JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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High-yielding rice varieties are prevailing in Guilan Province which is one of the most important rice producing regions in Iran. However, little is known about K status in this region and no suitable extraction method can yet be introduced to the farmers. This experiment was carried out to determine the available K by 15 chemical extractants and also to examine the critical K levels in paddy soils of the region. The treatments included 23 soils and 2 K levels (0 and 300 mg/kg as KCl) in a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications.

 Results indicated that K application increased grain and straw yields, K concentration in straw as well as K uptake by rice. High correlation coefficients were observed between MgOAc, H₂SO₄, Morgan and 0.01 M CaC_l2 methods with K concentration in straw (0, 0.83, 0.78, 0.8 and 0.78, respectively) and with K concentration in plant tops (0.79, 0.76, 0.75 and 0.73, respectively). Similarly, high correlation coefficients were observed between the same extraction methods with K absorbed by straw (0.83, 0.82, 0.78 and 0.76, respectively) and with total plant K uptake (0.79, 0.83, 0.74 and 0.71, respectively). Potassium critical levels by different extracting solutions were determined by Cate-Nelson procedure and were 38, 74, 160, 111, 36, 112 and 100 mg kg^-1 for MgOAc, Morgan and Kelowana methods, Texas method H₂SO₄ 0.01 M CaCl₂ and NH₄OAc without and with submergence of soil samples, respectively. In this study, available K was below the critical level in almost 75% of the soils.

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Quantity-intensity (Q/I) curves and their derived parameters provide general information about soil K availability. This investigation was conducted to obtain Q/I parameters and to study the relationships between the Potassium Q/I parameters and the properties of 15 soils from central and northern Iran. Soil samples were equilibrated with solutions containing different potassium activity ratios (AR^k). Changes in potassium concentrations in the equilibrium solution (ΔK) were plotted against activity ratio of K, and Q/I parameters were determined. Correlations between Q/I Parameters and some properties of soils were studied.

The Q/I plots showed the common shapes described in the literature whereas high variations were observed in the soils with respect to AR°, ΔR°, BPC^k and K_x. The potassium activity ratio at equilibrium ranged from 0.005 to 0.532 with an average of 0.02 (mmol L^-1)^0.5. The potassium potential buffering capacity (PBCk) ranged from 4.40 to 76.3 with an average of 16.2 (mmol kg-1) / (mmol L-1)0.5. The readily exchangeable potassium (ΔK°) ranged from 0.007 to 0.737 with an average of 0.25 cmol kg^-1 and slowly exchangeable potassium (K^x) ranged from 0.023 to 0.55 with an average of 0.3 cmol kg^-1. Highly significant linear correlations were found (α=0.01) between PBC^k and CEC (r=0.66), AR° and exchangeable potassium percentage (r=0.76), AR° and solution potassium (r=0.89), and between ΔK° and exchangeable potassium (r=0.79). Because of high variations in physicochemical properties of soils, correlation coefficients between Q/I parameters and soil properties were not very high.

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Life in central Iran depends on the Zayandehrood river, making the preservation of its quality important. Salinization and pollution of the flow as a result of different organic and inorganic pollutants create serious threats to the environment and to the agricultural activities in the region. Although the role of the main drains discharged into the Zayandehrood in changing its quality is well known, little information is available on the volume and quality of the discharged drains. The purpose of this research was to study the quantity and quality of three main drains (Zoab-Ahan, Rudasht and Segzi) discharging into the Zayandehrood, Monthly samples were taken from each drain and their chemical properties were measured in 1998. The discharge rates were also measured simultaneously at sections near the discharge points.

The results showed that all three drains were alkaline and, therefore, had no negative effects on the pH of the river flow. Mean annual EC of Zoab-Ahan, Rudasht and Segzi drains were 5.56, 27.18 and 42.41 dS/m, respectively, and the salt loads discharged into the river by these drains were 39258.4, 37672.9 and 259781.2 ton/year, respectively. Annual mean N concentrations were 4.49, 3.92 and 4.18 mg/L and annual mean P concentrations were 0.26, 0.16 and 0.12 mg/L in the drains, respectively. The most important effect of the drains on the Zayandehrood was salinization, especially in the lower parts of the river. The increase in soluble salt contents of the river after Segzi drain discharge was so high that it made the water thereafter unusable for any purpose.

