Field-scale spatial distribution characteristics of soil nutrients in a newly reclaimed sandy cropland in the Hexi Corridor of Northwest China

Conversion of native desert to irrigation cropland often results in the changes of soil processes and properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of soil nutrients and their spatial distribution characteristics of a newly reclaimed cropland at the initial stage of the conversion using statistical and geo-statistical methods. Soil samples were collected at regular intervals from a cropland of 0.24 ha, and their nutrient indicators determined. The mean contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and pH value in this newly reclaimed sandy cropland were averaged at 4.45 g kg^?1, 0.49 g kg^?1, 19.99 mg kg^?1, 21.08 mg kg^?1, 121.60 mg kg^?1, and 8.98, respectively. The ranges were less than 20 m for the semivariogram of SOC, TN, and pH, but exceeded 20 m for AN, AP, and AK. The ratios of nugget-to-sill were less than 10 % for the semivariogram of SOC, TN, and pH, but exceeded 25 % for AN, AP, and AK. There were similar distribution characteristics for SOC, AN, and pH, with different sizes of patches present; such distribution patterns were related to the regular planting of orchard and the interval application of manures. There were big-sized patches in the distributions of AN, AP, and AK. Topography was the main factor causing the spatial heterogeneity of available N, P, K, and the 4 years (2001–2004) of cropping affected the distribution patterns of these nutrient variables. The conversion of native desert to irrigation cropland caused significant increases in soil nutrients, but their spatial distributions had large variations. This study identified the main factors affecting the spatial distribution of each soil nutrient variable, including the environment factors and anthropogenic management practices. There is a great potential to improve the productivity and soil fertility for the newly reclaimed sandy cropland, only if the appropriate and sustainable soil management practices are adopted.     

Study of radium content and radon exhalation rates in soil samples of northern India

Radon is a radioactive hazardous and ubiquitous gas. It has been recognized to be one of the major contributors to natural radiation even causing lung cancer if present at enhanced levels. There are large variations in data available in the literature for radium content and radon exhalation rates of various materials. It is a well-documented fact that radon exhalation from the ground surface depends upon a number of parameters such as soil grain size, soil porosity and radium content. For this purpose, in this study the so-called can technique has been used to measure radium content and exhalation rates of radon in soil samples collected from different places of Aligarh, Etah and Mathura districts of Uttar Pradesh??a province in northern India. These districts lie within the subtropical region of the Indo-Gangetic plains. The values of effective radium content are found to vary from 8.11 to 112.83?Bq?kg^?1 with a mean value of 33.21?Bq?kg^?1 and a standard deviation of 28.15. The values of mass exhalation rates of radon vary from 0.76?×?10^?6 to 15.80?×?10^?6?Bq?kg^?1?day^?1 with a mean value of 4.21?×?10^?6?Bq?kg^?1?day^?1, while the surface exhalation rates vary from 1.97?×?10^?5 to 41.03?×?10^?5?Bq?m^?2?day^?1 with a mean value of 10.93?×?10^?5?Bq?m^?2?day^?1.     

Measurement of radon exhalation rate in various building materials and soil samples

Indoor radon is considered as one of the potential dangerous radioactive elements. Common building materials and soil are the major source of this radon gas in the indoor environment. In the present study, the measurement of radon exhalation rate in the soil and building material samples of Una and Hamirpur districts of Himachal Pradesh has been done with solid state alpha track detectors, LR-115 type-II plastic track detectors. The radon exhalation rate for the soil samples varies from 39.1 to 91.2 mBq kg^?1 h^?1 with a mean value 59.7 mBq kg^?1 h^?1. Also the radium concentration of the studied area is found and it varies from 30.6 to 51.9 Bq kg^?1 with a mean value 41.6 Bq kg^?1. The exhalation rate for the building material samples varies from 40.72 (sandstone) to 81.40 mBq kg^?1 h^?1 (granite) with a mean value of 59.94 mBq kg^?1 h^?1.     

