Turf Layer Research Articles

Changes in the physical properties of fallow lands during their regeneration

The change of physical and mechanical properties of soil depending on the methods of its cultivation has been studied. The experiments were carried out in the Novosibirsk region from April to September 2023. To study the structure of the soil, a soil section was made to a depth of 0.7 meters. It was determined that the soil at the experiment plots was gray forest, the thickness of the turf layer was on average 10 cm, the depth of the humus horizon 25–27 cm, a layer of sandy loam was observed under the humus layer. Fallow land cultivation was carried out by the tillage combine AKP-2.5N with MTР-80L tractor and the working width of 1.8 meters. The working body of the AKP-2.5N was made in a form of a straight rack with a blade measuring 410 mm, in addition, a small screen was installed on the rack. The unit provides for the installation of the rollers with a size of 600 mm. To determine the operating modes of the unit, studies were carried out in the soil channel. It was found that the operating speed of the unit with installed screen should be no more than 2.22 m/s or 8 km/h. The conditions of the experiment: gray forest soil, air temperature not lower than 10 0C; air humidity no more than 70%; relative humidity of at least 18%, wind speed not higher than 2 m/s; the average length of the rut is not less than 70 m and without stones on the field. It has been concluded that the most rational way to introduce fallow gray forest soils into agricultural circulation is to treat them with AKP-2.5N units with working bodies equipped with blades. After three treatments, the content of soil particles less than 10 mm is up to 93.1%, the soil absorbs moisture faster and reduces the hardness to 15 kg/cm2, which corresponds to the hardness of the soil of the field in rotation. Equations of regularity of changes in the fractional composition of soil with a size of less than 10 mm and more than 50 mm depending on the timing and number of treatments have been obtained.

Unit for Splitting Degraded Mountain Meadows and Pastures Based on a Mini Tractor

Soil splitting is used to prevent water and wind erosion of soils, improve their water-air regime in mountain meadows and pastures. It reduces soil loss, improves plants moisture supply, affects herbage species composition and increases fodder lands yield. The advantages of a small-sized unit have been described ensuring gentle splitting with the formation of water-absorbing splits on the slopes. (Research purpose) To create a small-sized maneuverable splitter for mountain meadows and pastures, to determine its agrotechnical parameters, to give a graphic-analytical substantiation of the splitting working process in areas with a slope of up to 12 degrees. (Materials and methods) A technical examination of the unit laboratory sample was carried out at an altitude of 1540 meters above the sea level. The slitter working width was determined by two passes at 25 points located at the intervals of at least 1 meter in the unit movement direction. (Results and discussion) A splitter for the mountain area was built on the basis of a Feng Shou 180 mini-tractor, reducing the load on the soil. An optimal arrangement scheme for the splitter working bodies has been developed when moving along a slope. The scheme of the unit movement on the slope was substantiated. The following technological parameters were set: the distance between the splits is 1,000 millimeters, the depth of slip cutting is 200220 millimeters, the split width is 10-30 millimeters. (Conclusions) It was determined having penetrated into the soil, the shift in the reaction of the working body located on the slope top side of the tractor axis stabilizes the position of the unit when moving across the slope, preventing it from sliding down. It was found that being 1,000 mm apart from each other and of the width of not more than 35 mm, the splitter cutting-knives do not destroy the turf layer, do not damage the edges of the slot. The use of a Feng Shou 180 mini-tractor enabled to decrease the unit weight load of on the agrocenosis during movement.