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Soil as the third major component of our environment is exposed to different kinds of pollution. Lead has been recognized as a factor in environmental pollution. Pollution of soil and plants along the highways and roads by Pb from automobile exhaust gases has extensively been reported as the most important pollutant source in the environment. This research was carried out to determine the degree of soil pollution along the following highways: Rasht-Anzaly (Anzaly area), Kelachay-Ramsar (Ramsar area), Tehran-Karaj (Karaj area) and Isfahan-Tehran (Delijan area). In each location a transect of 100 meters long, perpendicular to the highway axis, was selected for sampling. Soil samples at different depths were taken from different distances from the highway and analysed for some physical and chemical characteristics and total Ph content by 5M HNO3 extraction.

 Results indicated that the total Pb content of soil decreased exponentially with distance from the roadside. Total Pb content of soil decreased sharply with depth in all highways except in one area indicating that Pb was retained in the surface soil and that its movement down to the deep soil was slow. Total Pb content of soils was highly and directly related to the traffic volume.

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Evaluation of nutrient status in soil is important from nutritional, environmental and economical aspects. Potassium is a very important plant nutrient not only because of its large demand, but also because of its important physiological and biochemical functions in plant. In order to evaluate K availability and common K extractants in the central region of Isfahan Province, surface soil samples from 26 important soil series were taken, out of which 16 soil samples were selected for further study based on their ammonium acetate extractable K and texture. Available K was extracted from the soil samples by NH₄OAC (4 methods), CaCl₂ (2 methods), NaCl (2 methods), NaOAC, AB-DTPA, Mehlich I, Mehlich III, Morgan-Wolf and HNO₃. A green house experiment using corn (Zea mays L.) variety Single-cross 704 as the test plant with 2 treatments (zero and 150 mg/kg K) and three replications was performed with the 16 selected soils to correlate K uptake with K extracted by different extractants.

 From XRD analysis, the dominant clay mineral was found to be Illite. Based on the amount of potassium extracted by these extractants from the soils the extractants used in this research may be divided into three groups: relatively weak extractants including CaCl₂, Mehlich I and Morgan-Wolf relatively strong extractants including NH₄OAC, NaCl (2N), Mehlich III, AB-DTPA, NaOAC and NaCl (1N), the strongest and weakest extractants in this group were NH₄OAC and NaCl (1N), respectively and finally, a very strong extractant which includes only HNO₃. In each group, the quantities of extracted K showed high correlation with each other. A high and significant correlation was observed between the quantities of K extracted by NH₄OAC, AB-DTPA and HNO₃. The amount of K extracted by 2N NaCl, 1N NaOAC, 1N NH₄OAC, and AB-DTPA was significantly correlated with K taken up by plant and its K concentration. 2N NaCl and 1N NaOAC were selected as the most suitable extractants for K based on their high correlation coefficients with plant uptake (0.79** and 0.72**, respectively) and K concentration in plant (0.86** and 0.85**, respectively). Yield, relative yield and plant response were not significantly correlated with K extracted by different extractants indicating that available K of the selected soils was not a limiting factor for corn growth therefore, it was impossible to determine the critical level of K for corn by the selected extractant.

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Potassium fixation and release by phillosilicate clay minerals in soils are very important processes influencing the availability of K to plants. This investigation was conducted to determine the potassium fixation capacity and charge characteristics of soil clays of 15 surface soils (0-30 cm) from central and northern Iran. After clay particle separation, both total and tetrahedral cation exchange capacity of soil clays were determined. Tetrahedral CEC was measured after saturation with Li and heating at 300 C to reduce octahedral charge to near zero. Potassium fixation was obtained in both wet (1:10 soil:solution, 16 h on a shaker) and dry conditions (after drying for 24 h at 70°C) using three different levels of added K

The total CEC in soil clays of Isfahan, Char-Mahal and Gilan provinces ranged from 22.1-36.0, 33.0-55.8 and 31.3-47.9 cmol kg^-1, respectively. Tetrahedral CEC in soil clays of Isfahan, Char-Mahal and Gilan provinces ranged from 17.9-4504, 26.2-32.5 and 8.3-23.8 cmol kg^-1, respectively, which consisted of 81.0-98.4, 58.5-95.8 and 24.7-72.5% of their total charge, respectively. The amount of K fixation increased with drying and the level of k added. Mean potassium fixation in soil clays of Isfahan, Char-Mahal and Gilan ranged from 5.42-9.13, 6.63-14.67 and 8.87-10.36, respectively. Mean potassium fixation by soil clays (except for soil clays of Gilan) best correlated with total CEC. In the soil clays of Isfahan, mean potassium fixation correlated with tetrahedral CEC, whereas no correlation was observed in soil clays from other places. The average amount of potassium fixation in clay fractions was in the order: Gilan clays > Char-Mahal clays > Isfahan clays.

