Soil and Water Research, 2013 (vol. 8), issue 2

Potassium fixation in soil size fractions of arid soilsOriginal Paper

Mahdi NAJAFI-GHIRI, Ali ABTAHI

Soil & Water Res., 2013, 8(2):49-55 | DOI: 10.17221/52/2012-SWR  

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...

Assessment of a soil with moderate level of contamination using lettuce seed assay and terrestrial isopods assimilation assayOriginal Paper

Flavio Manoel Rodrigues DA SILVA JÚNIOR, Edariane Menestrino GARCIA, Paulo Roberto Martins BAISCH, Nicolai MIRLEAN, Ana Luíza MUCCILLO-BAISCH

Soil & Water Res., 2013, 8(2):56-62 | DOI: 10.17221/28/2012-SWR  

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...

Estimated flows of suspended solids by the statistical analysis of outfall drainage basin of Tafna (Algeria)Original Paper

Hamid BOUCHELKIA, Fadila BELARBI, Boualem REMINI

Soil & Water Res., 2013, 8(2):63-70 | DOI: 10.17221/12/2012-SWR  

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...

Assessment of trace and heavy metal distribution by four sequential extraction procedures in a contaminated soilOriginal Paper

Qingsong HE, Yue REN, Ibrahim MOHAMED, 4, Maha ALI, Waseem HASSAN, Fangui ZENG

Soil & Water Res., 2013, 8(2):71-76 | DOI: 10.17221/20/2012-SWR  

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,...

Use of trace elements from historical mining for alluvial sediment datingOriginal Paper

Jan HORÁK, Michal HEJCMAN

Soil & Water Res., 2013, 8(2):77-86 | DOI: 10.17221/49/2012-SWR  

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...

On-farm evaluation of low-pressure drip irrigation system for smallholdersOriginal Paper

Harby MOSTAFA, Hans-Heinrich THÖRMANN

Soil & Water Res., 2013, 8(2):87-95 | DOI: 10.17221/29/2012-SWR  

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...