Studied Soil Samples Research Articles

Prediction of soil chemical properties using multispectral satellite images and wavelet transforms methods

The main aim of this paper is to develop the accurately map of soil chemical parameters were used for development of the agriculture, forestry, ecological planning, and crop yield production. Soil chemical properties analysis and forecast model was developed and validated with the Wavelet transform methods and multispectral satellite images. At the study area sites, satellite images and soil samples were collected during a similar time. Three most important soil chemical properties such as organic carbon, pH and EC were chosen to development of predication modeling based on the soil chemical information. This valuable information of parameters was analysed according to conventional methods. The observed data of soil was used for the predication modeling of soil chemical properties by MATLAB software. The identification of soil chemical properties was the subject of multi-spectral satellite images through algorithm of soil predication modeling. The real chemical characteristics of the soil are associated to wavelet transformation methods. Forecasting of soil chemical properties and this model can be given more accurate information related to soil nutrient parameters. Now a day’s machine learning programming is an easy to applied on the natural resources and agriculture studies. The chemical characteristics of the soil are compared with the different spectrum wavelengths of the MATLAB program. Therefore, four wavelets models like Daubechies, Symlet, Biorthogonal and Coiflet were selected to development of predication modelling, which wavelet model can be given more accurate information with best model of the soil chemical properties. Also, the coefficient of five key components and soil-chemical values were associated in the MATLAB software. In the semi-arid regions in, India, which components have been highly correlated with soil parameters in the predicated modeling. More detailed information of soil chemical characteristics was provided by four selected wavelet models developed based on the observed data and satellite data. Prediction of soil chemical values has been identified through low and high-frequency satellite images and artificial neural network model. In this study, the neural network wavelet model was used to predicted values related to soil chemical properties in the semi-arid region. The developed two models, like polynomial and ANN, have been validated and compared to the soil chemical properties data, which models can be fitted with the study of soil chemical properties. The results of the study area can be more beneficial for development of agriculture activities, climate change approaches, crop and soil suitability planning. From the results of models have been given a fast and quickly information of soil nutrient parameters without laboratory analysis. The results of predicated values can be more helpful to precision farming related activates and soil fertility mapping to provide the farmers and agriculture scientist.

Distribution of golden potato nematode in the soils of the Omsk region

The distribution of the golden potato nematode in the soils of the Omsk region has been recorded since 2003. The potential danger of expanding the area of colonization by this phytohelminth is associated with a loss of potato yield from 30 to 90%. Of the 32 districts of the Omsk region, 21 districts were found to be populated with the golden potato nematode. Potato production in the Omsk region is mainly carried out by private individuals. In many districts of the Omsk region, the share of personal subsidiary plots in the produced potatoes reached 95%. The studies were carried out in 2017 - 2020 and it was found that cysts with viable larvae of the golden potato nematode were detected in the samples of the studied soil samples, the degree of infection was high and ranged from 50 to 90 cysts. Under these conditions, the priority direction of reducing the number of phytohelminths is the use of environmentally friendly methods of control, such as the fungal microbiological preparation Nematofagin Mikopro. In the areas with the use of a biological product, the degree of infection was average and ranged from 45 to 13 viable cysts.

The effect of different doses of pig manure on soil microbiological activity and spring wheat yield

The effect of the application of different norms of liquid pig manure on microflora composition and microbiological activity of leached chernozem, as well as on its sanitary and microbiological indicators, has been studied. It was found that at the maximum application rate, the number of bacteria increased to a greater extent than that of actinomycetes and fungi. At the same time, the genera Pseudomonas, Cellvibrio, and Bacillus predominate among the bacteria. Micromycetes of the genus Mukor and Aspergillus predominate among fungi. The nitrate content remained within acceptable limits, the mineralization coefficient for this variant is quite high. According to sanitary and microbiological indicators, when pig manure is applied in the maximum norm, the samples fall into the group of heavily polluted soil. According to the index of the coli-titer for enterobacteria, all the studied soil samples fall into the group of slightly polluted, the sanitary and epidemiological situation has not worsened. The application of the maximum manure rate had a positive effect on wheat yield.