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During 1998-99, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of residual Processed Municipal Waste Leachate (PMWL) on growth and yield of wheat (variety Roshan). The treatments consisted of residual amounts of 0, 150, 300 and 600 t/ha of PMWL and a residual N, P, K, and Zn fertilizer treatment in a randomized block design with 3 replications. In 1998, rice seedlings were transferred to 34 m plots. After harvesting the rice, wheat was seeded in the same plots without any new treatment. Processed municipal waste leachate and fertilizers were applied during the rice growth. Residual effects of PMWL increased the amounts of available macro- (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) in soil which, in turn, promoted the grain and straw yield of wheat compared to the control. Straw and grain yield increased from 1.67 and 3.50 t/ha in control to 3.93 and 12.80 t/ha in 600 t/ha of PMWL, respectively. The residual effects of PMWL had no significant effect on heavy metals concentrations in plant. The effects of residual PMWL in the soil were proportional to the amount of leachate applied. However, more investigations are recommended to fully understand heavy metals effects on soil, plant, and environment.

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The ability of earthworms in recycling a wide range of organic solid wastes is well established. Only a few earthworm species are suitable for commercial vermicomposting. Two species, Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus, are common in temperate regions. Samples of earthworms were collected from manure pills and forest litter in North and Northwest of Iran. The samples were maintained in pots under greenhouse conditions. External morphological characteristics of mature worms were used in identifying earthworm species. These characteristics included: total number of body segments, numbers of clitellum and tubercula pubertatis (TP) segments, dorsal and external body color, body size, prestomium and prostomium shape, number of first segment with dorsal pore and patterns of clitellum and TP. All collected samples belonged to the species Eisenia foetida. Under incubation conditions in manure substrate (a moisture of 70% saturation at 24±2^oC), each worm produced 1-2 cocoons daily and each cocoon contained 2-7 worm embryos. The collected earthworm samples showed a good ability in vermicomposting of manure, plant residues, and some organic industrial refuses. The C:N ratio decreased during the vermicomposting process, which indicates the improved stage of decomposition and the vermicompost stability.

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The possibility of using a steel plant by-product (converter sludge) as an iron fertilizer was investigated. This compound consists of 64% Fe oxides. Considerable amounts of elements such as Ca, Si, Mn, P, and K are also present in the sludge. To study the converter sludge, an incubation experiment was carried out on three calcareous soils. Treatments were 0, 4, and 8 percent of converter sludge mixed with soils plus mixtures of 4% converter sludge with elemental sulfur, thiobacillus inoculum and sulfuric acid. Soil samples (400 g) were kept at field capacity and room temperature in capped, aerated plastic containers for two months. Sub-samples were taken at 1, 10, 30, and 60 days of incubation and analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, P, and K contents as well as EC and pH. Results showed that converter sludge increased significantly extractable Fe proportional to the rate of sludge used. Sulfuric acid application increased Fe availability significantly, but the availability of this nutrient generally decreased with the incubation time. Application of the sludge also increased the pH slightly at the beginning of incubation. Elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid application increased Fe and Mn availability significantly. Application of the sludge without and with elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid slightly increased availability of P. The results of this study revealed that converter sludge might be used as an iron fertilizer. However, further investigation in greenhouse and field experiments is needed.

