JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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  It is important to investigate the genetic diversity and evaluate symbiotic effectiveness of the indigenous rhizobial population. It helps understand the responses of indigenous isolates to different rhizobial inoculants. In spite of the importance of bacterial diversity, there are a few scientific reports about it in Iranian soils. Genetic diversity of 150 isolates of Sinorhizobium isolated from Hamadan soils was studied by using PCR / RFLP 16S-23S rDNA technique. The results showed that all isolates clustered in three different groups. Group (I) formed 122 isolates and they were quite similar to Sinorhizobium meliloti from viewpoint of genetic characteristics. Twenty five isolates were clustered in Group (II) and they belonged to Sinorhizobium medicae. Group (III) had two isolates and they were new species and quite different from the other groups. Shannon diversity index was different within eleven different land units (Medium gradient mountains, Level lands, Plateau, Foot slopes, Depressions and Composite land) and there was a correlation between Shannon index and some soil properties. Difference in Similarity index showed that Sinorhizobium groups in each land unit were different.

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This study was conducted to compare the impact of various organic amendments with different C/N ratios and chemical compositions on biological and chemical degradation of Atrazine in sterile and non-sterile soils. The experiment was carried out in a factorial arrangement (2×6×2) including two soil types (sterile and non sterile soils), six types of organic amendments (vermicompost, cow manure, glucose, starch and sawdust and without organic matter) and two levels of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (0 and 250 mg kg-1), with three replications. Initial Atrazine concentration in soil samples (silty loam) was adjusted at 100 mg.kg-1. Soil samples were amended by organic materials at the rate of 5% by weight and treated with 250 mg inorganic nitrogen fertilizer( NH4NO3). Half of soil samples were sterilized by HgCl2. Residual Atrazine concentration in soil samples were determined by HPLC at the end of 20, 40 and 60 days incubation time. The results showed that all the applied organic amendments (except for cow manure) and inorganic nitrogen treatment reduced biological degradation of Atrazine in non- sterile soil samples. It was not possible to predict the biological degradation of Atrazine based on C/N ratio of organic amendments and microbial activity. The results also showed that chemical degradation of Atrazine after 60 days of incubation was not affected by organic amendment and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer.

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Among the biodiversity of soil microorganisms, bacteria have the basic role in soil functions. In order to determine the diversity and abundance of soil bacteria in arid regions, and also to study the effect of agricultural practices on them, a study was conducted in winter wheat fields on Shirvan, Mashhad and Gonabad. In each region, high and low input fields of winter wheat and a natural system for comparison were selected. Use of agricultural inputs was criteria for selection of low and high input fields in each region. Soil sampling was done on fields and natural systems and organic matter content, abundance and diversity of soil bacteria were measured in soil samples. Species richness and abundance of soil bacteria was affected by region and so that natural system of Gonabad has the minimum of species richness among the studied systems and the differences of other systems was not significant. Abundance of soil bacteria in 1 g dry soil was maximum in Gonabad and minimum in Shirvan. Abundance of soil bacteria was affected by organic matter and in low and high input systems of Gonabad and low input system of Mashhad was greater than other systems. Overall, 19 species of bacteria that belonged to 4 genus were detected. Results showed that species richness and abundance of soil bacteria in studied systems were relatively low and agricultural practices have not significant impact on these organisms, so that species richness and abundance of soil bacteria were improved in agricultural systems of Mashhad and Gonabad. Pattern of bacterial diversity showed that regional and agricultural stresses were affected on bacterial function so that in high level of stresses, species richness decreased and function of soil bacteria was restricted to decomposition of organic matter. Therefore, organic matter of soil must be increased and agricultural stresses must be decreased to improve of soil bacterial functions.

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Biological indicators are considered soil quality elements, due to their dependence on soil organisms. In order to investigate The effect of compost and vermicompost enriched by chemical fertilizers and manure on soil organic carbon, microbial respiration, and enzymes activity in basil plant's rhizosphere, a field experiment was conducted as a split-plot design with randomized complete blocks and three replications in 2006. The main plot involved six levels of fertilizer including: 20 and 40 tons of compost enriched, 20 and 40 tons of vermicompost enriched per hectare, chemical fertilizer and control without fertilizer and sub-plot, and period of application (two, three and four years). The results showed that application of compost and vermicompost at all levels increased soil organic carbon (OC) and soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass and urease activity compared to the controls (p<0.05), but increasing trend among the treatments was not similar. The maximum amounts of OC, soil microbial respiration and enzyme activity were observed in 40 tons of vermicompost enriched with chemical fertilizer ha-1 with four years of application. In high levels of compost application, the urease activity was decreased.

