Spatial variability of soil available Zn and Cu in paddy rice fields of China

As a source of nutrient supplements, the deficiency or excess of micronutrients in soil is directly connected to the plant uptake and, thereby, status of micronutrients in the human population. Proper management of micronutrients requires an understanding of the variations of soil micronutrients across the fields. This study is to investigate the spatial patterns of soil available Zn and Cu in paddy rice fields. Four hundred and sixty three soil samples were taken in Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou (HJH) watershed in Zhejiang Province, China, and available Zn and Cu were analyzed using an atomic adsorption spectrometer. Geostatistical semivariograms analysis indicated that the available Zn and Cu were best fitted to a spherical model with a range of 40.5 and 210.4 km, respectively. There were moderate spatial dependences for Zn and Cu over a long distance and the dependence were attributed to soil types and anthropogenic activities. The overlay analysis of spatial patterns and soil types gave us greater understanding about how intrinsic factors affect the spatial variation of available micronutrients. Based on the above, macroscopically regionalized management of soil available micronutrients and the implications to potential risk were discussed.     

Spatial variability of soil organic matter and nutrients in paddy fields at various scales in southeast China

The present study examines the spatial dependency of soil organic matter and nutrients in paddy fields at three different scales using geostatistics and geographic information system techniques (GIS). The spatial variability of soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AP) has been characterized using a total of 460, 131 and 64 samples that were, respectively, collected from the Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou (HJH) Plain (10 km), Pinghu county (1,000 m) and a test plot area (100 m) within the Pinghu county, Zhejiang province of the southeast China. Semivariograms showed that the SOM and TN had moderate spatial dependency on the large scale of HJH plain and moderate scale of Pinghu county with long spatial correlation distances. At the moderate scale of Pinghu county and the small scale of a test plot area, the AP data did not show any spatial correlation, but had moderate spatial dependency in HJH plain. Spherical and exponential variogram models were best fitted to all these soil properties. Maps of SOM and TN were generated through interpolation of measured values by ordinary kriging, and AP by lognormal kriging. This study suggests that precision management of SOM and TN is feasible at all scales, and precision management of AP is feasible at large scales.     

探索涝渍连续抑制天数指标作为水稻排水标准的试验

为探索涝渍连续抑制天数指标作为水稻排水标准, 通过测坑模拟水稻抽穗开花期涝渍连续动态试验,构建了水稻涝渍连续抑制天数指标（Continuous Stress-Day Index of Water Logging,CSDI）的模型,提出了CSDI和涝害权重系数的求解方法,通过对实测数据的分析,建立了水稻相对产量与CSDI的关系模型。研究结果表明:单纯受渍和涝渍连续灾害均会造成水稻不同程度的减产,但涝渍连续灾害减产程度比单纯受渍高;涝害权重系数是一个随涝渍状态变化而变化的状态变量;在涝渍连续情况下,水稻的相对产量与CSDI具有良好的线性关系,涝渍连续抑制天数指标可作为水稻排水设计标准。利用文中CSDI的模型,可制定水稻控制排水策略。     

Fractal features of soil particle-size distributions and their relationships with soil properties in gravel-mulched fields

Soil particle-size distribution (PSD) is an important index for soil classification because it has large influences on soil hydrological characteristics, salinity, fertility, erodibility, nutrient content, swelling/shrinking, and degradation. We present a case study of the fractal characteristics of soil PSD and its relationship with soil properties of gravel-mulched fields in an arid area of northwestern China using single-fractal calculation. Particle size was unimodally distributed within the narrow range of 20–100 μm, with silt as the most common component. Horizontally, silt content was the highest, followed by sand and clay contents. Vertically, clay content increased with depth, while there were no obvious change rules for both silt and sand contents. The volume fractal dimension (D) of PSD ranged from 2.4307 to 2.5260, increased with the content of fine particles but decreased with the content of coarse particles. D was correlated positively with soil-water content and salt content and negatively with bulk density. The saturated soil-water content was strongly correlated negatively with silt content (p < 0.01) and positively with sand content (p < 0.01). The results indicate that D can be a potential indicator of the physical and chemical properties of soil and can also provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the effective use and management of the region.     