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Lintz-Donawitz (LD) converter slag, a by-product of the iron and steel-making industry is produced in large quantities in Isfahan, Iran. The slag contains 52.8 and 2.2% (w/w) CaO and MgO, respectively. To determine the influence of LD slag on the chemical characteristics of three acid soils from Gilan, an incubation study was conducted. The soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm of rice and tobacco fields and a tea garden. Treatments were 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 % (w/w) of converter slag/kg soil. The slag was thoroughly mixed with 500g soil in plastic pots. Soil moisture content was adjusted to near field capacity and changes in pH, EC and AB-DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn, P and K were determined at 1, 10, 30 and 60 days. Results showed that soil pH increased with increasing slag rates. Slag increased AB-DTPA-extractable P and Mn, the magnitude increase depend on the amount of slag applied. However, the effect of slag on AB-DTPA-extractable Fe depended on initial pH, initially decreasing at the pH range of 7.4 - 8.5 and then increasing at higher pH levels. Slag decreased AB-DTPA-extractable K especially in highly acid soil. In the present study, soil pH and AB-DTPA-extractable Fe decreased with time, though the effect of incubation time on pH was not significant. The effect of incubation time on AB-DTPA extractable Mn and P was different. Time effect on EC and AB-DTPA-extractable K was not significant. In general, soil chemical characteristics were more affected by slag rates than by incubation time. In conclusion, it seems that converter slag is a suitable amendment for acid soils. It is suggested that the effect of LD converter slag on plant growth and chemical characteristics of acid soils be studied under field conditions.

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Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) has relatively weak root system and requires high nitrogen fertilizer which is costly and may pose environmental pollution. This study was conducted to compare root morphological characteristics and nitrogen uptake of some potato cultivars growing in Iran. A greenhouse experiment using a completely randomized design with 3 replications and 8 potato cultivars including: Arinda, Agria, Premiere, Diamant, Concord, Marfona, Marodana and Nevita was conducted at Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan. Virus-free seed tubers were planted and grown up to flowering stage. The plants were then harvested and their root length (RL), root average diameter (RAD) and root surface area (RSA) were determined using a Delta-T Scan image analysis system and Windias software. Root length density (RLD), root length and shoot weight ratio (R/S) were also calculated. Dry mater production and nitrogen accumulation (total nitrogen uptake) (PNA) were also determined. Soil inorganic nitrogen was measured before planting and after harvest. All measured parameters, except RAD, were significantly (p<0.05) affected by cultivar. Large differences observed between cultivars for all traits indicated genetic diversity among the studied potato cultivars. The highest and the lowest values of RL, RLD, RSA, R/S, RDW and PNA were found in Marfona and Nevita respectively. Based on cluster analysis, cultivars were divided into four different groups. Under the condition of this study, Marfona was superior whereas Arinda, Nevita, Marodana and Agria were inferior. Due to the high differences in root morphological characteristics and nitrogen uptake among potato cultivars, plant breeders may produce cultivars with larger root volumes and high nitrogen uptake.

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The forms and dynamics of soil phosphorus can be greatly affected by land use changes, which often involve changes in vegetation cover, biomass production and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem. Present research evaluates the impact of land use change on the amount of total organic and inorganic P, labile, moderately labile and nonlabile P pools in semiarid soils of central Zagros. Samples were collected from surface soils (0-10 cm) of i) of moderately degraded pasture (20-25% plant cover), ii) highly degraded pasture (5-10 % plant cover), and iii) cultivated field (10 years) in Soolegan sub watershed and i) moderately degraded pasture (25-30 % plant cover) and ii) highly degraded pasture (5-10 % plant cover) in Sadat Abad sub-watershed. Significantly (P<0.05) low amounts of total organic P were found following cultivation (23.9%) and overgrazing (18.2 and 40.8 %) in Soolegan and Sadat Abad, respectively. The largest depletion of labile organic P (NaHCO3-Po) (72.3%) and moderately labile organic P (H2SO4-Po plus NaOH-Pi) (24.3%) were observed in cultivated rainfed land in Soolegan. Overgrazing led to decrease in labile organic P (42.1 and 64.4%), moderately labile organic P (13.9 and 35.7%) and nonlabile organic P (NaOH-Po) including moderately resistant and resistant organic P (12.9 and 44.4%) in Soolegan and Sadat Abad, respectively. Our results showed that degradation of natural plant cover cause to depletion in the soil P pools. Decreasing the amounts of moderately resistant and resistant P pools led to a decline in soil productivity and fertility.

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This study was conducted to determine the effect of 3 extractants on K release from biotite, phlogopite and muscovite. The minerals were grouped to <60 and 60-100 µm size classes. Particles CEC were saturated with calcium. Sequential extraction up to 30 times was carried out using 0.01M HCl, 1M NH4OAc and 0.05M BaCl2 solutions and cumulative concentration of K was calculated for each extractant. There was a difference among the 3 extractants in cumulative K release values from the three minerals. The highest values of cumulative K release were obtained by 0.01M HCl and 1M NH4OAc for less than 60 and 60-100 µm particle sizes, respectively. The amount of K release from muscovite was even higher when 1M NH4OAc and 0.05M BaCl2 solutions were used as extractants. This might indicate that muscovite cannot be considered as an ineffective source of available K in soils. Furthermore, particle size had a great impact on nonexchangeable K release from micaceous minerals. Coarser particles released higher quantity of K as compared to that of finer particles. Therefore, particle size distribution of different micaceous minerals in soils may be a factor that causes a difference in the amount of K release from soils.

