Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mahdi NAJAFI-GHIRI Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shiraz University, Darab, Iran Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Author-Name: Ali ABTAHI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Title: Potassium fixation in soil size fractions of arid soils Abstract: Amounts of potassium (K) fixed in soil fractions of 10 calcareous soils of southern Iran were measured to evaluate the contributions of different soil size fractions to K fixation. Soil particles were fractionated after dispersion of the soils with an ultrasonic probe. Potassium fixation analysis was done by addition of 1000 mg K/kg samples. Mineralogy of the size fractions was determined by X-ray diffraction. The clay fractions were dominated by smectite, chlorite, mica, and palygorskite. Potassium fixation capacities ranged from 104 to 148 mg/kg for clay, from 102 to 155 mg/kg for silt, and from 96 to 187 mg/kg for sand fractions. A positive and significant relationship (P < 0.05) was obtained between K fixation capacity and smectite content for the clay fractions. High amounts of K fixed in the sand fraction may be explained by a larger diffusion path of fixed K out of the frayed edges of micaceous and smectitic minerals into the extracting solution, low cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the coarse fraction and thereby the high concentration gradient along solution and interlayers, physical entrapment of K ions in coarse aggregates cemented by carbonates, and by the presence of clay particles in coarse fractions due to incomplete dispersion of coarse aggregates. Keywords: calcareous soils, Iran, smectite, soil fractionation Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 49-55 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/52/2012-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/52/2012-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201302-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:8:y:2013:i:2:id:52-2012-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Flavio Manoel Rodrigues DA SILVA JÚNIOR Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas and Author-Name: Edariane Menestrino GARCIA Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas and Author-Name: Paulo Roberto Martins BAISCH Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratório de Oceanografia Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - FURG, Rio Grande, Brasil Author-Name: Nicolai MIRLEAN Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratório de Oceanografia Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - FURG, Rio Grande, Brasil Author-Name: Ana Luíza MUCCILLO-BAISCH Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas and Title: Assessment of a soil with moderate level of contamination using lettuce seed assay and terrestrial isopods assimilation assay Abstract: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds play a significant role in toxicity tests of isolated chemicals, pesticides, and environmental samples. Commonly, the main variables under study are the rate of seed germination and root elongation at the end of five days of exposure. Another organisms used in environmental assessment of soil quality are terrestrial isopods. The parameter evaluated in this assay is usually mortality rate. In this study, we suggest to use the daily number of germinated seeds and wet weight of plants, and feeding measurements (consumption rate, assimilation rate, assimilation efficiency and growth rate) in woodlice (Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio dilatatus) to detect toxicity of moderately contaminated soil samples. The lettuce seed assay proved to be more efficient in the tested conditions, however, we do not reject the use of feeding parameters in terrestrial isopods in toxicological screening of contaminated soils. Keywords: Lactuca sativa, short-term bioassays, soil contamination, woodlice Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 56-62 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/28/2012-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/28/2012-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201302-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:8:y:2013:i:2:id:28-2012-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hamid BOUCHELKIA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Hydraulics, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria Author-Name: Fadila BELARBI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Hydraulics, University of Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria Author-Name: Boualem REMINI Author-Workplace-Name: Larhyss Laboratory, Department of Water Science, Blida University, Blida, Algeria Title: Estimated flows of suspended solids by the statistical analysis of outfall drainage basin of Tafna (Algeria) Abstract: The solids transport is a complex phenomenon; the intensity of these phenomena varies greatly with the general environment: geology, degree of rock alteration, hydrology, vegetation, climate, etc. The extent of the phenomenon is out of proportion in semi-arid areas or areas with temperate climates. So Algeria is one of the countries most affected by this phenomenon and its consequences. To enable a rapid response to demands from engineers for the quantification of bed load transport at the outlet of a catchment area, a simple tool easy to implement has been developed. The principle adopted is based on hydrometric data from gauging stations, and seasonal and annual analyses have defined an appropriate method for estimating the sediment yield. The study was conducted by analysis of average flows. The Pierre de Chat Station at the outlet of the Tafna watershed was used for application. The results obtained were quite satisfactory because the correlation coefficients of the model: QS = f (Q) are between 87 and 96%. This method once refined can be generalized to all the watersheds of northern Algeria. Keywords: catchment, erosion, sediment transport, statistics, suspension, Tafna Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 63-70 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/12/2012-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/12/2012-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201302-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:8:y:2013:i:2:id:12-2012-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: HE Qingsong Author-Workplace-Name: College of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China Author-Name: Yue REN Author-Workplace-Name: Hubei Geological Research Laboratory, Wuhan, China Author-Name: Ibrahim MOHAMED Author-Workplace-Name: Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Benha, Egypt