Identification of Landslide Area Using Geoelectrical Resistivity Method as Disaster Mitigation Strategy

Extreme weather triggers high-intensity rainfall, and it triggers land movement that eventually becomes landslides. The water of rain will enter to the ground through the rock gaps and accumulate along the landslide area to reduce effective stress and reduce the shear strength of the soil. Morphologically, Sukaresmi Village, Cisaat Sub-District, Sukabumi Regency is located at the foot of Mount Gede with a bumpy surface relief. This condition is one factor that triggers landslides because the soil is prone to movement. This research aims to identify the field slope zone for landslide prediction in the Sukaresmi village, hoping that the surrounding community could anticipate further landslides. The research was carried out using the Geoelectrical Resistivity method of the Schlumberger configuration as many as eight measuring points with 1 m electrode spacing. This research indicates that the subsurface conditions are divided into three constituent rocks: Clay, Tuff, and Volcanic Breccia. The field slide zone is located between the Tuff rock and turf layer at a depth of 4-7. 5 m long, 82 m (Line 1), and 40 m (Line 2), with a resistivity value range of 56-158 Ωm. The efforts that the local government can make to anticipate the condition of the building to remain safe include analyzing soil stability, strengthening slopes, and making retaining walls to increase the value of the safety factor.

Evaluation of Natural Airfield Pavements Condition Based on the Airfield Pavement Condition Index (APCI)

Natural pavements are an important element of flights. Among other things, they allow the plane to be safely slowed down after it has exited the runway. For this reason, load bearing capacity of natural airfield pavements and strength of turf layer at a specified level are required. Currently used testing methods, such as CBR (Californian Bearing Ratio) tests or turf probe test, separately do not give a full image of pavement technical condition. The authors presented the methodology for assessing the technical condition of natural airfield surfaces based on the APCI (Airfield Pavement Condition Index). The index is based at the same time on the load bearing capacity of the surface layer up to 0.85 m and turf layer strength. The mathematical model and the classification of airfield pavements in terms of the APCI indicator are presented. The article also presents an example of using the APCI method to assess shoulders and end safety areas of the runway at one of the operating airport facilities.

Assessment of the Possibility of Biological Recultivation Tail Deposits in the Yenisei North

The assessment of the possibility of creating a plant-soil cover on an artificially created seal-gravel drainage layer with a rocky bed (h=110¸150 cm), on the disturbed areas of the adjacent areas of tailings storage facilities. Research for 2017–2019 shows that when sowing recult-vants with sowing standards of 150–200 kg/ha and doses of fertilizer N60P60K60 and N120P60K60 on an artificial substrate it is possible to form meadow formations with a density of grass 10–12000 pc/m2 and average productivity of 21–24 c/ha. A plant-soil-blooded blood with a turf layer of 8–10 cm is created with the simultaneous overlap of heavy metals of man-made substrates and elimination of pulp sands dusting, which contributes to the improvement of the microclimate of the environment.

New Materials From Excavation «Orient» at Olbian Necropolis

At the excavation site in Olbia in 2010—2019 a new sector was investigated in wide areas, which was called the «Orient» after the name of the nearest benchmark. The specific features of this site were established, which was used for burials from the middle of the VI c. BC before the beginning of the III c. AD. In this regard, the generalization of the results obtained has become relevant, as well as the introduction of finds from the Roman period into the scientific circulation. In total, 1064 m2 were uncovered during the research. The average depth was 1,0—1,1 m from the modern surface. The stratigraphy of the excavation is simple: a layer of turf and humus up to 0,2 m thick lies on top, below there is a layer of light (dark yellow) sandy loam with various impurities, and under it is a layer of red-colored pre-continental loam with separate inclusions of «white-eye». In this area, 70 burials of various types of different time periods were discovered, as well as 62 other objects associated with the funeral and memorial tradition. 24 burials and ten other objects are dated by the Roman period. Eight types of burial structures have been identified. Based on this, the following conclusions were identified. In the Roman period, rare types of burial structures appeared in the area under study, in number greater than in the rest of the necropolis. There is a lack of uniformity in the layout and direction of burials. The memorial sites are characterized by the complete absence of gravestones known at Olbian necropolis of the Roman period.