STUDYING THE EFFECT OF MAGNETICALLY TREATED SALT WATER ON SOME CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SANDY, SANDY CALCAREOUS, AND CLAY SOIL

The main purpose of this laboratory study is to indicate the variation in some characteristics of the sandy, sandy calcareous, and clay soil under the effect of the magnetically treated tab and/or salt water. Salt water (SW, 2000-ppm) was prepared by dissolving the sodium chloride (NaCl) salt in tap water TW (2 g L-1). Tab water and/or SW were magnetically treated by passage through a permanent electromagnetic field of 14٫000 G (1.4 Tesla) strength for 10 min, and then allowed to percolate through a soil column continuously for 2 h. Some characteristics of the studied soil samples were estimated after the infiltrate of the magnetically (M) and non-magnetically (NM) treated TW and/or SW. The MSW has decreased the hydraulic conductivity (HC, m day-1) by 41.1, 12.8, and 51.4% compared to NMSW for sandy, sandy calcareous, and clay soil, respectively. Magnetic induction may affect the coagulation of the fine particles to form larger aggregates. For clay soil, MTW decreased the sum of fine particles by 40.5%, while the MSW decreased it by 28.75%, which may be a dispersing effect of NaCl soluble salt. The Zeta potential ζ values were slightly shifted by SW and MSW. The calculated electrophoretic mobility (U) of the colloidal particles has increased under the effect of the SW by 15.6%, 28.6%, and 58.1% for the sandy, sandy calcareous, and clay soil, respectively. Magnetized water may affect the soil properties positively and/or negatively depending on the soil class and the application conditions.

Grain Size Analysis of Sand Fractions and the Sedimentary Environment of Selected Soil Samples from Southern and Northern Iraq

Soil particle size analysis is a vital sedimentological tool used to determine hydraulic conditions, transport methods, and sedimentation. In this study, 4 soil sampling sites were selected within the Erbil governorate in northern Iraq: Shaqlawa, Salah al-Din Resort, Kouri, and Harir. In addition, 4 soil sampling sites chosen in the Maysan governorate in southern Iraq were Ali al-Gharbi, al-Batira, al-Maimuna, and al-Tayyib. Statistical criteria for particle sizes and binomial distributions were used to reveal the sedimentation processes and sedimentation environments. It was observed from the particle size distribution that loam alluvial clay and alluvial clay predominated in the Maysan soil samples, while alluvial loam textures predominated in the Erbil soils. The fine sand particles were predominant, followed by the medium, and then the very fine sand particles; also there was a decline in the coarse and very coarse sand particles in all studied soil samples from Maysan. However, the fine and medium sand particles were predominant, with similar proportions to the very fine, coarse, and very coarse sand particles in the soil samples from Erbil.   There was a variation in the volume distributions of the sediments of these northern soils, which could be observed through the relative change in the values of Phi compared to the soils located in southern Iraq. Therefore, the volume distribution of the sediments in most of them tended towards that of medium sands, while for Erbil soils they tended towards medium and fine sands. The results provided interesting data on the nature of the sedimentary environment.   The standard deviation values ranged between 0.98 - 1.10, indicating a good to a poor sorting degree in the soils of southern Iraq. In northern Iraq, the standard deviation values ranged between 1.42 - 1.185, indicating a poor sorting degree. The poor sorting could be explained by the proximity of the soil to the sedimentation source and the low momentum of the carrier factor. The results also showed a strong deviation towards fine particles in Maysan soil samples while Erbil soils had soft diffraction values. These results confirmed kurtosis (KG) values, which indicated that the degree of kurtosis was of the medium and pointed type in Maysan soils, while in Erbil soils it was of the flat to medium kurtosis type. The results of the sedimentary environment profiles also showed that the samples from the Maysan governorate fell within a riverine environment. In contrast, the samples from the Erbil governorate were located outside the scope of the riverine processes and were attributed to the nature and topography of the land in northern Iraq which is rugged and mountainous, unlike southern Iraq.  

Heavy metal concentrations in floodplain soils of the Innerste River and in leaves of wild blackberries (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) growing within and outside the floodplain: the legacy of historical mining activities in the Harz Mountains (Germany)