Assessment of soil erosion risk using SWAT model

Soil erosion is one of the most serious land degradation problems and the primary environmental issue in Mediterranean regions. Estimation of soil erosion loss in these regions is often difficult due to the complex interplay of many factors such as climate, land uses, topography, and human activities. The purpose of this study is to apply the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to predict surface runoff generation patterns and soil erosion hazard and to prioritize most degraded sub-catchment in order to adopt the appropriate management intervention. The study area is the Sarrath river catchment (1,491 km²), north of Tunisia. Based on the estimated soil loss rates, the catchment was divided into four priority categories for conservation intervention. Results showed that a larger part of the watershed (90 %) fell under low and moderate soil erosion risk and only 10 % of the watershed was vulnerable to soil erosion with an estimated sediment loss exceeding 10 t?ha^?1?year^?1. Results indicated that spatial differences in erosion rates within the Sarrath catchment are mainly caused by differences in land cover type and gradient slope. Application of the SWAT model demonstrated that the model provides a useful tool to predict surface runoff and soil erosion hazard and can successfully be used for prioritization of vulnerable areas over semi-arid catchments.     

Effects of land use on spatial patterns of soil properties in a rocky mountain area of Northern China

In the rocky mountain area of North China, soil fertility has decreased with severe soil and water losses under various land uses. Land use has been proven to affect soil fertility spatial distribution patterns at larger scales. However, less information is available about these effects in field scale plots. Soil samples were collected at 2-m intervals by grid sampling from an area (18?×?18 m) within three land use types (poplar woodland, rotation cropland with peanut and sweet potato, and peach orchard). Soil properties including soil particle composition, soil organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ^?-N), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP) were measured for each sample. The spatial variability and spatial pattern of the soil properties were assessed for the three contrasting land use types. NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ^?-N, and AP in the peach orchard and NO₃ ^?-N in the poplar woodland exhibited strong variation (coefficient of variance >100 %). Other properties showed moderate variations. With annual plowing and fertilization, soil properties in the rotation cropland had less variability and greater spatial autocorrelated ranges. The spatial dependences of sand content, TN, NO₃ ^?-N, and SWC in both the peach orchard and the rotation cropland were weaker than those in the poplar woodland, but the spatial dependences of TP and AP in the peach orchard were stronger than those in either the rotation cropland or the poplar woodland. Human activities such as plowing, fertilization, and harvesting had obvious effects on the spatial variability and spatial pattern of soil properties.     

Impact of parent rock and topography aspect on the distribution of soil trace metals in natural ecosystems

The concentration and dynamic of soil trace metals in natural ecosystems, in particularly, is dependent on the lithology of parent rock as well as topography and geopedological processes. To ascertain more knowledge for this dependency, soils on three parent rocks involving peridotite, pegmatite, and dolerite in two contrasting topography aspects were investigated. The total values of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni were determined and compared for different soil pedons. The concentration of Fe, Mn, and Ni were highest in soils developed from peridotite (127, 1.8 g kg^?1, and 218 mg kg^?1, respectively), intermediate in soils derived from dolerite (81, 1.3 g kg^?1, and 166 mg kg^?1, respectively), and least in soil developed from pegmatite (50, 0.23 g kg^?1, and 20 mg kg^?1, respectively). The values of Zn and Cu, originated from different parent rocks, were in order of dolerite (78 mg kg^?1) > peridotite (77 mg kg^?1) > pegmatite (28 mg kg^?1) and pegmatite (121 mg kg^?1) > peridotite (111 mg kg^?1) > dolerite (28 mg kg^?1), respectively. For most of the studied pedons, profile metals distribution differed among the soils: The values of Fe, Cu, and Ni were enriched in the cambic horizons mainly as result of release, mobilization, and redistribution of the studied metals during geopedological processes, whereas those of Zn and Mn were concentrated in the surface horizons. Probably due to greater weathering rate of trace metal-bearing rocks on north-facing slope, the content of the trace metals along with the geoaccumulation index (I _geo) and the degree of soil contamination (C _d) were higher than on south-facing slope. Based on assessment of soil pollution indices, the soils were categorized as unpolluted [I _geo ≤ 0 (class 0)], unpolluted to moderately polluted levels [0 < I _geo < 1 (class 1)], and very low [C _d < 1.5 (class 0)] to low degree of contamination [1.5 < C _d < 2 (class 1)].     