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Geologic and pedologic controls are the main factors determining the behavior of elements in natural soil environments. In order to assess the role of these factors on content and distribution of selected major and trace elements in soil, six parent materials including: phyllite, tonalite, periditite, dolerite, shale and limestone were selected in Fuman-Masule region. Soil genesis and development of representive residual pedons were studied for each parent material and the total content of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, V and Zn were compared among them. Enrichment/depletion patters of trace elements were assessed using Ti as reference element. Generally, Cr, Ni, Co and V are highest in soils derived from peridotite (984, 285, 53 and 204 mg/kg, respectively) and dolerite (1023, 176, 39 and 185 mg/kg, respectively). In the same way, Si and Al exhibit the features of parent materials in the sense that the lowest content was observed in soils developed on peridotite, dolerite and limestone. Zinc and Pb are highest in soils derived from shale (106 and 27 mg/kg, respectively). In a given pedon, different elements exhibited different enrichment/depletion patterns moreover, a given element may behave differently not only in soils with different parent materials but also, in some cases, in soils developed on similar lithology. Lead, Zn, Cu and Mn have been generally enriched in most pedons, except in some acidic and strongly leached soils, whereas Co, Cr, Fe, Ni and V have been leached, especially from Dystrudepts and Eutrudepts. The latter elements, however, showed enrichment trend in Hapludalfs and Argiudolls parallel to the development of illuvial B horizons.

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Geologic and pedologic controls are the main factors determining the distribution of elements in natural soil environments. In order to assess the role of these factors in the content and distribution of major elements of soil, six parent materials including phyllite (Ph), tonalite (To), periditite (Pe), dolerite (Do), shale (Sh) and limestone (Li) were selected in Fuman-Masule region. Soil genesis and development of representive residual pedons were studied for each parent material. Total content of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, K, Na, Ti and P of soil horizons were measured and compared to the geochemical and mineralogical composition of parent materials. Maximum concentrations of Fe2O3 and MgO were found in the soils derived from Pe and Do however, these soils had low content of SiO2 and Al2O3, which is in conformity with the geochemical composition of the parent rocks. On the contrary, FeCBD content of these soils was lowest, indicating the low degree of soil development and, by the same fact, the importance of inheritance factor in soil Fe concentration. However, comparison of total Fe and FeCBD in Li1, Sh2 and To2 revealed that relative development of these pedons is higher than the others. Silicon depletion in Ph1, To2 and Sh2 pedons, relative to parent rocks, is higher than in Pe and Do pedons. However, this element is enriched in Li pedons. MnO content of Pe and Do pedons is governed by geogenic factors, while in Sh pedons, pedogenic factors, especially redox conditions, play the major role. Exchangeable forms of Ca and Na are determined by soil properties rather than by parent material type. Notwithstanding the redistribution of all major elements throughout pedons due to soil forming processes, the importance of inheritance factor in soil Si, Al, Mg, Fe, K, and Ti is higher than pedogenic factors.

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Iron deficiency is most widespread among plant nutrients. Nowadays, different materials such as inorganic salts, organic chelates, soil acidifying materials and industrial wastes are used to correct iron deficiency. Slag and convertor sludge of steel factories are among the industrials wastes for this purpose. These materials contain considerable amount of iron produced in large quantities every year. Application of slag and convertor sludge to soil may affect bioavailability and chemical forms of iron in soil. Sequential chemical extraction technique has been widely used to examine these chemical forms, and thus to better understand the processes that influence element availability. It was, therefore, the objective of this study to investigate the application effect of slag and convertor sludge of Esfahan Steel Mill on the chemical forms of iron, distribution of these forms and bioavailability of iron in surface (0-20cm) and subsurface (20-45cm) soil of three research fields. The results showed that more than 99% of the applied Fe occurred in residual, Fe oxide and hydroxide and free forms. Application of slag and convertor sludge for three consecutive years increased chemical forms and DTPA extractable iron in surface and subsurface soil of three fields.