Excavation “Orient” of the Necropolis of Olbia

At the excavation of Olbia in 2010—2018 a new site, called the “Orient”, by the name of the nearest benchmark, was explored by wide areas method. During works, it was established that this territory has some specific features: firstly, only objects associated with sepulchral actions are found here, no traces of any other household activity were found. Secondly, this territory was used for burials throughout almost the entire existence of ancient Olbia — from the middle of VI c. BC to the beginning of III c. AD. Thirdly, there are all types of funeral structures known at Olbian necropolis, with the exception of large stone crypts under high barrows. In connection with this, the generalization of the results obtained has become relevant. Total investigated area is 925 sq. m. The average depth was 1.0—1.1 m from the modern day surface. The stratigraphy of the excavation site is simple: a layer of turf and humus up to 0.2 m thick lies on top, a layer of light (dark yellow) sandy loam with various impurities lies below, and a layer of pre-continental loam of red color with separate mass inclusions of lime lies below. On this square, 67 different-time burials of various types were found, as well as 50 other objects associated with the sepulchral tradition. At the excavation site, four large chronological periods can be distinguished, which generally correspond to the historical periodization of Olbia: Late Archaic — Early Classical, Classical, Late Classical – Hellenistic and Roman. It was found that this territory was really used exclusively for performing funeral and memorial activities throughout almost the entire history of ancient Olbia. For each period there wasn’t any location system for burials. The typological diversity of funerary structures increases during time from period to period. The quantitative ratio of objects to the length of time varies, but the peak of using this territory for burials and related rites falls on the Roman period, i. e., at a time when it was as far from the residential area of Olbia as possible. In a comparative analysis, it is possible to distinguish individual elements of funeral rites, which are preserved throughout the entire existence of the necropolis. For example, the use of “ancient” things as part of funerary inventory.

Agrochemical properties of alluvial soils of Insar river flood

Studies show that the most fertile are the granular soils of the Central floodplain of the Insar river. They have high humus content in the upper horizons – 4.6-7.6 %. Down the profile, the humus content gradually decreases, but remains relatively high: at a depth of 60-70 cm – 4.0 %. The humus content in alluvial granular-layered and meadow-marsh soils is much lower. The active reaction of these soils is neutral or slightly acidic, since the river and groundwater of the Insar floodplain are medium mineralized and belong to the class of bicarbonate. The hydrolytic acidity of the alluvial granular soil of the Insar floodplain is 1.6-3.0 mg / 100 g of soil. The values of hydrolytic acidity of alluvial granular-layered and meadow-marsh soils are higher: 2.6-3.6 and 1.8–3.2 mg/100 g of soil, respectively. The studied alluvial soils are almost completely saturated with bases: 91-97 %. The studied alluvial granular soils of the Insar floodplain are characterized by an average content of available phosphorus. In granular-layered and meadow-marsh soils, the amount of this element is slightly less and is 7.0–5.1 and 7.4–5.4 mg/100 g of soil, respectively. The most potassium-rich alluvial granular soil in the floodplain of the Insar river, where the content of this element in the upper layers is characterized as high: 16.5–27.6 mg/100 g of soil. In the sod layer of granular-layered soil, potassium availability is average: 9.5-15.4 mg / 100 g of soil. In the turf layer of meadow-marsh soils, potassium content is observed for most crops (8.0-10.4 mg / 100 g of soil), with depth it decreases.