We studied heavy metal levels in floodplain soils of the Innerste River in northern Germany and in the leaves of wild blackberries (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) growing within and in adjacent areas outside the river floodplain. Heavy metal contamination of the Innerste floodplain is a legacy of historical metal ore mining, processing, and smelting in the Harz Mountains. The heavy metal (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr) contents of previously studied soil samples from eleven floodplain sites along the Innerste River were re-analyzed statistically, and the levels of these metals in blackberry leaves were determined at five sites. Mean concentrations in the floodplain soils were elevated by factors of 4.59 to 28.5 for Cd, 13.03 to 158.21 for Pb, 5.66 to 45.83 for Zn, and 1.1–14.81 for Cu relative to the precautionary limits for soils stipulated by the German Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance. Cadmium, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni levels in floodplain soils decreased markedly downstream, as did the concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Ni in the leaves of blackberries from within the floodplain. Levels of Cd, Pb, and Zn in leaves of blackberries from within the floodplain significantly exceeded those of specimens from outside the floodplain. The findings of our study highlight the potential of wild blackberry as a biomonitor of soil pollution by Cd, Pb, and Zn and corroborate the massive heavy metal contamination of floodplain soils along the Innerste River observed in previous studies.

Impact of sewage water irrigation on agricultural soil

The rapidly increasing population growth and the steady increase in water requirements for agricultural and industrial development have placed severe stress on the water resources available and the long term use of sewage water for irrigation highly affects soil properties. In this study soil samples were collected from a cauliflower field prior and after sewage water irrigation, and the impact of sewage water irrigation on physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil was compared. For this, tested were pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon, available Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, and microbial activity. Soil microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, total viable count of bacteria, coliform population, Pseudomonas species, and Azotobacter significantly increased after sewage water irrigation as compared to prior to irrigation. Nevertheless, the bulk density and Rhizobium species of the soil flooded with sewage water was decreased relative to the same characteristics prior to irrigation. Cauliflower yield was significantly increased when sewage water flooded field as compared to the tube well water flooded field (i.e., water delivered via an iron pipe). Escherichia coli contamination was greater in sewage water and groundwater that can pose health risks for the nearby communities, to farmers and consumer of farm products. Hence, the efficient use of sewage and municipal wastewater successfully increase water resource for irrigation and may help in expanding agricultural production. But excessive use of sewage water may also affect the soil flora and fertility.

Pollution impact on microbial communities composition in natural and anthropogenically modified soils of Southern Russia

Metagenomic studies of soil microbocenoses are extremely relevant nowadays. The study of pollution impact on soil microbiomes is of particular interest. The structure of microbial communities in soils with different levels of pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was studied. High bacterial biodiversity was found in all the studied soil samples, but its lowest values are found in soil samples taken on the territory of technogenically polluted Lake Atamanskoye. Assessment of soil pollution showed the highest content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) for the soils Lake Atamanskoye. The high content of pollutants negatively affects the abundance of representatives of the phyla Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Nitrospirae. Such phyla as Proteobacteria, Candidate Divisions TM7, OD1, WPS-2, Chlamydiae, Cyanobacteria are characterized by positive direct correlation with the content of pollutants, especially with PAHs. A cooperative effect of decrease in the number of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria with an increase in Armatimonadetes probably corresponds to PTEs contamination. The proportion of Candidate Division OD1, Chlamydiae, Cyanobacteria, and Candidate Division WPS-2 was increased in the soil microbiome under the influence of severe combined pollution. Pollutants negatively affect the abundance of dominant unclassified_o__Gaiellales and unclassified_o__WD2101 genera. Iamia, Salinibacterium, Arthrobacter, Kaistobacter, Thiobacillus genera are characterized by a low abundance, but they are presumably the most resistant to soil pollution. It was revealed that the level of soil pollution largely determines the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the soils of the studied territories. Operating taxonomic units have been established that have prognostic value for assessing the state, level of soil pollution, and their biological safety.

Bioluminescent enzyme inhibition-based assay for the prediction of toxicity of pollutants in urban soils

There is a need for rapid simple and informative environmental assessment methods. The present investigation is aimed at assessing the possibility of using the combined enzyme system of luminescent bacteria: NAD(P)H:FMN-oxidoreductase + luciferase (Red + Luc) for predicting the potential toxicity of industrial urbostratozems sampled in the city of Krasnoyarsk. Three groups of urbostratozems polluted with fluorine, arsenic and lead, were tested by the methods of chemical analysis and enzymatic bioassay. Only the assessment of the arsenic-contaminated soil samples showed the dependence between the reduced activity of the enzyme system and the arsenic concentration variations. The results reveal that the sensitivity of the Red + Luc enzyme system to the soil pollutants depends on the properties of the studied soil samples. Moreover, the solubility of lead in the soil samples affects the accuracy of the enzymatic bioassays for soil toxicity testing. The results of the enzymatic bioassay of the fluoride-contaminated soil samples are ambiguous. The obtained data show the relevance of the sample preparation during integral bioassays. In addition, soil properties should be taken into account as well. The current study emphasizes the importance of conducting chemical and biological testing as a combined set to obtain comprehensive information about the anthropogenic load. • Bioluminescent enzymatic assay was used for soil toxicity testing. • Factors results in the accuracy of the bioassay revealed. • Conditionally, the bioassay has the sensitivity to As pollution.