The spatial distribution of potassium status and clay mineralogy in relation to different land-use types in a calcareous Mediterranean environment

In order to investigate changes caused in clay mineralogy and potassium (K) status by different land-use types, 42 soils samples (0–30 cm) were monitored and analyzed. Soil samples belonging to Reference Soil Groups of Cambisols and Vertisols were collected from three neighboring land uses involving cropland (under long-term continuous cultivation), grassland, and forestland. The soils reflected an alkaline and calcareous aspect as were characterized by high pH (mean of 7.1 to 7.5) and calcium carbonate equivalent (mean of 35 to 97 g?kg^?1) in the three land-use types. X-ray diffraction patterns of the clay fraction showed that the soils were mainly composed of illite, smectite, chlorite, and kaolinite. Chlorite and kaolinite remained unweathered irrespective of land use and soil types, soil processes, and physicochemical attributes assessed. Some changes in the XRD diffractograms of illite and smectite (the intensity or the position of peaks) were observed in the cultivated soils compared to those of the adjoining grassland that may explain the dynamics of the K trapped in illite interlayer sites. Potassium issues reflected a heterogeneous response to changes in land-use types. In light of this, a pronounced variation in soluble K (4–22 mg?kg^?1), exchangeable K (140–558 mg?kg^?1), and non-exchangeable K (135–742 mg?kg^?1) appeared among the land-use types for both Cambisols and Vertisols, corresponding to variability in clay content, nature and type of clay mineral (mainly illite and smectite), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). In general, the largest amounts of soluble K and exchangeable K were recorded in the forestland, whereas the highest contents of non-exchangeable K were found in the grassland for both Cambisols and Vertisols. Exchangeable K, available K, CEC, and clay contents in the soils with higher smectite values (25–50 %) were significantly different (P?≤?0.05) compared to those of the lower smectite values (10–25 %). This suggests that smectite is a major source for surface sorption of K in the studied soils.     

Geospatial assessment of soil erosion intensity and sediment yield: a case study of Potohar Region,Pakistan

Estimation of spatial extent of soil erosion, one of the most serious forms of land degradation, is critical because soil erosion has serious implications on soil fertility, water ecosystem, crop productivity and landscape beauty. The primary objective of the current study was to assess and map the soil erosion intensity and sedimentation yield of Potohar region of Pakistan. Potohar is the rainfed region with truncated and complex topography lying at the top of the Indus Basin, the world’s largest irrigation networks of canals and barrages. Spatially explicit Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Model integrated with Remote Sensing-GIS techniques was used for detecting/mapping of erosion prone areas and quantification of soil losses. The results show that the Potohar region is highly susceptible to soil erosion with an average annual soil loss of 19 tons ha^?1 year^?1 of which the maximum erosion (70–208 tons ha^?1 year^?1) was near the river channels and hilly areas. The sediment yield due to the erosion is as high as 148 tons ha^?1 year^?1 with an average of 4.3 tons ha^?1 year^?1. It was found that 2.06% of the total area falls under severe soil erosion, 13.34% under high erosion, 15.35% under moderate soil erosion while 69.25% of the area lies in the low (tolerable) soil erosion. Chakwal and Jhelum districts of the region are seriously affected by erosion owing to their topography and soil properties. The information generated in this study is a step forward towards proper planning and implementation of strategies to control the erosion and for protection of natural resources. It is, hence, necessary that suitable water harvesting structures be made to control water to prevent soil erosion and provision of water in the lean season in this region. Tree plantation and other erosion control practices such as strip cropping can also minimize soil erosion in this region.     

The use of multivariate statistical analysis of geochemical data for assessing the spatial distribution of soil contamination by potentially toxic elements in the Aljustrel mining area (Iberian Pyrite Belt,Portugal)

Aljustrel mine is located in SW Portugal, in the western sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The Aljustrel village was developed around the exploitations of massive polymetallic sulphides that occur in the area (4 orebodies mined, 2 in exploration phase). The pyrite ore was extensively exploited from 1850 to 1993, when production was discontinued. A mining restart occurred in 2008, only during a few months. The objectives of the study were to assess the levels of soil contamination, to determine associations between the different chemical elements and their spatial distribution, as well as to identify possible sources of contamination that can explain the spatial patterns of soil pollution in the area. Principal component analysis combined with spatial interpretation successfully grouped the elements according to their sources and provided evidence about their geogenic or anthropogenic origin. From this study, it is possible to conclude that soils around Algares/Feitais tailing deposits, Estéreis and Águas Claras mine dams and S. João mine show severe contamination. The highest concentrations of As (up to 3,936 mg kg^?1) and certain heavy metals (up to 321.7 mg kg^?1 for Bi, 5,414 mg kg^?1 for Cu, 20,000 mg kg^?1 for Pb, 980.6 mg kg^?1 for Sb, and 22 mg kg^?1 Cd) were obtained near Algares area while the highest concentration of Cd (up to 61.6 mg kg^?1) and Zn (up to 20,000 mg kg^?1) were registered in samples collected in the S. João area. The highest pollution load index (>4.0) was recorded at the Algares area where the metal concentrations exceed typical soil background levels by as much as two orders of magnitude.     