Effects of soil type and fertilizer on As speciation in rice paddy contaminated with As-containing pesticide

Inorganic arsenic (As) pesticides have been widely used for decades in many countries. However, insufficient data are available on the chemical speciation of inorganic arsenicals in tropical paddy soils. Inorganic As-containing pesticides were used in tropical countries, a few decades ago, however, their fate have not been studied. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine fractionation of inorganic arsenicals and to assess As lability with/without fertilizer application using a static incubation experiment. Eight soils from wet and dry regions of Sri Lanka were amended with 1,000 mg/kg arsenate for this purpose. The FT-IR and XRF results suggested that soils in the wet region were rich in Fe/Al-oxides. Paddy soils in the dry zone showed high As lability. These low-humic gley soils have low Fe/Al oxyhydroxide and alkaline pH. In contrast, the wet zone had soils with higher As retention capacity, high amounts of Fe/Al oxyhydroxide, and acidic pH. Arsenic lability increased considerably 30 days after fertilizer application. Overall, As lability was mainly influenced by soil mineralogical and chemical properties, i.e., Fe/Al oxyhydroxide, pH, organic matter, and fertilizer application.     

Solar flares associated with singularities in the differential characteristics of magnetic fields

We analyze the flare events of October 28 and May 27, 2003 to examine the possible connection of solar flares with singularities in the differential characteristics of solar magnetic fields. The relation between flares and the behavior of F indicators (which describe structural singularities of the magnetic fields) introduced earlier is analyzed. It is shown that the generation of flares can be associated with self-intersections (or reconnection) of the F = 0 curves, where magnetic reconnection can occur. Consequently, the current sheets generated in such regions can be sources of energy release.     

Evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes in arsenic-contaminated alluvial aquifers in parts of Mid-Ganga Basin,Bihar, Eastern India

The study region covers 1,650 km² of the Mid-Ganga Basin in Bihar, experiencing intensive groundwater draft. The area forms a part of the Gangetic alluvial plain where high incidence of arsenic groundwater contamination (>50 μg/l) has recently been detected. Seventy-seven groundwater samples have been collected and analysed for major ions, iron and arsenic. Arsenic contamination (max 620 μg/l) is confined in hand pump zones (15–35 m) within the newer alluvium deposited during Middle Holocene to Recent age. The older alluvial aquifers are arsenic-safe and recorded maximum concentration as 9 μg/l. Out of 12 hydrochemical facies identified, four have been found arsenic-affected: Ca–HCO₃, Mg–HCO₃, Ca–Mg–HCO₃ and Mg–Ca–HCO₃. The geochemical evolution of groundwater, as investigated by graphical interpretation and statistical techniques (correlation, principal component analysis) revealed that dissolution of detrital calcite, dolomite and infiltration of rainwater are the major processes shaping the groundwater chemistry in the newer alluvium. Arsenic and iron showed strong positive correlation. Rainfall infiltration, carrying organic matter from recently accumulated biomass from this flood-prone belt, plays a critical role in releasing arsenic and iron present in the sediments. Geochemical evolution of groundwater in older alluvium follows a different path, where cation-exchange has been identified as a significant process.     

A critical political ecology of cotton and soil fertility in Mali

The aim of this article is to analyse the influence of commodified cotton production on soil fertility in southern Mali. From the late 1950s and until recently, production of both cash-crop cotton and food crops have increased rapidly in this region, giving it a reputation of being an African ‘success story’. The flip side of this economic success is, however, said to be environmental degradation especially in terms of loss of soil fertility. We collected 273 soil samples in 19 villages located in various zones of land use intensity. In each village, the samples were collected on up to six different land use types varying with intensification. The analysis of the soil samples showed that soil fertility was highest in the sacred groves that have been protected and never cultivated. However, comparing soils under continuous cultivation and soils under fallow no clear trends in soil fertility were found. Cotton yields have declined since the early 1990s, while the total use of fertilisers has increased. This is often interpreted as proof of soil exhaustion, but there is no clear indication in this study that cotton-cereal rotation as practiced by smallholders in southern Mali reduces soil fertility. We argue that the decline in yields has been caused by an extensification process. Cotton fields expanded rapidly, due to attractive cotton prices in the 1990s, leading to falling investments per ha and cultivation of more marginal lands. These findings also have implications for a political ecology of commodity production and lead us to argue for an open-ended and empirically based ‘critical political ecology’.     

