Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Markéta MIHÁLIKOVÁ
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Svatopluk MATULA
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Author-Name: František DOLEŽAL
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Title: Application of k-Nearest code to the improvement of class pedotransfer functions and countrywide Field Capacity and Wilting Point maps
Abstract: The database of soil hydrophysical properties in the Czech Republic (HYPRESCZ) which contains the data needed for derivation of pedotransfer functions for soil water retention curves was used for the estimation of field capacity and wilting point of agricultural land resource on a countrywide scale. The results were combined with the existing Soil Texture Map of the Czech Republic to create four new maps, namely the Map of Field Capacity and the Map of Wilting Point for the topsoil and subsoil separately. From the total number of 1048 relevant database entries, only about a half included reliable wilting point data. The k-Nearest computer code employing the k-Nearest neighbour technique was used for estimation of the missing wilting points, which made it possible to use all entries. The estimation uncertainty was assessed in terms of standard deviations and the root mean square error. Finally, two sets of class pedotransfer functions were derived and found sufficiently comparable: (i) the functions estimating the soil water retention curve in the whole range, derived solely from the database entries containing the measured wilting points, and (ii) the functions estimating the field capacity and wilting point only, derived from all database entries, including the k-Nearest neighbour estimated data.
Keywords: field capacity, k-Nearest neighbour technique, pedotransfer functions, wilting point
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 1-8
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Year: 2014
DOI: 10.17221/44/2013-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/44/2013-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:9:y:2014:i:1:id:44-2013-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Vojtěch ENEV
Author-Workplace-Name: Materials Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Ľubica POSPÍŠILOVÁ
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic;
Author-Name: Martina KLUČÁKOVÁ
Author-Workplace-Name: Materials Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
Author-Name: Tibor LIPTAJ
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of NMR Spectroscopy and Mass Spectroscopy, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Author-Name: Leoš DOSKOČIL
Author-Workplace-Name: Materials Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
Title: Spectral characterization of selected humic substances
Abstract: Current concern for soil quality has stimulated research on soil organic matter (OM). Humic substances (HS) of different origin were compared applying ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), "steady-state" fluorescence spectroscopy, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR). Sodium humates samples were isolated from soil (Gleyic Luvisol), compost, and South-Moravian lignite from the mine Mír in Mikulčice. Sodium humates (SH) were extracted by a conventional procedure recommended by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). Results showed that the presence of O-containing functional groups (carbonyl in aldehydes and ketones, carboxyl in carboxylic acids, ester and ether groups) are in the order of compost > soil > lignohumate > lignite. Further, results of FTIR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and 13C NMR suggested that samples of sodium humates isolated from soil, compost, and lignite were a more polycondensed, oxidized, unsaturated, humified, and aromatic structure. On the other hand, commercial lignohumate (LH) had very simple structural components and wide molecular heterogeneity. Furthermore, a small molecular size and weight, low degree of aromatic polycondensation, low level of conjugated chromophores and fluorophores, and low humification degree were characteristic for commercial LH. It should be noted that the sample of commercial LH was characterized by 13C NMR analysis with a slightly higher value of aromaticity α in comparison with the sample of compost. The application of non-destructive analytical methods such as UV-VIS, FTIR, 13C NMR, and fluorescence spectroscopy help us to provide main characteristics of selected humic substances.
Keywords: 13C NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), humates, lignohumate, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-VIS
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 9-17
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Year: 2014
DOI: 10.17221/39/2013-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/39/2013-SWR.html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:9:y:2014:i:1:id:39-2013-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Lenka ANGELOVIČOVÁ
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences and
Author-Name: Danica FAZEKAŠOVÁ
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Management, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovak Republic
Title: Contamination of the soil and water environment by heavy metals in the former mining area of Rudňany (Slovakia)
Abstract: Contamination of soil and water environment by heavy metals in a former mining area and their effect on the soil characteristics were determined. Soil samples were collected in the village of Rudňany which is, according to environmental regionalization, classified as an environmentally loaded and unhealthy area. Soil samples were collected in 2011 at eight fields situated at different distance from the pollution source. Total contents of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg), soil reaction (pH), organic carbon (Cox), activity of urease (URE), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined in soil samples. Water samples were collected in Rudniansky creek, which flows through the village. The contents of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg) were determined in water samples. High contents of heavy metals in soil and water result from long-term mining and smelting activities predominantly focused on copper and mercury production. Numerous heaps of waste material and tailing ponds are the main pollutant sources representing a great threat to the environment, as these pollutants can accumulate in plants and enter the food chain. Extremely high and above-limit values of copper and mercury were determined in the sampled soils. According to the index of geoaccumulation, copper has been shown as a serious contaminant in some soil sampling fields, which were determined as strongly contaminated. In terms of the geoaccumulation index, all sampling fields were evaluated as very strongly contaminated by mercury. We found significant positive correlation between zinc, lead, and copper contents in soils, which is a likely sign of the same source of pollution. A nonsignificant but positive relationship between soil reaction and heavy metals and a negative correlation between soil pH and organic carbon were observed. A high degree of soil pollution was reflected in soil biological properties. Activity of soil enzymes significantly decreased with increasing heavy metals content in soils. Rudniansky creek was polluted only by copper and mercury. The highest and above-limit values of these metals were determined at the point where the stream leaves the village (in a downstream direction).