Using chemical analysis and modeling to enhance the understanding of soil solution of some calcareous soils

The chemistry of soil solutions can be altered by human activities, due to the intense agricultural and husbandry, leading to leaching of nutrients and subsequently elevating ground water levels. Multivariate statistical and inverse geochemical modeling techniques were used to determine the main factors controlling soil solution chemistry of calcareous soils. In this research, a total of 21 calcareous soils was characterized and assessed for soil solution using soil column. The major cations in the studied soil solutions were in the decreasing order as Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺. The anions were also arranged in decreasing order as HCO $ _{3}^{ - } $  > Cl $ ^{ - } $  > SO $ _{4}^{2 - } $  > NO $ _{3}^{ - } $ . Concentrations of NO $ _{3}^{ - } $ , P, and K⁺ in soil solutions were in the range of 6.8–307.5 mg l^?1 (mean 63.2 mg l^?1), 5.0–10.4 mg l^?1 (mean 5.9 mg l^?1), and 2.8–54.6 mg l^?1 (mean 11.3 mg l^?1), respectively. Results suggest that the concentration of P in the soil solutions could be primarily controlled by the solubility of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and dicalcium phosphate. Interactions between soil properties and observed solubility of nutrients were described, and put into empirical multivariate formulations. Obtained equations contained electrical conductivity (EC) as a key factor in determining nutrients solubility. Inverse geochemical modeling of soil solution using PHREEQC indicates the dissolution of calcite, anhydrite, halite, CO₂ (g), N₂ (g), and hydroxyapatite, and precipitation of sulfur. Cation exchange between Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and Na⁺ occurred with Mg²⁺ and K⁺ into the solution, and Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ out of the solution. Determination of soil solution will improve soil management in the area, and preventing groundwater deterioration.     

Effects of natural and calcined poultry waste on Cd, Pb and As mobility in contaminated soil

The reuse of waste materials as soil additives could be a welcome development in soil remediation. The mobility of Cd, Pb and As in a contaminated soil was investigated using natural and calcined poultry wastes (eggshell and chicken bone), CaCO₃ and CaO at different application rates (0, 1, 3 and 5 %). The chemical composition accompanied with mineralogical composition indicated that CaCO₃ and CaO were the major components in natural and calcined eggshells, respectively, while hydroxyapatite (HAP) dominated the natural and calcined chicken bones. The results showed that soil pH tended to increase in response to increasing application rates of all soil additives. The effectiveness of the additives in reducing Cd, Pb and As mobility was assessed by means of chemical extractions with 0.1 N HCl for Cd and Pb or 1 N HCl for As, according to Korean Standard Test (KST) method. Both calcined eggshell and chicken bone were equally effective with CaO or CaCO₃ in reducing the concentration of 0.1 N HCl-extractable Cd from 6.17 mg kg^?1 to below warning level of 1.5 mg kg^?1, especially at the highest application rate. The application of calcined eggshell, CaO and CaCO₃ also decreased the concentration of 0.1 N HCl-extractable Pb from 1,012 mg kg^?1 to below warning level of 100 mg kg^?1. The Pb concentration decreased significantly with an increasing application rate of chicken bone, but remained above warning level even at the highest application rate. On the contrary, natural and calcined chicken bones led to a significant increase in the mobility of As when compared with the control soil. These findings illustrate that calcined eggshell in particular is equally effective as pure chemical additives in stabilizing Cd and Pb in a contaminated agricultural soil. The presence of As in metal-contaminated soils should be taken into consideration when applying phosphate-containing materials as soil additives, because phosphate can compete with arsenate on adsorption sites and result in As mobilization.     