Using Mouteh goldmine soil cyanobacteria for tailing damp soil bioremediation

Introduction: Natural and human activities lead to soil degradation and soil salinization. In the last two centuries, world metal pollution level has increased extremely. Presence of some heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems is a constant threat to the health of human societies. The decrease of farmlands threatens food security. There are approximately 1 billion ha salt-affected soils all over of world, which can be made available resources after chemical, physical and biological remediation. Existence of many mines in the world and also in Iran and as a result, soil erosion and dust release from waste dams is matter of concern. Bioremediation using biological agents to detoxify and degradation of environmental pollutants- provides a suitable alternative method for substitution of current heavy metals removal strategies. Material and methods: Daily as a result of extraction operations by cyanidation in Mouteh gold mining complex, waste water and waste soil sediment widely achieved. In this study soil samples were collected from Mouteh Goldmine tailing damp soil in September 2018. The collected soil samples were cultured in BG11 medium and incubated for microalgae identification and biomass production. Also 5 gr soil inoculated with 0.5 gr biomass and the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil including pH, Na+ and K+, Pb and Cd, before and after the inoculation of soil with Cyanobacteria were determined.Results and discussion: in this study, cyanobacteria Phormidium tenue Gomont, Osillatoria tenuis C.Agardh ex Gomont, Lyngbya aestuarii Liebman ex Gomont and green Algae, Scenedesmus obliquus (Turpin) Kutzing were identified. Culture results of filamentous cyanobacteria on goldmine tailing damp soil showed that cyanobacteria can grow easily and produced a surface crust significantly. The results of the Physical analysis of the soil samples showed that O. tenuis decreased Na as a salinity element, and P. tenue absorbed high amounts of Pb as a heavy metal pollution element. Probably by using Mouteh Goldmine soil cyanobacteria, Osillatoria tenuis and Phormidium tenue for mine tailingdamp soil bioremediation, could play mine recovery from salinity and heavy metals and also preventing soil erosion and dust release from waste dams.Conclusion: Generally, it can be concluded thatdue to the existence of many goldmines in the word and Iran, daily as a result of extraction operations by cyanidation and high toxicity of cyanide, environmental adverse effects are observed. Dust release from waste dams can be affected health of living organisms like mining workers, plants and even soil microalgae which are close to the mine. By soil goldmine bioremediation can be processed biological resuscitation faster. The research results of African goldmine researchers on soil samples showed that cyanobacteria produced a surface crust significantly, that with the results of this research based on the growth of Phormidium tenue in the mine and producing a surface crust is consistent.

Contamination of environmental objects by helminth-protozoan infestations in Astrakhan region. Аnalysis of activities of “Сenter for hygiene and epidemiology in Astrakhan region” for 2011–2020

Objective. To study and analyze the contamination of environmental objects in the Astrakhan Region (by the example of soil, water, and washout samples from solid household surfaces) based on the results of laboratory studies of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Astrakhan Region for 20112020.
 Materials and methods. The work was carried out on the basis of the Laboratory of Bacteriological and Parasitological Research of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Astrakhan Region and in the laboratories of the Branches of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Astrakhan Region in 20112020.
 As a whole, during the analyzed period, the laboratory and its branches conducted laboratory studies of 79 742 samples taken from various environmental objects, and 94 495 studies were performed. The number of samples that do not meet the hygiene standards was 1.01 % (806 samples).
 Results. The objects of sampling for the study of their parasitic purity were water, soil and wash-out from solid household surfaces.
 The share of water samples in the structure of all the studied samples taken from environmental objects was 7.3 % (5858 samples), of which 172 samples were contaminated with pathogens of parasitic diseases, the extent of invasion was 2.9 %.
 The structure of positive findings in the water samples was represented by 6 nosological forms of helminths 88.0 % (154 samples) and 3 nosoforms of protozoa 12.0 %.
 The share of the studied soil samples in the overall structure of sanitary and parasitological studies of the environment was 11.2 % (8895 samples). The number of unsatisfactory samples in the structure of all positive findings revealed during the study of soil, water and washouts during the analyzed period was 70.4 % (625 samples). The total soil contamination for the period of 20112020 was 7.0 % (625 samples).
 In most cases, helminth eggs and larvae were detected 99.8 % (624 samples). The proportion of pathogenic protozoan cysts detected in the soil was 0.2 % (1 sample).
 In addition to water and soil samples, the washout samples, taken from solid household surfaces were studied 81.5 % (64989 samples), of which 0.01 % (9 samples) were unsatisfactory.
 All positive findings in the washout samples were represented by two nosological forms of helminthiasis: Enterobius vermicularis eggs 0.012 % (8 samples) and teniid oncospheres 0.002 (1 sample).
 Conclusions. The presence of helminth eggs and cysts of pathogenic intestinal protozoa in the studied soil and water samples indicates contamination of these objects with the feces of infected persons and/or contamination by sewage runoff resulting from various accidents. The presence of toxocara eggs and strongylid larvae in the soil and water indicates contamination of these objects with the feces of infected animals (dogs, cats). The presence of positive findings in wastewater samples indicates poor-quality disinfection of these objects. The presence of contact helminth eggs in the studied samples of washout samples taken from hard surfaces indicates direct contact of infected persons with these samples.