Meta-analysis of the effects of grassland degradation on plant and soil properties in the alpine meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP) are particularly important for both ecosystem functioning and pastoral livelihoods, but they have been severely degraded in the last several decades. There have been numerous studies on the responses of plants and soils to alpine meadow degradation across the region, but they are mostly focused on single sites and are incapable of determining a general response pattern of plants and soils to degradation on the QTP. A meta-analysis including 61 individual published studies was conducted to examine the biotic and abiotic characteristics in slightly (LDAM), moderately (MDAM), severely (SDAM), and very severely degraded alpine meadows (VDAM). The results showed that the aboveground biomass (AGB) significantly decreased (P < 0.01) by 23.17%, 31.85%, 47.24%, and 66.66% in the LDAM, MDAM, SDAM, and VDAM compared with that in nondegraded alpine meadows (NDAM), respectively. The belowground biomass (BGB) did not change in the LDAM but began to decrease with the MDAM. The AGBs of graminoids significantly decreased in all degraded-level meadows, and sedges significantly decreased from MDAM to VDAM, whereas the AGBs of forbs significantly increased except in the VDAM. The Shannon-wiener index did not change until the VDAM. Soil organic matter (SOM) declined starting with the LDAM, and the magnitude of the decrease increased with degradation severity. The change in total nitrogen (TN) was similar to the change in the SOM. Significant available nitrogen (AN) decrease began with the MDAM and significant (P < 0.05) available potassium (AK) decrease only occurred at depth of 0.0–0.1 m in the SDAM and the VDAM. Soil moisture (SM) showed a significant decrease, whereas soil bulk density (BD) increased in the degraded alpine meadow. The response of AGB was significantly correlated with the changes in SOM and TN only in the SDAM and VDAM, whereas the response of BGB was significantly correlated with the changes in SOM and TN for all degraded stages. In the LDAM and MDAM, SOM and TN mainly came from the dense rooting of the turf layer, and the changes of SOM and TN thus had no correlation with AGB. However, in the SDAM and VDAM, SOM and TN mainly came from AGB and BGB, and the changes of SOM and TN were thus significantly correlated with AGB and BGB. Our results indicate that biological and biochemical processes regulate the plant and soil changes in LDAM and MDAM and that physical processes such as water and wind erosion might be responsible for the changes in plants and soils in SDAM and VDAM. Therefore, restoration strategies should be based on the processes and stages of alpine meadow degradation.

THE ARTICLE DEDICATED TO THE RESEARCH OF THE MEDIEVAL MOUND NEAR THE VILLAGE TEPENYTSIA (to the Question of the Mounds with Stone Constructions at the Middle Dnieper Region)

In the summer of 2015, Zhytomyr expedition conducted archaeological research at the burial mounds at the tract of Long Niva near the village Tepenitsa Olevsky district of Zhytomyr region. As a result, the burial with a stone construction under the embankment was explored and studied. The stone cover was discovered right after the turf layer and completely covered the embankment as if it was an armor. The construction consisted of granite fragments and pieces of quartzite and sandstone. At the bottom of the embankment were stone boulders of large size that became smaller at the top of burial. At the level of the mainland around the embankment placed small ditch that had a form of two arcuate sections. Remains of a skeleton or gravel pit in the burial mound was not discovered (cenotaph). Two large fragments of the potter’s pot was found on the sand pit in the central part of the embankment at the level of the ancient horizon. The practical absence of inventory does not allow date the archaeological complex clearly. A fragment of the pot can be attributed to two chronological periods: the end of IX — the first half of the X century or the second half of the XIII — XIV centuries.&#x0D; The stone constructions in the burial mounds are not inherent for Old Russian time in Ukraine. Stone fixt only in slightly more than 1 % of all investigated burial mounds. The discovery of such rare complex forced the authors refer to the history of research of this type of monuments on the territory of Ukraine. In the Middle Dnieper area, burial mounds with stone structures are located in two regions: on the territory of Zhytomyr Polissya (Ubort river basin, Slovechansko-Ovruch ridge) and in Porossya.&#x0D; The burial groups in Zhytomyr region were explored by the excavations of Ya. V. Yarotsky (1902), O. A. Fotinsky (1904), M. B. Shchukin (1976), B. A. Zvizdetsky (1988, 1996—1999), the exploration of V. O. Misiats (1961, 1978), A. P. Tomashevsky and S. V. Pavlenko (1996, 2006, 2013). There are 18 gravediggers with stone burial mounds on this territory currently. 42 burial mounds were excavated (more than 300 known). At the 29 burial complexes were fixed stones fragments. These sights don’t occupy a separate compact area and located next to burial mounds consisting exclusively of mounds with simple earthen embankments. Only at the 7 necropolises majority burial mounds contains stones. On other monuments such burial mounds was few. Different methods of using stones have been recorded in investigated burial mounds. Often different variants of stone designs are fixed in one monument. Different kinds of stone were used for constructions: sandstone, granite, quartzite. In burial mounds with stone structures under the embankment are fixed various types of burial ceremony (cremation on the site, cremation on the side, inhumation on the horizon, inhumation in undermount pits, cenotaph). The ritual is accompanied by typical Slavic equipment. The earliest complexes are dated by the X century, the most recent are the second half of the XIII century.&#x0D; Stone barrows Porossya are known since the middle of the nineteenth century (about 500 individual complexes was fixet). They were discovered by V. B. Antonovych (70s of XIX century), T. M. Movchanivsky (1928), V. Ye. Kozlovskaya (30s of the XX century), R. S. Orlov and P. M. Pokas (1986, 1988). 9 burial mounds with stone constructs under the embankment are known on the territory of Porossya. 78 monuments have been investigated at 5 a monuments, 37 of them — with stone crepes (the structure was mostly fixed in the of circle form of boulders, which engird the embankment). The burial ceremony and accompanying equipment are typical for Slavic monuments.&#x0D; There are two main hypotheses about the origin of this type of monuments. According to the first, the stone structures in the mounds are a purely practical tradition of local people, which arose in the territories characterized by significant presence of the stone (O. A. Fotinsky, V. B. Antonovych, A. V. Petrauskas). According to the second hypotheses, use of a stone is a tradition of the Slavic alien population. Ya. V. Yarotsky considered that this is a memorial of the Dregovichi burial mounds of Zhytomyr Polissya, Western Balts (Yotvingians) — I. P. Rusanova, B. A. Zvizdetsky, A. P. Tomashevsky, mixed Baltic-Dregoviches population — V. V. Sedov and A. P. Motsia. The tradition of using stones in the burial mounds of Porosyya was explained by the borrowing of the elements of the burial ceremony of the nomads S. V. Shamray, I. P. Rusanovа and O. P. Motsia. Influenced by the coming population from the western and northern territories of Old Rus — L. I. Ivanchenko. Some researchers have ruled out both hypotheses.