Assessing cadmium risk in wheat grain using soil threshold values

At present, the prior-established threshold values are widely used to classify contaminated agricultural soils with heavy metals under the cultivation of a variety of crops, without considering the different sensitivity of plants to heavy metals. Evaluation of the characteristics of cadmium transfer from a polluted calcareous soil to cultivated wheat crop and assessment of the efficiency of using the threshold values to reflect the soil pollution risk by cadmium in Zanjan Zinc Town area at the northwest of Iran were the goals of this study. Totally, 65 topsoil (0–20 cm) and corresponding wheat samples of an agricultural region in the proximity of a metallurgical factory were collected and analyzed for cadmium concentration. The results revealed that industrial activities strongly control cadmium distribution in the studied soils. Relatively high bioavailable cadmium contents (mean 0.77 mg kg^?1) were found in the soils, notwithstanding their alkalinity. It was observed that just 22.5% of the studied area around the Zinc Town is covered by polluted soils with the cadmium concentration exceeding the maximum permissible concentration of 5 mg kg^?1, whereas cadmium concentration in wheat grains of 19 sampled plants is higher than the threshold value of 0.2 mg kg^?1. Among these polluted plants, a total of eight samples were grown in areas classified as unpolluted soils with cadmium, based on the soil threshold value. It seems that this misclassification of polluted soils is mainly related to the crop sensitivity to heavy metals uptake from the soil which should be considered.     

Assessment of heavy metal contamination levels of street dust in the city of Lublin,E Poland

Heavy metals are constantly emitted into the environment and pose a major threat to human health, particularly in urban areas. The threat is linked to the presence of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in street dust, which consists of mineral and organic particles originating from the soil, industrial emitters, motor vehicles, and fuel consumption. The study objective was to determine the level of street dust contamination with trace metals in Lublin and to indicate their potential sources of origin. The analyses were carried out with an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The sampling sites (49) were located within the city streets characterised by varying intensity of motor traffic. The following mean content values and their variation (SD) were determined: Cd: 5.1?±?1.7 mg kg^?1, Cr: 86.4?±?23.3 mg kg^?1, Cu: 81.6?±?69.2 mg kg^?1, Ni: 16.5?±?3.9 mg kg^?1, Pb: 44.1?±?16.4 mg kg^?1, and Zn: 241.1?±?94.6 mg kg^?1. The level of pollution was assessed with several widely used geochemical indices (geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, pollution index, index of ecological risk, and potential ecological risk index). For most of the indices, the mean (median) values are arranged in the following manner: Zn?>?Cu(or Cd)?>?Pb?>?Ni?>?Cr. In general, street dust in Lublin does not show pollution with Cr, Ni, and Pb. I_geo and EF indices show moderate levels for Cu, Cd, and Zn; their presence in street dust is linked with anthropogenic factors (motor traffic). A significant threat is posed by Cd, and more than half of the samples show considerable pollution with cadmium (median for the index of ecological risk: 151). The spatial pattern of indices and the results of statistical analyses (CA, PCA) indicate three groups of elements: (1) Cr and Ni: natural origin; (2) Pb: mixed origin; and (3) Cd, Cu, and Zn: anthropogenic origin (mainly motor vehicle traffic). Higher content values for metals of anthropogenic origin in street dust indicate that it is a source of pollution of soil and air in the city.     

Occurrence of phthalate esters around the major plastic industrial area in southern Taiwan

The increasing usage and disposal of plastic products could cause the wide distribution of phthalate esters (PAEs) in various environmental media. In this study, six PAE compounds, namely dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate, were analyzed in various samples collected from the major plastic industrial area of southern Taiwan, including soil, fertilizer and plastic products, for the purposes of identifying of the possible sources of PAEs and assessing the related health risk. The results show that PAEs in soil samples was dominated by DEHP, with the total concentrations in the range of 0.7?±?0.5, 0.2?±?0.1, and 0.3?±?0.2 mg kg^?1 for soil samples from farmland, household back gardens and the roadside, respectively. Contents of PAEs in chemical fertilizer (ND—0 0.87 mg kg^?1) were higher than that in organic fertilizer (ND—0.08 mg kg^?1), and PAEs concentrations (ND—316 mg kg^?1) in plastic mulching films were much less than those in the other types of plastic products (ND—1719 mg kg^?1), implying that major sources of PAEs in agricultural soil could be the use of chemical fertilizer and plastic products other than plastic mulching films. Health risk assessment suggested that, via the exposure to PAEs in soil, the potential non-cancer and carcinogenic risks for adults and children are minimal in most cases, except that a “moderate” carcinogenic risk for children exposure to DEHP. The results of this study can serve as a reference for further pollution prevention and environmental protection plans in relation to the industrial operation and discharge as well as the farming practices.     