休耕水稻田蓄水对土壤肥力影响试验

主要探讨水稻田休耕期间蓄水对休耕后土壤肥力之影响。选择两块水稻田区,在水稻收割后,将田区翻耕一次。一田区以人工连续灌溉,蓄存水量于田区;另一田区则为天然蓄水。在每一田区四边及中央处,以10cm为一层采取土样,取至60cm。再将每一层土样气干后,通过0.42mm筛网土样混合,分析田区同一层在不同时段与不同深度下之pH值、电导度值、有机质、全氮、有效磷、钙离子、镁离子、钾离子及钠离子之变化。试验结果显示:休耕后水稻根系腐化,造成土壤有机质以及有效磷显著的增加。蓄水后天然蓄水田区有机质和有效磷分别增加51%及88%,连续蓄水田区分别增加13%和69%。而天然蓄水田区镁、钾、钠分别降低35%、24%和47%,连续蓄水田区分别降低29%、14%及41%。     

The study of soil acidification of paddy field influenced by acid mine drainage

The acidification of paddy fields was studied in Guizhou Province, China. Affected by acid mine drainage, the pH value of irrigation water was 2.9 with the concentrations of iron and aluminium above 40 mg/L. Based on the pH(H₂O) of topsoil, the paddy fields studied were classified spatially into three zones, the natural zone (pH value from 6.2 to 5.5), the acidified zone (pH value from 5.5 to 4.5), and the seriously acidified zone (pH value from 4.5 to 3.2), respectively. Comparing to the natural zone, the buffering processes for acidification of paddy soil were discussed by considering the changes of calcium, magnesium, potassium and aluminium in soils. The Ca, Mg and K were leached from the soil by the decomposition of carbonate and kaolinite. The leaching of Mg became less with the enrichment of iron in topsoil layer. When the soil pH was below 5.0, aluminium was leached from soil because of the dissolution of alumino silicate minerals. In addition, the hydrolysis of iron and aluminium in soil provided more protons to promote the soil acidification. Furthermore, the buffer capacity of paddy soil was discussed by the results of buffer experiment, based on which the pH buffer curve was drawn and the empirical formula for calculating the acidification rate was developed. Because pH buffer capacity of soil is about 2.78 cmol_c/kg pH for the pH(H₂O) value above 5.0, it is estimated that only another 50 years are needed for the pH(H₂O) of the paddy soil decrease to 3.5 in the acidified zone if the acid water is used for irrigation continuously.     

Characterization of fresh and weathered petroleum for potential impacts to soil fertility

In many petroleum-producing regions, there are not adequate controls to prevent pipeline breaks and spills, and thus soil is frequently contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Different petroleum oil compounds may produce negative impacts on soil fertility. In this study, four fresh crudes, a weathered petroleum, and oils from bioremediated and burned sites were investigated (specific gravities 0.83–1.27). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed three predominant polar functional groups to be more plentiful in the heavier crudes. The relative abundance of these groups was used to calculate an index that was directly correlated with specific gravity (R ² = 0.9960) and the percent of asphaltene plus (polars + resins) fractions in the oil (R ² = 0.9643). This index correlated exponentially to the water repellency caused by petroleum in an alluvial soil (R ² = 0.9928). Furthermore, extra-heavy oil at a concentration of 10,000 ppm, the maximum allowable oil concentration in the soil that is within regulatory norms in many US states and other countries, and with a specific gravity >1.002, showed severe water repellency. This study presents an alternative for determining soil remediation criteria based on the API gravity of the oil rather than the C-range of the hydrocarbon mixtures, simplifying analytical methods and systematically studying the interaction between the kinds of petroleum mixtures and potential impacts to soil fertility.     