Kobresia meadow degradation and its impact on water status

AbstractAlpine Kobresia meadows are valuable pasture resources on the central and eastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau that are also important in preserving local and regional water. Kobresia pygmaea is the dominant species forming a typical turf layer resistant to disturbance; however, overgrazing may have exceeded that resistance. An integrated approach, including field monitoring, soil sampling, stable isotope hydrology, and physical modelling, was used to evaluate the hydrological consequences of meadow degradation with respect to normal meadow, degraded crust, and bare soil. Multiple evidence confirms that the soil moisture condition worsens when the meadow degrades. Bare soil has the coarsest soil texture, rapid infiltration, and low soil moisture in the root zone, and soil evaporation rate is high compared to normal meadow especially in dry periods. Crusted meadow soil has the lowest surface infiltration and a larger exposure of the leaf surface because of low plant cover over a dark surface, which favours high transpiration. Crusted meadow also has a drier condition in the root zone. These suggest that degradation is a positive feedback process in which leaf and soil exposure to radiation strengthen water demand for transpiration and facilitate non‐productive water loss, leaving the root zone (0–20 cm) dry and subject to further soil erosion. This positive process suggests that recovery of the Kobresia meadow is a long‐term task which has to consider the different levels of degradation and the effects of local climate change, in order to adapt the rangeland management practices, to the needs of meadow conservation and restoration.