Role of rhizosphere and soil properties for the phytomanagement of a salt marsh polluted by mining wastes

The goal of this study was to evaluate the soil properties and their modifications within the rhizosphere of spontaneous vegetation as key factors to assess the phytomanagement of a salt marsh polluted by mining wastes. A field survey was performed based on a plot sampling design. The results provided by the analyses of rhizospheric soil (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, total nitrogen, etc.) and metal(loid)s’ phytoavailability (assessed by EDTA) were discussed and related to plant metal uptake. The averages of pH and EC values of the bulk soil and rhizospheric samples were in the range of neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7–8) to saline (>2 dS m^?1), respectively. Heavy metal and As concentrations (e.g. ~600 mg kg^?1 As, ~50 mg kg^?1 Cd, ~11,000 mg kg^?1 Pb) were higher in the rhizosphere for both total and EDTA-extractable fraction. Phragmites australis uptaked the highest concentrations in roots (e.g. ~66 mg kg^?1 As, ~1,770 mg kg^?1 Zn) but not in shoots, for which most of plant species showed low values for Zn (<300 mg kg^?1) but not for Cd (>0.5 mg kg^?1) or Pb (~20–40 mg kg^?1). Vegetation distribution in the studied salt marsh looked to be more affected by salinity than by metal pollution. The free availability of water for plants and the incoming nutrient-enriched effluents which flow through the salt marsh may have hindered the metal(loid)s’ phytotoxicity. The phytomanagement of these polluted areas employing the spontaneous vegetation is a good option in order to improve the ecological indicators and to prevent the transport of pollutants to nearby areas.     

Study of soil gas radon variations in the tectonically active Dharamshala and Chamba regions,Himachal Pradesh,India

Soil gas radon measurements were made in Chamba and Dharamshala regions of Himachal Pradesh, India, to study the correlation, if any, between the soil gas radon, radium activity concentration of soil, and the geology/active tectonics of the study region. Soil gas radon surveys were conducted around the local fault zones to check their tectonic activities using the soil gas technique. Soil gas radon activity concentration at thirty-five different locations in Dharamshala region has been found to be varying from 13.2 ± 1.5 to 110.8 ± 5.0 kBq m^?3 with a geometrical mean of 35.9 kBq m^?3 and geometrical standard deviation of 1.8. Radon activity concentration observed in the thirty-seven soil gas samples collected from the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh varies from 5.2 ± 1.0 to 35.6 ± 2.5 kBq m^?3, with geometrical mean of 15.8 kBq m^?3 and geometrical standard deviation of 1.6. Average radium activity concentrations in thirty-four soil samples collected from different geological formations of Dharamshala region and Chamba region are found to be 40.4 ± 17 and 38.6 ± 1.7 Bq kg^?1, respectively. It has been observed that soil gas radon activity concentration has a wide range of variation in both Dharamshala and Chamba regions, while radium activity concentrations in soil samples are more or less same in both the regions. Moreover, soil gas radon activity concentration has a better positive correlation with the radium activity concentration in soil samples collected from Chamba region as compared to Dharamshala region.     

Effects of anthropopressure and soil properties on the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the upper layer of soils in selected regions of Poland

Fifty soil samples collected from agricultural land in four regions of Poland with different anthropopressure were analysed for their content of 16PAHs by GC/MS. The regions correspond to Polish administrative units (voievodeships): Podlaskie and Lubelskie are situated in the rural East part of the country and more industrialised Slaskie and Dolnoslaskie voievodeships – in the South-West part. Basic physicochemical properties as well as the content of selected potentially harmful metals (Pb and Zn) were included in the soil analysis. Overall accumulation of Σ16PAHs in the upper soil layer was within the range 73–1800 μg kg⁻¹ with a geometric mean (GM) of 252 μg kg⁻¹, while the mean benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) load was 20 μg kg⁻¹. This corresponds with data for other European countries. Carcinogenic compounds contributed nearly in 50% to the total PAHs loads. In uncontaminated rural regions the mean Σ16PAHs and BaP contents were 113–159 μg kg⁻¹ and 11–13 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Regional conditions strongly influenced the accumulation of PAHs ?4-rings, which were highly dependent (over 95%) on local anthropopressure expressed as dust and 4PAHs emission indexes. Soil acidity was the main soil parameter related to the accumulation of higher molecular weight PAHs in soils. In more contaminated regions a significant link between soil OM and PAH loads was noted. The same regions were characterised by associations between PAHs and potentially harmful metals implying common sources of pollution. Those relationships were not observed in the uncontaminated part of the country. The lower molecular weight PAHs contributed to a smaller extent (about 20%) to the total PAHs content in soils, and were less affected by anthropogenic factors.     