Determination of the state of oil-contaminated soils

This study has a great practical and economic significance for regions with oil- contaminated soil. The concentration of oil products in the studied soil samples was determined by four methods: extraction from soil samples with n-hexane using a fluorescent photometric analyzer «Fluorat 02-3M LUMEX», carbon tetrachloride using an analyzer «AN-2», and chloroform using a gravimetric method. The data obtained make it possible to estimate the effectiveness of the application of the methods of analysis. There are also identified the advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect methods for determining soil organic carbon, the effect of oil pollution on soil pH and carbon content in the soil. Evaluation criteria are proposed to improve the objective assessment of the state of oil-contaminated soils.

Impact of siltation on the stability of organic matter in drained peatlands

Peatlands are unique ecosystems but when they are drained for agriculture or peat mining, stored carbon is released to the atmosphere as CO2. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of siltation on secondary humification basing on humification indicators (C/N ratio, humification degree, humification index, E4/E6 ratio). It is essential to examine to what extent siltation hampers soil organic matter (SOM) oxidation. The study revealed that after drainage the amount of humus fractions, both acid and alkali soluble, were increasing at the expense of non-soluble carbon pool (residuum). Siltation hampered the transformation of organic matter and the quantities of OC and N in humus fractions were lower in silted soil samples than in not silted ones. The carbon extracted in acid-soluble fraction was not related to the state of siltation and was associated with the depth. The nitrogen content in this fraction did not change after drainage or siltation. The siltation did not affect C/N ratios. In unaltered peats these ratios were typical for fen soils (lowland peats) but in other studied soil samples the values of the C/N ratios suggested secondary transformation. The humification indicators (HI, HD and E4/E6) also revealed that secondary humification was more advanced in strongly silted soils, i.e. the stability of SOM in these soils is lower and the values of these indicators were dependent on the state of siltation. The study revealed that both drainage and siltation of soils changed the relations in SOM fractions. Drainage of peatlands resulted in initiation of the secondary humification of SOM and increase of chemically extractable humus fractions as well as increase of the humification degree. Stable SOM, which can have a mean residence time of centuries, became a potential source of CO2. However, siltation which led to a 50% decrease in SOM, hampered oxidation of SOM and had a stabilizing effect on SOM quality. These findings provide new insights into possibilities of mitigation of C losses from agricultural areas and may serve as a guidance for soil C management.

Major and trace elements in rice paddy soils in Sri Lanka with special emphasis on regions with endemic chronic kidney disease of undetermined origin.

Environmental exposure to trace elements has been widely suspected as an etiological factor for the emergence of chronic kidney disease of undetermined origin (CKDu) that prevails in certain districts of the dry zone areas of Sri Lanka. Contaminated rice can be act as a host for potentially toxic trace elements that ultimately led to health hazards; thus, rice soils were investigated in detail, giving particular attentions to identified CKDu hotspots. A total of 102 rice soil samples were collected from main climatic zones viz. wet and dry zones including CKDu hotspots. In addition to pH, electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity, acid extracted major and trace element contents in rice soils were determined by using ICP-MS. Significant differences were observed for Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb contents between climatic zones. Arsenic and Pb contents in soils were lower than the levels reported in soils from other regions of the world, though significantly higher contents were observed in CKDu regions compared to non-endemic wet zone regions. Calculation of enrichment factor revealed that soils in both dry and wet zones were moderately enriched with As, Cd, and Pb, suggesting an influence of anthropogenic processes. Twenty percent of the wet zone samples showed significant enrichment of Ni, Cu, and Zn. Geo-accumulation index assorted that the studied soil samples were uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, implying that rice soils in both climatic zones are not alarmingly contaminated with toxic trace elements. However, regular and continuous monitoring of rice soil quality is extremely important.