Unusual algal turfs associated with the rhodophyta Phyllophora crispa: Benthic assemblages along a depth gradient in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Macroalgal assemblages dominated by the turf-forming alga Phyllophora crispa are described in detail for the first time in the Central Mediterranean Sea. This particular form of algal growth, which comprises an upper mixed layer of multiple algal species with a basal stratum formed by entangled thalli of P. crispa, was observed for the first time in 2012 along the promontory of Punta del Lazzaretto (Giglio Island, Italy). In this study, this assemblage was analysed to document the diversity of macroalgae and invertebrate associated communities and assess their distribution along a depth gradient. The algae forming turfs grow directly on the rock at low depth up to 10–15 m depth, while they grow above P. crispa from 15 m to 35 m depth, resulting in luxuriant beds covering up to 100% of the substrate. Multivariate analysis revealed clear differences regarding algae and invertebrate species richness and abundance between shallow and deep strata because of the dominance of Phyllophora crispa at depths greater than 20 m. The long laminal thalli of P. crispa favoured sessile fauna colonization, while the vagile species were principally linked to the architectural complexity of the turf layer created by the P. crispa, which increased the microhabitat diversity and favoured sediment deposition within the turf layer. The complex structures of these turf assemblages and their widespread distribution along the whole coast of the island suggest a well-established condition of the communities linked to the high natural sedimentation rate observed in the area.

Evaluation of some proximal sensing methods for mapping soils in urbanized terrain, Detroit, Michigan, USA

A study was carried out to test the accuracy and utility of field probes as proximal sensing tools for site-specific and regional soil mapping in the heavily urbanized terrain of Detroit, MI, USA. The results suggest that surface scanning in situ with a magnetic susceptibility (MS) field probe is accurate, but limited by tall grass. Better results were obtained after removal of the turf layer. The accuracy of the electrical conductivity (EC) field probe was questionable. Hence, superior results were obtained ex situ using both EC and MS lab sensors. Lab EC and MS were well suited for regional soil mapping, whereas all of the methods provided at least some useful information for site-specific applications. Tall grass, excessive artifact content, and severe compaction were the greatest limitations of proximal sensing. Tall grass interfered with surface scanners (MS; metal detector), whereas excessive artifacts and compaction restricted use of the EC surface probe. Penetrability and pH were useful for discriminating between natural and anthropogenic soils, and moisture content for proximal sensing of soil ^A horizons. MS was especially useful for delineating soils impacted by fly ash. Although it is less rapid and more labor-intensive than field methods, the lab-based approach still provides a minimally invasive alternative to augering. Lab-based geophysical surveying can be carried out first, and the results used as a guide for an auger-based soil survey. An anthropogenic map index (AMI) is introduced which combines pH, penetrability, EC and MS into a single overall measure of soil quality. AMI-based maps are postulated to be a useful as a geographic representation of soil health. These results support our hypothesis that proximal sensing methods can facilitate soil mapping in urbanized terrain based on the degree of human disturbance, and differences in artifact assemblages related to land use history.

Studying the active layer of oligotrophic bogs in the Taiga zone of Western Siberia

In this paper, we identify and describe the active and inert horizons of oligotrophic bogs. These often appear to be a fire risk to oil and gas extraction industries, but these bogs are a complex biological system also. We describe three structural layers for the active horizon. These are the turf layer, the porous layer, the intermediate layer. We have investigated the morphological characteristics of these layers. For each layer, we gave the measurement of physical parameters – pH, general mineralisation, conductivity, coefficient of ash and moisture. In each selected layer we study microbiological parameters – microbial biomass, the carbon of microbial biomass, basal respiration and microbial metabolic quotient. Microbiological studies have established the boundary between the aerobic and anaerobic conditions in active layer of oligotrophic bogs. In each layer, we have established the biochemical characteristics of layers studying enzymes catalase and invertase. The obtained data make it possible to assess the functional processes in the active horizon of the wetland’s ecosystem.

Ground level air convection produces frost damage patterns in turfgrass.

Frost injury patterns are commonly observed on the warm-season turfgrass species bermudagrass (Cynodon species Rich.), zoysiagrass (Zoysia species Willd.), and buffalograss [Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus] in cool-temperate and subtropical zones. Qualitative observations of these injury patterns are presented and discussed. A model for the formation of such patterns based on thermal instability and convection of air is presented. The characteristic length scale of the observed frost pattern injury requires a temperature profile that decreases with height from the soil to the turfgrass canopy surface followed by an increase in temperature with height above the turfgrass canopy. This is justified by extending the earth temperature theory to include a turf layer with atmosphere above it. Then the theory for a thermally unstable layer beneath a stable region by Ogura and Kondo is adapted to a turf layer to include different parameter values for pure air, as well as for turf, which is treated as a porous medium. The earlier porous medium model of Thompson and Daniels proposed to explain frost injury patterns is modified to give reasonable agreement with observed patterns.