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Mycorrhizal fungus colonization of roots may modify plant metal acquisition. In order to study the role of external hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi in metals transferring, the root and hyphal growth zone were separated by 30 µm nylon meshes. Plants were inoculated with G. mosseae and G. intraradices and grown in the root compartment. Six combinations of metals (400 mg of Zn, 25 mg of Cd, 400 mg of Zn + 25 mg of Cd, 50 mg P, 50 mg of P+ 400 mg of Zn + 25 mg of Cd, and no metal kg-1 soil sample) were added to the hyphal compartments. This experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangement in three replications. The results showed that dry shoot weight and phosphorus concentration in mycorrhizal treatments increased significantly compared with non mycorrhizal treatments. of the two fungal species, G. mosseae had more effect on phosphorus concentration in white clover plant. AM fungi increased the Zn concentration in shoot and root of white clover. AM fungi also significantly increased cadmium concentration in root of mycorrhizal treatments compared to non mycorrhizal plants. of the two fungal species, G. intraradices accumulated more cadmium in clover roots. ALL in all the results demonstrated that AM fungi increased phosphorus and Zn transferring to the shoots while cadmium transferring was decreased by stabilizing in the roots.

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Urease is one of the most important enzymes in nitrogen cycle. The clay particles (with high surface area) play an important role in the stability of these protein compounds (enzymes) against various environmental factors. In order to examine the interactions between urease with sepiolite and vermiculite, three in vitro experiments were conducted separately in a completely randomized design. Two experiments were carried out with two replications. Treatments included six incubation times (0, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 days) and five levels of temperature (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ˚C). The third experiment was carried out in a factorial arrangement with two replications. Factors included three levels of pH (5, 7 and 9), and six-levels of enzyme concentrations (0.05, 0.25, 1, 5, 15 and 30 units). The results showed that the activity of adsorbed enzyme was more than free enzyme during the incubation time. The optimum temperatures for activity of free and adsorbed enzymes were 30 and 50 ˚C, respectively. It was concluded that enzyme adsorption on clay surfaces increases enzyme stability against environmental changes. Also, the results showed that the highest levels of urease adsorption on sepiolite and vermiculite occurred at pH 9 and 7, respectively. Adsorption isotherms of Enzyme showed that Vermiculite adsorbed urease with higher affinity compared to Sepiolite.

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In recent years, due to the increased population, urbanization and changes in human consumption patterns, urban, industrial and agricultural soils have been exposed to various pollutants such as heavy metals. The objective of this research was to identify hotspots of Pb by using global and local Moran Indices in urban and suburban soils of Kashafrood catchment. A total of 261 surface soil samples (0-15 cm deep) were taken using irregular girding network method and their total Pb concentrations were measured. The positive Moran index at confidence level of more than 99 percent showed the spatial clusters between observations. On the basis of local Moran index results, 15 samples were introduced as hotspots (high-high value) located southeast of Mashhad plain. Exclusion of extreme values resulted in the addition of high-high cluster (hotspots) leading to the extension of these areas to the West of the Mashhad city. These areas are introduced as hotspots due to the urban land use, the direction of prevailing wind, and the area being close to Mashhad airport.

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Urea is one of the most commonly used nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural lands. The fate of this fertilizer in soils is greatly related to the soil urease enzyme activity, while this enzyme commonly exists in the adsorbed state on the surface of soil colloids, and especially clay minerals. In order to examine the kinetic properties of free and adsorbed Urease on the surface of sepiolite and vermiculite, an experiment was carried out with eight levels of urea concentration (5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 mM). This experiment was done with enzyme concentration of 1 unit in temperature of 25˚C and pH=7. Adsorption of urease on the clay surfaces affected its kinetic properties compared to the free state. The results showed that urease enzyme obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetic in both free and adsorbed states on the clay surfaces. Except free urease, the highest and lowest values of V_max and K_m were observed in urease-sepiolite and urease-vermiculite complexes, respectively. Also, the results showed that except free urease, the highest levels of Catalytic Efficiency were related to urease in the presence of vermiculite and sepiolite, respectively. The Effectiveness Factor was more for adsorbed urease on the sepiolite surface than adsorbed urease on the vermiculite surface, and the fact somehow suggests more complete diffusion in the presence of sepiolite.