Nitrogen isotope studies of nitrate contamination of the thick vadose zones in the wastewater-irrigated area

The objective of this study was to investigate natural abundance and the distribution of nitrogen isotopic compositions to assess denitrification in two ~30 m thick vadose zones beneath the different land uses in the wastewater-irrigated area located in southern Shijiazhuang, China. Sediment samples were collected from cores of boreholes drilled in the vegetable growth plot and the wastewater-irrigated farmland for analyses of nitrogen isotopes, physical and chemical properties, respectively. The profile of borehole A drilled in the vegetable growth plot only applied animal wastes had lower δ¹⁵N values of mean +7.5 ‰ in the upper vadose zone, but higher values of mean +10.9 ‰ in the lower vadose zone. δ¹⁵N values in each part varied little with depth, indicating no or little denitrification occurred in the deep vadose zone below the soil zone. The profile of borehole B drilled in the wastewater-irrigated farmland had low δ¹⁵N values of mean +5.7 ‰ below the soil zone and little variations of δ¹⁵N values with depth, indicating no or little denitrification occurred in the deep vadose zone below the soil zone. This was also verified by consistent variations of NO₃ ^? and SO₄ ^2? contents with Cl^? contents. Our results suggested most of leachable nitrate from the soil zone was hardly subjected to biological attenuation into groundwater.     

The effects of petroleum-contaminated soil on photosynthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amorpha fruticosa</Emphasis> seedlings

A pot experiment was conducted to monitor the dynamic response of photosynthesis of Amorpha fruticosa seedlings to different concentrations of petroleum-contaminated soils from April to September. The results showed that the photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of seedlings significantly decreased in 5–20 g kg^?1 petroleum-contaminated soil during the three given sampling period of July 31 (early), August 30 (mid-term) and September 29 (late). However, the intercellular CO₂ concentration significantly increased in 10 g kg^?1 contaminated soil, while declined in 20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the early sampling period as well as in 20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the late sampling period. The leaf relative water content of seedlings significantly increased in 20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the early sampling period, while it dropped dramatically in 15–20 g kg^?1 contaminated soil during the late sampling period. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and the total chlorophyll of seedlings showed a sharp decline during the three sampling periods in contaminated soil. Comprehensively, considering the negative effects of petroleum on the photosynthesis, growth performance and remediation effect on petroleum of A. fruticosa seedlings, this plant was tolerant of petroleum-contaminated soil and was potentially useful for the phytoremediation of petroleum-contaminated sites in northern Shaanxi, China.     

Determination of natural radioactivity levels in soil and travertine of the region of Tokat and Sivas,Turkey

In this study, the environmental radioactivity measurements for Tokat and Sivas provinces in the northeast of Turkey were performed. Using gamma ray spectrometry, the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in soil and travertine samples (²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K) were determined. The annual effective dose equivalent, the absorbed doses rate in air, the radium equivalent, and the external hazard index were obtained from these activities. The activity concentrations vary from 9.09 to 17.04 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th, from 36.53 to 76.95 Bq kg^?1 for ²²⁶Ra, and from 216.56 to 576.59 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K in soil samples. The activity concentrations in travertines vary from 15.99 to 21.01 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th, from 19.89 to 67.71 Bq kg^?1 for ²²⁶Ra, and from 179.89 to 314.43 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K. The average dose rate in air for soil and travertine samples was 43.41 and 41.05 nGy h^?1 respectively. The obtained results are presented and compared with other studies, and the results of this study are lower than the international recommended value (55 nGy h^?1) given by UNSCEAR ( 2000). The results show that the region has a background radiation level within the natural limits.