Author-Name: Maha ALI Author-Workplace-Name: Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Benha, Egypt Author-Name: Waseem HASSAN Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China Author-Name: Fangui ZENG Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Coal Science and Technology of Ministry of Education and Shanxi Province, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China$2 Title: Assessment of trace and heavy metal distribution by four sequential extraction procedures in a contaminated soil Abstract: Four sequential extraction procedures (Sposito, Tessier, Silveira and Bureau Communautaire de Reference (BCR)) were used to evaluate the distribution of some metals (Fe, Cu, Cd and Zn) in a contaminated soil around a mining area. The results showed that Fe and Zn were mainly recovered in the recalcitrant soil fractions, while Cd was primarily localized in the exchangeable fraction. Soil Cu was highly associated with organic matter fraction. The amorphous Fe fraction in Silveira could be recognized as part of the Fe-Mn oxide fraction in Tessier and BCR procedures, while the crystalline Fe oxide fraction was classified into the residual fraction in Sposito, BCR and Tessier schemes. Although the same reagent was used to extract target fraction, less carbonate-bound Cu, Cu and Zn were extracted in Tessier procedure as compared to Silveira method, while Tessier scheme yielded a higher proportion of Fe, Cu and Zn in the Fe-Mn oxide fraction than BCR method. Due to the lack of uniformity of experimental conditions and the differences in extraction reagents, the extraction efficiency of metal species varied with the sequential extraction schemes. Therefore, care should be taken when comparing the results obtained by different sequential extraction procedures. Keywords: fractionation, metals, mining activities, pollution Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 71-76 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/20/2012-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/20/2012-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201302-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:8:y:2013:i:2:id:20-2012-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jan HORÁK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Prehistory and Early History, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Michal HEJCMAN Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Prehistory and Early History, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Use of trace elements from historical mining for alluvial sediment dating Abstract: We examined whether it is possible to relate concentrations of trace elements in alluvial sediments with records concerning the intensity of mining, and use them as a means of dating. We conducted our research in the medieval mining district of the town of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic. Samples were collected under the pond dam and analysed for clay, silt and sand content and for As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn concentrations. We observed two main peaks of element concentrations (Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, V and Zn), independent of grain fractions. The peaks were interpreted as a result of human activity. The concentration curves, stratigraphy and location of the dam/alluvium boundary were compared with historical records of mining production. This means of dam dating into the 16th century agreed with historical dating from written sources. Trace elements were also successfully used as stratigraphic markers. The comparison between concentration patterns of V and other well interpreted elements (Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) enabled to recognize a material directly originating from the mines. The elements thus helped to interpret local sedimentation history. Keywords: archaeological methods, heavy metals, historic metallurgy, human impact, landscape development, Middle Ages Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 77-86 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/49/2012-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/49/2012-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201302-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:8:y:2013:i:2:id:49-2012-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Harby MOSTAFA Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt Author-Name: Hans-Heinrich THÖRMANN Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Institute of Agricultural Technology and Biosystems Engineering, Braunschweig, Germany Title: On-farm evaluation of low-pressure drip irrigation system for smallholders Abstract: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the performance of a low-pressure drip system (LPS) for three years of service, to calculate the consumptive working time and costs of maintenance and laterals retrieving before harvesting and to determine benefits and problems with drip irrigation. Drip irrigation provides the opportunity to save water and the potential to increase net income by applying water at the right quantity and at the right time. Small to medium fields would benefit from the LPS irrigation system which has the ability to distribute the amount of water applied. LPS is a well-researched system for drip irrigation, typically that available for furrow irrigated crops. There are significant agronomic advantages of using a low-pressure, low-flow drip system. These advantages translate into measured improved distribution uniformity when compared to flood irrigated crops and energy savings compared to flood and sprinkler irrigated crops. The old (reused) drip line leads to a decrease in distribution uniformity and an increase in costs, when the distribution uniformity decreased by 10.5 and 21.6% for reusing the laterals in the second and third year, respectively. Moreover, the cost of repairing laterals was more than 5 and 6.5 times higher for both the 2nd and 3rd season. Many disadvantages of drip lines retrieval can be observed, because labour and maintenance are more intensive; there is a risk of mechanical damage to laterals especially if they are reused; increased management skills and experience are needed; and increased retrieval costs arise season after season. Keywords: low head system, maintenance, performance, retrieving Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 87-95 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/29/2012-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/29/2012-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201302-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:8:y:2013:i:2:id:29-2012-SWR