Interactive effect of nitrogen fertilizer and hydrocarbon pollution on soil biological indicators

The investigation of the impact of different forms of nitrogen fertilizer (NO₃-N and NH₄-N) on microbial parameters, enzyme activities and phytotoxicity in a petroleum-contaminated soil was evaluated by an incubation study. The tested enzymes, microbial activity and seed germination index showed different patterns in response to both petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer addition and time of incubation. The results apparently showed that the contamination of soil with petroleum has a negative effect on soil ecosystem. Nitrogen fertilizer could improve inhibition of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil. Nevertheless, nitrogen fertilizer had no significant effect on urease activity in the petroleum-contaminated soil. As compared to NO₃-N, the addition of NH₄-N to the soil resulted in a greater impact on soil performance as attested by the recovery of the soil germination capability and higher values of the respiration. The application of nitrogen fertilizer may be suggested as a good strategy for restoring soils in regions affected by the same problem.     

采用土壤水利用技术的冬小麦田土壤过氧化氢酶活性分析

本文以河北衡水试验场土壤水利用试验为例,讨论不同处理下土壤过氧化氢酶活性的时空变化规律。初步分析得出:(1)冬小麦拔节期,采用不同土壤水利用技术的冬小麦田浅层土壤过氧化氢酶活性差异明显,以沟播不盖秸秆处理的过氧化氢酶活性最强,缩行密植处理的最弱;(2)土壤过氧化氢酶活性随深度的变化趋势大体一致,呈反S形;(3)沟播不盖秸秆处理沟中土壤过氧化氢酶活性明显高于垄上;(4)土壤过氧化氢酶对于田间微生态环境具有指示作用,在一定程度上反映了土壤水利用技术对微生态环境的影响。     

长白山苔原带土壤温度与肥力随海拔的变化特征

土壤温度与土壤肥力的分解释放、植被生长密切相关。利用2015年8月至2017年6月长白山西坡苔原带5 cm土壤温度并测试其土壤肥力,分析了土壤温度与肥力随海拔的变化特征及土壤温度对苔原带肥力的影响。结果表明：（1）长白山西坡苔原带土壤最热月为8月,最冷月为1、2月。长白山西坡苔原带土壤年均温随海拔的升高而下降,垂直变化率为-0.44℃·（100m）^-1。月均温垂直变化率则有所差别,5-9月垂直变化率为正,其余月份垂直变化率为负。（2）海拔是土壤温度空间分异的主要影响因素,冷季土壤温度随海拔升高而显著降低。随着海拔升高,越稀疏的植被和越薄的土层使得土壤热容量越小,暖季土壤温度随海拔升高而显著升高。（3）长白山西坡苔原带土壤肥力,尤其是与植物生长关系密切的速效养分随海拔升高表现出先升高再降低,在植物多样性和丰富度及草本植物盖度最高的2 250 m处达到土壤肥力最高水平。低海拔（2 050~2 250 m）的土壤肥力水平明显高于高海拔（2 350~2 550 m）的土壤肥力水平。西坡苔原带土壤肥力的空间分异状况受草本植物入侵影响较大。（4）长白山西坡苔原带土壤肥力水平随土壤温度升高而升高,温度是土壤有机质分解和矿物质养分转化的限制性因素。建议山地苔原带生态系统生产和生态管理中要重点考虑草本植被入侵给土壤肥力带来的影响。     

活动断层错动引致土壤与结构互制灾害

<正>由历年灾害性地震事件调查资料显示,除了地盘震动、地盘破坏等原因之外,断盘错动导致上覆土层变形,以921集集地震为例,在断层带附近,大多数结构物均遭受到严重损毁。然而少数结构物即使位于断层带,结构体本身却仅有整体位移或转动而未受损。因此断层作用时覆盖断层带上面的土层,在断层作用中所反映的行为与变形对结构物的影响,是该研究的重点。     

The formation of hydrochemical indicators for the pay zones in the Surgut arch oil fields

The causes of the spatial variation in the hydrochemical indicators of groundwater in several oil fields in the Surgut arch of West Siberia are considered. On the basis of statistical processing of the database, including several thousand analyses of groundwater, histograms of the distribution of mineralization and concentrations of Ca²⁺ and HCO ₃ ^? ions through the main pay horizons of the fields are constructed. The influence of deep (hydrothermal) water inflow on the formation of the chemical composition of the stratum waters of oil fields, which is exhibited by an increasing content of HCO ₃ ^? ion with depth, is substantiated.     