A COMPARISON OF MACHINE LEARNING MODELS FOR SOIL SALINITY ESTIMATION USING MULTI-SPECTRAL EARTH OBSERVATION DATA

Abstract. Soil salinity, a significant environmental indicator, is considered one of the leading causes of land degradation, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In many cases, this major threat leads to loss of arable land, reduces crop productivity, groundwater resources loss, increases economic costs for soil management, and ultimately increases the probability of soil erosion. Monitoring soil salinity distribution and degree of salinity and mapping the electrical conductivity (EC) using remote sensing techniques are crucial for land use management. Salt-effected soil is a predominant phenomenon in the Eshtehard Salt Lake located in Alborz, Iran. In this study, the potential of Sentinel-2 imagery was investigated for mapping and monitoring soil salinity. According to the satellite's pass, different salt properties were measured for 197 soil samples in the field data study. Therefore several spectral features, such as satellite band reflectance, salinity indices, and vegetation indices, were extracted from Sentinel-2 imagery. To build an optimum machine learning regression model for soil salinity estimation, three different regression models, including Gradient Boost Machine (GBM), Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost), and Random Forest (RF), were used. The XGBoostmethod outperformed GBM and RF with the coefficient of determination (R2) more than 76%, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) about 0.84 dS m−1, and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) about 0.33 dS m−1. The results demonstrated that the integration of remote sensing data, field data, and using an appropriate machine learning model could provide high-precision salinity maps to monitor soil salinity as an environmental problem.

Parasitic contamination of the soil of the Astrakhan region

The results of parasitological studies of soil samples taken in the Astrakhan region were analyzed. A total of 4146 soil samples were examined in 2016–2020. Among the positive findings, helminths predominated — 6.5 % (270 samples). The proportion of protozoa among all positive findings in the soil was 0.02 % (1 sample). The largest number of positive findings was recorded in 2016–33.6 % (91 samples) of all positive findings during the analyzed period. Almost 1.3 times less positive findings in the soil were noted in 2018–25.5 % (69 samples) of all positive findings for the analyzed period. In total, 21.8 % (904 samples) of the soil were examined in this year, of which 7.6 % (69 samples) were unsatisfactory. In 2019, the number of positive findings in the studied soil samples was 17.7 % (48 samples) of all positive soil findings in 2016–2020. The number of soil samples studied in 2017 was 18.9 % (783 samples). The lowest number of positive findings — 7.7 % (21 samples) and the studied soil samples — 12.7 % (523 samples) was revealed in 2020. Contamination of the soil with toxocara eggs and strongylid larvae indicates contamination of these objects with the feces of invasive animals (the role of stray animals (dogs) in soil contamination is not excluded).The contamination of the soil with eggs of ascariids, opisthorchis, onkospheres of teniids and cysts of amoebas, suggests that these objects are contaminated with sewage from accidents.

Evaluation of Langmuir and Frendlich isotherm equation for Zinc Adsorption in some calcareous soil of Erbil province north of Iraq.

The purpose of this study soil samples were to investigate of Zinc concentrations on the mechanism of adsorption phenomena in four calcareous soils (Choman, Qoshtepe, Herir, and Soran) from Erbil North Iraq classified (calciorthids). Isotherm adsorption was studied by using the Batch technique, 2 g soil was shaken with 40 ml 0.01M CaCl2 containing Zn concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256 mg Zn l-1 for 24 hours at 298K. Zn adsorption under isotherm reaction 298K. The adsorption data were described by using Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The results showed that the concentration of adsorption was increased by an increase of Zn level added to Soils. According to the Langmuir equation, the maximum adsorption capacity of Zn was higher in Qoshtepe, Herir Soils. 666 mg kg−1 while the lower value was recorded in Soran soil. Bonding energy was higher in Soran 0.4050 mg L−1, while the lower value was recorded in Choman Soils. 0.0184 mg L-1 soil MBC was higher in Soran Soil. 134.87 mg kg−1 while the lower value was recorded in Choman 7.65 soil, also the results showed that reaction was spontaneous with Negative free energy, were higher in Soil. -2.16 while the lower value was recorded in Herir soil -1.94 joule.mole−1.degree-1 for Soil. And RL value was higher in Choman Soil 0.71, while the lower value was recorded in Soran soil 0.32. The values of qm constant Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R isotherm) which is the adsorption capacity mol g−1 ranged from -2.3007 to -3.6758

Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Waste Dumping Site in Ujjain City, India

Municipal solid waste management is an important problem faced by all the developing cities. In most of the cities, municipal solid waste collected from different areas of the city is dumped into the dumping grounds where it is incinerated, used for landfill or left on the ground for self-degradation. In this study soil samples were collected from waste dumping site in Ujjain and 63 bacterial cultures were isolated and identified using serial dilution method. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of cultures was determined using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion antibiotic susceptibility test. The results show that Pseudomonas is the most important bacterial genus present here followed by Bacillus and Enterobacter. It was also seen that about 52 % of bacteria isolated from this site were antibiotic resistant and about 33 % of cultures were resistant to more than one antibiotic. This represents a potential risk to public health; hence, efforts should be made to speed up the process of waste degradation in dumping grounds.

Prevalence of keratinophilic fungi in the garden soil samples in Western India and study of its clinical impact

Dermatophytosis has been a common contagious disease and remain an important public health problem among people worldwide and particularly in developing countries. This study was done in order to know prevalence of keratinophilic fungi in the soil samples of Ajmer region and its clinical correlation. Five samples (5gm each) of garden soil were collected from each of the randomly selected 10 sites of Ajmer region in sterile polythene bags & pH of soil was recorded. All samples were processed in the laboratory using hair bait technique and incubated at 28 + 2◦C for 3-4 weeks. Fungi grown were subcultured onto Sabourauds Dextrose Agar (SDA) with chloramphenicol & SDA with cycloheximide and identified using standard mycological procedures. Out of 50 soil samples cultured 28 (56%) samples were positive for keratinophilic fungi. 64.28% were dermatophytes and 12.8% were non-dermatophytic fungi. The predominant isolate among dermatophytes was spp. (64.28%) where as spp. (12.8%) was the commonest non-dermatophyte. : In our hospital, dermatophytic infection including Tinea corporis is one of the most common clinical presentations of skin infection. is commonest causative agent of Tinea corporis. Interestingly was the most commonly isolated dermatophyte in our study suggesting soil as a source of dermatophytic infections.

Radionuclides Transfer from Soil to Tea Leaves and Estimation of Committed Effective Dose to the Bangladesh Populace.

Considering the probable health risks due to radioactivity input via drinking tea, the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th,40K and 137Cs radionuclides in the soil and the corresponding tea leaves of a large tea plantation were measured using high purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry. Different layers of soil and fresh tea leaf samples were collected from the Udalia Tea Estate (UTE) in the Fatickchari area of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The mean concentrations (in Bq/kg) of radionuclides in the studied soil samples were found to be 34 ± 9 to 45 ± 3 for 226Ra, 50 ± 13 to 63 ± 5 for 232Th, 245 ± 30 to 635 ± 35 for 40K and 3 ± 1 to 10 ± 1 for 137Cs, while the respective values in the corresponding tea leaf samples were 3.6 ± 0.7 to 5.7 ± 1.0, 2.4 ± 0.5 to 5.8 ± 0.9, 132 ± 25 to 258 ± 29 and <0.4. The mean transfer factors for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K from soil to tea leaves were calculated to be 0.12, 0.08 and 0.46, respectively, the complete range being 1.1 × 10−2 to 1.0, in accordance with IAEA values. Additionally, the most popularly consumed tea brands available in the Bangladeshi market were also analyzed and, with the exception of 40K, were found to have similar concentrations to the fresh tea leaves collected from the UTE. The committed effective dose via the consumption of tea was estimated to be low in comparison with the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) reference ingestion dose limit of 290 μSv/y. Current indicative tea consumption of 4 g/day/person shows an insignificant radiological risk to public health, while cumulative dietary exposures may not be entirely negligible, because the UNSCEAR reference dose limit is derived from total dietary exposures. This study suggests a periodic monitoring of radiation levels in tea leaves in seeking to ensure the safety of human health.