Keywords: copper, environmental loads, soil enzymes, soil and water pollution, toxic elements
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 18-24
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Year: 2014
DOI: 10.17221/24/2013-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/24/2013-SWR.html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:9:y:2014:i:1:id:24-2013-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Mohammad Reza KHALEGHI
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Range and Watershed Management, Teheran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Author-Name: Jamal GHODUSI
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Range and Watershed Management, Teheran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Author-Name: Hassan AHMADI
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Range and Watershed Management, Teheran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Title: Regional analysis using the Geomorphologic Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph (GIUH) method
Abstract: The construction of design flood hydrographs for ungauged drainage areas has traditionally been approached by regionalization, i.e. the transfer of information from the gauged to the ungauged catchments in a region. Such approaches invariably depend upon the use of multiple linear regression analysis to relate unit hydrograph parameters to catchment characteristics and generalized rainfall statistics. In the present study, Geomorphologic Instaneous Unit Hydrograph (GIUH) was applied to simulate the rainfall-runoff process and also to determine the shape and dimensions of outlet runoff hydrographs in a 37.1 km2 area in the Ammameh catchment, located at northern Iran. The first twenty-one equivalent rainfall-runoff events were selected, and a hydrograph of outlet runoff was calculated for each event. An intercomparison was made for the three applied approaches in order to propose a suitable model approach that is the overall objective of this study. Hence, the time to peak and peak flow of outlet runoff in the models were then compared, and the model that most efficiently estimated hydrograph of outlet flow for similar regions was determined. Statistical analyses of the models demonstrated that the GIUH model had the smallest main relative and square error. The results obtained from the study confirmed the high efficiency of the GIUH and its ability to increase simulation accuracy for runoff and hydrographs. The modified GIUH approach as described is therefore recommended for further investigation and intercomparison with regression-based regionalization methods.
Keywords: Ammameh catchment, geomorphologic and geomorphoclimatic instantaneous unit hydrographs, rainfall-runoff model, regionalization
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 25-30
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Year: 2014
DOI: 10.17221/33/2012-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/33/2012-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:9:y:2014:i:1:id:33-2012-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Mahdi NAJAFI-GHIRI
Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shiraz University, Darab, Iran
Title: Effects of zeolite and vermicompost applications on potassium release from calcareous soils
Abstract: Zeolite and vermicompost applications to soil may improve K fertility of soils. For this purpose, these materials were added to five representative calcareous soils collected from southern Iran. The treatments included (1) control, (2) 20 g/kg zeolite, (3) 20 g/kg vermicompost, and (4) 20 g/kg vermicompost + zeolite (1:1). The samples were incubated for 90 days, and the concentrations of soluble, exchangeable, and non-exchangeable K and K release rate to 0.01M CaCl2 during 240 min (16 successive 15 min extractions of soil samples with CaCl2 solution) were determined. Results indicated that zeolite application increased significantly the concentration of soluble and exchangeable K. Vermicompost application had a positive effect on all forms of K. Cumulative K release was also affected by vermicompost application. Comparison of experimental data to different kinetic models indicated that Elovich, power function, and parabolic diffusion models described well kinetics of K release from all soil samples to 0.01M CaCl2. The b values of Elovich equation had significant relationships with NH4OAc- and HNO3-extractable K. It is recommended that for K fertility management of calcareous soils, organic and inorganic amendments application to soils should be taken into consideration.
Keywords: available K, Iran, K fertility, kinetic models, non-exchangeable K
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 31-37
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Year: 2014
DOI: 10.17221/72/2012-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/72/2012-SWR.html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:9:y:2014:i:1:id:72-2012-SWR

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Gebreyesus Brhane TESFAHUNEGN
Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Aksum University, Shire, Ethiopia
Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Author-Name: Paul L.G. VLEK
Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Title: Assessing sediment enrichment ratio in Mai-Negus catchment, northern Ethiopia
Abstract: Soil degradation is a threat to sustainable development in Ethiopia. However, degradation indicators, such as sediment enrichment ratio (SER), are not adequately documented in literature. This study aims to investigate the SER of different erosion-status sites (aggrading, stable, eroded) in various landforms in Mai-Negus catchment, northern Ethiopia. The erosion-status sites in the landforms were identified using field indicators, and soil samples were collected for analysis of selected soil parameters. In this study, due to the ratio of aggrading to eroded or stable sites at catchment and landform levels, the SER of soil nutrients and fine soil particles was > 1. But due to the ratio of aggrading to eroded sites in the landforms the average SER of the soils were higher (1.42-7.22) as compared to the ratios of aggrading to stable sites (1.10-3.66). The SER significantly (P ≤ 0.05) differed among the landforms, which indicated differences in the effect of erosion. The relationships between the SER of fine soil particles and soil nutrients were strong. Thus, priority for introducing appropriate anti-erosion measures should be given to sources of high SER sites such as the mountainous and central ridge landforms in the catchment using the limited resources available.
Keywords: degradation, erosion-status sites, landform
Journal: Soil and Water Research
Pages: 38-45
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Year: 2014
DOI: 10.17221/16/2013-SWR
File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/16/2013-SWR.html
File-Format: text/html
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Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:9:y:2014:i:1:id:16-2013-SWR