Organic pollutants associated with macromolecular soil organic matter: Mode of binding

A study of ether-linked moieties in macromolecular bound residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) generated in bioremediation experiments was performed using high temperature hydrolysis degradation with subsequent analysis of the products by GC-MS. This hydrolysis reaction was specifically designed to cleave ether bonds including relatively stable diarylether structures. Among the reaction products, aromatic alcohols representing typical microbiologically derived metabolites of PAH were found in addition to natural compounds. Thus, parts of the bound residues appeared to be linked within the macromolecular material by ether bonds. Model experiments with an oxidoreductase enzyme and aromatic alcohols indicate the formation of these ether bonds to be an enzyme-catalysed process.     

Assessment of bacterial diversity associated with crude oil-contaminated soil samples from Assam

In this study, we are reporting bacterial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil of Assam, India. Integration of physiological community profiling, culture-dependent and culture-independent (metagenome) approaches, was employed to obtain a complete picture of the total bacterial diversity. Samples collected from 10 sites contaminated with crude oil ranging from 0.22 to 89.36% were analysed, and altogether 160 culturable bacteria were isolated (117 Gram-positive and 43 Gram-negative bacteria). Molecular identification showed the predominance of genera Lysinibacillus, Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas. Conversely, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles of 16S rDNA phylotypes showed the predominance of Sphingomonas, Ralstonia, Sphingobium, Massilia, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches resulted in 11 genera of which Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the key inhabitants creating most favourable bacterial milieu in the presence of crude oil contaminants. Metabolic fingerprints data depicted in PCA plot demonstrated that sites CTF-D-1 and Core-10 were most diverged. It was further confirmed that variations of bacterial species dominance in different sites were due to origin of hydrocarbon contamination. We here claim that the present findings is a first-hand report on combined physiological community profiling, culture-based and culture-independent approaches in assessing total bacterial diversity in crude oil-contaminated soil of Assam.     

白城市水稻种植区土壤的地球化学特征与水稻产量的相关性研究

吉林省白城市水稻种植区土壤的地球化学特征研究表明，土壤中的SiO2,TiO2,Al2O3,FeO,MnO和P2O5等主要元素的含量与水稻产量具有正相关性，而CaO和MgO等主要元素的含量与水稻产量呈负相关性。土壤中的稀土元素含量和水稻产量呈正相关性。     

Factors affecting the mechanization of the tillage operation of paddy fields in Sri Lanka: A geographical perspective

In Sri Lanka where the paddy farmers' income is low and tractor hire rates are considerably high, paddy farmers' tendency to use tractors for tillage operation can hardly be explained in rational terms. However, this paper attempts to assess the significance of some selected socio-economic and physical factors which are considered to be effective in generating compelling grounds to use tractors for the tillage operation of paddy fields.Three socio-economic variables relating to shortage of labour, shortage of buffaloes and limited time available for the tillage operation, which were considered to be crucial in determining the farmers propensity to use tractors, were regressed on the degree of tractor utilization; and then the residuals from the regression were mapped. Then, the map of residuals was compared with the map of agro-climatic regions in order to ascertain the impact of agro-climatic conditions on tractor utilization.It was found that the three socio-economic variables collectively explain 51% of the spatial variation of the degree of mechanization. The map of residuals was found to mostly coincide with the map of agro-climatic regions. While all positive residuals were found to be in the dry zone and in the arid zone where the soil is very dry and hard, only negative residuals were found in the wet zone where the soil is wet and soft. Therefore, it seems that the spatial variation of the degree of mechanization which cannot be explained by the selected socio-economic variables may be attributable to the spatially varying soil conditions.It can be concluded that the selected socio-economic factors and the agro-climatic factors pertaining to dryness and hardness of soils collectively encourage or compel Sri Lankan paddy farmers to use tractors for tillage operation.