, forecasting of the state of soils nitrogen systems and the normalization of the elemental composition quality, in particular, the content of nutrient nitrogen are determined. In order to overcome the biogenic pollution (excessive accumulation of nitrogen compounds) in the environment (plants, waters), the normalization of nitrogen content in soils of different genesis should include: a) determination of the maximum permissible levels of mobile mineral forms of nitrate nitrogen by the elaboration of environmental requirements for nitrates contamination with plant products; b) normalization of the content of labile easily hydrolysable nitrogen and / or a dose of nitrogen fertilizers in conditions of sufficient and excessive moistening, considering the rapid processes of transformation of nitrogen compounds in soils; c) normalization of the soil nitrogen mineral compounds content in conditions of insufficient moistening and slowing down the processes of circulation of nitrogen compounds of soils. Distinctive features and advantages of the proposed elaboration in comparison with known methods and approaches are: 1) the express obtain of the accurate projected levels of easily hydrolysable nitrogen as a nutrient in the soil with the improving the accuracy of soil diagnosis by the use of the basic integrated indicators; 2) providing opportunity for greater efficiency of forecasting data on the functioning of the nitrogen systems of different genesis soils, quality, environmental and energy state of soils due to the background conditions and anthropogenic loads while minimizing the cost of material resources; 3) empowerment of the user in determination of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen content in the soil without extensive chemical analysis by the choice of regression equations, based on the use of baseline soil properties of a particular type and subtype according to the available information; 4) versatility of the method by the suitability of detected dependencies of the proposed method for all soil types and subtypes, climatic zones and contaminants.

The use of spectrum-zonal images by landsat 7 etm+ for diagnosing soil characteristics of Ukrainian polissya

A dependence of characteristics of the spectrum-zonal raster images by Landsat 7 ETM+ was examined, in particular, albedo of reflectivity r and certain vegetation indexes, on the soil properties in the transition zone of Central Polissya in Ukraine. In present paper we applied an algorithm for constructing agrochemical schematic maps using Quantum GIS. An importance was established of the selection of approaches to diagnosing the magnitudes of soil and agrochemical indicators of soil properties with attributes of hydromorphicity, particularly during the formation of statistical sampling to conduct a correlation-regression analysis. It is demonstrated that the possibility of identification and the quality of diagnosing certain individual indicators of soil properties, as well as informativeness of certain channels, depends on putting an accent (priority) in the form of compiling uniform statistical sample. It was found that combining a sample by the uniformity of the type of soil and granulometric composition of soils allows a more pronounced identification of dynamic magnitude of the nutrient content – movable phosphorus and exchangeable potassium. It is established that given the multi-component screening of the Earth surface with vegetation, a degree of correlation connection between characteristics of spectrum-zonal images and the indicators of soil properties beyond the vegetation period is significantly reduced.

Formation of SEEA Land and Soil Accounts at Regional Level

Currently used analytical tools and indicators of macroeconomic development of the country do not adequately reflect environmental concerns. We need to improve the methodological basis of macroeconomic statistics of the natural environment and its relationships with agriculture to obtain more reliable information about the condition of a particular region. The paper proposes the formulation of macroeconomic accounts from the municipal level to aggregated information at the level of region and country. For example, the assets accounts for land cover and soil resources are developed according to cartographic survey of the Borovsk district of Kaluga region. In general, the developed base map is enough to make most accounts (balance sheet) assets land and soil resources. However, for a more complete and comprehensive reflection of soil resources in physical terms it is recommended to add indicators of soil properties that represent the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil, like porosity, structure, pH level and microbial biomass.

Effects of microsite variation on growth and adaptive traits in a beech provenance trial

ABSTRACT: The effects of the within-trial spatial variation of environmental factors on phenotypic traits were studied in the Slovak plot of the international beech provenance trial coordinated by BFH Grosshansdorf with 32 provenances, established under a randomized complete block design with three adjacent blocks. Five indicators of soil properties (soil moisture, bulk density and pH) and microclimate (average daily temperature and temperature amplitude) were assessed at 96 points distributed over a 10 × 10 m grid and their values for the positions of individual trees were estimated by ordinary point kriging. The evaluation of phenotypic variation (height, diameter, Julian days of spring flushing and autumn leaf discoloration, vegetation period length, late frost damage) using a common two-way analysis of variance showed a significant provenance × block interaction effect indicating the heterogeneity of blocks. Analysis of covariance using single-tree kriging estimates of environmental variables as covariates showed that in addition to provenance, all phenotypic traits were significantly affected by microsite, especially by temperature fluctuation. Employing methods incorporating the spatial component in the evaluation of tree breeding field experiments is advocated.

Nematodes in a coastal dune succession: Indicators of soil properties?

The nematode fauna of coastal sand dunes in the Slowinski National Park (Poland) were studied. Within the wet parts of dune hollows, vegetational succession starts from bare wet sand gradually colonized by grasses and mosses, and changes to plant communities dominated by sundew and heath. The aim of the study was to determine whether vegetation succession was accompanied by a parallel succession of the nematode fauna. Samples were taken from 12 subsequent stages of vegetational succession. The extracted nematodes were determined up to genus level after Bongers (1987). The percentage of nematodes of different feeding types (bacteriophagous, fungivorous, predators, plant-parasitic and omnivorous) was calculated for every site. Soil moisture (average water table and actual water content), the existence of an upper organic soil layer and pH seem to be the key environmental factors influencing nematode community structure. Multivariate analysis techniques were used to classify the nematode samples into four groups: A – the nematode community in sites at early succession stages without permanent colonization by plants. B – the nematode community in sites at stages with permanent plant cover (grasses and higher plants). C and D – the nematode communities in sites with a developing permanent and stable soil organic layer, but differing in water regime. Changes in the incidence of nematodes of different feeding types in relation to vegetational succession support this classification. Nematode community structure changed from a high percentage of predators to a dominance of bacterial feeders. Fungal feeding nematodes only occur in abundance in sites with a developed organic layer and higher moisture content (group D), and the nematode community may be a good indicator of the progress of ecological succession in the deflation hollows.