Impact of Meadow Degradation on Soil Water Status and Pasture Management—A Case Study in Tibet

AbstractAlpine meadow dominated by Kobresia pygmaea forms both an important ecosystem and the main pasture resource on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, and its degradation is detrimental to ecosystem health and the pastoral economy. This paper reports research on the impacts of possible degradation on soil and biological properties related to water status, as water availability is fundamental to grass productivity. It also considers herders' perceptions towards, and adaptation to, the changing environment. The research was carried out in and around Kema village in Nagqu Prefecture, Northern Tibet. The biotic and abiotic properties of the K. pygmaea meadow are significantly different in patches with diverse soil and vegetation combinations, which include normal meadow, crusted meadow, and bare soil. Change of species composition, low species diversity, coarsening of soil, and lack of soil moisture and organic matter are found under bare soil after erosion of the turf layer. Low infiltration rates and reduced dew deposition are found under crusted meadow. Herders have witnessed some aspects of the deterioration of meadow quality and have noticed some climatic variations. However, they do not consistently link changing meadow quality to climate change and rarely have a clear idea of what overgrazing is, as although their mobility has been reduced, they may think that they are still using pastures periodically as in transhumance. Adapting current privatisation policies by considering herders' traditions and needs, and balancing scientific knowledge with local perception and knowledge, will help to guarantee long‐term benefits through sustainable use of the fragile alpine meadow resource. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Experimental explorations into the aceramic dry distillation of Betula pubescens (downy birch) bark tar

A range of experiments were conducted in an attempt to create tar from the bark of Betula pubescens (downy birch) using an aceramic dry distillation process. Fire structures based on small pits and small kiln-like mounds were explored with a focus on fire intensities and differing burn times under field-based conditions. Heat penetration presented itself as an all-important factor, and the depth of the construction of the structures and features was considered to directly correlate to the impact of the heat. Single variable experiments confirmed that the necessary reducing atmosphere was achievable despite friable soil, but that heat would not penetrate a 50- to 80-mm-deep layer of grass turf. The evolution of structures from pits towards a raised type resulted in kiln-like structures which proved more successful. Though the experiments did not successfully produce tar as a finished product, they did lead to a better understanding of the dry distillation process of the established technology of birch bark tar extraction in aceramic societies.

Quantitative-qualitative structures of the soil fungi communities in three profiles of peat-muck soils

The mycological investigations were performed on three soil profiles, which represent the slightly, moderately and strongly mucked peat-muck soils located in the Biebrza Valley. The aim of the study was the comparison of quantitative-qualitative structures of the fungi communities in the chosen peat-muck soils. The results indicate that soil fungi communities from compared soils reveal only small degree of similarity. The variety in quantitative and in qualitative structure increase with increasing mucking of organic deposits. These results may suggest that decreasing moisture of habitat stimulates the development of soil fungi. The most numerous soil fungi communities were observed in the turf layer and subturf layer of all soils.

302 サッチ分解性Bacillus maceransを含有する微生物資材

302 サッチ分解性Bacillus maceransを含有する微生物資材

Softwood Degradation after Being Several Thousand Years in Shore Front Mud

Two man-made wooden objects, called here a “boat” and an “outrigger”, were found above one another in 2004 and 2006 in Kuusamo, Finland. A layer of shore front mud and turf covered them entirely. With partial excavations, samples were taken for age determination and structural studies from both of the items. As measured by the radiocarbon method with a probability of 95.4 %, the items appear to be from periods 5480 – 5300 CalBC and 5025 – 4770 CalBC for the boat and the outrigger, respectively.